Gabe Turner: Hey, everybody, this is Gabe at Security Baron.
Today, we're putting two giants in the home security game, head-to-head, ADT versus Vivint.
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Gabe: In today's comparison of ADT and Vivint, we're going to look at their key similarities,
key differences, installation, professional monitoring, customer support and, finally,
their mobile apps, so you have exactly what is necessary to make the right decision for
you and your family.
If you like to see a list of our favorite home security systems, google "Security Baron
best home security systems."
If you have a question about today's comparison, leave us a comment, and I'll get back to you.
Kicking off our comparison of ADT and Vivint, I want to jump at the key similarities.
With ADT and Vivint, there are few.
The main similarity between ADT and Vivint is that they both do quite well in both the
Apple App Store and Google Play Store for their mobile applications.
Moving on to the key differences between ADT and Vivint.
I want to discuss two things.
One, installation.
Vivint requires you to have someone come in and install their system professionally.
It is not do-it-yourself as is the ADT system, where you can put it together as soon as you
get the package.
Two, they have very different professional monitoring services.
ADT requires you to get professional monitoring, whereas, Vivint allows you to do some degree
of month-to-month or even self-monitoring for yourself.
Those are the key differences between ADT and Vivint.
The first element we're going to compare between ADT and Vivint is the installation process.
ADT is do-it-yourself installation and the hub comes pre-programmed.
You take out the hub, pick out your app, and you start to put the pieces in place.
Take your door sensor, put it on your door frame, take the motion detector, put it in
the corner of the room, and voilà, you're ready to go for the first few elements.
When you get to that camera, it's a little bit more complicated, as the cameras are generally
manufactured by Alarm.com, and you have to add another Ethernet cable.
This is the lengthiest part of the process of installing the ADT system.
We, honestly, just suggest that you use a computer to set all of that up, but overall
it took me about an hour to set up the ADT system, and it wasn't too difficult.
Installing Vivint is a different process altogether because it is a professional installation.
I had a technician come to my home.
He was punctual, he was polite, he set up my hub panel, hid the wires, so that I don't
have to really have that eyesore, put my motion detector in the corner, set up my window and
door sensors.
Ultimately, it was a great experience.
Generally, you do have to pay for that.
It's about $129 for Vivint to have a technician come to your house, but we suggest trying
to negotiate that and avoid that fee.
It's a very different experience with Vivint in setting up your home security system.
When it comes to who wins the installation contest between ADT and Vivint, it's a toss-up.
It's going to very much depend on which type of experience you'd rather have.
Do you want to put the system together yourself, it takes you about an hour, or do you want
to set an appointment, and possibly pay someone to come and set it up for you?
Depending on the type of person you are and how much time you have, and what you want
to do in relationship to your home security system, that will determine which one is the
better experience for you.
Hold on.
Quick break.
I have a quick question regarding installation habits.
Do you prefer to do-it-yourself or do you like someone to come and install the system
for you?
Leave us your comment below.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Let's get back to the video.
The next element of comparison that we want to do between ADT and Vivint is professional
monitoring.
Professional monitoring, that 24/7 team has got your back that can lead to proper authorities
in case something is going down around your home.
On top of that, both ADT and Vivint, have battery and cellular backup.
In case your power goes out, your landline goes down, you can be sure to be protected.
Vivint has various options for professional monitoring, but they only reflect the number
of cameras that you have.
They're going to give you all the features necessary.
For $49.99, you get two cameras and live streaming, and all that is necessary to take care of
your home including controlling your locks, even some of your lights.
All that right there in the mobile application.
For three cameras, it goes up to $54.99, and for four cameras, it goes up to $59.99.
ADT, on the other hand, does not publish its professional monitoring prices.
We do know that you can get a basic security package for approximately $28.99.
If you wanted to do something like a full package with all the features necessary, with
an indoor and outdoor camera attached, it's going to cost you $57.99.
ADT is definitely negotiable.
We suggest, if you want to go with professional monitoring with them, give them a call and
talk about what features you need and with what cameras.
Let's move into contracts.
Comparing ADT and Vivint, ADT gives you a three-year contract that you'll begin to pay
after your first six months with ADT, while Vivint has long-term contracts of 3.5 and
5 years for professional monitoring.
The distinction that we must make here is that Vivint does allow you to do month-to-month
contracting if you pay for all of your equipment upfront, which is around $1,000, $2,000, just
to be clear about that.
It is month-to-month contracting, but it still can be quite expensive.
It's hard for us to make a distinction between contracts, but it's not hard when it comes
to moving policy.
For ADT, you just pick up and go, take your system apart, move it into your new place,
you've done it yourself before, you'll do it again, and it's easy as can be.
Whereas, with Vivint, you're going to have to pay another $129 to get it installed in
your new home.
Here, it´s really clear that ADT has an advantage.
You're wondering, "Gabe, which is the best system for me when it comes to professional
monitoring?"
Honestly, it's quite difficult because each has their advantages and disadvantages.
ADT does give slightly shorter long-term contracts for professional monitoring.
You can probably get a somewhat more affordable monthly contract with them, considering that
they just start around $30, while Vivint is more expensive, does essentially give you
that month-to-month option.
Once again, I want to call a draw between ADT and Vivint when it comes to professional
monitoring.
The next element I want to discuss regarding ADT versus Vivint is customer support.
ADT and Vivint both have online help centers, They both allow you to live chat and call
someone directly about your problems.
ADT even gives you the ability to facetime with someone.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, I wonder how many have video chat is.
When we talk about ADT versus Vivint, we just have to look at the numbers.
ADT here pales in comparison to Vivint.
Vivint has a 3.8 rating on its Google reviews and most of those customer support reviews
were positive.
When it comes to ADT, even in my own experience, I felt as if they were really missing the
bar.
ADT does have a much better live chat functionality or rather efficiency than the phone calls.
When we called ADT, we got a lot of runaround.
When we talked to them live, we seemed to eventually get to the answers we needed.
That's something to keep in mind, that 3.8 for Vivint, that 2.5 for ADT.
When it comes to which is the top system for customer support, Vivint wins in a landslide.
The final element of comparison today between ADT and Vivint is the mobile application.
I'm happy to say that they both do really well in this category.
The ADT Pulse app has a 3.9 in the Google Play Store and a 4.8 in the Apple App Store,
which is simply tremendous.
Not to be outdone, the Vivint mobile application has a 4.6 in the Google Play Store and a 4.5
in the Apple App Store.
People seem to rate about how well the apps work.
I even personally remember how easy it was to maneuver inside of both the ADT Pulse app
and the Vivint app.
I really enjoyed it just looking at my house from abroad or from wherever.
That is really useful.
You want to know which one is better.
Once again, we have yet another tie.
Vivint and ADT both have wonderful mobile applications, so it is a toss-up.
Now, let's do a recap of all the elements we have covered in today's comparison of ADT
and Vivint.
Installation, this one is a toss-up, as ADT is a pretty simple do-it-yourself installation
process, while Vivint is a pretty simple professional installation experience.
Professional monitoring, this is a toss-up between ADT and Vivint because, ultimately,
the features and contracts are roughly the same with the only really distinction being
in moving policy.
Customer support, Vivint was the clear winner here against ADT, because of its higher Google
rating of 3.8 to ADT's 2.5.
Mobile application, this was a draw between ADT and Vivint because they both have superb
ratings in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
We've come a long way in our ADT versus Vivint comparison.
The only clear winner, in any category, has been Vivint when it comes to customer support.
Vivint is strong.
It has no installation because they come and do it for you.
It's professionally done, they've got a solid mobile application, and, of course, that absolutely
blockbuster customer support.
ADT is no slouch either.
It has a solid mobile application, it's got pretty easy do-it-yourself installation, and
it's an iconic name in the game.
Overall, you really can't go wrong if you're trying to make sure you have a system that's
going to protect you and your family with ADT and Vivint.
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Gabe: That concludes our comparison of ADT and Vivint.
If you appreciated today's video, give us a like, and hit that subscribe button.
As always, this is Gabe at Security Baron.
Be Secure.
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