Vivint's monitoring has no contract — but equipment financing does. If you finance equipment over 42–60 months, those payments continue even if you cancel monitoring. This is the most important Vivint pricing fact that buyers miss. This page separates the monitoring cost from the equipment financing so you can see the true total before you sign.
What's on this page: Equipment costs · Monitoring plan table · Contract Risk Index score · 3-year total cost · Hidden costs · Who should buy Vivint. Updated April 2026.
Figures sourced from public pricing pages, user-reported data, and direct brand verification. No brand pays to appear. See our methodology →
Affiliate disclosure: SecurityCompassHQ may earn commissions from some links. Commissions do not influence our recommendations or scores. See full disclosure →
Vivint equipment is professionally installed and not available at retail. Pricing is custom-quoted based on your home. Equipment can be purchased outright or financed over 42–60 months. Financing is through Citizens Pay or Vivint's own financing program.
Key equipment facts
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Home (Basic) | $29.99/mo | $360/yr | 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular backup, basic smart home features |
| Smart Home (Enhanced) | $39.99/mo | $480/yr | Everything in Basic + professional camera monitoring, video history |
| Smart Home (Complete) | $44.99/mo | $540/yr | Everything in Enhanced + 24/7 live video monitoring, extended cloud storage |
Contract Risk Index (CRI) — High
High lock-in risk due to equipment financing
No monitoring contract — cancel monitoring any time. However, if you financed equipment, payments continue regardless of monitoring status. Equipment financing is a separate loan agreement.
ETF: No monitoring ETF. Equipment financing ETF: full remaining balance is owed if you pay off the equipment loan early — confirm early payoff terms before signing.
Cancellation
For a full step-by-step guide to canceling Vivint without unexpected fees, see our guide: How to Cancel Vivint →
Got a quote from a salesperson?
Decode the real contract terms, ETF exposure, and 3-year total before you sign.
Our 2026 Contract Risk Index scores all 9 brands on lock-in risk from 1 (no contract) to 5 (high penalty).
Estimated 3-year total
$1,679 – $5,499+
Upfront equipment: $599 + ($29.99 × 36) = $1,679. Financed: ($49.99 equipment/mo + $29.99 monitoring) × 36 = $2,880. Smart home: $1,500 + ($44.99 × 36) = $3,120.
Watch for these hidden costs
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Open Cost Calculator →Ideal for
Homeowners who want the best smart home camera integration, professional installation, and a fully managed system.
Not ideal for
Renters, budget buyers, or anyone who may need to relocate — professional installation is mandatory and equipment financing locks you in.
See our full editorial review for the complete scoring breakdown:
See side-by-side pricing, contract terms, and camera quality for the systems buyers most often compare to Vivint:
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