Vivint vs Brinks Home: which home security system is worth your money in 2025?

Despite the number of break-ins in the US decreasing in recent years, the need for a reliable home security system has never been greater. People still want to protect their houses and apartments and have peace of mind when they’re away.

If you’ve recently been on the hunt for such a system, chances are you came across the names of Vivint and Brinks Home. After all, these are two of the most well-known home security companies in the US. And while both brands offer smart home-compatible systems, the latest and greatest security equipment, and similar protection options, their approaches differ.

To help you figure out which of these is a better fit for you, the Cybernews research crew and I took it upon ourselves to explore these two popular systems in detail. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their installations, monitoring, apps, and costs, which should help you decide between them.

Vivint vs Brinks Home overview

Home security system	Vivint	Brinks
Rating	4.8	3.8
Installation type	Professional	Professional or DIY
Monitoring options	Professional	Professional
Wired or wireless?	Wireless	Wireless
Camera options	Outdoor Camera Pro (Gen 2) with Smart Deter, Doorbell Camera Pro, Indoor Camera Pro, and Spotlight Pro	Indoor Security Cameras, Outdoor Security Cameras, and Doorbell Camera
Motion sensor	✅	✅
Smart locks	✅	✅
Smoke detector	✅	✅
Mobile app	✅	✅
Price	Packages starting at $599.99	Packages starting at $199.99
Subscription cost	Starting at $29.99/month	Starting at $39.99/month
Winner	Vivint

Brinks Home pros and cons

Vivint pros and cons

Our methodology

Before we dive into the Brinks vs Vivint comparison, I’d first like to explain how these home security systems were evaluated. Namely, to help you choose the objectively better system for your needs, the team and I focused on creating an honest, data-driven review of both. Here’s a quick summary of the aspects we considered:

• Features, technology, and pricing (40%). My evaluation began with a thorough analysis of both systems. I first examined the products' features and technologies, such as Vivint’s AI-driven vehicle identification and Brinks Home’s smart device pairing, and then explored the associated costs for each system.
• Customer feedback (30%). Spec sheets are one thing, but real-world performance is often another. To keep things objective, I also reviewed dozens of comments from multiple review platforms to gauge how real customers felt about these systems.
• Expert analysis (20%). Vivint and Brinks Home might be well-known names in the home security industry, but I still had to analyze their credibility myself. I checked their industry certifications and standards, and also compared how up-to-date they were about the latest tech trends.
• Ease of use (10%). Finally, I evaluated the user-friendliness of each system’s control panel and mobile app. I also took note of comments related to Brinks Home’s DIY installation to gauge its ease of use.

Vivint vs Brinks Home: installation and cost

The installation method should significantly impact your decision, as Vivint and Brinks Home have a few key differences in this regard.

For instance, Vivint’s system requires professional installation. Fortunately, that’s included in your smart home package, and you also get free equipment replacement for the first year.

When it comes to Vivint equipment costs, you’re looking at a starting price of $599 if you want to own your system outright. This route also allows you to get Vivint without any commitments. Meanwhile, financing is available for paying off the equipment gradually, but it requires signing either a 42-month or a 60-month contract.

In terms of monitoring, the entry-level plan starts at $29.99/month. However, you’ll have to get the top-of-the-line $44.99/month plan if you want video support.

On the other hand, Brinks Home caters to both DIY enthusiasts and those who prefer letting the professionals handle it. If you’re a tech-savvy user, you’ll have no issues installing the equipment yourself, as Brinks Home offers detailed instructions and support to guide you through it.

However, professional installation is still encouraged, and it’s only free if you sign a 3-year monitoring contract. Otherwise, it can cost between $200 and $450, depending on how you’ve customized your system.

In terms of equipment, the $199 starting price is much lower than that of Vivint. Conversely, Brinks’ monitoring costs are higher, with the entry-level plan starting at $39.99/month, while the top-tier plan goes up to $49.99/month.

While Vivint takes a professional-only approach, I do appreciate Brink Home’s DIY option. Pair that with lower up-front costs for Brinks equipment, and it wins in this category.

Vivint vs Brinks Home: features and technology

Brinks Home and Vivint are among the top brands for a reason. Both offer reliable, wireless equipment with plenty of high-tech features. You’ll find Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, battery backups, and comprehensive remote control with both.

On the one hand, Brinks tends to focus on straightforward home security components. There are three different plans to choose from, but customization is the key selling point here. As such, homeowners can adjust their systems to include indoor, outdoor, and front door cameras, as well as door and window, motion, and glass break sensors.

Additionally, Brinks features smart home devices that enable the automation of lighting and temperature, as well as life safety devices that monitor smoke, CO, and water levels. It is compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave, and IFTTT, allowing users to control their system, smart locks, lights, thermostats, and other devices via voice commands.

Meanwhile, Vivint offers much of the same equipment and functionality, but it takes system control and smart home integrations to the next level. Its proprietary devices, while more expensive than those of Bricks Home, are powered by the latest and greatest tech.

For example, the front door camera, equipped with two-way communication, features a Smart Deter option to discourage unwanted visitors. Vivint even adds AI into the mix with a Vehicle Identification feature.

While the two brands offer similar security equipment, Vivint’s proprietary pieces, although more expensive, provide more features. Smart home systems with Vivint are also easier to set up, and integrations simply work better.

Vivint vs Brinks Home: monitoring

Both Vivint and Brinks Home offer professional monitoring services, so you don't need to respond to the alerts yourself with either brand.

Vivint’s state-of-the-art monitoring centers in Provo, Utah, and Eagan, Minnesota, are staffed 24/7. The brand also promises a response time of under 15 minutes. If an alarm goes off, Vivint will first attempt to contact you, and if you don’t reply, they’ll dispatch emergency responders.

If you opt for the Premium Plus Package or add the equipment to your custom plan, you’ll also get environmental monitoring. This includes a temperature sensor, a water sensor, and a smoke & CO detector, which alert the Vivint monitoring center when abnormal activity is detected.

Even in the event of Wi-Fi issues, a power outage, or an intruder cutting your power, Vivint offers a solution. All of its monitoring plans include cellular, battery-powered backup, which can be a lifesaver in such situations.

Brinks Home does the same in terms of cellular backups for all of its monitoring plans. The company also utilizes a UL-certified, US-based monitoring center. Furthermore, Brinks’ 24/7/365 monitoring is also available for DIY installers, with an average response time of 15 minutes.

It, too, offers environmental monitoring with instant alerts to inform you of potential dangers. Moreover, Brinks Home’s smoke, CO, and water leak detectors are small and discreet, so you’ll easily fit them in tight spaces. However, it’s worth noting there’s no temperature sensor here.

While Vivint and Brinks Home offer similar monitoring features, I’ve got to give Vivint a slight edge here. That’s because it offers high-end remote viewing in its mobile app, so let’s see how they stack up in that department.

Vivint vs Brinks Home: mobile apps

With remote control being a vital part of the modern home monitoring experience, both brands offer dedicated mobile apps for both Android and iOS.

Vivint’s mobile app features a user-friendly interface that’s widely recognized for its simplicity. It’s clean and easy to navigate, so you’ll have no issues arming and disarming your system, verifying or canceling an alarm, viewing live camera feeds, or getting into your notifications.

Smart home automations and schedules are a breeze to set up, too, with every function a tap or two away.

Brinks Home’s mobile app has largely the same set of features as Vivint’s, including arming and disarming, alarm verification and cancellation, door locking and unlocking, live camera feed viewing, thermostat adjustments, and more. Yet, the focus here is on customization rather than ease of use.

The app also lets you automate various aspects of your home, set scenes and schedules, and customize notifications to only let through situations you’re interested in knowing about. However, this customizability also makes the app more challenging to navigate. The interface can also feel cluttered at times, so you’ll need some time to get used to it.

While both companies offer impressive mobile apps for Android and iOS, I appreciated Vivint’s intuitiveness much more than Brinks Home’s customizability. As ease of use is paramount, I believe most home security system users will agree with me on this one.

Vivint vs Brinks Home: customer service

When it comes to customer service, these two brands are relatively evenly matched, with only slight differences between them.

Long before rebranding to home security systems, Brinks used to transport money via armored stagecoaches. Its roots trace back to 1859, so you’ll often see the company boasting about its 150-year-long history. But, as such, it also has a long-standing reputation to uphold.

In most cases, Brinks Home justifies its reputation. If you’re a texter, you’ll appreciate the 24/7 Brinks support. However, if you prefer to call, you can do so only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CST, Monday through Saturday. That’s also the case for technical support.

That said, Brinks Home is by no means perfect, as review platforms also showcase plenty of negative comments. Some users are dissatisfied because they couldn’t resolve a technical issue, while others dislike the hoops they had to jump through to cancel a contract after the initial 3 years.

Vivint enjoys a much better reputation, especially if you look into Trustpilot reviews, or Reddit and Quora comments. Negative feedback is, of course, present, and it’s mainly about Vivint’s sales representatives, but most reviews praise the brand’s professional technicians and support team.

Speaking of support, Vivint’s is available via email, chat, and phone, although I couldn’t find anything on the hours.

One thing that stood out was Vivint’s cancellation policy during unfortunate circumstances, which qualifies you for a case review and, potentially, free cancellation. The company also lets you cancel a contract if you’re moving or reporting for military duty, albeit at a cost.

With both companies offering a similar level of customer support, I relied on feedback to choose the winner for this category. Due to the sheer number of positive comments praising both technicians and support representatives, I’m giving this one to Vivint.

Vivint vs Brinks Home: final verdict

Vivint and Brinks Home are two of the most well-known home security brands in the US. Both companies are a solid choice if you’re looking for wireless, high-tech security systems with plenty of equipment, smart home integrations, and convenient mobile apps. However, there are differences between the two, so your top pick will depend on what you’re after.

For instance, if you’re a DIY enthusiast and don’t mind signing a 3-year contract, Brinks Home is the way to go. Brinks’ equipment might not be as high-end as Vivint’s, but it’s more affordable and does the job. Conversely, Brinks’ monitoring is more expensive, so that’s something you should also take into account cost-wise.

On the other hand, Vivint is better for customers who want a white-glove approach. The brand’s easy-to-use system seamlessly integrates with most smart home devices, and there’s also the flexibility of choosing between an extended contract and month-to-month payments.

All things considered, Vivint is the better overall choice. While Vivint equipment comes with higher up-front costs, its high-tech system is also more advanced and packed with features. Vivint also offers a broader range of smart home integrations that are easier to set up, and its mobile apps are intuitive to use.

FAQ