# Vivint vs ADT security, what are your experiences? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611 "2018-05-04T23:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/1 "2018-05-04T23:55:16Z")
I’m confused and not sure which to choose. PC Mag gives Vivint almost a full 5 stars, excellent rating. > **[Vivint Smart Home Review](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/vivint-smart-home)** > > The Vivint Smart Home system offers 24/7 security monitoring and remote control of your cameras, door locks, heating system, and more. Yet, I see many bad reviews about their customer service, hidden fees, and 5 year contracts. ADT has similar bad reviews about their customer service. People say their equipment is outdated. But, it’s only a 3 year contract and their monitoring fee is lower. I’m not interested in a Smart Home. Turning on the lights and locking doors with a phone App doesn’t interest me. I want a monitored security system with front and rear outdoor cameras. At least 1080 or better resolution with night vision. Cloud storage and a phone App that can enable or disabled the security sytem and view the camera feeds. What has your experience been with Vivint and ADT? I just signed up with CenturyLink (internet,tv,phone) and they offer some generous promotional discounts for Vivint. Their ADT package offers little savings. I’d get the same deal calling ADT. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/2 "2018-05-05T00:05:02Z")
Just an example. I check ADT’s security camera options. A 720p camera? : confused: this is 2018? > **[Shop ADT® Outdoor Home Security Cameras | ADT.com](https://www.adt.com/outdoor-security-camera)** > > Outdoor Security Cameras from ADT allow you to monitor what's happening at home, day or night. Compare ADT Outdoor Home Security Cameras. 1080p is the current standard. ADT is at least 4 years out of date. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/3 "2018-05-05T00:11:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m confused and not sure which to choose. > > PC Mag gives Vivint almost a full 5 stars, excellent rating. > [Vivint Smart Home Review | PCMag](https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2488162,00.asp) > > Yet, I see many bad reviews about their customer service, hidden fees, and 5 year contracts. > > ADT has similar bad reviews about their customer service. People say their equipment is outdated. But, it’s only a 3 year contract and their monitoring fee is lower. > > I’m not interested in a Smart Home. Turning on the lights and locking doors with a phone App doesn’t interest me. > > I want a monitored security system with front and rear outdoor cameras. At least 1080 or better resolution with night vision. Cloud storage and a phone App that can enable or disabled the security sytem and view the camera feeds. > > What has your experience been with Vivint and ADT? > > I just signed up with CenturyLink (internet,tv,phone) and they offer some generous promotional discounts for Vivint. Their ADT package offers little savings. I’d get the same deal calling ADT. I have Vivint FWIW. I don’t have all of the things you are wanting (no cameras), just security on all of the windows, doors, motion detectors and fire alarm integration. The price per month is not bad, I haven’t seen a lot of hidden fees. One complaint I have that maybe will be a feature to some here is that it’s been a bitch getting a hold of a sales rep…I’ve wanted to change my service and add some things, which you’d think would be a snap but every time I’ve called they have said they would call back and haven’t. Other than that I have no real complaints. I haven’t been broken into at least (my anti-tiger protection is equally 100%). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/4 "2018-05-05T01:19:27Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Just an example. > I check ADT’s security camera options. > > A 720p camera? : confused: this is 2018? > [https://www.adt.com/outdoor-security-camera](https://www.adt.com/outdoor-security-camera) > > 1080p is the current standard. > > ADT is at least 4 years out of date. That seems a silly and trivial reason to prefer one security vendor over another. And of course the 1080p video is going to need more storage space. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/5 "2018-05-05T01:32:27Z")
I’m still trying to decide. I’m impressed with vivint. But that 5 year contract has me concerned. ADT seems more focused on traditional security alarms. That’s just the impression I get. A front door camera is becoming more and more important. There’s so many packages stolen from porches. Especially during the holidays. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/6 "2018-05-05T11:55:04Z")
We were just talking about “beefing up” our home security situation. For us that means replacing the locks on the four doors (plus garage man-door) so that we could lock our doors. We currently have zero house keys. I’m pretty sure we will not move forward. At my business I have ADT. Just door/window entry alarms, probably the cheapest setup they offer. Fifteen years of use and the only “alarm” was when an employee punched in the wrong code. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/7 "2018-05-06T10:51:37Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > A front door camera is becoming more and more important. There’s so many packages stolen from porches. Especially during the holidays. Based on all the videos on You Tube of packages being stolen, having a camera on one’s front porch doesn’t do much to stop theft. I have Comcast home monitoring with most of the bells and whistles including a camera and speaker on the front porch. I watched a gal steal a package off my porch and told her it was nothing valuable, she didn’t care. I also got a nice picture of her car including the license number, the police really didn’t care. What’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vivint-vs-adt-security-what-are-your-experiences/813611/8 "2018-05-06T13:25:48Z")
Have you looked at **SimpliSafe**?