You’ve likely heard of Vivint or seen its bright orange signs dotted across your neighborhood. So, you might know that Vivint provides home security and smart home automation to consumers, businesses, and some multifamily properties.
While Vivint is one of the leading home security and smart home automation providers, its price and lack of flexibility may prompt you to look for an alternative.
For multifamily properties, Vivint’s lack of multifamily-specific features or property management capabilities could also make you consider alternatives.
If you’re looking for a more cost-effective, flexible, or comprehensive Vivint alternative, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a list of the 10 best Vivint alternatives for homeowners and property owners/operators to help you find the right solution. Before we dive into alternatives, let’s take a look at what Vivint does well. And, why you might consider an alternative.
Table of Contents:
- What is Vivint good at?
- Where does Vivint fall short?
- Homeowner alternatives
- Property owner and operator alternatives
- Important features to consider when choosing a Vivint alternative
Choosing the Best Alternative to Vivint for Security and Smart Home Automation
To choose the best Vivint alternative, you first need to know what Vivint does (and doesn’t) do well.
What Is Vivint Good At?
Vivint is a smart home platform that offers a vertically integrated smart home solution. This solution includes proprietary hardware, software, installation, support, and professional monitoring. And, Vivint makes its own hardware – like cameras, sensors, thermostats, lighting, locks, and a car guard.
With a focus on direct-to-consumer sales, Vivint aims to position itself as a premium home security and smart home automation solution. This includes professional installation, customized consultations, a customer app, and more.
On the property owner and operators side, Vivint has started offering smart home automation services to multifamily properties. This smart home automation includes a property management dashboard that helps onboard tenants, manage vacant units, and fulfill service requests, a tenant app, and more.
And, Vivint provides business security systems to protect businesses like shops, restaurants, office buildings.
Where Does Vivint Fall Short?
With Vivint’s focus on premium offerings for homeowners, it fails to provide cost-effective options. So, if you’re on a budget, Vivint probably isn’t the right choice.
Along with not being cost-effective, Vivint also doesn’t offer much flexibility for homeowners. There’s no DIY installation option. And, homeowners can’t use just Vivint’s security option. They also have to use Vivint’s smart home automation solution to use the security system.
Plus, Vivint only integrates with third-party devices that support Z-Wave protocols. As such, homeowners can’t use smart devices with protocols like Zigbee, limiting smart device options. So, if you want a flexible solution that can change to meet your needs, Vivint likely won’t work for you.
Vivint was originally designed for homeowners. When Vivint began offering solutions for multifamily properties, it altered its homeowner platform to work for multifamily properties. As such, Vivint wasn’t designed with multifamily owners and operators in mind, resulting in limited functionality for your property.
And, Vivint only offers smart home automation for multifamily properties, not property management capabilities. If you’re looking for an end-to-end or middleware property management solution, Vivint can’t meet your needs. With Vivint, you’ll need other property management point solutions to manage your property – which can be clunky and expensive.
So, if you’re looking for a flexible, cost-effective, multifamily-specific, or property management solution, you might want to look for a Vivint alternative.
Finding the Right Alternative to Vivint in 2021
To help you solve Vivint’s shortcomings, here are the top alternatives for homeowners and multifamily owners and operators:
For Homeowners
1. Abode
Abode is a DIY home security system and smart home automation solution for homeowners. While Abode does manufacture some of its own hardware, it provides good integration with third-party devices.
Use Cases:
- Homeowners
Top Features:
- Homeowner app
- Proprietary hardware
- DIY installation
Like Vivint, Abode offers both home security systems and smart home automation solutions. Abode also offers both monitored and unmonitored security system options. Unlike Vivint, Abode focuses on DIY installation to make its solution more cost-effective. And, Abode only manufactures some of its hardware. Because of this, Abode supports most third-party devices, providing homeowners with more flexibility.
Final word: If you’re looking for a cost-effective home security and smart home automation solution with good integration, Abode could be a good choice.
2. ADT
ADT is one of the best-known home security providers. Along with home security, ADT also provides smart home automation and proprietary hardware.
Use Cases:
- Homeowners
- Businesses
- Multifamily
Top Features:
- Professional and DIY installation
- Homeowner/tenant app
- Proprietary hardware
Similarly to Vivint, ADT offers both security and smart home automation solutions for homeowners and multifamily properties. And, ADT offers proprietary hardware, like panels, cameras, sensors, and more. As such, ADT only integrates with Z-Wave devices, limiting flexibility. Differing from Vivint, ADT offers both professional and DIY installation, potentially making it a more cost-effective option.
Final word: If you’re looking for a big-name home security provider who offers more installation options, ADT could work for you.
3. Frontpoint
Frontpoint is another DIY home security option. It has proprietary hardware with voice control. And, Frontpoint offers some smart home automation functionality.
Use Cases:
- Homeowners
- Small businesses
Top Features:
- DIY installation
- Voice control hub
- Good customer service
Much like Vivint, Frontpoint provides home security solutions with professional monitoring. And, Frontpoint has proprietary hardware, like hubs, sensors, doorbell cameras, and more. Along with its own hardware, Frontpoint integrates with Z-Wave smart devices. And, a customer app allows homeowners to control their security and smart home automation systems. In contrast to Vivint, Frontpoint focuses on DIY installation to make its solution more cost-effective. Plus, Frontpoint is known for its great customer service.
Final word: If you’re looking for a DIY home security solution with good customer service and don’t need wide integration, Frontpoint could be a good Vivint alternative.
4. Ring Alarm
Ring began as a video doorbell company but has since branched out into smart home automation and home security. Offering both monitored and non-monitored plans, Ring Alarm aims to provide cost-effective whole-home security.
Use Cases:
- Homeowners
- Business
Top Features:
- DIY installation
- Proprietary hardware
- Optional professional monitoring
Unlike Vivint, Ring Alarm is a relatively new provider of home security solutions. Ring alarm provides a suite of proprietary hardware, like video doorbells, keypads, cameras, sensors, and more. While Ring Alarm does push DIY installation, it also offers professional installation options. And, like Vivint, Ring Alarm has limited integration options. Many devices that integrate don’t have the full functionality of Ring’s proprietary hardware.
Final word: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly home security solution and only want to use Ring devices, Ring Alarm could work for you.
5. SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe began as a home security solution for renters. Now, SimpliSafe offers DIY security systems to homeowners and renters across the country.
Use Cases:
- Homeowners/renters
- Business
Top Features:
- DIY installation
- Online ordering
- Proprietary hardware
Similar to Vivint, SimpliSafe is another well-known security system company. SimpliSafe offers proprietary hardware, like base stations, cameras, sensors, and door locks. But, SimpliSafe has even more limited integration than Vivint. SimpliSafe only integrates with a handful of companies (like Google and August Locks). However, SimpliSafe focuses on DIY installation. As such, SimpliSafe is usually more cost-effective than Vivint.
Final word: If you need a cost-effective home security solution and don’t mind very minimal integration, SimpliSafe could be a good choice.
For Property Owners and Operators
1.BeHome247
BeHome247 is a smart home automation and property management platform. Created for multifamily, single family, vacation rental, and hospitality properties, BeHome247 has everything owners/operators need to manage every aspect of operations, guest management, and communication from one single application. By providing property management capabilities and wide device integration, BeHome247 solves Vivint’s major shortcomings.
Use Cases:
- Multifamily
- Single family
- Vacation rentals
- Hospitality
Top Features:
- Device agnostic smart home automation
- End to end platform
- Middleware for legacy tech
- Responsive human support
- Tenant communications app
Like Vivint, BeHome247 helps you manage your smart devices. Unlike Vivint, BeHome247 was designed specifically for multifamily, single family, vacation rental, and hospitality properties. So, the functionality you use isn’t an afterthought. Instead, your needs are at the heart of BeHome247’s platform.
Built with property owners and operators in mind, BeHome247 also has robust property management capabilities. From a single, cloud-based software solution, BeHome247 automates all of your day-to-day operations – like inspections, maintenance, vendor invoicing, housekeeping, guest/tenant app, message center, digital rental/guest agreements, and more.
In addition to end-to-end capabilities, BeHome247 also has middleware property management functionality. As a middleware solution, BeHome247 can help you get the most out of your existing tech. And, it can add new features (like EV charging stations), without having to replace systems you already have. Plus, BeHome247 provides enterprise reporting to help you find opportunities to save time and money while increasing revenue streams.
And, BeHome247 is a device agnostic platform. This means BeHome247 works with devices that use Z-Wave, Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi, and more. So, you can keep using the devices you already have. With BeHome247, you have the flexibility to choose the right devices for your portfolio.
Final word: BeHome247 is the best Vivint alternative for property owners/operators because it is a device agnostic platform with property management capabilities.
2. Brilliant
Brilliant is a smart home automation platform for property owners/operators, along with homeowners. While Brilliant does serve homeowners, it has a more robust multifamily offering than Vivint.
Use Cases:
- Homeowners
- Multifamily
- Homebuilders
Top Features:
- Proprietary hardware
- Tenant app
- Asset protection
Similar to Vivint, Brilliant focuses on smart home automation for property owners/operators – with no property management capabilities. Brilliant also manufactures some hardware, like control panels, lights, and smart plugs. Along with proprietary hardware, Brilliant also integrates with some smart devices and property management systems. Unlike Vivint, Brilliant offers a wider range of property owner/operator features, like leak detection, energy management, asset protection, and risk management.
Final word: If you’re looking for smart home automation with proprietary hardware and a slightly more robust multifamily solution than Vivint, Brilliant could work for you.
3. Latch
Latch is a vertically integrated smart home automation solution. So, Latch makes proprietary hardware as well as software. Originally just for multifamily properties, Latch has expanded into office properties recently.
Use Cases:
- Multifamily
- Office
Top Features:
- Proprietary hardware
- Tenant app
- Access control
Latch aims to have a complete smart home automation ecosystem like Apple – but for multifamily and office properties. However, Latch doesn’t provide any property management capabilities. Like Vivint, Latch manufactures proprietary hardware like locks and cameras. And, Latch offers few integrations with third-party hardware. Along with proprietary hardware, Latch also offers features like access control, guest and delivery management, and connectivity. Plus, with LatchID, residents can access everything they need in a building from one app.
Final word: If you’re looking for a vertically integrated smart home automation solution without much third-party device support, Latch could be a good Vivint alternative.
4. PointCentral
PointCentral provides smart home automation solutions for multifamily, single family, and vacation properties. Security company Alarm.com is PointCentral’s parent company. So, PointCentral heavily focuses on smart home automation security.
Use Cases:
- Multifamily
- Single family
- Vacation Rentals
Top Features:
- Tenant app
- Monitored products
- Cellular reliability
Like Vivint, PointCentral provides smart home automation without property management capabilities. So, PointCentral provides access control, device management, water monitoring, and more. PointCentral provides these functions through cellular device connectivity, instead of WiFi. Unlike Vivint, PointCentral focuses on enterprise multifamily, single family, and vacation rental properties, instead of homeowners. And, PointCentral relies on device integration instead of proprietary hardware. However, PointCentral only integrates with some device protocols (like Z-Wave). As such, your existing smart devices may not work with PointCentral.
Final word: If you’re looking for smart home automation designed for property owners/operators without property management capabilities or wide integration, PointCentral could work for you.
5. SmartRent
SmartRent provides smart home automation for multifamily properties. It also has some solutions for single family and student housing.
Use Cases:
- Multifamily
- Single family
- Student housing
Top Features:
- Tenant app
- Parking management
- Access control
Similar to Vivint, SmartRent is a smart home automation provider. And, after acquiring a device manufacturer, SmartRent now offers some proprietary hardware. Despite this, SmartRent still offers integration with third-party devices. In contrast to Vivint, SmartRent was designed for the multifamily space. While SmartRent does have some offerings for single family and student housing, its offerings are much less robust for these property types. Although SmartRent was designed for multifamily, it doesn’t provide property management capabilities.
Final word: SmartRent could be a good alternative to Vivint if you’re looking for multifamily-specific smart home automation without property management functionality.
Important Features to Consider When Choosing a Vivint Alternative
Now that you know some Vivint alternatives, it’s time to choose the right option for you. Here’s a look at the most important features to consider when selecting an alternative.
Flexibility
One of Vivint’s major shortcomings for both homeowners and property owners/operators is a lack of device flexibility. Vivint has limited integration with third-party devices. So, you have to use its devices to use Vivint for security and home automation. However, if you already have devices that work well for you, it can be time-consuming and expensive to switch everything to Vivint hardware.
So, you should look for smart home automation solutions that have device flexibility. This means your smart home automation software will work with most third-party devices. That way, you can choose the right devices for you.
Specialization
Particularly for property owners/operators, another of Vivint’s shortcomings is that it isn’t designed for multifamily. Instead, it’s designed for homeowners and adapted to multifamily. This means that Vivint lacks a lot of features you need to manage your property – like vendor management, inspections, tenant communications, and more. And, if you choose Vivint for smart home automation, you’ll also have the added expense of separate property management software.
So, you should look for a smart home automation solution that’s designed for your needs. That way, it has everything you need in one solution.
Modular
You should also look for a Vivint alternative that’s modular. If you want Vivint security, you also have to use Vivint smart home automation. There’s no option to choose one or the other. So, you end up paying for tech you don’t want or use.
So, you should look for a modular solution. Modular smart home automation can have multiple functions. However, you only use and pay for the modules you need. And, with a modular platform, your tech can grow with you. So, you can add on more functionality as needed – rather than getting all new tech to meet your changing needs.
Responsive Support
Smart home tech can be complicated. Even if you do everything right, problems can still crop up. And, for property owners/operators, these technology challenges aren’t just frustrating for you. They can create a negative guest experience.
To resolve issues quickly for yourself or your tenants/guests, you need responsive human support. This support should prioritize your needs if something happens. That way, you can resolve any issues as soon as possible.
Wrapping It Up
Vivint is a home security and smart home automation provider primarily for homeowners. But, Vivint does also have smart home automation for multifamily properties and security for businesses.
If you want device flexibility and cost-effective options, you might consider an alternative. And, if you’re looking for multifamily, single family, vacation rental, or hospitality specific smart device automation with property management capabilities, you might also look for an alternative.
All 10 Vivint alternatives can solve some of your needs. But, if you’re looking for the best Vivint alternative for property owners/operators, BeHome247 is the way to go. BeHome247 is a device agnostic platform. And, it offers comprehensive property management solutions for multifamily, single family, vacation rentals, and hospitality properties. Plus, BeHome247 brings a hospitality mindset to other asset classes to create an outstanding tenant experience.Grab your BeHome247 demo now to see how the best Vivint alternative for property owners/operators can help you manage your devices and property better.
