Looking for a system to improve your home security? We have decided to compare two popular brands, Vivint vs Ring. These brands have similarities and offer a wide variety of features and solutions. Keep reading the article to decide which brand offers a better solution for your home.
Vivint vs Ring – Quick Comparison
Vivint is a North American home security automation company. Their vast range of products includes security cameras, smart locks, sensors, thermostats, and many more.
Ring is an Amazon-owned company. It offers home security products such as security cameras, sensors, and doorbell cameras.
Both systems offer indoor and outdoor camera options. Vivint cameras are more expensive compared to Ring cameras and need professional installation.
Vivint
Pros:
- Professional monitoring in all packages
- Continuous recording with a Smart Drive
- Flex paying options
- Medical pendant support
Cons:
- Expensive cameras
- Installation fee
Ring
Pros:
- Vast range of cameras
- Affordable cameras
- Yearly fees
- Extended warranty
Cons:
- Professional monitoring only in one package
- Continuous recording
Ring vs Vivint – Key Features
Price and Value
If you already have one of these two systems installed, it might be a good idea to add extra features. In this case, you can subscribe to their services.
Vivint and Ring subscription plans come with many additional perks to enhance your home security system. Both companies have three packages with different options.
If you want to have the professional monitoring feature along with the medical pendant support, Vivint’s Smart Security Monitoring package might be a good option. It costs $19.99/month.
As you can see in the table below, the other two packages offer two additional features and cost much more. Another thing you can notice in the table is the installation fee. Unlike other DIY systems, Vivint requires professional installation.
| Vivint Subscription Plans | Smart Security Monitoring | Smart Home Monitoring | Smart Home Video Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Entry, Smoke, and CO detection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Pendant Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Professional 24/7 Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Home Integration | No | Yes | Yes |
| Video Surveillance | No | No | Yes |
| Installation Fee | $99 | $99 | $99 |
| Monthly Fee | $19.99 | $39.99 | $44.99 |
Vivint packages don’t support the video history feature. That leads us to Ring, which offers this feature in all their packages. The video history allows you to watch, download and share video clips via your phone, laptop, or computer.
Ring systems record video clips when motion is detected. So, whichever package you subscribe to, the video history shows clips for the last 60 days. You can choose between the Protect Basic, Plus, or Pro package when it comes to this feature.
| Ring Subscription Plans | Protect Basic | Protect Plus | Protect Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Saving and Sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Snapshot Capture | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video History | 60 days | 60 days | 60 days |
| Person Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rich Notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extended Warranty | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring | No | No | Yes |
| Alarm Cellular Backup | No | No | Yes |
| Alexa Guard Plus | No | No | Yes |
| 10% Amazon Discount on Ring Products | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Backup and Optional Extra Data | No | No | Yes |
| Monthly Fee | $3 | $10 | $20 |
| Yearly Fee | $39.99 | $100 | $200 |
Additionally, the Ring plans have more payment options, warranty options, and discounts. So, if you want to save money or extend your warranty, one of the Ring packages could be an excellent choice.
Winner: Ring
Installation
Vivint is quite different from other home security providers in terms of equipment installation. You need to pay an installation fee and allow a technician to come to your house.
Ring home systems are DIY. In other words, their systems are easy to install. Some Ring cameras may require an additional device, such as a base station or a hub. These cameras could be a bit difficult to install.
There are also Ring cameras that can work independently, without an additional device. These are easier to install. Watch the video below to find out more useful information on installing a Ring camera.
If you like stress-free installation and you don’t mind paying a little extra, Vivint is the way to go. However, the Ring could be the best choice for all consumers who want to save money and install a camera themselves.
Winner: Ring
Professional Monitoring
This feature is essential for all home security systems. When there is an emergency, the alarm is triggered. A trained security specialist contacts you to check if you are safe. If there is a need for it, the specialist then contacts the emergency services.
All Vivint subscription plans come with professional 24/7 monitoring. Ring also provides the professional monitoring feature. But, if you want to use this feature, you need to subscribe to the Ring Protect Pro subscription plan. Since Vivint includes this feature in all its plans, it prevails in this section.
Winner: Vivint
Storage
Storage Retention Time
Vivint subscription plans don’t have the video history feature. If you want to watch your video history, you need to install Vivint Smart Drive. It allows 24/7 video recording on all your cameras and 30 days of local storage.
This might be an excellent solution for all consumers who want 24/7 video recordings. Instead of paying every month for the video history feature, you can have a much better feature with a small investment.
But, Ring offers the video history feature. The feature allows you to access your video clips for up to 60 days. You can set up the length of video clips to last from 15 seconds to 120 seconds.
Winner: Vivint
Monthly Cost
The retail price of the Vivint Smart Drive is $250. You can also pay for the device in installments. Choosing the second option will cost you $4.17 a month with a 60-month financing plan.
But, the Ring video history feature starts at $3 a month. The other options are $10 or $20 a month, depending on the package.
Winner: Vivint
Camera Options
The Vivint camera range is narrow. In general, the choice comes down to two cameras. The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro could be a good choice if you need an outdoor camera. You can connect it to your security system via WiFi or a cat 5 or 6 ethernet cable. It has a 4K HDR sensor, two-way audio and is compatible with other Vivint components.
The main disadvantage of the camera is its price. The price is much higher than other similar models on the market.
| Vivint Cameras | MSRP | Type | Resolution | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro | $399 | Outdoor | 1080p HD | Check Price on Amazon |
| Vivint Indoor Camera | $199 | Indoor | 1080p HD | Check Price on Amazon |
As you can see in the table above, the Vivint Indoor camera is offered at a reasonable price. But, you can use this camera only indoors. Both cameras support full HD resolution.
On the other hand, Ring has affordable prices and a larger camera offering. For instance, the Ring Spotlight camera is the most expensive model and costs only $199.99. For the price, you get an indoor/outdoor camera that supports 1080p HD resolution. It also supports Amazon Alexa, two-way audio, and infrared night vision.
| Ring Cameras | MSRP | Type | Resolution | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotlight Cam Battery | $199.99 | Indoor/Outdoor | 1080p HD | Check Price on Amazon |
| Stick Up Cam Plug-In | $99.99 | Indoor/Outdoor | 1080p HD | Check Price on Amazon |
| Indoor Cam | $59.99 | Indoor | 1080p HD | Check Price on Amazon |
The same goes for the rest of the models. The Ring Indoor camera is much cheaper than the Vivint Indoor camera, which costs $199.
Winner: Ring
Power and Battery Features
All of the Vivint security cameras are wired. So, they get their power out of the outlet. Ring cameras are also wired, except for the Spotlight camera which is battery powered. Since Ring has one camera that runs on the batteries, it has a better choice than Vivint.
Winner: Ring
Subscriptions and Contracts
If you buy the Vivint equipment upfront, you don’t have to sign any contracts. However, if you want to finance your equipment, you need to sign a contract.
Vivint payment contracts can last from 42 to 60 months. This payment model is called Vivint Flex Pay. The main goal of Flex Pay is to make the home security systems available to households of all budgets.
Ring doesn’t require you to sign a monthly contract to use their equipment. Both companies allow consumers to use their cameras without signing contracts. But, you will be limited with additional features if you choose not to subscribe to some of their subscription plans.
Winner: Vivint
Warranty
Vivint warranty coverage lasts for 120 days after installing the equipment. It includes any repair or part replacement, free of charge. If you continue to use Vivint services, you get the additional 120 days of warranty. But, in this period, the warranty only includes the replacement of defective parts, and no service is included.
Ring equipment comes with a limited one-year warranty, including lifetime theft protection. If you subscribe to the Plus or Pro plan, you can even get an extended warranty. Ring is a clear winner in this category.
Winner: Ring
Technology Features
Image/Streaming Quality
Both of the Vivint security cameras, indoor and outdoor, support the maximum Full HD 1080p video resolution. Ring cameras also support Full HD resolution.
Even though they are tied in this segment, we have to emphasize that this is the downside for both brands. The 4K resolution is becoming more popular on the market.
Winner: Draw
Video Display – Fields of View
As a brand, Vivint offers excellent fields of view on its security cameras. Their indoor camera comes with 155 degrees and outdoor with 140 degrees field of view.
Ring cameras perform well since their cameras have a field of view from 130 to 140 degrees. However, Vivint is better in this segment.
Winner: Vivint
Types of Products
Floodlight
Unfortunately, Vivint doesn’t include a floodlight camera in its offering. They keep it simple with only the indoor and outdoor cameras.
However, Ring offers a Full HD Floodlight Cam Wired Plus. It has a built-in siren, two-way talk feature, two LED floodlights, night vision, and offers customizable motion zones.
Winner: Ring
Doorbell Camera
The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro knows the difference between people and packages. So, if you want to minimize alerts, this camera might be a good choice for you.
Additionally, it can prevent package theft before it happens by activating LEDs and audio signals. The maximum video resolution is 1080p. It is wired and supports person detection.
But, Ring has a vast range of doorbells. You can choose between battery-powered, wired, or ethernet-powered options.
In general, all Ring doorbell cameras support HD resolution, two-way audio, and motion detection.
Winner: Vivint
Alarm System
Vivint’s home security system can protect you from theft, vandalism, burglary, intrusion, and emergencies like fire or flood. With 24/7 monitoring, you can get an additional sense of security.
Vivint’s system includes various security devices such as security cameras, water sensors, motion sensors, smoke detectors, door and window sensors, and CO detectors. You can control all of these via the app or through the hub.
The Ring includes two alarm systems in its offering – the Ring Alarm and the Ring Alarm Pro. All the devices are connected to the Ring Alarm Base Station, and you can control them via the app.
Winner: Draw
Conclusion
Have you decided which system is better, Vivint vs Ring? We are going to help you answer this question.
If you want to record your video streams 24/7 for 30 days, Vivint is a perfect choice! Once you buy a Smart Drive, you won’t need to pay for this service every month. The Vivint Smart Drive costs $250, and you can pay it in installments.
Additionally, you can subscribe to one of Vivint’s plans. Keep in mind that every plan contains a professional monitoring feature and medical pendant support.
So, if you want to have the option to request medical assistance, it might be a good idea to take advantage of this service with Vivint. If you spot an intruder in the house, you can also use the pendant to call an agent.
However, if you want to install a home security system yourself, Ring is a better choice. The Ring system is DIY which means you can install it without any professional help and additional costs.
Ring also has a vast range of subscription plan options. If you want to download and share your video clips with other people, you can do it for only $3 a month. Other packages bring you Amazon discounts, extended warranty, and 24/7 monitoring.
Above all, Ring’s cameras are sold at low prices. Whether you want to secure the inside or outside your home, Ring has a camera for you in their vast range of cameras.
