Cove vs. Vivint 2024

After several weeks of testing these two security systems in our home, we found Vivint was the better option.

We loved the equipment quality and that it was powered by AI. The cameras could tell the difference between me approaching the front door and someone looking to sell me another subscription service I don’t need.

But Cove put up a good fight. We were shocked at how easy it was to install and set up the system ourselves without a professional installation fee like we paid with Vivint.

In this guide, we’ll highlight the similarities and differences based on our in-home testing as well as run through the monitoring and equipment costs. We’ll even compare how they handle an emergency situation.

Let’s take a look.

How Are Cove and Vivint Similar?

Cove and Vivint have more in common than being home security systems. These are some of the features both offer.

Professional Monitoring

For their products to work, we had to pay for a monitoring plan with Cove and Vivint. However, these packages work a little differently from one another.

With Cove, there are two options to choose from. Some of the differences between them include equipment warranty and integration with Google Home and Alexa. With Vivint, we only paid for 24/7 professional monitoring. It ended up being one of our favorite monitored home security systems that we tested. Everything else was included with the products. We’ll get into more detail about that later.

Cellular Backup

If your Wi-Fi tends to drop out at the climatic moment of the latest binge-worthy TV show, you can rest assured your security system will stay online even if you’re missing out on who’s getting eliminated from “The Mole.”

Cove and Vivint have cellular backup in case your internet disconnects. They also have a 24-hour backup battery for their control hubs if the power cuts out, too.

User-Friendly Apps

While Cove and Vivint have a control hub, we could manage every aspect of our security system through their apps as well. Some of the commands we used most in the apps were:

• Arm and disarm the system
• Receive notifications
• Livestream from the cameras
• Review footage from the cloud
• Speak to visitors from the video doorbell
• Adjust sensors and connected devices

The best part was that with both apps, we didn’t have to be connected to Wi-Fi to operate our systems. We could’ve been sitting on the couch in our living room or lying on a pool lounge chair at a resort, waiting for our third cocktail to arrive, and the app would’ve worked regardless.

>> Read More: Best Home Security System With a Mobile App

Voice Activation

When we left our phone in the other room, we could still get status updates or see what was happening on the cameras by using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. (We have both in our home, don’t judge us.)

Neither Cove nor Vivint let us arm or disarm our security systems with Alexa, so we had to use our equipment to control the system and get notifications.

Google Assistant let us arm our Cove and Vivint security systems, but it still couldn’t disarm the systems. We also got an event history if we swiped a notification away too quickly. There were even commands for specific devices and the option to view cameras through Google products, such as Nest or an Android TV.

Storage

Cove and Vivint offer multiple storage options for the footage their cameras capture. We could either pay an additional monthly fee to store clips in the cloud for a period of time or avoid the monthly fee by storing clips locally with a microSD card. Vivint even sells a DVR that stores up to ten days of continuous video for up to 12 cameras.

If you prefer the Cloud option, Cove Cloud+ is $2.99 per month per camera. That’s what we went with when we tested Cove. You’ll get 30 days of clips with your subscription. For Vivint, we paid $5 per month per camera for 14 days of storage.

Cove and Vivint Differences

There are significant differences between Cove and Vivint that may make it easier to decide which home security system is right for you. These are the three that stand out most.

Installation

The biggest difference between Cove and Vivint is how our equipment gets installed. With Cove, we could either pay up to $129 for a professional to do it or set up the system ourselves.

We’re always looking for ways to save on our home security, so we installed the system ourselves. And we’re glad we did. Cove’s devices are some of the easiest to install and don’t require any renovating skills. We got up and running in about 20 minutes with a handful of tools, which shows that installing a home security system is easier than you think it is.

As for Vivint, we needed to arrange an appointment with a specialist to come out and configure our devices. There were some installation guides on their website, but some systems need to be hardwired, which requires expertise with breaker boxes that we didn’t have. We recommend you do what we did and pay the $99 installation fee for a professional to take care of it.

Contracts

When we got our Cove system, we didn’t need to sign our name on any dotted lines. All we had to do was pick our equipment, choose a monitoring plan, set up the devices, and let it do its thing. There were no contracts, so we could cancel our plan any time.

It was slightly more complicated with Vivint. The main reason was that their equipment was expensive, so we chose to finance it. This meant that in addition to the monthly monitoring costs, an additional payment with a contract was required to pay off the devices.

A Vivint contract can last up to five years. Unlike other security systems, which lock you into plans and then hike the price yearly, Vivint charges the same amount for the life of the agreement. So at least there’s a cherry on top.

If you have the money to pay for the devices upfront, you don’t need to sign a contract. You can pay month-to-month like you would with Cove.

>> Check Out: The Ins and Outs of Home Security Contracts

Smart Home Add-Ons

If you want to transform your place into a Smart Home, you’ll want to choose Vivint. Cove doesn’t integrate with third-party devices or offer equipment that dims the lights or adjusts the room’s temperature.

Vivint offered us a range of smart devices they sell directly, including:

• Element thermostats
• Lighting controls
• Smart garage controls

We could also integrate third-party equipment such as smart locks, light bulbs, and Z-Wave compatible devices. When we tested Vivint, we set up automations for our lights to switch off and our doors to lock automatically at 10 p.m. every night to make our home more secure and energy efficient.

Comparing Monitoring Costs

For the products to work, you have to purchase a monitoring plan with Cove or Vivint. But what’s included in these packages differs between brands.

Cove Monitoring Costs

Here’s an overview of Cove’s two monitoring plans, both of which are available for every Cove system:

You’re not missing out on much if you choose Cove Basic. However, some bonuses in Cove Plus can reduce the cost of your Cove security system in the long term.

The lifetime equipment warranty means you can replace devices with defects in the materials and workmanship at any time. Plus, if you choose to add more items to your security system in the future, Cove gives you a $5 credit each month to help cover the costs.

But our favorite feature is the lifetime monitoring rate-lock guarantee. We’ve seen other home security providers lift their prices yearly like clockwork. But this service protects you from any increases, so you know exactly how much you’re paying for the life of the plan. Needless to say, we went with Cove Plus.

Vivint Monitoring Costs

Monitoring fees with Vivint start from $39.99 per month. It’s 24/7 monitoring, so when we went out to a late dinner and an alarm triggered at 11 p.m., Vivint’s monitoring team still got in touch with us to see what was going on. We pulled up our indoor camera feed and saw that it was just the babysitter, so we called off the alarm. But it was good to know we would get an alert in case it was a criminal.

There are no additional features or services included in the monitoring costs. Vivint chooses to include these with the equipment it sells.

Equipment Costs

Cove and Vivint let you build your own home security system. These are some of the products we recommend from each company:

There is a significant price discrepancy between Cove and Vivint. But there’s also a big difference in the quality of the equipment. Vivint’s devices are state-of-the-art and powered by AI to keep your home safe while Cove’s are designed with budget constraints in mind.

Cove cameras are fine. They’ve partnered with Eufy to offer budget-friendly products with a ton of great features. The outdoor camera can distinguish between people and objects using AI. But the indoor camera can’t, so when our curtain gently blew in the breeze, it triggered a recording. This made it difficult to go through our clips and find the moments we wanted to keep.

Vivint’s cameras are top-of-the-line and feature powerful zooming technology and impressive image quality no matter the time of day. They can even identify prowlers. And when they do, they shine a spotlight in the direction of the shady characters and follow them until they move on as if they were a lone figure on a Broadway stage. We tested this by having our friend slowly creep by our house and sure enough, our Vivint spotlights pointed them out.

Another benefit of AI is that not every movement is recorded, which saves space. Plus, you won’t get a notification whenever a dog strolls past your place because the products know the difference between humans and animals.

What Happens When an Alarm Is Triggered?

Cove security systems use RapidSOS technology to send alarm data directly to 911 dispatchers. The benefit is they don’t need as much information from you, can strategize faster, and approach the situation prepared.

We saw the results firsthand when cops wound up at our house following one of our tests. After finishing our test, we forgot to tell our monitoring agent what we were doing until it was too late. But it sure made us feel safe knowing help was only minutes away. Best of all, the technology works regardless of whether you have power or not.

Vivint also uses an LTE network to reach the monitoring center. They sent text alerts to us and our listed contacts. While we were on vacation, we included our nephew who was housesitting for us in our listed contacts. That way, he got our security system’s alerts as well and could check them out for us immediately. Another bonus is that Vivint monitors home safety equipment, like smoke alarms, and takes action instantly if a fire is detected.

Cove or Vivint: Which One Should You Choose?

Cove is an excellent, affordable security system you can not only design but install yourself. It might not have an extensive range of equipment or smart home automation features. But it has everything you need to protect you and your home.

However, if you want to future-proof your security system, we recommend Vivint. You’re investing in AI-powered equipment that can integrate with all your smart home devices. You can check if doors are closed properly, turn on a fan when you need fresh air, and manage every aspect of your equipment in its app.vivint

Plus, your cameras won’t record every movement that occurs. It’s smart enough to know the difference between you hanging around outside and a suspicious loiterer. While you might pay a little extra, the safety measures and peace of mind it offers are priceless.

Frequently Asked Questions