# Alarm.com vs Vivint

The clearest difference is monetization model: Alarm.com at free against Vivint's free with in-app purchases. Vivint's advantage is ratings volume (860K vs 141K). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Alarm.com against 4.6 for Vivint. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Vivint has 860K ratings behind it against 141K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 23% of Alarm.com's written reviews are positive against 22% of Vivint's.

Alarm.com ships an update every 4 weeks, Vivint fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Alarm.com | Vivint |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (141K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarmcom/id315010649/reviews)** | [4.6 (860K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vivint/id734547946/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 141K | **860K** |
| Positive reviews | **23.0% of reviews** | 21.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#101** | #150 |
| Size | 443 MB | 502 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alarm.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/315010652) | [Vivint](https://appshunter.io/developer/469231043) |

## What reviewers say

### Alarm.com

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alarmcom/id315010649)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Connect and protect your home or business with a unified system. Remotely control security, locks, lights, and cameras, and receive intelligent alerts for crime, fire, or water damage. Automate routines and manage your property from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Remote property control, Intelligent alerts and live video, Security automation, Smart lock and light control, Video camera monitoring, Two-way doorbell communication

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and intuitive app
- 🔒 Provides good security and monitoring
- 👍 Easy to use and control home devices
- 💡 Helpful for remote home management

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues and app crashes
- 🔋 Unreliable notifications and alerts
- 👎 Poor customer service and technical support
- 🕰️ Slow response times for arming/disarming

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent display of system status
- Inability to update WiFi settings remotely
- Unexpected resets of user preferences
- Delayed or missing video recordings

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification sounds
- Ability to bypass specific sensors
- Improved video quality and reliability
- Integration with other smart home platforms


### Vivint

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vivint/id734547946)

**Currently charting:** #150 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Manage your entire smart home ecosystem from a single application. Control security systems, cameras, locks, lighting, and thermostats remotely. Receive real-time alerts for enhanced home safety and energy efficiency.

**Highlights:** Arm/disarm security system, Remote camera viewing and recording, Two-way talk with doorbell camera, Smart lock control, Thermostat and lighting management, Customizable automation rules, Real-time alerts and notifications

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use app
- 🔒 Provides good security and peace of mind
- 📽️ Clear and reliable camera footage
- 🔔 Helpful doorbell and motion detection features
- 🔌 Integrates well with smart home devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and connectivity issues
- 🕰️ Slow camera loading and video playback
- 📉 Declining app performance over time
- 🔍 Unreliable motion detection and recording
- 🤖 Poor customer service and technical support

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes and fails to load cameras
- Cameras frequently go offline unexpectedly
- Alarm system triggers false alarms
- Sync issues between app, panel, and devices
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS/Android versions

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support for tablets
- Improve customization options for alerts and notifications
- Integrate with more smart home platforms
- Provide better video storage and playback capabilities
- Enhance two-way audio functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Alarm.com free?

Alarm.com is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Vivint free?

Vivint is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Alarm.com or Vivint?

Alarm.com is rated higher. Alarm.com averages 4.7 out of 5 from 141K ratings, while Vivint averages 4.6 from 860K ratings.

### Do Alarm.com or Vivint have ads?

Neither Alarm.com nor Vivint shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Alarm.com or Vivint?

Alarm.com ships an update every 4 weeks, and Vivint fortnightly. Most recently, Alarm.com was updated on September 29, 2026 and Vivint on September 29, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Alarm.com or Vivint?

Alarm.com currently peaks at #101 in the App Store charts, and Vivint at #150. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*