I get asked all the time how we compare to the big national brands. People have seen the ADT yard signs their whole life, and Vivint's door to door teams are hard to miss in a new build neighborhood. Those are real companies with real products. I am going to give you my honest take on where we line up with them and where we are flat out different.
A quick note on bias
I own SoSmart, so of course I believe in our approach. I will try to be fair about what the national brands do well.
Equipment and platform
All three of us install gear on the same underlying platforms (mostly Alarm.com and a handful of manufacturer specific panels). The hardware is broadly similar. A Qolsys IQ Panel 4 looks and acts the same whether it comes from ADT, Vivint, or SoSmart. What differs is how it gets installed, how it gets maintained, and who picks up when you call.
Monitoring
All three use UL-listed monitoring centers. ADT runs their own, Vivint runs their own, and we contract with one of the largest redundant TMA 5 Diamond rated monitoring operations in the country. The day to day experience is similar. Two way voice, fast dispatch, integration with local police.
The real difference shows up when there is a problem. At SoSmart, if our monitoring center misses a step, I hear about it directly and I make it right. That is harder to do at a company with tens of thousands of accounts.
Contracts and ownership
This is where the gap opens up.
- ADT: Typically 36 month contract. You own the equipment after the term.
- Vivint: 42 or 60 month contract, often paired with a financing plan on the equipment.
- SoSmart: No long term contract. You own the equipment on day one.
Long contracts are a product of a sales model, not of a technology need. If your provider is good, they should have no trouble keeping you month to month.
Install experience
ADT and Vivint run mostly 1099 dealers and subcontractors in Oklahoma. The tech that shows up at your door may or may not have been with the company last month. They are rushed, because they get paid on volume.
At SoSmart, every technician is a SoSmart employee. Background checked, trained in house, and paid to take their time. We do fewer installs a day on purpose. If that sounds slow, think of it as the difference between a chain restaurant and a diner where the owner still rolls silverware.
Pricing
Across Oklahoma homes we have bid against both brands, we usually come in similar to ADT on the monthly and lower up front. Vivint often runs higher monthly when all of the equipment financing is included. The real number depends on your home, so take a quote seriously and read it line by line.
Customer service
If you call ADT's 800 number, you reach a call center. Same with Vivint. Most of the time you will get a competent person. Some of the time you will not, and getting the same person twice is close to impossible.
If you call our office in Oklahoma City, you reach someone you will recognize inside of two phone calls. Our techs leave you their direct number. Our owner (that is me) answers emails. It is not a gimmick. It is just how a company this size can actually operate.
Where the national brands really do compete
In fairness:
- ADT has a brand that reassures some homeowners, and their professional monitoring is mature.
- Vivint's polished app and push to tie in smart home devices is genuinely good.
- Both have more marketing muscle than we will ever have.
The right way to compare
Get three quotes. One of them should be local. Read every contract line by line, especially the early termination clause, the monthly auto increase clause, and what happens to your equipment when you leave. Then pick the company you would rather call at 2 a.m. when an alarm goes off.
If that is us, request a free quote and we will come out for a no pressure walk through.
Arlen Speakman, Owner, SoSmart Security