Vivint Smart Thermostat Review

The Vivint Element Smart Thermostat may be an optional add-on to your Vivint security system, but it’s a must-have for the eco-conscious smart home dweller. With a sleek minimalist design, built-in AI, and proximity sensors, it puts the “art” in smart.

The Vivint Thermostat learns your preferences and typical schedule to adjust your home temperature accordingly. All these automatic adjustments put less strain on your HVAC system and your utility budget.

Working with the Vivint phone app, the thermostat can adjust when you leave or come home so you can walk into a toasty room in the winter or fresh AC during the summer.

While all the thermostats above automatically adjust temperature and have voice control, the feature that sets the Vivint Element Smart Thermostat apart is its ties to a full security system. Simply put, to get the Vivint Element, you’ll need a Vivint system—it does its best work with other Vivint components.

If you want a smart thermostat without monthly fees, the Google Nest Thermostat^† is a good candidate. It’s compatible with a range of HVAC systems and does the same job as the Vivint Element. It also works with the Vivint security system.

We also like more budget-friendly choices like Honeywell and Ecobee, but you may have issues with connectivity. Both have a tendency to lose touch with the home Wi-Fi network and go offline.

Vivint is known for its smooth smart home integration and proprietary smart home products. So it’s no surprise that the Vivint Element Smart Thermostat is a piece of the home automation puzzle.

Like other Vivint sensors, lights, locks, and other devices, you can link your Vivint thermostat to the rest of your system. With the automation feature, you can leave the house as your lights turn off, doors lock, and the thermostat switches off in one go.

The Vivint Element Smart Thermostat is also compatible with smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Assistant. Say the magic words, “Alexa” or “Hey, Google” to adjust to the temperature you want without skipping a beat.

The Vivint security control panel connects to your thermostat so you can make adjustments or program your schedule from there.

Whether you fuss with your thermostat or forget it even exists, the temperature in your home has a huge impact on your monthly energy bill. Air conditioning, space heating, and water heating (like that used for radiant heating) make up a combined 46% of electricity consumption in US households.¹

So if you cut back your energy use, you’ll cut down on your energy spending. (Thank you, Captain Obvious.) And that’s why smart thermostats like the Vivint Element can be so helpful—they simply do the micromanaging for you.

Smart thermostats like Vivint’s don’t change how your HVAC system works, just how hard. Instead of demanding a steady 72 degrees year round, the Vivint Element Smart Thermostat considers factors like temperature, light, and humidity to calculate the most efficient (but comfortable) temperature.

You’ll need a Vivint security system to get a Vivint Element Smart Thermostat. Vivint professionals install this thermostat, plus any other Vivint equipment you buy.

The Element thermostat can work with batteries (included) or be hardwired. If you have a natural gas, electric, propane, fuel oil, or geothermal power system, it’ll be compatible.

If you’re already considering a Vivint home security system, the Element Smart Thermostat is an energy-saving addition. It can pair with your other smart home equipment, adjust to your schedule and preferences, and work with your smart speaker for a seamless experience. 

But the Vivint thermostat isn’t a standalone device. You can’t buy it on its own like the Nest Thermostat or other smart thermostats out there. So if you’re looking for a smart thermostat and only a smart thermostat, we suggest looking at other options.

Read answers to more Vivint FAQs.

At SafeWise, we’re well acquainted with Vivint. We’ve reviewed the Vivint smart home security system, Vivint equipment and third-party compatibility, Vivint cameras, and even compared it to similar smart home systems. We’ve even toured Vivint’s headquarters, and we meet with its team every year.

To get the inside scoop on the Vivint Element Smart Thermostat, we got in touch with the company itself. We also looked through customer reviews and watched installation videos to get a better understanding of the thermostat from the user’s point of view.

Check out our methodology page to see what goes into all of our home security and smart home reviews.

• Best Smart Thermostats
• Vivint Equipment
• Vivint Smart Home Security Review
• How Energy Efficiency Can Increase Your Home’s Value
• How Much Does Vivint Cost?

1. US Energy Information Administration, "Use Of Energy Explained," May 2019. Accessed November 3, 2022.