How Long Does Vivint Keep Video? Storage Plans and Prices
Vivint Playback DVR
$399.99
or $6.67/mo over 60 months at 0% APR on approved credit. Professional installation, currently free for new customers.
Vivint keeps video for as long as your storage plan allows: with Premium Video, launched September 2, 2026, you get 10 days of 24/7 recording stored locally and 45 days of cloud event clips for $5.99 a month on top of Playback DVR, or $13.98 a month for both. Without Premium Video, cameras save event clips to the cloud, and Playback DVR records around the clock to a local drive. This page compares the 3 options, gives the retention for each, explains who can see stored video, and matches each option to a home.
Updated by thevivint.com, an independent Vivint Authorized Dealer. Prices and terms verified November 5, 2026. Vivint sets all prices; dealer promotions are listed separately.
How Long Does Vivint Keep Footage?
Vivint keeps footage for 10 days of continuous recording and 45 days of event clips on Premium Video; older footage is overwritten automatically, so download any clip you need to keep before it ages out.
| Option | What it records | How long it is kept | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud event clips | Clips when a camera detects motion or a person | Not published by Vivint; reviews report about 14 days | $5 per camera on the camera plan |
| Playback DVR (Smart Drive) | 24/7 recording to a local drive in the home | Reviews report up to 30 days from up to 4 cameras | $399.99 once, or $6.67/mo over 60 months; 90-day free trial |
| Premium Video (needs Playback DVR) | 24/7 local recording plus cloud clips, AI video search, Familiar Faces | 10 days 24/7; 45 days of clips | $5.99 a month; 90-day free trial |
Sources: Vivint price book (November 2026) for prices and trials; Vivint newsroom, Premium Video announcement (September 2026); TechHive and other reviews for clip and Smart Drive retention.
Which Storage Option Should You Choose?
Choose cloud clips for a single doorbell camera, Playback DVR when you want to scroll back through everything that happened, and Premium Video when you have 2 or more cameras and want to search footage instead of watching it.
Who Can Access Stored Vivint Video?
Stored Vivint video is accessible to the account holder and the app users they authorise; Vivint monitoring agents access camera clips only during an active alarm for verification, and Vivint staff do not review stored footage.
The camera privacy guide covers encryption and user permissions.
Which Storage Fits Your Setup?
A single doorbell camera needs only cloud clips; a home with 2 to 4 cameras gets the most from Playback DVR with Premium Video; and a property where Wi-Fi drops benefits from local recording, which keeps running without the internet.
The Vivint camera lineup shows which cameras record to Playback DVR.
Frequently Asked Questions
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