The short version: The Vivint Element Thermostat isn’t sold on its own in Canada — it comes bundled into a professionally installed, monitored Vivint security package. Before you factor the thermostat into your decision, know that Vivint’s Canadian operations were acquired by TELUS in 2022, which matters more to this purchase than the thermostat’s feature list.

An Important Ownership Note for Canadian Buyers

Vivint Security Canada was acquired by TELUS in 2022. TELUS has a pattern of buying independent security companies operating in Canada and eventually folding them into its own “TELUS SmartHome Security” brand. As of this writing, Vivint continues to bill, monitor, and support Canadian customers under the Vivint name, but given TELUS’s acquisition history with other security brands, confirm current branding, contract terms, and who you’re actually contracting with (Vivint or TELUS) before signing anything. This is a live situation, not a fixed fact — check directly with the company at the time you buy.

Why This Review Reads Differently

Every other thermostat on this site can be bought and installed independently. The Element can’t — it’s only available as part of a Vivint-installed security and automation package, and Vivint doesn’t publish a standalone Canadian price for it. That means we can describe what the device does and what buyers say about Vivint as a company, but we can’t give you an apples-to-apples price or performance comparison against a standalone thermostat, because that comparison is never actually offered to you.

Who It’s For

Only consider the Element if you’re already evaluating a full Vivint (or TELUS-integrated Vivint) monitored security system — cameras, door/window sensors, a panel, professional monitoring — for reasons beyond the thermostat. If a smart thermostat is your primary goal, buy one on its own; you’ll pay less, install it yourself in under an hour, and won’t be tied to a multi-year monitoring contract to use it.

What the Element Does

Functionally, it’s a fairly standard smart thermostat: touchscreen control, built-in proximity/occupancy sensing, adaptive scheduling, and control through the Vivint Smart Home app alongside cameras and locks. It supports Alexa and Google Assistant. It can respond to your security system’s armed/disarmed state — for example, adjusting temperature automatically when you arm the system for “away.”

Setup & Compatibility

Installation is handled by a Vivint technician as part of the broader system install rather than DIY. In US buyer feedback (Canadian-specific thermostat feedback is scarce, so we’re drawing on the wider North American complaint pool), a recurring issue was wiring problems traced to the installing technician, including at least one report of a heater failure from improper thermostat wiring. Ask your installer directly what recourse you have if their work damages your HVAC equipment — get it in writing.

Also confirm compatibility with any existing smart-home devices before signing; some buyers were told specific existing equipment would integrate with Vivint and later found it wasn’t supported.

What Owners Say About Vivint (the Company)

We found essentially no independent Canadian commentary on the Element thermostat specifically — it isn’t sold or reviewed as a standalone product here. What we did find is a substantial body of buyer sentiment about Vivint as a company, mostly from the US market but relevant since the sales model and contract structure are similar:

  • Aggregated review sites show Vivint with very low average customer satisfaction, driven mainly by billing and cancellation disputes rather than equipment failures.
  • Common complaint pattern: continued charges after cancellation, contracts that auto-renew without clear customer notice, and difficult cancellation processes.
  • Vivint’s US sales practices drew a $400,000 Arizona Attorney General penalty in 2022 over deceptive sales tactics.
  • Vivint customers were affected by an FTC action over misuse of customer credit information, with FTC-issued refunds in December 2024.
  • Some buyers report satisfactory installation experiences and functioning equipment — the sharpest complaints are about sales and contract terms, not day-to-day thermostat performance.

Given the TELUS acquisition, ask specifically who holds your contract, who you’d be dealing with for cancellation, and whether terms differ from the legacy Vivint agreements referenced in older complaints.

Price & Value

Vivint Element (bundled)
Standalone price (CAD) Not sold separately — no published unit price
Contract Multi-year professional monitoring contract typically required
Installation Included, professional (not DIY)
Cancellation Historically a source of disputed charges per buyer complaints — confirm current terms in writing

There’s no meaningful standalone price to compare against ecobee, Google Nest, or other Canadian-market thermostats. Compare the total security package cost against alternatives (a self-installed thermostat plus a separate, possibly self-monitored, security system) instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
– Professional installation included
– Integrates with the same app as Vivint cameras and locks
– Built-in occupancy sensing
– Alexa and Google Assistant support

Cons:
– Not sold or priced as a standalone product in Canada
– Requires a multi-year monitoring contract
– Ownership transition (TELUS acquisition) adds uncertainty about long-term branding and support
– Independent complaints skew heavily toward billing and cancellation practices
– Reports of installation-related HVAC wiring issues

The Recommendation

Don’t shop for the Element on its own — it isn’t sold that way in Canada. If you’re evaluating Vivint (or its TELUS-affiliated successor) for security reasons, treat the thermostat as a reasonable inclusion rather than a deciding factor, and put your real diligence into the monitoring contract: length, early-termination costs, and exactly who you’re contracting with post-acquisition.

If you want a smart thermostat without a security contract, see Best Smart Thermostats Canada and pair it with a self-monitored security option if you also want cameras.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vivint still a separate company in Canada, or is it TELUS now?
Vivint Security Canada was acquired by TELUS in 2022. As of this writing Vivint continues to bill and support customers under its own name, but confirm current status directly, since TELUS has rebranded other acquired security companies to “TELUS SmartHome Security.”

Can I buy the Vivint Element Thermostat without a monitoring contract?
Not through Vivint’s normal Canadian sales channel — it comes as part of a professionally installed, monitored security package.

How much does the Vivint Element Thermostat cost in Canada?
Vivint doesn’t publish a standalone Canadian price. Cost is bundled into your overall equipment and monitoring package.

Does the Vivint Element work with Alexa and Google Assistant?
Yes, both are supported through the Vivint Smart Home app.

What happens to the thermostat if I cancel my Vivint contract?
Historically a source of buyer complaints around continued billing and unclear terms. Get cancellation and equipment terms in writing before signing, and ask what functionality (if any) survives cancellation.