SimpliSafe Home Security
Price
$0 to $29.99 monthly
Contract
No contracts – Month-to-month payment
Expert Take
Since its inception in 2006, SimpliSafe has strived to provide simple home security solutions for homes of all types. The company achieves its goal by offering numerous equipment options without overloading customers with more choices than necessary. They also provide multiple monitoring options for further customization. While cost-effective, SimpliSafe home security systems outpace many of the company’s competitors and can nearly reach the protection levels of some professionally designed and managed systems.
Pros
- Highly customizable systems available with numerous equipment options
- Easy DIY installation with a professional installation option available
- 60-day money-back trial period and month-to-month payment plans without a contract
Cons
- Limited smart home compatibility
- Subscription plan necessary to enable voice assistant and smart home capabilities
- Wi-Fi connection limited to 2.4 GHz networks only
Vault’s Viewpoint on SimpliSafe Home Security
Our SimpliSafe review highlights the mostly DIY home security system provider. However, the company and its systems rival some of the best home security systems available, whether self-installed or professionally designed.
By offering several pre-packaged home security device collections, SimpliSafe makes it easy to choose equipment for many types of homes. The pre-packaged options are also customizable by adding components from the company’s additional device selections. Customers can also choose to build their own system from scratch, starting with only the necessities that include a base station and keypad.
On top of equipment selections, SimpliSafe also offers four monitoring options. These include a no-cost self-monitoring, a paid self-monitoring option with added features and two 24/7 professional monitoring selections.
Home security customers looking for a relatively low-cost system with equally low-priced month-to-month monitoring options will likely enjoy SimpliSafe’s offerings. However, customers looking for a fully professionally designed and managed system may have to look elsewhere.
About SimpliSafe Home Security
As noted in the SimpliSafe security review included in our best cheap home security systems list, SimpliSafe is primarily designed for DIYers and home security customers looking for budget-friendly options. However, SimpliSafe systems are diverse enough to offer something for almost every type of home—provided you’re willing to choose the device package and options best for your residence.
While SimpliSafe offers its customers a wide selection of products and plans, the system does have its limitations. A SimpliSafe home security system is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant but only for those who subscribe to the highest-tiered professionally monitored subscription plan.
Additionally, the system’s smart home compatibility is limited to functioning with August Locks and the company’s own SimpliSafe Smart Lock. While that can be useful, we’d like to see the company extend its smart home connectivity.
Equipment
As any good SimpliSafe alarm review should do, it is important to spend some time discussing the company’s equipment offerings. While its cameras didn’t quite make our list of the best home security cameras available, the technology is still quite good. SimpliSafe’s wireless outdoor camera, for instance, features a 140-degree field of view, 10x digital zoom and a spotlight for night vision.
SimpliSafe sells its home security systems in several equipment packages, customizable by adding individually sold components. Additionally, customers can create a fully customized setup by starting with the base station and keypad, which are necessary to operate any SimpliSafe system.
Seven equipment packages are available with bundled regular prices starting at $249.96 for the Foundation package. This package includes the base station, keypad, motion detector and an entry sensor.
The highest-priced package, known as The Beacon, is regularly priced at $709.90. It includes the base station and keypad, four entry sensors, two motion detectors and two wireless outdoor cameras. SimpliSafe often offers package and equipment prices well below their regular prices on its website. Additionally, the company offers equipment financing through Affirm for up to 24 months.
Environmental Devices
To help protect your home even further, SimpliSafe offers several optional equipment add-ons—including a panic button, key fob, additional siren alarm and extra keypads.
The company also offers four environmental protection devices that integrate into the overall home security system. A water sensor is available, which detects water leaks by identifying standing water. The device alerts the system and sends a message indicating potential trouble.
SimpliSafe also provides the option to choose a smoke detector or combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Additionally, they offer a temperature sensor to alert system owners of potentially damaging freezing temps within the home.
Equipment Cost
SimpliSafe helps customers avoid confusion by offering plenty of components to secure a home, but they keep things simple by not offering multiple options for each type of device. Equipment packages are also available to make choosing easy, and each package is customizable by adding equipment from a list of options.
| Equipment Package | Regular Price | Includes Base Station, Keypad and: |
| The Foundation | $249.96 | -One motion detector -One entry sensor |
| The Essentials | $279.95 | -One motion detector -Three entry sensors |
| The Hearth | $399.91 | -One motion detector -Three entry sensors -One key fob -One siren alarm -One smoke detector |
| The Lighthouse | $469.93 | -One motion detector -Three entry sensors -One outdoor camera |
| The Knox | $497.87 | -Two motion detectors -Six entry sensors -One key fob -One siren alarm -One smoke detector |
| The Haven | $519.86 | -Two motion detectors -Four entry sensors -One key fob -One siren alarm -One smoke detector -One panic button -One water sensor -One temperature sensor |
| The Beacon | $709.90 | -Two motion detectors -Four entry sensors -Two outdoor cameras |
Regular prices for individual system components are listed below.
- Wireless indoor camera: $139.99
- Wireless outdoor camera: $189.99
- Video Doorbell Pro: $169.00
- Wired indoor camera: $99.00
- Entry sensor: $14.99
- Motion detector: $34.99
- Glass-break sensor: $39.99
- Panic button: $19.99
- Key fob: $24.99
- Siren alarm: $59.99
- Additional keypad: $69.99
- Yard sign: $3.99
- Water sensor: $19.99
- Smoke detector: $34.99
- Smoke and CO detector: $59.99
- Temperature sensor: $29.99
Monitoring Options and Plan Selections
Overall, SimpliSafe monitoring plan prices are competitive with its nearest rival companies. Prices range from nothing for unsupported self-monitoring to about $30 per month for professional monitoring and for realizing the greatest potential from the system.
| Plan Option | Monthly Price | Features |
| Unsupported | $0 | Live video feed through app, remote arming and disarming of system |
| Self Monitoring with Camera Recordings | $9.99 | 30-day video storage for up to five cameras, app control and video options, secret alert functionality, scheduled system arming |
| Standard Monitoring | $19.99 | 24/7 pro monitoring, cellular system backup, 7-day video history, app control and video capabilities, push notifications, text alerts |
| Fast Protect | $29.99 | Everything in Standard Monitoring plus unlimited camera recordings, downloadable video, voice assistant compatibility, lifetime product warranty, 10% equipment purchase discounts |
Installation
SimpliSafe home security systems are designed for easy DIY installation, requiring no or few tools to accomplish the task. However, professional installation is available as an add-on starting at $124.99.
Installation without a monitoring plan requires connecting to the internet through a Wi-Fi router. Installations with a monitoring plan also require Wi-Fi. However, cellular backup functionality comes with the professional monitoring plans to ensure the system remains operable during power outages.
Wi-Fi connectivity requires a 2.4GHz network and can’t operate using 5GHz or other types. SimpliSafe systems with the Fast Protect monitoring plan are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Apple HomeKit compatibility is not currently available.
| Installation | DIY, professional installation available |
| Contract | No contracts – Month-to-month payment |
| Price | $0 to $29.99 monthly |
| Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant |
Who Is SimpliSafe Home Security Best For?
SimpliSafe home security systems are excellent for a large number of customer types. However, the systems have some limitations and the company requires a subscription to access the best system features. SimpliSafe also provides some equipment selection support through its offerings of pre-selected equipment packages.
For those reasons, consumers looking for a budget-friendly, professionally monitored yet DIY installable system will benefit most from a SimpliSafe home security system. If you currently use or plan to use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant with your smart home devices, SimpliSafe is also a good fit.
Who Should Consider an Alternative to SimpliSafe Home Security?
Home security customers looking for the ability to self-monitor their system for free are likely to find more freedom and functionality with a system from one of SimpliSafe’s competitors. Households using Apple HomeKit or families that rely on multiple smart home devices from various manufacturers will also find more compatibility with another system.
How Does SimpliSafe Home Security Stack Up to Its Competitors?
SimpliSafe reviews point out that the company’s home security systems are appropriate for a wide range of customers. However, customer needs vary, and several other companies offer solutions to fit those needs where SimpliSafe can’t.
SimpliSafe Home Security vs. Ring Alarm
Similar to SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm is also primarily a DIY home security company, offering easy-to-install system components at reasonable prices. However, Ring offers a much wider selection of devices than SimpliSafe.
Where SimpliSafe offers a single outdoor wireless camera and a video doorbell, Ring provides its customers with multiple camera options that all come in wired, wireless and solar-powered versions. Ring also offers multiple doorbell options, both in wired and unwired formats.
Customers looking for simplicity will likely appreciate SimpliSafe’s ease of selection, while consumers looking for top-of-the-line camera equipment in multiple versions will do better with Ring.
SimpliSafe Home Security vs. Cove
While Cove and SimpliSafe are both DIY home security companies, the two have little more in common than that. SimpliSafe entices customers into choosing from several equipment packages to ease the selection process while offering pricing discounts. Meanwhile, Cove offers no such packages and relies instead on customers choosing their own components.
Additionally, although operating a SimpliSafe system without a subscription results in severe limitations on functionality, it is still possible. On the other hand, Cove requires a monitoring plan subscription in order to operate at all.
SimpliSafe Home Security vs. ADT Home Security
SimpliSafe and ADT Home Security are only part-time competitors. ADT offers both professional and DIY home security systems, compared to SimpliSafe’s DIY-only option with professional installation offered at an additional fee. ADT’s professionally designed and managed systems are a completely different type of product than what SimpliSafe offers.
ADT Self Setup, on the other hand, competes directly with SimpliSafe. Both companies limit functionality without a subscription, and both are only truly compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. However, ADT Home Security systems offer far more connectivity options with smart home devices using IFTTT technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Downside of SimpliSafe?
While SimpliSafe home security systems offer benefits for a wide demographic, they do have a handful of limitations that can be deterrents for some customers. SimpliSafe requires users to subscribe to its most expensive monitoring plan in order to enjoy connectivity to Alexa and Google Assistant. Even with monitoring, the system is not compatible with Apple HomeKit at this time. Additionally, system functionality as a whole is very limited for consumers seeking free self-monitoring, as the system’s best features are only available with a paid plan.
Is SimpliSafe Worth It Without Monitoring?
SimpliSafe equipment packages are competitively priced, and the company often provides discounts on its site. However, the prices for some components on an individual level can be a bit steep for the quality received. DIY systems from some of the company’s competitors often feature lower costs, and some provide better functionality without a subscription. All things considered, SimpliSafe home security systems work best with a plan and may not be worth the equipment prices without one when compared to other leading DIY security companies.
Can Burglars Disarm SimpliSafe?
SimpliSafe uses end-to-end encryption for video and system protection from hackers. However, because components of wireless home security systems rely on wire-free data transmission, there is always a slim chance that a burglar with a highly sophisticated device could intercept a signal and interrupt the system’s operation. With that said, the general consensus is that the process is difficult enough to not be worth the effort. According to an FAQ response from the company in 2020, SimpliSafe Home Security has never received a report of any of its systems being successfully attacked under real-world conditions.
