SimpliSafe Home Security Review | 2021

SimpliSafe provides one of the best DIY home security systems on the market — it’s easy to install and use, comes at an affordable price and doesn’t require any contracts. Our Advisor team found it to be the top home security provider in the industry and gave it a 96 out of 100 for its equipment, monitoring plans, installation, usability, company reputation, contract length and warranty options.

Keep reading for information on SimpliSafe’s five home security packages, additional equipment options, pricing, system features, installation and monitoring options, and find out why it’s one of the best home security systems in the industry.

SimpliSafe offers five home security system packages that are all under $500, and it also sells its equipment individually to help you upgrade your package based on your security coverage needs. Whether you want to add a camera to your setup, or you just need an extra entry sensor for one of your windows, SimpliSafe offers a variety of devices to help you protect your home.

Below are each package’s offerings and prices:

*Prices reflect discounted pricing as of July 21, 2021

Here’s a list of the individually sold equipment and their prices:

• Base station: $114.99

• Keypad: $69.99

• Entry sensor: $14.99

• Motion sensor: $29.99

• SimpliCam: $99.00

• Glass-break sensor: $34.99

• Panic button: $19.99

• Smoke detector: $29.99

• Carbon monoxide sensor: $49.99

• Temperature sensor: $29.99

• Water sensor: $19.99

• Key fob: $24.99

• 105dB siren: $59.99

• Yard sign: $3.99

• Video Doorbell Pro: $169.00

• Smart lock: $99.00

Note: These prices are accurate as of July 21, 2021.

Learn more about these packages and equipment options by visiting the SimpliSafe website.

Since its founding in 2006, SimpliSafe has navigated multiple changes in the tech world from building a mobile app that connects to its systems to adding Wi-Fi connectivity to all devices. It offers equipment with technological features that customers can trust, such as digital controls on the wireless keypad and a high resolution on the doorbell camera.

However, the equipment’s simplistic design and technology make it less appealing to homeowners who want devices with more smart home automation capabilities.

Here are a few highlights of SimpliSafe’s devices and features:

• SimpliCam: This is SimpliSafe’s primary indoor camera option that can double as an outdoor camera with the $19.99 Outdoor Kit add-on, which includes a waterproof weather sleeve for environmental protection. It records in 720p resolution with 30 frames per second, detects motion, integrates with the SimpliSafe app and has a 120-degree field of vision.

• Video Doorbell Pro: The Video Doorbell Pro features 1080p Full HD resolution, infrared night vision, two-way audio, motion detection and a 162-degree field of view. It connects to Wi-Fi and can integrate with your existing doorbell setup.

• Wireless keypad: SimpliSafe’s keypad is the primary way to control the system, and it has more functionality than keypads from most other providers. It’s wireless, has a long battery life, is easy to carry around and can be detached from its mount on the wall. It also has a digital screen to help you manage your system’s motion detectors, entry sensors, sirens and base station. Not to mention, the keypad allows you to easily arm and disarm your alarm system from anywhere in your house.
• SimpliSafe mobile app: The SimpliSafe app allows you to monitor your cameras and arm and disarm the system. Although the app can connect your system to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, we found that it lacks smart home functionality compared to other providers with a bigger smart home focus, such as Vivint or Abode. For instance, Vivint’s app features the ability to control connected smart home devices, create multiple user profiles, customize notifications, automate schedules for arming and disarming the system and even set rules for device triggers, none of which are provided by SimpliSafe’s app.

The best way to keep your home safe 24/7 is by setting up self-monitoring or signing up for a professional monitoring service that can alert you or the authorities if any break-ins or dangers occur on your property while you’re away.

SimpliSafe offers a few monitoring options for customers in the form of a monthly subscription with no contract or commitment. Here are SimpliSafe’s three monitoring plans:

• Camera Recordings Only ($9.99 per month): This is the cheapest monitoring plan offered by SimpliSafe. It allows you to monitor your cameras and save video recordings for up to 30 days in cloud storage. This is the best option for those with security cameras who want affordable DIY monitoring.

• Professional Monitoring Only ($14.99 per month): Although this option includes live video on cameras, it doesn’t include video recording like the other two plans. It includes 24/7 professional monitoring services, such as police, fire and ambulance dispatch, and a built-in cellular connection for the most stable communication between the monitoring center and your home security devices.
• Complete Home Monitoring ($24.99 per month): This is the company’s standard plan, which includes all of the features in the other two plans, plus recording for an additional five cameras, visual alarm verification from your home’s camera to the monitoring center and 24/7 water and temperature monitoring.

Get started with one of these monitoring plans when purchasing your home security equipment on SimpliSafe’s website.

SimpliSafe makes DIY installation easy for any homeowner. All of the devices that come in the standard packages have adhesives on the equipment. You simply peel off the paper and mount the device with the sticky adhesive to a wall, door or window. The Video Doorbell Pro and Smart Lock are the only SimpliSafe devices that require tools and screws for installation.

If you’re more comfortable having a technician come to your home to ensure everything is set up properly, Simplisafe offers a professional installation service for a one-time fee of $79.

SimpliSafe holds an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Most complaints reference negative customer service and billing experiences, occasional equipment issues and poor installation by on-site technicians.* Satisfied customers rave about positive experiences with the company’s customer service, affordable professional monitoring plans and lack of contract requirements.

Here are a few customer reviews from SimpliSafe’s BBB page:

“SimpliSafe has been the best company ever to deal with. I have purchased the system from them and it has been the best. When I had a problem, their customer service was awesome, and I never had to wait more than 2 minutes. Their products are awesome, and I would highly recommend these guys.” — Stephen L.

“We have called [this] company three different times to get information about our package and all three times we waited on the phone 20 to 40 minutes. This is really concerning, as we are getting a security system. What happens if there’s no one to take the emergency response if somebody breaks into our house?” — David C.

“No contract. No pressure. You can have monitoring or not. The monitoring fee is minimal. The equipment was super easy to install even for me. I’m a senior and not technically inclined at all. [SimpliSafe] talks you through [the installation] and the written instructions are clear. The monitoring pad is so easy. I have a lot more security features than I did with [my previous provider], too, and the cost was a lot less.” — Karen A.

“I ordered a customized kit from SimpliSafe directly through their website. The equipment was shipped in time and I was able to schedule a technician through their third-party partner to set up the system. The installation process was a mess. The technician set up the equipment and it would not work.” — Steph F.

*BBB information accurate as of July 21, 2021

Our Advisor team has spent dozens of hours analyzing home security brands on their products, services and reputation to provide the most comprehensive analysis for our readers. To ensure each company meets the required standards to make our rankings, we have created an in-depth rating system.

Below is a breakdown of the factors we consider when rating companies, along with the weight of each factor. The best companies score highly across these categories.