SimpliSafe Security Review 2024 (2024)

At a Glance

SimpliSafe started in 2006 and today protects more than 4 million people in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company’s devices are easy to install and come with the option of 24/7 professional monitoring. SimpliSafe is an affordable, flexible system that gives customers the option of five preconfigured packages. Customers can purchase add-ons separately to create their own package or expand on a pre-existing one. Plus, there is no contract necessary to gain access to 24/7 monitoring plans.

Plans and Pricing

SimpliSafe offers four subscription plans with different features depending on a homeowner’s needs. These include:

Unmonitored Plan

The unmonitored plan is free and users get a live video feed of their cameras from the SimpliSafe App and they can remotely arm or disarm their system with the SimpliSafe App.

Self-Monitoring With Camera Recording

For $9.99 per month, customers can access recordings for 30 days for up to five cameras, download recordings to their phone or computer using the SimpliSafe mobile or web app, get manual recording when viewing the live stream, control their system from their phone with the SimpliSafe App and get secret alerts and scheduled arming. The plan does not include professional monitoring.

Standard Monitoring Plan

The Standard Monitoring plan costs $19.99 a month and customers will get basic professional monitoring features without camera recordings or advanced features. Customers will get 24/7 emergency dispatch (including police, fire and medical), built-in cellular connection for backup coverage in case of power outages, control of their system from their phone with the SimpliSafe App, a live video feed of their cameras from the SimpliSafe App, system timeline that shows up to seven days of history within the app and push notifications.

Fast Protect Plan

This plan is $29.99 a month. Customers will receive everything in the Standard Monitoring plan plus unlimited camera recording and evidence capture, with the ability to download video recordings from the app to their phones. Customers will also get secret alerts and scheduled arming and can arm their system with Google Assistant or Alexa. They also get access to homeowner’s insurance discounts and subscription lifetime warranty and 10% off additional hardware purchases.

Equipment

Installation

SimpliSafe has two installation options: DIY or professional. The system is designed to be simple to install, but customers can request a professional to install it for them. Those installing the system themselves only need to plug in the Base Station and follow the interactive instructions in the app to place sensors and set up monitoring. There is also live expert assistance available to help you along.

The company also offers add-ons that can be absorbed into pre-existing packages. Also, security cameras can be installed after system set-up.

Monitoring Plans

The Fine Print

SimpliSafe is a reputable brand that makes keeping your home secure a “simple” process. The company has a range of motion sensors and security cameras at an affordable price. SimpliSafe provides customers with five packages to choose from. The company’s home security system is also customizable per customer needs and home size and can be added to pre-existing plans later.

The company doesn’t require customers to sign contracts and SimpliSafe holds great customer ratings. While customers can pair SimpliSafe with smart home devices like Alexa or a Google smart speaker, SimpliSafe does not work with lights and door locks and doesn’t offer a lot of smart features. Also, customers living in frigid -4 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures might want to keep shopping.

SimpliSafe Add-Ons

SimpliSafe has several add-ons for customers. These include the following:

• Panic button
• Key fob
• Extra siren
• Smoke detector
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Temperature sensor
• Water sensor
• Glass break sensor
• Extra entry magnet
• SimpliSafe Smart Lock

Video Storage

SimpliSafe cameras use cloud storage. While SimpliSafe’s cameras do not have a local storage option, customers can get unlimited cloud storage with the self-monitoring plan and the Fast Protect plan at no additional cost. Recordings can be stored for up to 30 days and downloaded from your mobile app or the company’s web app.

Smartphone Controls and Smart Home Integration

SimpliSafe’s system is compatible with smart home devices and mobile devices but those not too tech-savvy might not get the full benefit of the interactive monitoring plan. SimpliSafe has smart home integration with smart home devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and more. Overall, the company does not offer a lot of smart features.

Mobile App

You can download the SimpliSafe app for free from the Apple App Store and the Google Play store and you can use the app with all plans. The mobile app allows users to arm and disarm the system, live-stream footage and receive alerts. The Self-Monitored Camera plan and the Fast Protect plan will also give you the ability to view your recordings and set up smart platform integrations.

How SimpliSafe Stacks Up

Company	companylogo	Customer Reviews	Contract Required	Lowest Monitoring Fees	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text	Learn More
SimpliSafe		Great	No	$19.99	Learn More	On SimpliSafe's Website
ADT		Excellent	Yes	$19.99	Learn More	On ADT's Website
Ring		Excellent	No	$20.00	Buy Now	On Amazon

Is SimpliSafe The Right Home Security Company for You?

Forbes ranked SimpliSafe as a top home security company. It is an affordable, safe, simple and flexible choice and no contract is required. However, customers should be aware that SimpliSafe is not meant for climates below -4 degrees Fahrenheit. It also does not have many smart features.

Methodology

To determine the best home security companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 19 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:

Pricing (15%)

Pricing is an important factor when choosing among the best home security companies, which is why it accounts for 15% of the total ranking.

App Reviews (5%)

App reviews, similarly to overall customer ratings, can indicate the health of a home security company’s user experience for customers. Ratings from the App Store and Play Store were evaluated, and the higher the rating for a company, the more points that the company received.

Customer Reviews and Reputation (20%)

Customer ratings are a strong indicator of a company’s performance, making it 20% of the total ranking. The team evaluated customer ratings from platforms like the BBB, Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs.

Customer Support (14%)

Customer support options accounted for 14% of the total ranking, and include each company’s offering (or lack thereof) of live chat, phone service, community forum, knowledge base and a blog.

Features and Smart Home Integration (10%)

Extra smart home features are a commodity in a time of homes adapting to smart home integration, which is why this category received 10% of the total ranking’s weight. The editorial team evaluated each home security company’s list of smart home integrations with platforms including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung, Apple Homekit and more. A home security company’s warranty policy could be a major decision-maker for homeowners. The editorial team evaluated the warranty policies for each company as well as the length of each warranty.

Options and Equipment (20%)

A home security company’s offering of equipment and package options is paramount when deciding how to approach your home’s security needs, which is why it makes up 20% of the total ranking. The team analyzed each company’s offerings of equipment including fully professionally installed systems, wireless security options, cellular network cameras, night vision cameras, Wi-Fi security cameras, plug-in wired cameras, outdoor cameras, fire detection and smoke alarms, panic buttons, water leak detection, sirens and more.

Setup (5%)

Whether or not a home security company required a contract and how long that contract is made up 5% of our ranking. Our team also took into consideration if a company offered pro installation as part of this category.

Editorial Judgment Points (11%)

Additional editorial judgments were considered for various reasons, including points for special features and improving customer support experiences.