SimpliSafe Review

One can never be too safe. Burglaries, house fires, leaky pipes - these are all unfortunate, real dangers to your home. But what can you do to prevent them?

The history of home security solutions is long, and many of them have been long forgotten. However, they all had some traits in common: They were expensive, complicated to install, and most often incomplete.

That’s where SimpliSafe comes in. This DIY solution promises protection for every wall, door, and window in your home. In our SimpliSafe review, we will look into all of the features of this system, analyze its pros and cons, delve into its pricing plans, and finally decide whether it’s worth it. Read on to learn more.

Overview

SimpliSafe home security system is a monitoring system composed of several core components. Each of them is completely wireless and interconnected with the rest of the system, providing one layer of security for your home or office space.

The Core System

The core system of each SimpliSafe device is made up of two units. First, you have the base station with Wi-Fi - a smart speaker lookalike that represents the brains of the operation. It’s a plug-and-play device that can control up to 40 security devices, creating a centralized home alarm system. The base station also houses a SimpliSafe alarm with a 105 dB siren. It has a SIM card, too, which provides cellular connection and some additional features for those who subscribe to the interactive monitoring plan.

The second part is the keypad. This is the control center for your SimpliSafe system and any devices you have purchased alongside it. It has three modes of operation - home, away, and off. Home mode is especially interesting, as it arms the system but allows for movement throughout the house. There’s also a SimpliSafe panic button, an instant alarm trigger for emergencies. The keypad doesn’t require any form of external power and can run for up to 12 months with one set of 4 AA alkaline batteries. Additional keypads can also be installed in one location, and they can all sync up with each other.

Motion Detection

Once you start building your smart home security system, you’ll want to pick up some motion detectors. There are several options here, starting with a traditional motion sensor for rooms. Then, there’s an entry sensor, as well as a glass break sensor that is attuned to the sound of breaking windows. All of these devices can distinguish people from pets, so you don’t have to worry about any false alarms.

SimpliCam and Smart Doorbell

Cameras are the tried and tested component of every home security system. SimpliSafe's cameras offer 24/7 surveillance with motion detection. They're equipped with wide-angle lenses and sensors that capture footage at a 1080p resolution. The basic option is a Wi-Fi camera with night vision, but you can purchase an outdoor upgrade that comes with a 25-foot cable and waterproof casing. Considering these cameras are wireless, you’d be right to assume the feed can also be viewed from any of your devices. Once you install the free SimpliSafe app, you’ll be able to view and record the live feed from your mobile device while you’re at work or on the go.

The Video Doorbell Pro is another video monitoring option. This one is, obviously, for your front door or office entrance. It performs just as well as SimpliSafe’s cameras and captures 1080p footage with HDR quality. Its multi-sensor systems register body heat and motion, effectively avoiding fake alerts when a car or neighbor’s pet passes by. It’s significantly more expensive than the cameras, but considering it offers two-way audio and a wide-angle lens, it’s worth it.

Smoke, Water, and Frost Detection

Some other detectors we checked out in our SimpliSafe review aren’t necessarily designed for burglary prevention but are meant to prevent certain hazards that could cause injury or property damage.

A smoke detector does exactly what the name implies, while the Carbon Monoxide detector saves you from CO - a colorless, odorless gas. A device like this one is necessary to prevent dire consequences from leaks.

People living in colder areas should grab a temperature sensor, too. It’s an alarm that goes off when the room drops below 41F, the temperature at which pipes freeze and burst.

Last but not least in this part of our SimpliSafe home security system review is the water sensor. Place it near water sources in your home, and if it gets wet, an audible alarm will be triggered. Using this is an excellent way to keep your home secure from flooding.

Monitoring Service

If you prefer constant surveillance, the Interactive Monitoring Plan is a good option, and it costs under $1 a day. SimpliSafe has its own in-house monitoring and security experts, providing 24/7 service for your home.

We mentioned an official app in our SimpliSafe camera review. This app is, by design, limited to 30 days of video recording, but purchasing the premium service gives you unlimited recordings. Another upgrade to the app is a feature called Secret Alerts. You might not always want an audible alarm to go off, so you can opt to receive a mobile notification instead.

This can be set to go off when a liquor or gun cabinet is opened or used to monitor your children. It’s discreet and lets you take a brief video recording once the alert is triggered.

User Experience

One thing all user reviews of SimpliSafe have in common is praise for the system's ease of use. Many smart home security systems aren’t that smart when it comes to installation and everyday use. SimpliSafe, on the other hand, is designed in such a fashion that any member of your household can learn how to use it in just a couple of minutes.

Installation

Considering this is a DIY smart security system, you're expected to set up everything yourself. The good news is - the installation process couldn't be simpler. Still, if you get stuck along the way, there are official video tutorials to teach you how to set up SimpliSafe.

You’ll need to plug the base into a power source, and that’s pretty much it. Every other device has adhesive tape on its back for a quick, 30-second installation on the walls and other flat surfaces. Once everything is set in place, just grab the keypad and sync it with each of the IoT devices in your home security solution. You can name each device in the pairing mode for easy management later on.

Compatible Devices

Once SimpliSafe’s installation is complete, you can control and monitor the smart home security through various devices. It can also connect to several popular smart devices.

Monitoring is done either through the web portal or a dedicated mobile app. The app is compatible with pretty much any modern iOS or Android device. You can be on the other side of the planet and still know what’s going on around your home.

Both Google Home and Amazon Alexa can be synced with SimpliSafe, providing voice command features. SimpliSafe sensors can also send signals to Nest Thermostats and several smart locks available on the market right now.

Customer Service

There's a high chance you'll probably never need to contact customer support while using SimpliSafe, especially during the installation process. The official website already has a ton of documentation and "how-to" videos that will guide you step-by-step through the installation process of each device.

Of course, unexpected problems can happen, and that’s when you’ll need help from a professional. SimpliSafe offers support via phone and email every day from 8 a.m. until midnight. Reading through SimpliSafe reviews on TrustPilot, the customer experience once you actually reach an agent is generally top-notch, but a lot of customers reported long wait times. Luckily, there's also a customer forum where you can read up on tips and tricks and maybe even solve your issue without the support team.

Value is always a significant factor with home alarm systems. When it comes to SimpliSafe, its DIY nature helps with mitigating some costs, as you can pick the exact devices you need. Many customers choose to go with the “build my system” option, but if you’d rather get a premade bundle, there are more than a handful of options available.

The Foundation Pack

This is the most affordable home security system available. It’s the perfect choice for apartments and small offices. For $245 ($176 when discounted), you’ll get the basic kit, including the base station and keypad, as well as an entry sensor and motion detector. It’s nothing fancy, but still more than enough for a lot of homeowners.

The Essentials

An upgrade from the Foundation pack, this bundle is the most popular one. On top of everything you get with the most basic package, you’ll get two additional entry sensors. The price is just slightly higher, at $275 ($165 when discounted).

The Hearth

In our opinion, this is the best home security system bundle, value-wise. It comes with all of the aforementioned features of the previous bundle, a smoke detector, and a 105 dB siren. Since this is a fancier bundle, you also get a key fob for quick wireless control of the system.

The Knox Package

Have a lot of doors and windows? Maybe a two-story house? This is the perfect bundle for you. It comes with double the number of sensors from The Hearth package, covering six entryways and two rooms. At just $465 ($279 when discounted), you’ll be able to turn your home into a fortress no intruder can breach.

The Haven Package

Of all SimpliSafe plans, this bundle is the best choice if you’d like a full-service solution. It comes with two fewer entry sensors than the Knox plan, but makes up for it with a water sensor, frost detector, and panic button. Throw in one of the cameras or a smart doorbell, and you’ve got yourself the ultimate home-monitoring solution. The price is steep: $505 ($303 when discounted), especially since no cameras are included, but it still outmatches many competitor products.

Since we’ve already mentioned competition earlier in our SimpliSafe review, a comparison is in order. There are a lot of home-monitoring solutions today, with varying prices, features, and services available. We’ve picked five DIY security options that stood out the most. Here are their feature lists and prices.

Scout

This minimalistic system is widely considered the most similar to SimpliSafe. Scout comes with a smaller selection of security devices, but its key strength lies in connectivity, as you can pair it with any smart device in your home.

Price: Starts at $229

Ring

This system nearly matches the SimpliSafe pricing model, so it comes as no surprise that it's one of the most popular solutions in the past few years. Its main selling point is its premium monitoring service at an unbeatable price. 

Price: Starts at $199

Abode

With a wide range of devices, Abode is one of the only DIY systems that matches SimpliSafe pound-for-pound. While not everyone will like the look of Abode's devices, the upside is that mobile monitoring comes at no extra cost.

Price: Starts at $279

Cove

Cove is not only trying to match SimpliSafe prices with its business model, but the system configuration, too. The central hub is also designed akin to smart speakers, the devices stick to the walls, and the setup time is equally fast. This is another beginner-friendly solution, although it’s not as comprehensive.

Price: starts at $279

Frontpoint

Video surveillance is the selling point of Frontpoint’s bundles. Both the camera selection and video quality are above the rest. This system is considerably more expensive than any other on this list, but professional monitoring doesn’t come cheap.

Price: Starts at $392

Conclusion

Our review of SimpliSafe has covered all the pros and cons, so it's time to give our final judgment of this wireless security system. There is no denying that this DIY system is both affordable and easy to install, already ticking all the boxes for many potential buyers. We really liked how the company opted for drilling-free solutions and easy device pairing. Anyone can install this system in a matter of minutes.

We also liked how expandable the system is, thanks to the aforementioned pairing method. It’s all wireless, too, so you don’t have to worry about ruining the aesthetics of your house with cable clutter. The devices we mentioned in our SimpliSafe security system review can either be purchased individually, or within pre-made bundles - even the shopping part is streamlined.

Really, the only downsides to it can be summed up by the company’s desire to streamline everything a little bit too much: For example, the premium monitoring service is an inevitable upsell that most companies in this industry go for. Not everyone needs or wants it, but it’s made to seem integral to the package you’re purchasing.

Is SimpliSafe good? Yes, no doubt about it. Is it perfect? No, but nothing is. For what it’s worth, this is a solid security solution, and with a 60-day money-back guarantee, you can’t go wrong with giving it a shot!