SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (2024)

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (1)

8.5/ 10

SCORE

SimpliSafe Home Security

Installation DIY installation

Contract Required No

Voice Assistant Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

Additional Fees 24/7 professional monitoring fee, storage fee

Service Bundles N/A

Pros

  • Easy to install and operate
  • Great customizability

Cons

  • Limited smart home integrations

Table of Contents

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice

Is SimpliSafe a good buy in 2023?

Getting started

You're on, cameras!

System performance

Smart security, yes; smart home platform, no

Other concerns

SimpliSafe Home Security: Final thoughts

Is SimpliSafe a good buy in 2023?

2023

The home security category continues to be a competitive mix of professionally installed services and DIY options. Among them, SimpliSafe takes a hybrid approach with devices that are easy to set up and install yourself combined with the option of 24/7 professional monitoring. It's still a relatively good value, particularly when compared with established names like Vivint and ADT, which can cost hundreds or even thousands more for a full-home setup.

SimpliSafe's offerings haven't changed much since the last time we tested the system in the fall of 2021. You'll find the same mix of sensors, cameras and other equipment as you build out your system, and for the most part, prices have held steady in recent years. That said, the cost of 24/7 monitoring, which used to be available for $18 a month when we first tested it, has risen a bit to $20 a month (you can also monitor things yourself with unlimited storage for motion-activated camera clips for $10 a month). Meanwhile, the cost of optional professional installation (which SimpliSafe says 97% of customers skip) has risen from $99 to $125.

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (2)

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SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (3)

There's alsoa smart wireless indoor camerathat promises to allow SimpliSafe's monitoring centers to communicate with anyone they see on camera via two-way talk, and has a built-in motion sensor. The camera is $140, which is $40 more than the standard wired camera.

Current competitors, includingRing, Wyze, Abode, Arlo and others, have worked to muscle their way into the DIY security market in recent years, so it's worth shopping around to find the best security camera on its own. Still, as one of the most well-rounded systems on the market -- and one that doesn't require you to call a salesperson to hear what it'll cost to set up -- SimpliSafe is an attractive and straightforward option for home security shoppers in 2023.

Our full review, originally published in September 2021 and updated in November 2023 to reflect recent pricing changes, continues below.

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (4)

SimpliSafe Home Security has quite a track record. It won a CNET Editors' Choice Award back in 2014 after exploding onto the still-burgeoning DIY home security scene. Then in 2018, when the third-gen system launched, it impressed us again -- and it's remained one of our top DIY home security picks ever since (only Amazon's Ring Alarm Pro system has bested its score).

SimpliSafe's home security packages start at $245, technically speaking, but you can almost always find them at steep discounts on the company's site. At the time of today's update to this review, for instance, the basic package only costs $196 and the most generous one (which includes two outdoor security cameras in addition to the base station, two motion detectors and four entry sensors) costs $560. I'll do a more thorough breakdown of the prices compared with competitors later in the review, but suffice it to say, it's a solid deal.

The system is just as capable as before, too. It works reliably, the devices on offer cover everything you'd need, and you can bag 24/7 professional monitoring alongside your local alarm for $30 a month. That's a steep increase from previous monitoring plans, which only cost $18 a month, but SimpliSafe lessens the sting by bundling in attractive features like a cellular backup for your system at no additional cost.

In short, SimpliSafe is still fantastic -- even if it's not quite as dominant a value as it once was.

Getting started

We've tested SimpliSafe a number of times, but our latest test, in August and September of 2021, was of a package that totaled about $827 -- or $630 if I opted for a free two-week trial of the 24/7 professional monitoring service. Yes, the company incentivizes signing up for a monthly subscription.

Part of SimpliSafe Home Security's appeal is that you can also build your own custom system with the specific sensors that make sense for your living space. To do so, you'll start with the mandatory base station and keypad, which together now cost $80, down from $185, then add additional devices a la carte. Here's the full menu, plus what I paid:

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (5)

Burglary sensors

  • Entry sensor: $15
  • Motion sensor: $30
  • Wireless Outdoor Camera: $190
  • Wireless Indoor Camera: $140
  • Wired Indoor Camera: $99
  • SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro: $169
  • Glass break sensor: $35
  • Panic button: $20

Hazard sensors

  • Smoke and Carbon monoxide sensor: $60
  • Smoke Detector: $35
  • Temperature Sensor: $30
  • Water Sensor: $20

Add-ons

  • Keypad: $70
  • Key fob: $25
  • Siren: $60
  • Yard sign: $4

I used three entry sensors, one motion sensor, one of each camera, along with a glass break sensor, leak detector (now called a water sensor), freeze detector (now called a temperature sensor), panic button and key fob. The single biggest factor in my total price was the three cameras -- without them, my total with a subscription would've ended up at $272 (more on the cameras later).

When it comes to the sensors, SimpliSafe's pricing is nicely positioned: It's not as cheap as Wyze's Monitoring system, where motion and leak sensors are both $9 each, and entry sensors are $24 for three. But it's consistently cheaper than, say, Abode's comparable devices (Abode's entry sensors, for example, are $40 each, though you can get them at a significant discount by catching a sale or getting a six-pack).

Even though SimpliSafe's devices cost a bit more than Wyze's industry low, they feel much more solid, and they look better, too. In my time with SimpliSafe, all the sensors performed as expected.

Once your system arrives, it's up to you to install it yourself. SimpliSafe made this really, really easy. Each sensor comes with a preapplied sticky tab on its detachable backs. Just peel and stick -- no wiring necessary. If you need to move something, the sensors detach from their backings, exposing the sticky tabs for easy removal that won't damage your walls. The only thing you'll need to plug in is the base station.

That said, SimpliSafe does offer professional setup help for $125 if you need it, but also says 97% of its customers set their systems up themselves.

With your sensors in place, you'll put the keypad into pairing mode, then pair everything up by pressing a button on each sensor, then giving it a name on the keypad. From there, you can make any final tweaks to the system settings by logging in to SimpliSafe's web portal, or by using the SimpliSafe app. The whole process took me less than an hour; it's not quite as simple as with Abode (where all the devices came already paired), but it's about as painless as self-installs can get.

SimpliSafe charges $30 a month for the interactive plan, which includes 24/7 professional monitoring alongside other features like the cellular backup, alarm texts and video alarm verification. The other option is to monitor your system yourself with a $10 monthly plan that includes unlimited storage of motion-activated camera clips for up to five cameras. Both are sensible enough, but it's a shame that SimpliSafe eliminated the middle-ground plan that offered 24/7 monitoring for $18 a month.

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (6)

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SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (7)

How it works

The SimpliSafe Home Security system's sensors keep in constant contact with the base station, which relays everything to your phone (or, in an emergency, to authorities) via Wi-Fi. The base station also includes a 24-hour battery backup and a fee-free cellular connection to the company's monitoring service -- if the power or the Wi-Fi ever goes out, it'll still be able to call for help. This cell backup is one of SimpliSafe's standout features, and it's one of the big ways the service differentiates itself from more affordable alternatives like Wyze and Ring Alarm, which don't offer that extra safety measure (although the more recent and more expensive Ring Alarm Pro does).

SimpliSafe's approach also separates the most sensitive system components from the keypad, the part that beeps and asks for a PIN if the alarm is ever tripped. In many cases, that beeping keypad is probably the first thing that an intruder would try to smash in order to shut down the system, but doing so wouldn't make a difference.

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The system offers three modes during use: Off, which is pretty self-explanatory; Away, which arms the sensors; and Home, which leaves some sensors on but disarms things like motion detectors so you can move around inside without setting anything off. By default, SimpliSafe gives you 30 seconds to disarm the system upon entry (you can customize that length of time in the app).

To disarm the system, press the off button on the key fob or in the app, or enter your code using the keypad. You can assign specific codes to specific users or guests, and you can also set a duress code for situations where someone is forcing you to disarm the system against your will. Punch it into the keypad, and it will appear as if the alarm is canceled and the system disarmed, but SimpliSafe will still send in the authorities.

If you're paying $30 a month for the full system controls, you'll be able to arm and disarm the system from the SimpliSafe app, or arm it on your way out the door with a quick voice command to Alexa or Google.

If the alarm is ever tripped, your phone will ring and a SimpliSafe representative will ask if everything's OK. They'll also ask for your safe word -- a secret password of your choice that acts like an extra vocal PIN for the system. Fail to give it, and they'll still send the authorities, no matter what else you say. Like the duress code, it's a nice, extra layer of protection.

SimpliSafe also lets you specify which sensors will trigger an entry delay and which ones will trigger an instant alarm. You'll probably want a chance to disarm the system if you trip a contact sensor or a motion detector, for instance, while a glass break sensor alert might merit an instant alarm with no delay (again, you can personalize this, in case you're prone to dropping plates or have kids around the house).

You can also set secret alerts that can send you a SMS, email or app notification without tripping the alarm at all. Hide a contact sensor on the inside of your liquor cabinet, for instance, and you'll get an alert if your teenager ever tries to sneak a sip.

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (10)

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You're on, cameras!

SimpliSafe's system has been among our favorite home security systems for a number of years -- but that doesn't mean it doesn't have room to grow. Sure, the sensors -- those crucial bits of connective tissue for any good home security system -- offer solid value for the price, but the cameras aren't quite as unmitigated a success.

These days $99 indoor cameras and $169 video doorbells are fairly standard devices, even when you're buying them stand-alone from top brands like Google Nest, Amazon Ring or Arlo -- and SimpliSafe's options simply don't stand up to those top devices.

The video doorbell offers all the basics you'd expect, like two-way talk, motion alerts, night vision, live feed monitoring and storage (with camera plans starting at $10 per month). But its wide-angle lens means you don't get a great view of your actual doorstep, where packages are usually left. What's more, the doorbell can't be set up wirelessly -- which is a real bummer, since many customers looking for DIY home security kits won't have doorbell wiring, or won't be allowed by their landlord to fiddle with it.

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (12)

The indoor camera, which again comes with all the basics, like a 120-degree field of view, motion detection and night vision, is a little more impressive. It includes a privacy shutter, like Arlo's indoor camera, and person alerts using heat sensing.

The outdoor camera costs $190, but you'll get a lot out of it: live monitoring, two-way talk, 8x digital zoom, night vision and a built-in siren. The outdoor camera was a breeze to install and use, and I loved that it came with a built-in spotlight. The one disappointment there was that I couldn't manually control the light, setting times for it to turn on or off, or simply switching it on when I wanted.

For $190, though, the outdoor light/camera is a solid deal.

System performance

SimpliSafe's approach to DIY security is appealing, but it's all for nothing if the sensors don't work reliably well. Back in 2018, we put the sensors through a weeklong battery of tests, and the results were solid.

The open/closed contact sensors were the most reliable, triggering the alarm each and every time they were supposed to. The motion detector performed well, too. It was able to distinguish between people and small pets just fine, and it caught our reviewer walking through the room about 95 percent of the time. The other 5%: a test where something seemed to hiccup and it was a few minutes before any motion was sensed. That wasn't a great result, but it was the only true misfire across several days of testing.

No problems with this SimpliSafe leak detector — sounds the alarm and sends out an immediate alert as soon as it gets wet. pic.twitter.com/p0nw8vXrtf

— Ry Crist (@rycrist) March 23, 2018

The leak detector (water sensor) was another standout, firing off an alert as soon as it entered water in each of my tests. The one drawback to that level of sensitivity -- it also went off at one point when someone picked it up and moved it. That's not a huge deal though, especially for something you're going to toss under your sink and forget about.

Next up, the freeze detector (temperature sensor). By default, it will send an alert if it ever senses ambient temperatures below 41 F or above 95 F, but you can set those thresholds to whatever points you like. It worked as expected over the long run, but it only takes readings and sends them to the base station once per hour. That's a touch more sluggish than you'd like for especially sensitive temperature monitoring, but for most people, it'll do the job you need it to do.

The final barrage of tests was aimed at the glass break sensor. Like the name suggests, it'll sound the alarm if it ever hears a window break -- and SimpliSafe claims that its calibrations are precise enough to distinguish between a broken window and a broken plate. Translation: It was time to break some stuff!

We started by trying to trick the sensor into sounding a false alarm. We tried dropping a light bulb, loudly clinking glassware together, playing glass-breaking sound effects at full volume and even tossing keys against the wall, as one follower suggested on Twitter. Nothing worked -- the glass-break sensor wasn't fooled.

Second glass break sensor test, this time with a small pane of glass pilfered from a picture frame. Did NOT trigger the alarm. Might have been muffled by the towel? Hmmm. pic.twitter.com/HYYrNLTrgU

— Ry Crist (@rycrist) March 22, 2018

That all made for a promising start, but then we tried breaking a small pane of actual glass. (We stole it from a picture frame -- apologies to the CNET Smart Home staging crew!) To our surprise, that didn't set the glass break sensor off, either. Maybe it thought it was a plate?

The team at SimpliSafe suggested we try dialing the sensitivity up -- turns out there's a slide switch on the back of the sensor with three settings. We set it to "high" and tried again, this time with an actual window purchased at a junk store. That did the trick -- across multiple tests, the glass break sensor caught us smashing the window each and every time.

Success! After multiple tests, can confirm that the SimpliSafe glass break sensor does, in fact, detect the sound of broken glass. pic.twitter.com/Yye8zDcJ0O

— Ry Crist (@rycrist) March 27, 2018

In the end, we'd call that a successful result, but we'd definitely recommend starting with your glass break sensor set to "high" and dialing down from there as needed. As for us, the glass break sensor might be one that we'd be comfortable skipping.

Smart security, yes; smart home platform, no

Something else worth thinking about as you're shopping for a home security system is whether you're interested in something that will tie in with a larger home automation platform. If so, SimpliSafe might not be your best option.

Sure, the SimpliSafe system works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and it offers an integration with Nest that'll let you monitor your thermostat from the SimpliSafe app and tether its home and away modes to whether or not your system is armed. That's good enough for most, but if you want to add things like smart bulbs and smart switches to your setup, you'll have to control them separately from your security system. As mentioned already, you're also stuck with SimpliSafe's cameras -- and there areplenty of cameras that we like better.

Meanwhile, the SimpliSafe Smart Lock is a decent and relatively inexpensive addition to the system, but it's a bit more limited in features than some stand-alone smart lock competitors.

The area of smart home integration feels particularly underdeveloped since Amazon shook up the smart home security industry in late 2021 with its best-in-class Ring Alarm Pro -- which not only offered security measures to rival SimpliSafe's, but also plenty of surprising and genuinely useful integrations with things like cameras, lights, video doorbells, Alexa and Wi-Fi 6.

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (13)

Other concerns

With an old-school, wired security system, you'd have to live with the worry that someone could deactivate your system by cutting a wire. Wireless systems like SimpliSafe eliminate that issue -- but what if someone manages to block the system's wireless transmissions? Wouldn't that have the same effect? As commenter Joe Duarte points out, security researchers have no shortage of questions like those about SimpliSafe and other systems like it.

We looked into jamming back in 2015, and tested SimpliSafe's protections against it. The company says that it uses a proprietary antijamming algorithm to detect if a sophisticated thief is trying to mess with your system. If it does, SimpliSafe will immediately notify you about it. That's what happened when we tested it out. With the right equipment, we were able to block a transmission to the base station, but not without SimpliSafe sending us an alert informing us of the jam.

Bottom line: Jamming attacks like those are absolutely possible, but also exceedingly rare and difficult to pull off. A SimpliSafe representative claims that, to date, the company has no record of any customer ever being jammed. Even so, if a would-be thief were to try it, they'd come up against a functional layer of defense. That's more than enough for me -- just make sure to pay attention to any interference alerts, and don't just dismiss them.

Take a look at SimpliSafe's new home security system

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As for other concerns like replay attacks where a hacker would try to intercept your keypad's code, SimpliSafe says that all system transmissions are encrypted, and also points out that its hardware allows for over-the-air firmware updates, making it much easier for the company to respond to evolving threats and vulnerabilities in real time.

SimpliSafe Home Security: Final thoughts

SimpliSafe's approach combines do-it-yourself appeal with live monitored peace of mind. The SimpliSafe system offers excellent value relative to the competition, it's remarkably easy to set up and use, and it doesn't feel (or look) like a compromise pick. In fact, its layers of protection are about as comprehensive as DIY security gets. We'd like to see more smart home integration as SimpliSafe continues to develop, but the company is also growing in other ways -- introducing an outdoor camera, for instance, and partnering with RapidSOSto improve 911 response times.

We've seen new competition emerge from names like Ring, Wyze, Abode, Vivint and ADT. Shopping around is always wise, but for most folks interested in straightforward home security, we feel confident saying that SimpliSafe is among the best options on the market.

SimpliSafe Home Security Review: Still a Top DIY Choice (2024)

FAQs

What system is better than SimpliSafe? ›

Cove, Abode, and Ring are solid alternatives to cover specific areas where SimpliSafe isn't the strongest. Cove offers more affordable equipment and a better customer experience. Abode is the best at smart home compatibility. Ring has stellar cameras with an app that's hard to beat.

Is DIY home security worth it? ›

Bottom line. A professional home security installation starts at around $100 but can rise with larger systems and more complicated devices like security cameras. That's money you can save if you choose a DIY setup with a wireless system that you can place yourself.

Why not use SimpliSafe? ›

False Alarms: Because of the sensor and equipment issues, customers are also reporting false alarms with the SimpliSafe system. Customer Service: Reviewers mention that customer service is difficult to work with. Some customer reps have not been helpful in dealing with system issues customers have.

What are the top five home security systems? ›

Summary: Compare the Top Home Security Companies
CompanyForbes Advisor RatingBest For
SimpliSafe4.6Best for Easy Installation and Flexibility
Vivint4.4Best for Custom Smart Home Integration
Ring4.2Best for Self-Monitoring and Affordability
Abode4.2Best for Smart Home Enthusiasts
6 more rows

What is the hardest home security system to hack? ›

The best security cameras resistant to hacking include brands like Avigilon and Hanwha, known for their advanced encryption, regular firmware updates, and strong network security features. These cameras provide robust defenses against unauthorized access and data interception.

Is SimpliSafe a Chinese company? ›

SimpliSafe is a home security company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Can SimpliSafe be trusted? ›

And in our recent roundup, we concluded that out of the 60 security systems we tested, SimpliSafe is one of the best options for home security. That doesn't automatically make it the best option for you, though. There are lots of factors to take into account, like price, the available equipment, and monitoring options.

How much is SimpliSafe per month? ›

SimpliSafe monthly monitoring fee
Monitoring planMonthly feeMonitoring
Fast Protect™$31.99Professional
Standard Monitoring$21.99Professional
Self Monitoring w/ Camera Recording$9.99Self
Unmonitored$0.00Self

What security system does not require a monthly fee? ›

Sure, some of them require a compromise. You might have to give up home automation features or cloud storage. But then there are brands like SimpliSafe, abode, Ring, and Arlo that offer exceptional value without saddling you with another monthly fee.

Can burglars disable SimpliSafe? ›

He tested this theory with a 5 watt handheld radio tuned to the SimpliSafe MHz frequency to prove that yes it can be fooled and not trigger alarm.

Does SimpliSafe work if Internet is down? ›

SimpliSafe keeps you protected 24/7!

The Base Station will automatically communicate on the cellular network if your Wi-Fi stops working and will automatically switch to battery power if you lose electricity.

Is something wrong with SimpliSafe? ›

User reports indicate no current problems at SimpliSafe.

Are DIY burglar alarms any good? ›

There are some good DIY wireless alarms available too; the best we've come across are Yale's Sync range. The best hard wired systems available are probably those made by Honeywell, Texecom and Scantronic. Hybrid alarms are also available, RISCO make a great hybrid panel called Risco LightSys 2.

Can I install a home security system myself? ›

DIY home monitoring systems fall into two basic categories. You may opt for a self-installed security system that you will monitor yourself, or you can install your own security system, but sign up for a monitoring service that doesn't require a contract (usually just a monthly fee).

How much does a DIY security system cost? ›

The average cost to install a home security system is $600, but costs vary widely depending on the specific equipment and services you choose for your home. Basic DIY packages come as low as $200.

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