SimpliSafe Home Security System Review, Pros & Cons and Specs 2022

THE BOTTOM LINE for SimpliSafe Home Security System

If you want to secure and monitor your home remotely without spending a bundle or signing a long-term contract, there's a lot to like about the versatile and easy-to-use DIY SimpliSafe home security system.

SimpliSafe Home Security System PROS

Affordable hardware with reasonable monthly monitoring fees

No contract required

Quick, easy installation

Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, the latter of which is optional

SimpliSafe Home Security System CONS

Underwhelming indoor camera

SIMPLISAFE HOME SECURITY SYSTEM SPECS

Upfront Costs                                                     Start at $229

Monthly Fees                                                     Start at $17.99

Professional Installation Required                     No

Monitoring Contract Required                     No

Environmental Sensors                                     Yes

Cellular Backup                                             Yes

Power Outage Backup                                     Yes

Z-Wave/ZigBee                                             No

IFTTT Support                                             No

Voice Assistant Compatibility                     Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

Like most people, I like the idea of ??keeping my family and my home safe, but I don't like the idea of ??putting myself in a multi-year service contract during which I have to pay a high monthly monitoring fee. Falls. SimpliSafe (starting at $ 229) is a DIY smart home security system that is easy to set up and use, and protects your home from intruders and environmental hazards such as fire and flood. It's a seamless system that manages to secure your home easily and flexibly, allowing you to remotely monitor everything (with or without an affordable monthly plan). SimpliSafe provides an ideal balance of high quality service, ease of use, and value while receiving our Editors' Choice Award for Adobe Iota and Wyze Home Monitoring as well as DIY Home Security Systems. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, PCMag readers have named SimpliSafe their favorite smart home security system.

SimpliSafe Package Pricing

One of the great things about SimpliSafe is that it is a fully flexible system, with five pre-configured packages available. On the high end, there is the Haven package ($ 489), which comes with 14 hardware components including a base station, a wireless keypad, a keychain remote, two motion sensors, four-door / window entry sensors, a panic button, A 105-decibel siren, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, water and freezing sensors, and a SimpliSafe yard sign and window decals. The most expensive foundation pack ($ 229), designed for small homes and focused entirely on basic home security, includes a base station, a wireless keypad, a motion sensor, an entry sensor, and a yard sign. And decals are included. You will often get discounts on these packages, or you can choose the components to build your custom system from scratch.

If you want to add one or more SimpliCam indoor security cameras, they are $ 99 each. 1080p, 140 degree range wireless outdoor security camera will run you for 9 169.99. The 9 169 Video Door Bell Pro is a smart door bell with an integrated 1080p camera, while the $ 99 Smart Lock allows keyless entry. SimpliSafe does not usually offer a package that includes a camera, lock, or doorbell. They are add-ons, although we've seen the company throw in SimpliCam as part of a limited time special price promotion.

Additional components can be purchased separately to create your own package, or expanded to one. If you have a lot of first floor windows, for example, you'll want glass brake sensors ($ 34.99) or additional entry sensors ($ 14.99 each; the system supports 100 sensors). Or if you have multiple entrances to your home, you can choose extra pads (. 69.99 each).

If you want a one-stop home monitoring solution that covers more than just security, it makes sense to include environmental sensors. Each of the smoke detectors costs $ 29.99 and you can add them to your monitoring plan, which will notify you via email or text message when the alarm starts and in case of a fire, first responders Will send to your door. Temperature sensors ($ 29.99 each) alert you when it drops below 41 degrees to prevent pipes from bursting, and water sensors ($ 19.99 each) alert you to leaks and flooding.

SimpliSafe Monitoring Plan Pricing

For professional oversight, there is a basic ?????? 17.99 per month standard plan that includes 24/7 coverage. SimpliSafe will contact you if a sensor is triggered, and if you do not provide a safe word set during setup, the police will be dispatched. You can also use the online dashboard to see the timeline of system events, but you can't control the system remotely.

For $ 10 more per month ($ 27.99), Interactive Plan SMS and email alerts, the ability to use the online dashboard for better control of the system (more on that in a minute), and the system armed and unarmed Adds app to In addition, you get a 10% discount on add-on devices, as well as an extended warranty to cover the entire life of any SimpliSafe product (without an interactive plan, you get a one-year hardware warranty). ?

Another neat feature that comes with the interactive plan is the ability to set up secret alerts. You can only set specific sensors in alert mode, without triggering the alarm. Have a well-stocked wine cabinet and non-supervised teen? Install an entry sensor on the door, set a secret alert in the app, and you'll be notified whenever the cabinet is accessed.

SimpliSafe can be used as a local alarm if you do not want to pay a monthly fee. So when a sensor is triggered, it is up to you to contact the authorities. There are no contracts or commitments, and you can start or stop the service at any time or change plans. This flexibility is what makes SimpliSafe a great alternative to competitors like ADT Command or Vivint Smart Home, where the monitoring fee costs more, ranging from $ 50 to $ 60 per month. And with these filler service systems, you are required to sign contracts and are subject to severe fines for early termination. (For more on this, check out our story ADT vs. SimpliSafe.)

Smart hardware, simple setup

The pear-shaped base station, which powers the system, is 8.5 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, with a blue light at the base - it glows constantly to tell you that the alarm is on. And to tell you that there is something wrong with one of your sensors. It is much smoother and smaller than the original base, which looked like it was designed in the 1970s. And now the base station comes in Obsidian or Cloud to fit your home decor more easily.

Setup requires that the base station be placed in a central location within 400 feet of your sensors and 100 feet of your keypad and plugged into the included power cord. The new base station connects to an 802.11n 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio, adding another layer of connectivity to SimpliSafe's monitoring service. Wi-Fi is an honor for those living in rural areas who will not be able to use the monitoring service due to poor cellular coverage. If you're concerned about IoT risks, you don't need to connect SimpliSafe to your Wi-Fi network. Monitoring works fine without it, although you won't get firmware updates. Inside the base is a siren, a backup battery that the company claims will last 24 hours, and a SIM card for cellular communications.

The entry sensors have also been redesigned, and they are very small (about half the length they were before), square, and look modern. They run on affordable, user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell batteries that last an average of five years, and the system will alert you when they need to be replaced. No wiring or drilling required for installation. I simply removed the battery activation strips, peeled the baking onto the 3M command-like strips, and processed them after naming each component and connecting it to the system (more on that below). The components are easy to move around without damaging your walls, and you can take the system with you to your next home, which is a welcome feature.

The keypad, also available in black or white (and powered by four standard AA batteries), sees the biggest improvement in design, with a 2.5-inch LCD replacing a smaller monochrome screen. The well-sized, round backlit rubber buttons replace the small oval buttons on the old keypad. The proximity sensor is a nice touch, illuminating the keypad for night use. The large screen system also simplifies the setup process, as you combine all components using a simple step-through menu on the display. Each component has a small button that you press to connect to the system. Once this is done, the keypad will go through the naming process. You no longer need to consult the user manual for setup instructions.

It took me about 45 minutes to configure my test system, which included installing the keypad, connecting four entry sensors, two motion sensors, a siren, and environmental sensors, setting up a PIN, and testing the system. ? I believe that the required package can be easily configured in less than 30 minutes. The company covers the system with a 60-day money back guarantee and a three-year warranty on hardware.

Adding SimpliCams

Up to four will work with the SimpliCams system (although the company promises support for an unlimited number of cameras in the near future). Setup is simple and involves entering your wireless network details and scanning the QR code in the app. (Unlike the system, the cameras require Wi-Fi to work.) The camera is a simple-looking black plastic rectangle - with a round lens, privacy shutter, microphone, and LED indicator. Which slips on black. The metal stand at 4.56 by 2.55 by 2.08 inches (HWD) and 5.3 ounces, as far as home surveillance cameras go, is quite standard in size.

Indoor camera height and tilt are adjustable, but lack the ability to pan or zoom, although the 120-degree lens ensures wide view. The attached flat cable is nice and long at 10 feet, giving you some flexibility on where to place it, as it needs to be plugged into a wall outlet. The. 19.99 add-on outdoor kit includes weatherproof camera sleeves and a 25-foot power cord.

The video is captured in 720p, but looks amazingly good. It's also quite smooth, and my testing never slowed down - despite the fact that the camera only works in the 2.4GHz band. When analyzing footage captured with the adjacent 1080p Logi Circle, which supports the 5GHz band, SimpliCam's video quality was comparable. The captured sound is a bit harsh, but definitely audible, although the camera does not currently support two-way audio. Night vision footage is clear and the sensitivity of motion detection in the app can be adjusted. Motion detection is based on heat signature so the camera can tell the difference between a rotating fan, a small dog, and a real moving person entering your home.

Push-based alerts and live camera feeds are free. $ 4.99 per month / per camera Optional plan lets you record, download and share footage. With it, you can choose to see the alarm issued to SimpliSafe's monitoring center and provide visual confirmation of the alarm to the police.

The metal privacy shutter on the camera closes when the system is unarmed (off), or in home mode. It opens when you set the system to Away mode and records if an event is triggered. It also records a short clip when you arm or disarm the system. And you can watch live video feeds at any time in the mobile app or desktop dashboard, even though later you need a browser that runs on Flash. Simply put, SimpliCam is not the most advanced home security camera, but it works well for its intended purpose.

Focus on simplicity, but be careful

There is no support for Zigbee, Z-Wave, IFTTT, or other home automation protocols yet. This means a little integration with third party cameras, lights, door locks, or video doorbells. In most cases, you can install these devices with the SimpliSafe system, but you'll need to use a separate app to control them independently.

The company's CEO, Chad Laurans, explained to me that this was a limited integration in terms of design. The system means, well, simple. Although the integration of additional platforms is always sought, there is no complete plan in this regard.

However, there is Smart Lock integration in August (if you do not choose SimpliSafe's own Smart Lock), and you can install Nest Thermostat in the system to control the temperature in your home based on alarm modes. When you leave and rest the system in Away mode, the thermostat also switches to Away mode and adjusts the temperature accordingly. When you disarm SimpliSafe, Nest enters home mode. This integration worked well in my testing.

Alexa Voice Control lets you arm your system or check its status on Amazon Echo devices. It's easy to enable SimpliSafe home control skills in the Alexa app, and use commands like, "Alexa, tell SimpliSafe I'm going" (to arm the system in Away mode), "Alexa, tell SimpliSafe Good night "(To arm the system. In home mode), and" ask Alexa, SimpliSafe if my home is safe "(to get system status), did a good job of testing. There was a gap between the voice command and the base station in announcing a change in status or system mode. Alexa integration only works with the new SimpliSafe hardware, and the system cannot be disarmed by voice (for obvious reasons).

If you subscribe to the Interactive Plan and download and install the SimpliSafe app on your Apple Watch, you can arm or disarm the system with your wrist.

SimpliSafe in action

With only three available methods, arming and disarming Simplisafe is straightforward. Home mode activates door and window sensors, while Away mode activates both entry sensors and motion sensors. Test mode helps you set up the system and allows you to make sure from time to time that all sensors are in working order. The base station announces your actions loudly and clearly as you enter the various modes. The volume can be adjusted on the keypad or in the app.

When the alarm is armed and a sensor is triggered, the keypad will beep, and you have 30 seconds to enter your PIN. If you do not enter it, the base station siren is activated and sends an alert to SimpliSafe, and the company will contact you by phone and ask about the secure password you set during setup. ? If you do not receive a call, or you do not provide a secure password, the Emergency Dispatch Center will send police (or firefighters in case of a smoke detector).

I would like SimpliSafe to contact you first. For me, crazy police officers appear at my door because I got my PIN wrong, this is the biggest fear that comes from having an alarm system in my house. To be doubly secure, the time allowed for PIN registration can be marked up to 250 seconds, and can be varied by sensors.

Over the course of several weeks in my testing, all the entry and motion sensors worked correctly, and the base station and the 105dB siren did their job of loudly announcing accidental violations - and SimpliSafe's monitoring service Contacted me immediately.

A new diagnostic feature, heartbeats, is the occasional signal that is sent to each sensor system to tell if it is in range, if its batteries are low, or if it has been tampered with. Making sure your system is always working properly.

Online dashboard and mobile app

With a monthly interactive plan, you can use SimpliSafe's online dashboard or mobile app to control the system, including arming and disarming it. The dashboard lets you view your system event log, change your PIN, assign up to four guest PINs, and choose an optional Dress PIN when an intruder forces you to disable the alarm. Enter it, and the alarm will go off, but SimpliSafe will send it to the police immediately. You can also change the settings in the dashboard, such as siren volume, entry and exit delay times, and the arrangement and renaming of sensors. But now, with the new system, most of them are also accessible on the controls pad, which is nice.

If you can change the extra $ 10 on a standard monitoring plan, the ability to customize and control the app and the online dashboard and your system offered in the app from anywhere is valuable. You'll also need an interactive plan to get the most out of SimpliSafe's Smart Lock and Video Doorbell. $ 28 A month is reasonable when you consider that the cost of similar projects with competitors such as ADT and Vivint is almost double.

SimpliSafe or something?

As far as smart home security systems are concerned, we really like SimpliSafe for its ease of use, flexibility and cost. It lets anyone add a home security system in less than an hour, learning to use it is a breeze, and you can sign an agreement to access affordable 24/7 surveillance plans. Does not need to be turned off at any time. . The system introduced all of these things before - redesigned hardware, an even easier setup process, and still lower hardware and monitoring costs, and our editors for SimpliSafe DIY Smart Home Security Systems Gets the badge of choice.

If you're really into home automation, a system like Abode might be a great choice, with support for many smart home protocols, and compatibility with many existing devices. It also offers custom hardware with flexible, affordable monitoring. If DIY is not your thing, take a look at the ADT command. It will cost you a lot, and you will give up flexible monitoring plans, but you will get a full featured system and someone will come to your house and sort everything out. For everyone else, SimpliSafe is worth a serious look.