SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Review

First Impressions

Before we go any further, we need to say that we bought our SimpliSafe outdoor camera alongside an entire SimpliSafe system. That system includes entry sensors, motion sensors, and Pro Plus monitoring. These components don’t just complement the Outdoor Camera – they’re essential for its full functionality. The device requires a SimpliSafe base station to operate, unlike standalone options such as the Nest Cam.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about our first impressions of the camera.

SimpliSafe Essentials Kit

The Outdoor Camera Pro is a compact battery-powered camera with a built-in spotlight. It’s even smaller than the Ring Spotlight Cam we reviewed. Even so, it is clearly well-constructed with a solid weight and heft. The adjustable mount particularly impressed us. We liked its clever design, which allows for precise positioning whether you’re mounting on a wall or ceiling.

The Camera Pro costs $199. That’s a chunk of change, no matter how you look at it. We noticed the difference after buying the Wyze Cam v4 for under $60. However, at $199, it’s $50 cheaper than the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro, and it offers more advanced features than other budget alternatives.

The thing is, if you want to take full advantage of the SimpliSafe outdoor camera’s features, you’re going to want to upgrade to the Pro or Pro Plus monitoring plans. Only those plans offer Active Guard. Those plans cost between $49.99 and $79.99 monthly. That’s significantly higher than Ring’s $20 monthly monitoring. Active Guard includes professional intervention that goes beyond basic monitoring, though.

Like Ring, SimpliSafe offers promotions throughout the year. Currently, for instance, systems are 50 percent off and you get a free $100 Visa gift card with any new professionally monitored system. That could certainly alter the math when it comes to deciding whether or not the Outdoor Camera is a worthwhile investment.

Our verdict, at least after assessing our first impressions? The Camera Pro is impressive, but you have to have the right situation and – even if you get it for free – the right budget for it.

Installing the Camera

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera in Box

SimpliSafe has been offering DIY installation since the beginning, and it’s one of the easiest to install. But, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera isn’t as easy to install as the SimpliSafe Wireless Indoor Camera that took us about 30 seconds to set up. Still, it was a matter of minutes, not hours.

The camera’s battery came half-charged, which means you can install the device right out of the box. We decided to charge it first, though. We learned this lesson after testing other cameras where partial charges led to connectivity issues. The full charge took about two hours. That’s comparable to most modern battery-powered security cameras like the Reolink Argus 2.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Inside

As for the installation itself, the SimpliSafe Outdoor comes with a magnetic mounting bracket. That’s becoming more popular in the industry, as we point out in our Geeni review. SimpliSafe’s magnets provide exceptional holding power. We found them strong enough to withstand high winds while still allowing easy repositioning for the perfect viewing angle.

Even installing the bracket was easy. It’s just a matter of turning a couple of screws. We didn’t even have to break out our drill.The entire process was simpler than other routine tasks like replacing smoke detector batteries.

First, we took the bracket apart, then proceeded to drill those two (very) small screws into the wall adjacent to our home’s garage door using the bottom of the bracket as our guide.

SimpliSafe Garage Door Bracket

We spent the bulk of our time deciding where to put this camera. You always want to get the most bang for your buck. That means placing cameras at vantage points and in spots where they won’t be obscured. The more space a single camera can cover, the fewer cameras you need saving you money.

Installing SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera to Wall

Since SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Camera uses Wi-Fi, though, you need to place it close enough to your router for a stable connection. We recommend using your phone’s Wi-Fi analyzer app to verify signal strength before drilling any holes. Aim for at least -70 dBm or stronger for reliable video streaming.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Placement

Last, but not least, you want to consider whether or not your outdoor camera is accessible from the ground. We found that the sweet spot sits between 8 and 10 feet high. It’s too high for tampering but low enough for battery changes to avoid dragging the ladder out of the shed. The magnetic mount is also a bonus, making removal for battery changes straightforward.

We managed the entire process in under 40 minutes, and that included finding the perfect spot and testing the Wi-Fi connection. Not bad for an outdoor installation.

SimpliSafe Outdoor: The Full Experience

The first thing we noticed about the Outdoor Cam is how easy it is to use. We’ve reviewed a lot of cameras – everything from Lorex and Wyze to Canary and Blink. SimpliSafe’s offering is as simple and straightforward to operate as any of them, even with all of its impressive features.

For starters, the SimpliSafe app gives complete control over every SimpliSafe component without any complicated navigation. Motion detection setup only took two taps to start receiving smart alerts. When motion triggers, we can view live footage with one touch. With our $9.99 monthly cloud storage plan, we also access 30 days of recorded clips.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera App

What did that live view look like, you might be asking? See for yourself:

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera View

Video Quality

As you can see, we had beautiful fall weather in central Ohio while we were testing the SimpliSafe Outdoor Cam. The device provided crystal clarity with 1080p HDR resolution so we could still distinguish faces while the sun was glaring. While 2K and 4K models we tested from Lorex were crisper, 1080p is the industry standard.

Night Vision

We consider night vision a core feature for outdoor security cameras. SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Camera certainly delivered. We also liked the dual night vision modes. Color night vision with the spotlight provided detailed footage for evidence, while infrared mode was better for covert monitoring. The infrared mode can see up to 30 feet in complete darkness.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Settings

One way or another, this camera caught all the activity we put in front of it. The spotlight’s activation occasionally lagged by a couple of seconds, resulting in brief black-and-white clips before color kicked in. It mostly occurred at night during peak network usage times, which is why we recommend reliable Wi-Fi coverage.

Now, let’s explore more notable features of this camera.

Motion Detection

If you’re trying to identify nocturnal critters nosing around in your front garden, you might want to leave your motion detection set to full. Another option is to use the AI-powered person detection to filter out wildlife, vehicles, and weather-triggered false alarms. When we activated this feature, our notifications reduced significantly and we only received alerts for actual security events.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Motion Detection

Luckily, the Outdoor Camera is a technological step up from previous Simplisafe camera models. The AI accurately distinguished humans from pets, packages, and moving shadows about 95 percent of the time in our testing. We also created custom activity zones to monitor specific areas like doorways and ignore busy sidewalks.

Two-Way Talk

The camera has a built-in microphone that lets you hear what’s happening around your home, even while you’re away, and talk to relatives or even suspicious lurkers within the camera’s view. This is a standard feature in security cameras, and for good reason: it can actually scare people away.

The audio handled as well as many others in the market, like the affordable Wyze Cam we tested recently. It fell just a bit short of expectations in audio clarity, but it definitely accomplished the task.

What sets SimpliSafe’s two-way talk apart is its integration with Pro and Pro Plus monitoring plans. When the camera’s AI detects someone approaching your home while the system is armed, the footage streams directly to SimpliSafe’s monitoring center. Agents can then speak through your camera to scare off intruders.

This feature is special with the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera. With the indoor version, monitoring agents can only talk to people if your system sounds an alarm. But with the outdoor camera’s built-in AI capabilities, it notifies monitoring agents of potential threats giving you more proactive protection. This only occurs when your system is armed, so you can still enjoy complete privacy whenever your system is disarmed.

Smart Home Integrations

As we mentioned earlier, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera works best when paired with one of SimpliSafe’s top monitoring plans – the Core, the Pro, or the Pro Plus. There’s another advantage to signing up for one of these plans, though: you get access to all of SimpliSafe’s smart home integrations.

With SimpliSafe’s home automation, you can connect your system to a smart home platform and use your voice to control all of your equipment. You can also connect other smart home devices in your home to your security system. We connected our Outdoor Camera to our lights so the lights would come on anytime our camera detected someone lurking in front of our house.

That said, SimpliSafe’s integration was not as intuitive as the Blink security cameras we reviewed. We could still control our smart home components through the SimpliSafe app or use voice commands. But Blink made the process easier. That’s largely because they’re owned by Amazon, though. And they don’t have any of the active monitoring features that make SimpliSafe stand out.

Limited Lifetime Warranty

SimpliSafe’s warranty structure rewards you if you stick with them for the long-term. The standard one-year warranty is available with self-monitoring or Standard plans. Core plan subscribers and above get lifetime coverage. You can replace defective equipment indefinitely as long as you stay on the monitoring plan. This is another reason we think SimpliSafe is one of the best security systems available.

On top of that, you’ll get a no-questions-asked, 60-day money-back guarantee. During that period, you can return your system and get your money back. It’s essentially a risk-free buy.

SimpliSafe Camera Costs

Side of SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera

For $199.99, the SimpliSafe outdoor camera is priced fairly, in our view. Some might find it a bit steep, since it only works with a SimpliSafe system and lacks any direct smart platform integrations. Also, as we noted above, the new Wireless Indoor Camera costs just $149.99. SimpliSafe frequently includes one or the other for free in pre-made packages.

We should say that as a standalone camera, we find the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera overpriced. Compared to other $100+ outdoor cameras, such as the Reolink Argus Pro we reviewed, it lacks premium features like 4K resolution and an ultrawide field of view. That said, we understand its value comes from working alongside a full SimpliSafe system.

It’s a decent camera at a mid-range price. The price, however, appears to reflect the flexibility this camera provides, so we don’t think $199.99 is an unreasonable price for an add-on camera. If you think otherwise, the $80 Night Owl camera might be worth looking at; their cameras tested well and presented a functional alternative.

We recommend watching for promotions. SimpliSafe runs sales year-round, offering up to 50 percent off systems plus free cameras with monitoring commitments. During Black Friday 2024, we saw SimpliSafe discount equipment bundles by up to 60 percent.

Keep reading for a brief snapshot comparing SimpliSafe’s cameras.

SimpliSafe Cameras: Cost Breakdown

SimpliSafe Packages: Cost and Features

Interested in what a full SimpliSafe security kit might cost you? Here’s the latest pricing on the brand’s selection of packages.

SimpliSafe Package Pricing

SimpliSafe Individual Equipment Costs

In addition to their affordable kits and cameras, SimpliSafe sells their own equipment and add-ons individually, ranging from motion and entry sensors to video doorbells and smart locks. Here are their offerings and what you can expect to pay:

SimpliSafe Offerings

SimpliSafe Subscription and Monitoring Plans

When it comes to the Outdoor Camera, we can talk about what you can do in terms of monitoring, but we also need to talk about what you should do.

SimpliSafe offers flexibility across its six monitoring tiers. Self-monitoring is free with instant alerts and live viewing. You can add cloud storage for $9.99 monthly to record clips from up to 10 cameras with 30-day retention.

Professional monitoring starts at $22.99 monthly with the Standard plan. When sensors trigger, agents verify the alarm and dispatch emergency services if needed.

The Core plan at $32.99 monthly adds cloud storage, video verification for faster police response, and Intruder Intervention. This is similar to Active Guard, where agents can speak to burglars and guide family members to safety during break-ins.

However, none of these plans makes full use of the Outdoor Pro’s technology. Given just how much the Outdoor Pro costs, you want to take full advantage of what it can do. The Pro’s AI, for instance, can track how long a stranger is on your property and determine whether or not they represent a threat. Then, monitoring agents can take control of the camera to scare the intruder away. That technology only works, though, if you subscribe to SimpliSafe’s top two monitoring plans, the Pro Plan or the Pro Plus plan.

We’ve included all of SimpliSafe’s monitoring plans below, but the bottom line is that if you want to make the most of your Outdoor Pro, you’re going to need either the Pro or Pro Plus plans.

Monitoring Costs and Options

Final Thoughts on SimpliSafe Outdoor

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera, installed, evening

SimpliSafe started out as a favorite of college students and renters, but it didn’t take long for the brand to become universally beloved by homeowners, businesses, apartment dwellers, retirees, and home security enthusiasts in general.

The addition of an outdoor camera to SimpliSafe’s arsenal only makes it a more well-rounded security solution. Did the camera knock our socks off? Not really. But part of that is because there are plenty of other top security brands that can do the same thing at the same or lower price, and still be on par with this camera in terms of performance.

But those other brands don’t rely on a complete home security system to keep them running, either. With a trusted brand like SimpliSafe, you can’t really go wrong with the new outdoor camera.

For existing SimpliSafe customers or anyone planning a complete system purchase, this outdoor camera integrates seamlessly to provide comprehensive perimeter protection. Just be sure to budget for Pro monitoring to unlock its full potential.

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