SimpliSafe Pricing, Plans, and Package Costs 2024

Our Methodology

Every system we test starts with in-depth research and in-home testing. For articles about costs, we focus on the value of the system.

We consider a system’s functionality, design, and durability, as well as its monitoring offerings, installation costs, and other fees. Then we compare that to the cost of its services and equipment. This is not a report on how affordable or expensive SimpliSafe is, but an analysis to see if the system is worth the price.

With that in mind, let’s put SimpliSafe under the microscope.

How Much Does SimpliSafe Cost?

There are two ways to purchase a SimpliSafe system. You can buy an equipment package or you can build your system piece by piece. We’ll start by looking at the former, and then move to the latter. There are seven equipment packages to discuss, and we’ll start with the smallest and move to the biggest.

The Foundation

What does it include?

• One motion sensor
• One entryway sensor
• One base station
• One keypad

Who is it good for?

This is a good system for an apartment or a small home with limited entryways. It’s also a good option if you want a basic system you can build on over time — a great option if you’re on a budget.

How much does it cost?

The Foundation package costs $249.96.

The Starter

What does it include?

• One motion sensor
• Three entryway sensors
• One base station
• One keypad

Who is it good for?

The Starter is SimpliSafe’s most popular system, and it’s great for small homes under 1,200 square feet. The entryway sensors cover your front, back, and side doors, and a well-placed motion sensor protects your home from intruders.

How much does it cost?

The Starter package costs $279.95.

The Hearth

What does it include?

• One motion sensor
• Three entryway sensors
• One base station
• One keypad
• One smoke detector
• One key fob
• One siren

Who is it good for?

The Hearth is good if you have a smaller home and you want additional environmental protections. It also includes an extra-loud siren that will wake up the neighbors if someone breaks into your property.

How much does it cost?

The Hearth costs $399.91.

The Knox

What does it include?

• Two motion sensors
• Six entryway sensors
• One base station
• One keypad
• One smoke detector
• One key fob
• One siren

Who is it good for?

The Knox is a great system for larger homes with multiple entryways and ground-floor windows. Similar to the Hearth, it also includes SimpliSafe’s extra-loud siren and connected smoke detector.

How much does it cost?

The Knox costs $479.87.

The Haven

What does it include?

• Two motion sensors
• Four entryway sensors
• One base station
• One keypad
• One smoke detector
• One key fob
• One siren
• One water sensor
• One temperature sensor
• One panic button

Who is it good for?

The Haven is where we get into comprehensive protection. The included temperature and water sensors protect you from the elements — especially if you live in a colder climate — and the panic button ensures you can summon help at a moment’s notice. Pick the Haven if you need to protect a larger home from multiple threats.

How much does it cost?

The Haven costs $519.86.

The Lighthouse

What does it include?

• One motion sensor
• Three entryway sensors
• One base station
• One keypad
• One outdoor camera

Who is it good for?

The Lighthouse is a good option for small to medium-size homes — up to 1,600 square feet — that want the added protection of a security camera. For more information, check out our review of the SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Camera and our guide to security camera placement.

How much does it cost?

The Lighthouse costs $469.93

The Beacon

What does it include?

• Two motion sensors
• Four entryway sensors
• One base station
• One keypad
• Two outdoor cameras

Who is it good for?
I’d recommend the Beacon for folks looking to keep an eye on threats to their property from all angles. If you have a larger property and want to protect your front and back entryways, it’s a good system for you.

How much does it cost?

The Beacon costs $709.90.

That’s it for SimpliSafe’s security packages. But you may have heard that SimpliSafe is one of the most affordable security systems out there. Why don’t these equipment prices jive with that notion?

How Do SimpliSafe’s Prices Compare?

I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing security equipment, paying particular attention to how their costs evolve over time. A trend I’ve noticed, particularly among DIY security system providers, is to list high “regular” prices but always offer deep discounts. I saw that tactic when I reviewed Cove and again when I tested Frontpoint. It’s a clear marketing tactic — one I’m not a fan of. The false sense of urgency can cause someone to make a snap decision in order to secure some sort of discount.

You’ll rarely — if ever — pay full price for SimpliSafe equipment. At the time I wrote this article, all of its systems were 50 percent off and included a free indoor security camera with a Fast Protect Monitoring subscription (more on that in a bit).

To give you an idea of what you’ll actually pay for the systems, I made the chart below.

I can’t guarantee that the 50 percent discount will last forever, but I’d expect at least 30 percent off. For more information, read my guide to how to save on SimpliSafe.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about the second way to purchase your SimpliSafe system: ordering off the a la carte menu.

Building Your Own SimpliSafe System

A security package is convenient, but I recommend building your own security system — particularly if you’re going with SimpliSafe. Why? Because every home is unique, and every homeowner or renter’s needs are different. The odds are slim that one of seven systems has exactly what you need.

Here I am installing a SimpliSafe motion sensor.

Keep in mind that you can select one of SimpliSafe’s packages and supplement it with additional equipment. That’s a good option, but it can feel like putting a square peg in a round hole. If you want comprehensive security, I recommend full customization.

Here’s all the equipment SimpliSafe currently offers, along with their prices. Not included are the base station and keypad. Those are required pieces of equipment, and they’re already factored into your system’s costs at $199.98 for both (without a discount).

These are regular prices. Your discount will be applied when you check out. SimpliSafe currently is offering half off on new systems, but it typically offers between 30 percent and 60 percent off.

That’s similar to Cove’s equipment list, but the retail prices are more expensive. That’s understandable though. I’d argue that you get higher-quality equipment with SimpliSafe. It’s still cheaper than traditional companies with white-glove professional installations. For more on that, read my review of ADT and my in-depth guide to Vivint, which are both great systems in their own right.

That’s all there is to say about SimpliSafe’s equipment, but that’s just one side of the story. Let’s switch gears to SimpliSafe’s monitoring costs.

How Much Is SimpliSafe’s Monitoring?

SimpliSafe changed the way it does monitoring, but I have all the information you need. There are three packages to choose from: Fast Protect Monitoring, Standard Monitoring, and Self-Monitoring With Camera Recording. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll get with each.

SimpliSafe is a good option for full-on self-monitoring too. If you don’t want to pay a subscription fee, you can monitor the system on your own. I don’t recommend that since you won’t get all the security benefits of a paid system, but it’s an option if budget is a concern.

Installing a SimpliSafe entryway sensor.

Also worth noting: SimpliSafe is one of the best no-contract systems, which means you won’t have to jump through hoops if you decide to change how your system is monitored. I canceled my Fast Protect Monitoring during my test period and self-monitored the system to see how big of a difference it made. The process was pain-free.

With monitoring out of the way, let’s talk about specific recommendations.

My Recommendations

I recommend forgoing the equipment packages and building out a bespoke system instead. Here are three custom systems I priced out for my home, which is an average-size place with three doors, four ground-floor windows, and a detached garage.

Budget-Friendly

The system cost a total of $279.94 before taxes. I went with the self-monitored option, and I selected the equipment I consider absolutely necessary.

Now let’s take a look at a more complete system.

Middle of the Road

Before taxes, the system would cost $718.91 for equipment and $19.99 per month for standard professional monitoring. It includes the necessary equipment mentioned above, and it adds two glass-break sensors to cover the downstairs windows, an outdoor camera to keep an eye on my backyard, and a doorbell camera to watch my front door. I consider that a strong security system.

Let’s take a look at a premium option for my property.

Top of the Line

This ultimate system would cost $993.86 before taxes. That’s a lot, but it includes SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect Monitoring, which provides active intruder deterrence and video verification through the wireless indoor camera. I also wanted to make sure I was safe from all environmental hazards, so I added a smoke and carbon monoxide detector and temperature and water sensors for my basement. I included a key fob, too, because, hey, I like convenience. I consider this to be a system that provides complete security for my home.

There are a few things to keep in mind with these recommendations though.

First: Your security needs will differ from mine. I suggest covering at least your exterior doors with entryway sensors and a motion detector to cover the largest swath of your home possible. If you can, invest in wireless security cameras next. They’re exceptional burglar deterrents and help you round things out. Finally, think about nonhuman threats to your property. Are you worried about pipes bursting in the wintertime? What about your hot water heater giving off deadly carbon monoxide? If it’s in the budget, invest in environmental sensors as a tertiary priority.

Checking out the privacy screen on SimpliSafe’s indoor camera.

Second: The prices I included above are SimpliSafe’s retail prices. Like I said throughout this article, the company constantly offers discounts. If I bought that top-of-the-line system today, it would cost around $500 instead of almost $1,000. When you price out your SimpliSafe system, remember that it’s likely to be discounted.

To bring things home, I want to tell you about my experience with my SimpliSafe system, and then I’ll give you my final recommendation.

My Experience With SimpliSafe

I have more detail in my review of SimpliSafe, but overall I’m happy with the company’s security systems. I’ve worked with its equipment for years and have seen it evolve from a small company focused on protecting apartments and dorm rooms to a major player in the home security space.

Simply put: It’s the best DIY security system I’ve tested. Its equipment is well designed, high quality, and built to last. It’s easy to install and customize as your security needs change. I also love its next-gen monitoring. Fast Protect is some of the coolest technology I’ve seen in this space, and the ability for SimpliSafe security experts to interact with you — and would-be burglars — adds a peace of mind not often seen with affordable DIY systems.

There are, however, downsides to SimpliSafe’s systems. First, I can’t figure out why SimpliSafe makes you purchase a keypad. The company has one of the best security apps, and I controlled the system from my phone the entire time I was testing it. I think the analog keypad is an outdated piece of technology that should be phased out.

SimpliSafe’s keypad installed next to my front door.

Next, I’m not a fan of the adhesive strips SimpliSafe provides to mount the equipment. They work for entryway sensors, but the heftier pieces of equipment, such as motion detectors, require more for a permanent hold. I got a lovely 3 a.m. wake-up call when a false alarm was triggered by my motion detector falling off my wall. I recommend using the included hardware to mount heavier pieces so they don’t go rogue.

SimpliSafe’s adhesive strips have done me wrong in the past.

Overall, those are minor gripes. At the end of the day, it’s a rock-solid system that offers comprehensive security for any property owner.

Is SimpliSafe Worth It?

If we go strictly by retail prices, I’d say SimpliSafe is too expensive for what you get. The brand’s “retail prices” are more of a marketing gimmick though. If you’re taking into account the standard 30 percent — or more — discount, SimpliSafe’s costs are more reasonable. Attractive, even.

Still, I recommend trying to time the purchase of your SimpliSafe system around a major holiday or seasonal change, since that’s when you get the biggest discounts. If you feel like you need to purchase your system today, though, you can still enjoy some savings that make the security system worth it.

If you want a solid DIY security system, it’s hard to go wrong with SimpliSafe.