SimpliSafe Security System Review 2025

Okay, so ADT still has more monitoring centers than SimpliSafe. Vivint still offers more impressive equipment. SimpliSafe has something neither of those companies offers, though, at least not for SimpliSafe’s price point: live camera monitoring with video verification services in real-time, called Intruder Intervention. We’ll get into all that in a bit. For now, just know that it’s an industry game-changer.

SimpliSafe has some new and improved equipment to test. Here it is sitting on my dining room table.

Before you go rushing off to the SimpliSafe website, credit card at the ready, we should point out that as good as SimpliSafe is, it’s not the right system for every homeowner. SimpliSafe sits right beneath ADT at the top of our list of best home security systems, and frankly, it’s starting to become a neck-and-neck race. Still, neither of these systems is perfect. For example, SimpliSafe is a little light when it comes to equipment options. And while this fancy Intruder Intervention feature we’ve been talking about is amazing, it does cost a bit more than most standard monitoring plans.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

“In a study on burglars from the University of North Carolina, it was found that 83% of burglars admitted to looking for security systems before they attempted the burglary. If they found security measures in place, half the burglars left. As a police officer myself, I believe most, if not all, burglars look for surveillance systems including cameras, which explains why most victims of home burglaries are the ones without visible signs of home protection.” Read more about Joshua Lee →

We’ll get into all of that in this review – the good, the bad, the distinctive, and the unique. We ordered one of SimpliSafe’s packages recently and spent a few weeks living with it. Not only do we know what we’re talking about when it comes to this system’s pros and cons, but we can even let you in on a few tips and tricks we discovered along the way. By the time you’re finished, we’re certain you’ll know whether SimpliSafe is right for you and your family.

Just to add a little more context, let’s also consider what other customers have to say about SimpliSafe.

Overall, customers haven’t had a lot of complaints over the years. We have to say it again, though: other customers aren’t you. So, let’s get to it. What’s in a SimpliSafe system, and is SimpliSafe right for you?

About the SimpliSafe App

Adding equipment to my system through the SimpliSafe App.

Let’s start this review by going through the SimpliSafe app. Why? Because the app is one of the most important components of a SimpliSafe system. It’s the first interface you’ll encounter. Once all your equipment arrives in its neatly packaged boxes, you’ll set it up with the app. In other words, even installation runs through this piece of software. SimpliSafe makes the whole process easy. You add new devices to the system with the push of a single button. In addition, the app provides handy instructions for how to actually install each one.

Of course, once you’ve installed your system, the SimpliSafe app is also your means of controlling it. You can, for instance, arm and disarm components. The app can do a lot more. For example, it allows you to:

• Add new pieces of equipment to your system
• Change the settings of particular pieces of equipment
• Check the status of your equipment
• Receive real-time alerts
• Dismiss or confirm alarms
• Watch live video feeds from your cameras
• View recordings from your security cameras
• Schedule system activities
• Add new devices when you’re ready to upgrade

All of these controls are packaged in an intuitive interface that makes it easy to operate your system, whether you want to disarm it to let the dog walker in or you need to fine-tune camera sensitivity settings.

As it happens, the SimpliSafe app is also the starting point for installing equipment. Not only does it let you connect new devices at the touch of a button, but it also offers useful instructions for setting up and using those devices.

On that note, let’s get into all that equipment and the setup process.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

“I was on patrol when an out-of-state victim called 911 saying that someone suspicious was hanging outside his home. The homeowner activated his alarm using the app which scared away the would-be intruder. Since the homeowner gave a detailed description of the suspect, we were able to quickly find him. As a police officer, we are routinely called by homeowners who are self-monitoring their systems. Sensors and motion detectors that alert the homeowner via the app make it easy to self-monitor as long as the homeowner is paying attention.”

Enough about the app, though. Let’s talk about the equipment itself — you know, the fun stuff.

SimpliSafe Equipment: First Impressions, Setup, Features, and Stats

Of course, an app can only get you so far. If you’re going to protect your home, you need top-notch physical components as well. No problem there. As we unpacked the various pieces of our system, we were immediately impressed by just how well SimpliSafe equipment is designed. The look is contemporary and sleek enough to suit the look of any home. These devices are substantial as well. We’ll get into how they worked, but right of the box they had a heft and weight that spoke to their durability.

The one exception was the keypad. Most companies these days offer a touch screen, and push buttons feel…dated. They don’t detract from the look of the device. The keypad suits the rest of the equipment in terms of look, but it just felt a little clunky pushing those plastic buttons.

Ultimately, though, we found all of SimpliSafe’s equipment user-friendly and easy to operate. Let’s get into how each piece worked.

Base Station

The SimpliSafe Base Station sitting on my mantle. Please ignore the plant I need to water.

First Impression

That sleek look we were talking about – it starts with the SimpliSafe base station. This rounded cylinder, which narrows as it rises, reminded us of a flower vase. But the cool blue wrap-around light at its base makes it sophisticated to set it virtually anywhere. We put our on a decorative table near the front door so visitors knew the moment they came in that they were visiting a high-tech smart home.

The base station’s decorative look is especially clever when you consider that this particular piece of equipment basically just sits. That’s not to say it doesn’t do anything. In fact, it’s the heart of the SimpliSafe system, allowing all the other components – up to 100 separate devices – to communicate with one another and allowing the system as a whole to communicate with the outside world. Without the base station, that impressive SimpliSafe app couldn’t work. Plus, it includes a 100-decibel siren and, if you sign up for a monitoring plan, comes with cellular connectivity as a backup in case your Wi-Fi should go down. It’s just that the hub doesn’t give you control of your system the way the app does. No information screens to check, not buttons to push. Might as well make it look as nice as possible.

Setup and Install

You want to set up your base station first since every other component of your system has to connect to it. Likewise, it allows your system to communicate with your mobile app.

We had a bit of trouble with the instructions here. Our instructions insisted that we could install the base station anywhere in our house, and ultimately, that was true. However, during the initial setup process, it has to be in the same room as the router to make a stable Wi-Fi connection. That wasn’t clear from the instructions, so for a while, we thought the base station was defective. It just wouldn’t pick up a Wi-Fi signal. In frustration, we finally set it right next to the router and, presto, got it working.

At that point, we were convinced that’s where we’d have to leave it. Luckily, a call to customer service sorted everything out. Rita let us know that now that it was working, we could move it back to the front hallway, where we wanted it in the first place. No harm, no foul, but we think this is a step SimpliSafe should add to its instructions.

Something You Should Know

The base station has an onboard battery to keep your system working in the event of a power outage, but it’s not for everyday use. The battery only lasts about 24 hours. It’s best to place it near an outlet so you can keep it plugged in and fully charged at all times. Also, note that battery backup is a common security system feature. Any security brand worth its salt has power backup to keep their systems running through power outages.

Motion Sensor — Gen 2

Here I am installing the new and improved SimpliSafe Motion Sensor.

First Impression

Motion sensors are square with rounded edges. Again, the overall impact is contemporary, making these devices a nice stylistic addition to virtually any home. We’ve come across some pretty cheap-feeling motion sensors, but SimpliSafe’s feel solid and sturdy. They’re light enough to mount with adhesive strips, which makes them easy to install, but we didn’t worry they might fall apart if they happened to fall off the wall. And that’s a good thing, since ours actually did. Don’t worry – it was entirely user error. The instructions clearly said press and hold for thirty seconds, and we let go after ten. The good news is that we had an excellent demonstration of just how sturdily these detectors are built.

Setup and Install

The installation itself is easy if you actually follow the instructions. On the app, it says to remove the adhesive backing and firmly press it against the wall for 30 seconds. We got a little impatient and pressed it for about five, which caused the sensor to immediately fall down. Unfortunately, that ruined the command strips SimpliSafe uses, and we had to peel them off and replace them with our own. Can’t fault SimpliSafe here, really. That was our mistake. Once it’s on the wall, hit the sync button, and your home base will recognize it and pair it to your system.

Something You Should Know

Keep in mind that these motion sensors are far better at picking up motion that moves across their field of vision than picking up motion that’s moving toward or away from them. That means they are better placed to the side of entrances rather than head-on. In addition, they see more when they’re around six to eight feet off the ground.1 These placements aren’t unique to SimpliSafe. Most motion detectors in the industry work the same way.

Entryway Sensor

Installing an Entryway Sensor on my front door

First Impression

SimpliSafe’s entry sensors aren’t quite as sleek as the rest of the company’s equipment. They’re not exactly bulky. They’re smaller, for instance, than Frontpoint’s sensors. They’re not quite as compact as abode’s devices, though, and that may turn some customers off. We get it – you don’t want your home security equipment to draw attention to itself. The upside is that installation was a breeze. Their relatively larger size made them easy to handle. Plus part of their size is taken up with an indicator light that let us know they were working properly.

Setup and Install

Having learned our lesson with the motion detector, we made sure to press the peel-and-stick command strips to the door and the door frame for a full thirty seconds. We even timed it. And what do you know? We didn’t have any trouble with the entry sensors falling – funny how that works. If you’ve got standard doors and windows you probably won’t need a ladder to get these up. That means once they’re stuck in the entry space, all you have to do is hit the sync button. Easy peasy.

Something You Should Know

Our house is over a hundred years old, and the doors aren’t exactly standard. We spent a lot of time worrying about whether the two sides of the entry sensor were lining up perfectly. Turns out, we didn’t need to. SimpliSafe’s sensors aren’t triggered unless they’re more than two inches apart. This is quite a bit of space, so don’t worry if, like us, your door isn’t flush with the frame.

Keypad

SimpliSafe’s Keypad installed next to my front door.

First Impression

Keypads with buttons are sort of…20th century? These days everything is touchscreen. So, this particular device felt a little clunky, especially when sitting next to our other SimpliSafe equipment. But there’s no question that the device is solid and hardy. More importantly, it functioned perfectly, letting us turn our system on and off and make adjustments with the push of a few buttons.

Setup and Install

The keypad was a little trickier to install than other pieces of equipment. Here’s the problem: we just couldn’t seem to get the keypad to pair with the base station. We moved it from one room to the next, and nothing seemed to work. Finally, in desperation, we set it next to the base station. Presto, magic. Initially, we thought that meant the base station’s range was only a foot or two. Not ideal. Turns out, the two devices just needed to be together in order to pair. Once we’d done that, we were able to move the keypad wherever we wanted it – in our case, near the front door.

The thing is, this extra step wasn’t mentioned in the instructions. Since it’s not an intuitive step, it probably should have been. We wonder how many users leave their keypads with their hubs because they don’t realize they can move them once the two devices are paired. At any rate, the rest of the process was easy enough – more peel-and-stick command strips, and we were done.

Something You Should Know

The keypad has a panic button on the top of it. If you need immediate assistance, you can press and hold that button. Your alarm will sound, and, if you’re signed up for a SimpliSafe monitoring plan, authorities will be summoned if you don’t dismiss the alert. Most of the time, the police will be at your house in less than 10 minutes, depending on how far you live from the nearest station.2

Keep in mind, though, that SimpliSafe also offers self-monitoring, if that’s your thing. We don’t recommend it, since you can never tell when you may get an alert at an inconvenient moment, when you don’t have time to check it. We’ll say this, though: self-monitoring is free and SimpliSafe doesn’t make you sign any contracts. In fact, SimpliSafe is actually one of our favorite no-contract, self-monitored home security systems.

Smoke/CO Sensor — New

SimpliSafe’s new smoke detector and carbon monoxide monitor ready to be installed in my upstairs hallway.

First Impression

The smoke/CO detector looks and feels like a…well, like a smoke detector. OK, like a high-end smoke detector – smallish, slimmish, and a little sleeker than some low-end models. This isn’t your average smoke detector, though, the kind you might pick up at Ace Hardware. Because it’s integrated into the SimpliSafe system, you can control it through the app. More importantly, you get alerts through the app, so even when you’re not at home, you can respond to potential emergencies.

Setup and Install

We installed the unit on an interior wall and had a devil of a time installing it how we wanted it. Turns out the button and speaker holes are horizontal. We had to break out a pencil to mark the drill holes, and there was a level involved. We may have a problem with OCD, though. If you’re the average, everyday homeowner, you can probably get it up in a couple of minutes. Pair it with the app, and you’re done.

Something You Should Know

Most people know how important smoke detectors are, but very few people know just how dangerous carbon monoxide is. If your home has fuel-burning appliances like water heaters, stoves, or clothes dryers, you absolutely need one of these in your home. Luckily, SimpliSafe’s sensor monitors both smoke and CO and will alert you any time it detects either in your home.

Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera — New

SimpiSafe’s new wireless indoor security camera on my mantle.

First Impression

SimpliSafe’s Wireless Indoor Camera is an enormous step up in terms of video security. The company still offers its SimpliSafe wired camera, which used to be known as the SimpliCam, and you can get it at an attractive price – just $99. For just $50 more, though, the Wireless Indoor Camera is sleeker than its predecessor, includes a privacy shutter and two-way audio, and comes with a clever twist mount that simplifies wall installation.

More importantly, it’s packed with features that can exponentially improve your home’s security. Purchase a monitoring plan, and two-way audio allows SimpliSafe agents to talk directly with potential home invaders. On its own, a voice coming out of a security camera will startle most burglars away. In the event your bad guys are a little more stubborn, agents are trained to convince them they’re better off fleeing than waiting around for the police to arrive.

That last bit is especially important. SimpliSafe monitors are now trained to talk down home invaders in the event of a break-in. That adds a whole new layer of protection to your home, though you do have to sign up for a monitoring plan in order to access this feature.

Setup and Install

The installation process for this new camera was as easy as any other camera we’ve ever worked with, if not easier. Make sure it’s fully charged, hit the sync button, and bingo. All set. Now it does take a few minutes to connect to Wi-Fi and update the firmware, but at the end of the day, it was up and running from box to mantle in about 10 minutes flat — save for the five-hour charge time.

Something You Should Know

This is a relatively new entry on SimpliSafe’s equipment list, and it’s leaps and bounds above the company’s previous indoor camera model, so it’s worth taking time here to dive into its many features.

In terms of specs, it provides 1536p HD resolution. That’s not quite 2K – more like 1.5K – but it’s sharper than the industry standard of 1080p. This camera also features a 125-degree field of view and the option for up to 10x digital zoom. As we’ve said more than a few times already, video feeds are easily accessible through the SimpliSafe app. When we couldn’t find our keys one afternoon, it occurred to us to check the front porch. We pulled up a live image and discovered them right there on the porch swing where we’d left them.

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

Now, privacy. As you might know, a certain major manufacturer of security equipment was recently busted for not taking enough measures to protect their customers from the prying eyes of their field agents.3 While you may think allowing third parties to monitor your camera feed is a little intrusive, SimpliSafe assuages that concern with a snap-up privacy shield. When that’s up – as in, when the alarm system is deactivated or in “home” mode — you’ll know no one’s looking in.

Finally, day-to-day functionality-wise, we couldn’t find much to complain about. It’s super responsive, it captured everything it needed to in our tests, it’s easy to adjust the settings in the app for optimal performance, and the audio quality and minimized latency are some of the best we’ve seen in a camera in this weight class. During our testing period, there was only one time when the audio malfunctioned, but that was easily solved by turning the live feed off and on again.

Keep in mind, this camera is for indoor use only, and don’t think that pointing it out the window is going to keep burglars from coming on your property. For that, you might want to invest in one of SimpliSafe’s new Wireless Outdoor Cameras. These come with built-in spotlights so you get clear images even at night. These offer even more impressive features than the Indoor model, including AI facial recognition software. They also work through the SimpliSafe Active Guard program, which is similar to Intruder Intervention but for outdoor cameras. If one of your cameras doesn’t recognize someone on your property, it turns the situation over to a professional monitor who can talk with the person or alert emergency response as needed. Of course, you can also check out our list of the best outdoor security cameras if SimpliSafe’s offering doesn’t suit you.

Finally, we didn’t order any of SimpliSafe’s several add-on products, but we were definitely intrigued by the stand-alone panic button, the extra siren, and the key fob. The fob lets you easily disarm your system as you approach your house. No codes to remember. In addition, if you have a larger yard, we recommend ordering extra yard signs. Burglars are definitely turned off when they see that your home is protected.

The Day-to-Day with SimpliSafe: Running Some Tests

Testing out SimpliSafe’s keypad.

If you’re anything like us, once you’ve set everything up, you’re going to want to test each piece of equipment to make sure it’s functioning properly. You might be a little hesitant to do this, especially if your system is connected to dispatch authorities. SimpliSafe thought about this and gives you a three-day “practice mode” where you can trigger as many alarms as you like just to see how everything works. And trigger we did.

And trigger I did, much to my wife’s dismay.

Pretending to break into our own home is always entertaining, but we were stopped dead in our tracks every time by the SimpliSafe system. In our pre-testing research, we read complaints about faulty equipment issues, but at no point did any piece of equipment malfunction. Even if it did, there were two more pieces of equipment that would have caught us immediately (motion sensor, indoor camera, etc.) — this is how every security system should function, by the way.

When we tested the system, the monitoring center contacted me in about 20 seconds. As far as response times go, 30 seconds is the industry average, so we felt like SimpliSafe was especially snappy. Remember — every second counts in emergency situations, so you want a responsive system to keep the thieves and burglars at bay.

Bottom line, we felt completely safe using this system, and we were confident that in a real emergency, we would have been protected — especially since we signed up for their Core (formerly Fast Protect) Monitoring plan. More on that in just a bit. First we want to talk about the highlights of this system.

What We Liked

SimpliSafe isn’t perfect, but most homeowners will find a lot to like about it. We certainly did. We were particularly impressed with how well all the various pieces of equipment communicated with one another. A home security system shouldn’t just be a collection of components. All those components need to work in concert to provide a complete web of security. Entry sensors, cameras, motion detectors, and emergency alarms all worked seamlessly together – not so much as a hiccup.

Best of all, we were able to control everything from the SimpliSafe app, even when we were away from home. We used the indoor camera to check on the cats while we were at the grocery. And we used the video doorbell to chat with the postal person about a package they were delivering. When we forgot to arm the system one morning, we used the app to check it and eventually turn it on.

We also like how thoughtfully all of the pieces of equipment were designed. We know we made the “simple” joke already, but this really is an extremely user-friendly and easily accessible system. A lot of folks might be too intimidated by the term “do it yourself” to think about trying to set up a DIY security system, but trust us — this couldn’t be easier. The only power tool we used was a drill to sink two screws into some drywall for the smoke alarm/CO sensor mounting bracket.

What We Didn’t Like

At the risk of seeming wishy-washy, one of the things that worried us most about the SimpliSafe system was the simplicity of the installation process. We know, we just complimented that same process. And there’s no doubt that it was quick and easy. That’s great in the short term. We worry a little, though, that in the long-term, command strips just aren’t heavy-duty enough. What happens to them in a year or two when they’ve been through a couple of humid summers and cold, dry winters. Our guess is that they’ll shrink and swell and ultimately, your equipment will all wind up on the floor.

We will say SimpliSafe does provide mounting hardware in the box with some of their equipment, although it’s kind of on the user to figure out how to make it work. The trick is to use the battery housing as a mounting bracket.

The Command Strips on the back of SimpliSafe’s motion detector.

We also have to say that we weren’t a huge fan of the keypad. Don’t get us wrong – it’s a fine piece of equipment and does what it needs to do, but it just felt like it needed some upgrading. We might suggest a touch screen like Rob tested out in his review of Vivint security system. Maybe throw in some advanced features as well.

As it stands, though, the push-button keypad felt like a piece of equipment from 15 years ago working to keep up with a modern system that outpaced it. During our testing period, we barely used it at all, since everything was easily controlled by the app. We appreciated the inclusion of the integrated panic button, though. We’re very thankful we didn’t have to use it, but we are glad it’s there.

Drawbacks aside, we were satisfied overall with the functionality and quality of the SimpliSafe system. It felt comprehensive, and most of all, we felt very secure using it. A big portion of that had to do with the equipment, but an even bigger portion of that had to do with the monitoring.
Let’s talk about that next.

SimpliSafe Monitoring

Early on, SimpliSafe’s claim to fame was that it allowed users to DIY their home security. Back then, they were the only company offering that option. Dozens of copycats later – even ADT recently began offering a self-monitoring option – they’re still one of the best self-monitored systems on the market.

But…and this is important…SimpliSafe is currently setting new standards on the professional monitoring side of the industry.In fact, SimpliSafe’s Core (formerly Fast Protect) monitoring is now one of the system’s biggest selling points.

How does it work?

When an alarm is triggered, SimpliSafe agents use your Wireless Indoor Camera and speak with you and verify there’s an emergency. If you provide them with the safeword you established during the setup process, they disable the alarm. Easy enough. If no one responds, the system spots an intruder, or it detects another emergency, agents alert first responders. Note that those first responders respond more quickly to your alerts because agents can verify what’s happening at your home. They even send video evidence to emergency personnel.

In the meantime, two-way voice controls let security personnel speak directly to intruders and let them know they’re on camera and that the police are on the way. This usually stops intruders in their tracks, before they can do any serious damage to your home or get away with anything valuable. In the security world, this type of monitoring – which SimpliSafe calls Live Guard Protection – is the gold standard.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

“I remember responding to a call where the homeowner watched a suspect break into his home via a live security-camera feed. While the suspect was rummaging through the victim’s home, the victim remoted in and said “I can see you. Leave my stuff and get out.” The suspect dropped everything, ran outside, and was arrested by responding officers. The victim called the police first but used his alarm system to communicate with the suspect to leave his property alone.”

The price for this protection? Not bad, at around $32 per month. Both ADT and Vivint charge more. ADT, for instance, charges $35 per month for comparable features – minus video verification and two-way talk.

If you’re not up for paying $32 per month, you can also get professional monitoring without those extra features for $22 a month, comparable to what Ring charges. And SimpliSafe still offers its original DIY monitoring plan. For free, you get real-time alerts every time a sensor picks up activity at your home, and you can pull up live video feeds to see what exactly is going on. In fact, we like SimpliSafe’s DIY monitoring so much we put it at the top of our favorite security systems with no monthly fee. If all those options weren’t enough, you can also pay $10 per month and get cloud storage for all your camera feeds.

Confused? Let’s break these options down for you:

Premium Monitoring at a Price: Live Guard Outdoor Monitoring

When you first look at the chart above, you might have a hard time finding the difference between the Core plan and the Pro and Pro Plus plans. But, there’s a pretty big difference with a brand new feature specifically for the wireless outdoor camera. It expands Live Guard Monitoring for the Smart Alarm indoor camera to the outdoor camera with a few extra tricks. Here’s how it works:

1. Your outdoor camera uses A.I. to detect when someone is approaching your home.
2. Next, it uses facial recognition to see if the approaching person matches any of your saved profiles.
3. If they’re a stranger to the camera’s A.I., your system contacts SimpliSafe’s monitoring center, and an agent gets involved in the situation.

Facial recognition is only available with outdoor monitoring. Turns out, there’s less expectation of privacy outdoors.

SimpliSafe Pricing

Overall, the system we were using – one home base, one keypad, two entryway sensors, one motion sensor, one wireless indoor camera, and one smoke/CO sensor — cost $484.93. Not bad in our opinion, especially for how protected we felt during the test period.

That said, SimpliSafe offers different packages, all of them great values. Even better, SimpliSafe is almost always running a deal, whether it’s for Prime Day, Black Friday, Valentine’s Day, or the Fourth of July. You can sometimes get packages for up to 60 percent off, plus freebie cameras and monitoring. Keep an eye out, and you can rack up some savings.

SimpliSafe Packages

You can also build your own system. Here’s a complete breakdown of SimpliSafe’s equipment and their costs.

SimpliSafe Required Equipment

 SimpliSafe Sensors

SimpliSafe Cameras

SimpliSafe Hazard Sensors

SimpliSafe Add-Ons

As you can see, none of this equipment is really going to break the bank, even when you’re buying multiple pieces to outfit your home comprehensively. SimpliSafe’s costs are among the best in the industry, and their protections are too. More on that in the next section.

How SimpliSafe Compares to Other Security Systems

When you’re considering which security system will protect your family, it helps to shop around. We offer a number of head-to-head guides, like our SimpliSafe vs. Ring Comparison guide. Here’s a quick snapshot, though, of a few other options. Then, we’ll talk about safety and give you our final verdict.

Security System Side-by-Side Comparison

*ADT does offer a DIY option, but when we reviewed ADT Self-Setup, we found that their focus was still primarily on professionally-installed systems.

So now that you’ve got a good idea of how SimpliSafe stacks up, let’s talk about things from a different perspective…

Will SimpliSafe Deter Burglars?

Above all, you want a security system that’s going to protect you and your family from burglars and home invaders. Bonus points if it convinces the bad guys not to try your home in the first place. So does SimpliSafe get the job done in this regard?

We’ve been lucky – knock on wood – that to date no one’s tried to break into our house. Unfortunately, that means we can’t tell you with certainty how the SimpliSafe system would perform if it were put to that particular test. What we can tell you is that if we were burglars, the super-loud alarm and the new Core monitoring system would deter us from trying to break in. In fact, having a professional monitor try to talk us down through two-way camera speakers would be unnerving, we think.

You want to remember to put out your yard signs, though. Criminals keep up with changes in the industry, and we bet most thieves avoid a SimpliSafe house, but they have to know it’s a SimpliSafe house to make that decision.

Does SimpliSafe Call the Police?

So let’s say the unthinkable happens — you’ve installed your SimpliSafe security system, you’ve made it clear you have one with a yard sign and window stickers, you keep your routine dynamic, and you take care to make sure there aren’t good hiding spots on your property. What happens if a burglar still decides to break in?

If you’re self-monitoring, you get an alert. You check your cameras and identify any potential threats, and you contact emergency personnel.

If, on the other hand, you’ve signed up with SimpliSafe’s new Core monitoring system, the company not only alerts authorities for you, but it uses cameras to verify what’s happening so emergency personnel know what’s going on before they arrive. That kind of protection is well worth the $31.99 per month SimpliSafe charges for it.

You can go even further, by adding a wireless outdoor camera to your setup and signing up for Outdoor Active Guard monitoring. In this case, AI determines whether or not someone on your property is a threat well before they make it into the house. If it doesn’t recognize the person on your lawn, it alerts a real live monitor who checks out the situation. They’re trained to talk with trespassers and, again, to alert authorities if necessary. That plan is a little pricier. The Pro plan, which protects you at night, costs just under $50 a month. Sign up for around-the-clock protection with the Plus plan, and you’re looking at just under $80 per month. That’s pricey, but for those who can afford them, these plans ensure no one even makes it close to you or your loved ones.

The Verdict on SimpliSafe’s New Equipment

Here’s a quick recap in video form of what we thought about SimpliSafe’s security system.

Let’s bottom line this. SimpliSafe is high on our list of the best video systems – number two – because it’s reliable and customizable. If you’re looking for a system that you can install yourself, you can’t do better. If you’re looking for a system that gives you the option to self-monitor or sign up for professional monitoring, it’s tops again. Its new Core monitoring system is setting a new standard for the industry at a price that’s reasonable.

While its equipment selection isn’t quite as wide as some other companies, you can count on SimpliSafe devices. Put that together with an easy-to-use app and strong customer service, and, SimpliSafe might not be for everyone, but it will be for a lot of you.

How We Test Security Systems: Our Methodology

We spend countless hours testing security systems, but the evaluation actually starts before we have equipment in our hands. We conduct exhaustive research on manufacturers to make sure they’re up to our standards — and the standards of our readers. Only then do we install them in our own homes to see what it’s like living with them day-to-day to give you our honest insights, experiences, and recommendations.

SimpliSafe FAQs