SimpliSafe Home Security Review
"Make Home Feel Safe Again"
$234.99
"Make Home Feel Safe Again"
About 10 years ago, students at Harvard Business School founded SimpliSafe in response to apartment break-ins. Before SimpliSafe, renters had trouble getting monitored home security because it required a long-term contract and/or altering the property. The SimpliSafe solution is no-contract monitoring with wire-free security systems. Owners can easily move SimpliSafe sets from one rental to another, and add to them as needed without a service call. Because these systems are flexible and do-it-yourself, they’re popular among homeowners too.
SimpliSafe makes all the equipment they sell. Features include base stations and entry sensors, motion detectors, high-decibel alarms, glass break sensors, smoke detectors, panic buttons and an indoor surveillance camera.
Unlike many other DIY alarm systems, those by SimpliSafe will guard your home even when mains power is down for days. Normally you only get 24-hour backup, if any.
Emergency monitoring service is sold month-to-month. Using a cell chip or landline connection, a SimpliSafe system can alert operators at C.O.P.S. Monitoring. This award-winning agency has multiple locations that can field each other’s calls as backup in case of natural disasters and other widespread emergencies.
Reviews of SimpliSafe customer service are positive overall. Still, many customers suggest extending the service hours. SimpliSafe emergency operators respond 24 hours/day, but regular customer service hours from Boston headquarters are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
After fast growth in 2015 SimpliSafe suddenly earned many bad reviews for phone wait times. In 2016 they hired additional agents to address the complaints. Since 2013 SimpliSafe has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau. It has an A+ rating with the BBB and an average of less than one formal complaint to resolve per month.
SimpliSafe makes it easy to customize home security with add-ons. You can choose parts individually and as value sets.
Value sets have different combinations of a base station, wireless keypad, sensors and other equipment. Prices range from about $230 to $499. All SimpliSafe security equipment is under warranty for three years. Skip ahead or read about the sets in order:
The five-piece Starter Home Security System costs about $230 online and includes:
1 Base Station
1 Wireless Keypad
1 Keychain Remote
1 Motion Sensor
1 Entry Sensor
The seven-piece Economy Home Security System has additional entry sensors. The set sells for about $260 online and includes:
1 Base Station
1 Wireless Keypad
1 Keychain Remote
1 Motion Sensor
3 Entry Sensors
The nine-piece Classic Home Security System adds fire protection to home security. The full set sells for just under $350 and has the following features:
1 Base Station
1 Wireless Keypad
1 Keychain Remote
1 Motion Sensor
3 Entry Sensors
1 Smoke Detector
1 Extra Siren
The 14-piece Master Home Security System combines fire protection with plenty of intrusion sensors. For just under $450 shoppers get:
1 Base Station
1 Wireless Keypad
1 Keychain Remote
2 Motion Sensors
6 Entry Sensors
1 Smoke Detector
1 Extra Siren
The 16-piece Ultimate Home Security System is normally priced at $499 but sometimes sells for $399 on the SimpliSafe website. Its special features compared with the other sets are a glassbreak sensor and a panic button. The collection includes:
1 Base Station
1 Wireless Keypad
2 Keychain Remotes
3 Motion Sensors
6 Entry Sensors
1 Panic Button
1 Extra Siren (105dB)
1 Glassbreak Sensor
Additional equipment for SimpliSafe is low priced compared with that from competitors, partly because there’s no middleman markup. Entry sensors cost $14.99, motion sensors $29.99 and glass break sensors $34.99. Panic buttons cost just $19.99 each.
No Long-Term Contract
SimpliSafe, unlike most other home security leaders, does not require long-term contracts. Customers pay month-by-month and can cancel emergency monitoring at any time without penalty. Unmonitored SimpliSafe systems can call attention to crime by sounding alarms for four to five minutes.
A SimpliSafe security system, which is paid for up-front, can be returned for a full refund within 60 days.
SimpliSafe builds its own security equipment to help keep costs low. The following options are available.
Controls
Video Surveillance
Sensors
SimpliSafe keeps home protection easy with an appealing spectrum of features for security and environmental monitoring. Here are highlights.
Award-Winning Monitoring
SimpliSafe’s emergency monitoring is optional. It’s provided by C.O.P.S. Monitoring, which has earned the “Best Monitoring in the Industry” award from the Central Station Alarm Association. They use multiple stations and multiple signal carriers to help ensure fast dispatching.
Video Security
New feature! SimpliCam is an indoor security camera with a motion sensor and night vision. Video is HD and captures a wide-angle view (120°). You canview clips online and send them to police if needed.
Keychain Remote
Sized to fit a keychain, the SimpliSafe remote controller lets you arm/disarm your security system with the push of a button. It also has a panic button to instantly call for emergency help.
Entry Sensor
SimpliSafe entry sensors can stick to doors and windows with removable adhesive. An entry sensor can trigger an audible or silent alert.
Glass Break Sensor
SimpliSafe glass break sensors detect the audio waves of breaking glass. They bring an extra layer of protection in case criminals bypass normal entryways. Glass break alerts can also speed up a police response.
Environmental Protection
SimpliSafe can help prevent or minimize environmental damage to your home. The hub can monitor smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, freeze sensors and water leak sensors.
SimpliSafe is truly easy to use. Clever design includes a USB drive on the free keychain remote. When plugged into a computer, the USB drive shows a set-up guide.
Installation involves plugging in the base station, then placing sensors around your home and adjusting settings with your computer. You can watch a five-minute video of set-up on the SimpliSafe website.
SimpliSafe is a young company with admirable success. It developed wireless security with renters in mind, but SimpliSafe has become popular with homeowners too; homeowners can be wary of long-term contracts, plus they might like a DIY approach. Key advantages of SimpliSafe over many other DIY alarm systems are no-pressure online shopping, battery backup for all equipment, and the option to get 24/7 monitoring with cell radio or a landline. Our favorite SimpliSafe monitoring plan costs just $25/month and includes mobile access.
