There are six monitoring options, ranging from free to $79.99 a month. You can still use a SimpliSafe system without buying a monitoring plan. We like this because some other home security providers, such as ADT and Vivint, require a monthly fee.
SimpliSafe does not require a monitoring service. With a free plan, you can view live footage from your cameras.
There's only one monthly fee associated with SimpliSafe home security systems: the professional monitoring plan. The cost depends on which monitoring plan you choose. The Self Monitoring With Camera Recording plan is a DIY option and includes extra smart home integration and SimpliSafe camera recording perks.
You still can access basic features without a plan - though you will need an internet connection to access these features. We recommend that you at least test out our Core (formerly Fast Protect™) or Standard Monitoring Plans - free for one month!
However, to record video, you'll need to purchase SimpliSafe's Self Monitoring Plan. The cloud storage in the Self Monitoring Plan also comes with the Core Plan and above. Each of these plans includes unlimited storage for up to ten cameras with the Self Monitoring Plan costing $9.99 per month.
Integrating SimpliSafe with other smart home brands requires a subscription. Professional monitoring costs have gone up three times in four years. Limited selection of security cameras.
SimpliSafe is our top pick for a security system without monthly fees due to its affordable equipment and flexible monitoring.
Nope, a subscription is not required. The Smart Lock does need to be added to an existing SimpliSafe system, but you can use the whole system and access it through the app (including locking and unlocking the Smart Lock) without a subscription.
Top System for Monitoring — Ring and SimpliSafe
But, SimpliSafe gave us stronger monitoring capabilities with its Core plan offering live guard protection. For the lowest cost option, we recommend Ring. If you want top-tier monitoring that still offers great value, go with SimpliSafe.
SimpliSafe Monitoring Options
None of this requires a contract. You can sign up for any monitoring tier and change to the next one a month later if you want to scale up or scale down. It's that level of flexibility that puts SimpliSafe high on my “best of” lists.
You can also use it to arm your system, watch live video from your security cameras, and unlock your SimpliSafe Smart Lock without getting out of your chair. We liked the SimpliSafe app overall for its easy-to-use, glitch-free features. Here's what we found during testing.
A: You need a SimpliSafe System for the panic button to work, but you do not need a subscription plan. Without a subscription, the system would alert and make noise, but nobody will be notified.
We think that SimpliSafe is as good as, if not better than, ADT. Unlike ADT, SimpliSafe offers month-to-month professional monitoring starting at $21.99 whereas ADT's monitoring plans start at $29.99 per month.
SimpliSafe cameras don't support continuous recording, but we prefer cameras that only record events otherwise reviewing footage ends up taking too much of our time.
Is SimpliSafe easy to cancel? Yes, SimpliSafe is easy to cancel. Don't be intimidated by the required phone call. The customer service reps will ask why you want to cancel, but they're not judging you—it's just an internal survey so the company can keep an eye on cancellation trends.
Yes. ADT DIY offers a video doorbell without a subscription or contract. Our doorbell camera system lets you see, hear, and talk to your home's visitors from virtually anywhere. Alternatively, you can get the standalone wired Blue by ADT Doorbell Camera without a system or long-term contract.
According to Andrew Zonenberg, a researcher with security consultancy firm IOActive, attackers can easily disable SimpliSafe alarms from up to 30 meters away, using a device that costs around $250 to create a replay attack.
The best SimpliSafe alternative depends on the reason you're looking for an alternative to SimpliSafe. If you want better professional installation and monitoring, we recommend ADT. For better smart home capabilities, Vivint offers some of the most advanced smart features available.
Ring's Subscription Costs
Ring's monthly subscription plans are among the most affordable that we've ever seen. Ring Protect Basic costs $3 a month or $30 a year, Plus costs $10 per month or $100 a year, and Pro costs $20 a month or $200 a year.
SimpliSafe systems work perfectly well “locally” without paying for one of their premium plans. Suppose you simply want the alarm to make a racket when tripped or check-in remotely via a video camera. In that case, the free tier of SimpliSafe is a good option with a low effort setup relative to other DIY options.
Our top pick for the best smart lock for most folks is the Aqara Smart Lock U100. In our review of the Aquara lock, we noted it's one of the most complete smart locks we've seen, offering fingerprint, code and digital pass options as well as native compatibility with Apple HomeKit.
Cove and SimpliSafe are excellent DIY security systems. Both have a range of high-quality products and exceptional monitoring services, and they're quick to alert authorities in an emergency. But we believe SimpliSafe is the better choice.
As for monitoring, you can self-monitor your SimpliSafe system for nothing. If you prefer professional monitoring, though, (we do) you're looking at between $22 and $32 a month. Installation is DIY, so there's no cost there.
What is the best overall home security system? We've tested systems for more than 180 hours and nothing beats SimpliSafe's starter kit as the top choice for the average homeowner. It's incredibly DIY friendly while also offering very robust monitoring plans for those who want them.
Let's recap – ADT packages start at $269. The monthly fee for professional monitoring ranges from $24.99 to $49.99. The installation fee is optional, but starts at $100. There's also a three-year contract if you get your system installed by a technician.