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SimpliSafe is a legitimate, BBB-accredited home security company founded in 2006 and, by its own count, the third-largest residential security provider in the U.S. It suits renters and homeowners who want to install equipment themselves and pay month to month: professional monitoring runs $0.76 to $2.66 a day with no contract or cancellation fee, and the system comes with a 60-day full-refund trial. The tradeoffs are upfront equipment costs, limited smart home support (Alexa, Google Assistant and August locks, no Apple HomeKit), and recurring complaints about outdoor camera batteries and support wait times.
- Monitoring price
- Standard $0.76 a day, Core $1.10, Pro $1.66, Pro Plus $2.66; self-monitoring with camera recordings $0.33 a day (as listed October 2026)1
- Contract
- No long-term contract and no cancellation fees; monitored customers accept SimpliSafe's Terms of Service1
- Free trial
- 60-day money-back guarantee with free return shipping on the system; first month of any professional plan free2
- Warranty
- 1-year limited hardware warranty; equipment replaced for as long as you keep an active Core, Pro or Pro Plus subscription2
- Backup
- Wi-Fi connection with built-in network backup and up to 24-hour battery if power goes out1
- Smart home
- Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and August smart locks1
- Ownership
- Sold by Hellman & Friedman to private equity firm GTCR on November 10, 2025; Hilary Schneider is CEO6
- Founded
- 2006 in Boston by Chad and Eleanor Laurans7
Pros
- No long-term contract and no cancellation fee
- 60-day full-refund trial with free return shipping
- Lifetime equipment replacement while you keep Core, Pro or Pro Plus
- Battery and network backup keep it running in power or Wi-Fi outages
- Highly rated app (4.8 from about 323,000 App Store ratings)
Cons
- Equipment is paid upfront
- No Apple HomeKit support; smart home links are limited to Alexa, Google Assistant and August locks
- Camera recordings and video verification need Core ($1.10 a day) or higher
- 573 BBB complaints in three years, often about billing, cancellation and equipment
- Outdoor camera battery life is a common complaint
Best for: Renters and homeowners who want to install their own system and pay for monitoring month to month.
Skip it if: You want Apple HomeKit, a deeply automated smart home, or someone to install and maintain everything for you.
Simplisafe vs. competitors
| Company | Installation | Contract | BBB rating | App Store rating | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpliSafe | DIY or paid pro install | None | A+ (accredited) | 4.8 | |
| ADT | Professional or DIY | Depends on package; ask before you sign | A | 4.8 (ADT Control) | Read review |
| Ring Alarm | DIY | Not published here | A+ | 4.7 | Read review |
| Cove | DIY | Not published here | B | 4.4 (Cove Connect) | Visit site |
Simplisafe pricing at a glance
SimpliSafe monitoring plans, as listed October 20261
| Plan | Price per day | Professional dispatch | Camera recordings | Live outdoor agents (Active Guard) | Anti-Theft Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self Monitoring with Camera Recordings | $0.33 | No | Unlimited, 30-day cloud storage | No | No |
| Standard Monitoring | $0.76 | Yes | No | No | No |
| Core | $1.10 | Yes, with video verification and Intruder Intervention | Unlimited, 30 days, up to 10 cameras | No | No |
| Pro | $1.66 | Yes | Unlimited, 30 days | 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. | Up to $500 toward your insurance deductible |
| Pro Plus | $2.66 | Yes | Unlimited, 30 days | 24/7 | Up to $500 toward your insurance deductible |
SimpliSafe lists plan prices per day. Those daily prices work out to roughly $10, $23, $33, $50 and $80 a month. Without a plan the system still works as a local siren, but no one will request police dispatch. Equipment is bought separately and package prices change with frequent sales.
Simplisafe, step by step
Pick a package or build your own
Buy a pre-built package or choose sensors, cameras and sirens yourself on simplisafe.com. Equipment is paid upfront.
Install it yourself
Sensors use adhesive backing and pair with the Base Station, which gives voice prompts during setup. Professional installation is offered as a paid option.
Choose monitoring
Pick self-monitoring or a professional plan. SimpliSafe offers the first month of any professional plan free.
Test it for 60 days
If you aren't satisfied, call within 60 days for a full refund; SimpliSafe pays return shipping.
Change or cancel any time
Plans are month to month with no cancellation fee. Hardware stays yours and keeps working as a local alarm.
SimpliSafe legitimacy and licensing
Yes. SimpliSafe was founded in Boston in 2006 and says it protects more than 5 million people as the third-largest residential security provider in the U.S. It has been BBB accredited since March 2013 and holds an A+ rating. Hellman & Friedman, which bought a controlling stake in 2018, sold the company to private equity firm GTCR on November 10, 2025, and Hilary Schneider became CEO.
Customer feedback is mixed but better than most of its rivals. Trustpilot shows 3.8 out of 5 from more than 17,000 reviews, with 59% five star and 14% one star. The BBB lists 573 complaints in the last three years. The app has a 4.8 rating from about 323,000 App Store ratings.
How much SimpliSafe costs
You pay twice: once for equipment and then, if you want it, for monitoring. SimpliSafe lists monitoring prices per day: $0.33 for self-monitoring with camera recordings, $0.76 for Standard, $1.10 for Core, $1.66 for Pro and $2.66 for Pro Plus. Those daily prices work out to roughly $10, $23, $33, $50 and $80 a month.
Standard gets you 24/7 agents who request police, fire or medical dispatch, but no camera recordings or video verification. Core adds unlimited camera recordings with 30-day storage, video verification for faster police response, and Intruder Intervention through the indoor camera. Pro and Pro Plus add Active Guard, where AI and live agents watch outdoor cameras and can speak to, light up or sound a siren at people outside (overnight on Pro, around the clock on Pro Plus), plus up to $500 toward your insurance deductible after a break-in while armed.
Equipment packages are sold on simplisafe.com and prices change with frequent promotions. In October 2025 NerdWallet listed packages from about $251 to $734.
How SimpliSafe works
Every system centers on a Base Station that connects wirelessly to entry sensors, motion sensors, cameras, sirens and keypads. You install it yourself with adhesive mounts, or pay for professional installation. The Base Station connects over Wi-Fi with a built-in network backup and has up to 24 hours of battery backup.
Without a monitoring plan the system still works as a local siren and the app can alert you, but nobody will request dispatch. Smart home support covers Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and August smart locks. There’s no Apple HomeKit support.
What customers say about Simplisafe
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Easy do-it-yourself setup
- Reliable core sensors and base station
- Helpful, patient support agents once you reach them
- No contract and the ability to cancel any time
Common complaints
- Outdoor camera Wi-Fi drops and fast battery drain
- Long wait times for customer support
- Billing and cancellation problems
- Equipment failures such as sensors, cameras or base stations
SimpliSafe complaints and how to avoid problems
On Trustpilot and the BBB, the most common complaints involve outdoor cameras losing Wi-Fi or draining batteries quickly, long waits for support, equipment that stops working, and billing or cancellation disputes. Praise centers on easy setup and helpful agents.
To avoid problems, test camera placement within the 60-day trial window, check that your outdoor camera has a strong Wi-Fi signal, and keep a record of when you cancel or downgrade. In 2016, researchers at IOActive showed older SimpliSafe systems’ unencrypted wireless signals could be exploited; SimpliSafe released a firmware update in 2018.
Cancellation, refunds and warranty
SimpliSafe has no long-term contract and no cancellation fee, so you can change or cancel monitoring at any time. If you’re unhappy with the system, call within 60 days of purchase for a full refund, and SimpliSafe covers return shipping.
Hardware has a one-year limited warranty from delivery. On Core, Pro and Pro Plus, SimpliSafe says it will replace malfunctioning equipment and cover shipping for as long as you keep an active subscription.
Who should look elsewhere
SimpliSafe is a weaker choice if you live in an Apple HomeKit home, want Z-Wave style home automation, or don’t want to install anything yourself. If you only want a siren and phone alerts, you may not need a paid plan at all.
Alternatives to Simplisafe
-
RingA better fit if you already use Ring doorbells or cameras and want everything in one app.
-
ADTWorth a look if you want a technician to install and service the system for you.
-
Another DIY system to quote if you want to compare monitoring prices against SimpliSafe.
-
Self-monitoring only
SimpliSafe's 33-cents-a-day plan, or no plan at all, keeps the siren and app alerts but leaves calling 911 to you.
Simplisafe reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is SimpliSafe a good security system?
It's a well-reviewed DIY system with an A+ BBB rating, 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot and no contract. It's best for people comfortable with self-installation; complaints focus on outdoor cameras and support wait times.
How much is SimpliSafe per month?
SimpliSafe lists prices per day: $0.33 for self-monitoring with recordings, $0.76 for Standard, $1.10 for Core, $1.66 for Pro and $2.66 for Pro Plus. Review sites list those as $9.99 to $79.99 a month.
Does SimpliSafe work without a subscription?
Yes. The system still sounds its siren and you can use the app, but no one will request police, fire or medical dispatch for you.
Does SimpliSafe require a contract?
No. SimpliSafe says there are no long-term contracts and no cancellation fees, though monitored customers agree to its Terms of Service.
Can I return SimpliSafe?
Yes, within 60 days for a full refund. SimpliSafe pays return shipping.
Does SimpliSafe work with Apple HomeKit?
No. SimpliSafe works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and August smart locks.
What happens if the power or Wi-Fi goes out?
The Base Station has built-in network backup and a battery that lasts up to 24 hours, so monitoring keeps working during outages.
Who owns SimpliSafe?
Private equity firm GTCR, which completed its purchase from Hellman & Friedman on November 10, 2025.
What is SimpliSafe Active Guard?
It's outdoor monitoring included with Pro (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and Pro Plus (24/7). AI flags possible threats on outdoor cameras and live agents can speak to the person, turn on the spotlight or sound the siren.
What is the SimpliSafe warranty?
Equipment has a one-year limited warranty. With an active Core, Pro or Pro Plus plan, SimpliSafe replaces malfunctioning equipment for as long as you subscribe.
Sources (10)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- SimpliSafe: Compare monitoring plans (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SimpliSafe: The Starter package (guarantee and limited warranty) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: SimpliSafe, Inc. profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: SimpliSafe reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: SimpliSafe Home Security App (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Hellman & Friedman: SimpliSafe announces closing of sale to GTCR (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Wikipedia: SimpliSafe (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: ADT Security Services profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Ring LLC profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Cove Smart, LLC profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
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