Cove vs. SimpliSafe home security
SimpliSafe is the better all-around DIY system, with a self-monitoring option, live agent plans and a stronger BBB record. Cove is cheaper to monitor and builds 4G backup into every hub.
CoveBestGuide Score: 4.0 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.
SimplisafeBestGuide Score: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.Quick verdict
Both are no-contract DIY alarm systems with 24/7 professional monitoring and a 60-day money-back guarantee, so the choice comes down to price, features and support record. SimpliSafe is the better pick for most people: it offers a low-cost self-monitoring plan, live agents who can speak to intruders on its Pro tiers, and a BBB A+ rating against Cove's B. Cove is the budget choice, with monitoring from $0.67 a day, 4G cellular backup on every hub, and a top plan that adds a lifetime equipment warranty and a $5 monthly equipment credit. Cove does not offer self-monitoring, so you pay for a plan as long as you use the system.
On this page11 sections
Cove vs. Simplisafe side by side
"Edge" marks the better option on that line for most people. Cove leads on 2, Simplisafe on 3.
Ratings and complaint records
Our score and sub-scores from each company's review, with the facts both reviews list.
Monitoring cost: Cove is cheaper at every tier
Both companies list monitoring by the day. Cove has three plans: Cove Basic at $0.67 a day for 24/7 agent protection and dispatch, Cove+ at $1.00 a day with camera access and 7-day cloud storage, and Cove Premium at $1.33 a day with AI alerts, 30-day storage, a lifetime equipment warranty and a $5 monthly equipment credit. That is roughly $20, $30 and $40 a month.
SimpliSafe starts a little higher and goes much higher: Standard Monitoring at $0.76 a day, Core at $1.10, Pro at $1.66 and Pro Plus at $2.66, or about $23 to $81 a month. The upper SimpliSafe tiers pay for features Cove does not sell, mainly live agents watching outdoor cameras. SimpliSafe also has a $0.33 a day self-monitoring plan with camera recordings, which Cove does not match.
Equipment is bought upfront from both, and both run frequent sales. Cove’s homepage advertised 70% off equipment plus a free HD camera when we checked. Over three years, a basic monitored Cove system costs about $100 less in monitoring than SimpliSafe Standard, and Cove Premium at $1.33 a day still costs less than SimpliSafe Pro at $1.66 while adding a lifetime warranty.
Equipment, backup and smart home
Cove is built around a hub and a touchscreen panel, with peel-and-stick sensors and a guided on-screen setup. The hub connects to your router by ethernet and includes 4G cellular backup on every plan, managed by Cove so it does not use your phone plan, plus a 24-hour backup battery. The hub supports up to four touchscreens. Its camera lineup covers indoor, outdoor, doorbell and light cameras, and its smart home support is limited compared with bigger brands.
SimpliSafe uses a base station with a keypad, connects over Wi-Fi with network backup, and keeps running for up to 24 hours on battery. Its plans add video verification on Core, which can speed police response, and Active Guard live agents on Pro and Pro Plus who can see and speak to people through supported outdoor cameras. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and August smart locks, but not Apple HomeKit.
Both install without tools. If you would rather not do it yourself, SimpliSafe lists professional setup from $124.99, and Cove books installs through HelloTech without publishing a price on the page we checked.
Support record and customer ratings
The ratings point in different directions depending on the source. On Trustpilot, Cove scores 4.6 out of 5 from 8,810 reviews, ahead of SimpliSafe’s 3.8 from 17,437. Cove replies to almost all negative reviews there and pays for Trustpilot’s verification service, which tends to bring in more invited reviews.
On the BBB, SimpliSafe holds an A+ with 573 complaints over three years, while Cove holds a B with 223 complaints. Relative to its much smaller customer base, Cove’s complaint count is high, and the recurring theme in Cove complaints is being billed after canceling. On the Apple App Store, SimpliSafe’s app scores 4.8 from about 323,000 ratings and the Cove Connect app scores 4.4 from about 4,800.
Size and age also differ. SimpliSafe was founded in Boston in 2006 and was bought by private equity firm GTCR in November 2025. Cove Smart was founded in 2018 in Draper, Utah. Whichever you choose, cancel in writing or through a recorded chat and check your next statement.
Which one fits your home
Pick Cove if your top priority is the lowest monthly bill for real professional monitoring. Its Basic plan undercuts SimpliSafe Standard, every plan includes cellular backup, and Cove Premium gives you cameras, 30-day storage and a lifetime equipment warranty for about half the price of SimpliSafe’s top plan. Cove also suits people who like a wall-mounted touchscreen panel instead of an app-first setup.
Pick SimpliSafe if you want flexibility. You can drop to self-monitoring at $0.33 a day during a move or a tight month without losing camera recordings, and you can step up to live agent protection if you have had break-ins or package theft. Its larger catalog, including smart lock options, and its stronger BBB record also count in its favor.
Both offer 60 days to return the system, so the low-risk move is to buy during a sale, install it the same week, and use the trial to check app reliability, camera battery life and how quickly the monitoring center calls you after a test alarm.
Pros and cons
Simplisafe
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
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
Also consider
Frequently asked questions
Is Cove cheaper than SimpliSafe?
Yes, for monitoring. Cove plans run $0.67 to $1.33 a day, about $20 to $40 a month. SimpliSafe professional plans run $0.76 to $2.66 a day, about $23 to $81 a month.
Can I use Cove without a monitoring plan?
No. Cove requires a paid monitoring plan. SimpliSafe offers a $0.33 a day self-monitoring plan and also works as a local siren with no plan.
Do Cove and SimpliSafe require contracts?
No. Both are month to month with no long-term contract.
Which has cellular backup?
Cove includes 4G cellular backup in the hub on every plan. SimpliSafe lists network backup and up to 24 hours of battery backup on its base station.
Does Cove have live agent monitoring like SimpliSafe Active Guard?
Not that Cove publishes. SimpliSafe's Pro and Pro Plus plans include live agents who can speak through outdoor cameras.
Which has better reviews?
It depends on the source. Cove scores higher on Trustpilot (4.6 vs 3.8), while SimpliSafe has the better BBB rating (A+ vs B) and a higher App Store rating (4.8 vs 4.4).
Do both offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. Both offer 60 days to return the system for a refund. SimpliSafe also pays return shipping.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Cove, Monitored security plans (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove, Homepage offers and FAQ (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SimpliSafe, Compare monitoring plans (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SimpliSafe, The Starter package, pro install and 60-day guarantee (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB, Cove Smart, LLC profile (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB, SimpliSafe, Inc. profile (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot, Cove reviews (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot, SimpliSafe reviews (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store, Cove Connect and SimpliSafe apps (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Cove, Professional installation (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Hellman and Friedman, SimpliSafe announces closing of sale to GTCR (November 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
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