Ring Alarm vs. SimpliSafe
Ring Alarm is the cheaper way to get professional monitoring plus camera recording, best for Ring and Alexa homes. SimpliSafe is the stronger alarm-first system with a cleaner privacy record.
RingBestGuide Score: 4.2 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
This one depends on what you already own. Ring Alarm is the better value if you use Ring cameras or doorbells: the $19.99 a month Ring Pro plan covers 24/7 professional monitoring and video recording for every Ring device at your address, and a 5-piece alarm kit lists at $199.99. SimpliSafe costs more once you add cameras ($1.10 a day for Core), but it is built as an alarm first, adds video verification and optional live agent deterrence, and gives you 60 days to return the whole system. Ring's 2023 FTC settlement over employee access to customer videos is a real factor for privacy-minded buyers.
On this page11 sections
Ring vs. Simplisafe side by side
"Edge" marks the better option on that line for most people. Ring 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.
Cost: equipment and monthly plans
Ring sells the Ring Alarm 5-piece kit (base station, keypad, contact sensor, motion detector and range extender) for $199.99, an 8-piece kit for $249.99 and a 14-piece kit for $329.99, with Alarm Pro kits that include an eero Wi-Fi 6 router from $299.99. Professional monitoring comes with the Ring Pro plan at $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year, which also covers video recording, smart alerts and AI features for every Ring device at one address.
SimpliSafe prices monitoring by the day: Standard $0.76 (about $23 a month), Core $1.10 (about $33), Pro $1.66 (about $50) and Pro Plus $2.66 (about $81). Camera recordings start at Core. Equipment is sold separately and package prices move with frequent sales, so compare like-for-like kits on the day you buy.
For a home with an alarm plus two or three cameras, Ring Pro is the cheaper monthly bill by a wide margin, about $13 a month less than SimpliSafe Core. If you only want a monitored alarm with no cameras, the gap narrows to about $3 a month, and SimpliSafe’s 60-day refund window makes it lower risk to try.
Monitoring and emergency response
Both use third-party or company monitoring centers that request police, fire or medical help when the alarm goes off. Ring notes that it does not own its monitoring center, and its professional monitoring is available in all 50 states but not U.S. territories. Local permit, false alarm or verified guard response fees can apply with either brand.
SimpliSafe’s higher tiers do more at the moment of an alarm. Core adds video verification, which lets monitoring agents confirm a break-in on camera before requesting police, and Intruder Intervention. Pro adds Active Guard live agents who can watch and speak through supported outdoor cameras from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Pro Plus runs that 24/7.
Ring’s closest equivalent is Virtual Security Guard at $99 a month, which adds live video monitoring by agents, real-time intruder deterrence and verified dispatch requests on top of Ring Pro. Ring Pro alone adds cellular backup for Ring Alarm, and Alarm Pro kits can keep your home internet running on backup data with 3GB included each month.
Privacy and company record
In May 2023 the FTC charged that Ring let employees and contractors access customers’ private videos and failed to put basic security protections in place, which let hackers take over some accounts and cameras. Ring agreed to pay $5.8 million for consumer refunds, delete data products built from videos it reviewed unlawfully, and run a privacy and security program with outside assessments. The FTC sent more than $5.6 million in refunds in April 2024. Ring has been owned by Amazon since 2018.
SimpliSafe has no FTC enforcement action that we found. It was founded in Boston in 2006 and has been owned by private equity firm GTCR since November 2025.
On complaint data, both hold BBB A+ ratings. Ring’s profile lists 940 complaints over three years and SimpliSafe’s lists 573, with Ring’s base far larger. Both apps rate well: Ring at 4.7 from about 1.87 million App Store ratings and SimpliSafe at 4.8 from about 323,000. If you are privacy sensitive, turn on two-factor login with either brand, and review which household members can see camera history.
Ecosystem and setup
Both are DIY systems you can set up in an afternoon. Ring Alarm plugs into power, pairs sensors in the Ring app and is controlled from a keypad or your phone. It makes the most sense if you already have a Ring video doorbell or cameras, because one Ring Pro plan covers them all, and Alexa can arm and disarm it by voice. Ring sells one of the widest catalogs of doorbells, floodlight cameras and alarm sensors of any single brand. It does not support Apple HomeKit.
SimpliSafe uses a base station and keypad, connects over Wi-Fi with network backup, and runs for up to 24 hours on battery. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and August smart locks, and also does not support Apple HomeKit. SimpliSafe-approved technicians can install it for you from $124.99.
A Ring Protect plan is not required to use Ring devices, and Ring offers a free 30-day plan trial. SimpliSafe also works as a local siren without a plan. Neither brand asks for a contract, so you can change plans month to month with both.
Pros and cons
Ring
Pros
- Wide range of doorbells, cameras, floodlights and alarm kits from one brand
- Low plan prices: $4.99 for one device or $9.99 for every device at your address
- Professional monitoring for $19.99 a month with no contract
- Up to 180 days of saved video on paid plans
Cons
- 2023 FTC order over employee access to private videos and hacked accounts
- Police can request your footage through Community Requests, and sharing also sends your address and email
- No refund when you cancel a plan, and saved videos are lost
- 1.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot and 940 BBB complaints in three years
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 Ring Alarm cheaper than SimpliSafe?
Usually. Ring Pro, which includes 24/7 professional monitoring and video recording for all Ring devices at your address, costs $19.99 a month. SimpliSafe Standard monitoring is about $23 a month and Core, which adds camera recordings, is about $33.
Does Ring Alarm need a subscription?
No. Ring says its products work with certain features without a plan, but professional monitoring requires the Ring Pro plan, and video history needs at least Ring Solo or Ring Multi.
Does either system require a contract?
No. Ring plans auto-renew until canceled, and SimpliSafe has no contract or cancellation fee.
Which has live agents watching cameras?
SimpliSafe's Pro and Pro Plus plans include Active Guard live agents. Ring offers live video monitoring through its Virtual Security Guard plan at $99 a month.
Does Ring Alarm have cellular backup?
Yes, with the Ring Pro plan. Alarm Pro kits can also provide backup internet with 3GB of data included each month.
Is Ring safe to use after the FTC settlement?
Ring agreed in 2023 to a privacy and security program with outside assessments and multi-factor authentication requirements. Turn on two-factor login and review shared users on any camera system.
Do Ring or SimpliSafe work with Apple HomeKit?
Neither supports Apple HomeKit. Ring works with Alexa, and SimpliSafe works with Alexa, Google Assistant and August smart locks.
Which has the better trial?
SimpliSafe offers 60 days to return the full system for a refund with free return shipping. Ring offers a free 30-day trial of its Ring Protect plans and free returns on U.S. orders.
Sources (11)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Ring, Ring Protect plans (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Ring, Alarm security kits (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, Ring LLC profile (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB, SimpliSafe, Inc. profile (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store, Ring app (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store, SimpliSafe Home Security App (accessed Oct 12, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC, Ring employees illegally surveilled customers, failed to stop hackers (May 2023) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC, Refunds sent to Ring customers (April 2024) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Hellman and Friedman, SimpliSafe announces closing of sale to GTCR (November 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
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