Every year, over one million home burglaries happen in the country, and almost two-thirds happen when no one is home. And since we’re traveling most of the time, we need a highly reliable system to protect our home. However, traditional alarm systems haven’t made it easy either with their long-term contracts, complicated installations, and false alerts. Thankfully, that hasn’t been our experience since using SimpliSafe. In this SimpliSafe home security review, we share how its DIY setup and no-contract plans made things easier for us. We’ll walk through whether SimpliSafe might be a good fit for you, too, especially if you want solid protection without constantly checking your phone.
What Makes SimpliSafe Special?
For us, what sets SimpliSafe apart is how it turns home security from a hassle into something we enjoy using, especially when we’re on the road. Right out of the box, everything is DIY and wireless. This means all we had to do was plug in the base station and stick on sensors in minutes. No drilling, technicians, and fuss! The system’s design feels thoughtful, too. Motion and entry sensors work together with indoor and outdoor cameras to keep an eye on our home 24/7, and we can arm, disarm, and check in from the SimpliSafe app no matter where we are.
We also loved how it combines that DIY convenience with smarter, modern protection. The system doesn’t just blare an alarm. Instead, it sends real-time alerts to our phones, and if we choose a professional monitoring plan, trained agents can step in for emergency dispatch or even proactively help deter threats using AI-powered outdoor cameras and live response tools. And all this comes with zero long-term contracts or cancellation fees, so we aren’t locked into anything if our travel plans change.
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Price and Packages
SimpliSafe is easily one of the most flexible home security systems out there, and it comes with seven pre-configured packages for travelers. Since we wanted the most complete equipment, we went with The Haven. At 558.56 USD, we got a base station, a keypad, four entry sensors, two motion sensors, a panic button, a temperature sensor, a water sensor, a key fob, a 105dB siren, a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, and a free wireless indoor camera. We love this package the most as it also prevents water and fire damage, which can cost a lot.
However, if you don’t want to go that far and just want to test whether SimpliSafe is reliable, we recommend The Foundation. It’s the most affordable pack by SimpliSafe, which suits small homes and apartments. At 250.96 USD, you’ll get a base station, a keypad, an entry sensor, and a motion sensor. Plus, just like The Haven, this pack also comes with a complimentary wireless indoor camera.
Of course, as a DIY security system, you can also build and customize your own system. The mandatory equipment that you have is the base station and keypad, and the rest depends on your needs. If your home has plenty of huge, floor-to-ceiling windows, you can add more glassbreak sensors. Or, if you have a few blind spots in your backyard, you can get more outdoor cameras.
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Professional Monitoring
When we talk about SimpliSafe’s monitoring, we’re really talking about how the system stays awake and watching even when we’re visiting Lake Como in winter. SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring plans pair your DIY hardware with real humans on the other end who are ready to respond 24/7 if something goes wrong, whether it’s a break-in, fire, or medical emergency. These agents don’t just wait for an alarm to scream. With certain plans, their access to video verification and the AI-powered outdoor cameras means they can see and assess a threat before calling in help, which can lead to faster police dispatch when minutes matter most.
We honestly love the flexibility SimpliSafe gave us. With tiered plans, we could choose the level of protection that we wanted based on our travel habits. The plan includes Core, Pro, and Pro Plus. Even better, you can have a free one-month trial for whichever plan you want and cancel or switch anytime without any extra fees. Here’s a breakdown of what each monitoring plan offers:
| Feature | Core | Pro | Pro Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Active Guard Outdoor Protection | ❌ | ✅ (8 PM–6 AM local) | ✅ (24/7) |
| AI-powered threat detection with live agent deterrence | ❌ | ✅ (overnight with outdoor camera) | ✅ (24/7 with outdoor camera) |
| Unlimited camera recordings & 30-day cloud storage | ✅ | ✅ | Yes |
| Verified alarms | ✅ | ✅ | Yes |
| Built-in cellular backup & app notifications | ✅ | ✅ | Yes |
| No long-term contract / cancel anytime | ✅ | ✅ | Yes |
| Price (per day) | 1.10 USD | 1.66 USD | 2.66 USD |
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Setting Up SimpliSafe
From day one of our review, SimpliSafe was one of the easiest home security systems we’ve ever set up and used. Almost everything was wireless, and once we powered on the base station, the system basically walked us through the rest. We loved how the base station communicated in multiple ways, from speaking out loud and sending app notifications to using a color-changing LED strip to show system status. As we added more devices over time, everything synced smoothly. Even better, firmware updates happened automatically in the background, so once it was installed, there was virtually no ongoing maintenance.
Another thing that stood out to us was how accessible the system felt, even for people who aren’t tech-savvy. You don’t need to be comfortable with apps, touchscreens, or smart home setups to use SimpliSafe day to day. Arming and disarming the system is straightforward. Just a couple of button presses on the keypad and a simple passcode to turn it off. That’s it. The smartphone app is there if you want remote access, but it’s totally optional, which makes SimpliSafe a great fit for households with seniors or anyone who prefers physical buttons over digital controls.
We also appreciated the little things that make everyday use easier, like the key fob and panic button. With a single press, you can arm the system, disarm it, or call for help. It all just works, which is probably why the name SimpliSafe feels so accurate after living with it. And while the system is clearly designed for DIY installation, we like that professional installation is still an option. If you’re adding something like the Video Doorbell Pro, which does require hardwiring, you can hand that part off and still enjoy a system that’s simple once it’s up and running.
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Using the SimpliSafe App
As frequent travelers, having remote access is crucial, which is why we love the SimpliSafe app. Back in the day, full access was locked behind the top-tier plan, but now, no matter which monitoring plan you choose, you can arm and disarm the system, check in on alerts, and tweak settings right from your phone. It’s a huge perk when we’re traveling. The app is simple, intuitive, and mirrors the online dashboard, so whether we’re on Android, iOS, or a laptop, controlling our home feels effortless.
But the app isn’t just about basic control. We can view the System Event Log, update our PIN, set up guest PINs for family or friends, and even create a Duress PIN that silently alerts the police if we’re ever forced to disarm the system. We can adjust siren volume, entry and exit delays, and rename or manage individual sensors without having to touch the keypad. Speaking of the keypad, most of these settings are available there, too, which is handy if our phone isn’t nearby. We can basically control everything at our fingertips, whether from only 10 feet away from home or at a spa resort in the Caribbean.
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Is SimplySafe Worth It?
Based on our SimpliSafe home security review, we can confidently say that it’s worth it. We’re big fans of how easy, flexible, and affordable it is. We were able to get the system up and running in under an hour, and learning to use it was even easier. The no-contract monitoring plans give us flexibility, and we love that we can turn them on or off whenever we want. Sure, the prices have crept up a bit over the years, but SimpliSafe keeps adding smart features like the Overnight Active Guard Outdoor Protection, which makes us feel safer when we’re away. For travelers like us who want reliable, plug-and-play security, this award-winning company hits the sweet spot.
Also read: Six Ways to Keep Your House Safe When You Go Away on Vacation
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Does SimpliSafe work if the internet is down?
Yes, SimpliSafe still works if the internet goes down because it uses cellular backup to stay connected. Your system can still send alerts and contact monitoring agents even without Wi‑Fi.
Do SimpliSafe cameras record 24/7?
No, they don’t record continuously 24/7 by default. Instead, they record short clips when motion is detected or when specific events occur, like an alarm trigger.
How many cameras can SimpliSafe have?
SimpliSafe systems support up to 10 cameras per account, including indoor, outdoor, and doorbell cameras.
Some images on this article are copyrighted by SimpliSafe.
