SimpliSafe vs Blink Comparison
Our pick is SimpliSafe! Read below to find out why.
SimpliSafe
- Monthly subscription plans
- Fast and easy DIY installation
- Reliable professional monitoring
- Professional monitoring costs $14.99 or $24.99 a month
- Camera recording costs as little as $4.99 a month
- Packages range from $230 to $490
Blink Camera
- No long-term contracts
- Impressive two-year battery life
- Affordable home security
When it comes to contract-free home security, SimpliSafe and Blink provide effective and reliable coverage. Each system offers quality security cameras, but SimpliSafe goes the extra difference and includes many state of the art features that make it comparable to more expensive systems. Although SimpliSafe is technologically advanced, you can monitor the system yourself without having to pay for a professional monitoring service each month. Affordability is the name of the game and both systems, even though they have significant differences offer adequate protection and provide homeowners with a sense of security and peace of mind.
Monitoring
SimpliSafe can be monitored by the homeowner or renter as well as professionally monitored. A cellular network is required for SimpliSafe’s system to connect with both the mobile app as well as the monitoring center. If professional monitoring is used, notifications will be sent to both the subscriber as well as the numbers on their contact list.
Blink offers 24/7 professional monitoring with its higher-priced package. Blink can use either a Wi-Fi connection or a cellular network. If the homeowner or renter chooses 24/7 professional monitoring, the call center will notify the subscriber, their contracts, and emergency personnel if an alert is received.
Features
SimpliSafe includes many valuable features that make it well worth the cost. This includes glass break sensors, video surveillance cameras, a video doorbell viewer with two-way communication, motion detection, and a mobile app that allows you full access to your home security system whether you are at home or not. In addition to their other sensors, SimpliSafe also offers environmental hazard detection for smoke, fire, ice, water, and abnormal amounts of carbon monoxide.
The features offered by Blink’s two camera choices include LED lighting that can be used at night and also infrared night vision. Blink’s hub allows for up to 10 cameras each having a 100-foot range. By using the remote app, you can manage your system as well as communicate with the Alexa platform. A video doorbell is also offered, but it does not have two-way voice communication capabilities.
Costs
There are no contracts or service agreements with SimpliSafe. All equipment is purchased upfront with packages ranging in price from approximately $230 to $510, depending on where you purchase your system. Additional devices can also be purchased that will allow you to fully customize your home security system to meet your needs. There are two plans to choose from. The Standard costs $14.99 a month and the Interactive plan for $24.99 a month. Both offer professional monitoring but the Interactive plan allows for text/email alerts and remote connectivity. Your equipment includes several different sensors, indoor video cameras, environmental sensors, and the convenient mobile app as well as many other add-on devices
Blink offers two cameras, Blink basic for no-frills home security and Blink XT2 for more advanced options. Cameras cost approximately $99 and come with free cloud storage included, and no local storage directly from the camera. Blink offers two plans. The $9.99 plan allows you to monitor your home with 4G service or Wi-Fi. The $19.99 plan allows for all of the features of the basic plan but also gives you the option for 24/7 professional monitoring. You do not have to sign a contract with Blink or agree to service terms.
Installation
Both SimpliSafe and Blink are do-it-yourself systems that require very little assistance during installation and set up. Each system comes with easy to follow instructions and can be installed and functional in less than 30 minutes. Because it can be installed and removed without professional assistance, it can be used by both homeowners and renters.
Our Take: SimpliSafe vs Blink
SimpliSafe is an affordable system that offers many of the most popular high-tech features. If you want the independence associated with no contracts but want the security of professional monitoring, then SimpliSafe is a good choice for homeowners and renters alike.
Blink is a good choice if you want reliable home security using a camera-based system. No contracts to worry about and you also have the option for professional monitoring. It’s an affordable option that is both reliable and effective.
FAQs
Comparing SimpliSafe to Blink is difficult; while SimpliSafe has a comprehensive security system, Blink is cameras only. Nevertheless, we’ve answered the questions we got the most below.
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Which is better, Blink or SimpliSafe?
Overall, SimpliSafe is better than Blink. Blink only sells indoor and outdoor cameras, while SimpliSafe sells security and environmental sensors, key fobs, panic buttons, and other components of a complete security system. SimpliSafe also offers 24/7 professional monitoring, while Blink is all self-monitoring.
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Are Blink cameras any good?
Blink cameras are good options for someone on a budget; we recommend Blink’s more recent offerings, the new Blink Indoor, the Blink Outdoor and/or the Blink Mini. All cameras feature 1080p HD video, infrared night vision, two-way audio and Alexa integrations. Furthermore, none of the cameras are more than $100 on their own, with discounted packages available. However, for those looking for person detection, Google Assistant integrations or fields of view wider than 110 degrees, then Blink cameras would not make a good choice.
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What is the best self-installed home security system?
The best self-installed home security system is SimpliSafe. Since most of SimpliSafe’s system was wireless, installation didn’t take a long time or any special equipment. Later on, we added on the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro, so we liked that the system was scalable, as well. Plus, all firmware updates happen automatically, so there was very little maintenance after the initial installation.
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Is SimpliSafe as good as ADT?
SimpliSafe is as good as ADT, if not slightly better. While we paid only $24.99 a month for professional monitoring and 30 days of cloud storage from SimpliSafe, the same services cost us $40 to $60 a month with ADT. ADT also made us sign a three-year contract, while SimpliSafe was month-to-month. SimpliSafe’s physical system was also sleeker and more modern than ADT’s, with free DIY as opposed to paid professional installation.