SimpliSafe Frequently Asked Questions

SimpliSafe is located in Boston, MA, and services many areas around the United States.

The majority of SimpliSafe equipment protects the inside of your home, but the company does have a video doorbell and an outdoor camera that shows you an outdoor view.

Yes, you can use SimpliSafe without monitoring. They do not require a monthly subscription. Although, we recommend at least the $9.99 per month self-monitoring plan so that you can record footage from your cameras and use the full capabilities of the SimpliSafe app.

SimpliSafe uses end-to-end encoding, 256-bit encryption, and SSL security certification to keep your data safe. These industry-leading security measures are robust and designed to stop hackers from using home security data for malicious purposes.

While SimpliSafe doesn’t offer financing themselves, they do offer financing through Affirm for up to 24 months. But, with the reasonable price of their products, you can get a good basic home security setup without a massive upfront investment.

You are not under a contract with SimpliSafe. All your equipment gets bought upfront, and the monitoring service is billed as a month-to-month payment that can be canceled without penalty.

SimpliSafe has a DIY-friendly installation process that doesn’t require any special tools. You plug in the base station, use the included adhesive strips on the sensors, and you’re ready to go. They also offer professional installation for a fee that starts at $125.

SimpliSafe creates its own home security equipment and offers a base station and keypads, motion sensors, entry sensors, smoke detectors, stand-alone sirens, keychain remotes, panic buttons, water sensors, temperature sensors, indoor security cameras, video doorbells, outdoor cameras, glass break sensors, smart locks, and combined smoke and CO detectors.

The base station can reach sensors over 500 feet away. But, that’s in an outdoor, open-air setting without anything interfering with the signal. In practice, the range is closer to 250 feet for most homes. However, all keypads need to be within 100 feet of the station to work properly.

SimpliSafe has limited support for third-party home automation equipment and works with Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. They can also work with August smart locks. Since the company’s primary focus is on offering a simple-to-use home security system, the supported third-party devices list is smaller than is typical for the market.

Yes, Simplisafe offers an indoor camera, outdoor camera, and a video doorbell. The indoor camera supports active guard protection with the Core (formerly Fast Protect) Monitoring Plan which means trained monitoring agents will use the two-way audio on the camera to get unauthorized intruders to leave. This feature expands to the outdoor camera with the Pro and Pro Plus plans.

You can use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to control your SimpliSafe system with your voice. SimpliSafe supports integration with these third-party devices, so it’s a seamless setup process.

Much like the rest of the SimpliSafe security system, the mobile app is simple and straightforward. You get control over all the devices that are part of the system, can remotely arm and disarm it, and can instantly set up security PINs for guests and family members. If you have video cameras, this is the way that you access the live streams and recorded video if you have a cloud storage plan.

This system is incredibly friendly for renters. Just take all your equipment with you, and you can set it up within minutes at your new place.

You can use SimpliSafe without Wi-Fi if you choose any professional monitoring plan. They all support cellular backup. However, you would need Wi-Fi to support any video cameras on the home security system. If you’re in a location with poor cellular service, then you would also need to depend on the Wi-Fi connection.

SimpliSafe is very limited in the home automation platforms and devices it supports. Currently, only Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant are supported.

Yes, the add-on equipment has freeze, water, smoke, and combined smoke and CO sensors. You receive notifications that help you respond quickly in emergency situations. Professional monitoring plans also include monitoring for environmental sensors.

SimpliSafe systems offer extensive customization options, and you can choose one of the many pre-made equipment bundles to create the foundation of your home security solution.

The Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera has a steel privacy shutter in place that prevents recording unless you give the system permission to do so.

The base station plugs into an outlet, but the rest of the SimpliSafe equipment uses batteries for power aside from the video doorbell which connects directly to the power cables in an existing doorbell unit. The Outdoor Camera Series 2 also requires you to use the provided power cable to access its Active Guard Outdoor Protection capabilities.

SimpliSafe has an optional professional monitoring service, which is overseen by the Rapid Response Monitoring Center. You receive 24/7 monitoring with these packages.

Emergency operators are always available when you have an alarm go off, no matter what time of night or day it is. We save their number, (855) 693-4911, in our phone so we know it’s an emergency when they call.  For regular customer service requests, you can get in touch with SimpliSafe over the phone, on their live chat, and on their social media profiles. You also get access to extensive tutorials and documentation on the website.

You get a full refund within 60 days of purchase if you return the system. This return policy is one of the more generous ones in the home security market. The standard is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

No, this home security system uses your home’s Wi-Fi connection with cellular backup if you pay for professional monitoring rather than a phone’s landline.

Yes, you can customize your SimpliSafe system. For more information, get in touch with SimpliSafe representatives to discuss your options or build a custom system yourself on their website.

A SimpliSafe camera battery should last anywhere from three to six months. Sensors can last years. Systems vary based on usage, but it notifies you when any battery needs to be replaced.

SimpliSafe comes with tamper alerts, which means if this happens you’ll know immediately. The monitoring center will also be alerted immediately.

SimpliSafe offers four options for professional monitoring, one self-monitoring plan, and one free plan. You can get Self-Monitoring with Camera Recordings for around $9.99 per month, a Standard Monitoring plan for $22.99 per month, a Core (formerly Fast Protect) plan for $32.99 plan, a Pro plan for $49.99, or a Pro Plus plan for $79.99. We recommend the Core plan for most users since it gives the most value with access to video-verified alarms, cloud storage for cameras, and 24/7 professional monitoring.

You may be able to get a discount for home insurance with SimpliSafe. To know for sure, call your insurance provider to see if you qualify.

Yes, SimpliSafe offers a one-year warranty for all of its products. If you sign up for a Self-Monitoring or Standard Monitoring plan before the one-year warranty expires, the warranty extends by two years so long as you keep your Standard Monitoring plan active. For a lifetime warranty, you’ll need to subscribe to the Core, Pro, or Pro Plus monitoring plan before your existing warranty expires. Defective devices will also be swapped out for free.

Yes, SimpliSafe offers a Wireless Outdoor Camera for $199.99. Some SimpliSafe sales include their outdoor camera for free with the purchase of a new security system.