SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe offers DIY home security with no long-term contracts — professional monitoring from $22.99/month, self-install in 30 minutes, portable for renters, and cellular backup for protection during internet outages.
Available Plans
SimpliSafe monitoring plans (all month-to-month, no contract): Standard ($22.99/month) — 24/7 professional monitoring and environmental hazard detection (smoke, CO, water), no app control or camera features. Core ($32.99/month, updated July 2025) — most popular plan; adds live guard protection, app arm/disarm, video verification, camera streaming, and smart home integration. Pro ($49.99/month) — advanced video monitoring with faster police dispatch and priority response. Pro Plus ($79.99/month) — 24/7 live guard monitoring where a SimpliSafe agent actively watches your indoor camera and can activate the siren and speak through it. Equipment starter kits begin around $250 (purchased separately from monitoring) and include a base station, keypad, and entry sensors. All hardware is pre-paired. A discounted 3-year prepaid plan is available for customers who prefer long-term savings.
SimpliSafe Standard
$22.99/mo
SimpliSafe Core
$32.99/mo
SimpliSafe Pro
$49.99/mo
SimpliSafe Pro Plus
$79.99/mo
About SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe is a DIY home security company that has fundamentally changed how American households approach home protection since its founding in 2006. Built on the premise that professional monitoring should be accessible without the 3-year contracts, high equipment costs, and technician dependency of traditional security companies, SimpliSafe has grown to protect over 4 million homes with monitoring starting at $22.99/month and no long-term commitment required.
The SimpliSafe system is designed for true self-installation: all sensors arrive pre-paired to the base station, most mount using adhesive strips without drilling, and the entire system is typically operational within 30–60 minutes of the equipment arriving at your door. The base station operates on cellular backup independently of your home Wi-Fi — maintaining connection to SimpliSafe's monitoring centers even during internet outages, power failures, or if an intruder cuts your phone line. This cellular-first architecture is a key differentiator from security cameras that stop working when Wi-Fi goes down.
In July 2025, SimpliSafe updated its monitoring lineup — renaming the Interactive plan to Core at $32.99/month and adding the Pro tier at $49.99/month for advanced video monitoring with faster police dispatch. SimpliSafe's monitoring centers achieve an average alarm response time under 10 seconds, and Smart Alarm video verification technology allows agents to review a brief camera clip before dispatching police — reducing false alarms by up to 90% and often resulting in priority police response. The entire system is portable — perfect for renters who move every year or two.
Best For
- ★Renters who need a portable, no-contract, removable security system they can take to their next home
- ★Budget-conscious homeowners who want professional monitoring without a 3-year commitment or high upfront cost
- ★First-time home security buyers who want easy DIY installation without scheduling a technician
- ★Tech-comfortable users who want app-based control and camera video verification for smarter monitoring
- ★Households that prioritize cellular-backup protection to maintain security during internet or power outages
- ★Anyone who wants professional monitoring flexibility — upgrade, downgrade, or cancel plans month-to-month
Pros
- ✓No long-term contract — cancel monitoring at any time with zero penalties or cancellation fees
- ✓Self-install in 30–60 minutes — no drilling, no technician required, no appointment scheduling
- ✓Cellular backup means monitoring continues even if your Wi-Fi or power goes out
- ✓Portable system — moves with you when you change homes, ideal for renters
- ✓Sub-10-second average monitoring center response time — among the fastest in the industry
- ✓Smart Alarm video verification reduces false police dispatches by up to 90%
- ✓Four-tier plan structure from $22.99 to $79.99/month matches every monitoring need and budget
Cons
- ✕Equipment purchased upfront ($250–$500+ for a full system) — no leasing or installment plan on standard monitoring
- ✕Without a monitoring subscription, hardware provides only local sirens and app notifications — no central monitoring
- ✕Fewer smart home integrations than ADT or Vivint — primarily Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- ✕Professional installation is not available — fully self-install only
- ✕The Pro Plus live guard plan ($79.99/month) is significantly more expensive than competitors' monitoring tiers
Availability
SimpliSafe ships equipment to all 50 US states and operates independently of local cable or internet infrastructure — the cellular-connected base station maintains monitoring connection from any US address with cellular coverage. SimpliSafe devices are also sold at major retail locations including Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and Home Depot, allowing customers to evaluate the hardware in person before purchasing. Professional monitoring is available anywhere in the continental US, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SimpliSafe require a long-term contract?
No — all SimpliSafe monitoring plans are month-to-month. You can cancel, pause, or switch plans at any time with no cancellation fees or penalties. A discounted 3-year prepaid option is available for customers who want lower monthly rates in exchange for a longer commitment.
How much does SimpliSafe monitoring cost in 2025?
SimpliSafe monitoring tiers: Standard $22.99/month (24/7 monitoring only), Core $32.99/month (monitoring + app control + video verification — most popular, updated July 2025), Pro $49.99/month (advanced video monitoring + priority dispatch), Pro Plus $79.99/month (24/7 live guard camera monitoring). All plans are month-to-month.
What is the SimpliSafe Core plan?
SimpliSafe Core ($32.99/month) is the updated July 2025 replacement for the former Interactive plan. It includes 24/7 professional monitoring, live guard protection, remote arm/disarm via the SimpliSafe app, camera streaming, video verification during alarms, and smart home integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant. It's SimpliSafe's most popular monitoring tier.
Can I take SimpliSafe with me when I move?
Yes — all SimpliSafe sensors use removable adhesive mounting strips and detach cleanly without damaging walls. Pack the base station, keypad, and all sensors; reinstall at your new home following the same steps as initial setup. No new equipment purchase is required. This portability makes SimpliSafe especially popular with renters.
How does SimpliSafe video verification work?
When an alarm triggers and you have a compatible camera plus a Core or higher plan, SimpliSafe's monitoring agent can request a brief video clip from your indoor camera before dispatching emergency services. If the footage confirms a real intrusion, police are dispatched with higher priority. This Smart Alarm feature reduces false police dispatches by up to 90%.
Does SimpliSafe work without Wi-Fi?
Yes — SimpliSafe's base station connects to the monitoring center via a cellular network (not your home Wi-Fi or internet). If your internet goes out, Wi-Fi router fails, or an intruder cuts your cable line, monitoring continues uninterrupted through cellular backup. This is a critical security advantage over systems that rely solely on Wi-Fi.
How does SimpliSafe compare to ADT?
SimpliSafe: no contract, DIY install in 30 minutes, portable, starts at $22.99/month, equipment purchased upfront. ADT: 36-month contract, professional installation, Google Nest integration, the ADT Guarantee, starts at $24.99/month. SimpliSafe is better for renters and those wanting flexibility. ADT is better for homeowners who want expert installation and the most established monitoring infrastructure.