Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
SimpliSafe currently supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Watch, and August Smart Locks with the Interactive plan. With the exception of the locks, integration is limited to arming the system and checking the status of connected sensors and other security devices. If youre looking for more complex smart-device capabilities, like turning on smart lights when the system is triggered, or want to add HomeKit voice control, our Runner-up may be a better fit.
SimpliSafe has 24/7 monitoring, but if you have a hardware problem in the middle of the night, you may have to wait. You can contact customer service through email, Twitter, and Facebook, but live help is available only from 8 a.m. to midnight Eastern, seven days a week.
How Does Simplisafe Compare To Other Companies
SimpliSafe is cheaper than a lot of other home security companies, especially the ones that require professional installation and multi-year contracts. SimpliSafe has DIY installation, and it’s contract-free.
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Even compared to other DIY home security companies, SimpliSafe’s still pretty cheap. But if you want something that costs less than SimpliSafe, we recommend the Ring Alarm security system.
Recap: Is Simplisafe Good
As DIY security systems go, we think SimpliSafe is a good choice. We see it as a cheap, reliable option for home security. The online ordering is super convenient, the DIY installation is easy, and the system worked well during our tests.
- Pricing: All the podcast ads are true: SimpliSafe is affordable. It’s not the cheapest security system on the market, but it’s pretty close. And it has a well-known brand name that potential intruders will recognize on your yard sign.
- Equipment: SimpliSafe has a range of security and environmental sensors to help protect your home from both human and non-human events. It doesn’t have a lot of smart-home devices, and each Simplisafe camera is pretty basic, but its security equipment is good.
- Home automation: SimpliSafe falls short on the home automation front. It works with Alexa and Google, but you can’t do much with either. And the system doesn’t integrate with any smart lights.
- Installation: SimpliSafe installation is a piece of cake. We had our system up and running in about 15 minutes.
- Customer experience: SimpliSafe monitoring contacted us quickly, and the monitoring rep we talked to was friendly. Overall, the system is easy to use.
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Buy The Simplisafe Wireless Home Security System Starting At $24999 On Amazon
Update 10/30/18: After this review was published, SimpliSafe contacted us to let us know about their video alarm verification. If you have the SimpliSafe Camera, the monitoring center will receive a short clip of what triggered the alarm and use it to verify the alarm for the police. They never have access to your camera so your privacy is protected. SimpliSafe says this reduces false alarms and often leads to faster dispatch and higher arrest rates.
Is Simplisafe Right For You
SimpliSafe is a well-priced, DIY home security system that has a lot to offer to renters and homeowners alike. It doesnt have any contracts, and you can buy both your security equipment and a 24/7 professional-monitoring subscription for a lot less than youd pay for other alarm systems.
But SimpliSafe is not good for home automation. Its limited smart home integrations can’t do very much, and it probably won’t work with your other smart devices.
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| Environmental monitoring | No |
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Alarm Went Off We Didn’t Answer Phone Call From Simplisafe But No Police Came To House
A worrying thing happened early this morning.
TLDR: We accidentally tested the alarm, SimpliSafe called our phones with no answer, but no one came to the house .
The full version :At 5am, one of our door sensors fell, triggering our alarm . As you would expect, SimpliSafe called both primary contacts . Our phones were on silent so the calls rang for a while and then went to voicemail . I would have expected the police to show up, ringing our doorbell, but instead…nothing happened. On the one hand, I’m glad because it was a false alarm, but if this had been a real alarm, the monitoring service would have been useless.
I called SimpliSafe customer service today. They said that they called the police. I asked which precinct and they couldn’t tell me . I asked if they could look into what happened but they told me that it was on me, and that I could call my local police department to find out. So, first of all, I’m not sure the police department will discuss a call made by someone else . Second, I am not sure why I need to start digging when SimpliSafe were the ones asking the police for the check-in.
Has this happened to anyone else? SimpliSafe didn’t seem particularly bothered by the whole thing, so I am wondering if this is a regular occurrence. Perhaps the police have started ignoring SimpliSafe requests because of too many false alarms?
Simplisafe Pricing And Monitoring
SimpliSafe has two professional monitoring plans: the Standard, which costs $17.99 per month, and the Interactive, which costs $27.99 per month. Unfortunately, the Standard plan skips a lot of the most useful features, so we recommend shelling out the extra $10 per month for the Interactive plan.
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Professional monitoring means there’s always someone ready to respond if an intruder triggers your alarm system. If your alarm system goes off, SimpliSafe’s monitoring center will try to call you first in case it’s a false alarm. If they don’t get an answer, they’ll call law enforcement to go check out your house.
If you opt out of professional monitoring, then your SimpliSafe system will function as a “local alarm.” That means if someone trips a sensor, it will still set off a siren. But that’s it.
Without a monitoring service, no one will contact you. You won’t get a notification. No one will call the police for you. The only thing deterring a burglar from stealing your TV is a loud noise.
A secret alert sends you a notification if a particular sensor is tripped, but it doesn’t trigger the actual alarm. You can set any sensor to secret alert mode with the app. This feature is great for protecting liquor cabinets and gun safes from curious kids.
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How Does The Police Response Work
Your motion sensors, door/window sensors, and other security system components are activated, and your control panel is at the ready. If someone were to break into your home, your alarm would soundbut who would respond if you werent home or couldnt answer?
This is where the police response feature comes into play. When your alarm is triggered, it will notify your alarm monitoring company so that a representative can alert authorities to check out the issue.
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Does Simplisafe Report To A Central Station
Base station This is the brains of the operation. It also features the on-location siren that will hopefully chase off intruders. The base station communicates with all of the sensors, your smartphone, and the professional monitoring. SimpliSafe recommends installing this in a central spot in your home.
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Is Simplisafe A Silent Alarm
Home security is a great way of finding it. But home security keeps you safe in more ways than just triggering sirens for opened windows, motion sensed, and smoke- it lets you call for help in an emergency. There are two duress features of the SimpliSafe system: Silent Mode for the Panic Button and the duress PIN.
How Much Does A Home Security System Cost
The cost of a home security system varies depending on the number of devices and accessories included. A good starter system can be had for under $200 and should include a base station, a keypad, at least one door/contact sensor, and a motion sensor. Look for a system that will allow you to start small and add on other devices and features as your needs change contact sensors go for as little as $15, cameras run from $100 to $200 each, and so on.
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What Equipment Simplisafe Offers
True to the name, SimpliSafe equipment looks simple. The design is nice-looking but basic, and the system isn’t going to turn your home into a Jetson-esque, fully automated smart home.
Still, SimpliSafe offers a lot of equipment. You can get the following pieces straight from the company:
- Entry sensor
- Video Doorbell Pro
- Yard sign
The current SimpliSafe system is an improvement over previous versions. The old SimpliSafe system was a lot less stylish. And SimpliSafe didn’t offer a smart door lock or a video doorbell.
Can Simplisafe Be Defeated
But things might not be looking so good for Simplisafe, as a new report states that the system can be bypassed by simply using a magnet and scotch tape. The truth is that most alarm systems can be defeated in some form. As home security systems became more technologically advanced, they became harder to bypass.
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What Does The Alarm Industry Say About The Policy
The Washington Burglar & Fire Alarm Association completely endorses the implementation of this policy.
The WBFAA states, It would level the playing field, ensuring that all companies are playing by the same rules and are in compliance with the effective Seattle Municipal Code. Further, it will have a positive effect on the overall goal of reducing false alarm dispatches and providing cost recovery for the city. This proposal has the unequivocal support of the WBFAA. There is no rationale to support enforcing the law with one segment of the industry while providing the same benefits to members of the industry who are not in compliance.
Is Simplisafe Easily Hacked
Is Simplisafe cyber -secure against hacking? Simplisafe has been the victim of hacking. There are many instances where this has happened, but due to new encryption codes, that shouldnt be the case anymore. At one point they werent cyber secure, so they were in danger of being hacked.
What are Monitoring Contacts? Monitoring contacts are customer-designated folks who are called during and after alarms, who will receive phone calls from our monitoring center at 693-4911. There are two types of monitoring contacts: Primary and Secondary.
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Overall Value Of Simplisafe
SimpliSafe does not require long-term contracts, which differs from the approach of other home security companies like ADT. If youd rather invest in your equipment upfront, avoid long-term contracts, and opt for affordable professional monitoring plans, then SimpliSafe is a great option for you. You can sign up for SimpliSafes monitoring services on a monthly basis and cancel whenever you want. On the flip side, SimpliSafe does not use long-term commitments to spread out the cost of hardware and installation. However, their DIY installation and seamless wireless devices can make up for the upfront costs for many customers. SimpliSafes value is most obvious to renters and people who might be moving within a few months.
Standard $1799 Per Month
SimpliSafes Standard plan will cover your monitoring needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for just $0.60 a day. Its really all youll need in terms of security coverage, but it lacks some of the more advanced monitoring capabilities that its pricier sibling boasts. Overall, its a solid monitoring plan that meets the basic requirements. If your system detects a problem, youll get a call from SimpliSafes monitoring partners. You can call off the alert with a verbal passcode. If you dont, the monitoring team will dispatch the authorities.
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Some Concerns About The Home Security System
At 95 decibels, the alarm is quite loud, but it may not reach all parts of your home. SimpliSafe instructs you to install the base station in a central location in your home. At first, we figured that would be the second floor of our three-story home. But, from the first floor, where intruders will likely enter, the sound of the siren was not as intense as we would have liked. So, we moved the siren to the first floor. It would be nice if SimpliSafe offered a few sirens throughout the home. For $60, SimpliSafe offer an extra-loud 105-decibel siren that can be used inside the home or outside to alert neighbors.
I wanted to keep the key fob on my keychain for easy access, but I accidentally armed the system while it was in my pocket. At the time, I was next door talking to my neighbor and didn’t have my phone on me. I faintly heard an alarm-like sound, but I assumed it was coming from elsewhere. Well, it turns out it was our system and my wife got a call from the SimpliSafe rep. Now, I just keep the key fob next to my bed to arm the system when I go to bed. I use the keypad when leaving the house.
The Security System Reporting Process
Many monitored home security systems include a police response feature. Your home security system wont directly contact the police any time a sensor triggers. The process is a bit more complex than that.
First, the triggered sensor will alert your alarm control panel. Usually, the control panel will wait 30 to 60 seconds before notifying the alarm company of an intrusion, giving you time to disarm the system if you accidentally tripped it. Read more about security system response times.
When the monitoring center receives an alert, an operator will respond based on the companys protocol. Some companies will first contact the residence to confirm theres an emergency and check if any other sensors were triggered. If the monitoring representative cant connect with the home or account holder, they will then notify the police department. Other companies dont wait to contact the authoritiesrepresentatives will simultaneously alert the residence and the police.
From there, a police officer will check on the property. Depending on the departments protocols, alarm circumstances, and call volume, the dispatched unit may drive by or investigate your home and property to address the reason for the alarm. If your municipality requires an alarm permit, the police may also try to contact you to confirm the alarm.
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Does Simplisafe Call The Police
SimpliSafe is a DIY security system thats easy to install and use that keeps our homes safe from intruders and environmental threats such as floods and fires. It offers a seamless system that succeeds quite well at what it sets out to do, which is to secure your home. By being simple and flexible, it lets you monitor everything remotely with an affordable monthly plan.
SimpliSafes system uses Wi-Fi and cellular connections to send alerts. Each of the devices is also powered by batteries. This means that if the power is knocked out or your landline is cut, the monitoring stations will still get your signal. The company even made the keypad and base station smash safe.
The review set included 10 pieces of security equipment:
Installation of these units can take anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour. This included reading the manual, installing the app, installing the sensors, and testing. There were no tools needed. All of the devices have adhesives on them that make it easy to stick them to the walls. They also come with screws if you want to mount them that way.
How SimpliSafe Works
With SimpliSafe, you can self-monitor or pay $14.99 per month for 24/7 professional monitoring. If you choose to self-monitor, it is up to you to assess the threat and contact the police when you receive an alert. Self-monitoring fails when you are in a compromised position and cannot contact the police.
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Why Is Simplisafe Bad
In years past, SimpliSafe has had issues with their hardware getting hacked as reported by Forbes back in February 2016. As recent as 2019, there were reports that the system could be compromised with a wireless emitter. We prefer Frontpoints experience and trustworthiness over SimpliSafes ease of installation.
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Why Is There A Fee For False Alarms
The City of Seattle charges alarms companies for every false alarm. Alarm companies may pass this fee onto their customers. The City of Seattle updated its false alarm fees for 2011 to bring them in line with actual expenditures. The fee is used to recover the costs of running the False Alarm Unit and sending officers to false alarms. The fees are imposed when an officer responds to and arrives at a location where an alarm is determined to be false.
- Beginning January 1, 2011, the City of Seattle began using a new fee structure for billing false burglar and panic alarms. The new fees are $115 for a false burglar alarm and $230 for a false panic/duress/robbery alarm. These changes were unanimously approved by the Seattle City Council as part of its 2010 budget process.
- The fee for an alarm cancelled after the officer has been dispatched has not changed, and will remain $30. Cancellations before dispatch do not incur a fee.
- The Citys Finance Administration Section Revenue and Consumer Protection , coordinates the billing for false alarms, as well as the licensing of the alarm companies.