SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe

 3.8/5 (509 reviews)

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Overall Rating3.8 out of 5
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About SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe designs wireless home security systems that are easy to install with no drilling or tools. With a wide array of sensors and security cameras, SimpliSafe offers all-encompassing protection plus integrated apps that make system control possible from anywhere. It provides seamless 24/7 alarm monitoring without the long-term contracts and sky-high prices of traditional home security companies.

    Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Affordable plans
    • Highly customizable packages
    • Simple DIY installation

    Cons

    • Upfront equipment costs

    Bottom Line

    SimpliSafe has one of the most affordable home security system plans on the market. You do have to pay for the equipment, but packages are highly customizable, and the DIY installation is easy.

    Top SimpliSafe Reviews

    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified

    SimpliSafe is an easy to setup home security option. We've always had great interactions with their customer service and the system works flawlessly. The system is easily customiz...

    Read full review
    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified

    Our family has found SimpliSafe to be reliable, affordable and a plus was; it was a breeze to install! No high pressure sales pitches whatsoever... You pick and choose what you fe...

    Read full review

    Our editor’s take

    SimpliSafe is ideal for homeowners or renters looking for a DIY home security option. The company’s two monitoring plans give you flexibility on using professional monitoring or monitoring the system yourself, and the company’s seven equipment packages and a la carte purchase options provide plenty of opportunities for customization.

    While the company doesn’t require a contract and offers month-to-month options, you must purchase the equipment upfront, which can be a significant investment.

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    SimpliSafe Reviews

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: April 16, 2023

    I bought the Lighthouse package today for 40% off and activated Chase's rebate, as well. Afterwards, I saw the negative reviews online here. I did some more digging and found out SimpliSafe only uses 2.4 wifi. I wish I saw that sooner. It won't work with my home wifi. I initiated a text with them to cancel because I just ordered it today. They told me to call. I called. I have now been on the phone 26 minutes with delays and excuses as to why they can't cancel.

    First it was the guy did not have authorization to cancel and it had to be the specialized support team. Then, he told me the support team is bogged down with requests and is working on it and will get back to me in a few minutes. Then, he said he can see the support team working on it and will get back with me when he has an update. Then, he told me the support team is again very busy and he will get back to me (he put me on hold each time). Now, the latest excuse is that it is in process at the warehouse, and once I receive the package I can mail it back to them for a full refund. I told him this exact sequence of delays and excuses is the same thing I saw in their reviews online and asked to talk to a supervisor. Now I am on hold again. I have been on the phone with them so far for 29 minutes.

    3 people found this review helpful
    Rated with 1 star
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: April 11, 2023

    I went with SS after reading up first and then calling in to become a customer. I was fine with the equipment and prices. However, the phone agent told me not to check the box marked $99 for installation, because according to him it could vary depending on the order - which he had in front of him. The equipment came by mail, and we then called the OnTech affiliate to schedule the installation.

    Uh, slight problem - OnTech said the installation would cost over $400. I called Simplisafe to cancel the order, and they were to refund my money upon receipt back of the equipment, which was done by last Thursday April 7. Despite a clear conversation w a supervisor called Andrew concerning the processing of the refund to a particular card of mine they had on file, and I gave the approval to send back to that card, after five days I still had no refund. In all, dealing SimpliSafe is a nightmare. They are incompetent at best, and to me, they seemed duplicitous. Beware.

    5 people found this review helpful

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      Rated with 1 star
      Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
      Original review: April 3, 2023

      I purchased a SimpliSafe unit for my home. I was told I could return for a full refund. I received the product and my husband decided it wasn’t what he wanted. I returned the unit within a week in original box and packaging. Spoke with customer service. This was in February 17,2023. Told once they received the unit I would receive a full refund with in 1-3 business days. Long story short, after 4 phone calls and emails about my refund I have yet to see it!! It is April 3rd and I will make my weekly call to customer service! Not happy and will Never purchase again!!!! S **

      3 people found this review helpful
      Rated with 1 star
      Verified Reviewer
      Original review: March 17, 2023

      I purchased camera few months ago. Cameras were lagging and kept freezing. I returned products and thankfully products were bought from 3rd party. I followed to cancel the account and had most difficult experience. I spoke with very rude customer service rep and was told to email, once I email they will cancel. That wasn’t the case and I was asked to provide state ID in order to cancel a service I don’t even have set up. Terrible experience, if you’re seeing this, run.

      3 people found this review helpful
      Rated with 1 star
      Verified Reviewer
      Original review: March 16, 2023

      We returned a system in September-October timeframe and still no check. I was told that it would take 4-6 weeks to be reimbursed. Nothing. Today I was told the check was mailed to the incorrect address. It will take another 6-8 weeks. Customer service people are very nice. BUT why won't the company submit a check sooner being they made the initial mistake? It's a very BAD business policy to keep people waiting 3-4 months for a refund.

      5 people found this review helpful
      Rated with 1 star
      Verified Reviewer
      Original review: March 16, 2023

      I purchased an alarm online late January 2023. My plans changed and I did not need the alarm. I contacted SimpiSafe to obtain information for returning the system and they emailed me a pre-paid label. I affixed the label and shipped right away through USPS. The package was received in their warehouse on 2/06/23. (After I tracked through USPS)

      Two weeks passed and I did not receive any correspondence regarding receipt of the package or refund information. I called 2/16/23 and the rep tracked the package and confirmed she would submit a request for a refund. She informed me it would be 2-3 business days. Another 2 weeks pass, still no refund. By this time, payment is due for this item. I do not want to pay for something no longer in my possession. I had to submit a dispute with my credit card company. Now, a month has passed and no refund. I contacted SimpliSafe once again and the person I spoke with was thoroughly confused. He confirmed there was a refund pending, but no amount. I was on hold for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, no resolution.

      Finally, today 3/15/23, my credit card company closed the dispute in my favor and refunded my money. They sent me an email and requested the tracking information and within a few hours, the case was closed. And, I did contact SimpliSafe today and was told, there is an issue with their billing platform and I should receive a refund within 2-3 business day. Uh' I was told that a month ago. Not sure what is going on with their refund process? But take heed, plan on keeping the system if you buy it. If you send it back, you may never get a refund. This created much needless stress and hassle and they should be ashamed. Endless calls to their office and no resolution.

      5 people found this review helpful
      Rated with 1 star
      profile pic of the author
      Verified Reviewer
      Original review: March 6, 2023

      (1) On February 6, 2023 an order was accidentally and erroneously placed with Simplisafe for $442.76. (2) On February 8, 2023 I called Simplisafe explaining what happened and asked if I could refuse order. I was told no and that I would need to use their label to ship it back. (USPS) I received the item. (3) I was informed a full refund would be issued within 7 business days.

      (4) On February 10, 2023 it was returned. Box was never opened. (5) It was delivered and received by Simplisafe on February 13, 2023. (6) On February 23, 2023 I called Simplisafe to ask what happened to the refund. I was told to be patient a few more days. (7) On February 27, 2023 I called Simplisafe once again and was told it has been forwarded to an escalated team as they don’t know why it’s not been refunded.

      (8) On March 3, 2023 I called Simplisafe one last time and was told “there must be a processing glitch” and it cannot be refunded!!! I was also told the escalating team will try but no promises can be made!! This is a scam. They’re purposely not refunding me. I’m demanding not only a full refund from Simplisafe but also with any finance charges accrued after the initial seven days.

      7 people found this review helpful
      Rated with 1 star
      Verified Reviewer
      Original review: Feb. 12, 2023

      I purchased one of their packages a year ago and up until two months ago everything was fine but then the base station stopped working. Called them up and after a long wait and jumping through hoops they sent me a new base station. Just tried to set up my NEW base station and after speaking with 3 different rude tech people (who have no idea what they are doing) and wasting over 2 hours of my day taking out batteries and unplugging stuff and nothing working. They stated that the new base station I got didn't work and would need to send me another one and that I would need to go through this all over again. Not to mention having to return the broken station they sent me. So not only do they send me garbage but now I've been given an errand. Not sure how I can have confidence in their equipment after this. My advice to you is save yourself the headache and go with someone else instead.

      9 people found this review helpful
      Rated with 1 star
      Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
      Original review: Jan. 1, 2023

      I have had services with SimpliSafe for a year and a half. We bought the Essentials Security System with numerous extras for a total over $700. The good: The sensors, base station, etc were easy to install. The bad: The Video Doorbell Pro never worked. From day one we had issues with the videos not loading, they would show a few seconds then give an error message. When we tried to drop in on the camera 9 times out of 10 it would give an error message, or log us out of the account, and it would take 30 seconds or so to log back in. We would then again receive error messages. It would often say "No Video. We did not receive this part of the recording from your camera."

      We had two packages stolen during this time and both times all activity around had only error messages. However, even with test runs/kids/dogs we received error message after error message. I called a few times, after a while they offered to send a new one, the new one had the same issues. They had no solutions after that and so I cancelled. When I cancelled they turned off the service that minute even though I had 16 days left on the account that I had already paid for. When I called to inquire about this (they had not told me the account would be cancelled immediately, I assumed, since I didn't receive other information, that it would be cancelled at the end of my service time that was paid for.

      They told me it was not possible to refund for the rest of the month not used, and that they would not be able to cancel at the end of the period paid, that I would have to call in before the next month started if I wanted to continue to use the period that I had paid for. Ultimately, after 20 minutes of conversation they did reimburse for the final month (half of which I won't be able to use anyway because the service cancelled) because I had evidence of previous calls for the product not working. Ultimately, I am out probably close to $900 and never had a system that worked.

      14 people found this review helpful
      Rated with 1 star
      Verified Reviewer
      Original review: Dec. 20, 2022

      Had an awful experience too. I ordered three water sensors and then called about one nonfunctioning water sensor and was told to go through "steps," first to verify my identity and then to "fix" the problem. After 20 minutes on the phone and four turn-off and turn-on alarms, I was finally told that I would be sent a new sensor that would arrive in three days. I asked about being compensated for my time without the sensor and my time on the phone and was told I would not be, until I spoke with a supervisor who told me how great the company was. Eventually, I was offered one-month free service. I believe the appropriate action would have been to apologize and rush me a new sensor because I received a defective piece of equipment -- clearly not my fault.

      7 people found this review helpful

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        How customers rated SimpliSafe

        SimpliSafe offers DIY options for home security with professional monitoring or self-monitoring options. Customers who left reviews on ConsumerAffairs have noted positive experiences with the company’s installation and setup experiences, but tend to leave negative feedback on the company’s customer service and alarm monitoring.

        Our analysis of the reviews here on ConsumerAffairs surfaced the following trends.

        • Customer Service is the most mentioned by reviewers and is mostly negative.
        • Alarm monitoring has been mostly negative.
        • Installation and setup experiences have been mostly positive.
        • Product reliability has been almost exclusively tied with a negative experience.
        • Customers rarely mention ease of use.
        • Reviewers tend to have poor experiences with service calls.
        • 5,781 people have found the reviews for SimpliSafe on ConsumerAffairs helpful.

        How satisfied are reviewers with SimpliSafe?

        Star ratingHigh satisfactionNeutralLow satisfaction
        3.8 / 5 86 (22%) 16 (4%) 289 (74%)

        Customer service: Fair

        SimpliSafe has received mixed reviews regarding customer service on our site, with some reviewers saying the customer support team is helpful and responsive while others criticized it for being unresponsive and difficult to reach.

        Installation and setup: Excellent

        SimpliSafe's DIY installation and setup process has received mostly positive reviews on our site. Many customers have reported that the process is straightforward and easy to follow without any professional assistance. Some customers have reported issues with the setup process, however, including difficulties with connecting the devices to the base station or with the mobile app.

        Service technicians: Good

        While many customers have been satisfied with SimpliSafe's service technicians, some customers who left reviews on our site have experienced issues when seeking assistance with their systems.


        Compare SimpliSafe to other home security companies

        Rating# of reviewsInstallationMonitoringMandatory commitment*Equipment package costsMonitoring costs
        SimpliSafeSimpliSafe3.8394 DIY or professional ($99+) Optional No-contract options available Start at $244.96 to $699.90 $0-$27.99 Read Reviews
        ADTADT4.214,620 Professional (included with online purchases) Required 36 months (60 months if financing equipment) Start at $599 to $1,387 $45.99 to $59.99 Read Reviews
        Vivint Smart HomeVivint Smart Home4.729,083 Professional (included with online purchases) Required Typical contract is 60 months; month-to-month available with upfront equipment purchase Start at $997.99 to $2,827.92 $19.99-$29.99+ Read Reviews
        *Does not include optional financing plans

        SimpliSafe cost

        Getting started with SimpliSafe requires purchasing the equipment. The company doesn’t have direct financing, but it does partner with affirm for those who don’t want to pay the full equipment price upfront. The company’s equipment packages range from $159.22 to $699, but you can also build your own system customized to your needs.

        The company requires you to choose a professional monitoring or self-monitoring plan. The professional monitoring plan costs $27.99 a month, while the self-monitoring option runs $9.99 a month.

        SimpliSafe equipment

        SimpliSafe offers seven different starting equipment packages, all of which can be customized.

        The company offers a 60-day trial period and a hardware warranty for the life of your subscription. You can install the equipment yourself or choose professional setup, which starts at $99.

        • The Beacon ($699): The Beacon includes a base station, a keypad, four entry sensors, two motion sensors and two wireless outdoor cameras.
        • The Haven ($509.86): This package includes a base station, a keypad, four entry sensors, two motion sensors, a panic button, a temperature sensor, a water sensor, a key fob, a wireless siren and a smoke detector.
        • The Lighthouse ($464.93): The Lighthouse package includes a base station, a keypad, three entry sensors, a motion sensor and a wireless outdoor camera.
        • The Knox ($469.87): This equipment package was designed for large homes and has extra entry and motion sensors. It comes with a base station, a keypad, six entry sensors, two motion sensors, a key fob, a wireless siren and a smoke detector.
        • The Hearth ($394.91): The  Hearth comes with a base station, a keypad, three entry sensors, a motion sensor, a key fob, a wireless siren and a smoke detector.
        • The Essentials ($274.95): The Essentials package includes a base station, a keypad, an entry sensor, a motion sensor and an indoor camera.
        • The Foundation ($159.22): The Foundation is a good choice for small homes and apartments. It includes a base station, a keypad, an entry sensor and a motion sensor.

        The company also lets you build your own custom system by starting with a base station and keypad and adding equipment such as entry sensors, motion sensor, cameras, smoke detectors and key fobs.

        SimpliSafe monitoring plans

        SimpliSafe lets you choose professional monitoring or self monitoring for your system. The professional monitoring plan costs $27.99 a month and includes:

        • 24/7 police, fire and medical dispatch
        • Unlimited camera recording
        • Video verification of intruders
        • 24/7 flood and extreme temperature monitoring
        • Subscription lifetime warranty on equipment

        The self-monitoring plan costs $9.99 a month and comes with unlimited camera recording and a one-year equipment warranty.

        FAQ

        How does SimpliSafe work?

        SimpliSafe is a home security company that offers DIY systems with competitive monitoring costs. The company’s professional monitoring plan costs $27.99, while its self-monitoring plan costs $9.99 a month.

        The DIY setup for equipment is relatively straightforward: Place the base station near the center of your home, plug it in and adhere the peel-and-stick sensors to the wall. SimpliSafe offers month-to-month contracts, so you don’t have to commit to a long-term agreement.

        Is SimpliSafe wireless?

        SimpliSafe’s products work over wireless or cellular connection, meaning they don’t require a landline for operation. If you choose the Wi-Fi or wireless option, you’ll likely have more backup and connectivity than with cellular, although both are options.

        Can I use SimpliSafe without monitoring?

        SimpliSafe offers professional monitoring or self-monitoring options.

        Does SimpliSafe have a doorbell camera?

        SimpliSafe sells a doorbell camera that provides wide-angle HDR video. It costs $169 to add it to a package or to purchase by itself.

        Do SimpliSafe cameras require Wi-Fi?

        SimpliSafe cameras don’t require Wi-Fi, but it might provide better connectivity. You can use the base station to connect over a cellular network if you prefer.

        Is SimpliSafe good?

        SimpliSafe is a solid option for an affordable home security system. We love that it has a self-monitoring and a professional monitoring option, a wide array of plans and plenty of customization options. The quick and painless DIY installation means you won’t lose a whole day setting up your system, too. If you’re looking for a reliable security system that doesn’t break the bank, SimpliSafe is definitely one to consider.

        SimpliSafe Company Information

        Company Name:
        SimpliSafe
        Address:
        294 Washington Street
        City:
        Boston
        State/Province:
        MA
        Postal Code:
        02108
        Country:
        United States
        Website:
        simplisafe.com