Cove vs SimpliSafe: 5 Key Differences After Testing Both Systems

After hands-on testing and head-to-head comparison, SimpliSafe comes out ahead of Cove in our Cove vs. SimpliSafe matchup for its equipment selection, including a smart lock you won't find with Cove. But, if you look beyond the equipment, both brands seem like clones. Read our comparison to see why we chose SimpliSafe.

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If you value having the convenience of a smart lock and doorbell camera, SimpliSafe is a better wireless security system than Cove. Read more about why we love SimpliSafe in our full SimpliSafe review, and compare them with other self-monitored home security systems.

Cove excels with its monitoring and customer satisfaction. Still, its equipment selection lags behind SimpliSafe's. Learn more about Cove's unique monitoring features and customer reviews in our full Cove review.

SimpliSafe is recognized for offering the best equipment, with monitoring starting at $21.99/month and the lowest equipment package priced at $249.96. It allows users to build their own system, supports outdoor cameras, and is known for reliable, easy-to-install gear. SimpliSafe provides a strong balance between high-quality devices and customizable setup, making it ideal for users prioritizing top-tier hardware.

Cove, on the other hand, is praised for providing the best customer experience, with monitoring starting slightly lower at $19.99/month. Its starter equipment cost begins at $299.00, and like SimpliSafe, it also allows for custom system building and includes outdoor camera options. Cove stands out for its user-friendly support, simplified setup, and generous policies like Cove Credits for loyal customers.

It's uncanny how similar Cove and SimpliSafe are—right down policies and smart home support.

• Equipment prices: While SimpliSafe is more expensive, monthly, most of the core alarm system equipment (motion sensor, entry sensor, glass break sensor) are similarly priced.
• DIY installation: The companies pre-program your equipment before shipping to make the installation process easier on your end. Learn more about installing SimpliSafe or installing Cove.
• 60-day money-back guarantee: You can receive a full refund if you cancel your service and return your equipment within two months of purchase. Learn more about canceling SimpliSafe.
• Basic smart home support: SimpliSafe and Cove each work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant^†, and August smart locks. This is sufficient for most folks, but DIY systems with Z-Wave support like Abode and Ring Alarm are much more flexible for adding new home automation devices.

Even in their differences, Cove and SimpliSafe are still quite similar:

• Monitoring prices: SimpliSafe and Cove each charge around $20 for one of their plans, but that's the only similarity. SimpliSafe has a free self-monitoring option and provides app access in all plans. Cove requires a paid monitoring plan and restricts smartphone control to its top-tier Cove Plus plan.
• Contracts: While both security providers offer no-contract options, Cove also offers an optional contract so you can spread out your equipment costs over three years. SimpliSafe offers equipment financing through Affirm.
• Cameras: SimpliSafe has four cameras, all of which work independently of a SimpliSafe system (with affordable cloud storage to match). Cove sells an indoor camera, a battery-powered outdoor security camera, and a video doorbell. But the main difference here is that Cove's cameras don't work without a Cove Plus monitoring plan.
• Customer service: While SimpliSafe's customer service is no slouch, Cove has a much more positive customer experience, based on online reviews we found during our research.
• Equipment selection: SimpliSafe's smoke alarm doesn't have a built-in carbon monoxide detector like Cove's. (But you can buy a separate CO detector for your SimpliSafe system.) Similarly, Cove doesn't sell a temperature sensor or extra siren, as SimpliSafe does.
• App performance: Users love the SimpliSafe app. With near-perfect ratings on the Apple App Store and Google Play, it's one of the highest-rated home security apps on the market. In contrast, Cove earned 1.68 stars on the Apple App Store and 1.6 stars on Google Play. 

SimpliSafe normally wins high marks for its hallmark traits that compete well against big names like Vivint and Frontpoint: affordable equipment and a 60-day money-back guarantee. But, against Cove, SimpliSafe tastes like a different flavor of vanilla—one that has a smart lock and equipment bundles.

SimpliSafe has a slight edge on equipment costs—its keypad and base station cost around $30 less than the equivalent from Cove. Additionally, SimpliSafe sells a temperature sensor, SimpliSafe Smart Lock, and siren—three pieces of equipment Cove doesn't have. But SimpliSafe's equipment costs and overall selection are nearly identical to Cove's, and Cove often runs sales that significantly lower its equipment costs.

We're big fans of SimpliSafe's online shop, which offers both pre-made equipment packages and a build-your-own system option, with the option to add extras to your packages. Although we prefer the option to customize your system, the equipment packages are helpful for those of us who have trouble deciding which equipment to buy for our homes.

Cove used to have an edge over SimpliSafe by offering equipment financing, but SimpliSafe recently partnered with Affirm to offer the same perk. With Affirm, you can choose how slow or fast you want to pay off the equipment, whereas Cove offers equipment financing through a three-year contract only. Now SimpliSafe has the upper hand. 

The biggest difference in the Cove security system is a sleek touchscreen control panel that gives you a better monitoring experience than SimpliSafe's keypad. The large screen is great for folks that might have trouble reading a smaller print, though it doesn't have tactile buttons that are easier to use without looking at the screen.

We also like Cove's solar-powered outdoor security camera, which offers more convenience than SimpliSafe's battery-powered outdoor camera. Cove's outdoor camera is actually the Eufy SoloCam S40, which saves footage to local storage. SimpliSafe's cameras only store footage on the cloud.

Cove Smart also sells a combined smoke and carbon monoxide detector. It's almost twice as expensive as SimpliSafe's smoke detector, but the ability to spot CO gases justifies the higher price. (You save $25 compared to buying SimpliSafe's separate smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.)

Still, it's a bummer that Cove lacks a smart lock. Although Cove has an optional contract, it covers only the equipment costs and doesn't require payment of any monitoring fees when you cancel.

SimpliSafe offers more favorable warranty terms: three years of coverage versus one year for lower-priced plans. This makes SimpliSafe the better option for protecting your equipment on a budget.

While the warranty on Cove's cheaper plan doesn't compete with SimpliSafe, it ups the ante with a lifetime warranty when you upgrade to the one of the three top-tier monthly plans. This means that you can replace defective equipment after three years (as long as you properly maintain it before it breaks). 

SimpliSafe stands out in the monitoring experience, thanks to Active Guard protection, where live guards can monitor your home using your cameras.

Plus, SimpliSafe offers video alarm verification with its three top-tier plans. Professional monitors can see a brief clip of the events right before and right after the alarm was triggered, allowing them to pass on important context to first responders. 

While there are advantages specific to each DIY security system, SimpliSafe wins thanks to its equipment selection and recent monitoring innovations.

• Winner: SimpliSafe has great equipment that's just a touch more tempting than Cove's and has more enticing pro monitoring plans.
• Second place: Cove's sale prices are more affordable than SimpliSafe's, but Cove doesn't offer the same value overall.

Otherwise, these systems are way too similar to recommend one over the other for core features and costs.

• SimpliSafe FAQ
• Cove FAQ
• Alternatives to SimpliSafe
• SimpliSafe vs. Frontpoint
• SimpliSafe vs. Ring Alarm