Alternatives to SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe is one of our favorite home security systems. It’s affordable, easy to install, and simple to use. That said, it’s not perfect. It doesn’t have smart home automation features, the cameras are less than stellar, and you have to pay up front for your equipment.

Our alternatives to SimpliSafe? Vivint, Abode, and Ring. They each offer something different that might fit your situation better.

Another perk that Vivint has over SimpliSafe is it works with more smart home devices, and you can control all of the smart devices with the Vivint app. You can get access to the app with the entry-level plan, but you’ll need to upgrade to get smart home control.

To learn more, take a look at our Vivint review, or check out our SimpliSafe vs. Vivint comparison.

Otherwise, SimpliSafe and Abode are almost identical. Both are DIY security systems with no contracts or financing options. The equipment and monitoring prices are similar too. One Abode downside: there’s a $35 cancellation fee if you've paid the annual price for monitoring.

For more information, check out our Abode review or our SimpliSafe vs. Abode comparison.

There are three different types of Ring cameras (other than the handful of Ring doorbell cameras) to choose from:

• Spotlight Cam Battery: an outdoor camera that features a spotlight and a 110-dB siren
• Ring Stick Up Cam Battery: a tiny little indoor camera that can be hidden almost anywhere
• Ring Floodlight Cam: an outdoor video camera with two huge motion lights to brighten dark areas of your yard or driveway

The selection is nice, but Ring security also loaded these cameras with top-notch features too:

• Clear video footage
• Night vision
• Motion-sensitivity options
• Privacy settings
• An app that can connect you with your neighbors
• Sirens (on outdoor cameras)
• Spotlights (on outdoor cameras)

SimpliSafe cameras lack footage clarity, and they don’t offer sensitivity or privacy settings. The SimpliSafe app is a little more basic too. There’s no way to connect with your neighbors to find a lost pet or organize a neighborhood watch.

The only downside is the Ring cameras are sold separately from the system packages.

Learn more in our Ring review or our SimpliSafe vs. Ring comparison.

So you know that a SimpliSafe system isn’t the right security system for you. That’s okay. Here are some things to keep in mind while you’re finding a better fit.

We get it. Sometimes you can’t afford to pay for a security system up front. Depending on how many devices you need, your new security system could add up to a chunky bit of change. That’s where contracts come in handy. Security companies that offer contracts let you finance your equipment. Breaking the system cost down into monthly payments can be smart if you don’t have funds saved up.

While contracts stick you with a home security system for the length of your contract, these companies don’t charge interest on your payments. Financially, it’s a better option than charging a system to your credit card.

Just be warned: breaking your contract can lead to cancellation fees, and you may need to pay off the remaining balance.

Each security company on this list is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can use these digital assistants to arm your security system and check the status of your system. It’s pretty cool, but if you’re building a home automation system, that’s not going to cut it.

Systems that work with multiple smart devices through Z-Wave and Zigbee give you much more flexibility in customizing your automation experience. With these, you can set up automations for helpful tasks. One idea is an automation to turn off your outdoor lights and start the coffee pot when you disarm your security system in the morning.

Also, be sure to look for home security systems with smart devices already in their product lineup. These devices work well with your system and take the research out of finding compatible devices. There are a few standard smart devices that most security systems include either in their packages or à la carte:

• Indoor and outdoor security cameras
• Doorbell cameras
• Smart locks
• Smoke detectors

One major bummer with security systems is that their cameras are typically less than stellar. But they can’t be overlooked. Quality cameras can catch a thief, check your porch for packages, and even keep an eye on the human or fur babies in your life as they play in the yard.

When you’re shopping for an alarm system, check to see if the cameras meet these standards:

• Motion sensitivity settings: See if you can find a sweet spot where you aren’t getting constant motion alerts from the camera.
• Video quality: The industry standard is at least 1080p.
• Field of view: The industry standard is at least 130°.
• Night vision: If it can’t film at night, the camera’s lost the ability to help protect your home at one of its most vulnerable times.

While we think SimpliSafe is a great security system, it has its shortcomings. Vivint, Abode, and Ring are solid alternatives to cover specific areas where SimpliSafe isn’t the strongest.

• Vivint offers financing and better smart home capabilities.
• Abode is the best at smart home compatibility.
• Ring has stellar cameras with an app that’s hard to beat.

We used our years of knowledge and hands-on testing to determine the best home security alternatives to SimpliSafe. We also considered hundreds of user reviews and reviews from other security professionals.

To put the cherry on top of this multi-layered research cake, we spoke one-on-one with brand representatives to learn everything we could about the security systems.

For more on how we review services and products, take a look at our Safewise methodology page.

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