How Much Does SimpliSafe Cost?

SimpliSafe is the best budget pick in our best home security system list. Don't know if SimpliSafe is in your budget? We did the research so you don't have to. Here’s how much you’ll pay for SimpliSafe monitoring, security system packages, equipment, and installation.

There’s only one monthly fee associated with SimpliSafe home security systems: the professional monitoring plan. The cost depends on which monitoring plan you choose.

The Self Monitoring With Camera Recording plan is a DIY option and includes extra smart home integration and SimpliSafe camera recording perks. The Interactive Monitoring and Standard Monitoring packages use a cellular connection, so they work well for homes with spotty Wi-Fi. 

If you're on a budget, you don't have to pay any monthly fee to use SimpliSafe, but some features—like video recording and smart home integration—aren't available.

The Self Monitoring with Camera Recordings package for alarm systems is the least expensive paid plan at $9.99 per month. It includes 30 days of unlimited video storage for up to five SimpliSafe cameras, advanced SMS alerts, and custom private phone notifications. 

The Standard Monitoring plan is a little more expensive at $17.99 per month, but we think it's worth the splurge. It monitors water leaks and temperature changes. It also includes 24/7 professional monitoring, fire monitoring, and a cellular connection for homes that don’t have landlines.

This also means that you’ll always be able to call police or emergency services, even when traditional phone services are interrupted. So if a tree falls on your phone line, or you forget to pay your bill, you’ll still be able to get help in an emergency.

The Interactive monitoring plan costs $27.99 per month. It includes all of the features of the other two plans combined. Plus, it will save the recordings from up to 10 cameras for 30 days. SimpliSafe also offers customers a free security camera when they sign up for this monitoring service package. You can also connect your SimpliSafe system to Amazon Alexa or Google Home with this package.

If you don’t want to pay a monthly fee, you can use the home security system without a monitoring plan, but going it alone limits how well the system works. If you choose to self-monitor with your SimpliSafe system, you’ll lose access to these features:

• Call center access during an emergency
• Cloud storage for videos
• Cellular backup

SimpliSafe used to require a paid subscription for remotely arming and disarming the system through the SimpliSafe app. Now, all users—even those on the free plan—can use the app to control their SimpliSafe equipment. Camera footage isn't recorded, though. 

Packages range from $245 to $505, and SimpliSafe doesn’t run a credit check—even with bigger packages. There are five main SimpliSafe packages, but they have a few more that are almost identical to the main five. Typically, the only difference is an added sensor or two.

For simplicity, we’re comparing the main five and the equipment that is included beyond the base station, keypad, entry sensors, and motion sensors that come with every package.

Extra SimpliSafe equipment costs anywhere from $3.99 to $169. If you have a bigger home or special needs, you may find that SimpliSafe’s premade packages don’t work for you. Luckily, you can customize your package by adding items à la carte, or you can build your own package full of useful SimpliSafe devices.

Here are SimpliSafe's equipment costs:

SimpliSafe has teamed up with Affirm—the same lending partner used by Ring and Abode—to offer equipment financing.

No credit check is required, and you can choose from a few different repayment terms. Keep in mind that most repayment options accrue interest, so if you can swing the out-of-pocket price, you'll save money in the long run. Still, it's a great option when you just need to spread the bills out a bit.

We went through the process to see what kind of SimpliSafe financing options exist. Here's what we were offered:

If you buy a new SimpliSafe system and not just an accessory, you're eligible for free shipping (7–10 business days). If you want it sooner, you can pay for expedited shipping. 

Shipping costs vary depending on where you live and how soon you want your system. Here are the shipping fees generated during our checkout process: 

• Expedited (3–5 business days): $10.63
• 2 Day (2 business days): $24.15
• Nest Day (1 business day): $45.63
• USPS Priority Mail: $12.90

SimpliSafe doesn’t make customers sign a contract (major score for you), so there are no cancelation fees. Even better than the freedom that comes from being contract-free is the fact you can return SimpliSafe products for free.

SimpliSafe has a 60-day satisfaction guarantee for all equipment. If you don’t like it, you can return it. The company will pay for shipping and then return your money in a few days. You just need to contact SimpliSafe customer service.

If you decide to keep your SimpliSafe products, the warranty covers the equipment for three years from the original order date. If you subscribe to the Interactive Monitoring plan, you'll get a lifetime warranty instead. SimpliSafe will send you a free shipping label to return the equipment and then will replace the item.

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1. CDC, “What Noises Cause Hearing Loss?,” October 2019. Accessed February 1, 2022.