What Does the SimpliSafe App Do?

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The SimpliSafe Home Security app is one of our favorite home security apps because you can easily share videos from your SimpliCam or SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro on social media. You can also use it to arm your system, watch live video from your security cameras, and unlock your SimpliSafe Smart Lock without getting out of your chair.

We liked the SimpliSafe app overall for its easy-to-use, glitch-free features. Here’s what we found during testing.

Affordable DIY home security
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe home security
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Monitoring starts at$21.99/mo
pro No contracts
pro DIY installation
pro Good for renters

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

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Where can I download the SimpliSafe app?

You can download the SimpliSafe security alarm app for iPhone from the Apple Store, and the SimpliSafe app for Android can be downloaded from the Google Play store. If you’d rather use the app on your computer, you can use the SimpliSafe web app on SimpliSafe.com.

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Is the SimpliSafe app free?

The app is always free no matter which store you download from.

How do I set up the SimpliSafe app?

Getting Started with SimpliSafe App

Image: SafeWise

After you download the app, setting it up is easy:

  1. Open the app and tap Create Account.
  2. Use the email you used to order your SimpliSafe system and choose a password.
  3. Click on the link in the email from SimpliSafe to verify your account.
  4. Tap Set Up Now if you’re in the process of setting up your SimpliSafe security system. Otherwise tap I Already Set Up My System.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish.

Once that’s done, it’s important to set up app security to prevent the wrong people from accessing your SimpliSafe system if you ever lose your phone:

  1. Tap on the menu.
  2. Tap on your email address to open the dropdown menu.
  3. Choose Configure App Lock.
  4. Enter a four-digit PIN that will be used to unlock the app.
  5. Choose whether to enable your phone’s biometric access to unlock the app.

From now on, the app will lock itself automatically after 10 seconds of inactivity. Only those with your PIN will be able to unlock it. If you choose to enable the biometric access option, you’ll also be able to use your phone’s fingerprint or face, voice, or iris recognition to unlock the app.

Light Bulb
High ratings

Users love the SimpliSafe app. It has close to perfect ratings of 4.5 and above on the Apple Store and the Google Play store as of September 2024, and SimpliSafe is one of our top no monthly fee home security systems.

Can you arm the SimpliSafe from your phone?

screenshots of SimpliSafe app

Image: SimpliSafe

The SimpliSafe Home Security App lets you arm and disarm the system while you are at home, work, or anywhere else. This is a big win for those of us with terrible memories.

You’ll never have to hurry back home to arm your security system again. We also love that you can use your phone to disarm the SimpliSafe security system before your hands get full carrying groceries, kids, or fur babies inside.

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How to arm/disarm using your phone

To arm or disarm your security system just tap on the corresponding button at the top of the home screen.

Can you use the SimpliSafe app without monitoring?

SimpliSafe App Camera View

Image: SafeWise

You can use the SimpliSafe app without monitoring, but we don’t recommend it. Without a monitoring package, the app will do a limited number of functions.

Without a monitoring package you can:

  • See if the security system is set to Off, Home, or Away
  • Watch live video feed from cameras
  • View and change system and device settings
  • Lock and unlock the SimpliSafe Smart Lock
  • Receive push notifications
  • Arm or disarm your SimpliSafe security system

Now that you know what you can do, here’s what you can’t do with the app if you skip monitoring:

  • Get police, medical, or fire dispatch
  • Use video verification 
  • Receive SMS, and email notifications
  • Download video footage from the app
  • Save video footage
  • Get arming reminders
  • Use smart home integrations
  • Use cellular backup

About monitoring

SimpliSafe's professional monitoring plans start at $19.99 per month for the Standard Monitoring Plan to $29.99 per month with the Fast Protect™ plan. Learn more about SimpliSafe costs.

What features does the SimpliSafe app have?

SimpliSafe App Camera View in Daytime

Image: SafeWise

We’ve already talked about arming and disarming, but there are a few other things you can do with the SimpliSafe app:

  • Send real-time system alerts to you through phone notifications, text messages, and emails
  • Unlock or lock doors with a SimpliSafe Smart Lock or August smart lock
  • Watch live and recorded footage from SimpliSafe cameras
  • See a timeline of events, like when motion sensors were triggered or when the system was armed or disarmed

The app is missing some features. For example, SimpliSafe’s doorbell camera technically has person detection, but the app doesn’t tell you when a person is detected. It only says “motion” on the alert, which makes person detection like every other motion alert. It does tell you when the doorbell is rung instead of just alerting you that it detects motion though, so at least you know when someone wants you to come to the door.

We also wish it had built-in AI like the Vivint app to sense when you’re home and automatically adjust your thermostat and turn lights on and off.

The SimpliSafe app doesn’t work with any thermostats or smart bulbs. And while you can arm the SimplySafe system using Alexa or Google smart speakers, that’s it. In fact, it has very few smart home integrations overall. Too bare bones for us.

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SimpliSafe app FAQ

In our experience, no, the SimpliSafe app isn't glitchy. But found one concerning complaint voiced by multiple users: the SimpliSafe app randomly logged them out. iOS and Android users alike weren't getting important security notifications due to this glitch.

The latest app updates should have fixed the issue, but be on the lookout nonetheless and don't hesitate to contact SimpliSafe customer service if you're being asked to log in every time you navigate to the app. The SimpliSafe app team seems to stay on top of issues with updates every few weeks.

Yes. You can use them to arm your SimpliSafe system using voice commands and check the system status. You can’t disarm the system using your voice, though.

Besides motion alerts, the SimpliSafe app will also notify you about smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, and water leaks. Even better, you can customize alerts to fit your needs.

You can arm and disarm your system and get camera notifications on your watch.

Yes, you’ll need to download the app through the Apple Store on your iPad.

No. Cancelling SimpliSafe is one of the few things you can't do on the app or online. You have to cancel over the phone.

Read answers to more SimpliSafe FAQs.


Compare SimpliSafe's app to other home security brands

Brand
Best for
Requires contract
Available with all plans
Minimum requirements
Learn more
Smart security pick
Icon No  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
iOS 13
Android 8.2
Voice control pick
Icon No  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
iOS 13
Android 6
User interface pick
Icon Yes  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
iOS 13
Android 6
Video-sharing pick
Icon Yes  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
iOS 15
Android 7
Best for Apple customers
Icon Yes  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
iOS 11.4

Android 7

Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.


Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina is a safety and security expert that has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. Her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Her activities aren’t nearly as dangerous today. Her hobbies include fixing up her 100-year-old house, doing artsy stuff, and going to the lake with her family.

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