Simplisafe Review: Home Security System

SimpliSafe Review Summary

I was one of the first smart home enthusiasts to jump on board when Simplisafe (finally!) launched in the UK.

After more than two years as a customer, I’m still pleased with the performance and customization options Simplisafe provides.

However, I’ve been less happy with some features — namely the camera, which has poor night vision and requires a monthly plan to record events.

This review will cover cost, UK-only features, and equipment performance. All statements are based on my experience as a Simplisafe customer over the past two years, and also pull from 27 customer surveys we’ve conducted with Simplisafe customers using our website.

Pros and Cons of Simplisafe

Like all security systems, what makes it “worth it” is largely dependent on your home size, whether you rent or own, and crime rates in your area. Simplisafe is no exception, and some of the biggest “pros” are also the biggest “cons.”

For example, the system is heavily dependent on Wi-Fi. This is a benefit if you’re a renter, but a major drawback for homeowners who prefer hardwired systems.

The system also has a low monthly cost relative to most systems, which is great if you’re cutting costs but not-so-great if you can’t handle the tradeoffs, like installing sensors yourself.

How is Simplisafe UK different from the US?

Simplisafe uses the same equipment in the UK as the US, but the plans and connection to monitoring is different.

Plans are simpler in the UK, but we don’t get the “self-monitored” plan offered in the US. This is mainly because the police dispatch requirements differ. However, it’s a major drawback for those of us who want to use the app for remote arm/disarm without monthly fees.

Police dispatch in the UK requires visual confirmation of a crime, unlike the US. As such, monitoring in the UK goes through an intermediary guard service rather than directly to the police. This means fewer false alarms, but it can also delay the response somewhat if you aren’t self-monitoring by default. (Read more on system requirements with the NSI.)

Simplisafe only includes police dispatch for the premium plan — another drawback for budget-conscious customers.

Overall, the value proposition of Simplisafe is not as good in the UK. To be fair, though, there are fewer DIY home alarm options here to drive the prices down.

Full review of Simplisafe costs

Simplisafe systems in the UK have two main costs:

1. Up-front equipment purchase.
2. Ongoing monthly plan fee.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what those costs look like in 2022:

You’re typically looking at £250–500 to get all the equipment needed for your home. This greatly depends on the size of your home and your needs.

My total cost was £482, including tax.

However, I have a large home and wanted extra cameras, sensors, and an additional siren since I planned on testing the system as a noise-only DIY setup without monitoring.

Their “Foundation” package is currently sold for much less than that at £248.97, and what’s included is easily enough to cover your average 1–2 bedroom flat.

Simplisafe Plans: Pro vs Pro Premium

To put it simply, the plans offered by Simplisafe in the US are quite complex. Thankfully, their plan tiers in the UK are much more straightforward:

Let’s look at the key differences. The Pro plan offers 24/7 monitoring by the Simplisafe team. However, they will not alert the police for crime events — instead, they notify the system owner and any designated friends and family.

Pro Premium will also alert the police if deemed needed; they’ll also dispatch an in-person guard, although this part is optional.

Their original service in the US connects directly to the police, which comes with many logistics and issues; false alarms are one of the big ones. The rules and setup also vary from state to state, which makes it complex to set up.

They’ve fixed this somewhat in the UK by working with an in-between guard service rather than pinging the police directly when your alarm goes off. This is good, because it means a professional will determine whether the police should be called — either virtually or on-premise.

For me, the lack of smart home integrations on the free plan is the deal-breaker. If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t be considering any other alarm systems this year. Unfortunately, this requirement brings the cost so close to “premium” providers like ADT and Verisure that I plan to switch before the end of the year.

Simplisafe Equipment Review

You’ll notice that all the equipment in these photos is a bit dusty and has some scuffs and scratches.

That’s because I’ve been using this system for over two years.

It’s held up decently, but the matte black and white surfaces show some marks if you don’t keep them out of reach of kids and pets.

I have a mix of white and black equipment, but I’d opt for white whenever possible if I was buying again. Against expectation, I’ve seen more scuffs and scratches on the black system components than the white ones.

Equipment options

Every Simplisafe package sold in the UK comes with three core items:

1. Base station: a router-like device that connects all your sensors and provides a speaker for the primary alarm.
2. Wireless keypad: a keypad with screen for inside your door. This arms and disarms the system with a 4-digit code, and also provides settings for connecting and checking status of all your sensors.
3. Indoor camera: a 1080p wi-fi based security camera that streams to the Simplisafe app. This is required with all UK plans because police dispatch is not allowed for security systems without visual confirmation of crimes.

They have more than 10 different sensors you can add to the system, including smoke detectors, glass break detectors, and water leak sensors. I’ll only comment below on the ones that I’ve tested and have comments for:

• Entry Sensor: The only issue I’ve had with this is that the sticky tab provided for installation failed on one door after about a year, causing a false alarm. However, the surface was a rough wood grain, so this was an anticipated issue. I’ve solved it with a stronger third-party sticky pad.
• Motion sensor: Simplisafe’s claim that their sensors can accurately detect pets versus intruders is, surprisingly, quite accurate. I have had a grand total of one false alarm from pets in two years, which is impressive for an AI-based system.
• Water sensor: The only actual home emergency I’ve had since installing my Simplisafe system was a water leak in my laundry room. This sensor picked it up immediately and saved me a pile of money, since I was not home at the time.
• Extra siren: I purchased an extra siren for my system because I anticipated using it without monitoring for a few months. Therefore, I wanted to make sure it created a huge racket for my neighbors if it got tripped. From my neighbour’s dismay, I can confirm that this siren is extremely loud, much more than the base station.

How Simplisafe compares with ADT and Verisure

Simplisafe looks cheaper on the surface, but the cost over time is not that different from the major professionally installed systems, which are ADT and Verisure.

Here’s a cost breakdown so you can see how it adds up over a few years of service:

As you can see, while the costs are similar, Simplisafe is a tradeoff of flexibility for service level. Verisure costs more, but their system is built bespoke by their team for your home.

Simplisafe is geared more towards tenants, who don’t want to make a long-term investment like that.

The difference in monthly fees between Simplisafe and ADT is only £24 over two years of service — that’s a small difference considering all the tech support ADT provides compared with a DIY system.

Can Simplisafe UK integrate with my smart home?

Smart home integrations are one of the better features of Simplisafe. In the UK, they integrate with all but one of the three major smart home systems: Google Home and Amazon Alexa.

Missing homekit is a drawback that’s likely to change as they roll out new software features. The real issue with Simplisafe’s smart home integrations is that you can only use them on the Premium Pro plan, which costs £19.99 per month. This is £7 per month more than their base plan, and adds up to an £84 per year fee just to connect with your smart speakers.

Can I take Simplisafe with me if I move internationally?

Simplisafe monitoring works anywhere in the UK and US, and you can use the same equipment when making a move — even internationally. However, the system does not provide any professional monitoring or monthly plan options outside the US and UK. The setup and costs for monitoring is also different between the UK and the US, owing to different regulations around police dispatch in each country.

This makes it much more flexible than a provider like ADT who will not allow you to use the same equipment even when moving just down the street. Still, it’s worth being aware of if you are making a long-term investment in the hardware.

Is Simplisafe UK a good value?

Simplisafe is a good value in the UK under the following conditions:

1. You want to build a large, flexible home alarm system at low monthly cost.
2. You are a renter and can’t drill in your walls.
3. You care more about crime detection than camera quality.

The Bottom Line: Good System, Difficult Pricing

Given the ever-rising crime rates in London and throughout the UK, nailing your home security install is much more important than, say, your smart thermostat.

For that reason, it’s recommended that you consider DIY systems only if you are highly confident in building and maintaining your home Wi-Fi network and keeping equipment up to date.

DIY systems like Simplisafe are great fun for those of us who value flexibility and the ability to build a large system at low cost.

Review methodology

Unlike most systems we discuss on CrimeRate, I’ve personally used this one for two years. (That’s why they’re dinged in the photos above). Equipment was not stress-tested, and all comments are based on normal daily use. Pricing comparisons are based on sample quotes when the company compared does not have public plan tiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Simplisafe work in Europe?

Simplisafe provides self-monitoring without a monthly fee anywhere in the world. However, they only offer monitored plans in the United Kingdom and the United States. There are no public plans for the brand to expand into other parts of Europe.

Is Simplisafe any good?

Simplisafe is a good pick for renters, especially for flats since the wireless mesh system works best in smaller spaces. It’s commonly £100–250 per year cheaper than premium monitored plans from the larger home alarm brands like ADT and Verisure. However, the low cost is a tradeoff for self-install and limited hardwiring options.

How much does Simplisafe cost in the UK?

The cheapest Simplisafe system sold in the UK costs £248.97 with no monthly fees for basic self-monitor use. However, features like monitoring and remote arming require a subscription to their Pro plan for £12.99 per month. Advanced features like police dispatch and smart home integration require the more expensive Pro Premium plan, which is £19.99 per month.