SimpliSafe Security Camera Options and Pricing

SimpliSafe Security Camera Cost

SimpliSafe does offer an affordable camera. It’s the same one the company’s been selling since the beginning. It used to be known as the SimpliCam. These days, the company calls it the Wired Indoor Camera. Either way, it costs just $99. That’s more expensive than the comparable Ring Indoor Cam we tested, but it’s consistent with industry averages.

The Wired Indoor Cam doesn’t do an awful lot, though, other than provide a video image of what’s in front of it. It doesn’t include person detection software, it doesn’t include two-way talk, and as the name implies, it’s only suitable for indoor use. In fact, we used to give SimpliSafe a hard time because its camera selection was so limited.

Enter the Wireless Indoor Camera and the Wireless Outdoor Camera. Both of these devices provide some serious tech to go with their video images. We’ll get into the experience of using these cameras a little later, but it’s worth pointing out that their AI can not only tell the difference between people and other moving objects but is also smart enough to tell when a person has been on your lawn a little longer than they should. As you should expect, though, better cameras come with higher prices.

At $149, SimpliSafe’s Wireless Indoor Camera (Smart Alarm) actually sits at the higher end of the indoor camera price spectrum. And while there are certainly more expensive outdoor cameras on the market than SimpliSafe’s $199 Outdoor Camera Pro, it’s still only average when it comes to price.

One thing to keep in mind: SimpliSafe is always running a sale. Equipment is deliberately priced high, but that’s a sales tactic designed to make sale prices look particularly inviting. SimpliSafe systems are sometimes discounted by as much as 70 percent. Just as importantly, the company likes to throw in free cameras with package purchases. Often, in fact, SimpliSafe offers its cameras for free to new customers signing up for a system. The current offer is for a free video doorbell, but you can stay abreast of any changes by keeping an eye on our SimpliSafe deals page.

Unpacking the SimpliSafe Camera

SimpliSafe Subscription Cost

This is where SimpliSafe’s affordability comes into play. Even though their hardware is around industry averages, their subscriptions are both flexible and affordable. We could even operate our SimpliSafe cameras on a self-monitored basis without any monthly fees if we were willing to give up video storage (we weren’t, but appreciated the option). Even if we went the free route, we’d still get real-time alerts and the ability to pull up live video feeds at any time.

The reason SimpliSafe’s hardware seems expensive is because of the software and features they require to work with SimpliSafe’s advanced monitoring options. So, if you plan to self-monitor your cameras, you’re paying for functions you don’t need.

Full monitoring from SimpliSafe starts at $31.99 per month with basic monitoring at $21.99. A similar monitoring plan from Ring with video verification and intruder intervention will run you $100 a month. That makes SimpliSafe’s plan quite a deal. SimpliSafe also offers higher-tier monitoring at $49.99 per month and $79.99 per month. These enable your camera’s AI to send alerts to SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents so they can manage threats in real-time using your camera’s two-way audio.

There’s also a middle ground when it comes to monitoring in the form of premium self-monitoring. For $4.99 a month, you can sign up for a video storage plan to record footage from one camera. This plan also unlocks Alexa and Google Home integration. $9.99 a month does the same for up to five cameras. Both include 30 days worth of storage.

One last note: Simplisafe doesn’t require long-term contracts. Here’s why that matters – it means you can go back and forth between self-monitoring and professional monitoring any time you feel like it. Want professional monitoring while you’re on vacation in July and then jump back to self-monitoring in August? You can do that. You can also purchase a system, self-monitor for now, and add professional monitoring later when you can afford it.

Heads Up: SimpliSafe is always throwing free extra equipment in with their systems. Last Black Friday, they were offering 70 percent off retail prices for equipment, and the company added an Outdoor Camera for free.

The SimpliSafe Camera Experience

Installing the SimpliCam

DIY installation is the norm in home security systems these days, and most companies have perfected the camera installation process. We rarely come across a camera that takes more than half an hour to set up. Our Wyze Cam, for instance, took no more than five minutes.

Even so, we’ve never come across a home security device as easy to install as the SimpliCam. Assuming you’ve already downloaded the SimpliSafe app, you plug it in and connect it to the Wi-Fi. We did it in sixty seconds. Keep in mind, that speed had something to do with the fact that we installed it on a living room end table. That meant no ladder-climbing or screw-turning. More importantly, it’s also a testament to the fact that the Wired Indoor Camera doesn’t come with much tech. There are no complicated video settings to adjust because any sort of movement triggers this cam. You don’t have to worry about two-way talk settings either, since the Wired Indoor Cam doesn’t come with two-way talk.

There is something refreshing, though, and the straightforwardness of the SimpliCam. Once you’re done setting it up, you can leave it be. You get all the home security you need, with no complicated setup. Compare this to SimpliSafe’s more high-tech camera, the Wireless Indoor. True, that camera can do more, but it also requires more of you. The SimpliCam truly is a set-it-and-forget-it device.

SimpliSafe Indoor Camera

One thing to bear in mind is that the SimpliCam doesn’t work outdoors. It’s simply not rugged or protected against the elements enough. In the past, SimpliSafe gave its users the option to buy a “wet suit” for the indoor cam so users could use it outdoors. Now, though, there’s an outdoor camera option that offers a lot of the same features as the SimpliCam, but rugged enough to live outdoors. The outdoor cam costs $199.99, which for an outdoor camera is a great price. However, it only works with a SimpliSafe security system, so we wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re already – or planning to become – a SimpliSafe security system user.

SimpliCam Performance

After reviewing the camera’s specs, expectations weren’t super high for SimpliSafe’s camera. Sure, the company hypes up the SimpliCam with fancy marketing-speak, claiming it has Variable Bitrate Compression1 to improve image quality. This is all well and good, but we wanted to see how it performed off-paper and in the real world. Thankfully, the camera handled very well in some categories.

First, you should know that we tested the first generation of SimpliCam, which only offers 720 HD resolution. It’s lower than the industry standard 1080p HD, but it’s still decent. Thankfully, if you buy a SimpliCam now, the current version has a 1080p HD resolution.

As soon as we had the system up and running, we started receiving mobile alerts. Thankfully, we didn’t get messages every time the AC came on and stirred up the papers on our desk. That would get old fast. The SimpliCam features smart detection. According to the company, it operates using sophisticated algorithms that can recognize human heat signatures. In our own testing, it was pretty reliable. A number of low-cost cameras on the market, including the Ring Indoor Cam, are prone to false positives.

Fielding alerts was easy using the SimpliSafe app. Once a notification comes through, a simple swipe of the finger takes you to the livestream. Note that SimpliCam also provides two-way talk. The built-in microphone allowed us to speak to the kids through the camera, which is always helpful. To speak through the cam, hold down the microphone icon in the app. Just remember to take your finger off the mic if you want to listen in. Two-way audio is nice, but it’s a pretty standard feature nowadays.

SimpliSafe App

So far so good. But again, none of these features is especially innovative. That said, one unique feature of the SimpliSafe camera is the stainless steel privacy shutter. The shutter provides more control over the camera feed and privacy. It opens and closes — essentially turning the camera on and off — only with user permission. It also looks like an eye-opening and closing, which we thought was kind of cyborg-chic. If you’re worried about your security camera being used by hackers to invade your privacy, we’d definitely recommend the SimpliCam for you.

Customer Service

In our experience, SimpliSafe customer service is rock-solid. Their Help Center is pretty robust, and the brand also has service channels via email, user forums, and good old-fashioned phone calls. We did come across some unflattering reviews citing long wait times, but we never waited more than a few minutes to get a friendly and professional agent on the line.

Money-Back Guarantee

SimpliSafe’s 60-day, money-back guarantee happens to be one of the better guarantees in the business, and it shows that they stand behind their product and service. If you do decide to return your equipment before your 60 days are up, SimpliSafe will even pay your return shipping. Not bad.

Standout Features of SimpliCam

Although SimpliSafe’s camera is fairly basic and barebones when it comes to features and tech, a few are still worth mentioning. Here are some standout SimpliCam features that can help protect your home and family:

Stainless Steel Privacy Shutter

If you don’t want the camera watching your every move while at home, simply switch it to “off.” This activates the stainless steel privacy shutter. You can always open the shutter (using the mobile app) once you leave home and want the camera capturing video again.

Intelligent Motion Detection

SimpliCam comes with an innovative feature designed to eliminate false alarms. The company claims its algorithms are calibrated to pick up the unique heat signature that only humans have. In our experience, this did help to reduce false alarms.

Internal Microphone

SimpliCam’s built-in microphone lets you hear what’s happening in your home, even while you’re away. Of course, if you want to record and store that audio, you have to sign up for SimpliSafe’s Cloud subscription service. Call us crazy, but it seems like that sort of perk should be standard. And free.

DIY Installation

Nobody does DIY quite like SimpliSafe. Remember, the company was founded to offer simple security solutions for renters. The do-it-yourself installation of the SimpliCam takes about 3 minutes, from start to finish. In our experience, it really couldn’t be easier.

Three-Year Warranty

SimpliSafe’s warranty is pretty generous compared to the rest of the industry. This is another advantage with SimpliSafe: Many competitors in this market offer one-year warranties. Generally, anything beyond that is going to cost extra. With SimpliSafe, the warranty is three years, and we think this is a nice touch.

Smart Home Integrations and Monitoring

We found SimpliSafe to be somewhat lacking when it came to customizations with smart home devices. But again, the brand is all about keeping things simple, and this is just part of their business model.

There is good news, though: Right now, if you purchase a SimpliSafe kit and sign up with their Interactive Monitoring plan, you can get something called “Visual Verification.” When your alarm goes off, the SimpliSafe monitoring pros can actually tap into your SimpliCam and view your live video. This way, they can verify a crime in progress and expedite emergency personnel getting to the scene. Catch ’em red-handed!

SimpliSafe Smart Lock

Is The SimpliCam A Good Option?

When testing security cameras, we consider several critical factors like security, privacy, and price. And the SimpliCam indoor camera did well in all those categories. It has the necessary security features – smart motion detection, clear video, two-way audio, and it has a physical privacy shutter. And at $99, it doesn’t break the bank. This adds up to make the SimpliCam a good all-around option.

SimpliSafe Add-Ons

In addition to their affordable kits, SimpliSafe does offer a few add-ons, like a smart lock and video doorbell called the Video Doorbell Pro. Here are their offerings and what you can expect to pay:

A Snapshot of SimpliSafe

The SimpliSafe story is always a fun one to tell. The company was founded in 2006 by Harvard business students who were looking for a solution to prevent break-ins. They quickly realized no security system offered true DIY installation and no contracts. So they got to tinkering, and they soon created SimpliSafe. Ever since its inception, SimpliSafe has been a go-to alarm system for dorm-dwellers and renters. And from what we’ve seen, the brand fills a hole in the market for no-nonsense home security.

Final Thoughts on SimpliSafe’s Camera

The bottom line is that SimpliCam works very nicely with SimpliSafe’s security systems. As a standalone camera, we wouldn’t recommend it. It lacks features that are becoming standard for indoor cameras. While it can tell the difference between people and animals, for instance, it doesn’t include package detection or the facial recognition software you’ll find in Nest cameras. In fact, virtually all of its best features are available with other, less-expensive cameras.

But here’s the thing: in most cases, you’d be better off going with a SimpliSafe system than purchasing a single camera from another company. That’s where the real value comes in. It’s the ideal system for apartment dwellers or people who relocate often since they can be installed so easily. Budget-conscious homeowners also appreciate SimpliSafe’s low-cost monitoring plans which cost way less than heavy hitters like Vivint. (Vivint happens to be really impressive in its own right, though. Take a look at our full Vivint system analysis for more info.) Even adding a SimpliCam, you’re not paying much more for a full SimpliSafe system than you would for an individual camera, and you get so much more.

Of course, if the SimpliCam is too pricey for you, there are other options. There are loads of home security brands like Ring, Blink, and Zmodo that have plenty of indoor camera options in the sub-$100 range. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out our list of the best cheap camera systems.

It’s just that sometimes a whole system is better than the sum of its parts.

SimpliSafe Cameras FAQs