SimpliSafe Security Camera Options and Pricing

SimpliSafe Security Camera Cost

SimpliSafe security cameras are not as affordable as we thought. We just finished testing the $60 Ring Indoor Cam and we think it’s very similar to the SimpliSafe Wired Indoor Camera (SimpliCam). However, the SimpliCam costs $99. It’s still affordable for a Wi-Fi indoor camera, but more options below $80 are popping up these days.

We can say the same about the two other SimpliSafe cameras. The $149 Wireless Indoor Camera (Smart Alarm) actually sits on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of indoor camera costs. The $199 Outdoor Camera Pro, on the other hand, is only middle-of-the-pack affordable for an outdoor camera.

As sort of a saving grace, you can often get a free security camera if you purchase a new SimpliSafe security system. We see deals all year round that give new users either a free Wireless Indoor Camera or Outdoor Camera Pro. Considering how much those cameras cost, we say take advantage of those deals if you’re also looking to buy a security system.

For the SimpliCam we tested, however, we had to buy the camera separately. Fortunately, it was on sale (40 percent off) at the time. Keep an eye out for those percentage discounts as well.

Unpacking the SimpliSafe Camera

SimpliSafe Subscription Cost

You can operate SimpliSafe cameras on a self-monitored basis, and if you’re willing to give up video storage, you can do that for no cost whatsoever. You get real-time alerts and the ability to pull up live video feeds at any time.

The thing is the higher prices you pay for SimpliSafe’s Indoor Wireless and Outdoor cameras is to make sure they include the software and features necessary to work with SimpliSafe’s Smart Alert plans. If you’re not planning to take advantage of those plans, you’re paying for functions you don’t need.

In addition, monitoring plans unlock smart integration. Without one, you can’t connect your cameras to Alexa or Google Home and you can’t pair cameras with other smart home devices like Phillips Hue lights and smart locks. Your system will still work, but you’ll be missing out on your SimpliSafe equipment’s full capabilities.

Full monitoring from SimpliSafe costs $30 a month. A similar service from Ring will run you $100 a month. That makes SimpliSafe’s plan quite a deal.

There’s also a middle ground when it comes to 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. Right now, you can get 70 percent off retail prices for equipment, and the company adds an Outdoor Camera for free. Ah, the blessing of Black Friday.

The SimpliSafe Camera Experience

Installing the SimpliCam

We’ve tested hundreds, maybe thousands, of home security products over the years. And most cameras are pretty easy to install. Most are DIY these days, and the majority take under half an hour to set up. As we noted in our Wyze Cam, our Wyze install took no more than five minutes.

That said, we’ve never come across a device that’s as easy to install as the SimpliCam. It truly does live up to its name. Technically, the installation is done once you’ve plugged the power cord into a standard outlet. Of course, you also need to download the SimpliSafe mobile app and connect the camera to your Wi-Fi, but that takes just a minute or two.

What stands out the most, however, is SimpliCam’s straightforwardness on the day-to-day. Once you’re done setting it up, you can leave it be and enjoy home protection. Unlike with high-tech indoor cameras like the Nest Cam (indoor), which requires you customize your notifications and do a number of other setting-changes, the SimpliCam is a set-it-and-forget-it kind of 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 $189.99, which for an outdoor camera is a great price. However, it only works with a SimpliSafe security system, so I 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 I 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 SimpliSafe cam 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 me 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 I thought was kind of cyborg-chic. If you’re worried about your security camera being used by hackers to invade your privacy, I’d definitely recommend the SimpliCam for you.

Customer Service

In my 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. I did come across some unflattering reviews citing long wait times, but I 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 my 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 my 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 I think this is a nice touch.

Smart Home Integrations and Monitoring

I 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 I’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.  Maybe if the SimpliCam cost $20 less, then we’d consider recommending it as a standalone camera, but not at its current price.

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. SimpliSafe has a lot of positives. They’re a huge draw for apartment dwellers, and they’re highly recommended for folks who relocate frequently. The equipment is extremely easy to work with — really checking all the DIY boxes and creating a sort of cult-like following of users. Budget-conscious homeowners also appreciate SimpliSafe’s low-cost monitoring plans; this is a much smaller investment than you’d have to make by going with a Vivint system or the like. (Vivint happens to be really impressive in its own right, though. Take a look at my 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