Smart Home Reviews
November 14, 2022
SimpliSafe is a bit different from the typical smart home/providers. Their unique business model gives them points in some areas, but results in flaws in others. They, like others, offer protection from fires/burglars/floors/etc. as well as offer video devices. They offer monitoring with their system, but don’t offer many details regarding their process.
Their price is a big selling point for their system, but leaves the question, what is it lacking?
SimpliSafe has their own monitoring center, and their website claims they use “video verification” before dispatching police. This results in slower response times, which could be catastrophic in the case of an emergency. This is a huge drawback to SimpliSafe.
SimpliSafe offers the basics, but not more. Instead of the more common touchscreen panels found in many homes now, they use a type of keypad for the panel. Their security sensors are similar to others, and they offer cameras as well. With basic security and a few smart devices (cameras and a smart door lock), SimpliSafe may seem like a good option at first glance. However, we highly recommend against it.
Unlike the equipment you get from more reputable companies, SimpliSafe’s equipment is…. simply unsafe. It is easily hackable and unreliable. In 2019, a YouTuber showed how SimpliSafe could be hacked with a $2 dongle from Amazon. While no system is truly “unhackable”, SimpliSafe’s equipment is on the very low end of the security equipment spectrum.
SimpliSafe is a popular option for DIYers. They sell the equipment upfront, send it to your home, and then you are in charge of installation/maintenance. Set up can be fairly simple, but can also result in issues with reliability. With the system being mainly DIY, customer service is very limited. They do offer chat services on their website, as well as some basic troubleshooting guides, but the system still remains a DIY system, meaning you are basically on your own.
SimpliSafe’s price is its strongest selling point (in our opinion). They offer low-cost monitoring, and you pay for the equipment up front. The low-cost monitoring is a plus, but, the equipment can be fairly expensive to purchase ($500+). Plus the monitoring you pay for is low-quality.
The saying “you get what you pay for” rings true with SimpliSafe, a system designed to be affordable and easy. And while it may be both, it is also not secure and can end up being a lot more difficult in the long run.
We give SimpliSafe a 5/10 overall. This is mainly due to the poor quality of their equipment. Nobody wants a system that can be hacked anytime and by anybody. Their slow monitoring offers little peace of mind to users and is simply unreliable. The price range can be nice for some, however, when it comes to security, you need a system that will keep you safe.
We will see if SimpliSafe changes some of these aspects and can become a more reputable company, but for the time being, we do not recommend using them.