Since 2006, SimpliSafe has been a popular provider of true do-it-yourself home security, including installation and monitoring. Over one million customers in both the US and UK have put their trust in this company for their home protection needs.

Budget-friendly home security

SimpliSafe offers multiple options to build out a customized home security system. For those on a tight budget, they have a Refurbished section that can help you save money. Otherwise, you can either select individual components or choose from one of their six pre-made equipment packages:

The Foundation: if you've only got one entry point to protect, SimpliSafe's Foundation kit might be just enough for you. It comes with one entry sensor, one motion sensor, one keypad and one base station. List price for this package is $244.96, but it was on sale for $159.22 at the time of this review.

The Essentials: $178.71 (sale price; regular is $274.95) gets you a basic set-up with three entry sensors, a keypad, a motion sensor and a base station. This would be a good kit if you live in an apartment building where the smoke and fire detectors are already provided.

The Hearth: you'll pay $256.69 on sale (or $394.91 retail) for this mid-tier equipment package, which comes with three entry sensors and one each of a smoke detector, wireless siren, base station, motion sensor, keypad and key fob.

The Lighthouse: priced at $302.20 (on sale; $464.93 list), this package takes SimpliSafe's most popular system and adds a wireless outdoor camera. Other equipment included in this security package is three entry sensors, a keypad, a motion sensor and a base station.

The Knox: for $305.41 ($469.87 list), you'll get six entry sensors, two motion sensors, and one each of a keypad, key fob, wireless siren, smoke detector, and base station. This is where you should start if you have a home with at least four bedrooms.

The Haven: priced at $331.41 on sale and $509.86 regularly, this 14-piece kit comes with four entry sensors, two motion sensors, and one each of a wireless siren, water sensor, smoke detector, temperature sensor, panic button, keypad, key fob, and base station.

Four different monitoring options

SimpliSafe offers four monitoring choices that include unmonitored, self-monitored with camera recording, standard, and interactive. All of these options give you the ability to arm and disarm the system remotely, receive push notifications, and get alerts for alarms, errors, and camera activity. Additionally, regardless of the number of components you have in your SimpliSafe home security system, you can expect to pay the same monthly monitoring fees.

Unmonitored for truly DIY home security

SimpliSafe's unmonitored option is perfect for those on a tight budget or who value their privacy. You only pay for the equipment and don't have to worry about anyone else watching your property. However, it's important to note that you won't have access to emergency services or text/email notifications, and your activity log will only cover the last seven days. While this might be a bit too bare-bones for most homeowners looking for a home security system, it could be a great choice for keeping an eye on a second home or other property that's frequently unoccupied.

Unmonitored + video

For those who don't want to opt for professional monitoring, SimpliSafe has another alternative. You can pay a monthly fee of $9.99 and use up to five video cameras with limitless recording, unrestricted access to your system's history and timeline, smart home component integration options, and alerts and notifications via all channels like email, text, and push. However, you will still be accountable for monitoring your security system since no one else will do it for you.

2 professionally-monitored plans

But, if you're in the market for a home security system, chances are you're looking for professional monitoring. SimpliSafe offers 24/7 monitoring in two plans: Standard for $17.99/month and Interactive for $27.99/month. The Standard plan covers the basics of monitoring but doesn't include SMS/email notifications, reminders to arm your system, or smart home integrations. The Interactive plan, on the other hand, includes all available notifications and services, and allows you to record on up to 10 cameras in your security system.

Unique benefits with these home security systems

If you opt for the Interactive monitoring tier with SimpliSafe, you'll get access to two unique features that set it apart from other home security systems. The first is their Visual Verification tool, which allows their professional monitoring service to quickly confirm the legitimacy of an alarm or alert, resulting in faster dispatch of first responders. Additionally, you can set up Secret Alerts for specific areas in your home, such as a room or cabinet, and receive silent notifications when they're accessed. You can use this feature to catch anyone snooping around where they shouldn't be, like your kids getting into your secret stash of treats.

60-day trial

SimpliSafe offers a risk-free trial for all levels of monitoring and equipment. You can try them out for 60 days and cancel for any reason within that time. You can also take advantage of a 7-day trial of their professional monitoring services, if you're on the fence between paying the pros and doing it yourself. And, all equipment in SimpliSafe's home security packages is backed by a one-year warranty.

Quality of service has definitely dropped

When you first look at SimpliSafe's reputation, you might think that this is the world's best home security option: an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, plus nearly 10,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot are pretty compelling. But, if you dig into this company's feedback in more recent weeks and months, it doesn't look so good after all. Some customers report having to replace literally every piece of equipment in their home security package - over the first year and a half of use.

Complaints keep rolling in

There are also numerous complaints about cameras that don't function properly, unreliable system performance, keypads that stop performing after the first battery change, and technical glitches with software updates. And that doesn't even cover the problems people have with SimpliSafe's customer service. "Don't call us, we'll call you" seems to be the norm - but then no one from the company ever reaches out to fix the issue.

Not a top pick now

We don't want to write SimpliSafe off completely - after all, it was one of our highest-rated home security providers for many years. But, we have to recommend caution if you decide to give this company a try, based on the overwhelming majority of negative feedback coming from recent customer ratings.

On the SimpliSafe website