SimpliSafe Home Security

We have two systems -- one in our house and one in our shop. Pros: - Relatively easy to install (Would be a "piece of cake" to install if the manual was a little more helpful...) The test mode is very helpful. - Excellent, responsive customer service. - No monitoring contracts and there are two levels of monitoring to fit your budget and/or circumstances. For example, you can start with the more expensive interactive monitoring that provides access to the app and web site and then switch to the less expensive non-interactive monitoring once you are comfortable with the system, or you can go with the interactive monitoring during seasons when you are traveling more and go with the non-interactive monitoring when you are not traveling as much. Both options include 24x7 central monitoring and police dispatch. If you really need to cut expenses, you can choose to go with an outdoor siren to alert your neighbors and skip the central monitoring and dispatch altogether; it's riskier but it beats not having a system at all. - You can take the system with you if you move. - Reasonable price; this cost 1/3 the price of what a local, non-contract alarm company quoted for a less-complete system, which left us enough money to buy cameras too. My impression is that the Simplisafe components are every bit as good and full-featured as what the other company was offering. - Everything seems quite reliable now that we have the base station properly located. - Great peace of mind. - The system is easily extensible over time (which we have done). - App/notifications: It's really nice to be able to activate the alarm from most anywhere using the phone app if we happen to forget when leaving. We also like that we can check the app to verify the status and check events while we're traveling, and know that we will get notifications if something happens. You can choose to be notified of alarms and/or alerts (i.e., changes in system status such as someone disarming the system using the keypad). - I like that the sensors' communications do not depend on power or wifi. The local company that wanted 3x as much money used wifi, which makes it dependent on *both* power *and* cable (or other) wifi service, which in our area go down infrequently, but more often than cell service. With Simplisafe, there is battery backup and even if a construction crew takes out your cable service or fiber optic lines, you won't lose your security system. - If you combine Simplisafe's cell-based sensors with wifi-based cameras (with motion sensor notification), you'll have "defense in depth" (to borrow a cybersecurity phrase) that makes the system harder to defeat since some part of the system will still be active even if your cell service or wifi or power goes down. - I like that you can have (and change) multiple PINs that you can assign to each maid, pet sitter, friend, or family member who is checking on your house while you're gone, which adds accountability and verifiability; you know they've been there, and they'll know you know they've been there. Trust but verify... - The base station uses T-Mobile by default, but you can ask for a Verizon base station if Verizon has a stronger signal in your area. Cons: - The placement of the base station for optimum communication can be a bit tricky. - The user's manual is too simplistic. It's clear that they want to make it easy and not scary, but there should be a link to more complete information so customers can choose to be more fully informed and get answers without having to call. For example, there are more considerations for proper placement of the base station than are listed in the manual and you only find out about them if you call when you have problems. Another example, if I recall correctly, is that the manual gave the arc (degrees) within which the motion sensor would work, but did not state the distance or the fact that there is a high, medium, low sensitivity switch under the battery. Also, the manual says that the door entry sensors can go "anywhere" so long as the magnet is properly aligned with it and is within a certain distance of the sensor, but they don't warn you to keep in mind that the cover only slides off one way to change the battery and I unfortunately, placed one in a corner before seeing the small, light blue, hard-to-read symbol indicating the battery cover direction because I was focused on the lines that the magnet had to stay within since that was the only thing the manual called attention to. It also turns out that the entry sensors work best when placed along the vertical edge of a swinging door so that the entire magnet moves away from the sensor at the same rate, rather than in an arc which occurs if you place it at the top edge of a swinging door. That was not discussed anywhere either. - Some customer service agents have been less informed than others, but most have been very good. - We had to purchase a 2nd base station for our shop, which means that we have to pay 2x the monitoring fee each month. The local company that we got a bid from would have covered both the house and the shop with one monitoring fee.

easy product to use,friendly customer service

All I can say about them, they are excellent. I had a competitor for 25 years. The competitor, I had them back in 1990, and I had them for 25 years. All of the years they were very good, they last 2 or 3 years I didn't care for them. It was crazy. I have to say they were great for 25 years I had them. Then we were having this back and forth they said we'll give you this whole new system but you have to take a service policy. I said excuse me, 25 years and you're telling me a service policy, no way. My son had been trying to tell me to switch, he was with them and left and got Simpli Safe. My son convinced me. The one thing I like, like this thing I had on Friday, they can help me right from their office. I don't have to wait for a serviceman. They got things squared away. This is the other thing, I said I'm punching in my password and the things seem to stick. He said we'll send you another pad. They explain anything that goes wrong. I love them. I've never had a service call. When I told him we're switching my son said this is such an easy system that you can install it. It's not tied in with the telephone line. The price is excellent. On quality, all the equipment I have is great. I replaced my pad yesterday. I called them, they connected it, we tested and everything else. No serviceman, nothing. Even when I was ready to leave the competitor I was getting aggravated with them. You have to remember I had them 25 years.

The entire experience went very well! I would recommend them to anyone.

Install was easy an straight forward, however there have been glitches along the way. Everything connected the way it should have and has worked 99% of the time. There have been a couple times where two different sensors failed to notify the base, meaning they didn't trigger the alarm. Sometimes there is a lag between the keypad and deactivation. The company offers a couple different plans. Upgrading to a more expensive plan is easily done through the website, however downgrading your plan requires a phone call.

Great! It's very easy. We like it because it's wireless. We don't have access to wifi and live in the woods so we needed something wireless. Thieves can't cut the wires and it's monitored 24/7.

Installation was easy from start to finish. Unfortunately, I did not read all of the negative actual customer reviews regarding how glitchy the service is. The system probably connects to the "dispatch center" about 50% of the time. I, like most others, have moved the base station all over my house without sustained success. It it's current location, the base station is right beside a window and there is not a single electronic item in the entire room. Yet, the security system still will not connect to the "dispatch center." I frequently have to either send a test signal or unplug and remove a battery from the base station and allow it to reboot to connect to the dispatch center. Though at times this hasn't even worked. Using the APP to operate the system is even worse. I would not recommend this security system.

Good, a defective sensor which they replaced.

This system came in the mail and is very easy to install. So far it has been working very well and the monitoring team does a great job of contacting us immediately when the alarm goes off (usually our fault). The app and the camera works well too.

I had one problem that was addressed very quickly by their help desk.

The Simply Safe service and equipment works great! The system performs and does just as it is advertised. The monitoring is live and response to incidents are immediate. The price for the system (monitoring optional) is extremely reasonable and affordable. The service staff is polite and professional. I have recommend this Simply Safe to others.

Purchased from Amazon and installed myself in less than an hour. I have been using the system since 11/16. Operates flawlessly. Completely wireless but works no differently from a wired system. Also works using a cell phone signal instead of a landline that Intruders can cut. $15 a month for monitoring, but you don't have to subscribe for the system to operate. If someone trips a door, motion detector or glass breakage while you are sleeping you will hear the alarm. It's a great product at a reasonable price. System costs about $300.

Very well. Better than ADT. When I move, I will not be moving my ADT contract but will get more SimpliSafe equipment & service.

Just fine, DIY installation went smoothly

Install was fairly easy to do yourself. All the components came as described and worked together with the base. We've had this system now for while. It is just as good the large security system company we've used in the past. The monthly costs is far better than anyone else on the market.

They respond quickly to the few false alarms we've had.

Everything about the process, from researching online, ordering, installing, testing, and activating went great. I had two false alarms and talked with their monitoring people, and the next day with customer service. They were extremely knowledgable, helpful and professional. The problem seems to have been resolved. I have a cat and I think that probably he set off the motion detectors. It was very cold in the house those two nights so maybe his body heat set off the motion detector(which I learned senses body heat). They told me there is a switch inside the motion detectors that could be changed to lower or raise the sensitivity. So I lowered mine. There have been no false alarms since then.

The instructions were easy to follow and the equipment is working well.

They are very professional and courteous. The cost is reasonable and you have two monitoring packages to pick from.

They delivered and customer service was responsive.

Great system easy to install and very affordable.

Easy set-up and connection. As advertised.

They have been fabulous with service. If I have any question, I just email them (which is most convenient for me) and they are always very responsive to my questions. We highly recommend them.

My nephew had a great experience and it was easy for him to set up. My niece did not; she had to contact the company several times to get things to work. I think the pricing was great.

Easy to install. I had some trouble contacting customer service once with an install question to the point where I got tired of being on hold and hung up. I eventually figured it out myself. More importantly, I have had quick call backs when accidently setting off the alarm.