Illustrative image, not evidence of a product test.
SimpliSafe Pricing 2026 — Complete Cost Breakdown
The short version: SimpliSafe costs two separate things: a one-off hardware package and a monthly plan. In the US, for a Starter-class system on Standard or Core, the monthly plan overtakes the hardware cost after roughly a year, and the plan decides whether you get professional monitoring, cellular backup and camera recordings at all. Cameras only record on Core, Pro, Pro Plus or the camera-only Self-Monitoring plan. They do not record on Standard or with no plan.
This page covers US pricing in USD, checked on 22 Oct 2026. UK plans and prices are different (see the end). Prices are list prices from SimpliSafe’s own store data and exclude tax. SimpliSafe was also showing a promotional equipment discount tied to signing up for a plan, so check the cart. The examples below do not assume it, because promotions change.
For how SimpliSafe compares with other brands, see SimpliSafe vs Ring Alarm vs Abode and Ring vs SimpliSafe vs ADT vs Vivint. This page stays on SimpliSafe’s own plans and costs.
Monitoring plans: what each price buys
Plan names and prices were checked on 22 October against SimpliSafe’s residential plan comparison page. Core was formerly called Fast Protect. The integration eligibility below was rechecked on 24 October; rounded daily prices on the current support page should not be multiplied into replacement monthly quotes.
| Unmonitored | Self-Monitoring + camera recordings | Standard | Core | Pro | Pro Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0 | $9.99 | $22.99 | $32.99 | $49.99 | $79.99 |
| 24/7 emergency dispatch | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in network backup (cellular) | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live camera view and app arm/disarm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited camera recording, 30-day cloud storage | No | Yes (up to 10 cameras) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alexa / Google Assistant arming | No | Yes (arm only) | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor camera “Active Guard” live agents | No | No | No | No | 8pm–6am | 24/7 |
| Anti-Theft Guarantee (see terms) | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hardware warranty | 1 year | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 years | Lifetime* | Lifetime* | Lifetime* |
*“Limited lifetime” for as long as the subscription is uninterrupted, per SimpliSafe’s warranty page. Without a plan the warranty is the 1-year limited one.
- No contract. SimpliSafe states plans are billed monthly and can be cancelled at any time (monitoring page). New systems advertise a one-month free trial of monitoring.
- Standard has no recordings. SimpliSafe’s camera support page says Standard and no-plan setups do not record. The plan comparison also says Standard does not include video verification.
- Pro and Pro Plus only matter with the right cameras. Active Guard works with the Outdoor Camera Series 2 or Video Doorbell Series 2 (up to 3 in total), and the outdoor camera must be plugged in with its power cable.
What you lose without a plan
SimpliSafe’s guidance for the Unmonitored option is that you keep a live camera view and remote arm/disarm, and you need an internet connection for them. You lose 24/7 emergency dispatch, the built-in network backup, recordings, insurance-certificate discounts and the lifetime warranty. The base station’s power and Wi-Fi page states that cellular operation requires a professional monitoring plan. The base station battery lasts up to 24 hours in an outage. Note that the network backup applies to the base station only, not to cameras, which still need Wi-Fi to upload recordings.
Hardware: current packages and list prices
SimpliSafe’s package list shows seven pre-built systems. Every one includes a base station and keypad.
| Package | List price (USD) | Contents beyond base station and keypad |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | $250.96 | 1 entry sensor, 1 motion sensor |
| Starter (“most popular”) | $282.94 | 3 entry sensors, 1 motion sensor |
| Hearth | $437.91 | 3 entry, 1 motion, key fob, extra siren, smoke & CO detector |
| Knox | $520.87 | Larger kit: 2 motion, key fob, extra siren, smoke & CO detector; entry-sensor count differs between the help page (4) and storefront data (6), so confirm in the cart |
| Haven | $558.86 | 4 entry, 2 motion, key fob, siren, smoke & CO, panic button, water sensor, temperature sensor |
| Lighthouse | $482.93 | Starter contents plus 1 Outdoor Camera Series 2 |
| Beacon | $733.90 | 4 entry, 2 motion, 2 Outdoor Camera Series 2 |
Individual add-ons at list price: entry sensor $15.99, motion sensor $34.99, water sensor $19.99, temperature sensor $29.99, glassbreak sensor $39.99, 105 dB siren $59.99, smoke & CO detector $69.99, key fob $24.99, wireless indoor camera $149.99, Outdoor Camera Series 2 $199.99, Video Doorbell Series 2 $199.99. Installation by a technician starts at $124.99; DIY setup uses the app (installation page).
Cameras: what the specs say
- Outdoor Camera Series 2: per the product page, 1080p, 140° field of view, IP65, rechargeable battery, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, spotlight and 90 dB siren. Recording and 30-day storage require a plan that includes them.
- Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera: per the product page, 1536p, 125°, 80 dB siren, privacy shutter, non-replaceable internal battery. The page says it works without a plan, but recording needs one.
- Video Doorbell Series 2: the Starter page describes 2K video, powered from existing doorbell wiring, and requires an existing wired doorbell and chime. See our video doorbell guide if you are comparing brands.
- All SimpliSafe cameras require a Gen 3 SimpliSafe system. SimpliSafe lists cloud storage only; no local (microSD or NAS) option is listed in the specs. If that matters, see outdoor cameras with no subscription.
Worked example: hardware versus recurring cost
Inputs: US list prices on 22 Oct 2026, monthly billing for 36 and 60 months, no promotions, tax, financing charges or free-trial credit (subtract one month’s fee if the trial applies). Plan price changes over time are not modelled.
| Setup | Hardware (one-off) | Monthly | 3-year total | 5-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter, Unmonitored | $282.94 | $0 | $282.94 | $282.94 |
| Starter + Standard | $282.94 | $22.99 | $1,110.58 | $1,662.34 |
| Starter + Core | $282.94 | $32.99 | $1,470.58 | $2,262.34 |
| Lighthouse + Self-Monitoring (recordings) | $482.93 | $9.99 | $842.57 | $1,082.33 |
| Lighthouse + Core | $482.93 | $32.99 | $1,670.57 | $2,462.33 |
| Lighthouse + Pro | $482.93 | $49.99 | $2,282.57 | $3,482.33 |
| Lighthouse + Pro Plus | $482.93 | $79.99 | $3,362.57 | $5,282.33 |
How to read it: on Starter + Core, the plan is about 81% of the 3-year spend ($1,187.64 of $1,470.58). Moving from Core to Pro adds $17 per month, or about $612 over three years. That only buys something if you have an outdoor camera or doorbell and want agents watching overnight. For a system with no outdoor camera, Pro and Pro Plus have no outdoor feature to apply to.
Smart home and ecosystem
SimpliSafe’s integration page lists Alexa and Google Assistant (arm only; disarming by voice is not allowed) and August locks. Integrations need a plan such as Pro Plus, Pro, Core or Self-Monitoring with Camera Recordings. It states SimpliSafe does not integrate with Apple HomeKit. No SimpliSafe documentation of Matter support was found. For multi-brand setups, see our smart home hub guide and starting a smart home from scratch.
Other costs and limits
- Returns: 60 days from delivery on orders from SimpliSafe’s own site, with return shipping paid (return policy). Retail-partner purchases are returned to the retailer.
- Batteries: SimpliSafe’s battery guide gives up to 5 years for the entry sensor (CR2032), up to 4 years for the Gen 2 motion sensor, up to 2 years for the smoke & CO detector, 8–12 months for the keypad (four AA) and up to 1 year for the extra siren. These are manufacturer estimates that depend on placement and usage.
- Wi-Fi: cameras need 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi even when the base station has cellular backup.
- UK is different. SimpliSafe’s UK plan page lists Pro Premium £29.99, Pro Standard £19.99 and Self-Monitoring with Camera Recording £12.99 per month, with different features. Do not apply the USD figures above to UK orders.
When another route is cheaper
If you do not want any monthly bill, read home security without monthly fees; SimpliSafe without a plan keeps little beyond live view and remote arming. If you only want camera recording, SimpliSafe’s $9.99 Self-Monitoring plan costs about $360 over three years; compare other brands’ camera plans before deciding (Ring vs Arlo vs Eufy cameras).
How this was researched
Plan, package, warranty, installation, integration and camera details were read from SimpliSafe’s own US site and Help Center on 22 Oct 2026. Package and add-on list prices were read from SimpliSafe’s storefront price data on the same date. No SimpliSafe hardware was tested for this page. Third-party price roundups were not used as evidence. Verify in the cart before buying.