Simplisafe Review

So fellas, after purchasing my first home I decided to get a security system. I live in a great neighborhood (except that fucking left turn I make during rush hour) but my parents always had one and I’m just used to it. So after weighing some options here’s what I had:

ADT: 500$ Startup, 2 year contract, 45$ a month

Shield: 600$ Startup, 2 year contract, 43$ a month

Frontpoint: 99$ Startup, 2 year contract, 41$ a month

Simplisafe: 255$ Startup, NO contract, 15$ a month

Well I heard about simplisafe in popular mechanics, Rush Limbaugh, pretty much any talk radio show, and on a couple news programs. It seemed too good to be true for the price so I was extremely skeptical. But after hearing all the horror stories and knowing what my parents go through with shield (currently a BBB case open with them) I said fuck it, it’s so cheap what do I have to lose.

So with simplisafe I picked out my own sensors after buying their basic startup package.

I have 3 entry sensors, a motion detector, smoke detector, and a glass break sensor. It’s all wireless and works off a cellular base station placed in your home. It also has Crash and Smash protection, this means if someone comes in and starts smashing your keypad and sensors, it automatically dispatches authorities.

So I received my package with installation instructions, and to do my own home took about 30 minutes. This is what really pissed me off about other alarm companies, they kept pushing free installation. A retarded retard could install this system.

So I began testing it. Purposely setting off alarms. Within seconds received phone calls, asking for my password, how to spell my password. I burned a small piece of paper near the smoke detector, received a phone call in 5 seconds saying there is something smoldering inside my home and if I wanted to stop the call of the fire department I had to give my password.

It was -15* in Buffalo the other day, I set my alarm and walked out of my house and my father was walking around my garage. Motion detector went off and I didn’t feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Turned around and a cops sitting at the end of my driveway. Honestly this is what impressed me the most, my father had a motion detector in his garage from shield and anytime the temperature went below freezing it would not work. Also my garage is 30 feet from my home.

So that’s about it, I’ve had it for two months and it works great. Everything is wireless and has batteries. The sensors go on with two sided tape unless you want to drill them in the wall. All components have a 3 year warranty, and you can add sensors as you go. I just recently ordered a flood sensor for my sump pump. Granted its only been two months so we will see what happens but I’m thrilled with my decision and the rest of my friends and family who told me it was too good to be true are annoyed and trying to get out of their contracts.

EDIT: I also can use my smartphone to see activity in my home.

I wouldn’t want anything that reminds me of Mr. establishment himself Limbaugh every day.

LOL

Did you look into Advanced Alarm at all (local to Buffalo). When we built 5 years ago we went with them and nothing but good things to say.
Our current setup (which was free install from them) and only costs $16.75/month. The best thing is too if we ever add any more sensors or features, the monthly never goes up. Just have to buy the new sensors.

  • 3 Motion Detectors
  • 5 entry/door plus all windows
  • 3 Monitored Smoke and 1 Monitored CO alarms
  • Sump pump alert (if it ever comes on sends alter)

Edit: Saw you listed contract terms too, it’s just 1 year with them too.

I did not find them but they sound great, similarly priced and serviced like simplisafe, but the biggest thing to me was no contract.

Thanks for the review! I’ve been contemplating this for a WHILE. Ditched CPI several months ago and have yet to pull the trigger on an alternative.

I can’t remember, does SimpliSafe have a cellular backup option? All of that protection, and all it would take to disable it would be to snip your internet connection on the side of your house.

We have Advanced Alarm as well. System was installed 20 yrs ago when we built the house. Never had a problem with anything, $120/yr. We also use them for our car storage building.

Does that $17 also cover cellular backup?

Simplisafe is only cellular as far as I know.

Gotcha! Again, thanks for the info!

Simplisafe is 100% cellular which can be a double edged sword. Nice in that your wires can’t be cut to bypass the alarm system. The base has a battery backup built in and because of this + cellular it notifies you of power events.