SimpliSafe Access Control System

• SimpliSafe is a home and business physical security system.
• SimpliSafe has four security packages and a 24/7 professional monitoring plan.
• In focusing primarily on physical security, SimpliSafe somewhat lacks thorough access control features.

SimpliSafe offers extensive physical security features. Despite these features' breadth, SimpliSafe says that most business owners can set up their systems within an hour. However, SimpliSafe focuses on physical security largely at the expense of expansive access control capabilities. Read all of our reviews of the best access control systems.

What Is SimpliSafe?

SimpliSafe is a home security company founded in Boston in 2006. Since its launch, it has acquired 3 million customers.

SimpliSafe users can choose from several security packages, all of which have basic access control features. SimpliSafe prides itself on its ability to secure your facility from not just intruders but to notify you in the event of a flood, freezing temperatures, or other emergencies that threaten your business's property and equipment.

SimpliSafe couples its home security hardware with professional monitoring services that guard your business around the clock. With these services, SimpliSafe can dispatch police to your premises when an alarm is triggered.

Additionally, SimpliSafe says that its wireless operation, easy setup and lack of contracts are among its most distinctive features. You can customize your security package to include whatever features you need, though the more you customize your plan, the more you'll pay. Read our full review of SimpliSafe to see how its system compares with other access control systems.

Does SimpliSafe Offer a Free Trial?

SimpliSafe's interactive plan, which includes 24/7 professional monitoring and priority police dispatch, is free for your first month. Thereafter, it costs 83 cents per day. You can cancel your interactive plan at any time without incurring additional fees.

Although SimpliSafe doesn't offer a free trial for its hardware, you have options if you're dissatisfied. If you return your hardware within 60 days of purchase, you'll get a full refund.

SimpliSafe Pricing

All SimpliSafe security packages come with a base station, a keypad, an HD video camera and a varying number of entry and motion sensors.

FYI: All SimpliSafe plans include a base station, a keypad, an HD camera, and a varying number of entry and motion sensors. If none of SimpliSafe's plans fit your needs, you can customize your own.

Additionally, you can opt into SimpliSafe's interactive plan when you buy a security package. With this plan, you get 24/7 professional monitoring and priority police dispatch. You can cancel the plan at any time. You'll pay 20% less for each security package if you bundle it with the interactive plan. You can also purchase Pro Setup for $79.

SimpliSafe offers four security packages:

The Essentials

SimpliSafe's Essentials package includes the following:

• A base station
• One motion sensor
• Keypad
• HD camera
• Three entry sensors

If you opt for a hardware-only package, you can get the Essentials for $259. If you choose SimpliSafe's interactive plan, you can get the Essentials for $207.

Source: SimpliSafe

The Hearth

SimpliSafe's Hearth package includes the following:

• One base station
• One motion sensor
• A keypad
• An HD camera
• Three entry sensors
• A key fob
• A 105 dB siren
• One smoke detector

If you opt for a hardware-only package, you can get the Hearth for $374. If you choose SimpliSafe's interactive plan, you can get the Hearth for $299.

Source: SimpliSafe

The Knox

SimpliSafe's Knox package includes the following:

• A base station
• Two motion sensors
• One keypad
• One HD camera
• Six entry sensors
• A key fob
• One 105 dB siren
• One smoke detector

If you opt for a hardware-only package, the Knox costs $449. If you choose SimpliSafe's interactive plan, you can get the Knox for $359.

Source: SimpliSafe

The Haven

SimpliSafe's Haven package includes the following:

• One base station
• Two motion sensors
• One keypad
• An HD camera
• Four entry sensors
• One key fob
• A 105 dB siren
• One smoke detector
• A panic button
• A temperature sensor
• A water sensor

If you opt for a hardware-only package, you can get the Haven for $489. If you choose SimpliSafe's interactive plan, the Haven costs $391.

Source: SimpliSafe

Side-by-side Comparison: Essentials, Hearth, Knox and Haven

We've listed the features of SimpliSafe's four security packages side by side so you can easily compare them:

SimpliSafe Payment Options

SimpliSafe users can only pay via credit card. If you aren't satisfied with your hardware, you can return it within 60 days of purchase for a full refund. You can cancel your interactive plan at any time, though you will not be refunded for any days for which you've already paid.

Best features of SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe's best features include the following:

• Active during power outages: In the event of a power outage, SimpliSafe still protects your business. Its base station switches to its backup rechargeable AA battery instead of using electricity, and it will continue to transmit data via mobile networks instead of via Wi-Fi. During extended power outages, SimpliSafe recommends replacing the base station's rechargeable AA batteries with a new pair every 24 hours.
  
  
• Additional freeze sensors: SimpliSafe offers a freeze sensor that sounds if the temperature in your workplace drops below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also set up email or text alerts and access hourly temperature readings.
  
  
• Email and text alerts: If you purchase SimpliSafe's interactive plan, you can set up text and email alerts. If you download SimpliSafe's mobile app, you can also turn on push notifications. You can set alerts for when alarms are triggered, when the system is armed or disarmed, and when power outages and sensor errors occur.
  
  
• Extensive range: SimpliSafe devices work from a distance of 700 to 800 feet away, with a direct line of sight. This means that SimpliSafe devices can easily cover office spaces of varying sizes, though SimpliSafe notes that use in garages and basements can be challenging.
  
  
• Keypads, key fobs and entry sensors: All SimpliSafe security packages come with a keypad, a keyfob, and either three, four or six entry sensors. With these devices, you can implement thorough access control for your workplace.
  
  
• Long battery life: You can use AA or 3V batteries to power your SimpliSafe devices, though the base station takes only rechargeable AA batteries. Your batteries should last three to five years, or as long as 10 years for entry sensors. A few exceptions exist, as keypads, sirens and door lock batteries last up to one year.
  
  
• Mobile control: You can control your security system remotely via the SimpliSafe mobile app. In addition to remote control capabilities, the SimpliSafe mobile app includes alerts and live HD video streams accessible from your mobile device.
  
  
• Monitoring centers: SimpliSafe operates six 24/7 professional monitoring centers in the United States. These locations are spread throughout the country so that SimpliSafe can continue to provide its services if a natural disaster or other event affects one of its facilities.
  
  
• PIN access: Through the keypad that comes with every SimpliSafe security package, you can control access to your workplace with a PIN. Only people who know the PIN can enter, thereby limiting access to solely your team.
  
  
• Thorough encryption: As of 2018, all SimpliSafe products and their communications are fully encrypted. Communications are equally protected whether sent via Wi-Fi or mobile data. SimpliSafe insists that it has never experienced a data breach despite several YouTube videos that claim to show hacks into the system.
  
  
• Various alarms: SimpliSafe can trigger events for three types of incidents: entry, motion or broken glass. In each case, if you don't disarm your SimpliSafe alarm within 30 seconds, SimpliSafe will assume an emergency is happening and will call you and dispatch police to your workplace.

Summary

SimpliSafe offers ample workplace security features that can alert you to major incidents and emergencies. You can then address these issues remotely via the SimpliSafe mobile app, and if you purchase the interactive plan, you can receive police assistance.

However, if you're seeking access control, then SimpliSafe could disappoint you. It is an excellent system for helping you manage your workplace's physical security, but SimpliSafe mostly lacks segmented access, cloud-based access audits, and other important access control features.

Instead, with each SimpliSafe security package, you'll get a keypad for which you can set a PIN. Anybody who knows the PIN – including your team – can enter. If your access control needs are limited to this basic function, then SimpliSafe offers a great deal. If you need more access control features, other solutions may be more suitable.

SimpliSafe FAQs

How much does SimpliSafe cost?

SimpliSafe's professional monitoring plan costs 83 cents per day, and your first month is free. SimpliSafe hardware packages range from $259 to $489, though you'll get a 20% discount if you couple your hardware with professional monitoring.

Is SimpliSafe easily hacked?

No, SimpliSafe is not easily hacked. As of 2018, all SimpliSafe products send only encrypted communications. According to SimpliSafe, the company's data has never been breached, even before it launched its newly encrypted products.

Do you need Wi-Fi for SimpliSafe?

No, you do not need Wi-Fi for SimpliSafe. You can use Wi-Fi or cellular data for SimpliSafe. In fact, in the event of a power outage, SimpliSafe automatically switches to cellular data, thereby keeping your system active.