Where Ring fails, SimpliSafe steps in with its almost-as-good prices and cameras and its much-less-complicated values. Neither of these services requires contracts, so you can cancel the monitoring plans at your convenience. You can also buy separate pieces from each brand to create your own customized packages. And there are add-ons. Ring has a vast selection of cameras and lights. SimpliSafe’s camera selection is limited, but it does offer extras you won’t see with Ring, like a smoke alarm and a branded lock. Their prices aren’t extravagant compared to the rest of the market, but adding them to your setup will quickly increase your security costs. If self-monitoring’s not your style (it can be exhausting), you can pay just $10 a month for professional system monitoring plus free cloud storage for all your cameras. If you bump up your monthly payment to $27.99, you get all the good stuff. That means not only app access and smart home support but also cloud storage for up to 10 cameras and video verification. SimpliSafe also offers customers of the Interactive monitoring plan a 10% discount on equipment add-ons and a lifetime warranty on equipment as long as they maintain their subscription. But even without video verification, Ring outstrips SimpliSafe costwise. If you’re looking to save money, Ring is the better choice. Ring and SimpliSafe are evenly matched in equipment. They both make their own equipment, which we like. They both favor the peel-and-stick setup, which makes things easy for DIYers. And Ring’s a whiz with cameras while SimpliSafe’s one of the only security companies that offers a custom lock. Ring sells the following equipment:
Base station Keypad Window/door/entry sensor Mailbox sensor Motion detector Smoke and CO listener Flood and freeze sensor Panic button Retrofit alarm kit Pathlight Floodlight Steplight Smartbulb About 20 different cameras Sign Solar sign
To complete its offerings, Ring also sells some items from other brands, like Schlage locks, Leviton switches, and Eero routers.
Base station Wireless keypad Door/window/entry sensor Motion sensor Glass break sensor Temperature sensor Water sensor Smoke detector Carbon monoxide sensor Panic button Key fob Siren SimpliCam (indoor camera) SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro SimpliSafe Smart Lock Yard sign
Again, the fact that SimpliSafe makes its own lock is groundbreaking. We can’t think of a single other security company that does that. Ring doorbells and cameras vary in their power sources. Some require hardwiring, some require batteries, and some simply plug into an outlet. The power source will determine where and how you can use a camera, so always double-check before buying. Also, these cameras don’t require a Ring security system to work. You can buy them to use as standalone devices. Ring also offers what it calls “advanced motion detection,” a feature that helps cameras distinguish between people and animals. That means you won’t get notifications when your neighbor’s dog runs into your backyard and tries to eat the steak on your grill. (True story.) But you also won’t get notifications every time a stray cat wanders onto your porch, so we’ll call it a win. Unfortunately, Ring doesn’t offer vehicle or package detection at this time. But it does have customizable motion zones that allow you to choose which areas are motion sensitive. So if you only want to be alerted to motion on your porch, you can easily set that up. If you’re looking for added security, you can get an extra pair of eyes on your outdoor cams with Ring’s Virtual Security Guard. Although it hasn’t been released yet, if you live in the U.S. you can join the waitlist. This $99 subscription will allow Rapid Response to monitor motion events on your external cameras. All Ring cameras use the same app as the security system, creating a seamless security experience. You’ll see all your camera feeds on the same screen where you arm and disarm your security system. Ring also uses a second app called the Neighbors app. When your cameras capture footage of a security incident, you can upload that footage to Neighbors. The app will share it with other users in your neighborhood. For instance, when your SimpliSafe sensors are triggered, your SimpliSafe camera(s) will start recording. That’s a neat little feature that’ll make it easier to get footage of suspicious activity. Like Ring, though, SimpliSafe includes cloud storage with its most expensive plan. And that plan also comes with video verification, which Ring doesn’t offer at all. Overall, we think Ring does a better job when it comes to cameras, but SimpliSafe is a good second choice.
Alexa compatibility Google compatibility Z-Wave or Zigbee compatibility
Security systems that don’t meet these criteria are difficult to use in a smart home setting. You won’t have voice control over it, and you won’t be able to connect it with many third-party devices. Your security will be out of the smart home loop. Ring Alarm smart home integrations: Ring not only meets the minimum requirements, it exceeds them. IFTTT compatibility is a huge bonus for a smart home. It’ll allow you to create custom applets with smart home chains. For example, you can create a chain where if you turn off the smart lights in your bedroom, your smart shades will roll down too. SimpliSafe smart home integrations:: SimpliSafe doesn’t quite meet the threshold since it lacks Z-Wave or Zigbee compatibility. Most smart devices use one of those protocols, so without compatibility, your SimpliSafe system won’t be able to connect to Z-Wave lights, thermostats, and so on. So if you have a smart home or like the idea of creating one, Ring is probably a better pick. Ring’s so great that it’s hard to believe it’s unpopular. But some of its practices make its equipment and services look unsavory. Some folks have concerns about the following:
Ring has had some issues keeping customer videos private from its own employees.¹ When left unregulated, the Ring Neighbors app has devolved into racial profiling and other discriminatory behavior in some places.² The Ring partnership with some police departments has left users questioning how much of their videos law enforcement will see without their express permission—and what law enforcement will do with those videos.³
These issues are frustrating because Ring is a huge equalizer in home security. SimpliSafe’s $18-a-month fee will still be a strain on some folks, while Ring offers free self-monitoring. That makes security available to people who feel unsafe but couldn’t afford that luxury before. But by not aggressively protecting others’ rights with better rules and policies, Ring puts users between a rock and a hard place. Users may feel like they need to trade on their morals to get affordable security, and that doesn’t sit right. SimpliSafe, on the other hand, has more typical customer service issues, like billing mixups and customers being on hold for a long time. So if you’re looking for something uncomplicated, you’ll want SimpliSafe all the way.
Ring Alarm customer service number: +1-800-984-1596 SimpliSafe customer service number: +1-888-910-1215
Prices and monitoring plans: Ring. With free self-monitoring and $4 a month for monitoring and cloud storage, SimpliSafe can’t keep up with its app-feature gatekeeping and significantly higher prices. Security equipment: Draw. Both Ring and SimpliSafe make their own peel-and-stick equipment for easy setup, and they both sell items beyond the basics. Cameras: Ring. Cameras are Ring’s thing, and it offers a huge selection to meet many different needs. But if you don’t want Ring, SimpliSafe’s cameras are similar and can include video verification. Smart home integrations: Ring. Ring works with every major smart home protocol and then some, while SimpliSafe won’t work with most popular smart home devices. Customer service: SimpliSafe. SimpliSafe hasn’t created the camera empire that Ring has, and it’s also made wiser choices in how it conducts itself, so it’s not subject to the level of anger and scrutiny that Ring currently is.
Price Equipment Home automation Cameras Customer service
We also put countless hours of research and product testing into our Best Home Security Systems piece. That creates a foundation for other reviews of the same products. We spent several more hours testing, reading product reviews, and poring over the companies’ websites to develop information for this particular piece.
