SimpliSafe vs. Brinks Home Security

When it comes to SimpliSafe vs. Brinks, we think SimpliSafe is the winning alarm system. It costs less, has unique equipment, and just seems to have a better reputation with customers. But Brinks does come close with its awesome monitoring and better home automation.

Let’s dive into a more detailed comparison.

Of these two providers, SimpliSafe is definitely more affordable. But we really like Brinks’s monitoring features (as you can probably tell since we awarded Brinks “Best for Monitoring”).

If you need to save money, SimpliSafe is for you, while if you’ve got the cash, Brinks’s monitoring service is more than worth it.

SimpliSafe has two plans, one that doesn’t have professional monitoring and one that does. Unfortunately, the self-monitoring plan doesn’t include app access, making it difficult for you to watch out for your home.

Because of the self-monitoring limitations, we strongly suggest SimpliSafe users go for the Interactive plan option.

If you want smart home support, you need to go for the more expensive plan there as well.

View SimpliSafe Plans | Read the SimpliSafe Home Security Review

Brinks’s monitoring may not be the most cost-effective, but you’re getting a lot out of it. With Brinks, you don’t have to pay extra for camera storage, mobile app access, or smart home support.

Just know that with Brinks, you have to sign up for a 3-year commitment.

Brinks comes with a few different emergency features to keep you and your home safe. For instance, the control panel and key have built-in panic buttons. (You have to pay extra for those with SimpliSafe, and they come separately.)

Brinks also has a duress code feature in case someone forces you to disarm your system, and it has an instant emergency contact feature known as ASAPer, too.

View Brinks Plans | Read the Brinks Home Security Review

SimpliSafe takes a personalized approach to security by creating its own one-of-a-kind equipment, while Brinks sources its products from generic manufacturers.

Typically, proprietary equipment costs more (just ask Vivint customers), but strangely, SimpliSafe actually charges less than Brinks does for literally everything.

As you can see, we’re not just talking a few dollars. You’ll save a lot if you buy equipment from SimpliSafe over Brinks.

SimpliSafe’s cameras are much more affordable than Brinks’s, and they have better features, too. The only reason to get a Brinks camera over a SimpliSafe one, in our opinion, is if you want an outdoor camera (which SimpliSafe doesn’t sell).

SimpliSafe offers two camera models: an indoor camera and a doorbell camera. Both are unique to SimpliSafe only, which is nice because you’re getting something special. However, you’re in for a hassle if you want to connect them to other camera brands.

The indoor camera is a little expensive, but it’s balanced out by the video doorbell, which has a lower price for that type of camera.

In our opinion, the best aspects of these cameras are the video verification and the privacy shutter for the indoor camera.

With video verification, SimpliSafe will visually confirm the presence of an intruder before alerting the authorities. Some locales require verification before the police will come out, so it’s an excellent feature to have. And even if video verification isn’t required in your area, it’s nice knowing that SimpliSafe will look at your camera feed if you’re unavailable to check it.

The indoor camera also comes with a privacy shutter that allows you to physically cover the lens when you don’t want to be videoed.

Oh, and in keeping with the “simple” part of SimpliSafe, these babies only use cloud storage. You’ll never need to buy extra hardware or grapple with SD cards, but you won’t have the security of a physical backup.

To learn more, read all about SimpliSafe cameras in our SimpliSafe Cameras Review.

Brinks’s cameras cost quite a bit but don’t have most of the basic features we look for, which is a shame. The indoor camera doesn’t even have motion detection.

Automation isn’t SimpliSafe’s strong suit. It connects with minimal smart home devices, while Brinks connects to quite a few (and also sells several helpful home automation items).

SimpliSafe smart home integrations:

• Amazon Alexa
• Google Assistant
• August
• Apple Watch

For being a leading home security brand, SimpliSafe has surprisingly little integration. Sure, it sells its own locks and smoke detectors, and it’s also compatible with August locks, but it works with almost none of the leading smart home products.

You can create an indirect smart ecosystem by connecting everything through Alexa or Google Assistant, but you won’t be able to access those products from your SimpliSafe app.

Brinks smart home integrations:

• Amazon Alexa
• Google Assistant
• Z-Wave

As discussed in the Equipment section, Brinks offers locks, thermostats, garage door openers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and other smart home connectivity devices. But beyond that, it’s also compatible with many smart home products through its use of Z-Wave, a popular smart home protocol.

SimpliSafe is a relatively new company, while Brinks has been around for a while. That may be why SimpliSafe has a better reputation right now than Brinks does—it hasn’t been around long enough for as many problems to crop up. Or it could be because Brinks keeps buying up other contracts and changing terms on people, which is not something SimpliSafe does.

Either way, it seems people like SimpliSafe a whole lot more than they like Brinks.

If you need to contact either of these services, Brinks allows customers to call or email between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (CST). Likewise, you can call or email SimpliSafe. The customer response hours are between 8 a.m. and midnight (ET) (which is an impressive window).

• SimpliSafe customer service number: 888-910-1215
• Brinks customer service number: 800-447-9239 (469-513-8685 for text)

Brinks fights a good fight, but in the end, we recommend SimpliSafe for better equipment and lower prices.

• Prices and monitoring plans: Draw. SimpliSafe is more affordable, though Brinks offers an excellent bang for its buck.
• Security equipment: While Brinks sells expensive, generic items, SimpliSafe is known for affordable yet innovative equipment.
• Cameras: Brinks offers all three camera subtypes, free cloud storage, and local storage—but the cameras just aren’t as good as SimpliSafe’s.
• Smart home integrations: SimpliSafe has very little home automation outside of Alexa and Google, but Brinks works with a ton of devices through the Z-Wave protocol.
• Customer service: SimpliSafe has no major customer service issues that we know of, while Brinks is surrounded by irate users.

Read the SimpliSafe Home Security Review | Read the Brinks Home Security Review

When we rate security systems, we weigh out these five main categories:

• Price
• Equipment
• Home automation
• Cameras
• Customer service

In a versus piece like this, we pit each category head to head to determine which service is truly the best.

The highest star rating doesn’t always win. The service with the lower star rating may have a category in which it’s spectacularly strong, while the higher-rated service may be average across the board. But usually, the star ratings are a strong indicator of the versus piece winner.

• How Does SimpliSafe Work?
• Which SimpliSafe Monitoring Plan Should You Choose?
• 5 Ways to Save Money on a SimpliSafe System
• August Smart Lock Pro Review 2021
• Nest Protect Review 2021

Here are some frequently asked questions surrounding the SimpliSafe and Brinks home security systems.

No, SimpliSafe doesn’t offer a basic outdoor camera.

The video doorbell is a subtype of outdoor camera, but it’s not useful for everyone since you can only install it on the door.

However, SimpliSafe sells outdoor adapter kits, which allow you to weatherproof the indoor SimpliCam for outdoor use.

Not anymore.

With the discontinuation of Google Nest Secure in 2020, Brinks no longer offers its $19 and $29 Nest monitoring packages. So if you’ve obtained a legacy system and want it monitored, you’re out of luck.

If you already have a Google home security system and an existing agreement with Brinks, though, it sounds like your current monitoring support may continue for the foreseeable future.¹

In many contexts, we would choose either a SimpliSafe or Brinks home security system over ADT.

ADT has a highly traditional alarm setup with steep prices. Both SimpliSafe and Brinks home security are more innovative systems with lower costs and full or partial DIY installation. These newer, less traditional systems tend to be more convenient, easier to use, and appealing to many homeowners.

But some people really like the traditional setup or need to connect their system to a landline. In those cases, ADT is a better choice.

To learn more, check out SimpliSafe vs. ADT and ADT vs. Brinks.

Sources

1. Google Nest Help, “Our Continued Commitment to Nest Secure.” Accessed May 12, 2021.