Which SimpliSafe Monitoring Plan Should You Choose?

SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect monitoring service plan includes features you won’t find in the Standard plan. Those include:

• Mobile app access
• Scheduled arming
• Smart home support
• Security camera support
• Video verification

The Standard SimpliSafe monitoring plan is similar to Fast Protect, but you won't get the same smart home support, automation, or video recordings. Sure, it’s backed up by the same 24/7 professional monitoring and access to the SimpliSafe app as Fast Protect, but you only get seven days of video recording history, and you can't use Google Home or Alexa to control your system. You'll also miss out on Fast Protect perks like discounts on homeowner's insurance or 10% off additional hardware and features like push notifications, Secret Alerts, and Scheduled Arming.

SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect monitoring plan gives you access to the SimpliSafe mobile app. The mobile app is pretty basic, but it at least lets you arm and disarm your system or schedule alarms using your phone, which is convenient if you get to work and realize you forgot to set the alarm.

And with the Self Monitoring with Camera Recordings plan, you'll have access to the SimpliSafe app, but you're a bit more limited. This plan is great for those who only have cameras in their system. You'll be able to view your cameras' live stream and manually record from within the app. 

The Standard SimpliSafe monitoring plan is similar to Fast Protect, but you won't get the same smart home support, automation, or video recordings. Sure, it’s backed up by the same 24/7 professional monitoring service and access to the SimpliSafe app as Fast Protect, but you only get seven days of video recording history, and you can't use Google Home or Alexa to control your system. You'll also miss out on Fast Protect perks like discounts on homeowner's insurance or 10% off additional hardware and features like push notifications, Secret Alerts, and Scheduled Arming.

Without the Fast Protect monitoring plan, you don’t have access to SimpliSafe’s smart home integrations. SimpliSafe doesn’t have the most impressive home automation resume, but it does have a few integrations: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and August smart locks.

If you want to arm your SimpliSafe system with Alexa or Google using your voice, then you need the Fast Protect plan to have access to that skill. The Fast Protect plan also lets you sync your August smart door locks with your SimpliSafe system, so they lock or unlock as you arm or disarm your security system.

You don’t need the Fast Protect plan to use SimpliSafe’s security cameras, but it does give them some extra functionality. With the Fast Protect plan, you can view recorded camera events alongside security system events in the SimpliSafe mobile app.

The Fast Protect plan also supports video verification, push notifications, and Secret Alerts through your SimpliSafe cameras.

With Secret Alerts, you can designate specific sensors, when triggered, to send notifications only to you without notifying the base station. 

With video verification, the SimpliSafe monitoring reps can temporarily view footage from your SimpliSafe security cameras if someone triggers the alarm. This only happens when someone sets off your alarm system.

SimpliSafe reps can use the cameras to determine if there’s an actual emergency happening (and if so, what kind), or if your kid just forgot the key code again and it’s really a false alarm.

Some cities charge fines for too many false alarms, so this is a useful way to cut down on calling the cops for no reason. And if it is an actual emergency, then SimpliSafe can give first responders more info about the situation.

SimpliSafe’s Standard plan gives you 24/7 professional monitoring, but that’s it. With the SimpliSafe Fast Protect monitoring plan, you get the same professional monitoring, plus access to the mobile app, SimpliSafe’s smart home integrations, security camera support, and video verification for extra security.

SimpliSafe also now offers customers of the Fast Protect plan a 10% discount on equipment add-ons and a lifetime warranty on equipment as long as they maintain their subscription. We think it’s worth the 10 extra bucks per month.