SimpliSafe Monthly Cost: What To Expect in 2025

SimpliSafe keeps popping up in conversation when people search for flexible, no-nonsense home security. But how much does it actually cost per month? Here’s the real deal—no guessing, no sugar-coating. If you’re budgeting for a security system, you probably want the numbers up front and what you’re paying for, minus the marketing fluff.

SimpliSafe splits their monitoring into two main monthly plans: Standard Monitoring (around $19.99) and Interactive Monitoring (about $29.99). These prices haven’t budged much lately, and they’re upfront about it—no secret price jumps after a few months. But here’s the kicker: you don’t technically need to sign up for a plan at all if you don’t want professional monitoring, but you lose most of the smart features.

Think you’ll save money by skipping a plan? You’ll still be able to arm and disarm your system, but forget about phone alerts, remote access, or police dispatch. And it’s worth knowing—SimpliSafe doesn’t lock you into contracts. Cancel any time, restart any time. A lot of people like that freedom, especially renters or anyone who doesn’t like commitment.

• SimpliSafe Pricing Options Explained
• What Each Subscription Tier Includes
• Hidden Fees and Things to Watch Out For
• Comparing SimpliSafe's Costs With Other Brands
• Tips to Lower Your Monthly Bill

SimpliSafe Pricing Options Explained

If you’re looking at SimpliSafe for home security, here’s how their monthly cost works out, plain and simple. There are three main choices: no plan, Standard Monitoring, or Interactive Monitoring. Each one comes with its own set of features—and price.

• SimpliSafe DIY: This is basically free—no monthly fee if you just want the basic alarm. You’ll arm and disarm through the keypad. But you won’t get mobile alerts or emergency dispatch.
• Standard Monitoring: Runs $19.99 per month. You get 24/7 professional monitoring, and SimpliSafe will call you, your backup contacts, and the authorities if there’s a break-in. No app controls though.
• Interactive Monitoring: $29.99 per month. This includes everything in Standard, plus phone alerts, app control, video storage, smart home integrations (like Alexa), and camera recordings. This is the plan most families choose because it’s all-in, with no hidden hoops to jump through.

The company publishes their prices online, and, unlike cable or internet companies, these prices have been steady. Here’s a table so you can see the 2025 rates at a glance:

A cool thing: There’s no contract. You can pause or cancel monthly monitoring anytime. This makes it easier if you’re moving homes or just want to try things out before locking anything in. You only pay for the months you use. And for new customers, SimpliSafe sometimes runs promos—like a free month of monitoring—so keep an eye out on their site.

What Each Subscription Tier Includes

Here’s where SimpliSafe makes things easy—there are just two main plans to consider. Each plan brings a different set of features, so it’s worth checking what you’re actually getting for your monthly spend. No confusing bundles or endless add-ons here.

SimpliSafe Standard Monitoring, at $19.99 a month, covers the basics. You get 24/7 professional monitoring, which means if your alarm goes off and you don’t respond, SimpliSafe’s team tries your backup contacts or sends help. You’ll get phone and email alerts if something’s up. But on Standard, forget about controlling the system from the app or setting up automated routines. It’s really for folks who just want professional monitoring—plain and simple.

• 24/7 monitoring for break-ins, fires, carbon monoxide, and water leaks
• Emergency dispatch when needed
• Alert notifications by phone and email

If you want all the bells and whistles, look at Interactive Monitoring, which is $29.99 a month. This one adds mobile app control, so you can arm, disarm, or check your system right from your phone. You get video alarm verification, which means the monitoring team can actually check your camera footage (if you have cameras)—this speeds up police response if there’s a break-in. Plus, you can set up secret alerts and custom notifications, so you know when the kids get home or if someone opens a specific door.

• All Standard Monitoring features included
• App-based arming, disarming, and real-time alerts
• Smart home integrations (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.)
• Video alarm verification and unlimited camera recording
• Custom notifications and secret alerts
• System settings and activity history through the app

Skip a plan entirely and you’re basically on your own. The hardware works, but you lose live alerts, app control, and pro help. Perfect if you’re always at home or just want a noise deterrent, but you miss out on the features most people want in a modern system.

Hidden Fees and Things to Watch Out For

Here’s where people get tripped up with SimpliSafe: most of the monthly prices look nice and clean, but there are a few charges you might not spot right away. Knowing about these helps you avoid a surprise hit to your wallet.

• Equipment Costs: The monthly charge covers monitoring only—you’ll still have to buy the equipment upfront. Starter kits usually run from $250 to $500, and if you want to add cameras, sensors, or extra keypads later, expect to pay more for each item.
• Camera Recordings: If you want to record video, that’s an extra charge. SimpliSafe’s self-monitoring plan with camera recordings costs $9.99 per month, per camera. The full monitoring plan includes it, but if you’re staying basic, this can sneak up on you fast.
• Cellular Backup: Without a paid plan, you lose cellular backup. That means if your WiFi goes down, your system won’t alert anyone. Cellular backup only comes with the Standard or Interactive Monitoring plans.
• Permit Fees: Some cities require you to have an alarm permit, which isn’t something SimpliSafe controls. Usually, it’s a yearly fee with the city, anywhere from $20 to $50, so check local rules or ask your city hall. This isn’t just a SimpliSafe thing—all monitored systems have to deal with this.
• Integration Features: SimpliSafe works with Alexa and Google Assistant, but only if you have the Interactive Monitoring plan. If you want the smart home features but only pay for the Standard plan, you’re out of luck.

Keep an eye on free trials, too. SimpliSafe sometimes tosses in a free month of Interactive Monitoring. If you don’t want to keep it, set a reminder, or you’ll get auto-charged when the trial ends.

The most important thing? Always double-check charges before you confirm your order. No one likes surprise fees, especially when security should make you feel safer, not poorer.

Comparing SimpliSafe's Costs With Other Brands

It’s easy to get lost in the jungle of home security options, so let’s cut through it. Here’s how SimpliSafe’s monthly costs hold up next to the major players like ADT, Ring, and Vivint. Spoiler: SimpliSafe usually wins on price and flexibility.

Check out this quick side-by-side:

The big draw to SimpliSafe is you’re not stuck in a contract. ADT and Vivint? Yep, you’re looking at long-term agreements—sometimes over three years. Try leaving early and you’ll probably get hit with a cancellation fee.

If you’re wondering about Ring’s $4.99 plan—yeah, it’s cheap, but you only get video recording. If you actually want real monitoring (cops or fire called when there’s a problem), you’ll need their $20 monthly Pro plan. SimpliSafe’s monthly cost at $19.99 covers 24/7 pro monitoring, and that includes police dispatch and fire monitoring—no nickel-and-diming on the basics.

One last thing: SimpliSafe lets you buy the hardware up front and then pay just for monitoring as long or as little as you want. Brands like Vivint bundle equipment cost into the monthly price, so that lower price isn’t always what you end up paying. Always factor in what you’re actually getting and how long you have to stick with a service.

Tips to Lower Your Monthly Bill

If saving a little cash every month sounds good, there are some easy ways to trim down what you pay for SimpliSafe. These aren’t hacks—just smart moves that people overlook all the time.

• Don’t pay for more than you’ll use. If you don’t need video recording or smart home integrations, stick with the Standard Monitoring plan. It’s about $10 cheaper each month than Interactive Monitoring.
• Skip extra hardware. SimpliSafe sells cameras, glass-break sensors, and other add-ons. Buy only what you need. For many folks, a base station, keypad, entry sensors, and maybe a motion sensor cover the basics.
• Take advantage of deals. SimpliSafe runs promos and often tosses in free equipment, especially around major holidays. Watch their website and social media for bundle discounts and flash sales.
• Share equipment with roommates or family in bigger homes. Everyone chips in, and your personal monthly bill drops.
• Switch plans if your needs change. For example, if you’re home more during summer, you might downgrade or pause monitoring and come back to full coverage later. No contracts means no fees for switching it up.
• Avoid paying for mobile alerts if you won’t use them. If you’d rather get calls than app notifications, stick to the lower-cost plan.

Keep an eye on your subscription by logging into your SimpliSafe account online. Costs can sneak up if you add gear or sign up for extras without noticing. And if you’re ready to save more, don’t be shy about calling customer service and asking if there are any unadvertised promos—they sometimes have loyalty offers for folks who ask. Getting the best SimpliSafe monthly cost is often just a matter of paying attention and not blindly renewing the same old plan every year.