We think most DIYers are going to want SimpliSafe over Frontpoint. SimpliSafe is cheaper, offers self-monitoring, and is more of a DIYer’s dream. Meanwhile, Frontpoint has a ton more features and will fit well in a smart home, but it’s extremely expensive. Frontpoint offers a one-size-fits-all monitoring plan, which makes things easy, but it’s just so pricey. (If Frontpoint were a restaurant, it would have three dollar signs on Google Reviews.) SimpliSafe is more of a single-dollar-sign brand. All three of its monitoring plans cost a fraction of Frontpoint’s. SimpliSafe’s equipment is a lot cheaper too. Frontpoint’s smallest package is on a permanent $99 sale, making it more affordable than SimpliSafe’s smallest package—but every other Frontpoint package is stunningly expensive. We’re talking multiple hundreds of dollars more expensive than what SimpliSafe offers. To summarize: if you go with SimpliSafe, you will save lots of money that you can put towards your streaming subscription addiction. If you go with Frontpoint, you might have to say goodbye to Hulu or Apple TV. Save your weekly Ted Lasso episode by choosing SimpliSafe. Don’t get us wrong; there are many things to like about the singular Frontpoint monitoring plan. It gets you app access, smart home access, and camera storage in one fell swoop. (One of our pet peeves is when you have to pay a lot extra for those things—more later.) And the plan comes with identity theft protection so you can protect your stuff and your identity. But it’s so expensive. We’re not entirely convinced that it’s worth $50 every month, even with all the great features. It’s possible to get all those things for less from other brands. SimpliSafe also has three options for a bit of variety. The first plan is a self-monitoring plan. That means you’re responsible for the safety of your home, which is a little nerve-racking because you won’t always be able to have eyes on your system. And we don’t love that SimpliSafe is essentially charging $10 a month just for you to use its app. Still, it’s always nice to have the option to pay less and take matters into your own hands. The second plan is a professional-monitoring-only plan. SimpliSafe takes over the responsibility for your home’s safety, but it doesn’t let you use the app or add any smart home features to your system. The third plan is the best option but the most expensive. It includes professional monitoring, app access, and smart home support. Again, we don’t love SimpliSafe charging extra for the app, but it is what it is. If you don’t pay for camera storage, though, you can save as much as $40 a month with a SimpliSafe plan versus a Frontpoint plan. That’s, like, two Premium Netflix subscriptions. Both brands offer wireless, cellular-based systems. And both provide door sensors, motion sensors, glass break sensors, the works. But SimpliSafe equipment is mostly more affordable than Frontpoint equipment, and it’s original instead of the canned stuff that every security system and their watchdog is using. Frontpoint relies heavily on the canned stuff yet charges an absurd amount for it. So we’re going with SimpliSafe. Without more precise motion and object detection, you’ll get more false alarms. And more false alarms mean that when an intruder actually appears, you might not check the notifications right away—sort of like a boy who cried wolf situation. Ever tried a local security service? There’s a pretty good chance it uses Alarm.com. Which is great—Alarm.com stuff works well—but you can get it anywhere. We’re kind of side-eyeing Frontpoint for offering run-of-the-mill stuff with such an expensive service. Each camera has person detection for more accurate notifications, and the outdoor and doorbell cameras have adjustable activity zones. These allow you to exclude unimportant areas from the camera’s sensors, like the house across the street or the road. Sadly, none of these cameras work as a Bluetooth speaker, but they do a lot better job than Frontpoint at covering your basic bases. Frontpoint offers a fair amount of smart security and smart home equipment (outdoor smart plugs! garage door sensors!) that you can add to your system. It also works with: SimpliSafe, on the other hand, is compatible with the following: The Alexa and Google connectivity is super useful, but without Z-Wave, your SimpliSafe system will be excluded from most major smart home brands. So if you like smart home stuff, Frontpoint is your friend. SimpliSafe? Not so much. Frontpoint pre-pairs its home security sensors so you don’t have to spend a few minutes setting it up. It also offers documentation to take down and reinstall your system when you’re moving, and it’s known for its friendly, helpful reps. The only customer service blip we can think of with Frontpoint is that it’s not the easiest to cancel. You might have to go through multiple emails and phone calls with reps before you’re off the hook. In contrast, SimpliSafe’s customer service isn’t bad, but there’s not a lot that stands out. You have to pair the SimpliSafe sensors yourself, and you won’t get the same moving guidance. Canceling SimpliSafe is no walk in the park either. You have to call in to cancel the service, and the rep might forget to follow through, forcing you to call again. (Source: this happened to us.)
Frontpoint customer service number: +1-877-602-5276 SimpliSafe customer service number: +1-888-910-1215
But if you’re not looking for that classic DIY experience (and have a little cash to burn), we think you’d really like Frontpoint. It has great home automation and laudable customer service.
Prices and monitoring plans: SimpliSafe. SimpliSafe is so. Much. Cheaper. Plus, you have more monitoring choices. Security equipment: SimpliSafe. SimpliSafe’s equipment is generally more affordable than Frontpoint’s, and it’s unique to SimpliSafe. Cameras: SimpliSafe. SimpliSafe cameras cost a little more, but they cover all your basic camera needs. Frontpoint cameras are more schmancy but overlook some key features. Smart home integrations: Frontpoint. Frontpoint has more smart home equipment and more integrations than SimpliSafe. Customer service: Frontpoint. Frontpoint is excellent at the little things that make a big difference in customer satisfaction.
Price Equipment Home automation Cameras Customer service
We have a reviewer who lives with a SimpliSafe system 24/7, and we’ve also spent some time with Frontpoint. To supplement our personal experience, we read others’ reviews and spend time on each security system website. To learn more, read Best Home Security Systems. Our reasoning? One of the most common forms of home theft is package theft, so we’d start with a doorbell camera. Next, add an outdoor camera for anyone who tries to get into your home, and then an indoor camera to cover the slight chance someone does actually get inside.
