A common question for owners of the SimpliSafe SimpliCam and Video Doorbell Pro are if subscribing to a paid monitoring plan is worth it. We will look at available SimpliSafe Monitoring plans, see what you get, and help you to decide if it’s worth paying a monthly subscription fee. I found this information somewhat difficult to come by so hope this helps.
We previously looked at the SimpliSafe SimpliCam and SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro. Good cameras with some pros and cons to each. If you are thinking about purchasing either, be sure to read our reviews for insight on each model.
SimpliSafe Monitoring and Cloud Storage Subscription Plans
It’s difficult to figure out what the SimpliSafe plans offer. First thing to be aware of is that SimpliSafe is not a camera company. They are a security services provider that markets their hardware. The SimpliSafe cameras are one of those hardware components. The primary emphasis for SimpliSafe is to sell you monitoring equipment and plans nd not just cameras.
There are four plans: Unmonitored, Self Monitoring, Standard and Fast Protect.
Unmonitored Plan Overview
This option is free. If you have no need to go back in time to review video events, this is the option for you. You can view a live image at any time. Alerts will be received on your phone via the app when an event takes place. You can remotely arm and disarm your system from your phone as long as there is internet connectivity to the alarm system.
We don’t recommend this as there have been some consistent internet connectivity problems over the past year or two that never seem to be resolved.
Self Monitoring Plan
Next up is the Self Monitoring Plan. This is for those that just want to view video history and receive device alerts. SimpliSafe has a cloud storage plan. At this time, it is available for $9.99 monthly. The plan provides 30-days worth of video storage for up to 5 cameras. This plan allows the subscriber to go back in time and view motion alerts. You will receive motion alerts on your phone via the app. When there’s motion, a 60-second clip is saved to the cloud. You can view live camera images and receive motion alerts on your phone via the installed app.
Standard Plan
If you have coupled the SimpliSafe alarm system with the cameras, this is the minimum plan we recommend. The cost is $19.99 monthly.
This plan provides cellular coverage when the internet isn’t available. That’s important.
It provides live monitoring by SimpliSafe. You also get 7-days worth of video archive. You can fully control your system from a phone or tablet.
Fast Protect Plan
The $29.99 monthly plan provides the most value for those with the SimpliSafe Alarm System. Interactive monitoring and full application access. But, for those with a camera, this SimpliSafe Monitoring Plan has a lot of benefits.
This plan includes everything from the standard plan already discussed. You also get unlimited camera recording and evidence capture. Additionally, a feature called video verification allows the SimpliSafe monitoring center to view video that correlates to an alarm event. This is useful to determine if the alarm is real or a false event. The video clip can be shared with law enforcement too.
The plan also activates the ability to activate (not deactivate) your alarm using Google Assistant or Alexa.
Deciding Which SimpliSafe Plan is Right
It’s not unusual to see companies charge for cloud storage. Companies like Nest do the same thing. There aren’t many companies providing free storage any longer.
The SimpliSafe cameras are best suited for those that have the alarm system. If you already subscribe to the $29.99 plan, all the benefits of the cameras are no additional charge. If you have an alarm, the minimum plan we recommend is the Standard.
The Unmonitored Plan is good for those that do not use a SimpliSafe alarm system. Using the SimpliSafe SimpliCam or Video Doorbell Plus without a paid plan limits the functionality of these cameras significantly.