SimpliSafe and Ring offer DIY home security systems meaning you can install them yourself without any professional help. In this article, we have decided to compare SimpliSafe vs Ring security solutions along with their options. So, if you want to keep your home protected, keep reading the article and find out which system is better.
SimpliSafe vs Ring – Quick Comparison
These are two very similar systems. Whether you want to buy a package that includes complete home security equipment or just a camera, SimpliSafe and Ring offer a variety of options.
SimpliSafe has affordable cameras but expensive subscription plans. Their slightly higher prices bring excellent features such as unlimited recording and unlimited video history. This is something Ring can’t brag about.
On the other hand, Ring has affordable subscription plans which you can pay annually at a better price. Also, Ring camera and warranty options are better compared to SimpliSafe.
SimpliSafe
Pros:
- Unlimited recording
- Free plan
- Affordable cameras
- Free motion alerts
Cons:
- Expensive subscription plans
- Camera options
Ring
Pros:
- Camera options
- Warranty options
- Affordable subscription plans, yearly fee option
- Easy installation
Cons:
- No unlimited recording feature
- Motion alerts only with paid subscription
Key Features
Price and Value
You should first consider buying a video camera when installing a home security system. It is up to you to decide how many cameras you will install. For instance, if you have a big house and want to cover a larger area, you might need more cameras.
However, it is always good to know which manufacturer offers good value for the money. Ring outdoor cameras are in the range between $99.99 and $199.99. In that price range, you can choose between the Spotlight camera and the Stick Up camera.
| Ring | Spotlight Cam Battery | Stick Up Cam Plug-In | Indoor Cam |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199.99 | $99.99 | $59.99 |
| Current Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
The Spotlight camera is a battery-powered camera. It supports 1080p resolution, has built-in LED light strips, and a siren. On the other hand, if you prefer wired solutions, the Stick Up camera might the best solution for you. It is also a full HD camera with a two-way audio feature.
| SimpliSafe | Outdoor Security Camera | Indoor SimpliCam |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $169.99 | $99 |
| Current Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
SimpliSafe offers a budget-friendly Outdoor Security camera which costs $169.99. This pushes SimpliSafe ahead of Ring in this specific segment. So, if you want a premium battery-powered HD camera, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Security camera might be the right choice.
As you can in the picture above, this camera has a compact design and adequate stand. Above all, the price is significantly lower than the Ring Spotlight camera.
Winner: SimpliSafe
Installation
Some cameras require a base station or hub when connecting to the router. That is exactly the case with SimpliSafe cameras. Since there is another device to configure, installation could be slightly difficult.
On the other hand, if you want to install the Ring’s Spotlight camera, you don’t need any additional devices. Watch the video below for instructions.
Winner: Ring
Professional Monitoring
SimpliSafe provides 24/7 professional protection if you subscribe to their Interactive Monitoring or Standard Monitoring plans. Monitoring protection is available 24/7 in case of any emergency. If there is a fire, flood, extreme temperature, police, or medical emergency – they will alert the authorities.
Ring has a professional monitoring feature, as well. However, it is only included in their Protect Pro plan.
Winner: Draw
Storage
Monthly Cost
In addition to home security products, you should also pay attention to subscription plans. This way, you can get additional features, such as unlimited recordings or professional monitoring.
As you can see in the table below, Ring offers three plans. The Protect Basic plan costs only $3 a month. With this plan, you get 60 days of video history and a snapshot capture function.
Some additional perks such as an extended warranty and Amazon discounts are a part of the Protect Plus plan. However, if you want the 24/7 professional monitoring feature, you need to purchase the Protect Pro plan. It costs $20 a month.
| Ring Subscription Plans | Protect Basic | Protect Plus | Protect Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Saving and Sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Snapshot Capture | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video History | 60 days | 60 days | 60 days |
| Person Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rich Notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extended Warranty | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring | No | No | Yes |
| Alarm Cellular Backup | No | No | Yes |
| Alexa Guard Plus | No | No | Yes |
| 10% Discount on Ring and Amazon products | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Backup Internet with Optional Extra Data | No | No | Yes |
| Monthly Fee | $3 | $10 | $20 |
| Yearly Fee | $30 | $100 | $200 |
The cheapest SimpliSafe plan is $9.99. So, we can compare this plan with the Ring’s Protect Plus plan since their prices are similar.
The most significant difference is the unlimited recording feature. SimpliSafe allows unlimited recording in its Self Monitoring and Interactive Monitoring plans. However, this option is not available in Ring’s plans.
Both plans allow you to save video clips to a phone or computer, or change settings via the app. Ring allows 60 days of video history in all its plans. SimpliSafe supports unlimited video history as a part of their Self Monitoring and Interactive Monitoring plans.
| SimpliSafe Subscription Plans | Unmonitored | Self Monitoring | Standard Monitoring | Interactive Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arm/Disarm Remotely | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| View/Configure Settings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| View Timeline | 7 Days | Unlimited | 7 Days | Unlimited |
| Push notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMS/Email notifications | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Secret and Activity Alerts | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Arming Alerts | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Unlimited Recording | No | Up to 5 Cameras | No | Up to 10 Cameras |
| Smart Home Integrations | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Lifetime Equipment Warranty | No | No | No | Yes |
| 10% Discount on Sensors Purchases | No | No | No | Yes |
| 24/7 Fire/Medical/Guard Dispatch | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Police Dispatch | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cell-Communication Backup | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Video Verification | No | No | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | $9.99 | $17.99 | $27.99 |
Also, we need to point out that SimpliSafe has the Unmonitored plan which is free. So, you can enjoy the basic functions without paying a penny or signing a contract.
However, both companies recommend using their trial periods to test the advanced features before subscribing.
Winner: SimpliSafe
Storage Retention Time
SimpliSafe offers unlimited video storage with their Self Monitoring and Interactive plan. Whereas the Unmonitored and Standard plan offers 7 days of view timeline. Ring, on the other hand, evened out their plans and offers 60 days of video history for each.
Winner: SimpliSafe
Power and/or Battery Features
SimpliSafe indoor camera uses AC power, whereas the outdoor camera is wireless. The SimpliSafe Outdoor Security Camera uses a rechargeable battery that can last between three and six months.
Ring cameras are mostly wired so they get all the power from the outlet. Since SimpliSafe has a long-lasting battery option for the outdoor camera, it slightly prevails in this category.
Winner: SimpliSafe
Subscriptions and Contracts
SimpliSafe doesn’t require any kind of monthly contract or long-term deal. In other words, you can subscribe to the Unmonitored plan which is free, and use SimpliSafe’s products without signing contracts.
The same goes for Ring devices. However, keep in mind that free plans mean fewer features. So, if you want some additional perks other than basic features, consider switching to one of the paid plans.
Winner: Draw
Trial Period
Both companies offer a 30-day trial period allowing their customers to try premium functions. SimpliSafe offers a test period for its Interactive and Standard Monitoring plan. You can try these out for one month to decide whether you like the features or not.
Ring offers a 30-day trial period in which you can test its features and decide if you want to purchase a subscription.
Winner: Draw
Warranty
All SimpliSafe products come with a one-year limited warranty. The Interactive Monitoring plan gives users a lifetime limited warranty as long as they have a continuous subscription.
Ring products also come with a one-year limited warranty. Additionally, Ring offers lifetime theft protection. Above all, you can get an extended warranty if you subscribe to either the Plus or Pro plan.
Winner: Ring
Technology Features
Control Remotely via app
The SimpliSafe app is available for all plans. You can watch live streamings, get notifications, and activate or deactivate the system via the app.
Ring also has an easy-to-control app with a lot of options. You can also watch live footage, get alerts, use two-way audio, etc.
Winner: Draw
Image/Streaming Quality
4K resolution hasn’t become the standard yet when it comes to DIY (do it yourself) systems. However, camera manufacturers try to include cameras with higher resolution in their offer.
Both SimpliSafe and Ring cameras support full HD resolution. So, neither of these brands prevails in this segment.
Winner: Draw
Night Vision
The SimpliSafe indoor camera comes with an infrared night vision function. The outdoor camera has full-color night vision. Ring cameras, in addition to the wired Spotlight camera, also come with color night vision.
Winner: Draw
Video Display – Fields of View
The SimpliSafe outdoor camera has a wide field of view of 140 degrees. The indoor camera has a 120-degree field of vision. Since Ring cameras have fields of view between 130 and 140 degrees, they slightly prevail in this segment.
Winner: Ring
Real-time Notifications
You can have complete control over your home security system with notifications. Both of these brands have notifications as part of their security systems offering.
Winner: Draw
Two Way Audio
Two-way audio is an essential feature that comes with devices from both brands. This feature allows two-way communication with the person standing in front of the camera.
Winner: Draw
Person Detection
SimpliSafe cameras have a person detection feature. It means you can get notifications when there are human motions. It excludes car motions, animals, objects, etc.
However, Ring also has this feature, but only if you purchase one of their subscription plans. So, if you want to have this feature for free, SimpliSafe might be the best solution for you.
Winner: SimpliSafe
Activity Zones
SimpliSafe allows you to use and customize the zones of your SimpliSafe system. You can set up zones via the app and get notifications about particular parts of your home. Motion zones are customizable on Ring devices as well.
Winner: Draw
Types of Products
Floodlight
SimpliSafe brand offers only two models of cameras – indoor and outdoor. Ring, on the other hand, has more options to choose from. One of those is the Ring Floodlight Cam with HD resolution, motion detection, and two-way audio.
Winner: Ring
Doorbell Camera
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro comes with HD resolution, 162 degrees field of view, smart motion detection, and a two-way audio feature.
Unlike SimpliSafe, Ring has a wide range of doorbells. There are battery-powered, wired, or ethernet-powered options. They all support HD resolution and come with motion detection and a two-way audio feature. If you have decided to purchase a Ring doorbell, find out how to connect it to WiFi.
Winner: Ring
Alarm System
SimpliSafe security systems usually contain the following devices:
- Base Station
- Burglary Sensors (entry sensor, panic button, glass break sensor, extra siren)
- Motion Sensors
- Hazard Sensors (water sensor, temperature sensor, smoke sensor, carbon monoxide detector)
- Cameras
Of course, you can combine these according to your needs. The company offers different types of home security system variations – The Haven, The Knox, The Hearth, The Essentials, and The Foundation.
Ring offers two variations of alarm systems – the Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Pro. Their alarm system gathers around the Ring Alarm Base Station. You can connect all your Ring devices to it and control them over the app.
Winner: SimpliSafe
Conclusion
We can conclude this SimpliSafe vs Ring comparison with the fact that these two brands have many similarities. Both companies offer reasonable prices for their products. If you prefer affordable prices, then SimpliSafe cameras might be perfect for you. They are slightly cheaper than Ring cameras and offer a good value for the price.
Like other DIY systems, these are also easy to install. Both companies allow you to create a custom security system with devices you want to place in your home. For instance, you can purchase just a camera and use it without subscriptions.
SimpliSafe goes a step further and offers its users a free plan. If you don’t like trial periods you can subscribe to their free plan and get all the basic features such as notifications and alerts. Most importantly, you get a 7-day timeline for viewing.
However, if you want additional features, you should consider subscribing to their plans. For only $9.99 a month, SimpliSafe offers an unlimited recording feature. This is something that Ring doesn’t have in their plans.
For the same price, the Ring’s Protect Plus plan offers a video history of 60 days and an extended warranty with lifetime theft protection. Although Ring has more camera and warranty options, it doesn’t have unlimited video history which is the case with SimpliSafe.
