SimpliSafe's core system works without paying monthly, but you lose professional monitoring and mobile alerts

SimpliSafe does not require a subscription to use your system. You can buy the hardware, set it up yourself, and arm or disarm it using the keypad in your home. The system will still detect break-ins and sound a loud alarm to scare off intruders and alert neighbors.

However, the subscription unlocks features most people buy SimpliSafe to get. Without it, you cannot receive alerts on your phone when a door opens or motion is detected, and SimpliSafe will not contact police or emergency services on your behalf. You are relying entirely on the alarm sound itself to deter a break-in and on someone nearby hearing it and calling 911.

The subscription costs $14.99 to $27.99 per month depending on the plan you choose. SimpliSafe offers a 30-day free trial when you first set up your system, so you can test whether the mobile alerts and monitoring feel worth the cost to you.

Key Takeaways

  • SimpliSafe hardware functions without a subscription, but the alarm only sounds locally and does not send you phone notifications.
  • Professional monitoring — where SimpliSafe contacts police or fire on your behalf — requires a paid subscription starting at $14.99 per month.
  • You get 30 days free to test the full system with monitoring before you decide whether to pay.
  • Without a subscription, you must manually check your system status and respond to alarms yourself.

What happens when you use SimpliSafe without a subscription

Your system detects motion, door and window openings, and smoke or carbon monoxide. When triggered, the keypad and any wireless sensors you own will sound an alarm loud enough to be heard throughout your home and outside. That alarm runs on a battery backup, so it works even if your internet goes down or someone cuts your power.

You can arm and disarm the system using the keypad, a key fob, or a PIN code. You cannot use the mobile app to control it remotely without a subscription. If you are away from home and want to check whether a door is locked or see if motion was detected, you have no way to know until you return or call someone who is there.

SimpliSafe does not contact anyone for you. If your alarm goes off while you are at work, nobody knows except the people who hear the noise. You are responsible for calling 911 yourself or asking a neighbor to check on your home.

What the subscription adds and what each plan costs

SimpliSafe offers three subscription tiers. The Standard plan at $14.99 per month includes 24/7 professional monitoring, mobile app access, and phone and email alerts when your system is triggered. The Plus plan at $19.99 per month adds video recording storage and the ability to view your cameras through the app. The Premium plan at $27.99 per month includes 24/7 video recording and professional video review — if your alarm goes off, SimpliSafe's monitoring center can watch your camera footage and provide that information to police.

Professional monitoring means a human at SimpliSafe's monitoring center receives your alarm signal and calls you to verify it is real. If you confirm a break-in or do not answer, they contact local police and provide your address and the type of alarm. This typically happens within seconds of your alarm triggering.

All plans include the 30-day free trial. After that, you pay month to month with no contract, so you can cancel anytime.

Whether you need a subscription depends on your situation

A subscription makes sense if you spend time away from home regularly or want to know immediately when something happens. The mobile alerts let you check your cameras from work, see if a door was left open, or know within seconds that motion was detected. Professional monitoring means you do not have to be the one calling 911 — SimpliSafe does it for you, which matters if you are injured, asleep, or unable to reach a phone.

You might skip the subscription if you live in a small space where you would hear an alarm yourself, if you work from home most days, or if you view the system mainly as a deterrent. The loud alarm and visible SimpliSafe signs often prevent break-ins before they happen. Some people also use SimpliSafe alongside a separate security service and only need the hardware and local alarm.

The 30-day free trial is the best way to decide. Set up your system, use the app and alerts for a month, and see whether you miss them after the trial ends. Many people find that once they have mobile alerts, they do not want to go back.

How to cancel your subscription if you decide not to keep it

You can cancel through the SimpliSafe app or by calling their customer service line. There is no penalty for canceling during the free trial or after it ends. Your system will continue to work locally — the alarm will still sound and motion detection will still function — but you will lose mobile alerts and professional monitoring immediately.

If you cancel and later want monitoring again, you can restart a subscription at any time. SimpliSafe does not charge a reactivation fee, though you will not get another free trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use SimpliSafe without internet?

The local alarm and motion detection work without internet. However, you cannot receive mobile alerts or use professional monitoring without an internet connection. SimpliSafe uses your home WiFi or a cellular backup connection to send alerts and reach the monitoring center.

What happens if my internet goes out?

Your system continues to detect motion and sound the alarm locally. If you have a subscription, SimpliSafe offers a cellular backup connection for an additional $5 per month, which lets the monitoring center still receive your alarm signal even if your WiFi is down.

Can I switch between subscription plans?

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime through the app. Changes take effect immediately, and SimpliSafe prorates your billing if you switch mid-month.

Do I have to use SimpliSafe's monitoring center or can I use my own?

SimpliSafe only offers its own professional monitoring service. You cannot connect the system to a third-party monitoring center. If you want a different monitoring company, you would need to switch to a different security system.

What if I forget to arm my system?

SimpliSafe offers a mobile app reminder and a geofencing feature that arms your system automatically when you leave home and disarms it when you return. These features are included with any subscription plan.