The short answer

SimpliSafe monitoring costs between $0 and $79.99 per month in 2026, and none of it requires a contract. Every plan is month-to-month - you can cancel anytime, which is SimpliSafe's biggest structural advantage over ADT and Vivint. The realistic sweet spot for most homes is the Standard plan at ~$22.99/month (24/7 professional monitoring with cellular backup) or the Core plan at ~$32.99/month if you run cameras.

Equipment is bought upfront (basic kits from ~$250), so your only recurring cost is the plan you choose. Here's each tier, honestly.

Every SimpliSafe plan, compared

SimpliSafe equipment kit laid out on a table: base station, keypad, sensors, cameras, video doorbell and smart lock
What you're paying for - the equipment is bought once; the plan below is your only recurring cost.
  • No plan - $0/month: system still arms and sounds the siren locally, but nobody is notified and there's no app alerting or dispatch. Fine as a loud deterrent; not real protection. (See what works without monitoring/WiFi.)
  • Self-Monitoring with Camera Recordings - ~$9.99/month: app alerts and camera recording storage; you call police yourself. Cheapest way to keep video evidence.
  • Standard - ~$22.99/month: 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular backup, environmental (smoke/water) dispatch. The value pick for alarm-first homes.
  • Core - ~$32.99/month: adds full video support and app control on top of professional monitoring. The pick if you run multiple cameras.
  • Pro tiers - ~$49.99-$79.99/month: add outdoor "Active Guard" live agent monitoring - agents can see and speak through outdoor cameras to deter intruders in real time. Premium protection for higher-risk properties.

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What 'no contract' actually saves you

ADT's professionally installed plans typically bind you for 36 months at ~$45-$60/month; Vivint usually finances equipment over 42-60 months. Cancel either early and you owe termination fees or the remaining equipment balance. With SimpliSafe you can stop paying next month with zero penalty - useful if you move, rent, or want to try monitoring before committing.

Trade-off to be honest about: SimpliSafe is DIY-install and its equipment is simpler than Vivint's smart-home lineup. You give up some polish for the flexibility and lower bill.

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Real yearly cost examples

  • Alarm-focused home: ~$250 starter kit + Standard $22.99 x 12 = ~$526 year one, ~$276/year after.
  • Camera home: ~$400 kit with cameras + Core $32.99 x 12 = ~$796 year one.
  • Compare: ADT pro-install year one runs ~$1,400 (see our ADT cost breakdown); Vivint ~$1,100-$1,200 (see Vivint costs).

Which plan should you actually pick?

Homeowner arming her SimpliSafe-style keypad by the front door before leaving the house
Whichever plan you pick, arming the system daily is what actually makes it worth paying for.

Most homes: Standard (~$22.99) - professional dispatch and cellular backup are the two features that matter in a real emergency, and both are included. Camera-heavy homes: Core (~$32.99). Skip $0 self-monitoring unless you only want a siren; skip Pro tiers unless outdoor live-agent deterrence genuinely fits your risk.

Weigh SimpliSafe against the field in our 2026 rankings, read the full SimpliSafe review, or get a free quote to match a system to your home.

SimpliSafe cost FAQs

Is SimpliSafe really no-contract?

Yes - every monitoring plan is month-to-month with no cancellation fee. You own the equipment outright.

Can I use SimpliSafe with no monthly fee at all?

Yes, but you lose app alerts, recordings, cellular backup and dispatch - it becomes a local siren only.

Does SimpliSafe raise prices after a promo period?

Monitoring rates are standard, not teaser rates - but equipment discounts rotate constantly, so buy kits during sales.

Is SimpliSafe cheaper than ADT?

On comparable professional monitoring, yes - roughly half ADT's pro-install monthly rate, with no 36-month commitment. See the full ADT monthly cost breakdown to compare.

How much is SimpliSafe per month?

SimpliSafe's monthly fee ranges from $0 (local siren only) to $79.99 for premium live-agent monitoring. Most homes pay ~$22.99/month for the Standard plan (24/7 professional monitoring with cellular backup) or ~$32.99/month for Core if they run cameras.

Does SimpliSafe have a monthly fee?

A monthly fee is optional, not required. The system works as a local alarm with no fee, but app alerts, recorded video, cellular backup and professional dispatch all require a paid monitoring plan. There's no contract either way, so you can add or drop the fee any month.

Pricing reflects publicly reported 2026 figures from SimpliSafe and independent reviews. Verify current plans and pricing before you buy.