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

  • 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?

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.

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