Nest Secure vs. SimpliSafe Home Security

SimpliSafe revolutionized the alarm industry by being one of the first non-conventional alarm companies to offer contract-free monitoring services and affordable monthly fees, Over the years, many have tried to enter the same market as SimpliSafe, and one of the strongest contenders is the Google-backed Nest Secure.

Their Similarities

• Wireless, Self-Installed Devices
• No Credit Checks Required
• High Upfront Payment
• Affordable Monthly Rates
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Their Differences

• Equipment — SimpliSafe is complete with home security and safety sensors. Nest Secure only has three devices available.
• Installation — SimpliSafe provides professional monitoring if requested. Nest is solely self-installed.
• Pricing — SimpliSafe has equipment packages starting at $229. Nest Secure's starter package costs $399.
• Home Automation — Nest Secure ties perfectly with Nest and Google's home automation platform. SimpliSafe is limited to only a few integrations.
• Financing — You can get Nest Secure through financing from third-party providers. SimpliSafe doesn't have a financing plan.

Sales & Pricing Comparison

Sales Process

Nest Secure and SimpliSafe are both from non-conventional alarm companies, so buying from them isn't like buying from traditional alarm companies. You don't need to get a quote or set up an in-home visit; you can simply go to Nest or SimpliSafe's website, choose a suitable equipment package, and order online. You can add a monitoring plan right away or purchase a plan separately once the system is set up in your home.

Winner: Tie

Pricing

Nest doesn't offer professional monitoring, but they've partnered with Brinks to provide the service. Brink's rate for Nest Secure monitoring depends on whether you're willing to sign a three-year contract or not. If you sign a contract, Brinks will bring down the monitoring rate to $19 per month. If you don't, they will raise it to $29 per month, but you have the freedom to cancel service anytime. SimpliSafe's monitoring rates start at $14 per month, but if you want to access your security system via a smartphone app and enjoy home automation features, the rate will become $24 per month. You can cancel anytime as there are no contracts.

Winner: SimpliSafe

Equipment Purchase

With Nest Secure, you have several options. You can buy directly from Nest or Google's online store or buy from one of their partner retailers. You can even buy from Brinks if you're looking to set up professional monitoring as well. The advantage of buying from Brinks is that you can request for financing. Instead of paying $399 upfront, which is the cost of a Nest Secure starter kit, you can pay $11.08 per month for 36 months. This offer is subject to approval. With SimpliSafe, you can also buy from retailers, but we highly recommend buying from SimpliSafe's online store. Packages start at $229, and they have several packages that varies in size and inclusion. For larger homes, they even have packages with over 20 devices. Unfortunately, they don't have financing plans, so you have to pay for the equipment package upfront. However, you can start small and eventually buy additional devices in the future.

Winner: Nest Secure

Installation

Both systems are self-installed, so you don't have to worry about installation fees. However, with SimpliSafe, you can request professional installation for a small fee. As a side note, we've installed and reviewed a SimpliSafe system before and we have hands-on testing experience with Nest Secure when we compared it to abode and Ring. We've found both systems easy to install.

Winner: SimpliSafe

Key Features & Tech

Standard Equipment

The Nest Secure starter kit includes five devices: one Nest Guard, two Nest Detects, and two Tags. Nest Guard is a hub with a built-in keypad that you can use to interact with the system. It's also a smart speaker with Google Assistant built-in. Nest Detect is a door/window sensor that can also detect motion and has a built-in path light. Nest Tags are RFID tags you can use to easily arm or disarm your security system. The entire kit costs $399. A SimpliSafe package within the same price range includes 13 devices: a SimpliSafe base station, a remote keypad, six door/window sensors, two motion sensors, an indoor siren, a smoke detector, and a key fob. The brain of the system is the base station, but unlike Nest Guard, SimpliSafe's base station doesn't have a keypad. Instead, you can interact with the system using the remote wireless keypad.

Winner: SimpliSafe

Home Automation

Nest is known as a home automation powerhouse, with the brand name Nest being Google's leading home automation division for several years. Nest Secure, as a part of Nest's portfolio, works well with the Nest Thermostats, Nest Protect, and Nest Cams. It also ties perfectly with Google Assistant, with the Nest Guard even having the capabilities of a Google Home. Unfortunately for SimpliSafe, their system isn't as well-integrated as Nest Secure. SimpliSafe has a limited integration with Alexa and Google Home, as well as Nest Thermostats and August locks, but some of these integrations require a subscription to SimpliSafe's Interactive plan. Interactive is SimpliSafe's highest monitoring plan offer.

Winner: Nest Secure

Cameras

As already mentioned, Nest Secure integrates nicely with Nest Cams, including the indoor and outdoor Nest Cams, indoor and outdoor Nest Cam IQ, and Nest Hello video doorbell. In fact, Nest Secure uses the same app used to monitor Nest cameras. SimpliSafe also has cameras, but they only have two: SimpliCam indoor camera and SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro.

Winner: Nest Secure

Smartphone Access

Both security systems have smartphone apps, but SimpliSafe's app is not accessible to all SImpliSafe users. Only those with a subscription to SimpliSafe Interactive ($24/month monitoring) are allowed access, while Nest Secure's Nest App is free for all. We are fans of both apps. SimpliSafe's app is simple yet intuitive, and Nest App is smart and multi-functional as it controls other Nest products and even third-party smart home products that are compatible with the platform.

Winner: Nest Secure

Monitoring Method

Both systems require Wi-Fi to work, but in case your internet goes down, Nest Secure and SimpliSafe's cellular backup will activate if you have a subscription. With Nest Secure, you can get a cellular backup plan from T-Mobile and still use Nest Secure as a self-monitored system. If you're planning to use it with professional monitoring, cellular backup is already included. With SimpliSafe, subscribing to any of the professional monitoring plans will activate the built-in cellular chip. They don't have a cellular-only subscription.

Winner: Tie

Customer Service Experience

Contracts

If you subscribe to professional monitoring via Brinks, you have the option to sign a contract or use the service contract-free. Signing a three-year contract will lower your monthly bill to $19, but you're required to use the service for at least three years non-stop. Otherwise, you will be charged a hefty penalty. If you're not sure if you can finish the contract, you can choose to pay for service month-to-month. The catch is that your rate will increase to $29 per month. However, you can cancel anytime. On the other hand, all of SimpliSafe's monitoring plans are contract free.

Winner: Nest Secure

Warranty

All Nest Secure products are covered with a two-year warranty that covers repairs and replacement if the products are found defective. SimpliSafe products are covered by a longer three-year warranty that covers the same.

Winner: SimpliSafe

Return

Nest has a Total Satisfaction Return Policy that gives the original purchaser 30 days after the initial purchase to return their products if they find it unsatisfactory for any reason. The policy requires all products to be returned in their original condition, including the box, manuals, and accessories. SimpliSafe has a longer 60-day return policy.

Winner: SimpliSafe

Moving With The System

If you have any prospect of relocating with your security system, the good news is that you can move anytime. If you're subscribed to a professional monitoring plan, however, you're obliged to change your address on record as this address is where the monitoring center will send help in case of an emergency.

Winner: Tie

The Bottom Line: Who Wins?

Nest Secure's entry to the home security market surely sent waves of changes to the field and they are certainly off to a good start. It's also great to see smart home companies take their chances and actually try to improve the quality of products and services available to consumers. However, it doesn't look like Nest Secure is ready to dethrone SimpliSafe. Expanding their product lineup would be a good first move. They could also benefit from coming up with ways to make their products more affordable. For now, we're calling SimpliSafe the overall winner.