SimpliSafe Cameras Review 2022

We think of SimpliSafe cameras as more like a bonus than a core feature. The SimpliSafe home security system is one of our favorite DIY options, but SimpliSafe cameras? They’re just a nice extra if you want to keep an eye on your living room or your porch.

The three cameras SimpliSafe offers are the SimpliCam indoor camera, the wireless outdoor camera, and the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro. All are decent, affordable models. You could find better versions of an indoor camera, outdoor camera, or a doorbell camera from several other brands, but other brands won’t work as smoothly with your SimpliSafe alarm system.

Just like all SimpliSafe devices, SimpliSafe cameras are built for budgeters. The SimpliCam indoor camera costs a mere $99, and the outdoor camera and Video Doorbell Pro are still decently priced at $169. Plus, all these cameras are easy to install yourself. The indoor camera uses a single power cord, the outdoor camera sits on an easy screw-in mount, and the doorbell camera uses your existing doorbell wiring.

None of SimpliSafe’s cameras blows us away from a tech perspective, but if you want cameras that put the “simple” in “SimpliSafe” and that work with the rest of your security system, then you could do worse.

A lot of home security companies require you to install a full system and subscribe to a pricey monitoring plan before they’ll support cameras. But SimpliSafe offers both of its security cameras as standalone devices.

You can buy any of these cameras and use them all on their own without a single other sensor in place. SimpliSafe gives you motion-activated alerts for free, but we recommend subscribing to the video support plan. It starts at $9.99 per month and gives you 30 days’ worth of cloud storage.

If you choose to forgo a monitoring plan you can get all the basic features with the Unmonitored Plan including a live video feed, and 7 days of history, and you can still control your system from the SimpliSafe app. However, you won't have 24/7 professional monitoring or be able to download video recordings. 

None of SimpliSafe’s cameras have a local storage option. You can either get motion-triggered notifications for free or pay the fee for 30 days’ worth of cloud storage. If you want a camera that lets you store footage on a USB drive or microSD card, we recommend something like the Wyze Pan Cam or the Eufy Video Doorbell.

Both the SimpliCam, SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera, and the Video Doorbell Pro record short clips of video when they sense motion and then store that footage in the cloud (as long as you have a video recording plan). This type of recording is called event-based video recording.

On the flip side, some cameras offer continuous video recording that keeps the camera going 24/7 and gives you a complete timeline of footage you can look through.

Most people don’t need their cameras to record 24/7, but if you’re a business owner or you just want an ongoing recording of your backyard, then heads up that SimpliSafe cameras don’t have that feature. Try the Nest Cam IQ Indoor or the Arlo Q instead.

With video verification, SimpliSafe monitoring reps can temporarily access your cameras to see if there really is an intruder in your house.

You need a full-on SimpliSafe security system to use this feature, but it’s pretty cool. Video verification helps prevent false alarms, like when your children leave the door open just a little bit and set off the sensor.

When your alarm system goes off, the camera starts recording and sends the footage to SimpliSafe’s monitoring center. That way, they can see if there’s really someone suspicious or if it’s just an errant kid.

If the idea of some monitoring center rep seeing your camera footage freaks you out, no worries. Video verification is optional—you can turn it off.

The SimpliCam is a basic little indoor camera. It has decent resolution, a good field of view, and standard features like two-way audio and night vision. It’s not bad for its $99 price tag, but there’s nothing about it that makes us say “wow.” It can keep an eye on your house and send notifications when it detects motion, but that’s about it.

SimpliSafe SimpliCam features:

• 1080p HD resolution
• 120º field of view
• Night vision
• Two-way audio
• Motion detection
• Person detection
• Privacy shutter
• 14°–104° F operating temperature
• Outdoor adapter kit available
• Free motion alerts
• 3-year limited warranty

You can view the SimpliCam’s livestream through the SimpliSafe app on your phone or through a web browser. The live view shows you what’s happening at any given moment. Aside from a few seconds of lag time, you have a real-time view.

The livestream is great if you want to check on pets throughout the day or keep an eye on your kids when they’re home with the babysitter. But remember that if you want the camera to store motion-activated clips, then you have to subscribe to the camera plan.

Indoor security cameras can feel a little disturbing. How do you know it’s not watching you when you sneak into the kitchen at 2 a.m. to eat the last of that leftover cake?

For peace of mind about your secret nighttime snacking (and whatever else), SimpliCam comes with a privacy shutter. Not a lot of indoor cameras have this—it’s a visible metal shutter that closes around the camera lens so you can see at a glance that it’s not watching you. Feast away.

SimpliSafe doesn’t have a proper outdoor security camera, but it does sell an adapter kit that lets you outfit the SimpliCam to use like an outdoor camera. It’s really just a silicone cover that helps keep out water and dust. It also comes with a longer power cord.

The kit does expand the SimpliCam’s operating temperature range a bit: from 14°–104° F to -4°–114° F. But we don’t expect it to be the most reliable weatherproof camera around.

The SimpliCam links to your Wi-Fi network wirelessly, so all you really have to worry about is the power cord.

SimpliCam installation steps: 

• Once you have everything unboxed, insert the micro-USB cord into the back of the SimpliCam. Plug the other end of the cord into a power outlet.
• Slide the SimpliCam body onto the base (unless you plan to mount it directly onto a wall).
• If you don’t already have it, download the SimpliSafe app on your phone and log in with the email address and password you used when you bought the camera. Open the menu and choose Cameras, then tap the Install Camera button.
• The app will guide you through the process of naming your camera and adding it to your Wi-Fi network.

Once you have the SimpliCam set up, you can adjust settings in the SimpliSafe app.

The outdoor camera is a step or two above the SimpliCam. Not only is it weatherproof (a must for outdoor cameras), it also has colored night vision, digital zoom, and a spotlight.

SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera features:

• 1080p HD resolution with HDR
• 140º field of view
• Digital zoom
• Color night vision
• Two-way audio
• Motion detection
• Motion-activated spotlight
• Person detection
• Rechargeable battery
• Adjustable activity zones
• Motion alerts

Do you hate trying to pick things out in black-and-white video clips? Good news: the SimpliSafe outdoor camera is the only SimpliSafe cam with color night vision. You’ll get colorful camera clips, even in the dark.

If the color night vision isn’t enough for your retinas, the camera’s motion-activated spotlight will shine some light on any intruder it senses. That’ll help you see more clearly—and may spook off would-be mischief-makers.

The SimpliSafe outdoor camera setup is more complicated than the SimpliCam’s, but it doesn’t involve any wiring or a great deal of skill.

SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera installation steps:

• Once you have everything unboxed, plug the charging cable into the battery. Plug the other end of the cord into a power outlet. Charge the battery until the three LED lights are solidly lit (about five hours).
• Twist off the camera’s lens and place the battery behind it with the black tab facing out. The camera will chime and flash a light when the battery is placed correctly.
• If you don’t already have it, download the SimpliSafe app on your phone and log in with the email address and password you used when you bought the camera. Open the menu and choose Cameras, then tap the Set up a Camera button.
• Press the button on the front of the camera to connect it.
• The app will guide you through the process of naming your camera and adding it to your Wi-Fi network.
• Detach the mounting plate from the magnetic mount.
• Screw the mounting plate into the wall.
• Reattach the mount to the plate.
• Place your camera on the magnetic mount.

You’ll need to remove and recharge your camera frequently, ideally once a day.

The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro has a lot of the same features as the SimpliCam, including high-definition resolution and person detection.

As video doorbells go, it’s not the smartest model we’ve seen. (We gotta give that honor to the Nest Hello.) And there are doorbell cams with better smart features that come at a similar price, like the Arlo Video Doorbell or the Ring Video Doorbell.

For $169, SimpliSafe’s Video Doorbell Pro is decent but not amazing.

SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro features: 

• 1080p HD resolution with HDR
• 162º field of view
• Night vision
• Two-way audio
• Motion detection
• Person detection
• Built-in chime
• Adjustable activity zones
• Free motion alerts

Like the SimpliCam, the best thing about the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is that it works with your SimpliSafe security system. If you don’t have a SimpliSafe system and just want a standalone doorbell camera, then we’d skip this one.

The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro gives you adjustable activity zones, which is great. You gotta choose a doorbell camera that lets you adjust activity zones. If you can’t, then you’re going to get dozens of notifications every day about cars driving down your street.

SimpliSafe doesn’t have the best adjustable activity zones we’ve seen. A lot of doorbell cameras let you draw which areas you want the camera to watch. SimpliSafe gives you a grid view and lets you block out tiles over areas you don’t want the camera to pay attention to. It’s not quite as fancy as the alternative, but it gets the job done.

If you want to get even fewer spammy push notifications, then you can turn on person-only alerts for the Video Doorbell Pro. This way, the doorbell will only notify you when it spots an actual human.

Person-only alerts are great if you’re tired of getting notified every time a cat walks through your yard or a tree branch waves in the wind.

The Video Doorbell Pro is a bit trickier to install than the SimpliCam. This cam uses your existing doorbell connection, so you’re going to get to know some electrical wiring for this one.

SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro installation steps: 

• Turn off the breaker to your doorbell’s electrical wiring. (This step is very important unless electrocution sounds like a good time to you.)
• Take off your current doorbell. You should be able to pry it off with just a screwdriver. You’ll need to carefully remove the wires from the back as you pull the old doorbell away from the wall.
• Thread the wires through the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro’s mounting bracket and screw the mounting bracket into the wall. You’ll want to break out the drill for this bit. (Get it? Bit? Nevermind.)
• Wrap the wires around the screws on the front side of the mounting bracket.
• Slide the Video Doorbell Pro onto the mounting bracket until you hear it click. Screw the little lock screw into the bottom of the doorbell camera to secure it to the bracket.
• Flip the breaker back on and make sure the doorbell chimes when you press the button.
• Download the SimpliSafe app and log in with the email and password you used when you bought the doorbell cam.
• Choose the Install a Camera option and follow the instructions to connect your doorbell cam to your Wi-Fi network and adjust the settings.

If the camera works but your doorbell’s not chiming (or it’s chiming when it shouldn’t), then you might need to get a chime connector from SimpliSafe.

We think they should just include it in the package, but they don’t seem to think enough people need it. (To be fair, you probably won’t.)

True to the brand name, SimpliSafe cameras are simple. SimpliSafe cameras have pretty basic features we expect from any decent security camera. That said, both cameras are relatively affordable, and we think you’ll get your money’s worth.

If you already have (or want to get) a SimpliSafe security system, then both these cameras are nice because they work directly with your security sensors. They also let SimpliSafe use video verification to see what’s going on when your alarm goes off.

SimpliCam indoor camera: The SimpliCam has HD resolution and person detection, but the angle isn’t easy to adjust, and it doesn’t have any smart alerts beyond telling you when it spots a person. We do like the privacy shutter, though.

SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera: This outdoor camera offers color night vision and a motion-activated spotlight, making it more suited to its outdoor duties. It’s still not the smartest camera out there, but with these additional features plus digital zoom, it’s a step above the other SimpliSafe cameras.

SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Camera Pro: The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Camera Pro uses your existing doorbell connection, and it has a lot of the same features as the SimpliCam. We like that it has adjustable activity zones, but it’s also lacking smart features beyond basic person detection.

Want to learn more about SimpliSafe? Check out some of our other articles:

• SimpliCam Indoor Camera Review
• How Does SimpliSafe Work? 
• Which SimpliSafe Monitoring Plan Should You Choose? 
• How Much Does SimpliSafe Cost?