Last checked: October 13, 2026.
SimpliSafe is one of the most popular DIY alarm brands in the US. You put up the sensors yourself and add professional monitoring by the month if you want it. The system itself is solid, but most of its smart features run through SimpliSafe’s cloud and a paid plan.
Why 78%
- Starting point80%Bought by the investment firm GTCR in late 2025.
- Track record0No SimpliSafe system has been switched off, and it covered the 2G shutdown for monitored customers.
- Works without the cloud−2The alarm works on its own, but the app, alerts and monitoring need SimpliSafe and a plan.
- Our estimate78%
The good news: SimpliSafe is one of the biggest DIY alarm companies in the US and makes its money from monitoring plans, which gives it every reason to keep its systems running. Its record with older equipment is good: the original system still works years after it was replaced by a newer one.
The bad news: In late 2025 it was sold from one private equity firm to another, GTCR, and got a new CEO. New owners like that often push for more subscription revenue, and SimpliSafe already keeps most of its smart features behind a plan. It also does not support Matter or Apple Home, so there is no way to control it without SimpliSafe’s own app.
If you own SimpliSafe
- The keypad and base station arm, disarm and sound the alarm without the internet or a plan, so your basic protection does not depend on SimpliSafe’s cloud.
- If you cancel your plan, check what the app can still do before you rely on it for alerts.
- If your system is an older one from before 2019, make sure its cellular module was upgraded, since the old 2G networks are gone.