Cove vs SimpliSafe

Contract (Winner: Cove and SimpliSafe) 

Several popular home security companies require a three-year contract for new customers. A three-year commitment can feel like a big decision for someone who is new to home security. 

If you like trying out a service before signing a long contract, Cove or SimpliSafe might be the right option for you. Both companies don’t require a long-term monitoring contract. The upfront cost depends on the size and customization of your system. 

During signup, you’ll be given the opportunity to decide on the level of monitoring. SimpliSafe doesn’t require a monthly monitoring fee. If you choose Cove, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee that includes professional monitoring and cellular backup. 

With each of these companies, you can pay month-to-month without worrying about cancelation fees or long-contract terms. 

Equipment Warranty (Winner: Cove) 

Equipment warranty is a major factor when choosing a home security system. You never know when technology could fail. Cove has one of the best equipment warranties in the industry with its Cove Plus plan. The Cove Plus plan includes a lifetime equipment warranty, so you don’t have to worry about paying for replacements. Equipment should be used as intended to keep the warranty valid. The Cove Basic plan only includes a 1-year equipment warranty. 

SimpliSafe offers only a 1-year limited hardware warranty on all of its equipment. However, SimpliSafe incentivizes customers to sign up for its 24/7 Interactive Professional Monitoring by offering additional warranty coverage for those who sign up before the 1-year limited warranty expires. 

Those who sign up for 24/7 Interactive Professional Monitoring will get a limited lifetime warranty for the duration of their subscription. Those who subscribe to the Standard Monitoring Plan or Camera-Only plan will get a 2-year hardware warranty extension, giving them a total of a 3-year warranty. Keep in mind that if you cancel and restart your monitoring, your warranty will be void. 

Cove is the clear choice when it comes to equipment warranty if you are looking to buy the Cove Plus plan. 

*Warranty based on the monthly monitoring plan 

Risk-Free Trial (Winner: Cove and SimpliSafe) 

Cove has a 60-day money-back guarantee on all home security systems. This added peace of mind allows you to try Cove risk-free. You’ll receive a complete refund of service and equipment charges if you ship the products back within 60 days of your purchase date. All items should be returned in good condition. If you do not have free shipping on your account, you may need to pay for the prepaid shipping label. If you receive an incorrect or defective product, Cove will exchange it free of charge. 

SimpliSafe also has a 60-day money-back guarantee. Sixty days is one of the best guarantees you can get in the industry. If you are unsatisfied with your SimpliSafe security system, you can return all the equipment for a full refund plus return shipping. SimpliSafe does not require any permanent home placement so you don’t have to worry about patching holes if you change your mind. 

Cove and SimpliSafe have an almost identical money-back guarantee, making either a good option if you want to try a system without long-term commitments. 

Monthly Monitoring (Winner: Cove) 

When you purchase a system with Cove, you are required to sign up for a monthly monitoring plan. Cove lets you choose between the Cove Basic for $14.99 per month or Cove Plus for $24.99 per month. 

SimpliSafe has four monitoring options when purchasing your system. The first option is to forgo monitoring together. If you want some level of camera recording, you can choose the self-monitoring plan for $9.99. The more comparable monitoring plans to Cove are the Standard Monitoring for $17.99 and the Interactive Monitoring for $27.99. 

See below for a list of all the monitoring options available for Cove and SimpliSafe.

Cove Basic ($14.99) - Cameras not available

• 24/7 live alarm monitoring
• Environmental emergencies monitoring 
• Cove InstaText™
• TripleTouch™ Communications
• Cove LiveAssist on standby 
• Anti-Smash and Grab protection for panel 
• No Wifi required 
• Hourly system checks 
• 24-hour backup battery 
• 1-year equipment warranty 

Cove Plus (24.99) 

• Everything that comes with basic + MORE
• Lifetime equipment warranty 
• High-resolution live and recorded camera footage
• Smarthome control from app
• Alexa and Google compatibility 
• $5 per month equipment credit
• Rate-Lock guarantee

SimpliSafe Unmonitored (Free) 

• A live video feed of your cameras
• 7-day history of your system in the app 
• Control your system with the SimpliSafe App 
• View and change system settings
• Control smartlock via app

SimpliSafe Self Monitoring with Camera Recording ($9.99)

• Arm/Disarm remotely 
• View/Configure settings
• Push, SMS, and email notifications 
• Alarm, error, and camera alerts 
• Secret and activity alerts
• Arming reminders
• Unlimited recording (Up to Five Cameras) 
• Smart home integration with Alexa and Google
• View unlimited timeline 

SimpliSafe Standard Monitoring ($17.99) 

• 24/7 emergency services dispatch
• Cell-communication backup 
• Arm/Disarm remotely 
• View/Configure settings
• View 7-day timeline
• Push notifications 
• Alarm, error, and camera alerts 

SimpliSafe Interactive Monitoring ($27.99)

• 24/7 Emergency Services Dispatch
• Water leak detection
• Dangerous temperature detection
• Built-in cellular connection
• Smartphone App Integration 
• Unlimited camera recording and evidence capture (Up to 10 Cameras) 
• On-demand video recording
• Smart Person Detection
• Advanced phone alerts and family/friend alerts
• Secret and Activity Alerts
• Push, SMS, and Email Notifications 
• Smart Home Integration with Alexa and Google
• Home insurance discounts 
• Limited lifetime product warranty 
• 10% off future equipment purchases

If you compare all the options, Cove seems to offer the best value for its monitoring plan with the most affordable prices and a wider variety of features. 

Special Discounts (Winner: Cove and SimpliSafe) 

Cove offers special discounts to show appreciation for military members, first responders, nurses, and teachers. If you are a serviceman or woman, you can get $475 worth of equipment and 6 months of monitoring for just $150. This same deal is available to first responders, teachers, and nurses. The deal requires that you verify your status or title to redeem this discount. Cove offers one of the best discount programs for these groups of people. 

Simplisafe does not offer any additional discounts past current promotions. This makes Cove a better option between the two companies if you are a military member, first responder, nurse, or teacher.  

Build Your Own Security Package (Winner: Cove and SimpliSafe) 

Cove and SimpliSafe both offer a build-your-own security package. This is a great option for those who have a unique space they are looking to secure. Individuals can buy equipment a la carte instead of purchasing a standard package. 

The chart below provides a comparison of Cove and SimpliSafe’s equipment pricing for their most popular products. 

Cove often provides discounts if you buy more of one product (such as bundling the motion detector, window sensor, door sensors, etc.) Most of the equipment prices and options are comparable between the two companies. 

Either system would be a good option if you are looking to build your own package. 

Customer Reviews (Winner: Cove) 

Cove has a much better star rating than SimpliSafe. Cove has a 4.7-star rating with over 300 customer reviews. SimpliSafe has a 3.5-star rating with over 200 customer reviews. The number of reviews is similar, so it’s more accurate to compare the overall star ratings. 

Below is a recent five-star review from Cove. 

Customer Review: Aubrey from CA

“I got Cove for my parents and I sleep well knowing they're safe. I can even check up on them to see if they've fallen, such an awesome system.”

Below is a recent five-star review from SimpliSafe.

Customer Review: Daniel from Henderson, NV

“SimpliSafe is easy to use and even easier to install. We purchased the kit that’s had everything you need to get started and setup was a breeze…I have referred a lot of friends and family to this company because of its great service.”

If you are looking for a company that is backed by visible customer satisfaction, you should consider going with Cove. 

Online Transparency (Winner: Cove and SimpliSafe) 

Both Cove and SimiplieSafe have high transparency on their websites. You are able to see the prices for equipment and monitoring without requesting an online quote or talking directly with a salesperson. This makes it easier to see exactly what you are getting and understand the company policies. 

Cove vs SimpliSafe: Which is the Better Option?

Cove and SimpliSafe are similar when it comes to contract length, risk-free trials, equipment pricing, and online transparency. 

Cove has a few more strong points compared to SimpliSafe, including its lifetime equipment warranty, monthly monitoring price value, special discounts offered, and customer review ratings. 

If you compare the main factors mentioned in the text above, Cove is the better choice and value for your money when deciding between Cove and Simplisafe. 

The only case in which SimpliSafe would be better is if an individual is looking for a security system that doesn’t require professional monitoring. However, you will lose out on equipment warranties and added protection if you decide to buy the equipment without monitoring. 

If you are looking for a home security company with good smart home integration, you should research other top-rated options such as Vivint and Frontpoint. Neither Cove nor SimpliSafe offer smart home integration other than with Alexa and Google.