Quick scores
- SimpliSafe
- 4.6/5 — The DIY system that gets the fundamentals right
- Cove
- 3.9/5 — Cheap professional monitoring, modest hardware
SimpliSafe vs Cove at a glance
| Feature | SimpliSafe | Cove |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.6/5 | 3.9/5 |
| Installation | DIY (professional available) | DIY |
| Contract | None | None |
| Monitoring | Optional professional or self-monitoring | Professional (required for most value) |
| Monthly cost | $0–$32 | $18–$35 |
| Equipment cost | $250–$700 | $250–$500 |
| Video storage | Cloud | Cloud |
| Works with | Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Watch | Alexa, Google Assistant (limited) |
| Trial / returns | 60-day money-back guarantee | 60-day money-back guarantee |
| Best for | Most people — the default recommendation for a first security system | Budget buyers who specifically want 24/7 professional monitoring |
The monthly saving is real but modest
Cove typically undercuts SimpliSafe by roughly $5–$10 per month on comparable monitoring. Over three years that is somewhere between $180 and $360 — meaningful, not transformative.
What you give up for it is a better app, a wider sensor range, credible cameras, and the option to run the system unmonitored at no cost.
That last point matters more than it appears. SimpliSafe still sounds a siren and sends notifications with no plan at all. Cove without monitoring is close to useless. So if there is any chance you will want to pause monitoring, SimpliSafe’s effective cost drops to zero in those months and Cove’s value proposition collapses.
Hardware and app: SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe’s sensors pair reliably and stay paired. The app is quick and clearly designed. The base station has cellular and battery backup and behaves predictably.
Cove’s panel is fine and its sensors work, but the app is functional rather than pleasant, and the camera range is thin enough that most owners end up running a second brand alongside.
SimpliSafe also offers live agent intervention, which has no Cove equivalent and is the most genuinely useful monitoring feature either company sells.
Three-year totals
| Scenario | Three-year total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cove + monitoring | ≈ $900–$1,100 | Equipment discounted against the plan |
| SimpliSafe + core monitoring | ≈ $950–$1,150 | Equipment owned outright |
| SimpliSafe, unmonitored | ≈ $300–$500 | No recurring cost at all |
With continuous monitoring the two are close. Without it, they are not comparable — which is the real finding here.
Which should you choose?
Choose SimpliSafe in most cases. Better hardware, better app, real cameras, agent intervention, and the freedom to stop paying without losing the system.
Choose Cove if you are confident you want continuous professional monitoring for years, you want the lowest monthly figure, and cameras genuinely do not matter.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cove or SimpliSafe cheaper?
Cove is cheaper monthly by roughly $5–$10. Over three years with continuous monitoring the totals are close. SimpliSafe is far cheaper if you run it unmonitored.
Can SimpliSafe work without monitoring?
Yes — siren and app notifications still work with no plan. Cove is not practical unmonitored.
Which has better cameras?
SimpliSafe, though neither is a camera specialist. For video-first buyers, Ring, Arlo or Eufy are better.