SimpliSafe vs. Brinks 2024

When selecting a home security system, you have a lot of options. Do you want the best DIY security system, or are you looking for a great professionally installed system? Do you need high-tech, advanced equipment? What about smart-home automation?

It’s a lot to consider.

That’s why I’m taking a look at two systems from opposite ends of the spectrum to help you get a better idea of which type of system — and which system provider — is right for you.

I recommend SimpliSafe, but it’s not for the reasons you may expect. Keep reading to better understand the nuances of the two systems and why I came to the conclusion I did.

Before we get into the detailed breakdown, let’s talk about how this article was developed.

How We Evaluate Home Security Systems

Our team of experts spends hours combing through customer testimonials, professional reviews, and consumer reports as an initial assessment of company claims. If a system piques our interest, we purchase it and install it in our homes for a few weeks or months to develop a deep understanding of its capabilities and shortcomings.

For comparison articles like these, we take the qualitative and quantitative data generated during those tests and put everything side by side to decide which system we would recommend.

Now that you understand the methodology, let’s talk about the specifics of the two systems.

SimpliSafe vs. Brinks: Equipment

One critical point of comparison for any security system is its equipment. I look for high-quality, durable equipment that doesn’t break the bank. Do Brinks and SimpliSafe check those boxes? Sure. Does one do it better than the other? You bet.

Both companies’ equipment meets my standards. It’s not cheaply manufactured and it handled the wear and tear of my stress tests with ease. A few tumbles down the stairs weren’t enough to throw off either provider.

I have to give this category to Brinks. Not because its equipment is better, but because there are more options to address specific security needs. It’s one of the few providers, for example, that offers dedicated garage door sensors to let you know if someone is trying to enter your home through the garage or if you left the door open while you ran to the grocery store. I like that level of specificity from my sensors, since it makes a more comprehensive system.

Equipment winner: Brinks

SimpliSafe vs. Brinks: Installation

Apples, meet oranges.

Brinks and SimpliSafe take divergent roads when it comes to installation philosophies. The former goes the traditional route — you call, work with a salesperson to design your system, and then have a technician install the equipment for you. You never have to lift a finger.

The latter takes the DIY route. You use the company’s website to order an equipment package you can supplement with individual pieces, or you can build a customized system on your own. Everything is shipped to you and you install the system yourself, from placing the security cameras to the entryway sensors.

Which method is better? It’s tough to say, but I prefer SimpliSafe’s approach. It saves you a ton of money in installation and consultation fees. You also have the flexibility to build your system at your own pace. If you want to start with a motion detector and a few door sensors and then decide later that you want security cameras and carbon monoxide detectors, that’s your prerogative. And if you need help installing your system, they offer professional installation too starting at $125.

A note on DIY installation: A lot of people are intimidated by home projects, but this one couldn’t be easier. Most of SimpliSafe’s equipment is battery-operated and can be installed using adhesive strips. If you can follow basic in-app instructions, you can fully install your system and have it operational in less than half an hour.

The ease of installation, the flexibility the DIY system provides, and the affordability it creates give this category to SimpliSafe.

Installation winner: SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe vs. Brinks: Costs

How much a security system costs is one of the most important decision points for any consumer, but I wouldn’t just recommend the cheapest option. After all, you get what you pay for.

Instead, I recommend looking for the best, most affordable system. That brings up questions of value more than cost. You may pay more in the long run, but those costs could end up being worth it.

With that in mind, let’s focus on these two providers. We’ll take a look at SimpliSafe’s costs first. Here’s the equipment it offers and the prices.

Brinks’ costs are less transparent. The company takes a traditional route, in which you have to call a customer-service representative to build out a bespoke system. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it makes it harder to nail down how much your system will cost and you’ll need to watch out for upsells while on the phone.

When I tested Brinks, my equipment cost $519. It included a Home Touch screen, a video doorbell from SkyBell, a glass-break detector, a cellular communicator, and the Brinks Home Indoor Camera. I thought it was pricey for what I was getting, and after my test period that notion was confirmed. I’ll admit, I might have fallen for an upsell myself. I probably should have gone with an extra entry sensor instead of the glass-break detector. They usually cost less, and it would have worked just as well for my first-floor glass sliding door.

The long and short of it is you can build out a comparable security system with SimpliSafe for less, and SimpliSafe is always offering deals to bring down your total bill. When it comes to overall value, SimpliSafe takes the cake.

Cost winner: SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe vs. Brinks: Monitoring

I talked about the value and quality of the two systems’ equipment, so now let’s talk about how that equipment will be monitored. I’ll start with SimpliSafe’s two main monitoring packages.

Brinks has three monitoring packages. Here’s what they look like.

True to form, Brinks doesn’t provide prices for the packages on its website. Your total cost will be calculated based on multiple factors, such as the size of your system. For context, my quote was $44.99 per month for the Premium Security package, which felt high for what I was getting.

For $15 less per month, SimpliSafe offers everything Brinks does and then some. Specifically, its pioneering video-verification and intruder deterrent feature. Coupled with the advanced indoor camera, the feature allows SimpliSafe technicians to access a live feed of your home during an alarm event and converse with whomever is on the other end — an intruder, for example, or you confirming whether the alarm is legitimate. In my tests, I was blown away by the quick response times and the continuity of the conversation. There was little lag, and I understood what I was being asked to do to disarm the alarm and call off the authorities.

That is enough for me to give the category to SimpliSafe by itself, but I want to point out that the company’s DIY ethos of flexibility is present here too. Not only is it one of the best no-contrct systems on the market — which means you won’t have to make a long-term commitment like you will with Brinks — but you can also self-monitor your system. That means it’s a great no-monthly-fee system. SimpliSafe takes this category hands down.

Monitoring winner: SimpliSafe

User Experience: SimpliSafe vs. Brinks

Now that we’ve covered the two systems’ major nuts and bolts, let’s turn our attention to the qualitative aspects of the comparison. What is it like to live and work with these systems on a day-to-day basis?

I’ll be the first to say that I’m splitting hairs here. SimpliSafe and Brinks are both fine systems, but I like the flexibility of SimpliSafe’s approach more than the rigidity of Brinks — even if it means I don’t have to put thought into the system’s design or installation. I’d rather save the money on the front end and do things myself than pay the salaries of middlemen and salespeople.

That’s me, though, and I understand that others value the convenience of going with a traditional system like Brinks. Its biggest competitors, ADT and Vivint, take a similar approach and go for the same market — people who have more money than time to spend on their home’s security. Nothing against those folks, but that isn’t my approach.

I’m not going to make a value call here. The user experience of both systems is too different to compare, and my preference shouldn’t color your decision.

User experience winner: Tie

The Final Word: Which System Is Better?

SimpliSafe is my favorite between these two systems. Brinks may be more convenient and offer more specific pieces of equipment, but, in my opinion, the flexibility and value of SimpliSafe trumps those benefits. If SimpliSafe were difficult to install I may be singing a different tune, but it’s so, well, simple that it’s tough to frame the DIY approach as a negative. For my money, it’s SimpliSafe all day long.

Overall winner: SimpliSafe

If you’re not convinced that either system is right for you, don’t worry. I’ve developed a list of the best security systems of the year. You’ll find traditional systems, DIY systems, cellular systems, camera-based systems and everything in between. If SimpliSafe or Brinks doesn’t do it for you, I’m confident you’ll find the right provider for your needs.