Today we will be comparing home security providers SimpliSafe and Nest Secure, and see how they stack up! We’ll go over equipment, monitoring plans, and more!
There are many great ways you can protect your home from home invaders. The best way to keep your home safe from home invasions is to invest in a home security system. There are several companies out on the market that offer professional and DIY ecurity systems. Today we will be looking at and comparing what SimpliSafe and Nest have to offerl
SimpliSafe Control Panel
The most important piece of any home security system is the control panel. SimpliSafe offers a really nice cellular control panel that has a cone shaped design. The SimpliSafe control panel is a cellular control panel which means you don’t need a landline or internet connection for it to work, but it will also connect to your home’s WIFI network as a backup. All the functions for the SimpliSafe control panel are controlled through SimpliSafe’s separate keypad or through their app. The SimpliSafe control panel includes an LED indicator light that will change color depending on your system’s status. It also includes audio alerts for system status, devices, and has a built-in siren that will trigger if your system or connected devices detect an event. It has a backup battery just in case the power goes, and it will last up to 24-hours. SimpliSafe’s control panel is only compatible with SimpliSafe products which does limit the expandability of your SimpliSafe system, but SimpliSafe does offer a lot of great their branded equipment for your SimpliSafe system.
Recommended: An alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option, our home security system at Link Interactive »
Nest Secure Control Panel
Nest is a well-known name in the home security market, and we are sure you have probably heard of their video surveillance cameras. Their security hub is known as the Nest Guard which is essentially a security control panel. It works by connecting directly to home’s WIFI network, but you do have the option to add a cellular chip. The Nest Guard has a compact design, and it looks a lot like a small bowl which makes it really easy to place. It has a push-button keypad on its top that allows you to create custom user codes for different uses, and it allows for quick arming and disarming of your Nest security system. One really cool feature of the Nest Guard is that is has a built-in motion sensor that will trigger your system if motion is detected around it. The Nest Guard has a rechargeable battery that can last up to 12-hours so it will work even if your power is out. The Nest Guard includes a built-in indicator light that will change color to show different system statuses along with chime alerts for system status and triggering of connected devices. If your Nest Secure system is triggered it will sound its 85-decibel internal siren. The Nest Guard is expandable and will work with Z-Wave enabled devices.
See our cutting-edge control panel by Qolsys »
Who wins?
SimpliSafe and Nest offer really easy to use control panels. We really like the design of SimpliSafe’s control panel, and the fact that it has a cellular chip already included. The Nest Guard has a lot of great features, and its built-in motion sensor really helps it standout from the rest. Since the Nest Guard has a built-in motion sensor, and the fact its keypad is built into the control panel, we are making them the winner of this category.
SimpliSafe Equipment
SimpliSafe wanted to make sure they could provide security protection for every inch of your home, which is reflected in their huge selection of basic equipment. SimpliSafe offers wireless and battery-operated entryway and environmental safety sensors. They offer door/window, motion, and glass break sensors to cover the entryways of your home. SimpliSafe also offers their keypad with their basic equipment just in case you were looking for multiple keypads. For a quick way to arm and disarm your system SimpliSafe offers key fob remotes. For really rapid way to trigger your SimpliSafe system and immediately notify emergency services, you can use SimpliSafe’s panic button. To protect your home against the environmental dangers, SimpliSafe offers smoke, CO, water, and temperature sensors. Their smoke and CO sensor will look for rises in CO gas and smoke, and they will make an audible alert while triggering your system when these are detected. SimpliSafe water leak sensor will detect water leaks and rises in water while their temperature sensor will monitor for drastic rises and drops in temperature. Upon detection these sensors will make an audible alert while triggering your system. All equipment offered by SimpliSafe is DIY (do it yourself) but installation is super easy, and they do offer professional installation for a one-time fee.
Recommended: An alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option called Link Interactive »
Home Automation
Because the SimpliSafe security system only works with other SimpliSafe branded devices, you will be a bit limited on how much you can expand your SimpliSafe system. When it comes to home automation, SimpliSafe offers their smart lock. Their smart lock is an automated lock that will fit over your existing deadbolt lock that can be remotely controlled. It has a separate push-button keypad that is used to unlock and lock this smart lock, and you can create custom user codes for different users. That is all the home automation equipment that SimpliSafe has to offer for now, but do keep in mind they are always designing new products that you can use with your SimpliSafe system.
Video Monitoring/Cameras
SimpliSafe does fare better with their selection of video surveillance equipment. Their main camera is called the Simpli Cam which is a wireless video surveillance camera that can be used for both the indoors and outdoors. The Simpli Cam works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network wirelessly, and is powered by an AC power source. The Simpli Cam can capture and stream video in HD, and it includes night vision technology that allows you to capture images even when there is no light around. It has a 2-way audio feature and motion sensors that will trigger it to start to record. SimpliSafe also offers their SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro that works with your existing doorbell wiring, and it works by connecting wireless to your home’s WIFI network. It can capture video in stunning HD, has night vision, 2-way audio, and motion sensors.
Recommended: See all of our Alarm.com powered video monitoring options at Link Interactive »
Nest Secure Equipment
Nest is still in the works for developing more equipment for their Nest Secure system. As of now, they don’t have a huge selection of security or environmental safety devices, but what they do offer will provide your home with a basic security setup. Nest Secure’s main entryway sensor is called the Nest Detect. The Nest Detect is a combo door/window and motion sensor built into one sensor that is wireless and battery-operated. The Nest Detect will inform you when your door/windows have been opened while also being able to monitor for any motion around this sensor. For a quick way to arm and disarm your system Nest offers their Nest Tag. This is a small device that is wireless and battery-operated that allows you to arm and disarm your system by tapping it near or on the Nest Guard. Nest currently only offers one environmental safety sensor which is called the Nest Protect. The Nest Protect is a wireless and battery-operated sensor that will monitor for dangerous rises in smoke or CO gas. If these are detected it will make an audible alert. It also includes a light up feature that will illuminate an area in which it is placed. All equipment offered by Nest is DIY, but they do include an easy to follow setup guide that makes installation a breeze.
Recommended: An alternative DIY (do-it-yourself) option called Link Interactive »
Home Automation
Nest offers a ton of add-on equipment you can use with their Nest Secure. Today we will only be highlighting some of these devices, and if you are looking for a more complete list of add-on equipment you can use with your Nest Secure, you can visit their website for this. Nest has partnered up with Yale to produce the Nest X Yale Lock. This smart lock has a touch-screen keypad that illuminates and allows for one touch locking. You can create custom user codes for your Nest X Yale Lock that can be enabled and disabled at any time. It is powered by 4 double A batteries so you don’t have to worry about having an existing doorbell wiring for it to work. It connects to your home’s WIFI network wirelessly and can be controlled through the Nest app. To make your home greener, Nest offers their smart thermostats. Today we will be going over their Nest Learning Thermostat. This thermostat is powered by a rechargeable battery, and it works by connecting to your home’s WIFI network. The Nest Learning Thermostat comes with temperature sensors that can be placed in different rooms around your home. These temperature sensors will learn your home’s temperature and automatically adjust to your preferred temperature setting while also making sure you are saving energy on your home’s energy consumption per month. You can also remotely control the Nest Learn Thermostat through the Nest app. The Nest secure system also works with smart bulbs and switches such Phillips and GE.
Monitoring/Cameras
When it comes to video surveillance equipment, Nest has a huge variety. They offer indoor, outdoor, video doorbell, and other varieties of video surveillance equipment. Generally, their video surveillance cameras can capture video in HD, have advance motion sensors and advanced night vision, and include 2-way audio.
Recommended: See all of our Alarm.com powered video monitoring options at Link Interactive »
Who wins?
Both SimpliSafe and Nest offer some nice basic equipment for you to use with their systems. Both of their entryway and environmental safety sensors are wireless and battery-operated. We really like the Nest Detect due to it being able to monitor for motion as well as for when doors/windows have been opened or shut. However, SimpliSafe has a larger selection of basic equipment for you to choose from than Nest, and for that reason we are making them our winner for this category.
There is a pretty big different with the amount of add-on equipment offered by SimpliSafe for their system, and the amount of add-on equipment Nest offers for their Nest Secure system. Unfortunately, SimpliSafe only offers one piece of home automation equipment, and their variety of video surveillance equipment isn’t much better. On the other hand, you can use a ton of home automation equipment and video surveillance devices with your Nest Secure system. For this reason, we are choosing Nest Secure as our winner for this category.
SimpliSafe vs Nest Secure App
SimpliSafe and Nest offer self, video, and professional monitoring services. Their self-monitoring and video monitoring services are done through their apps, and they are free to download and work for smartphones. Their apps will allow you remote control of your system. You will be able to remotely arm and disarm your system, stream live and recorded video, and control any connected devices while on the go. You will also receive push notifications through theirs apps when your system or devices have been triggered by an event. They both offer 24/7 professional monitoring in where you have a professional monitoring station watching over your home for emergencies. However, for you to get professional monitoring with your Nest Secure system, you will need to purchase it from Brinks which is another majority security company. If you choose to do this, you will pay higher month to month monitoring fees than you would with SimpliSafe, but you will get more features to use with your system.
Recommended: Check out Link Interactive. With Link Interactive you’ll get the Alarm.com app (the gold standard in home security), and top of the line security equipment at great affordable prices. See details »
SimpliSafe vs Nest Secure vs Link Interactive
SimpliSafe and Nest can provide you with a solution that fits your specific security needs. SimpliSafe has an easy to use system, and their month to month monitoring cost are some of the cheapest out on the market currently. The Nest Secure’s control panel has a lot of great features, and the Nest Secure system is super expandable. Due to the Nest Secure control panel being nicer than that of SimpliSafe’s, and the fact they have more add-on equipment than SimpliSafe, we are choosing them as our overall winners.
Recommended Alternative: Link Interactive
If you’d like a better bang for your buck without skimping on features and quality of service, take a at the Link Interactive home alarm system.
Link Interactive and SimpliSafe are very similar in terms of equipment and monitoring services. At Link we offer a more advanced control panel in the the Qolsys IQ 2 Panel with Alarm.com self-monitoring and third-party professional monitoring. We also offer cutting-edge video monitoring services, all at a much better price point than SimpliSafe.
We have thousands of 5-star reviews on various reputable third party review sites complimenting our awesome after-sales support! We encourage you take a look at our offer here, get a quote and compare. You can also call us direct at 1-877-826-5443 for further details and speak with a rep!