SimpliSafe Vs Ring Alarm Security System: Which One You Should Go For?

The security system plays a very important role in the safety of our lives and our house. Affordable, easy, and customized security systems have made our lives a lot easier than it used to be. But with a number of options in the market, it can sometimes be very confusing for the consumers to choose the right product for their house. In this article, we’ll do a detailed comparative study between two of such leading products, SimpliSafe and Ring Alarm.

Simplisafe is in the market from over years but its costly subscription plans holds it back. On the other hand, Ring is a new player that has already won the heart with its low price and great specifications.

Our Verdict

SimpliSafe provides a wide variety of features that Ring does not, like a voice command feature, a silent panic button, and a glass-break sensor. But it is expensive and has costly subscription plans to add on the cost. While Ring Alarm is the ideal security system that most of us can afford and even its subscription plan is cheap. Its flexibility in connecting to various interfaces like ZigBee and Z-Wave also makes it an ideal option for our homes. Furthermore, you can get everything that Simplisafe has if you take the premium Ring plan which costs again far less than the Simplisafe plan. On the whole, the Ring security system is a better choice if you are looking for a value for money product.

SimpliSafe Vs Ring: Comparison Chart

Differences

1. Design

SimpliSafe

The shape of SimpliSafe is almost like a pear that has a diameter of 4 inches and is 8.5 inches tall. Unlike Ring Alarm that is available only in white, it is available in two different colors which are white and black. The structure of SimpliSafe is quite sleek which helps it to fit absolutely anywhere amongst your furniture.

Ring Alarm

Ring Alarm is square in shape with the dimensions of 6.65 x 6.65 x 1.42 inches. It is available only in white color and hence, may not suit everybody’s choices. It is quite sleek and has a minimalistic design, which you can fit almost anywhere in your room.

2. Technology

SimpliSafe

One of the major limitations of SimpliSafe is the technology that it uses to communicate. It communicates over Wi-Fi only which limits the degree of Smart Home Integration. Although it does a better job when it comes to supporting other smart products, its non-flexible connectivity sets it back.

Ring

Ring Alarm not only communicates over Wi-Fi but can also interact with other interfaces like Z-Wave and ZigBee. It does not support as many smart products as SimpliSafe but its versatile connectivity feature gives it a great advantage over SimpliSafe.

3. Internet Connection

SimpliSafe

The SimpliSafe model operates entirely via Wi-Fi, due to which you won’t have to connect it to the router. But unlike Ring, it has no Ethernet cable. Although it hardly makes any difference in the way your device operates, if you would still like to have an Ethernet connection as an option, SimpliSafe would not be the ideal security system.

Ring

Unlike SimpliSafe, Ring can operate via both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Hence, you can choose either of the options: going wireless or connecting it to the router. Although Ethernet works faster and is more reliable than a Wi-Fi connection, it does not make a very big difference in the functioning of your device.

4. Disarm Options

SimpliSafe

One of the major advantages of SimpliSafe over Ring is its flexibility in Disarm options. You can disarm your security system either through an app, through a keypad, or by using a keychain remote. The first two options are present in Ring as well, but the presence of a keychain remote will help you to activate or deactivate your system while you come and go. It also makes it more convenient for the members of your house, your housekeepers or your guests since they won’t have to deal with any app or passcode. Instead, you can simply give them a fob.

Ring

Ring Alarm only offers two ways of disarming your security system. You can either use an app or you can disarm it by using the keypad available. Due to the absence of a keychain remote, it might become a bit inconvenient for the regular visitors in your house.

4. Sensors

SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe provides a wide variety of sensors such as motion, smoke, entry, Carbon Monoxide, water, glass break, and temperature. Although some of these sensors are common to both SimpliSafe and Ring, the presence of two unique sensors such as glass break and temperature gives it a better advantage over the Ring. These sensors let you know if the temperature of the room is dropping or if there is a sign of glass breaking, thus giving your house the first line of defense against intruders.

Ring

Although Ring has no unique sensors like temperature or glass break, it still provides a number of sensors such as motion, smoke, Carbon Monoxide, entry, water, alarm smoke, and Co Listener. The compatibility of Ring to work with ZigBee and Z-Wave is certainly an advantage since it allows the functioning of third-party sensors. Still, we would consider SimpliSafe a better option here because of its two very unique sensors.

5. Panic Button

SimpliSafe

Although both SimpliSafe and Ring have panic buttons available with them, they work in completely opposite ways. The panic button of SimpliSafe is very discreet. It allows you to contact the monitoring center in case of an emergency. They will, in turn, call you back to make sure that you are okay, but if they don’t get any response, they will also dispatch the police force to your location as soon as possible. The advantage that SimpliSafe has over Ring is that it functions completely in a silent mode. This means that the intruder or the burglar will have no idea that you have contacted the police.

Ring

The Ring Alarm panic feature functions in a similar way as SimpliSafe. But one of the biggest disadvantages that this security system has is that there is no “Silent panic” mode. Due to this, it will be quite obvious for the intruders in your house to know that you have contacted the police. Another disadvantage is that you will need to have access to the keypad in case of emergency and press two different buttons simultaneously. This can be quite hectic when you are under a lot of pressure.

6. Subscription

SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe provides two different kinds of subscriptions:

a) Basic Subscription

This may charge you about $15 per month. It includes features such as cellular backups, 24/7 live alarm monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

b) Advanced Subscription

Advanced subscription costs about $25 per month. This subscription unlocks mobile alerts, secret alerts, and video alarm verification.

One of the biggest disadvantages of SimpliSafe over Ring is that the subscription plan is quite costly if you want to use your SimpliSafe system to the fullest.

Ring

The Ring security system is advantageous over SimpliSafe since it provides all of its features at just $10 per month. Features like 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular backups, and video storage will also be accessible at the same price. In addition to this, all of the Ring products share this monthly subscription which is very advantageous if you are already using other Ring products.

7. Other Differences Between SimpliSafe And Ring

• One of the major advantages of Ring over SimpliSafe is that it has paired with ADT for their doorbell feature.
• You can also install Ring by a third-party installation provider. This feature is not present in SimpliSafe.
• The Ring Alarm system can integrate with over 100 different Ring devices, whereas the SimpliSafe system can integrate with only about 20 devices.
• Ring Alarm system comes with a range extender whereas SimpliSafe does not.
• SimpliSafe has a voice control feature that makes it very easy to arm, unlike Ring Alarm that has no such feature. Unlike Ring, SimpliSafe is compatible with Google and Alexa.

Similarities

1. Easy DIY Installation

Installation is quite easy on both of these devices. Both of them come with a tool-free DIY installation and setup. All you have to do is to pull out the base, plug it in and place the wireless sensors wherever you want. Although Ring comes with a third party installation provider, it is completely optional. There is no pre-knowledge required for installing either of these devices.

2. Professional Monitoring System

Both SimpliSafe and Ring have a very good 24/7 monitoring system. Both of them come with a panic button which you can press when you’re in an emergency situation. The professionals will then call you back to make sure if you are fine. To this, if you fail to respond or say the assigned safe word, they send police force to your location as soon as they can.

3. Battery Backup

Both of these devices offer 4G LTE cellular backup that helps you to control the system even from a remote place. Although cellular backup would require an additional monthly fee in both of these systems, there is an extra battery included.

4. Built-In Siren

Both SimpliSafe and Ring Alarm come with a siren that goes off as soon as it detects an intruder. An additional advantage of these devices is that they come with an extra siren just in case the first one is broken by the burglar.

5. Video Monitoring

One of the major advantages of both of these systems is that you can add video monitoring with them if you want to upgrade your security. While SimpliSafe has its own 1080 pixel camera, Ring offers a number of options of smart cameras that you can choose from.

6. Other Similarities Between SimpliSafe And Ring

• Both Ring and SimpliSafe offer a monthly contract which is very convenient if you want to cancel your subscription at any point.
• Both these devices come with door and window sensors that can detect intruders.
• Both SimpliSafe and Ring comes with a 1-year warranty.
• Both of these systems have smoke, freeze, flood, and COsensors available
• Both of these security systems have wireless multiple keypads that you can use to arm and disarm your system.

Features And Technical Specifications Of SimpliSafe

• Manufacturer: SimpliSafe
• Dimensions: Diameter of 4 inches and a height of 8.5 inches
• Color: White/Black
• Connectivity: Wireless hub to router connection
• Sensors Present: Motion, Smoke, Glass break, Entry, Temperature, Carbon Monoxide, and Water sensors
• Keypad: Separate, wireless
• Smart Home Compatibility: Apple Watch, August Smart lock, Nest Thermostat
• Voice Commands: Compatible with Google and Alexa
• Battery Backup: 24- hour
• Warranty period: 1 year

Features And Technical Specifications Of Ring

• Manufacturer: Ring
• Model: Protect Kit
• Dimensions: 65 x 6.65 x 1.42 inches
• Color: White
• Connectivity: Wired (10/100 Ethernet), Wireless (Wi-Fi), ZigBee, Bluetooth for Setup
• Power: 100 – 240V, 50/60Hz AC Adapter is provided
• Sensors Present: Motion, Smoke, Carbon Monoxide, Entry, Water, Alarm Smoke and Co Listener sensors
• Keypad: Separate, wireless, portable and rechargeable
• Battery Backup: 24- hours
• Operating Conditions: 32°F to 104°F
• Requirement For Setup: Ring Alarm Kit
• Warranty period: 1 year

FAQs

Bottom Line

Home security is of utmost importance for all of us. But selecting a proper security system for your house can be a really exhausting job. ensure that you have gone through all the points on, how the ring alarm system is different from the nest alarm system. If you’re not interested in the Ring alarm system you can check out the comparison between Simplysafe and ismart alarm.

While both devices SimpliSafe and Ring are very good in their functionalities, the cheaper price of Ring Alarm with some added features make this alarm system a worthy option. you should also check out the comparison between the Ring Alarm and Simplisafe.