Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs SimpliSafe Home Security
Aqara vs SimpliSafe Home Security: the differences
| Compare |  Aqara |  SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarm | Alarm, Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell, Smoke alarmCovers more |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| End-to-end encryption | YesHas it | No |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Cloud plan per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Free features | 7 days free cloud event clips | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Top resolution (2k), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- SimpliSafe Home Security scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Products: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only SimpliSafe Home Security.
- End-to-end encryption: only Aqara.
- Recording retention is higher at SimpliSafe Home Security: 30 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Support channels: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Phone.
- Money-back period is higher at SimpliSafe Home Security: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at SimpliSafe Home Security: 2006 vs 2009.
- Pricing model: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Monitored.
Our verdict on each
Aqara
Aqara suits households that want cameras, doorbells, locks and home sensors in the same system without a recurring bill. Monitoring costs $0, local storage keeps footage on your own hardware, and nothing is locked into a minimum term, which makes it a strong pick for self installers put off by subscriptions.
SimpliSafe Home Security
SimpliSafe Home Security suits households wanting a self-installed alarm with optional professional monitoring and no minimum term, since contracts run 0 months. Cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock and smoke alarms share the system, and you get 60 days to send a kit back, though doorbell clips are not end to end encrypted.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | 9.1Contract terms of 0 months mean hardware is bought at entry with no minimum term to serve. |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 9.1Higher60 days to send a kit back, with alarm, camera and smart lock covered under a single account. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.7HigherA company founded in 2006 trading as SimpliSafe, Inc., with support on phone and help centre. |
Which one suits you
Pick Aqara if cost and end-to-end encryption matter most.
Pick SimpliSafe Home Security if trust, products, professional monitoring, and money-back period matter most.
By the numbers
| Fact | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 days |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 30 days |
Where these facts come from
Aqara
- aqara.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- us.aqara.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
SimpliSafe Home Security
- simplisafe.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 25 of 75 | 22 of 75 |
| Video doorbells | 20 of 54 | 18 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 14 of 42 | 12 of 42 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy, MonitoredCovers more |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Poe | Battery, Wired, Solar |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | SimpliSafe, Inc. |
| Founded | 2009 | 2006Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Phone, Help centre |
Smart home devices
| Fact | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, Blinds | Not confirmed |
| Price from | $17.99 | Not confirmed |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi | Not confirmed |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Hub required | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Local control | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Energy reporting | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Warranty | 1 year | Not confirmed |
| Markets | AE, IL, TR, EU, GB, MY, LK, JP, IN, NP, ID, PH, SG, KH, BN, MV, MM, VN, US, CA, UY, AR, CL, BR, GT, DO, MX, CR, TT | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring per month | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
| Cloud plan per month | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 7 dayslowest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Security update period | 2 yearsbelow the median | Not confirmed | 3 years |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Aqara
Pros
- Nothing recurs: monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the kit costs what it costs on the shelf.
- Footage can stay at home, since local storage is supported, with the cloud holding event clips for 7 days as a backstop.
- The range spans camera, video doorbell and smart lock, which reaches further than Annke's camera and video doorbell for anyone building out a whole home.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts land on the household rather than a response desk.
- Support runs on help centre and community only, with no staffed channel listed for a hub that will not pair.
- A hub is required, so the entry outlay is more than the sticker price of the cheapest device in the range.
SimpliSafe Home Security
Pros
- Nothing forces a minimum term: contract terms run 0 months, so hardware you have paid for is not tied to a renewal.
- You choose the commitment: diy and monitored covers self-installed kits and monitored systems, so the alarm can start on its own.
- Camera power runs to battery, wired and solar, so outdoor units can sit where a socket is awkward.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so live chat and email are not listed routes for setting up a system.
- Recorded video is kept for 30 days, so an older incident cannot be reviewed beyond that window.
- Camera resolution on the video doorbell stops at 2k, so fine detail at the doorstep is limited.
Who each suits
Aqara
Who it suits
- Households covering cameras, doorbells, locks and alarms without a monthly monitoring fee, since monitoring is $0.
- Self installers, because installation is not required and the model is diy.
- Automation builders working across matter, thread and zigbee who want local control and a hub they own.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for shoppers who want an alarm panel or personal alarm in the same basket: The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Not for buyers whose list is only cameras and doorbells, since Annke's camera and video doorbell is a shorter, more focused range to browse.
SimpliSafe Home Security
Who it suits
- Self-installers who want a single kit rather than separate apps, since diy and monitored covers self-installed kits and monitored systems.
- Households already running alexa and google for voice control and looking for alarm, cameras and doorbell in one system.
- Owners wary of long terms, since contract terms run 0 months.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households that want a personal alarm as well as home kit: The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Buyers after a single camera or a video doorbell with no alarm in mind: Annke keeps to camera and video doorbell, which makes the shortlist shorter.
- Smart home buyers who want locks, smoke alarms and doorbells first: camera, smart lock and smoke alarm carries no alarm system, so the alarm has to come from elsewhere.
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Aqara
How much does Aqara charge for monitoring each month?+
Nothing. Monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the only cost is the hardware itself. 7 days free cloud event clips are included at no charge, which is enough to check recent activity on a doorbell or camera. Renewal is not a concern either, because contracts run 0 months.
Is there a contract or minimum term to sign up for?+
No. Contracts run 0 months, so there is no minimum term and nothing that renews on its own. Aqara ranks 1 on contract length among 60 brands, which puts it at the front of the field for anyone who wants to walk away without notice.
SimpliSafe Home Security
Does SimpliSafe Home Security lock you into a contract?+
Nothing forces a minimum term here: contract terms run 0 months. That is the difference that shows up at renewal, because a minimum agreement would keep billing after you stopped adding anything. The kit stays yours either way, and professional monitoring is a choice you can make later rather than a condition of the hardware.
What can I put in a SimpliSafe Home Security system?+
alarm, camera and smart lock covers the alarm kit, cameras, a video doorbell, a smart lock and a smoke alarm, so a single account can hold the front door and the alarm panel together. The Home Security Superstore also sells an alarm, camera, video doorbell and smart lock range, so it is a fair comparison if the alarm is the starting point.