Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs SimpliSafe Home Security
Where Aqara and SimpliSafe Home Security differ
| Compare |  Aqara |  SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbell | Alarm, Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell, Smoke alarmCovers more |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Money-back period | 14 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Recording retention | 7 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Price | £36.98 | Not confirmed |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | No |
| Free features | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording | 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
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Products: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only SimpliSafe Home Security.
- Recording retention is higher at SimpliSafe Home Security: 30 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Community.
- Money-back period is higher at SimpliSafe Home Security: 60 days vs 14 days.
- Founded is lower at SimpliSafe Home Security: 2006 vs 2016.
- SimpliSafe Home Security is available in 1 more country.
- Pricing model: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Monitored.
- Power source: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Solar.
Our verdict on each
Aqara
Aqara suits renters and homeowners who want sensors, locks and cameras to run through one hub without a subscription. Entry hardware starts at £3.49, monitoring stays free, and local control keeps automations on the hub, so the real commitment is buying the hub first and adding devices as the house grows.
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 | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 9.1Contract terms of 0 months mean hardware is bought at entry with no minimum term to serve. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherMatter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 9.160 days to send a kit back, with alarm, camera and smart lock covered under a single account. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 9.7HigherA company founded in 2006 trading as SimpliSafe, Inc., with support on phone and help centre. |
Feature by feature
| Products | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | Yes |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for SimpliSafe Home Security: 1.
What we checked
Aqara
- aqara.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- aqara-shop.co.uk: 5 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 | 13 of 75 | 22 of 75 |
| Video doorbells | 11 of 54 | 18 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 8 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 | Battery, Wired, SolarCovers more |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | SimpliSafe, Inc. |
| Headquarters | China | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | 2006Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98at the median | Not confirmed | £36.98 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 14 dayslowest quarter | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
| 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
- Monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no renewal price to plan for.
- Hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98, against a site entry median of €127.49.
- Local control and local storage are both supported, so automations and recordings can stay on the hub rather than in the cloud.
Cons
- A hub is required before any sensor, lock or blind does anything, which is an upfront cost on top of the devices.
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts depend on the household rather than on a watching service.
- Support runs on phone, help centre and community only, with no live chat listed alongside them.
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
- People who want sensors, locks and cameras under one hub with local control and nothing to pay monthly, since monitoring is £0.
- Households already running Zigbee or Thread kit, since the hub bridges matter, thread and zigbee and can reuse what is already installed.
- Owners who want a do it yourself system, since the model is diy and installation is not required for the camera range.
Who should look elsewhere
- Lutron buyers who only need lighting, blinds and thermostats, since lighting, blinds and thermostat carries no sensor, lock or camera line.
- SONOFF shoppers after radiator valves, since thermostat, trv and lighting includes radiator valves and hub, sensor and lighting does not.
- GHome Smart buyers who want a compact setup, since plug, lighting and thermostat leaves out blinds and a hub that hub, sensor and lighting includes.
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.
Current offers
Aqara
Current offer
Discount code
5% off your first order via Aqara UK newsletter: 5% off first order
Sign up to the Aqara UK newsletter; code sent by email
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Aqara
What does Aqara cost to run after the hardware is bought?+
Monthly monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no subscription to renew and no renewal price to plan around. Cameras include 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording as standard, hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98. Nothing steps up when a year passes.
Is Aqara certified for safety and security?+
Aqara's hub is Matter certified, and the security certifications cover camera, smart lock and smoke alarm as a group. Security support runs for 2 years, which is shorter than the 2 years warranty, so buyers planning a long ownership should think about the stretch after the warranty period ends.
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.