Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Lorex vs SimpliSafe Home Security
Lorex vs SimpliSafe Home Security: the differences
| Compare |  Lorex |  SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell | Alarm, Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell, Smoke alarmCovers more |
| Professional monitoring | No | YesHas it |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Top resolution | 4k | 2k |
| Recording retention | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Price | $29.99 | Not confirmed |
| Monitoring per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Cloud plan per month | $5.99 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | Not confirmed | No |
| Free features | local recording, live view, playback and alerts without plan | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months), Installation required (No).
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Key differences
- Products: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Alarm, Smoke alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only SimpliSafe Home Security.
- Recording retention is higher at Lorex: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Support channels: only Lorex offers Email, Chat.
- Money-back period is higher at SimpliSafe Home Security: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Founded is lower at Lorex: 1991 vs 2006.
- Lorex is available in 3 more countries.
- Pricing model: only SimpliSafe Home Security offers Monitored.
- Power source: only Lorex offers Poe.
- Ecosystems: only Lorex offers Homekit, Matter.
Our verdict on each
Lorex
Lorex suits households that want cameras, video doorbells and smart locks from the same brand, with local recording, live view, playback and alerts working before any plan is bought. Entry hardware starts at $29.99, and the Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month on top of that.
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 | Lorex | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1No contract term at 0 months, a monitoring charge of $0, and cloud extras at $5.99. | 9.1Contract terms of 0 months mean hardware is bought at entry with no minimum term to serve. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherThe range spans camera, smart lock and video doorbell, and the core camera features work before any cloud plan is bought. | 9.160 days to send a kit back, with alarm, camera and smart lock covered under a single account. |
| Trust | 9.3Trading since 1991 as Lorex Technology Inc., with a 30 days return window. | 9.7HigherA company founded in 2006 trading as SimpliSafe, Inc., with support on phone and help centre. |
How they place
| Ranking | Lorex | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 19 of 75 | 22 of 75 |
| Video doorbells | 16 of 54 | 18 of 54 |
| Smart locks | 10 of 42 | 12 of 42 |
By the numbers
| Fact | Lorex | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 days |
| Recording retention | 60 days | 30 days |
What each covers
| Products | Lorex | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | No | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Smart lock | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke alarm | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lorex | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy | Diy, MonitoredCovers more |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, Solar, PoeCovers more | Battery, Wired, Solar |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, MatterCovers more | Alexa, Google |
| Legal entity | Lorex Technology Inc. | SimpliSafe, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Canada | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1991Lower | 2006 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lorex | SimpliSafe Home Security | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99below the median | Not confirmed | $69.99 |
| 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 | $5.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | $3 |
| Recording retention | 60 daysabove the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Lorex
Pros
- Local recording, live view, playback and alerts all work with no plan, and local storage is supported, so footage can stay on a drive the buyer owns.
- Cameras, video doorbells and smart locks come from the same brand, and installation is not required, so a homeowner can cover a front door and garden without hiring an installer.
- Cameras reach 4k and run on battery, wired and solar options, covering outdoor and off-grid spots.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so an alarm travels no further than the owner's own devices and the DIY approach is the only route.
- Cloud video is kept for 60 days, so anything that must stay retrievable longer has to sit on local storage.
- Entry hardware at $29.99 is above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95 and Annke at $19.99, so the ticket at the till is the weak spot.
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
Lorex
Who it suits
- Households that want footage kept on their own drive rather than rented cloud space.
- Renters and owners fitting cameras, a video doorbell and a smart lock without tradesmen.
- Buyers who read the running cost before the ticket, since Lorex carries no contract term.
Who should look elsewhere
- Households after a professionally monitored alarm, since Lorex does not offer professional monitoring and a monitored brand fits that need better.
- Shoppers on the smallest budget, because entry hardware at $29.99 sits above The Home Security Superstore at $13.95.
- Buyers who want cloud features folded into the hardware price, because the Lorex Connect plan is $5.99 a month on top.
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 | Lorex | SimpliSafe Home Security |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Mexico | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Lorex
What does Lorex cost to get started?+
Entry hardware starts at $29.99 for a camera, and the range also covers video doorbells and smart locks, so the same brand can cover a whole front door. Nothing recurring is due at the point of sale, and the purchase carries no contract, so the hardware price is the whole commitment at checkout.
Is there a monthly subscription?+
The Lorex Connect cloud plan is $5.99 a month and is the only recurring charge. The monthly monitoring cost is $0, so hardware already paid for adds no monitoring bill, and the cloud plan stays optional rather than required for core use.
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.