Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
SimpliSafe vs SONOFF
SimpliSafe vs SONOFF: the differences
| Compare |  SimpliSafe |  SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Alarm, Camera, Video doorbell, Smoke alarmCovers more | Camera, Alarm |
| Professional monitoring | YesHas it | No |
| Money-back period | 60 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Free features | live feed and motion alerts | 1080P live view, free motion detection push alerts, local microSD (TF) recording up to 128GB, two-way audio, sleep mode, privacy zones and RTSP; CAM-C44HE adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee |
| Top resolution | 2k | 4k |
| Recording retention | 30 days | 90 daysHigher |
| Price | Not confirmed | €20.47 |
| Local storage | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Cloud plan per month | £0.42 | Not confirmed |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum contract (0 months).
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Key differences
- SONOFF scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Products: only SimpliSafe offers Video doorbell, Smoke alarm.
- Professional monitoring: only SimpliSafe.
- Recording retention is higher at SONOFF: 90 days vs 30 days.
- Support channels: only SimpliSafe offers Chat, Phone.
- Support channels: only SONOFF offers Email.
- Money-back period is higher at SimpliSafe: 60 days vs 30 days.
- SONOFF is available in 28 more countries.
- Pricing model: only SimpliSafe offers Monitored.
- Power source: only SimpliSafe offers Battery, Solar.
Our verdict on each
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe suits homeowners who want a self installed alarm with monitoring they can switch on, and who dislike long contracts. It ranks 1 of 60 brands on contract length, with a contract of 0 months and a cloud plan of £0.42 a month.
SONOFF
SONOFF suits people building a wired or Zigbee home on a tight budget who want cameras and climate gear that keep working without a subscription. Entry costs start at €6.16, the range is Matter certified, and local storage holds recordings for 90 days. The catch is support, which runs on email and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | SimpliSafe | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Cloud plan is £0.42 a month and the contract runs 0 months, so the recurring cost sits at the entry price. | 9.9HigherEntry price runs €6.16 and a camera sits at €20.47, with monitoring and contracts at 0 months, well under the €61.38 typical band. |
| Offer | 9.1Higheralarm, camera and video doorbell covers alarm, camera, video doorbell and smoke alarm on one account, with professional monitoring yes. | 9.0Free features cover local AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP, and energy reporting is included. |
| Trust | 9.9HigherSimpliSafe Ltd is the named seller, support runs on chat, phone and help centre, and the money back window is 60 days. | 9.12 years of cover, local storage as standard, and support limited to email and help centre, which is thinner than most rivals. |
What each covers
| Products | SimpliSafe | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Video doorbell | Yes | No |
| Smoke alarm | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | SimpliSafe | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Home security cameras | 17 of 75 | 15 of 75 |
| Home alarm systems | 8 of 33 | 7 of 33 |
If neither fits
AOSU has recording retention at 120 days, against 30 days for SimpliSafe and 90 days for SONOFF.
AOSU reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | SimpliSafe | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Diy, MonitoredCovers more | Diy |
| Power source | Battery, Wired, SolarCovers more | Wired |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more |
| Legal entity | SimpliSafe Ltd | Shenzhen Sonoff Technologies Co.,Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | China |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | SimpliSafe | SONOFF | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Not confirmed | €20.47lowest quarter | €69.99 |
| Minimum contract | 0 monthsat the median | 0 monthsat the median | 0 months |
| Money-back period | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
| Recording retention | 30 daysat the median | 90 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
SimpliSafe
Pros
- No contract to exit: the contract term is 0 months, ranked 1 of 60 brands on that measure.
- The cloud plan costs £0.42 a month, and live feed and motion alerts stay included at no extra charge.
- Professional monitoring is available on the same platform, so no second supplier is needed.
Cons
- Recording retention is 30 days on the monitored plan, which is short for reviewing past events.
- Smoke alarm and video doorbell sit alongside the alarm in alarm, camera and video doorbell, but Aqara and The Home Security Superstore also add smart locks or personal alarms, giving more device options in the same basket.
- Chat, phone and a help centre make up chat, phone and help centre, with no email or community channel listed.
SONOFF
Pros
- Matter certified gear across thermostat, trv and lighting, covering matter, thread and zigbee so it fits most existing setups
- Entry prices from €6.16 and cameras from €20.47
- Free features include local AI detection, security modes, privacy zones and RTSP with no monthly fee
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alarms stay self-served
- A hub is required for the Zigbee thermostat, adding cost to a heating setup
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone or live chat line
Who each suits
SimpliSafe
Who it suits
- Homeowners who want a self installed system and are happy to add monitoring later, since diy and monitored covers both self install and monitored setups.
- Renters and movers who want to leave without an exit fee, given a contract of 0 months.
- Households that want alarm, camera and video doorbell covered together rather than from separate makers, since alarm, camera and video doorbell sit in one account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers wanting smart locks or personal alarms, since The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Buyers who want end to end encrypted video, since end to end video encryption is not offered.
- People after Aqara's smart home range, since Aqara lists camera, smart lock and smoke alarm.
SONOFF
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who already run a Matter or Zigbee home
- People who want camera recording on a card rather than a cloud subscription
- Builders covering lighting, plugs, sensors, blinds and climate from one maker
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants professional alarm monitoring, which Sonoff does not sell
- Households on Z-Wave, a protocol outside the matter, thread and zigbee list
- Buyers who want phone or chat support, since email and help centre is the limit
Current offers
SimpliSafe
Current offer
Free trial
First month of professional monitoring free: 1 month free
with system order, monitoring plan required
Source, checked September 30, 2026
SONOFF
Current offer
Discount code
10% OFF your first order for newsletter subscribers: 10% off first order
Email newsletter signup; valid for 30 days; one-time use per customer; cannot be combined with other offers
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | SimpliSafe | SONOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
8 of 29 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
SimpliSafe
What does SimpliSafe cost to run each month?+
The cloud plan is £0.42 a month, and that subscription covers the monitoring service rather than the hardware. You buy the alarm or camera kit separately at checkout. For comparison, monitored alarm systems on the site run a median of €9.38 a month, so the plan charge sits below the category average.
Is there a contract or minimum term with SimpliSafe?+
There is no minimum term, since the contract length is 0 months. That puts SimpliSafe first among 60 brands ranked on contract months. You can stop the plan when you want, and the system keeps working locally as a self install alarm without it.
SONOFF
What does SONOFF hardware cost to get started?+
Entry prices run €6.16 across the range, and a security camera starts at €20.47. There is no separate hardware bundle to buy, so the outlay is the device itself plus a hub if the product needs one.
Is there a monthly subscription or contract?+
No. Contract length is 0 months, and local card recording, AI detection, privacy zones and RTSP are listed as free features. The dual-lens hub camera adds local AI detection and security modes with no monthly fee attached.