Why You Can Trust CNET SimpliSafe SimpliCam review: SimpliSafe's indoor home security camera is way too simple
SimpliSafe's SimpliCam indoor security camera charges for features that should be free. Womp womp.
The $100 SimpliCam is SimpliSafe's long-awaited response to customers wanting a camera as part of their home security setup. Buy one (or several) to accompany your DIY SimpliSafe system -- or just use them as standalone cameras.
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
While 100 bucks is a pretty good price for a 720p live-streaming camera, SimpliSafe borrows the same surprisingly rigid fee model from its existing system. That means it charges (optional, but largely necessary) monthly fees, even for the most basic features. Want to view live video via the web app? There's a monthly fee. How about event-based cloud video storage? Yep, same deal.
Now that so many other DIY security systems -- and cameras -- exist in the market, SimpliSafe's approach is growing increasingly stale. Live streaming and other standard features worked fine for me, but is this thing worth $100 (roughly £75 and AU$125 converted)? Absolutely not.
What can you get with $100 (or less)?
Comparing security cameras
| SimpliSafe SimpliCam | Tend Secure Lynx | iSmartAlarm Spot | |
| Price | $100/£75/AU$125 | $60/£45/AU$80 | $100/£75/AU$125 |
| Color finish | Black | White | White |
| Power source | Power adapter | Power adapter | Power adapter |
| Resolution | 720p HD | 1,080p HD | 720p HD |
| Field of view | 120 degrees | 125 degrees | 130 degrees |
| Live streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud storage | 30-day event-based clips for $5 per month | Free 7-day event-based clips | 30 free event-based clips |
| Local storage | No | No | Supports up to 32GB microSD card (not included) |
| Mobile app | Android and iPhone | Android and iPhone | Android and iPhone |
| Web app | Yes | No | No |
| Night vision | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts | Motion | Motion and facial recognition | Motion and audio |
| Two-way audio | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Activity zones | No | No | No |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 4.6 x 2.6 x 2.1 inches | 2.2 x 2.2 x 3.5 inches | 2.0 x 2.0 x 2.2 inches |
| Third-party integrations | No | No | Amazon Alexa, IFTTT |
After reviewing the key features offered on three DIY indoor cameras that cost at or under $100, SimpliSafe's SimpliCam clearly lags behind. The $60 Lynx camera by Tend Secure has the best price, resolution and free cloud storage offering. It has pretty solid facial recognition capabilities, too -- also totally free. iSmartAlarm's Spot wins in terms of storage choices, since it comes with cloud and local storage (the microSD card is not included). Spot also works with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT for creating advanced smart home automations.
SimpliCam just doesn't do enough to justify its purchase. That's particularly true when you compare it to other security cameras in roughly the same price range. Would you rather have free cloud storage or pay $5 per month for it? The choice is simple.