Compare Scout Alarm vs. SimpliSafe Home Security Systems

Home security systems are more versatile and varied than ever.

Modern home security companies tend to offer multiple equipment packages, varying price options, and optional additional features like home automation and environmental protection.

Keeping track of which companies offer what, company prices, and contract details can be a hassle, and for this reason, we have done multiple detailed comparisons for you.

If you are considering Scout vs SimpliSafe, you’re probably looking for a home security company that offers simple do-it-yourself installation and self-monitoring with the option of professional monitoring.

When considering SimpliSafe vs Scout, it’s worth noting that the companies offer similar equipment and features, ultimately, and the decision will probably fall on customer satisfaction, reputation, and pricing.

The most important thing is to determine which one is the best for your specific home and needs.

Founded in Boston, SimpliSafe has been servicing customers for over 12 years. The company specializes in monitoring equipment that doesn’t require professional installation.

The company does not require contracts or landlines and offers wireless equipment, as well as 24/7 professional monitoring. SimpliSafe’s equipment is fully customizable.

On the other hand, we have Scout Alarm, which was founded in 2013 with crowdfunding support, and also specializes in equipment that requires do-it-yourself installation.

Its equipment is fully customizable and wireless. Although the system can be self-monitored, the company also offers professional monitoring through their UL certified monitoring center.

When considering Scout vs SimpliSafe, it is important to first look at your home security needs, your budget, and what features will fit your lifestyle.

A complete solution for a large single-family home will look a lot different than one for a studio apartment on the 10th floor of an apartment building.

Both companies are very flexible with putting together packages that best suit your home. Read on to learn about the pros and cons of each company.

When comparing SimpliSafe vs Scout in terms of home security basics, what we discovered is that both companies offer similar equipment and features. SimpliSafe offers multiple packages designed for specific needs. While Scout lets consumers build their own security system, it also offers packages called Scout Packs.

Both companies offer do-it-yourself installation equipment, both companies manufacture their own equipment, and both companies offer wireless sensors, a control panel, and event-triggered alarms.

Information gathered through customer feedback and reviews demonstrate that both companies’ equipment is modern, efficient, and reliable.

This is very important because the one thing all consumers want from their home security system is for it to be able to accurately detect intruders and for the monitoring company to respond quickly and efficiently.

This is why it’s important for a company to have the most reliable and up-to-date equipment possible for consumers. Efficient equipment and monitoring also helps reduce false alarms.

Because these companies’ equipment is wireless and self-installed, it is also easy to remove and relocate, making them ideal for renters.

SimpliSafe updated their hardware in 2018, claiming their equipment is now “half the size” of the original equipment, with “double the range.”

The company’s basic system includes an entry sensor for your main door, a motion sensor, a wireless keypad, and the central hub (the system’s center) for $229.

SimpliSafe offers four more packages that range from $259 to $489.

The most expensive package, “The Haven,” consists of 14 devices in total, which include a base station, keypad, key fob, 4 entry sensors, and freeze, water, and smoke sensors, among other devices.

Consumers also have the option of completely customizing their systems by picking whichever and however many devices they desire for their systems.

Scout alarm enables consumers to build their own system by picking from their core devices: Scout Hub, door panel, access sensor (detects opening and closing of windows, doors, etc.), motion sensor, and an indoor camera.

Additional protection offered includes smoke and CO detectors, glass break sensors, door locks, and water sensors.

Home security isn’t just about a loud siren going off when a door or window is opened anymore.

Modern home security systems offer monitoring devices that allow for live video-monitoring, which is great for anyone looking to keep an eye on the pets, children, grandparents, babysitters, etc.

Some companies also offer life safety devices which can be helpful for consumers with certain diseases, and elderly and disabled consumers.

SimpliSafe offers 2 options for consumers looking for a medical alert system: Panic Button, which is not portable as one might expect, and a key fob that is portable and has a Panic Button integrated.

The panic buttons can be set up to send fire, security or medical alerts when pressed. 

Scout Alarm also offers a Panic Button and Remote Control with panic function as well. It can be found on the Accessories page.

Scout has a 1080p camera for $99. The camera features live view, motion detection and event recording, but a monthly subscription is required for event recording.

SimpliSafe, on the other hand, sells its camera for the same price of $99 (sometimes free with the purchase of a new system—depends on special offers) which allows consumers to watch a live feed free anytime, includes motion alerts, and works solo or with a system.

SimpliSafe also offers an optional recording plan that lets you record, store and share critical footage with police and neighbors.

This plan lets you record anytime at the push of a button, includes a 30-day storage, and lets you download and share clips

Both companies’ cameras and sensors have been designed to detect heat in order to differentiate pets and humans. This helps reduce unwanted false alarms.

Speaking of sensors, both companies offer a very similar selection of sensors.

SimpliSafe offers Crash & Smash Protection, which means if an intruder breaks the control panel, the system will still alert the monitoring center and emergency response can still be sent out. Scout also has Crash & Smash Protection. If the Scout hub is broken, the police will still be dispatched, as the signal has already been sent to our monitoring center.

SimpliSafe also offers freeze detection, which alerts consumers if the temperature drops low enough to cause water pipes to freeze.

Although both SimpliSafe and Scout alarm allow consumers to self-monitor their home security systems, it is highly recommended to go the professional monitoring route whenever possible.

Fast and efficient monitoring response is the leading factor in satisfaction for consumers with home security companies.

When looking into new home security systems, it’s important to take note of the companies’ monitoring methods.

How many monitoring centers does the company have? Do they own these centers is the monitoring outsourced?

Both Scout alarm and SimpliSafe outsource their monitoring.

This means that although the company’s equipment is their own and the customer service is provided by their employees, the actual monitoring is done by another company.

For both companies, the outsourced monitoring company is COPS, which is a national security monitoring company with headquarters in New Jersey and regional offices throughout the country. COPS features six monitoring stations.

Its central station is U.L.-Listed, F.M. Approved, and Five Diamond-Certified.

One of the biggest benefits of having multiple monitoring stations is that it reduces the chance of your home security system being disconnected from the monitoring services due to a natural disaster or a technical problem in the monitoring station (if one monitoring station fails for any reason, one of the other stations can keep the monitoring going).

SimpliSafe offer two monitoring plans: Standard and Interactive.

The Standard plan includes 24/7 live alarm monitoring, cellular connection, and environmental monitoring for $14.99 a month, while the Interactive plan offers everything included in the Standard plan, plus the ability to interact with your home security system through a mobile device using the company’s app for $24.99 a month.

Scout alarm offers two monitoring packages as well.

The first plan is $9.99 for self-monitoring. The second plan is $19.99 for professional monitoring which includes 24/7 professional monitoring, police dispatch, fire department dispatch, and medical dispatch.

Both plans include email and push notifications, 4G LTE cellular and battery backup, and the Scout mobile app for iOS and Android, without an annual contract.

SimpliSafe is the clear winner when it comes to monitoring since it counts with 6 monitoring centers, free self-monitoring services, and two different professional monitoring plans.

Some home security companies require consumers sign up for multi-year contracts.

Other home security companies like Scout alarm and SimpliSafe offer their services on a month to month basis and do not require contracts.

Both of these situations have their benefits.

Usually, companies that require multi-year contracts cost consumers less upfront, because they either won’t pay anything at all for their equipment or the price of their equipment will be distributed in the monthly fees.

This option might make financial sense to consumers who own their homes and expect to be in the same place for the next few years.

Consumers who are renting their homes would probably benefit most from a home security company that does not require a contract (like SimpliSafe or Scout) and that has equipment that is wireless and easy to move.

These consumers can expect to pay a larger sum up front (because they have to buy the equipment) and pay less each month than they would with a multi-year contract.

SimpliSafe’s starting price is $229 for “The Foundation” package (4 pieces of equipment) and a monthly fee of either $14.99 or $24.99 depending on which professional monitoring package the consumer choses.

Consumers who decide to go the self-monitoring route do not have to worry about a monthly monitoring fee.

As is the case with SimpliSafe, Scout alarm requires consumers pay upfront for their equipment and does not require a contract.

In order to have an effective Scout security system, we recommend consumers at least buy the Scout Hub ($129), access sensors ($29 each), motion sensors ($49 each), and door panels ($69 each).

Scout offers two monitoring plans: self-monitoring for $9.99 and professional monitoring for $19.99.

Modern home security systems have evolved to the point of being able to connect to consumers’ mobile devices, allowing for live monitoring, controlling the system remotely, and home automation.

These monitoring and connectivity features allow consumers to be in total control of their home’s monitoring and security, regardless of location. They also help reduce responses to false alarms.

Not all companies offer these smart features and the type of feature varies by company. SimpliSafe offers an app that consumers can interact with for a certain price, which is compatible with iPhones and Android phones.

The company also offers email and text alerts as part of their basic package.

Consumers who opt into the interactive plan have the ability to arm and disarm their system from their phones and receive secret alerts whenever certain spaces are entered.

SimpliSafe is compatible with Amazon’s digital assistant, Alexa, the Nest, and the Apple Watch.

A great feature Scout offers is its “if this, then that” mechanism.

This allows consumers to setup their device to react in certain ways to specific situations, for example: “If the front door is opened, send a push notification/email to my phone,” or “If a window is opened, sound the siren.”

Scout alarm has great integrability. It is compatible with Amazon’s digital assistant, Alexa, Google Home, ZigBee, IFTTT, Nest, LIFX, and Z-Wave.

The company offers cameras with live-monitoring features via their iOS and Android apps, email notifications, and text alerts.

The Scout vs SimpliSafe reputation comparison shows that SimpliSafe has a much bigger online customer review and customer service presence and history.

SimpliSafe is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and carries an A+ rating on their profile.

A deep dive into customer reviews and complaints demonstrated that SimpliSafe takes the time to respond and try to resolve customer issues and complaints.

It’s important to note that customers are more likely to write reviews when things go wrong, not when things go just-as-expected.

SimpliSafe services over 2 million customers, yet only has 75 customer reviews and 145 closed complaints on their BBB profile.

Scout, on the other hand is not accredited by the BBB and doesn’t count with a rating on TrustPilot.

Scout vs SimpliSafe is a comparison of home security companies that at their core, offer very similar products. Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe has been around longer than Scout, which was founded in 2013.

Age difference doesn’t necessarily mean a company is better than another company, but it does give consumers a better idea of the company’s reputation and history.

A company that has been around for many years and is a household name might make some consumers feel safer than a new company, although a newer company might be more open to embracing new technology and might offer greater flexibility as it tries to establish itself as a home security company.

SimpliSafe stands out in terms of monitoring reputation.

SimpliSafe’s monitoring centers are run by C.O.P.S and are certified by the Central Station Alarm Association and the Underwriter's Laboratory (tests equipment, response time, and monitoring).

The C.O.P.S. central station is U.L.-Listed, F.M. Approved (verifies and tests monitoring facilities), and Five Diamond-Certified (requires both of the previously mentioned certification and is given to companies that have contributed to and stand out in the home protection field).

Scout’s monitoring center is also UL-certified and accredited by the Central Station Alarm Association.