SimpliSafe Doorbell Review: Installation, Troubleshooting, vs Ring, vs Nest, And More
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SimpliSafe, a popular and highly-ranked DIY security system, also carries a video doorbell camera, the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro, that you can use with or without their system. Does this camera live up to the quality and ease of setup you’ll find with SimpliSafe’s other equipment? And how does it stack up against other doorbell cameras?
View on Amazon | Visit SimpliSafe’s Website
SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro
Pros
- Get phone alerts for when it detects motion or when the doorbell is pressed
- Smart motion detection distinguishes people rather than animals, cars, etc.
- Infrared night vision
- Two-way audio
- Pan and zoom
- User-friendly Android and iOS apps
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Installation can be challenging (uses existing doorbell wiring; no rechargeable battery option)
- Requires subscription for recording
- Doesn't integrate with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit
Alternatives To SimpliSafe Doorbell Camera
Don’t like the score you’re seeing? Our home security experts have reviewed nine doorbell cameras. Check out our best doorbell cameras article to find out our top picks this year.
Key Features
Can use independently or with the SimpliSafe security system- Uses existing doorbell wiring (requires hardwiring and not compatible with digital doorbells)
- Dual-sensor trigger identifies people’s heat signatures and detects human form, so you’ll only get motion alerts for people (not animals, cars, etc.)
- Get motion alerts and view live streaming via smartphone apps (Android | iOS)
- Cloud video recording available for $4.99/month for one doorbell or $9.99/month for unlimited doorbells (or with SimpliSafe’s Interactive Monitoring plan at $24.99 per month if you already have a SimpliSafe security system)
- Built-in battery backup
- 3-year warranty
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Phone support 7 days per week
Technical Specifications
- Field of view: 162°
- Video resolution: 1080p
- Operating temperature: 14°F to 104°F
- Two-way audio
- Night vision
- Pan and zoom
- WiFi connection: 2.4GHz (doesn’t work with 5GHz)
- Dimensions: 6.65”H x 2.91”W x 4.48”D
Price
Customers Reviews
Here’s a balanced sampling of customer feedback from people who have purchased the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro.
Positive Reviews
I purchased this to add to my existing simplisafe system. So far it is great. I get very prompt motion alerts, bell alerts and also good quality while speaking to persons at the door. Installation wasn’t too hard, i just connected to the existing wires of my old doorbell and followed prompts from the Simplisafe app. – beckenbar, Best Buy 12/9/2020
1.5 years in and the doorbell is working essentially exactly as I had hoped. The street my house faces has fairly significant vehicle traffic and after the first few months, almost all false-positive alerts stopped. Sometimes the motion recognition fails if someone approaches the house from a side angle. Overall a great compliment to my larger SS system and getting notifications on my Apple Watch when someone rings the bell is so nice to have. – Nate H, Best Buy 12/2/2020
Complaints
Purchased the SimpliSafe door bell pro back on June 18, 2020. I’ve experience issues with the night vision not automatically changing to night mode. I’ve reset both my camera and my internet. I’ve also adjusting the settings to the door bell camera to ensure the camera automatically changes to night mode but unfortunately I’ve had no success. The door bell camera also keeps picking up vehicles passing by my house even though I have it set to detect “People Only”. I’ve tried adjusting the sensitivity and block out the areas on the camera to reduce motion detection from the road in front of my house with no success. I’ve contacted SimpliSafe customer support and they sent me another camera but still experience the same problems. I will be returning the this product. – Risky086, Best Buy 12/11/20
Trash trash trash trash trash trash. Called customer support, they couldn’t figure it out. They don’t stand by their product and are not very confident when they are talking to you about their product. Had the router one inch away from the door bell and it still dropped connection while none of my other devices dropped connection. – JessG, Best Buy 10/16/2020
How To Install
Follow these steps to install your SimpliSafe doorbell camera. You can also find the installation guide on their website.
- Turn off the power to your existing doorbell at the circuit breaker.
- Remove your existing doorbell – Unscrew the doorbell, then unhook the wires from the back of the doorbell. Make sure the wires don’t fall back into the wall.
- Thread the wires through the center of the included mounting bracket. (Note: If you plan on using the angled bracket, see our FAQs below.)
- Screw the mounting bracket to the wall* – Mark where you want to drill your holes, then remove the cardboard “Clearance” marker and use the included 1″ screws to attach the bracket to the wall.
*To install on a stone, brick, or stucco surface, you need to mark the wall using the mounting bracket holes as a template. Then, drill holes and insert wall anchors. Drill a hole at each pencil mark with 3/16″ (4.75mm) masonry bit. Insert wall anchors into the holes by gently tapping with a hammer or mallet. - Connect the wires to the mounting bracket.
- Loosen terminal screws.
- Slide the exposed wire behind the square washers and around each screw (wires can connect to either screw).
- Tighten screws to secure wires.
- Push the SimpliSafe doorbell onto the mounting bracket and slide it down until it clicks.
- Turn on the power at the circuit breaker.
- Press the doorbell to test the chime. If it doesn’t chime, make sure the wires are secure. See our FAQs section below if it still won’t chime. You may need a chime connector.
- The camera battery may need a few minutes to charge before you can connect it to WiFi. When it’s ready for setup, the LED light will blink white after you press the button.
- Open the SimpliSafe app on your mobile device and navigate to “set up my SimpliCam” to finish installing.
The video below can help you visualize the installation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions we see most often from our readers who own the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro.
Can I Use My SimpliSafe Doorbell Camera Without A Subscription?
Most of the features will work without a subscription, including two-way audio, live video streaming, and alerts to your smartphone when someone rings your bell or when the doorbell detects motion. However, a subscription is required to record and store video and audio.
What To Do If My Doorbell Won’t Chime?
Some circuitry will require a chime connector, which you can get by contacting SimpliSafe’s customer support. A chime connector may be necessary if:
- Your doorbell doesn’t ring your chime, but the live stream video and other features are working. You may also hear a constant buzzing sound from the chime.
- The chime only dings but doesn’t dong or isn’t functioning properly in other ways.
How Do I Adjust The Angle Of My Doorbell Camera?
The Video Doorbell Pro comes with an up-down adjustable angle bracket, which can adjust up to 10° where the doorbell’s viewing range is directed. Note: If you need a left-right angle bracket, contact customer support, and they’ll send you one.
- Follow installation steps 1-3 above.
- Place the angled base with the smooth side to the wall.
- Thread doorbell wires through the center opening, then screw the bracket to the wall using the 1″ screws.
- Screw mounting bracket onto angle bracket using the two small angle-bracket screws.
- Follow steps 5-13 above.
What To Do If My Doorbell Camera Stops Working?
If your doorbell isn’t working properly, you may have to reset it. Here are your options:
- Perform a hard reset on your device:
- Remove the doorbell from its charging plate.
- Press and release the small button on the back of the doorbell.
- Place the doorbell back on its charging plate. After it’s back on the charging plate, there will be a yellow light as the doorbell boots back up.
- Perform a soft reset on your device:
- Remove the doorbell from its charging plate.
- Press the small button on the back of the doorbell for 10 seconds and then release.
- Place the doorbell back on its charging plate. There will then be a yellow light as it boots back up.
- Reinstall your doorbell.
- Contact customer support if you’re still having problems.
What’s Our Final Verdict?
View on Amazon | Visit SimpliSafe’s Website
SimpliSafe’s Video Doorbell Camera Pro is a high-quality option if you already have a SimpliSafe security system. Its pricing is competitive, and it’s reliable. But if you’re looking for a stand-alone doorbell camera, you may have some better options, particularly if you’re looking for more integrations with smart home equipment.
See how SimpliSafe’s doorbell camera stacks up against other smart video doorbells in our best doorbell camera reviews. And be sure to read our SimpliSafe security system review to see what else they have to offer to keep your entire home safe.
