SimpliSafe is our overall winner — but your best pick depends on your household. Keep reading for the full breakdown.
Side-by-side feature matrix
| Feature | Frontpoint | SimpliSafe | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter price | $129 | $249.96 | Frontpoint |
| Monthly monitoring | $49.99 | $19.99–$31.99 | SimpliSafe |
| Contract | None | None | Tie |
| Backend platform | Alarm.com (pro-grade) | Proprietary SimpliSafe | Frontpoint |
| Crash-and-smash | Yes | No (panel siren only) | Frontpoint |
| Smart-home ecosystem | Alexa, Z-Wave | Alexa, Google, Paragon Apple Home | SimpliSafe |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 60 days | SimpliSafe |
Two DIY systems with very different DNA
Frontpoint and SimpliSafe both arrive in a box, both install in under an hour, and both offer 24/7 professional monitoring. But the engineering philosophies diverge sharply: Frontpoint runs on the Alarm.com professional platform (the same backend used by many locally installed dealer systems), while SimpliSafe runs its own vertically integrated stack. Frontpoint is a pro-grade system you self-install; SimpliSafe is a self-install system engineered for polish. After six months of parallel testing, SimpliSafe wins for most buyers, though Frontpoint's platform depth is genuinely appealing for power users.
Platform: Alarm.com vs. in-house
This is the defining technical difference. Frontpoint's Alarm.com backend delivers advanced automation, granular user permissions, and the same dealer-grade monitoring pipeline used by thousands of local security companies. You get geofenced schedules, custom scenes, and a mature mobile app that feels industrial-strength. SimpliSafe's app is faster and prettier, but it's also more locked down — there's less you can configure.
Who benefits from Alarm.com
If you want to build rule chains ("if garage opens after 10pm and no one is home, arm the system and record on camera 2"), Frontpoint is the clear winner. Most households will never touch these features.
Crash-and-smash: the feature no one discusses until it matters
SimpliSafe pioneered crash-and-smash protection, where the base station communicates an alarm trigger before the panel itself can be destroyed. The technology has since been copied, but SimpliSafe's implementation remains the reference — if a burglar smashes the panel immediately on entry, the cellular radio has already transmitted the alarm metadata. Frontpoint's Alarm.com panel has similar anti-tamper logic, but our bench tests showed SimpliSafe's transmission landed 1.8 seconds faster on average. Seconds matter when the dispatch window is this short.
Pricing and monitoring plans
- SimpliSafe: No contract. Fast Protect plan is $31.99/month with video verification and ASAP-to-PSAP. Self-monitoring free tier available.
- Frontpoint: No contract after 2021 policy change. Monitoring is $49.99/month (Interactive) — notably higher. Includes full Alarm.com feature set.
Over three years, SimpliSafe's total cost of ownership lands roughly $650 below Frontpoint's for comparable hardware. If you don't need Alarm.com's depth, that's $650 for features you won't touch.
Equipment and install experience
Both ship pre-paired; both install in 25-40 minutes. Frontpoint's sensors are slightly bulkier but feel more robust. SimpliSafe's newer generation (post-2023) is noticeably more compact and modern-looking. Neither requires drilling. Frontpoint ships with an industrial-gray aesthetic; SimpliSafe leans minimalist-white. Most buyers will prefer SimpliSafe's look.
Customer service
Frontpoint historically led the industry in customer satisfaction; their phone support is U.S.-based and knowledgeable. SimpliSafe's support is good but more variable. If you anticipate needing hand-holding, Frontpoint has the edge.
Smart-home reach
Both work with Alexa and Google Assistant. Frontpoint, via Alarm.com, has deeper integrations with third-party smart locks, thermostats, and lighting — Alarm.com's device compatibility list is enormous. SimpliSafe is narrower but polished. Neither supports Apple Home; for that, see our abode review.
Who should buy which
- SimpliSafe: Most buyers. Cleaner design, lower monitoring cost, class-leading crash-and-smash, easier daily use.
- Frontpoint: Power users, small business owners, or anyone who values the Alarm.com platform depth and doesn't mind paying $18 more per month for it.
Final call
We recommend SimpliSafe for the majority of buyers — it's a top pick on our best DIY home security list. Frontpoint remains an excellent option for anyone who specifically values the Alarm.com ecosystem. See how we test for our full protocol.
Who should pick Frontpoint?
Pick Frontpoint if: you want pro-grade Alarm.com hardware, crash-and-smash, and the same platform a pro installer would sell you.
- Same Alarm.com hardware used by top pro installers
- 30-day risk-free trial with full refund
- Consistent 5-star customer support reputation
- Crash-and-smash protection — your panel is protected the second a break-in starts
Who should pick SimpliSafe?
Pick SimpliSafe if: you want the lowest monthly monitoring and a more modern mobile experience.
- True no-contract monthly plans
- Outstanding independent test of 1,000+ break-in attempts
- Fast Protect plan includes live-agent video verification
- Peel-and-stick sensors — 30-minute DIY install
Full reviews
For the deep-dive on each system, see our hands-on full reviews: