Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
SimpliSafe The Essentials vs Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best DIY Home Security Systems: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
SimpliSafe is the best DIY security system for most people: effortless setup, built-in network and battery backup, and no-contract monitoring with few strings attached. Ring Alarm is the smarter buy for Alexa households that will subscribe anyway, thanks to the cheapest hardware and a monitoring plan that also covers Ring cameras.
SimpliSafe The Essentials
Buy itThe most polished all-around DIY security kit, with genuinely painless setup and no-contract professional monitoring that just works.
- Peel-and-stick installation that is widely described as among the easiest in the category
- Base station has built-in network backup and an up to 24-hour backup battery, so a monitored plan keeps working through Wi-Fi and power outages
- No-contract professional monitoring with transparent tiers, plus a working free self-monitoring mode
- Clean, unintimidating hardware that owners say guests and kids actually use
- No Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave, or Zigbee support - it is a security system first and a smart-home citizen second
- Monitoring plans have crept upmarket over the years, and the best app features sit behind the paid tiers
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen)
Buy itThe best value in DIY security if you subscribe - cheap sensors, deep Alexa integration, and monitoring that undercuts the big names.
- Lowest equipment and expansion costs of the four - extra contact sensors cost noticeably less than rivals'
- Excellent app and seamless integration with Alexa and Ring doorbells and cameras
- Slim second-generation sensors that fit narrow door frames, with quick setup reported by owners
- Professional monitoring tier also bundles camera features, making the subscription good value in the ecosystem
- Heavily subscription-dependent: cellular backup and key features require the paid plan, and free-tier functionality has been trimmed over time
- Amazon-first ecosystem with no HomeKit support
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| SimpliSafe The Essentials Our pick | Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Most households that want a set-it-and-forget-it alarm with credible professional monitoring and no contract | Alexa and Ring households that are happy to pay the monthly fee and want the cheapest path to whole-home sensor coverage |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| What's in the box | Base station, keypad, entry + motion sensors | Base station, keypad, 4 entry sensors, motion sensor, range extender |
| Professional monitoring | 24/7 pro monitoring, no contract | 24/7 pro monitoring on top-tier plan, no contract |
| Free self-monitoring | Yes, basic app alerts | Yes, but trimmed to basics |
| Smart-home support | Alexa, Google | Alexa (deep), Google limited |
| Outage resilience | Network backup (with pro monitoring) + up to 24-hour battery | Cellular backup with paid plan; 24-hour battery backup included |
| Expansion ecosystem | Full sensor range, indoor/outdoor cams, smoke listening | Cheapest add-on sensors, huge Ring camera/doorbell lineup |
| Track record & trust | Strong; occasional billing/support complaints | Strong hardware record; subscription changes frustrate owners |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the SimpliSafe The Essentials if
most households that want a set-it-and-forget-it alarm with credible professional monitoring and no contract.
Know before buying: no Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave, or Zigbee support - it is a security system first and a smart-home citizen second.
Pick the Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) if
alexa and Ring households that are happy to pay the monthly fee and want the cheapest path to whole-home sensor coverage.
Know before buying: heavily subscription-dependent: cellular backup and key features require the paid plan, and free-tier functionality has been trimmed over time.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the SimpliSafe The Essentials - The most polished all-around DIY security kit, with genuinely painless setup and no-contract professional monitoring that just works. Choose the Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) instead if alexa and Ring households that are happy to pay the monthly fee and want the cheapest path to whole-home sensor coverage.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best DIY Home Security Systems: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).