© Production Perig / Shutterstock.com
When it comes to contract-free home security, both Blink and SimpliSafe offer effective and reliable coverage at different levels. While both systems offer quality security cameras, the similarities end there. Blink tackles home security through affordable individual protection; SimpliSafe takes more of a blanket approach to protecting your home.
If you’re in the market for home security systems, read on for a little company history, a comparison of the two, and finally, the end all be all of Blink vs. SimpliSafe.
Blink vs. SimpliSafe: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blink | SimpliSafe | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Home security company | Home security company |
| Founded | 2009 | 2006 |
| Parent Company | Amazon since 2017 | SimpliSafe |
| Price | $79.99 up to $99.99 | From $230 up to $500 |
| Features | LED lighting Infrared night vision | Video surveillance cameras Glass break sensors Video doorbell viewer with two-way communication Motion detection Environmental hazard detection |
| Installation | DIY in under 1 hour | DIY in under 1 hour |
| Professional monitoring | Available for a $99.99 plan | Included with all plans |
- Comes ready to install and does not require any drilling or additional wiring. Easy!
- Optional 24hr monitoring by professionals for 60c per day (USA only)
- SimpliSafe App available
- Outside and inside monitoring with wireless and wired camera options
Blink vs. SimpliSafe: Must-Know Facts
- SimpliSafe was founded by two Harvard Business School students in response to a series of break-ins in the Cambridge area.
- Blink raised $1 million through crowd-funding to launch its first indoor security camera product.
- In 2016, SimpliSafe integrated with the Nest Learning Thermostat.
- SimpliSafe released a series of updates to address an RF vulnerability in 2018.
- In 2019, Amazon released patches in response to severe security concerns for the Blink XT2.
Blink vs. SimpliSafe: What’s the difference?
Though Blink and SimpliSafe are both in the business of home security products, these companies started in different places.
Blink began as Immedia Semiconductor Inc. in 2009 before pivoting to consumer electronics. In 2014, Blink launched a Kickstarter for its first indoor security camera, which raised over $1 million in support. As of 2017, the company was bought by Amazon for $90 million and has since expanded into outdoor security cameras as well as polished other available options.
SimpliSafe began securing homes in 2006 and was the first home security company to offer professional services without a contract. Since launch, they have expanded their product line, producing several coverage features in addition to security cameras.
Blink Cameras
Blink’s no-nonsense home security camera line prioritizes affordability and ease of use above all else. Though Blink offers fewer features, they have fine-tuned their product line to a point.
The most affordable option from Blink is the Blink Mini, a 1080p plug-in indoor security camera with motion detection across the 110-degree field of view and two-way audio. Compared to other Blink products, which run on battery, this little camera packs all the same features in the form of a plug-in and offers an attached mount for stable placement.
From the Blink Indoor and Outdoor series, all cameras are battery-operated and require little more than a few AA batteries to operate for up to two years before needing replacement. Still not enough battery life? Blink also offers a solar panel mount to extend those two years above and beyond.
With the Blink Outdoor line comes the latest weather-resistant upgrade paired with all the same features of the Blink Indoor line. There are several weather-resistant accessories as well, from solar panel mounts to floodlights.
One concern from the outdoor line is its night vision– with only a single infrared sensor, actual vision can be limited to little more than blobs on a screen in poorly lit areas. Pairing the outdoor cameras with a floodlight can avoid this problem altogether.
Blink Video Doorbells
For Blink Video Doorbell, expect the same 1080p video quality and two-way audio, paired with motion and chime alerts. Both wired and battery-powered video doorbell options come Alexa enabled.
One shining feature of the Blink Video Doorbells is that of its two-way audio accessible through the Blink Home app. The app offers intuitive controls to manage all aspects of privacy zones, motion sensitivity, notifications, audio, and night vision controls. Blink Home also offers the ability to manage and share recorded clips with friends and family.
A worthwhile note: live streaming requires tapping the screen every 30-seconds to keep it going. Whether the trade-off for battery life over convenience is worth it, is up to you.
SimpliSafe Cameras
SimpliSafe offers a number of packages each with different feature options, as well as a customizable package to fit your unique security needs. If none of the drawn-up packages fit your needs, then take their build-a-system quiz for a personalized recommendation.
They start off strong with The Foundation, a starter kit meant to kickstart your home security journey. As needs grow and levels of desired security change, so do SimpliSafe’s packages, scaling from The Essentials, The Hearth, and The Knox, to the most kitted, The Haven. From a handful of core security pieces to coverage for every window and door, there’s a package for that.
SimpliSafe Indoor and Outdoor cameras boast 1080p HD video with an ultra-wide field of view and digital zoom. Outdoor cameras offer full-color vision at night and a built-in spotlight to light up the night and ward off intruders.
One thing to note: SimpliSafe outdoor cameras cannot handle temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, this is a limiting factor for homes from locations with extreme weather conditions and should be considered before purchase.
SimpliSafe Sensors
Since the founding of SimpliSafe, the company has expanded into a lot more than security cameras. One of their most valuable product lines is the variety of sensors they offer to cover any kind of security threat. Everything from burglary to environmental hazards, SimpliSafe has a sensor that detects danger and alerts you before the damage is done.
SimpliSafe burglary detection offers an entry sensor, glass break sensor, motion sensor, panic button, and even an extra siren. From the environmental hazard line comes a temperature sensor, a water sensor, a smoke detector, and a carbon monoxide protector.
SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro and Smart Lock
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro boasts all the features of the cameras, with the added bonus of the 160-degree wide-angle field of view. It works with the most common doorbell wiring and offers two-way audio and chime motion alerts that detect people and ignore distractions.
The Smart Lock allows you to grant access to your home from anywhere and even locks your door on a timer, just in case you forgot. The keypad allows for easy access with a PIN and even customization for multiple PINs to keep track of who comes and goes. A Smart Lock can work well in tandem with a Video Doorbell Pro — one to monitor, one to unlock.
- Monitor the inside of your home day and night with our 1080P HD indoor plug-in smart security camera with motion detection and two-way audio.
- See, hear, and speak to people and pets in your home from your smartphone with Blink Mini’s live view and two-way audio.
- Get alerts on your smartphone whenever motion is detected or customize motion detection zones so you can see what matters most.
- Use Mini as an indoor plug-in chime for Blink Video Doorbell. Hear a real-time alert from Mini when someone presses your Video Doorbell.
- Choose to save and share clips with a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan or locally with the Sync Module 2 (sold separately).
Blink vs. SimpliSafe: Which is better?
While Blink and SimpliSafe are both great home security picks, they can be difficult to compare. Since company product lineups vary significantly, it comes down to the general quality of comparable products.
Since Blink offers security through individual cameras, they boast the most affordable options. Renters and homeowners alike who prioritize affordability and the ease of wire-free security may find Blink the more suitable choice.
In terms of the overall quality of home security, SimpliSafe takes home the prize. Their comprehensive security systems not only offer the most coverage but their camera quality and night vision win out against comparable Blink cameras. If blanket home security is what you’re looking for, look no further than SimpliSafe.
