Cove vs SimpliSafe Cost (2026): Free Equipment vs Paid — Which Saves More?

Last updated: April 4, 2026

Last Updated: April 2026

By the Home Security Ranked editorial team

Same monthly price, completely different upfront cost. Cove and SimpliSafe both charge $17.99 for basic monitoring and $27.99 for the full-featured plan. The difference is equipment: Cove includes a starter kit for free, while SimpliSafe charges $199-$509 for equivalent hardware.

That equipment gap is the entire cost story between these two systems. We calculated exact totals at every tier — 1-year and 3-year — so you can see precisely how much Cove’s free equipment offer saves you. For the full feature comparison beyond pricing, see our Cove vs SimpliSafe head-to-head.

Quick Cost Comparison

Cove Monitoring Plans & Pricing

Cove offers two monitoring tiers. Both include the free equipment starter kit.

Free equipment included with any plan:

• Cove Touch panel (7-inch touchscreen)
• 1 door sensor (pre-paired)
• 1 motion sensor (pre-paired)
• 1 key remote

Additional equipment at extra cost:

• Indoor camera: ~$99
• Extra door/window sensors: ~$15-$25 each
• Smoke/CO detector: ~$40-$50
• Water/flood sensor: ~$30
• Medical alert button: ~$30

No contract. Cancel anytime, keep all equipment, owe nothing. 60-day risk-free trial with full refund if not satisfied.

SimpliSafe Monitoring Plans & Pricing

SimpliSafe offers three tiers, including a unique free option.

Equipment must be purchased separately:

• Foundation kit (5 pieces): ~$199
• Essentials kit (8 pieces): ~$379
• Haven kit (12 pieces): ~$509
• Individual cameras: $99-$169 each

SimpliSafe’s unique advantage: Free self-monitoring. The system sends push alerts and sounds its siren with no monthly fee. Cove doesn’t offer a $0/month option. If you want alarm alerts without any recurring cost, only SimpliSafe provides that.

No contract. Same as Cove — cancel anytime, keep equipment. 60-day money-back guarantee.

Equipment Cost: The Real Difference

Monthly monitoring is identically priced. The equipment is where the cost gap lives.

What Cove Gives You Free vs What SimpliSafe Charges

SimpliSafe’s Foundation kit includes more door sensors, but Cove’s free kit comes with a superior touchscreen panel. The equivalent SimpliSafe hardware costs roughly $230+ if purchased individually.

Camera Add-On Costs

SimpliSafe has more camera options at more price points. Cove’s camera lineup is growing but still limited — notably, Cove lacks a video doorbell camera as of 2026.

Key insight: If you don’t need extra cameras beyond the basic alarm, Cove’s total cost is lower by roughly the cost of SimpliSafe’s equipment kit ($199-$509). If you want a full camera ecosystem with doorbell and outdoor cameras, the add-on costs reduce Cove’s advantage.

Total Cost Scenarios

Here are exact totals for realistic configurations over 1 and 3 years.

Scenario A: Basic Monitoring (Alarm, No Cameras)

The savings equal exactly the equipment cost — because monthly monitoring is identical.

Scenario B: Premium Monitoring (Alarm + Camera + App Control)

Scenario C: Full Home (Alarm + Multiple Cameras + Extras)

Cost Summary Table

Hidden Costs & Fees

Both Cove and SimpliSafe are transparent. Neither charges:

• Contract fees
• Cancellation fees
• Installation fees

Costs to be aware of:

• Local permits: Some municipalities require security system permits ($25-$100)
• SimpliSafe’s Standard plan limitation: The $17.99/month plan lacks camera recording and remote app control. To use cameras, you must upgrade to Interactive ($27.99/month) — an extra $10/month many buyers don’t anticipate
• Cove’s free equipment terms: Equipment is yours to keep regardless of plan status. No return requirements or hidden obligations
• Battery replacements: Both use battery-powered sensors lasting 3-5 years. Replacement batteries cost ~$5-$10 per sensor
• Rate changes: Neither guarantees rate stability. Monthly fees may adjust over time

The Self-Monitoring Factor

SimpliSafe has one cost advantage Cove can’t match: free self-monitoring.

If you want a security system with $0 monthly cost, SimpliSafe is the only option here. The system sends push notifications and sounds its siren when triggered — no subscription required. You lose professional monitoring, cloud video storage, and cellular backup, but the basic alarm functionality works for free.

SimpliSafe self-monitoring 3-year cost: $199 equipment = $199 total. That’s cheaper than any Cove option.

This only matters if you genuinely don’t want professional monitoring. Most security experts recommend professional monitoring for reliable emergency response — but if budget is the absolute priority, SimpliSafe’s free tier is hard to argue with.

Bottom Line: Which Costs Less?

For professional monitoring: Cove wins at every comparable tier. The savings range from $199 to $428 over three years, driven entirely by Cove’s free equipment offer. Monthly monitoring fees are identical, so the cost difference equals whatever you would have paid for SimpliSafe equipment.

For zero-cost monitoring: SimpliSafe wins. Its free self-monitoring tier with a $199 equipment kit is the cheapest home security option between these two.

Best value overall: Cove Plus ($27.99/month) with free equipment. You get 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular connection, a modern touchscreen panel, and all the core security features for ~$1,008 over 3 years. The same level of protection from SimpliSafe costs ~$1,387.

Choose Cove for: Lowest total cost with professional monitoring, free equipment, and no upfront investment.

Choose SimpliSafe for: Free self-monitoring option, broader camera ecosystem, doorbell camera, and the confidence of an established brand.

For the full feature comparison, see our Cove vs SimpliSafe head-to-head. Also check our Cove Security review and SimpliSafe review. For more on overall security costs, see how much does home security cost.