SimpliSafe vs RSC — Which Is Actually Cheaper for Camera Monitoring?

SimpliSafe earned its reputation by ditching contracts — a genuine improvement over ADT. But for camera monitoring specifically, the costs still add up fast: ~$170 per camera plus ~$28/month for the plan that unlocks recording. If you're weighing a SimpliSafe alternative, here's the honest cost and feature comparison against RSC.

The camera cost problem

SimpliSafe is really an alarm system with cameras bolted on. To get useful camera functionality (recording, person alerts), you need the Interactive plan at ~$28/month, and each camera runs about $170.

For a five-camera home, SimpliSafe's first year lands near $1,186 once you buy the cameras and pay for Interactive. RSC covers ten cameras (double that) for about $264/year with no hardware.

SimpliSafe camera review: the honest take

To be fair, this SimpliSafe camera review isn't a takedown. SimpliSafe does several things well:

• Real alarm system with entry sensors, keypad, and siren — RSC is cameras only.
• Optional professional monitoring with police dispatch.
• No contract — a genuine advantage over ADT.
• Clean, easy app.

If you want an integrated burglar alarm with sensors and a siren, SimpliSafe is a legitimate choice and RSC isn't a direct replacement for that piece.

SimpliSafe vs phone camera: the camera piece

But if your goal is camera monitoring — watching entries, getting person alerts, reviewing footage — the SimpliSafe vs phone camera comparison favors phones hard on cost:

Where RSC wins

• Cost: ~$264 vs ~$1,186 for a 5-camera setup, year one.
• No hardware: reuse phones you own.
• More cameras: ten on Pro vs five for the SimpliSafe price.
• No lock-out: cancel and keep two cameras free.

Where SimpliSafe wins

• It's an alarm system, not just cameras — sensors, keypad, siren.
• Professional monitoring with dispatch.

The smart combo

Many people run both: keep a basic SimpliSafe alarm if they want sensors and a siren, and use RSC on old phones for all the camera coverage — avoiding SimpliSafe's ~$170-per-camera and Interactive upcharge. You get the alarm you want and the cameras you need for far less.

Bottom line

As a SimpliSafe alternative for cameras, RSC is dramatically cheaper: $0 hardware and $22/month for ten cameras versus ~$170/camera plus ~$28/month. If you specifically want an integrated alarm, SimpliSafe keeps that edge — but for camera monitoring, SimpliSafe is too expensive next to phones you already own.

Compare the same way against Ring and Nest, or go fully free with an old phone as a camera.

Compare for yourself. See pricing at realsecuritycamera.com →