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SimpliSafe Outdoor Security Camera Review
We tested the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera and loved its reliability, perfect audio, and crisp images.
Plan | Price | Video verification | Video recording | Timeline access | Smart home integration |
| Fast Protect™ | $31.99/mo. |  Yes | Up to 10 cameras | Unlimited | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard monitoring | $21.99/mo. |  No | No | 7 days | No |
| Self Monitoring w/Camera Recording | $9.99/mo. | No | Up to 5 cameras | Unlimited | Yes |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
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5 min readWe tested SimpliSafe's outdoor camera in a real backyard, and we're happy to report that it passed muster. The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera has clear video and great sound. To top things off, it also comes with a siren, zoom, and a motion-activated spotlight.
Honestly, we're relieved that this camera works so well. You can't use SimpliSafe with third-party camera brands, so the only way to get professional video alarm verification is to use SimpliSafe's cameras. This one does the trick, but we do wish it had more than one privacy zone.
Pros
Clear video
Outstanding sound
Easy installation 
Cons
No motion sensitivity settings
Just one privacy zone
Overactive sensitivity Video: How to Get the Most Out of SimpliSafe Home Security
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What's in the box
- SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera
- Charging cable
- Battery
- Mounting bracket and screws
Image: SafeWise
Cost adds up with accessories
The camera itself sells for nearly $180, but you might spend close to $100 extra just to get the power supply and mounting hardware you need.
There are three ways to power the SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Camera: removable battery pack, 25-foot power cord (about $30), or solar panel (about $80). This camera automatically comes with one rechargeable battery pack, but you can buy an extra for around $30 so the camera isn't offline during charging.
Finally, SimpliSafe also sells a permanent camera mount for about $10. Without it, the Outdoor Camera relies on a magnet to stay in place.
Quick installation
To install this grapefruit-sized camera with your SimpliSafe home security system, all you need to do is tap on Add New Camera the SimpliSafe app, and it will guide you through the rest. It took about 10 minutes for us to install it from start to finish.
We used the magnetic mount to just stick it to a metal post. If you need to mount it with screws, it will take a little longer.
Hands down, this is one of the easiest cameras we’ve ever set up. (And we’ve set up a lot of cameras.)
Camera not connecting? Update the firmware
If your camera isn’t connecting to your system during installation, make sure the SimpliSafe base station is updated with the latest firmware. Once the updates are downloaded, the SimpliSafe camera should connect with no problems.
Check out more SimpliSafe troubleshooting tips or learn how to contact SimpliSafe customer service.
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Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer. Exclusions may apply.
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SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera vs. other outdoor cameras
SimpliSafe Outdoor Cam is a little less expensive than its competitors, but it doesn’t offer smart home integration like Ring, Arlo, or Google Nest cameras. It also doesn’t offer simple features like privacy zones that prevent the wireless security camera from recording in certain areas (like over your neighbor’s fence). It needs motion sensitivity controls too.
However, it fits the bill of what SimpliSafe offers: simple equipment that's a breeze to set up and use. With fewer settings to configure, it takes not time at all to get the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera up and running.
Cameras | Best for | Price | Power source | Resolution | Night vision | Learn more | Read review |
| Best for SimpliSafe customers | $199.99 | Battery, wired, solar | 1080p | Color, infrared | View on SimpliSafe | ||
| Best for Cove customers | $199.00 | Battery | 1080p | Infrared | View on Cove | Read review | |
| Best for ADT customers | $179.99 | Battery, wired, solar | 1080p | Infrared | View on Google Store | Read Review | |
| Best for Vivint customers | $399.99 | Wired | 4K | Infrared | View on Vivint | Read Review | |
| Best for Ring Alarm customers | $199.99 | Battery, wired, solar | 1080p | Color, infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Clear video and audio
Screenshots: Alina Bradford, SafeWise
The quality of both the audio and the camera leave very little to complain about. The camera’s 1080p HD resolution is clear with vivid colors. With the help of the camera’s light, the color night footage is clear too. We had no trouble identifying faces.
The SimpliSafe camera has 8x digital zoom, but we didn’t feel like that helped much when identifying objects that were further away. The image got fuzzier when we zoomed in. That’s common for security cameras, though.
The audio was impressive. It was understandable without much noise. The siren is plenty loud enough to scare off intruders at 80 dB. It’s probably not loud enough to wake you unless it’s near your bedroom window. It’s only about as loud as a vacuum cleaner.
Overly sensitive motion sensor
We’ll be frank; the motion detection on this security camera system is annoying. We were getting notifications every few seconds. It picked up leaves, bugs, and other random things. Ironically, it missed some humans. We wanted to turn down the sensitivity, but this SimpliSafe video camera doesn’t offer that option.
You can set up activity zones so the camera doesn’t sense activity from busy areas like sidewalks or roads. The problem is that it only lets you select one area to ignore. If your camera is pointed at several busy areas, you have to pick which one to ignore. Huge bummer. Other cameras, like the Arlo Pro 4, let you create multiple activity zones.
Final word
If you’re looking to expand a SimpliSafe system into your yard or driveway, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera will give you a clear view, day or night.
Best of all, SimpliSafe's professional monitors can check video footage during an alarm event to gather evidence and understand the alarm's context. Make sure you subscribe to the Fast Protect™ plan to take advantage of this perk.
SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera FAQ
The range of the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera depends on the features you're using:
- Motion detection range: 30 feet
- Infrared night vision range: 30 feet
- Color night vision range: 10 feet
No, the SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera records only when it detects motion—even when using the optional power cable accessory. You must pay for a service plan to record videos and save them to cloud storage.
The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera comes with a USB charging cable. It can take up to five hours to charge all the way. You can also purchase a solar accessory that keeps the camera charged so you don’t need to mess with it.
Nope. SimpliSafe security systems are only compatible with SimpliSafe cameras. You can use other brands of security cameras, but they just won’t work with your security system.
The SimpliSafe keypad and the camera pages and timeline on the app will all show alerts so you’re sure not to miss it. If your push notifications are on, you’ll get a message sent to you too.
Expect a battery life of about 3 to 6 months. It'll last longer if you don't check the live feed very often and if there aren't many events to record and send to cloud storage.
Ten, but you have to have the Fast Protect™ plan to use this many cameras.
No, it only works if you connect it to a SimpliSafe base station and keypad.
Technically, yes. It won’t record footage, but you can see live footage using the app.
To learn about more things you can do with the app, take a look at our SimpliSafe app guide.
No. Although SimpliSafe pairs with Amazon Alexa, there's no Echo Show video compatibility.
Yes, SimpliSafe UK customers can buy the Outdoor Camera too.
SimpliSafe equipment pairs with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for home automation and limited voice control. SimpliSafe doesn't work with Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, or IFTTT.
Read answers to more SimpliSafe FAQs.
How we reviewed the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera
Image: SafeWise.
For our SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera review, we tried the camera out with our SimpliSafe security system. We used it in a real home to figure out just how well it works in real life. We also scoured reviews from other users to see if our findings matched up.
Who are we? Our staff here at SafeWise has almost 100 years of combined experience in safety and security. You can trust our reviews and recommendations.
You can learn more about how we review products and services on our methodology page.
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