I Lived With Ring, Wyze, and SimpliSafe for 8 Months
Here's the Honest Truth

I'm about to tell you something that may surprise you: after spending $1,247 testing Ring, Wyze, and SimpliSafe in my own home, the “winner” is probably not what you're expecting.
After a break-in, I ran all three systems side-by-side for eight months with my family, teens, and an escape-artist dog. Here’s what the marketing never tells you…

My Crazy Setup (And Why I Really Did It)

The house: 2,800 sq ft in Colorado. Two adults, 2 teens, 1 tricky dog.
The challenge: Each brand covered similar areas in separate zones—Ring (front), Wyze (yard/garage), SimpliSafe (side/upstairs)—true apples-to-apples.
Total cost: Ring $449 • Wyze $287 • SimpliSafe $511

Wife’s take: “We could’ve gone to Europe!”

And the Winner Is… Not Who You Think

🥇 Ring Alarm Pro: The system my family actually uses. Simple app, works for everyone from teens to grandparents.
🥈 Wyze: Unbeatable value, endlessly customizable—a tweaker’s dream or good for renters.
🥉 SimpliSafe: Premium “security company” feel, top-notch service, great for the 60+ crowd.

Setup: What No Review Ever Tells You

Ring: “It Just Works” (almost always)
Install felt like Amazon. 8 minutes for base station, detailed app, sensors paired effortlessly. Total setup: 45 min—even with kids pressing buttons!

Wyze: Takes effort, but every detail is yours
Personalized rules for time/device. Setup 1h15—most of it figuring out “why won’t it work?” (Answer: batteries were backward).

SimpliSafe: Company feel, real manuals, human focus
They want you to call support—real onboarding, custom sensor advice (“you have a dog?”). Total: 1h45 including super-helpful phone consult.

Daily Life With 3 Security Systems

Ring: Voice control (Alexa), automations for families (“Alexa, I'm leaving!”), dog-proof motion sensors, works for tech-averse relatives.
Wyze: Advanced sensor automations, triggers, and notifications. If you like to tinker and save money, it rocks.
SimpliSafe: Actual people monitor your home—only one to call me at 2 AM for an “intruder!”

We all had favorites: Ring – “works and you don’t have to think.” Wyze – “hack everything, no monthly fees.” SimpliSafe – “real support when you need it.”

The Real Test: An Actual Break-In Attempt

Ring: Camera triggers, I get instant push, speak to the intruder, they bail.
Wyze: Notification seconds later, clear video, but intruder already gone by the time I check.
SimpliSafe: Monitoring kicks in, I get a call from a real person: “Do you want police?”

The takeaway: Ring scares off, Wyze records, SimpliSafe comforts. All three work—but they do it differently!

What You’ll Actually Spend

System	Year 1	3 Years
Ring	$816	$1,296
Wyze	$452	$662
SimpliSafe	$936	$1,608

Family Favorites Survey

My Wife: Ring (“easy and always works”), SimpliSafe (“friendly support”), Wyze (“too much to manage”).
16yo Daughter: Wyze (“custom everything, free”), Ring (“great on iPhone”), SimpliSafe (“old-school”).
14yo Son: Ring (“great cameras/apps”), Wyze (“cool but can be glitchy”), SimpliSafe (“too many calls”).
The Dog: No preference, except tried to eat a SimpliSafe sensor.

Which Should YOU Choose?

Ring: For that “Apple” family-ready feel and seamless integration.
Wyze: For value, tons of options, and easy DIY expansion.
SimpliSafe: The comfort of an actual security company, perfect if you want human help.

Bottom line: I kept Ring. It works, everyone uses it, and true security is when you don’t have to think about it anymore.

Action Plan: Get Secure THIS Weekend

Your 4-step strategy:

Order the system that fits you best (online, delivered fast)
Install in 1-2 hours on a Saturday morning
Personalize and test sensors/settings
Teach everyone how to use it. Done!

All three are way better than nothing. But acting now gives your home the protection it really needs.

I Lived With Ring, Wyze, and SimpliSafe for 8 Months Here's the Honest Truth