SimpliSafe Launches $199.99 Video Doorbell 2 With Live Agent Monitoring
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Sep 15
SimpliSafe Launches $199.99 Video Doorbell 2 With Live Agent Monitoring
3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Sep 15
Summary
$199.99 buys SimpliSafe’s new wired Video Doorbell Series 2, which extends the company’s Active Guard service to front doors with live agents able to view, speak and try to deter intruders or package thieves.
Active Guard starts at $49.99 a month on Pro or Plus plans and activates only when the system is armed and triggered, using on-device AI, cloud computer vision and facial recognition to flag suspicious activity.
2K resolution, 10x zoom, a 150-degree head-to-toe view, dual-band Wi-Fi, two-way audio, a siren and up to five seconds of pre-roll mark the main hardware upgrades.
The doorbell requires a SimpliSafe base station and keypad, though it also works on self-monitored plans with video recording if users skip the live-guard feature.
Active Guard debuted on SimpliSafe’s indoor camera in 2023 and outdoor cameras in 2024, while rival Ring offers a similar Virtual Guard service for $99 a month.