SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
SimpliSafe has launched its next-generation smart video doorbell and is taking a more proactive approach to front-door security.
The new SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 is the company’s most advanced video doorbell to date, combining upgraded 2K video with a wider head-to-toe view, AI-powered person and package detection, improved two-way audio, pre-event recording and dual-band Wi-Fi. More significantly, when paired with SimpliSafe’s Active Guard Outdoor Protection service, professional monitoring agents can use the doorbell to intervene when they detect a potential threat.
GearBrain received a first look at the new Video Doorbell Series 2 from SimpliSafe last month, and we are currently testing the doorbell in a real home environment. We plan to publish our full hands-on review later this month. Until then, here is what consumers need to know about the new SimpliSafe video doorbell: how it works, which features require a subscription, and whether it makes sense for your home.
What is the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2?
Video Doorbell Series 2 is a wired smart video doorbell designed to work as part of a SimpliSafe home security system. It replaces the company's previous Video Doorbell Pro and is intended to give homeowners a clearer, more complete view of what is happening at their front door.
One of the biggest upgrades is 2K video resolution combined with an expanded head-to-toe field of view. The wider view makes it easier to see not only the person at your door but also packages placed closer to the ground. SimpliSafe says the upgraded camera provides a sharper view of visitors, deliveries, and other front-door activity day and night.
This can be especially useful for homeowners who use a video doorbell as both a security camera and a way to track deliveries.
AI can identify people, packages, and soon vehicles
SimpliSafe is also putting more emphasis on artificial intelligence with its latest doorbell.
The Video Doorbell Series 2 uses what SimpliSafe calls Smart AI to identify different types of activity rather than simply notifying homeowners every time motion is detected.
The system can currently detect people and packages, while vehicle detection is scheduled to arrive later. SimpliSafe also offers customizable Activity Zones, letting users tell the camera which areas of its field of view matter.
For example, you could focus detection on your walkway, porch, and driveway while excluding a busy street or a neighbor's property.
There is an important subscription detail buyers should understand: people and package detection are available on paid plansexcept the Standard plan. SimpliSafe says the forthcoming vehicle detection feature will have the same requirement.
Active Guard can bring a live SimpliSafe agent to your front door
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Video Doorbell Series 2 is its integration with SimpliSafe Active Guard Outdoor Protection.
Instead of relying solely on the homeowner to notice an alert and respond, the system can notify a U.S.-based SimpliSafe security agent when the camera detects a potential threat.
The agent can then view what is happening through the doorbell camera and use its two-way audio to speak directly to the person outside. Agents can also activate the doorbell's loud siren, request police dispatch when appropriate, and capture video evidence.
That changes the video doorbell's role from primarily recording an incident to potentially helping deter one as it happens.
Rebecca Zavin, SimpliSafe's Chief Product and Technology Officer, explained the company's thinking behind the feature:
“We believe that a video doorbell should do more than simply record what happened and alert you after the fact.”
Zavin said the Series 2 represents another step toward more proactive home security, particularly when homeowners are away.
However, Active Guard Outdoor Protection isn't included with the doorbell. It requires an eligible professional monitoring subscription.
Better two-way audio and pre-event recording
SimpliSafe has also upgraded the new doorbell's communication and recording capabilities.
Enhanced two-way audio is designed to make conversations with visitors clearer, whether you're talking to a delivery driver, guest or someone you don't recognize.
Another useful feature is up to five seconds of pre-event video capture.
Rather than starting the recording only after an event has been detected, pre-event capture can preserve several seconds leading up to the event. That additional footage can provide valuable context when reviewing a security incident.
Pre-event recording does require a paid plan and is available on all paid plans except Standard.
Dual-band Wi-Fi should make installation more flexible
The Series 2 adds support for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, an important upgrade for modern home networks.
Many smart home devices still operate exclusively on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi because of its longer range. Supporting both bands gives homeowners more flexibility when connecting the doorbell to their home network.
In our upcoming GearBrain review, I'll take a closer look at the doorbell's installation process, connectivity, and day-to-day performance in a real home.
A redesigned doorbell with clearer status indicators
SimpliSafe also redesigned the physical doorbell.
The Series 2 uses a black front housing surrounded by a white LED ring. Color-coded lights help users understand who is communicating through the camera: amber indicates a SimpliSafe monitoring agent is speaking, while blue indicates the homeowner is speaking.
The doorbell is sized for standard 4-inch vinyl siding, and SimpliSafe includes mounting adapters designed for flush, adjustable installations on most homes without custom fitting.
Its matte exterior is also UV- and weather-resistant to help reduce fading over time.
Familiar-face recognition is available with select plans
The SimpliSafe app lets you control camera settings, alerts, and privacy options.
Customers subscribing to eligible monitoring plans can also create a library of familiar faces. These could include family members, neighbors, in-laws or a regular dog walker.
The goal is to provide SimpliSafe's professional monitoring agents with more context about whether someone detected on the property is expected to be there.
Familiar-face functionality is available with the Pro and Pro Plus plans. SimpliSafe notes that face matching is disabled in certain restricted jurisdictions, including Texas, Illinois, and Portland, Oregon. Customers there can still use Active Guard Outdoor Protection, but agents manually review activity instead of relying on face matching.
What do you need to install Video Doorbell Series 2?
This is an important point for anyone considering buying the new doorbell.
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 isn't a standalone, battery-powered video doorbell.
According to SimpliSafe, you need:
- A SimpliSafe Base Station
- A SimpliSafe Keypad
- An existing wired doorbell connection
- A mechanical or digital doorbell chime
- A compatible transformer
The doorbell can be part of a SimpliSafe security system with or without professional monitoring, so professional monitoring isn't mandatory simply to use the hardware.
However, several advanced features require paid monitoring or camera plans.
How much does SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 cost?
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 costs $199.99 and is available from SimpliSafe and select retailers.
Consumers who want Active Guard Outdoor Protection have two professional monitoring options:
Pro — $49.99 per month
Pro Plus — $79.99 per month
Both provide access to Active Guard Outdoor Protection. Pro and Pro Plus also include familiar-face capabilities, subject to the regional restrictions mentioned above.
Factor this into the total cost of ownership. At $49.99 per month, Pro costs about $600 per year, while Pro Plus costs about $960 per year, plus the $199.99 doorbell and required SimpliSafe system hardware.
Consumers who don't need live-agent intervention can still use the Series 2 without professional monitoring, although some AI detection and recording capabilities depend on the paid plan selected.
SimpliSafe marks its 20th anniversary
The launch also comes during a milestone year for SimpliSafe.
Founded in 2006, the Boston-based home security company is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026. Over those two decades, SimpliSafe says it has grown to protect millions of people while pursuing its original goal of making home security more accessible.
Video Doorbell Series 2 also illustrates how the company's approach to home security is evolving. Rather than simply using connected cameras to tell homeowners what happened, SimpliSafe increasingly wants its cameras, AI, and professional monitoring services to work together to intervene before an incident escalates.
Who should consider buying SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2?
The new doorbell will make the most sense for existing SimpliSafe owners who already have the required Base Station and Keypad and want to extend their security system to the front door.
It could be particularly attractive for homeowners concerned about package theft or people approaching their property when no one is home. The combination of 2K video, head-to-toe coverage, package detection, and optional Active Guard intervention gives the doorbell capabilities that go beyond simply answering the door from your smartphone.
Consumers interested primarily in a standalone video doorbell, however, should understand the ecosystem requirements before buying. You also need SimpliSafe's Base Station and Keypad, plus an existing compatible wired doorbell installation.
Buyers interested in the Series 2 specifically for its live-agent security features should consider the recurring subscription cost. Active Guard Outdoor Protection requires either the $49.99-per-month Pro plan or $79.99-per-month Pro Plus plan.
GearBrain's first take — full review coming soon
On paper, the Video Doorbell Series 2 looks like a significant upgrade over SimpliSafe's previous video doorbell, especially with its 2K resolution, head-to-toe view, AI detection, pre-event recording, and dual-band Wi-Fi.
But we'll be watching Active Guard Outdoor Protection most closely.
Having a professional security agent potentially respond through the same camera a visitor or suspected package thief is standing in front of could make the doorbell considerably more proactive than a conventional video doorbell that simply sends a notification to your phone.
The big questions are how accurately its AI identifies people and packages, how quickly alerts arrive, how well the 2K camera performs day and night, how useful the expanded field of view is for spotting packages, and how reliably the doorbell works as part of the larger SimpliSafe ecosystem.
GearBrain got a first look at the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 last month, and we're now putting it through real-world testing. Look for our full GearBrain review later this month, when we'll cover installation, video quality, AI detection, notifications, app controls, two-way communication, and overall performance—and decide whether SimpliSafe's newest video doorbell is worth its $199.99 price and the potential cost of professional monitoring.
And remember to check out our smart home compatibility find engine to find other video doorbells, including ones that are compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.
