We have used a Simplsafe system for over a year and are very pleased with it. We have entry alarms on all the doors that ‘ding’ whenever they are opened which is handy having a three -year old Grandson running loose in the house. We have broken glass detectors in each room, a Simplisafe smoke detector in addition to the ones already in the house (which are not monitored, but the Simplisafe one is) and a panic alarm in the master bedroom. The monthly cost for professional monitoring of the system is $14.99. There is a siren capability that you can set yourself for loudness using the USB remote that comes with the system.
Back to the camera. Its set up on a shelf in our den and captures 90% of that room. Even though it is not monitored or recorded, using the Simplisafe app I can assess it from anywhere on my phone and watch real time video. I can also access whether the system is active or not and times it was activated or deactivated. Once again, for additional cost you can operate your system remotely.
We have been happy with the system as well as our motion detecting driveway alarms.