SimpliSafe home security systems are made by SimpliSafe Inc, an American company headquartered in Boston that is now owned by the private equity firm GTCR.
The company built its reputation on a no contract, do it yourself security model that let homeowners and renters skip expensive professional installation.
Ownership of SimpliSafe has actually changed twice in less than a decade, most recently in a 2025 deal that most customers never even noticed.
This guide explains exactly who owns SimpliSafe now, when the company was founded, where its hardware is actually made, and how it compares to ADT and Ring.
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Who Owns SimpliSafe?
SimpliSafe is owned by GTCR, a Chicago based private equity firm that closed its acquisition of the company on November 10, 2025.
GTCR bought SimpliSafe from Hellman and Friedman, the previous private equity owner that had controlled a majority stake since 2018, according to the official deal announcement.
As part of the ownership change, Hilary Schneider became SimpliSafe’s new chief executive officer, Ty Shay was named president, and founder Chad Laurans stayed on as board chairman.
Hellman and Friedman had originally taken its majority stake in 2018 in a deal that valued SimpliSafe in the billions of dollars, according to trade press coverage from that period.
You can read SimpliSafe’s own announcements about its leadership and ownership changes on its official press room.
When Was SimpliSafe Founded?
SimpliSafe was founded in 2006 by Chad Laurans, who built the original wireless alarm system after struggling to find an affordable, contract free option for his own family business.
Eleanor Laurans later joined as a co founder and helped shape the product design and engineering direction of the young company during its early years.
The company grew steadily through direct to consumer sales, skipping the long term contract installation model that dominated the home security industry for decades.
That no contract approach became SimpliSafe’s core selling point and helped it stand out from older, more expensive competitors like ADT and Vivint.
By the time Hellman and Friedman invested in 2018, SimpliSafe had already grown into one of the largest independent home security brands in the United States.
SimpliSafe built much of its early reputation through popular tech review sites, which repeatedly named it a top pick for renters who could not install permanent equipment.
Where Is SimpliSafe Equipment Made?
SimpliSafe designs its base stations, sensors, and cameras from its Boston headquarters but does not manufacture the hardware itself in house.
Like most connected home electronics companies, SimpliSafe relies on contract manufacturers based in Asia to build its physical devices at scale.
Engineering, software, and monitoring services are handled largely by SimpliSafe employees in the United States, while final assembly happens overseas.
This split between domestic design and overseas assembly mirrors how most smart home brands, from doorbell cameras to portable power stations, actually operate today.
You can see a similar pattern described in our guide on who makes Jackery products.
What Products Does SimpliSafe Make?
SimpliSafe’s core system includes a base station, entry sensors, motion sensors, and a keypad, all sold together in starter bundles for new customers.
The lineup also includes indoor and outdoor cameras, a video doorbell, smoke detectors, and water sensors that all plug into the same mobile app.
Professional monitoring plans are optional and priced separately from the hardware itself, unlike many older security companies that require long term contracts.
SimpliSafe has also introduced AI powered camera features designed to reduce false alarms and verify real threats faster for its human monitoring agents.
New homeowners can typically install a full system themselves in under an hour, without drilling permanent holes into walls or hiring a licensed professional technician.
The company also offers professional monitoring agents who can dispatch police or fire departments automatically when a sensor confirms a real emergency in the home.
SimpliSafe vs ADT vs Ring: Who Makes Each?
SimpliSafe, ADT, and Ring all sell home security products, but each company has a very different ownership and manufacturing story behind it.
ADT is a publicly traded American company that has offered professionally installed and monitored security systems since the nineteenth century.
Ring, by contrast, is owned outright by Amazon, which acquired the doorbell camera company in 2018 for close to a billion dollars.
Consumer electronics brands like Apple, covered in our guide to where Apple products are made, use a similar contract manufacturing model to keep hardware costs down.
SimpliSafe sits closer to Ring in its do it yourself, no contract approach, while ADT still leans heavily on professional installation crews.
GTCR has said it plans to keep investing in SimpliSafe’s software and AI features rather than pivoting the company toward professional installation.
Is SimpliSafe Any Good?
SimpliSafe is generally well reviewed for its easy self installation process and its lack of long term monitoring contracts.
Independent testers often praise the affordable entry price and flexible monitoring plans compared to traditional, professionally installed security companies.
Some users report occasional connectivity issues with sensors over a home wireless network, a common complaint across most DIY security brands.
Overall, SimpliSafe remains one of the most recommended DIY security options among budget conscious homeowners shopping without a big installation budget.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes SimpliSafe
Who makes SimpliSafe?
SimpliSafe is made by SimpliSafe Inc, a Boston based company now owned by the private equity firm GTCR.
Is SimpliSafe an American company?
Yes, SimpliSafe was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2006 and remains headquartered there today.
Is SimpliSafe hardware made in China?
Much of SimpliSafe’s hardware is assembled by contract manufacturers in Asia, a common practice across the connected home security industry.
Did Hellman and Friedman sell SimpliSafe?
Yes, Hellman and Friedman sold its majority stake in SimpliSafe to GTCR, with the deal closing in November 2025.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.