How StayPut stacks up
Chaperones have always found ways to watch the doors — tape, home security kits, hired guards, or just staying up. Here's an honest look at each one, including where it beats us.
At a Glance
| Category | StayPut | Blue painter's tape | SimpliSafe-style kit | Hired security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant alerts (push/SMS/email) | Push, email & SMS the instant a door opens | None — only visible the next morning, if it stayed stuck | Siren + possible police dispatch — no SMS/email, no per-room routing | Only if the guard happens to be looking at that door |
| Per-door coverage | Every monitored door, simultaneously | One strip per door — manual, unmonitored | One sensor per door, but built for a single home | Whatever's in the guard's line of sight |
| Works without hotel Wi-Fi | Built-in worldwide LTE — no Wi‑Fi or IT needed | No power or network required | Base station expects home Wi‑Fi; cellular needs a paid plan | No network dependency at all |
| Cost per night (approximate) | $10 per room per night for the first 20 rooms, $5 per room after — plus one-time reusable hardware | ~$8 a roll — the cheapest option by far | $9.99–$79.99/month year-round, plus ~$245+ starter hardware | $200–$400+ per guard, per night, with 4-hour minimums |
| Hotel-safe install (no damage) | Removable adhesive, free replacement strips | Usually clean; occasionally pulls paint | Adhesive meant for a permanent home install | No installation at all — nothing touches the door |
| Setup time | Minutes — plug in the hub, stick on the sensors | Seconds to apply — but redone nightly and never monitored | Built for a one-time home Wi‑Fi setup; harder in a hotel | None on-site — but requires booking a guard in advance |
Deep Dives
StayPut vs. Blue Painter’s Tape
The classic chaperone trick — we started there too. What tape catches, what it misses, and what the difference costs.
Read the comparison →
StayPut vs. SimpliSafe
A great home security system isn’t a trip monitoring system. Sirens and police dispatch vs. a quiet heads-up to the right chaperone.
Read the comparison →
StayPut vs. Hired Security
An overnight guard runs $200–$400 a night and can’t watch every door at once. When to hire one, and when sensors do it better.
Read the comparison →
Sleep easy. We'll watch the doors.
Set up in minutes in any hotel — no Wi‑Fi needed. Pay only for the nights you monitor.