These Security Cameras Are a Free Alternative to Google Nest
Smart security cameras can be a useful tool for keeping an eye on what’s going on in and around your home. The problem with security cameras is that in order to access the recordings of everything that’s going on, you need to store them somewhere, and for most cameras, that means a subscription.
If you have Google Nest cameras, your subscription price is about to increase . For the basic plan, which includes 30 days of video viewing, the price will increase from $8 to $10 per month; for users of the premium Nest Aware Plus plan, the subscription price will increase significantly from $15 to $20 per month. Nest Aware Plus gives users more time to access old videos and 10 days of 24/7 video history. The price change is also coming soon. Current users will see these changes starting August 15.
If you, like me, refuse to pay another monthly fee, then it might be time to opt for less expensive cameras or cameras that allow you to avoid a subscription altogether.
To avoid monthly fees, store your clips locally.
To avoid a subscription, you’ll either need to agree to live-only access (no video storage) or find a camera with local storage. Let’s get the former out of the way: The real value of a security camera is the stored video, not the live view. Live view is a tool that’s most often used when you’re at home and someone rings the doorbell, or you know a delivery guy is coming.
Local storage eliminates the need for the cloud, and many cameras now come with either a microSD card slot or a network hard drive that can record video from all your cameras. Don’t be intimidated by the microSD card – often you don’t need to remove it to view the videos. You can access them through an app, just like with cloud storage. Network hard drives work the same way.
Brands that offer network hard drives
I now use Eufy cameras almost exclusively with HomeBase (Eufy’s network hard drive). I love the cameras, but I love that there’s no subscription and I can add as many cameras to HomeBase as I want. My videos download quickly.
Amazon Blink cameras work similarly. If you have a Sync module, you don’t need a subscription. The Sync is a simple, compact device that you plug into a power outlet in your home as close to the cameras as possible. The connection isn’t as reliable as the Eufy Homebase, but given the low cost of the Blink cameras, it’s a great choice for those on a budget.
Reolink cameras can be connected to the Home Hub network, which works similarly to Eufy.
Brands that offer built-in microSD cards
Many Tapo cameras come with a microSD card slot. The card acts as storage for your videos, and while it’s not as big as a local hard drive, it still gives you a decent amount of storage. Tapo cameras are also some of the most affordable on the market, often under $50, so you’re saving on both the camera itself and the subscription.
Aqara, a brand I love for its wide range of smart sensors , also offers a security camera with a built-in microSD card. This camera also serves as a hub for all other Aqara products.
MicroSD memory cards are an ideal storage solution when the camera is too far from your home network to use Wi-Fi to transfer files. Remote-controlled cameras using 4G are becoming increasingly popular, and in this case, having local storage on the camera itself will save you from having to pay for a subscription, and will also allow you to monitor the camera’s activity when the memory card is removed.