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The latest in security cameras and video doorbells are among the most popular connected home accessories, and for good reasons. They can instantly alert you to the presence of intruders, signal as a package gets delivered, enable you to see and converse with visitors at your door, or confirm when a child arrives home from school.

But at what cost? Beyond the initial investment, most internet-connected cameras require subscribing to a paid plan if you want the capability to record and retain video in the cloud for more than 24 hours. In this guide to security camera subscription plans, we have collected the specifics on free and paid plans from many of the most popular smart camera and smart doorbell makers—saving the headache of researching them on your own.

• Do You Need a Paid Subscription Plan?
• Diverse Costs, Diverse Feature Sets Reign
• Choose Your Camera and Subscription Plan Carefully
• Guide to Security Camera Subscription Plans
• Amazon Cameras
• Arlo Cameras
• Blink Cameras
• Canary Cameras
• D-Link mydlink Cameras
• Google Nest Cameras, Video Doorbells, and Smart Displays
• Kasa Smart Cameras
• Logitech Cameras
• Netatmo Cameras and Video Doorbells
• Resideo’s Honeywell Home Cameras
• Ring Cameras, Video Doorbells, and Security Systems
• SimpliSafe Cameras, Video Doorbells, and Security Systems

Do You Need a Paid Subscription Plan?

Can you get by without a paid plan? Maybe, depending on how you plan to use your camera or doorbell. Lacking a paid subscription, you are typically limited to viewing and and interacting with a live video feed—though some camera makers give you 24-hour video retention as part of their free or included plans.

These typically free live feeds work great when the camera or video doorbell is installed at the front door, where you can use your smartphone to view and converse with visitors. Or to scare would-be intruders away with your voice from the comfort of your office, car, or the coffee shop.

But plans with live feeds only can be problematic when you are incommunicado for hours, stuck in meetings or elsewhere without access to your smartphone. That’s where you’ll want to choose a camera with a free 24-hour video retention feature, or a paid subscription plan with a minimum 5- to 7-day video retention period.

Are higher-end features, such as person or face detection, important to you? Most manufacturers will restrict that type of feature to paid plans. Do you travel extensively on multi-week trips? If so, you’ll want a plan with longer video retention capability, to meet or exceed your average trip duration. That way, you can review video clip history in the event of a burglary or other events upon returning home. Plans are available with up to 60 days of video storage.

Diverse Costs, Diverse Feature Sets Reign

There are two things that ring true across all of the plans below: their costs are literally all over the map, and there is little commonality among the various manufacturers on the sets of features offered. In most cases, you will save by purchasing an annual plan (typically paid up front) instead of a month-to-month plan. Furthermore, most plans offer multi-camera discounts, and these can bring significant per-camera savings—particularly if you have more than a few cameras or smart doorbells.

Still others, particularly those manufacturers with security systems, may bundle in video retention features with broader 24/7 security monitoring plans. These can be a cost-effective way to get both your overall home security and video retention needs met. And some manufacturers may offer bundles with the camera and a cloud storage plan at a special reduced price.

Not sure what direction to go with your home? Check to see if your camera maker offers a free trial plan. These generally run for 30 days, and can be a great way to see if you really need the features offered in these paid plans. Just be sure to cancel the plan promptly if you determine you don’t need it, which will prevent a potential charge to your credit card.

Choose Your Camera and Subscription Plan Carefully

Let’s face it. The cumulative cost of most security camera subscription plans can amount to many more times the cost of the camera or smart doorbell device over time. So, it makes sense to thoroughly research both the available cameras and the available plans before making a purchase.

Here, we have conveniently collected the particulars on security camera subscription plans from many of the most popular camera and doorbell manufacturers, ranging from Amazon to SimpliSafe. We will continue to add to this matrix and keep its data refreshed as the home security camera landscape evolves.

Is your favorite system missing? Let us know through our social channels and we will work to add it to the list.

Guide to Security Camera Subscription Plans

Amazon Cameras

Arlo Cameras

Blink Cameras

Canary Cameras

D-Link mydlink Cameras

Google Nest Cameras, Video Doorbells, and Smart Displays

Kasa Smart Cameras

Logitech Cameras

Netatmo Cameras and Video Doorbells

Resideo’s Honeywell Home Cameras

Ring Cameras, Video Doorbells, and Security Systems

SimpliSafe Cameras, Video Doorbells, and Security Systems

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