Every few weeks, I uninstall a security camera or doorbell and install a new one to test. Each time, I download the accompanying app, and set up all the zones and views and preferences. While most camera apps share most of the same features, the main differentiating factor, in my opinion, is what kind of clips the camera app will share with you without a subscription.
For the best security camera experience, you need video clips
If you have a video doorbell or camera, you know how they work: You’ll receive a notification to your phone that something is happening, and then you will click on the notification to pull up a short video clip of what happened.
The problem is, for lots of cameras, that video clip is part of a subscription service. The live feed is usually a free perk, but that doesn’t have much value—you’ll have missed what already happened. (I don’t need to be informed someone was on my porch—I need the video clip of them taking my package.) That said, security cameras aren’t cheap and no one needs another subscription in their budget. Though subscriptions are generally under $10 a month, that’s still another $120 a year out of your pocket.
Some systems have workarounds for USB storage
The solution is to choose cameras with local storage options, and luckily there are a number of them. For instance, while Amazon Blink will push their subscription on you to get even basic clips out of your cameras, you can purchase a Sync module, which has a slot for a USB drive. The Sync can be used with all your Blink products, and clips are saved to the USB drive. You can pull the clips the same way you would if you had a subscription. I have found that the location of the Sync module makes a huge difference in how effective it is; it must be near your camera. I also have been less than impressed with the lag time in pulling playback clips at times. For these reasons, this isn’t my favorite solution.
Look at brands that have specialized hard drives
For camera systems like Eufy and Reolink, you need to purchase a hard drive. Eufy calls this a Home Base, and Reolink calls it a Home Hub. In both cases, the hard drive is connected to your modem and all the cameras in your system sync to the hub. The hub saves your clips, and you can pull clips to your cameras as if you had a subscription. I’ve run both systems in my home, and found both to work well enough to be my first choice for a local storage solution. Both the Eufy and Reolink systems pull clips up quickly and without fuss.
Individual cameras might have onboard microSD cards
Some cameras allow you to use memory storage cards directly on the device itself. TP Link Tapo cameras have a slot for a microSD card on the camera, allowing you to skip a subscription, but you’ll need a card for every camera rather than having one unified storage device for all cameras. The Vosker VKX 4G Camera works the same way. You’ll find a number of 4G cameras (which are meant for spaces away from your wifi) will have microSD slots, since you don’t want to eat your 4G sending clips back and forth over data.
You might lose out on some subscription features
The downside of skipping subscriptions can mean missing out on other features your camera offers, like AI, which is becoming more common. These AI models can help make your notifications richer, telling you if you’ve gotten a package or there’s a person at your door, and in some cases, if it’s a member of your household.
Still, in most cases, skipping the subscription is worth it if you’re looking to limit costs while still getting the most important benefits from your security systems.
