Which Security Camera Has the Best Storage Plan?

Many of the best home security cameras have similar specs: 1080p cameras, night vision and person detection. But which offers the best deal when it comes to cloud storage for all the video they record?

Apart from the price, there are many differences in the companies’ plans, such as the number of cameras included, the length of time video is stored, as well as extra features, such as person and package detection.

We compared the video-storage plans offered by the best home security camera companies — Arlo, Blink, Canary, Nest, Ring, and Wyze — to see which one offers the best video storage plans.

Because many of these companies also make video doorbells, these storage plans also include those devices as well, where applicable. So, for example, you could get a Ring Video Doorbell, as well as one of Ring’s other cameras, and have both included on the same plan. 

As of July 2021, Arlo has updated its subscription plans, and added an emergency help line to its premium plan, now called Arlo Secure Plus, which costs $14.99/month  for an unlimited number of devices, as well as 4K cloud storage. Secure Plus plan subscribers can contact emergency services directly through the Arlo app, and be connected to Arlo’s emergency support line, which can help provide additional details to first responders.

Apple now offers cloud storage for HomeKit-connected cameras from Eufy, Logitech, and Netatmo security cameras. Video footage will be securely analyzed on a HomePod, iPad, or Apple TV device before being encrypted and sent to iCloud for storage. If you have a 200GB iCloud storage plan ($2.99/month), you can store 10 days of footage from up to five cameras. If you have a 2TB iCloud plan ($9.99 per month), you can store footage from an unlimited number of cameras. Apple is also adding package detection this fall.

Free plans

If you don’t sign up for a subscription plan, most cameras are limited not only in how much video footage you can view but also in what features are enabled. Here’s a summary of the features available in each company’s subscription plan (and a source for more details on each product).

Arlo: View live stream and receive notifications. 

Blink: 120 minutes of free video storage (up to 60 seconds in length), custom activity zones, two-way audio.

Canary: One-day history, video clips, custom activity zones, person detection, for up to four cameras.

Nest: 3-hour history and snapshots of significant events.

Ring: View live video and receive notifications.

Wyze: 14-day rolling cloud storage (up to 12-second clips), custom activity zones, 2-way audio, smoke & CO2 alarm detection.

If you want to go the free route, both Blink and Wyze have free storage, as well as a number of other features that are only available via subscription with other security cameras.

Paid subscription features

When you step up to paid plans, each company offers extra features in addition to cloud recordings. We’ll get to the pricing in a moment, but here are the features that are enabled once you subscribe to a plan.

Arlo: 2K and 4K video; downloadable 30-day video history; Person/vehicle/animal detection; package detection; customizable activity zones, emergency response service

Blink: 60 days rolling video storage, saving and sharing video clips

Canary: Unlimited video downloads; desktop streaming; two-way talk; custom arming modes

Nest: Continuous recording; Person detection; Facial recognition; customizable activity zones

Ring: Save and share live video.

Wyze: Complete motion capture. Will record the entire motion event, rather than just a 12-second clip.

Arlo users can also subscribe to a CVR (continuous video recording) Plan, which will continuously record video to the cloud. However, you can only view this video, not download it. A 14-day CVR plan costs $10/$100 per camera, and a 30-day CVR plan costs $20/$200 per camera. The price plan for each additional camera is 50 percent less.

Security camera cloud storage plans compared: Basic plans

Arlo Secure: $2.99/month for an individual camera and $10/month for an unlimited number of cameras. There’s no discount if you opt for a yearly subscription. This plan lets you save 30 days of recordings up to 2K in quality. You also get additional features, such as customizable motion detection zones, person, package, and vehicle detection, Smoke/CO Alarm Detection, and e911.

Nest Aware: $6/month for every Nest camera at one location. This also includes cameras in smart displays. This plan lets you save 30 days of recordings, get intelligent alerts, share video, and create activity zones. 

Ring Basic: $3/month or $30/year for a single camera. There’s no discount for additional cameras. This provides 60 days of recorded footage, sharing and saving video, notifications, and more. 

Blink Basic: $3/month or $30/year for a single camera; no discount for additional cameras. This provides 60 days of recorded footage (up to two hours total), sharing and saving video, notifications, and more.

Wyze Cam Plus: $1.99/month or $15/year per camera. Includes unlimited video length, person, package, vehicle, and pet detection, and smoke and CO2-alarm triggered alerts

In this bracket, Wyze’s plan is by far the most economical if you have two or fewer cameras. If you have more than two cameras, then Nest Aware becomes the most cost-effective plan. 

Security camera cloud storage plans compared: Premium plans

Nest Aware Plus: $12/month or $120/year. This plan also covers an unlimited number of cameras, but increases storage to 60 days. In addition, you also get 10 days of continuous video; that means, you can look back at any moment over the preceding 10 days, regardless of whether there was a motion event.

Arlo Secure Plus: $14.99/month for unlimited cameras. This plan gives you everything with Arlo Secure, but also lets you store up to 30 days of recordings in 4K. In addition, you get Emergency Response, which connects you to a professional call center and lets you contact fire and police with a single button press. 

Ring Protect Plus: $10/month or $100/year: This plan is only worth purchasing if you  have the Ring Alarm system. You get all the same benefits as the Ring Basic plan, but you also get professional monitoring for the Ring Alarm system, extended warranties, and 10% off Ring devices. 

Blink Plus: $10/month or $100/year for unlimited cameras at one location. Includes 60 days of rolling cloud storage (up to 2 hours total). 

Canary Premium: $9.99/month or $99/year gets you 30 days of storage for one camera. Each additional camera is $2.99/month or $29/year. This includes features such as person detection, e911, custom activity zones, and two-way talk.

Overall Recommendations

If you’re going the free route, Wyze is one of the few services that actually lets you save video in the cloud — plus, its cameras have local storage.

Among paid plans, Wyze is again the least expensive plan if you have three of fewer cameras. If you have more than that, then the Nest Aware plan is the most cost-effective.