One Option You Shouldnt Overlook When Setting Up a Security Camera – The New York Times

If you own or plan to buy a home security camera or smart doorbell camera, you need a place to hold all of the footage it captures. That means you need to decide where video will be saved once the camera captures it, because where the video goes determines how long it lasts, how secure it is, what it costs, and how easy it is to access.

There are two types of video storage for Wi-Fi security cameras. Local storage saves all your video recordings in the camera, on a networked device, or even on network-attached storage (NAS)so all your video stays local, inside your home. Cloud storage is the other option, in which the camera transfers all your recordings over the internet to store them on servers that you can access from almost anywhere (thats what the cloud part refers to).

We suggest that most people use cloud storage for their security cameras, or that they select cameras offering both local and cloud options (such as our current top-two indoor camera picks). Although local storage is usually cheap (just the cost of the memory card), and in going local you dont have to worry about who might potentially view your footage, there are a few specific reasons we recommend only those cameras that offer some type of cloud service.

If you merely want to spot mice running across the kitchen counter or view what your dog is doing during the day, local storage should be just fine. However, if someone breaks into your home and steals the camera cardor the whole camerayou wont have a record of the incident.

Cloud storage keeps all your footage safely away from prying eyes (or hands). Of course, if the power goes out, if a child yanks the power cord, or someone simply steals your camera, youre out of luck no matter what type of storage you use. However, cloud storage at least ensures that you have a video clipright up until your camera shuts downthat you can view in an app or a web browser.

Every type of storage option has limits. If you use local storage, youre limited by the amount of space on the memory card or NAS device. For example, the Eufy 2K Indoor Cam can support a microSD card up to 128 GB, which provides enough space to hold about 30 hours of 2K-resolution video or 36 hours worth at 1080p resolution. Wyze recommends using a 32 GB card with the Wyze Cam v2; that translates to 48 hours of 1080p video or 168 hours of 720p video. That may sound like a lot, but it can disappear quickly depending on how often your camera gets motion triggersyou may end up having hours of clips of you mowing the lawn, say, or of kids playing in the family room. Typically when a card hits its limit, the camera automatically deletes the oldest video clips to make room for new oneswhich means if you arent checking it once or twice a week, you may miss something.

With a cloud storage plan, you think in terms of time instead of storage size. For instance, Wyzes Cam Plus service stores your footage for 14 days (your recordings delete automatically after that). Although most cloud storage plans dont support 24/7 recording (Googles Nest Aware being a notable exception), Wyze says you could theoretically store 14 days of 24/7 video clips if your camera is constantly being triggered to record.

It often pays towell, pay. Companies want to get you on the hook for that recurring revenue, so they often include exclusive features and other perks to entice new subscribers and keep existing customers happy.

For instance, for $2 per month per camera (or $15 annually), Wyzes Cam Plus service includes person detectionso your camera can be more selective when it records clips and sends you alerts. Similarly, the Arlo Smart service provides people, vehicle, and package alerts, as well as activity zones. And some cameras, like those from the Google Nest line or newer Arlo models, dont provide any type of storage, person alerts, or the ability to share clips without a subscription.

Although were never eager to subscribe to yet another paid service, we think cloud storage for security cameras is a service worth having, even if you dont use it 365 days a year. Compared with most service fees, the pricing for cloud storage tends to be relatively low. Current cloud plans cost anywhere from $2 to $6 per month for a single camera (and usually offer a discount for multiple cameras) and include several privacy and safety features.

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One Option You Shouldnt Overlook When Setting Up a Security Camera - The New York Times