WiFi is essential for the Nest camera to run.If your WiFi is spotty, so is the performance of your Nest camera.
The Ring is less expensive, has lower subscription fees, and has 180 degree range of motion. However, The Nest has higher video quality, offers professional installation, and offers a longer trial period. Both Ring and Nest have night vision and noise cancellation.
Nest Aware subscription
| Plan name | Price | Amount of storage |
|---|
| 5-day | $5/mo. OR $50/yr. | 5 days |
| 10-day | $10/mo. OR $100/yr. | 10 days |
| 30-day | $30/mo. OR $300/yr. | 30 days |
Nest Aware is Nest's subscription service for Nest Cam users that allows you to store video recordings in the cloud for up to 30 days, among other features. It costs $10 per month (or $100 per year), and any additional Nest Cam costs $5 per month (or $50 per year).
All Nest cameras have Night Vision so you can see what's happening, even in the dark. Nest cameras use high-power infrared (IR) LEDs to illuminate the scene. Night Vision range depends on how much light there is, but most Nest cameras have a range of about 20 feet in the dark.
Important: While watching Nest camera's live video is free and does not require a Nest Aware subscription, watching live or recorded video over a 3G or 4G cellular connection will use data from your data plan.
Compare SpecsThe Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras for 2020
| Our Pick | Rating | Resolution |
|---|
| Arlo Go $339.99 at Amazon | 4.0 Review | 720p |
| Blink Outdoor $64.99 at Amazon | 4.0 Review | 1080p |
| TP-Link Kasa Cam Outdoor KC200 $79.99 at Amazon | 4.0 Review | 1080p |
| Nest Cam IQ Outdoor $399.00 at Google Store | 4.0 Review | |
Google Nest Security Cameras & Video Surveillance | Costco.
We recommend the Nest Indoor as the best indoor camera and the Arlo Pro 2 as the best outdoor camera. Nest Indoor has great night vision and artificial intelligence additions while Arlo Pro 2 works well both indoors and out, offers both local and cloud storage, and comes with a very loud siren.
With the right security system, Nest can be a very valuable asset. But its not set up to be a hardwired system. That means homeowners must do something with the cameras to hardwire them in, which is sometimes easier said than done.
How many products you can have in the Nest app
| Nest thermostats | Maximum of 20 per home |
|---|
| Nest cameras, video doorbells and Dropcams | Maximum of 10 per home (video quality depends on your internet bandwidth) |
| Nest Secure | Maximum 1 Guard per home Maximum 30 Detects per home Maximum 10 Tags per person |
While Nest makes quality cameras, there are cheaper options. But if you want smart features and smart home compatibility with your security camera, Nest is worth the money.
Nest Aware Plus
| Nest Aware (2nd gen) | Includes all cameras, speakers, and displays in your home |
|---|
| Nest Aware 30-day event video history | $6/month $60/year |
| Nest Aware Plus 60-day event video history + 10-day 24/7 video history | $12/month $120/year |
Recap. The Nest Cam Indoor is one of the best security cameras of 2020. It hits our standards in terms of video, audio, night vision, smart platform integrations, and artificial intelligence. However, it's not the cheapest option around and it's not a great choice for users that want local storage.
Two new cameras have been introduced—the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor and Nest Hello—along with Nest Secure, a multi-device home alarm system powered by motion sensors. Both cameras are intended for outdoor installation, and they add facial-recognition capabilities via Google's FaceNet technology.
Nest Cam works in a window, but isn't designed for that.
The Nest Cam Indoor security camera is designed to help you look after your home and family — even when you're away. With 24/7 live streaming, a versatile magnetic stand, person alerts with Nest Aware and one app for all your Nest products, Nest Cam Indoor helps you keep an eye on what matters.
An indoor security camera cannot be used outside because it is not weatherproof. An outdoor security camera not only has to provide surveillance but also resist a wide range of outdoor weather conditions. The units are waterproof and tamper-resistant. Depending on your climate, it may even need a heater and blower.
When it's on, your Nest camera's microphone picks up sound in the area around your camera. You can switch the microphone on or off. When the microphone is off, audio is not streamed or recorded; if you want to hear activity near your camera, turn the microphone on.
As a general rule, 3-4 cameras for the following areas are a great start for most homes: A doorbell camera to keep an eye on the front door and packages. 1-2 outdoor cameras for the front and back of the house. An indoor camera inside to watch valuables, kids, or pets.
How to connect your camera to the Nest app and install it
- Start with the Nest app. Turn on your phone's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
- Scan the QR code and pick a location name. The app will ask you to scan your camera's QR code with your phone.
- Plug in your camera and connect it to Wi-Fi.
- Check your camera's video stream.
You can watch your camera's video history on your phone or tablet with the Nest app, or you can use a computer. To watch the video history on a computer, sign in to your account at home.nest.com. While watching your video history on a computer, you'll see a timeline at the bottom of the screen.
