Smart security cameras offer an insightful glimpse into the activities occurring in and around one’s residence. However, one significant downside is the necessity of storing footage, which often translates to a subscription service for many devices.

For those using Google Nest cameras, an upcoming increase in subscription costs has been announced. The basic plan that provides 30 days of recordings will rise from $8 to $10 monthly, while the enhanced Nest Aware Plus plan will see a jump from $15 to $20. This upgraded option offers longer access to archived videos along with ten days of continuous recording. Current users will notice these adjustments starting August 15th.

If the idea of additional monthly payments is unappealing, it may be prudent to explore more affordable camera options or those that don’t require ongoing subscriptions.

To bypass subscription fees, one can either opt for live viewing without saved clips or select a camera equipped with local storage capabilities. The former option is less than ideal, as the value of security cameras lies primarily in their recorded clips rather than just real-time views. For instance, live feeds are typically useful when interacting with delivery personnel at the door.

Cameras that support local storage typically come with either a dedicated microSD card slot or can connect to a networked hard drive for storing footage from multiple cameras. Don’t be concerned about physically accessing the microSD card; many systems offer app-based access to recorded clips, similar to cloud storage solutions, as do networked hard drives.

Cameras with Onboard MicroSD Options