Whether you want to keep tabs on your kids, package deliveries, or pets when you’re away from home, security cameras and video doorbells are an affordable and easy way to do so. But there’s one important question to settle before deciding on your ideal home security setup: Where will you store those videos? Cloud convenience can be perfect for some, while others may prefer to keep things local and subscription-free.
I’ve been testing security cameras and video doorbells for many years now, and I’m going to walk you through the main differences between cloud and local storage, discuss the pros and cons of each, and provide you with a cost comparison that includes all the main cloud storage services.
Looking for recommended devices? Our Best Outdoor Security Cameras, Best Indoor Security Cameras, Best Video Doorbells, and Best Pet Camera guides can help.
Cloud vs. Local Storage
Videos stored in the cloud are uploaded to or downloaded from internet-connected storage servers at a remote location, most likely the camera manufacturer's facility or on hardware rented by them. Videos stored locally are saved to hardware in the camera (like a microSD card) or on a hub or plug-in chime within your home.
What Is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is a secure remote server space. Your videos will be encrypted, and your login details are required to access them. You can stream your video from anywhere using the app on your phone. There are only really a couple of different kinds of cloud storage for security camera videos.
Clip recording : When a camera detects motion, it will trigger a short recording, usually between 10 and 30 seconds. The duration is often configurable, and there is sometimes a cooldown period before it can be triggered again. A handful of manufacturers offer limited free clip recording, but this is rare nowadays. Subscriptions usually give you 30 or 60 days of event recording, after which any unsaved clips are deleted. Only uploading clips helps to keep bandwidth and power demands low.
: When a camera detects motion, it will trigger a short recording, usually between 10 and 30 seconds. The duration is often configurable, and there is sometimes a cooldown period before it can be triggered again. A handful of manufacturers offer limited free clip recording, but this is rare nowadays. Subscriptions usually give you 30 or 60 days of event recording, after which any unsaved clips are deleted. Only uploading clips helps to keep bandwidth and power demands low. Continuous recording: With continuous recording, the camera is constantly uploading video to the cloud. When you review your video, you usually have a timeline you can scrub through with motion detection events marked. Again, it is rare for this to be offered for free, but some manufacturers do offer a few hours of video without a subscription. For a monthly fee, you can extend the recording period, generally from around seven to 30 days. Cameras recording continuously to the cloud need a strong Wi-Fi signal and plenty of bandwidth, and generally need to be plugged in (a few battery-powered cameras can record continuously now, but only at very low frame rates, usually a maximum of 1 fps).
The Pros of Cloud Storage
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