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In this guide, I will share my experience with Blink’s security camera, especially in the context of the subscription options, as this is crucial in maximizing the functionality of the smart security Camera. Let’s find out: Do Blink cameras require a subscription?
Introduction
As a tech enthusiast and a person living alone away from my bread and butter, I was looking for a budget-friendly way to enhance the security of my apartment, especially when I am not at home. Along with the budget-friendly tag, I was also looking for something that does not require monthly or annual subscriptions since it could shake my savings.
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Do Blink Cameras Require a Subscription?
The very first time I came across Blink, I was surprised and very much impressed with the price tag it was coming. Blink’s Indoor cameras start at just $30, and it makes it accessible for anyone who is concerned about their home security. The camera I received is very compact, easy to install and offers high-quality 1080p HD video, featuring night vision for low light monitoring and two-way audio.
My happiness was on the top, but I quickly also realized that the budget-friendly price comes with some limitations. No doubt, Blink cameras can work without the subscription plan is not necessarily important. But over the internet, many users find that the subscription plan unlocks more potential features in the same device, which I think can enhance the overall experience.
The device was working fine without any subscription, but I was also wondering about exploring the additional benefits that only come with the subscription, so I thought, why not let us give it a try and see if it is worth it or not.
What Really the Subscription Plan Offer?
Before investing my money, I opened my laptop and started researching the benefits of the subscription, I discovered that it offers various types of subscriptions that it configured to cater to different kinds of users. The basic plan was mentioned at $3 per month and $30 per year, which means some discount on an annual purchase. It’s like purchasing Google Cloud Storage. The basic plan includes features like:
- Motion-activated notifications – This feature tends to alert you instantly on your mobile device when any kind of motion is detected, which allows me to respond quickly in case of any unusual activity around my home.
- 90 minutes of continuous live streaming – This feature is perfect for monitoring my apartment in real-live with live footage especially in scenarios when I am away from my home.
- Motion detection video recording: This is like a wow feature, which tends to capture video clips only when any kind of motion is detected, which I think is invaluable for security insights and peace of mind.
You may also be thinking What, do we have multiple devices? I even have three cameras installed in my apartment, and for users like me who use multiple devices, Blank Plus Plan, which starts at $10 per month and $100 for an annual subscription, provides additional subscription-based features for your multiple devices. Which was a flexible plan in my case.
Surprisingly, there are some discussions over the internet where you can store the recording of the footage locally (on a USB device). But the fact is that the recording is first stored in the cloud storage, and after that, you can download or import it from there. This indirectly means that you still need a subscription.
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What Does the 30 Days of Free Trial Provides?
One of the best parts of Blink is that it provides a 30-day free trial for new users with the specific camera model. This trial period allowed me to explore and experience the full potential of Blink’s feature without any investment. The moment I signed up for the trial, I was greeted with a bunch of benefits on the Blink Home Monitor app, which showed me everything that I could do during the trial period.
During the trial, here are the benefits that I enjoyed the most.
- Live view streaming – This helped me to access live view for up to 5 minutes with real-time footage, which was very useful in my case as I can directly see what the maid is resting or doing her stuff for which she was hired for.
- Optional local storage backup – This option is also helpful and ensures you that your footage is secure, especially when I wanted to import some of the footage on my USB device without relying on the cloud storage.
For me, the trial was a game changer, giving me a glimpse of the possibilities I could achieve with the subscription model. I checked my app from time to time and enjoyed the peace of mind that came with being able to monitor my home from any corner of the world.
What are the Pros and Cons of the Blink Subscription
As I was exploring the features in the trial period of the Blink Subscription, I found myself comparing the benefits of the subscription model on the upper side to the limitations of the device without the subscription model. No doubt, the free version still provides the essential features and functions, but the subscription can open up more opportunities in terms of features. In short, the ability to connect n number of devices to a single account was particularly useful for multi-device users like me since I had ordered three cameras to stick to different corners of my apartment.
Despite the features, the peace of mind that comes with the extended warranty coverage and the cloud storage service for my video footage storage made this subscription plan hard to resist for me. I could access video footage history for up to 60 days, which was beneficial in cases where I wished to see the footage of the past event when I was not at home or to watch any unusual activity.
Blink Camera Subscription Plan
The Blink Camera Subscription Plan comes in two parts, which is customized to cater different needs of different users. Here are the features you get in the free, basic and Blink Plus plans.
Free Blink Subscription – What You Get?
| Plan | Features |
|---|---|
| Free Plan |  Motion-activated notification  Live view streaming |
| Price | Since it’s the free plan so no subscription is required you get the basic features to use the security camera. |
Basic Blink Subscription – Amazing Features for Single Device Users
| Plan | Features |
|---|---|
| Basic Plan |  Supports 1 Device Motion-activated  Auto video recording based on motion-detection Live view recording (without extended view) Extended Live View Video history of up to 60 days Local storage backup (optional but supported) Live Person Detection |
| Monthly Price | $3 / Month |
| Annual Price | $30 / Year (Save $6 on annual subscription) |
Plus Blink Subscription – Best Plan for Multi-Device User
| Plan | Features |
|---|---|
| Plus Plan |  Supports multiple device Motion-activated  Auto video recording based on motion-detection Live view recording (without extended view) Extended Live View Video history of up to 60 days Local storage backup (optional but supported) Live Person Detection Extended warranty Coverage Get 10% off on another Blink device on Amazon Multiple clips get clipped to a single video |
| Monthly Price | $10 / Month |
| Annual Price | $100 / Year (Save $20 on annual subscription) |
Alternatives to Consider if you do not wish for a Subscription.
While I was researching Blink Subscription, I also explored alternatives for users who do not like to spend on a recurring subscription plan. Cameras like Wyze, Eufy, Reolink and many other brands offer robust features in terms of storage without any subscription. Wyze is known for its High-Definition video recording with a local storage option, while Eufy security cameras are known to be popular in providing features that allow you to access the direct footage of your security camera without any recurring fees.
These alternatives could be beneficial for some users, but why hide? It also comes with a high upfront cost or even bad could be less user-friendly interfaces. I my experience, Blink’s combination of both affordability and easier of use made it a strong and only option to choose for a perfect home security solution.
Conclusion – Making the Final Decision
The main reason I subscribed to Blink came because of my specific need. If I were only using a single camera, the free version would be sufficient. But with the multi-device setup and a desire in mind for a more feature-rich experience, I opted for the basic plan.
Frequency Asked Question’s
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Do blink cameras work without subscription?
Yes, Blink camera’s work without subscription. You could get all the basic features without the subscription. But, if you would like to take the experience to the full potential with plenty of features then subscription will be necessary.
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How to manage Blink subscription for multiple device?
If you have multiple Blink camera’s and you’re are worrying about managing subscription for all of them, then their is the Blink Plus plan which starts with $10/Month or $100/Year plan which can help you to connect all of your Blink camera’s under the single plan.
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How much duration of video footage do Blink Subscription provides you?
If you have the Blink subscription, you can get video footages of up to 60 days to check any past event or activity.
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What is the price of Blink Subscription?
The basic veriosn of the Blink Subscription costs $3/Month or $30/Year saving $6 on yearly subscription. While the Blink Plus subscription gives you advantage to connect multiple devices and charged at the rate of $10/Month or $100/Year with savings on $20 on annual plus plan
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Is Blink camera subscription necessary?
If you are okay with the basic features its offering then no need to grab the subscription plan whether its basic or plus. But if want to use full potential of the camera then it is very benefical to go with the subscription
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Do Blink Subscription provides trial?
Yes, you’ll get trial to check all the features and understand wheather it has any advantage with your usage pattern.
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