Best for…
This camera sends video to the cloud, and it can be set to record 24/7 or just motion-triggered events. Face detection can even identify people.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) can be powered by its rechargeable battery, but we recommend it only for use with the optional power cord, which makes it a much better camera in every way. In my testing, when the Nest Cam was plugged in, it never missed a recording, and it accurately identified whether the motion came from a person, an animal, or a vehicle. The Nest Cam is our only pick that offers free cloud storage, though that’s limited to a three-hour window (which isn’t terribly useful if you don’t catch the motion event). Subscription options increase the storage, and you can add in face recognition and the ability to record to the cloud 24/7.
Although the Nest Cam can operate via an internal battery, its battery function was well below the performance of competing models, lasting less than two weeks with normal activity. (We plan to test an add-on solar panel as an option to help out.) If you ever run into a situation where you want to use the camera temporarily in a different location—say, you’re trying to bust whatever has been rummaging in your garbage cans or raiding your pea plants—you can rely on the battery for a short time.
You can tell it what to record (and what to ignore). The Google Home app allows you to select areas within the camera’s view and label them as Activity Zones. Then you can choose what type of activity the camera should record and when you want to receive smartphone alerts, both within the field and outside of it. For instance, I monitored my driveway for people, animals, and vehicles, but I received alerts only when a person was within the frame. Users can create up to four Activity Zones per camera.
A subscription is optional (but we recommend getting one). The Nest Cam does include free cloud storage, but without a plan, clips are automatically deleted three hours after they are captured, which makes them of questionable value. If you want access to clips for a longer duration, a Nest Aware subscription lets you store recordings for up to 30 days ($8 per month or $80 per year), and it includes an unlimited number of Nest cameras.
It has advanced features, for a price. If you have a Nest Aware subscription, the camera gains the ability to listen for emergency sounds and then alert you, such as if smoke and carbon monoxide detectors go off (which probably won’t matter to you if you’re using this outside) or if it detects the sound of glass breaking. A subscription also enables Familiar Face Detection, which allows you to tag visitors, family members, and regular guests by name. It’s a nice feature, especially if you have a Google Nest smart speaker, which can be set to announce whenever someone tagged as “Familiar” comes by. I did find that the Nest has to get a particularly good look at a person’s face for it to be successful. (You can help the software by periodically checking on the list of familiar faces and correcting them.)
Have it record motion only or everything in view. The Nest is our only pick that offers 24/7 recording to the cloud ($15 per month or $150 per year). That means you can go back and check the footage to see if the camera missed someone or something stealing your packages. Even without that option, in my tests it never missed any motion—and, more importantly, it never sent any false alerts. Without the 24/7 recording plan, the Nest Cam will capture clips up to five minutes in length (naturally, something still has to move to trigger a recording). If motion continues, it starts a new recording immediately, with no gaps in between. Some cameras leave a gap of a few seconds or even a few minutes, which could mean you’re missing the exact type of event that sparked you to get a security camera.
One downside of the 24/7 recording is that it requires a lot of power, which is why we recommend you use the camera with the power cord, rather than rely on the short-lived battery.
Notifications are automatically limited to prevent nuisance. In my testing, the Google Home app sent smartphone notifications of activity about every 10 minutes following a motion trigger. And it will send just a single notification, no matter how many events happen in that time frame. That prevents you from being pestered with constant notifications when the neighbor is mowing the lawn.
But a potential downside is that with multiple short events being combined into a single notification, you may not be alerted to something important. For instance, if someone comes into view for 30 seconds and then leaves, and then another person shows up three minutes later, you’ll still only get one notification for both visits. The Nest Cam will record both interactions, but you may not be aware of both visitors if you don’t watch the clip. Note that I had considered categorizing this limitation of notifications a flaw. Yet ultimately I’ve found it’s largely a good thing, since it keeps you from getting bombarded with notifications—a common issue with cameras placed in busy locations.
You can manage it without having to use a smartphone. Although the Google Home app is needed for the initial setup, and for most of us it’s the best option for daily use, you can access and view your entire video history, customize recorded clips, and download clips by using a web browser to access Google Home for web. Not only can you call up past events, but you can view and listen to live action and even talk through the camera using the web browser interface.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- The battery life is one of the worst I’ve seen on an outdoor camera, which is why I recommend hardwiring it. According to Google, if you have regular activity (nine to 12 events per day), you should get about three months of use—half that if you get 20 to 25 events per day. During this round of testing, mine died after less than two weeks. If you must go cordless, Wasserstein makes a solar panel, which we plan to test for a future update.
- The Google Home app doesn’t allow you to delete single clips, and that may be concerning if you walk in front of cameras in pajamas as much as I do. (And, yes, I do that outside, too.) If you have the free plan, this shouldn’t be a concern since it auto-deletes. Otherwise, you can only delete full video history.
Privacy and security snapshot
- Video is encrypted in transit and at rest but not while in use.
- Google shares data only with approved partners, such as a home-security provider. Recordings cannot be accessed without permission, except when required by law, such as via a valid subpoena or court order, and then only by limited personnel.
- Two-factor authentication is available but not required.
For more details, read Google’s privacy statement.
