The Hidden Costs of Smart Homes (and How to Avoid Them)
Here, we'll show you five of the most common hidden costs with smart homes, and how to avoid them.
Some of the most popular smart home devices are home security cameras and video doorbells. After smart lights and locks, these all-seeing cameras help you keep tabs on your property, your front door, and your packages.
However, a majority of the best home security cameras require you to pay for a monthly subscription in order to save video — and the same goes for the best video doorbells too. So, if you want to look back at who came to your door, or if there were animals running around your back yard, you'll might need to spend a little extra each month.
Security camera storage subscriptions start at around $3 per month for a single camera, but can escalate quickly if you have multiple cameras on your property.
However, a few companies — most notably Eufy — allow you to save footage locally without having to pay for a subscription. While the upfront cost for the cameras is a little more expensive, you'll save money over the long run.
Verizon Home Device Protect: It can be easy to overlook or underestimate hidden costs when it comes to tech. That's why Verizon Home Device Protect can be a lifesaver. As a protective layer against unexpected out-of-pocket costs, it covers virtually all home tech, from laptops to smart vacuums, for your house and one additional. It also comes with 24/7 tech support, saving you hassle over time.
The best DIY home security systems let you monitor everything that's going on around your home; more than just cameras, these systems also have door and window sensors as well as motion detectors, so you'll know if someone's trying to get in.
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But, if you want the authorities to respond to your home without you calling them first, you'll need to subscribe to a professional monitoring service, most of which cost around $19 per month.
We're not saying you shouldn't get professional monitoring, but know upfront that it's a bit of an investment.
One of the best mesh routers is an essential part of any smart home; you need good Wi-Fi coverage throughout your house in order for all those devices to be able to connect reliably to the cloud.
In recent years, some of the leading router companies have started offering subscription services to protect all of your connected devices from such things as viruses, data breaches, and more.
These plans can also cost as much as $100 per year, so it's worth comparing their features to what the best antivirus programs offer, to see which best fits your needs. Often, there's a good amount of overlap between the services.
We might not think of the best streaming services as part of a smart home, but when using a streaming stick or smart TV, it's all connected. And, if you're subscribing to multiple streaming services, those bills can add up fast.
Each month, it's worth looking at what's coming up on the services you subscribe to, and deciding whether or not you should cancel it. There's no sense paying for something you're not using.
You should also look for deals — often around Black Friday and other events, many services will offer a special one-year subscription rate that's much lower.
Another way to save money is to look at the different subscription tiers; many services now have a premium tier, but then also one that's much lower. You'll just have to sit through ads.
Like traditional devices in your home — think lightbulbs and refrigerators — smart home devices also have a lifespan, but the timeframes might be a bit different.
Let's start with smart lightbulbs. While they use less energy and have a claimed lifespan much longer than incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs are still a somewhat newer technology. As a result, they may not last as long as advertised.
A bigger issue with smart home devices, though, is that at some point, they become obsolete as technologies change, and the companies that make them no longer support them.
So, while a security camera that you bought 10 years ago may still work well, it may no longer get updates from the company, which may leave it more vulnerable to hacking.
In other cases, a company might turn off features for smart home products — or worse, the company might go out of business entirely.
Our advice: Look to buy smart home devices from more well-established companies, but be prepared that you will have to replace things eventually.
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WIRED
4 hours ago
- WIRED
Should You Opt for Cloud or Local Storage for Your Security Camera?
Aug 12, 2025 10:00 AM With home security cameras and smart doorbells, video storage is crucial. But do you go cloud or local? We compare the options. Courtesy of Aqara; Eufy; Google All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Learn more. 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). Video is stored securely online (if someone steals or destroys your camera, the footage still exists) Video is usually quick to access and stream wherever you are or whatever device you are using You don't need any additional hardware, just the camera and an internet connection Video loss is less likely (lower failure risk and no maintenance required) Cloud storage usually requires an ongoing paid subscription If the camera goes offline for any reason, it won't record any video You are trusting the provider with your video (data breaches happen, and vendors can raise subscription prices) Uploading and downloading videos can use up a lot of bandwidth What Is Local Storage? Local storage is storage hardware within your home. When you store security camera footage locally, it is not sent to the internet. You can access your video from anywhere using the app on your phone (provided the device is internet-connected). Your videos will be encrypted, and you need your login details to access them. There are a couple of different kinds of local storage. Built-in storage : Some security cameras, video doorbells, or hub devices come with built-in storage that cannot be removed. It would usually be limited to a few gigabytes. Network Video Recorders (NVRs) or Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) also often come with built-in storage, but they tend to offer terabytes. : Some security cameras, video doorbells, or hub devices come with built-in storage that cannot be removed. It would usually be limited to a few gigabytes. Network Video Recorders (NVRs) or Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) also often come with built-in storage, but they tend to offer terabytes. Removable storage: Most security cameras with a local recording option use removable storage. This includes microSD cards, USB flash drives, SSDs, or hard drives. Whether the removable storage goes into the camera itself, a connected hub or chime, or a DVR or NVR, it will usually be sold separately, and there will generally be a size limit, so always check. No subscription needed; you pay once for hardware, and there are no ongoing costs Video will be recorded even if your internet goes down Locally stored clips are harder for anyone other than you to access You can keep videos and share them or back them up for as long as the hardware works You often have to buy storage, such as a microSD card or hard drive, separately If someone physically steals the camera or hub, they can destroy the footage Most cameras have a storage limit, and it can be quite low (for example, 128 GB) Local storage can be slower to access, especially when you are away from home Should I Choose Local or Cloud Storage, or Both? It depends on your home, favorite brand, and other preferences. If you don't mind paying for a subscription and think you are likely to access videos when you are away from home frequently, cloud storage is probably the best option for you. If you balk at another monthly fee or worry about a camera company having all your footage, opt for local storage instead. To get the most from your security cameras and ensure you don't lose videos, consider both. While subscriptions are technically optional for some security cameras, I wouldn't recommend buying Nest, Arlo, Ring, Blink, or Philips Hue cameras if you aren't going to pony up for the subscription, because their best features are bundled in. You can get cameras with local storage that include most of the best features without a subscription from Eufy, Aqara, and Ezviz. Annoyingly, TP-Link and Reolink, both solid local options, bundle rich notifications that include photos into their subscriptions. Cloud vs. Local Storage Costs Cloud storage plans can be costly over the years, but you generally get a discount if you pay annually. While the single-camera plans are relatively expensive, subscriptions are a better value if you have multiple devices. Local storage is all upfront costs unless your hardware fails, but this is unlikely (I've never had a microSD card or SSD fail in several years of testing, though it can happen). As a final decider, let's compare the cost of some of our top recommendations over time. This is based on prices at the time of writing, so it may change. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED . Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.
The Verge
5 days ago
- The Verge
This smart lock lets me see through my door
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But it's handy as a quick way to confirm who is at the door before opening it, especially if your kids are home alone or with a babysitter or grandparents who don't have your video doorbell app downloaded. 7 Verge Score As the name implies, this lock was designed with multigenerational households in mind. Instead of a fingerprint reader, it uses palm vein technology to unlock, which is supposedly more reliable, especially for individuals with more finicky fingerprints. That's a common issue for children, older adults, and my husband, who is a firefighter and has apparently burned off all his fingerprints. Unlike fingerprint tech, which relies on surface features that can be degraded, palm vein recognition uses infrared light to view vascular patterns underneath the skin. At $400, the FamiLock is expensive, but you are getting two devices in one. In my testing, palm unlocking wasn't any faster or easier than using your fingerprint, and I found it a bit harder to get used to. 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The company says it worked with cybersecurity experts and published a new set of privacy commitments on its website last year. Photos by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Reviews Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Smart Home Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Smart Home Reviews Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
CNET
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This 3-in-1 Eufy Vacuum Is a Steal at the Record-Low Price of $349
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