Nest Without Subscription: What Will/Won’t Work (2023)

A gadget that has subscriptions is always a more convenient device to use. When it comes to Nest devices, the Nest welcome doorbell costs $230, and the Nest Cam IQ outdoor costs $399, to name a few examples.

Because of this, it’s understandable that someone may be unwilling to pay the extra $60 per year “Nest Aware” membership fee on top of utilizing these devices with a monthly subscription. Moreover, Ring’s “Protect” membership package begins at only $30 per year.

One last and crucial concern arises: would consumers be permitted to drop out of the Nest Aware subscription when all is said and done? However, there are a variety of tasks that may be completed without the need for Nest Aware’s membership. What you will be able to do is watch the live capture by Nest Hello and Nest cameras, which is one of the most important things.

However, no recordings will be made, and even still photos will be destroyed after 3 hours of inactivity on the camera’s screen. If there is any kind of disconnection that lasts more than a few hours, your Nest device may become inoperable unless you subscribe to the Nest Aware service.

What Nest Aware Offers

If you compare Nest Aware plans to Ring plans, Nest Aware seems to be quite expensive at first glance since its membership begins at $6 per month and may go to as much as $12 per month depending on the plan chosen. Compared to the $3/month price of Ring Protect Basic, this is a significant saving.

They aren’t, as it turns out, equivalent in every way: One device is all that is covered by Ring Protect Basic, but Nest Aware provides coverage for all of your Nest cameras and doorbells. The following are the primary advantages of becoming a member of Nest Aware:

  • Depending on the subscription package you pick, the video recordings will endure between 30 and 60 days.
  • The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to intelligently recognize persons or noises that you may need to check out and communicate them to you are examples of intelligent alerts.
  • Activity zones, which let you choose which areas of your home or property should get motion alerts, may be created using a simple drag-and-drop interface. You could find it beneficial if your Nest device is generating an excessive number of alerts as a result of its location overlooking a crowded place.
  • Films may be easily shared with friends and family as long as they are in your video history (i.e., for 30 or 60 days). You can also save these clips to your PC by downloading them fast and easily.

Further details on the Nest plan may be found here. A yearly expenditure of $60 is the result of paying $6 every month. It costs roughly $12 per month to subscribe to Nest Aware, which works out to around $120 a year. More than twice as much as the Nest Aware strategy. Among the most significant distinctions between the two strategies are:

  • Nest Aware Plus provides you with video recordings that are stored for up to 60 days, not just for a period of thirty days).
  • Additionally, the Plus plan is available; you will have access to recording services 24 hours a day, seven days a week – and For the next ten days, these recordings will be archived. That’s right; motion-based recordings are kept for 60 days, and everything else is archived for an additional 10 years.

The ring has received a significant boost with the implementation of this feature, which, although having promised 24/7 recording back in 2018, has yet to deliver on its promise to customers.

AmericaUKCanadaGermany/EuropeAustralia
Nest Aware$6/month ($60/year)£5/month (£50/year)$8/month ($80/year) CAD€5/month (€50/year)$9/month ($90/month) AUS
Nest Aware Plus$12/month ($120/year)£10/month (£100/year)$16/month ($160/year) CAD€10/month (€100/year)$18/month ($180/month) AUS

Nest Devices That Might Benefit From Nest Aware

Nest Devices Without Subscription

Several devices from Nest will benefit from the Nest Aware platform, including the Nest Hello smart camera/doorbell and some of the company’s smart speakers,’ which are speakers that also have a camera built into them.

Among the devices that may reap the benefits of a Nest Aware subscription is the following:

  • Nest welcoming camera is Nest Hello (their smart doorbell)
  • Nest Cam Indoor is a video surveillance system that is designed to capture images inside (their smart camera)
  • With the Nest Cam Indoor IQ, you can see what’s going on inside your house (it has extra recognition features and a speaker)
  • Nest Cam Outdoor is a camera that is mounted outside (their smart camera for outdoor use)
  • Nest Cam Outdoor IQ is a smart camera that monitors the outside of your house (their outdoor camera with extra features)
  • Nest Hub Max is a smart home device that connects to the internet through a wireless connection (their smart speaker, which also has an integrated Nest Cam)

As an added bonus, a single Nest Aware subscription covers all of your Nest devices, allowing you to cover a large number of Nest doorbells and cameras for as little as $6.00 per month. As a comparison, Ring’s Protect Plus package, which costs $10/month, only covers all of their devices.

Skipping Nest Aware for Your Nest Hello Doorbell and Indoor/Outdoor Cameras

If you’ve got a Nest Hello but don’t have a membership, here’s what Redditors are saying about it: Despite the fact that this article was created in June 2018, the quantity of features you get is still relevant. (or do not receive!) if you do not have Nest Aware is still the same as it was when it was written.

So, for example, you would not get the following benefits without a membership:

  • “Intelligent alerts,” What you’re getting are phone alerts that Nest believes are important enough for you to get, are defined as follows: Instead, you’ll get all motion notifications, regardless of whether they’re for automobiles or passing animals.
  • Any previously stored video recordings of events that have been collected and preserved are accepted as evidence.
  • Three hours have passed since the last time a still picture was saved (more on this later).

However, what do you get if you mix the smart doorbells and cameras from Nest, which are billed as security equipment? You’ll still receive the following benefits even if you don’t subscribe to Nest Aware:

  • Being able to view the live video stream anytime you want is a huge convenience.
  • Whenever the Nest Hello doorbell is pressed, you’ll get an email notification.
  • Alerts based on motion, but for any and all events (not just important alerts).
  • ‘Sightlines’ (Basically, the order in which various events and recordings from various devices appear) are filled up with image snapshots. When your Nest doorbell/camera identifies a face or other relevant motion, it takes a still photo. However, these still photographs are destroyed after 3 hours, so you won’t be able to see who has been to your door (without the subscription).

While this is sufficient for some, it is insufficient for others. Given the high cost of the Nest Outdoor IQ camera (and all of the additional capabilities that the ‘IQ’ adds), I believe it would be inconvenient to lose some of the services available via the aware membership. However, if you purchased a less expensive Nest Cam Indoor during a sale and just wanted to check in on your home once in a while, the subscription would be less beneficial in that case.

How No Nest Aware Compares to No Ring Protect

As I’ve said throughout this essay, I’ve been comparing and contrasting the Nest Aware program with the Ring Protect program. As a last comparison, I wanted to point you to what you receive (or don’t get) if you don’t subscribe to any of the services mentioned before.

They are, therefore, essentially the same in terms of functionality. Still, As a result, Ring’s “motion zones” feature may result in a flood of messages if an animal or a vehicle passes by, making it difficult to focus on what really matters.

However, if you live in a remote place, this isn’t such a terrible thing since any motion occurrence may be significant, and so you’d want to be aware of it. Your home will, however, get a great deal of traffic if it is near the highway.

In the absence of a Ring subscription plan, you may still alter your motion zones and switch on “people only” mode in order to get fewer alerts. On the other hand, Nest does not allow you to do this unless you subscribe to the service.

Best Seller List of Google Smart Home:

SaleBestseller No. 1
Google Nest Mini 2nd Generation Smart Speaker with Google Assistant - Charcoal
  • VALUE BUNDLE INCLUDES: Google Nest Mini 2nd Generation Bluetooth Speaker with English, Spanish, French and Portuguese Global Language Compatibility so it works everywhere, Universal Power Adapter and Quick Start Guide English Quick Start Guide with International Manual for Global Users
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  • BLENDS RIGHT INTO YOUR HOME Looks great on a nightstand, shelf, countertop - or the wall. This Nest Mini Speaker is small and mighty with bright sound that kicks! It plugs into the wall and is powered by the global ac adapter that works internationally so it works in outlets everywhere
  • Recommended uses for product : Indoor
  • Item dimensions : 4.0 inches
SaleBestseller No. 2
Google Nest Thermostat - Smart Thermostat for Home - Programmable Wifi Thermostat - Snow
  • ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page.Connectivity Protocol : ‎Wi-Fi.Connectivity Protocol : ‎Wi-Fi
  • The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory. Lock feature: No
  • Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home; easily program an energy efficient schedule in the Google home app on your Android or iPhone
  • Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
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SaleBestseller No. 3
Google Nest Protect - Smoke Alarm - Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector - Battery Operated ,...
  • Smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector that speaks up in a friendly voice to give you an early warning when there's smoke or CO in your home
  • Split Spectrum Sensor looks for both fast burning and smoldering, and tells you where the danger is
  • Get phone alerts so you know something's wrong even when you're away from home[1]
  • CO detector looks out for carbon monoxide and tells you where it's located
  • With App Silence you can silence the smoke alarm with your phone in the Nest app when there's only a little smoke
SaleBestseller No. 4
16 Reviews
Google Home White Slate One Size Smart Speaker Google Assistant
  • Google Home is powered by the Google Assistant. Ask it questions. Tell it to do things. It's your own Google, always ready to help.
  • Use your voice to quickly find information about the weather, news, sports and more. "Hey Google, what time does the grocery store close?"
  • Google Home's high-excursion speaker delivers a big, rich sound in a compact size. "Hey Google, listen to Discover Weekly on Spotify."
Bestseller No. 5
Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) - Wireless Doorbell Camera - Video Doorbell - Ash, 960x1280
  • The Nest Doorbell has built-in intelligence and can tell the difference between a person, package, animal, and vehicles and send you an alert in the Google Home app[1], no subscription required.Controller Type:Google Assistant;Amazon Alexa.Connectivity protocol:Bluetooth;Wi-Fi.Power source type:Battery Powered
  • Easily check in from anywhere 24/7 with live HD video with HDR and night vision[1]; see what you missed with 3 hours of free event video history[2]; or add a Nest Aware subscription (sold separately) for up to 60 days of event video history[3]
  • If your Wi-Fi goes down or there’s a power outage, the Nest Doorbell will store up to 1 hour of recorded events so you can see what you missed[4]
  • The Nest Doorbell is easy to install wired or wire-free; the built-in battery means it works with any door, or connect it to your existing doorbell wires with the included wire connector
  • Whether you choose battery or wired installation, the battery-powered Nest Doorbell cannot continuously record 24/7 video history, even with a Nest Aware subscription
Bestseller No. 6
Kasa Smart Light Bulbs that works with Alexa and Google Home, Dimmable Smart LED Bulb, A19, 9W,...
  • Brightness Dimmable: With a dimming range from 1% up to 100%, the Kasa Smart Light Bulb, Dimmable helps you set the right brightness for any mood or activity such as kitchen light, reading light, living room light or bedroom lamp..Special Features:Dimmable,Energy Monitoring
  • Voice Control: Get hands-free control of your lights with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Perfect for times when your hands are full or entering a dark room.
  • Remote Control and Away Mode: Control your smart light bulb from anywhere with your smartphone using the free Kasa smart app (iOS, Android); Dim, turn on or off or change the colors of your light bulb remotely at your fingertips. Enable ‘away mode’ to randomly switch on and off to trick potential intruders.
  • Energy Monitoring and Scheduling: Monitor real-time energy usage. Drive down energy consumption without losing quality (60 W equivalent). Use timer or schedules to set your lights to automatically turn on and off whenever you want, such as waking up with a soft glow in the morning with sunrise offset.
  • Trusted and Reliable: Designed and developed in Silicon Valley, Kasa is trusted by over 6 Million users. UL certified for safety use. 2-year warranty. Require 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network connection.
Bestseller No. 7
GHome Smart Mini Plug Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, WiFi Outlet Socket Remote Control with...
  • SAFE DESIGNED&QUICK CONNECTION: Simply plugin and keep the smart outlet connected to your stable 2.4GHz network, the improved WiFi technology let you quick connection and stay stable.
  • HAND-FREE VOICE CONTROL: Smart plugs that work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant. Just give a simple voice command to Alexa or Google Assistant to control your connected home devices.
  • APP REMOTE CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE: You also can control your smart plug via the APP directly when you are away, so long as your phone access a secure network (2.4G,4G, or 5G Wi-Fi).
  • SCHEDULES&AUTO-OFF TIMER: Easy to set timers and add schedules to connected devices circularly or randomly, making them work as scheduled like auto-off and auto-on.
  • GROUPING CONTROL & SHARING: Set a group for all wifi smart plugs and control them with simply one tap. Share your wifi plug smart outlets with all family members in a minute.
SaleBestseller No. 8
Kasa Smart Plug HS103P4, Smart Home Wi-Fi Outlet Works with Alexa, Echo, Google Home & IFTTT, No Hub...
  • Voice control: Kasa smart plugs that work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant. Enjoy the hands free convenience of controlling any home electronic appliances with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Compatible with Android 5.0 or higher and iOS 10.0 or higher
  • Smart Outlet Control from anywhere: Turn electronics on and off your smart home devices from anywhere with your smartphone using the Kasa app, whether you are at home, in the office or on vacation
  • Scheduling: Use timer or countdown schedules to set your wifi smart plug to automatically turn on and off any home electronic appliances such as lamps, fan, humidifier, Christmas lights etc. The Kasa app is free and compatible with iOS 10.0 or later.
  • Easy set up and use: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection required. Plug in, open the Kasa app, follow the simple instructions and enjoy
  • Trusted and reliable: Designed and developed in Silicon Valley, Kasa is trusted by over 5 Million users and being the reader’s choice for PCMag 2020. UL certified for safety use.
SaleBestseller No. 9
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation Nest...
  • No more programming: With Auto-Schedule, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat learns from you and programs itself..Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
  • Home/Away Assist: don't heat or cool an empty home. Home/Away Assist adjusts the temperature after you leave.
  • Remote control: Control your thermostat from anywhere using the Nest app.
  • Know more, save more Check your Energy History to see how much energy you use and why.
  • Look for the Leaf: The Nest Leaf appears when you choose a temperature that saves energy.
Bestseller No. 10
Google Audio Bluetooth Speaker with Keychain LED - Wireless Music Streaming - Chalk
  • Google Audio Bluetooth Speaker Wireless Music Streaming - Chalk
  • Music here. Music there. Music everywhere - Create a home audio system that fills your home with sound.* Nest Audio works together with your other Nest speakers and displays, Chromecast-enabled devices, or compatible speakers. And it's easy to set up.
  • Rich, full sound. Room filling sound with 30 watt woofer, tweeter and tuning software. Cranks out powerful punchy music to fill your room
  • Connect with family and friends - Nest Audio helps you stay in touch. Just say, “Hey Google” to broadcast messages on every Nest speaker and display in the house. Use your Nest speakers as an intercom and chat from room to room.
  • Huge help around the house. You can say things like, "Hey Google, what's the weather this weekend?" Ask Google about the news or sports scores. - Includes LED Key Chain (Color May Vary)

-our editorial board has reviewed this article and has been approved for publication according to our editorial policy.

Last update on 2024-06-06

Lance Ulanoff is a renowned tech journalist, commentator, and on-air expert with over 36 years of experience. He has held esteemed positions including Editor in Chief of Lifewire and Mashable, where he delved into the impact of technology on daily life. Lance's expertise has been featured on major news programs globally, and he has made appearances on Fox News, CNBC, and the BBC.