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:

Bestseller No. 1
Google Nest Hub 7” Smart Display with Google Assistant (2nd Gen) - Chalk
  • VALUE BUNDLE INCLUDES: Google Nest Hub 2nd Generation with English, Spanish, French and Portuguese Global Language Compatibility so it works everywhere, Universal Power Adapter and Quick Start Guide with International Manual for Global Users
  • IT WORKS EVERYWHERE Easy to use and will automatically start up in English when connecting to your device for the first time. The Nest Hub works globally with support for most languages and places internationally. And its language settings can always be changed back and forth to your preferred language anytime for international use or travel at your convenience
  • BLENDS RIGHT INTO YOUR HOME Looks great on a nightstand, shelf, countertop - or the wall. This Nest Hub 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
  • Speaker Size: 7.0 inches
  • Connectivity Protocol: Wi-Fi
SaleBestseller No. 2
8,448 Reviews
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. 3
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
  • IT WORKS EVERYWHERE Easy to use and will automatically start up in English when connecting to your device for the first time. This speaker works globally with support for most languages and places internationally. And its language settings can always be changed back and forth to your preferred language anytime for international use or travel at your convenience
  • 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. 4
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]
  • Savings Finder looks for more ways your thermostat can help you save, and suggests tweaks to your schedule in the app; check with your energy provider to learn more about rebates and more ways to save on a Nest thermostat
SaleBestseller 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
SaleBestseller No. 6
Google Nest Mini 2nd Generation Smart Speaker with Google Assistant - Chalk (Renewed)
  • 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
  • IT WORKS EVERYWHERE Easy to use and will automatically start up in English when connecting to your device for the first time. This speaker works globally with support for most languages and places internationally. And its language settings can always be changed back and forth to your preferred language anytime for international use or travel at your convenience
  • 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. 7
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.
SaleBestseller No. 8
Google Pixel Tablet with Charging Speaker Dock - Android Tablet with 11-Inch Screen, Smart Home...
  • Engineered by Google, the Pixel Tablet is the first tablet with the Google Tensor G2 chip built in; it features Google AI for smooth streaming, high-quality video calls, an efficient battery, and more
  • The Pixel Tablet comes with a unique speaker dock that keeps it charged and ready 24/7 and doubles as a great-sounding speaker for room-filling music[1]
  • The 11-inch screen with brilliant colors and adaptive brightness is perfect for streaming entertainment and editing photos and videos[2]
  • Manage your smart home devices with your voice or a tap on the home panel; access and adjust your compatible thermostats, lights, locks, and cameras[3]
  • The Android apps you love are already optimized for your Pixel Tablet’s larger screen; it comes with Google TV so you can watch your favorite shows and movies, and it’s easy to cast content with Chromecast built in
SaleBestseller No. 9
Outlet Wall Mount Holder for Google Nest Mini and Google Home Mini, A Space-Saving Accessories with...
  • Universal Mount for Google Mini: This outlet wall mount is upgraded and tailored for both Google Nest Mini and Google Home Mini. It contains a small adaptor ring to fit for the plug of google home mini. You can replace it flexibility as needed, easy to install and remove.
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  • Better Sounds Experience: The unique design makes the hook part more fit the wall plug, so that the device is fixed on the wall firmly. Keeps your smart speaker on wall vertically, there will be no voice or sound loss, providing you a good hearing experience.
  • Easy and Convenient: Easy installation, just plug in the outlet, without using any tools and drilling holes. Protect your Google Nest Mini and Google Home Mini from spill-prone areas and free up your valuable counter space. Perfect for bedroom, kitchen, living room, bathroom, etc.
  • What You Get : 2* outlet wall mounts, 1* user manual. 30 days free money back, 18-month warranty and lifetime technical support for all of our valued customers! The Google Mini Speaker and power plug are NOT included in the package.
Bestseller No. 10
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  • IT WORKS EVERYWHERE Easy to use and will automatically start up in English when connecting to your device for the first time. The Nest 7inch Screen works globally with support for most languages and places internationally. And its language settings can always be changed back and forth to your preferred language anytime for international use or travel at your convenience
  • BLENDS RIGHT INTO YOUR HOME Looks great on a nightstand, shelf, countertop - or the wall. This Nest HD Screen 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
  • Connectivity technology : Bluetooth
  • Display.size : 7.0 inches

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

Last update on 2024-03-25

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.