Should You Get An Amazon Cloud Cam?

There are numerous Amazon Echo products that allow consumers to do a variety of things like listen to music, call friends, and check the weather. A new product, the Amazon Cloud Cam, brings home security to consumers with live video streaming. The smart camera is designed to be used indoors to monitor a home, pets, or a sleeping baby. The Amazon Cloud Cam works with existing Echo devices in the home, although users do not need an Echo device to use the camera.

Amazon Cloud Cam

The  is designed for indoor use only, and comes with night vision for 24 hour monitoring. Without paying for an app subscription, video clips from the past 24 hours can be downloaded and shared with others. It should be noted that the system only saves video clips when motion is detected. The smart camera has two way audio so users can speak with someone from an Echo device to the camera if needed. The lens allows a 120 degree view of a room, and provides 1080p resolution and a 30 frame per second video. The compatibility with Alexa products means users can ask Alexa to show video from the camera on their television or Echo Spot or Show. Some cons of the smart camera include the inability to view video on a laptop or computer, as well as incompatibility with Apple products. The video clips also come with audio with an inability to turn the audio off. The camera currently costs $120 for one, $200 for two, or $290 for three.

Amazon Cloud Cam Security

 The Amazon Cloud Cam is designed to capture video and audio when motion is detected in a room inside a person’s home. Notifications are sent to a person’s phone or other device when motion is detected. Without the Cloud Cam app, users can only be notified about motion in general. The addition of an app subscription allows the user to be notified when a person is detected. Also, without the app, video can only be saved for 24 hours. This might be less than ideal for users who travel often or are away from home for more than 24 hours. The security of the night vision is decent, but some users have noted that it is difficult to make out exact objects in a dark room.

Amazon Cloud Cam App

The Amazon Cloud Cam is not designed to store information past 24 hours, so most users will want to utilize the Cloud Cam app. The app brings more features to the Cloud Cam, including notifications when a person is detected, the ability to set zones, and longer storage time. The app can be accessed on Amazon or Android phones and tablets, Fire TV (with or without the Fire TV antenna), and the Echo Spot and Echo Show. The app comes with a free 30 day trial, and then varies in price depending on what type of subscription the user wants. The basic plan allows the monitoring of up to 3 cameras and 7 days of video storage, and costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. The extended plan monitors up to 5 cameras, provides 14 days of storage, and costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. The pro plan provides 30 days of video storage, up to 10 cameras, and costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year.

Other Security Cameras

There are a variety of other smart security cameras to choose from. Most users that have tried the Amazon Cloud Cam have been previous Nest Cam users. The Nest Cam, currently $164, is similar to the Amazon Cloud Cam with some differences. The Nest Cam has a 130 degree view, and the app is a bit pricier than the Cloud Cam. The Nest Aware app costs $10 per month or $100 per year for basic, which provides 10 day video history, or $30 per month or $300 per year for extended, which provides 30 day video history. Setting up additional cameras will cost more. Overall, the Amazon Cloud Cam is a good camera for the price, however the Nest is a better option for those who can afford it.