We trust smart cameras with our property, our families, and our own safety, and that's why we demand the very best we can buy. Finding the right security camera for your home is about finding the right hardware, but you also need to consider the subscription services that make cameras stand out.
Stick Up Cam Wired by Ring
Flexible and affordable
Pros
- Works indoors and outdoors
- Flexibility in power and internet
- Wider field of vision
- Built-in siren to ward off intruders
- Works with Alexa
Cons
- No video recordings without subscription
- No 24/7 recording option
- Doesn't play well with Google anymore
The one, true Ring Stick Up Cam has returned, a powerful indoor/outdoor camera that's flexible to power and place. It also integrates with the entire Ring line of home security products for a premium experience.
Nest Cam Outdoor
Ever-vigilant, ever-expensive
Pros
- Dustproof and splashproof
- 24/7 recording available with Nest Aware
- Better smart detection algorithms
- Great Google Assistant integration
- Works with a wider range of smart home devices
Cons
- Nest Aware is basically required
- Both camera and subscription are more expensive
- Alexa support is purposefully subpar
- No Ethernet or power options
Nest makes one of the most popular smart home security systems around, and the Nest Cam Outdoor can watch your front yard, backyard, or any other outdoor area. It's a premium camera, but it comes at a premium price, today and into the future with Nest Aware.
When trying to pick between these two cameras, Ring has a major advantage thanks for more affordable subscription and hardware costs and a more feature-rich camera, but three key decisions could sway buyers back towards the Nest: which AI assistant does your house use, do you need 24/7 recording, and does your camera need the reliability of an Ethernet connection?
Flexibility versus raw recording power
Both the Nest Cam Outdoor and Ring Stick Up Cam are 1080p internet-enabled security cameras with a 1080p picture, Infrared night vision, two-way audio, and the option for customized sensor zones. Both also work with AI assistants to quickly pull up live feeds on a variety of devices — Google-owned Nest works with Google Assistant while Amazon-owned Ring plays best with Alexa, which might make the decision for you right there. There is a Ring skill for Google Assistant, but it can't stream your video feed to Chromecasts or Google Assistant dispalys like the Google Home Hub.
Your choice in cameras might also be made for you if you're trying to mount your camera in an area with no outlets or with spotty Wi-Fi — like a stone entryway. The Nest Cam Outdoor only supports one source of power — a microUSB cable — while the Ring Stick Up Cam can run off of Power over Ethernet (PoE), giving you the flexibility to run as long or as short of a cable as you need, as well as only running one cable for both power and data instead of two. Very few smart home security cameras have PoE, and most of those are indoor-only, making the Ring Stick Up Cam a rarity.
| Ring Stick Up Cam Wired | Nest Cam Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| IP rating | IPX5 | IP65 |
| Power options | microUSB PoE |
microUSB |
| Internet options | Wi-Fi Ethernet |
Wi-Fi |
| Camera field of view | 150° horizontal 85° vertical |
130° diagonal |
| Video quality | 1080p | 1080p |
| 24/7 recording | ❌ | ✔️ |
| IR night vision | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Sirens | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Two-way audio | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Assistant integration | Google Assistant (limited) Amazon Alexa |
Google Assistant |
While both are resistant to the rain, the Nest Cam is IP65 dustproof and splashproof and the Ring Stick Up Cam is IPX5 — meaning it has not been properly tested against dust ingress and might not be a great choice for those who see dust storms or wildfires in their area semi-regularly. Nest Cam Outdoor also has an advantage by supporting 24/7 recording, but you have to subscribe to Nest Aware to see more than the last three hours.
Speaking of, yes, you do need a subscription when it comes to the Ring Stick Up Cam. Without it, the Ring won't record video at all, only show you the live feed, and the Nest will only show you the last three hours. You also miss out on the more advanced detection modes. At that point, why spend $200 on a camera in the first place?
| Feature | Ring Free | Ring Protect | Nest Free | Nest Protect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly Price | Free | Basic: $30 Plus: $100 |
Free | 5-day: $50 10-day: $100 30-day: $300 |
| Device Limit | — | Basic: 1 cam Plus: All cams at one residence |
— | $3/month per additional cam |
| Custom zones | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Days recorded | ❌ | Basic: 60 days Plus: 60 |
3 hours | 5-day: 5 days 10-day: 10 days 30-day: 30 days |
| 24/7 recording | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Ring's most expensive plan tops out at $100/year and covers every Ring device on your account at a single address. Even its single-cam Basic plan stores the last 60 days of recordings. Nest Aware can go up to $30/month or $300/year for a single camera — it's an extra $3/month for every additional camera — and even the most expensive plan only stores 30 days of video feeds. That said, Nest Aware comes with 24/7 recording, which obviously takes up more space than just motion-triggered clips, but Ring still provides a longer time period of recordings for less money, whether you have one camera or 10.
Ring Stick Up Cam Wired
Flexible and affordable
Better value in both the camera and the subscription
This camera works with Ethernet — including the under-appreciated Power over Ethernet — can see more and scare off intruders with its loud built-in siren. All of its subscriptions are more affordable, adding up to long-term benefits for your home security and your wallet.
Nest Cam Outdoor
Ever-vigilant, ever-expensive
Nest's brand demands a premium price, but this camera doesn't quite justify it.
If you don't intend to use many cameras — or if you absolutely need 24/7 recording — the Nest Cam Outdoor can make sense, but Nest Aware can get expensive, especially once you start paying for it on multiple cameras.
Post a Comment