A Guide to Google Nest Cam: Plans, Packages, Subscriptions, Bundles, and More

Believe it or not, it wasn’t that long ago that the only way you could stay in-the-know of what was going on in or outside your home or business was to either be present or rely on a neighbor. Now that seems like eons ago. Google Nest Cam and products like it have made it possible to monitor your space with precision 24 hours a day. Utilizing built-in intelligence, today’s Google Nest cameras and doorbells can not only detect motion and record video, they can also utilize facial recognition to send you customized alerts regarding specific people, vehicles, and animals in and around your property.

If you’re considering adding a Google Nest Cam to your smart home or smart security setup, here is what you need to know.

Types of Google Nest Cams

The first Nest Cam was introduced in 2015 and featured 1080p video resolution, night vision, a rotating and magnetic stand, sound and motion alerts, two-way talk, and optional Nest Aware services. Since then, technology, pricing, and options have improved. Here are the Google Nest Cams available now.

 

Nest Cam IQ Indoor

The only camera in the IQ series left standing (Google announced they’d quit making the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor in early 2021), the Nest Cam IQ Indoor has the heftiest specs in the current Google Nest Camera universe, including Familiar Face alerts, 24-hour live streaming, 1080p HD video resolution with a 130 degree field of view with 12X digital zoom, a 4K sensor, two-way audio that actually allows for real in-time communication, and excellent night vision.

It also has Google Assistant built in and a three-hour snapshot history that allows users to review events in the Nest app even if an alert is missed.

It’s priced at $299.
 

Nest Cam (battery)

It looks a lot like the Nest Cam IQ Indoors, but this model can be used indoors and outdoors, and it can be wired or powered via a battery, which gives users a lot more placement options. How good is the battery? According to a review at The Verge, the internal battery can power the Nest camera for up to three months with “typical usage.”

Video resolution on the Nest Cam (battery) is 1080p with HDR, and the digital zoom is 6X. It’s weather-resistant (not weatherproof like the IQ models), and its magnetic mounting base has been designed and tested to withstand storm-level winds.

As for storage, the Nest Cam includes event history of up to three hours without a subscription and boasts internal storage capabilities of nearly an hour of event clips — which translates into about a week of events — should WiFi go down.

Software considerations to be aware of: Unlike the IQs, neither Google Nest Cam (battery) or (wired) includes audio detection or zoom tracking. You also won’t find an Alexa integration.

It’s priced at $179.99.
 

Google Nest Cam (wired)

The Google Nest Cam (wired) is smaller and less expensive than the Google Nest Cam (battery), but it offers the same camera specifications — 1080p with HDR video resolution and 6X digital zoom — and it also offers the same on-device intelligence features. As the name suggests, it has to be plugged in to work.

Designed and intended for indoor use only, the Google Nest Cam (wired) also offers on-device storage for when WiFi fails.

It’s priced at $99.99.
 

Nest Cam with Floodlight

This wired Google Nest Cam with Floodlight comes with two floodlights and one camera that activate when movement or sound is detected. The camera features a video resolution of 1080p with full HD and 130-degree field of view. It has excellent night vision that can show clear video up to 20 feet. It can work with Google Assistant, but Google Assistant is not built-in like with the IQ series. It also includes two-way audio.

It’s priced at $279.99.
 

Nest Doorbell (wired) and Nest Doorbell (battery)

Both the Nest Doorbell (wired) (formerly known as the Nest Hello) and the Nest Doorbell (battery) make great companion Nest cameras and doorbells for anyone already inside the Google Smart Home ecosystem or looking to enter it. They both continuously record and stream 24 hours a day in HDR at a resolution of 1600 X 1200. (Lower resolution settings can be utilized for users with ISP data caps). The 145-degree viewing angle, infrared night vision, and 4:3 aspect ratio allow for a broad, clear view any time, day or night. Two-way audio allows for easy communication no matter where you are.

Nest Doorbell is also intelligent enough to tell the difference between people, animals, vehicles, and moving objects, so users tend to only receive notifications that are actually necessary. Both integrate with Google Assistant and Alexa, too.

They’re priced at $179.99.
 

Nest Cam Packages and Bundles

Always check the Google Store for packages and bundles when you’re finally ready to make a Nest Cam purchase. You’ll often find packages and bundling that make sense and will save you money. Here are some examples of current Nest Cam packages:

Front Door Monitoring Package

The Front Door Monitoring Package provides everything needed to monitor the front door of a home or business with the Nest Hub (2nd gen) and the Nest Doorbell (battery). Priced competitively at $249.98, which is $30 less than if the Nest Hub (2nd gen) and the Nest Doorbell (battery) were purchased separately.
 

Outdoor Monitoring Package

For visibility that isn’t limited to the front door, the Outdoor Monitoring Package is perfect. With the Nest Hub (2nd gen) and Nest Cam (battery), you can decide where you want to set up outside surveillance for just $249.98 — a savings of $30. Add another Nest Cam (battery) or three or four to gain even more 24-hour visibility around your property.

Total Security Package

The Total Security Package includes both a Nest Doorbell (battery) and a Nest Cam (battery), but instead of the Nest Hub (2nd gen), it includes the Nest Hub Max. The main advantages of the Nest Hub Max over the Nest Hub (2nd gen) are its display size — 10 inches versus seven inches; its 2.1 speaker arrangement and the resulting full spectrum sound, and its camera, which allows you to see into the room the Nest Hub Max is in via your smart device — something that isn’t possible with the Nest Hub (2nd gen). This package is priced at $523.98, an overall savings of $65.
 

Nest Cam Subscriptions and Plans: Nest Aware

To get the most out of most out of Google Home devices, including the different Google Nest Cams and Google Nest Doorbells, a subscription to Nest Aware is recommended. Here’s a breakdown of the subscription services offered and what you’ll get with each one:

Nest Aware (1st gen)

With first-generation Google Nest Cams and devices, you’ll most likely need a per-camera subscription, and you’ll need to choose between a 5-day, 24/7 video history, a 10-day, 24/7 video history, and a 30-day, 24/7 video history.

• One camera
  • 5-day: $5/month or $50/year
  • 10-day: $10/month or $100/year
  • 30-day: $30/month or $300/year
• Two cameras
  • 5-day: $8/month or $80/year
  • 10-day: $15/month or $150/year
  • 30-day: $45/month or $450/year
• Three cameras
  • 5-day: $11/month or $110/year
  • 10-day: $20/month or $200/year
  • 30-day: $60/month or $600/year

Nest Aware (2nd gen)

Users of second-generation Google Nest and Google Home devices, including Nest Cams and Nest Doorbells, can choose between Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus for all devices — no per-camera or per-device charge. They can also choose to forego the Nest Aware subscription entirely and just rely on the storage available on second-generation devices.

For Nest Aware, the subscription is $6/month or $60/year. For Nest Aware Plus, the subscription is $12/month or $120/year. So what’s the difference between Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus?

Nest Aware Subscription

A basic Nest Aware subscription covers all your second-generation Nest cameras, doorbells, hubs/displays, and speakers. It includes:

• 30-day video event history
• Intelligent alerts like Familiar faces, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, or glass breaking
• e911

Nest Aware Plus Subscription

A Nest Aware Plus Subscription also covers all second-generation Nest cameras, doorbells, hubs/displays, and speakers. In addition, it also includes: 60-day video event history, 24/7 video history for up to 10 days. As with all smart home technologies, it’s important to make sure you have an Internet package that can keep up with your data needs. Not sure if the one you have is good enough? We can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Considering a Google Nest Doorbell or camera, but unsure whether you need a Nest Aware subscription? Here are the most common questions and answers about what you get with and without a subscription.

What’s the difference between Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus?

Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus are two subscription tiers that offer different levels of video history and smart features:

• Nest Aware (Approx. $80/year): Provides 30 days of event-based video history. Your camera only records when it detects motion, sound, or other specific events.
• Nest Aware Plus (Approx. $150/year): Offers 10 days of 24/7 continuous video recording and up to 60 days of event-based video history.

Is the Nest Aware subscription required for my doorbell or camera to work?

Your Nest device works without a subscription, but functionality is limited. Without Nest Aware, you’ll still get:

• Live streaming via the Google Home app.
• Two-way audio with real-time talk and listen.
• Motion and doorbell alerts.
• Up to 3 hours of event video history.
• Activity zones and intelligent alerts.

However, features like extended video history, familiar face alerts, sharing clips, and continuous recording are only available through a paid subscription.

I signed up for Nest Aware but only get three hours of footage — why?

This is a common point of confusion. If you subscribed to the basic Nest Aware tier, you only get 30 days of event-based recordings, not 24/7 continuous footage. To unlock full 24/7 video history, you’ll need to upgrade to Nest Aware Plus.

What’s the “one home” rule in Nest Aware?

Your Nest subscription covers all Nest devices added to the same “home” setup in the Google Home app, not the physical house or number of WiFi networks.

Multiple cameras in different buildings (on the same physical property or even on separate WiFi networks) can all be covered if they’re added to the same “home” profile within the app.

Are there alternatives to the Nest Aware subscription?

Yes. While many users stick with Nest Aware for convenience and platform integration, others explore alternatives such as:

• Using a NAS (Network Attached Storage) solution to locally store footage.
• Integrating with Home Assistant for a DIY smart home approach.
• Choosing a different smart camera brand with local storage options.

What happens to my old footage when I subscribe?

When you subscribe to Nest Aware, any previously saved footage under the free tier will be deleted. Make sure to download and back up any important clips before upgrading.

Is Nest Aware worth it?

That depends on your needs. For basic home awareness and occasional footage review, the free or standard Nest Aware tier may be enough.

For business, security-conscious users, or those wanting full access to everything that has happened, even when away from home, Nest Aware Plus is usually the better solution.