Security Camera Subscription Cost Index 2026
Hardware prices get most of the attention. Recurring video-storage and intelligence fees can become the larger ownership cost.
2026 baseline cost comparison
| Ecosystem | Baseline used | Scope | Annual | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring | Ring Solo | 1 camera/doorbell | $49.99 | $249.95 |
| Arlo | Secure Plus Single Camera, annual billing equivalent | 1 camera | $95.88 | $479.40 |
| Google Nest | Google Home Premium Standard | Supported devices in one home | $100 | $500 |
| Wyze | Cam Plus | 1 camera | $29.99 | $149.95 |
| Eufy | Local-storage baseline | Supported local hardware | $0 required | $0 required |
| Reolink | Local-storage baseline | NVR/microSD-capable hardware | $0 required | $0 required |
Methodology
We used public U.S. pricing or official 2026 renewal disclosures available on September 13, 2026. For paid ecosystems, the index uses a baseline tier that provides meaningful recorded video history for a typical camera buyer. Five-year cost is annual price multiplied by five and excludes tax, promotions, hardware and future price changes.
Local-first rows are intentionally labeled differently. A $0 recurring-cost architecture does not mean it includes the same cloud retention, AI services, professional monitoring or convenience features as a paid plan. It means the supported hardware can preserve core local recording without a mandatory recurring storage fee.
Source notes
- Ring plans: Ring Solo annual U.S. pricing.
- Arlo Secure: single-camera annual-billing equivalent.
- Google Home Premium: Standard annual U.S. pricing.
- Wyze 2026 terms: standard Cam Plus annual renewal price disclosed in promotion terms.
- Eufy local security: local-first architecture context.
- Reolink: NVR/microSD local-storage ecosystem context; optional cloud varies by region/device.
Why scope matters
A one-camera price is not directly comparable with a whole-home plan. Google Home Premium Standard covers supported devices in a home, while Ring Solo and the Arlo single-camera baseline are device-scoped. The dataset preserves scope because normalizing every plan to one camera would hide a major purchasing difference.
What we will expand next
Future editions will add more brands, regional pricing, multi-camera break-even points, historical changes and a standardized feature matrix. The downloadable CSV is versioned so outside publishers can reproduce the calculations.
Use the ownership-cost calculator to model hardware and monitoring together.