Google’s Nest cameras and doorbells are powerful tools for keeping an eye on your home—but without a subscription, you’re limited to just a few hours of event history. That’s where Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus come in. Both plans unlock more video history, smart alerts, and extra peace of mind, but they’re designed for different needs and budgets.
Let’s break down the differences so you can choose the right one for your home.
What You Get With Each Plan
| Feature | Nest Aware | Nest Aware Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6/month or $60/year | $12/month or $120/year |
| Event Video History | 30 days | 60 days |
| 24/7 Continuous Video History | ❌ Not included | ✅ 10 days (for wired cameras/doorbells only) |
| Intelligent Alerts | ✅ Person, package, vehicle, and animal detection | ✅ Same as Nest Aware |
| Coverage | All Nest cameras, doorbells, and displays in your home (no per‑camera fee) | Same as Nest Aware |
| Emergency Calling (US) | ✅ | ✅ |
Event Video History means your camera saves clips only when it detects motion, sound, or specific activity—helping conserve storage and bandwidth.
24/7 Continuous Video History records everything, all the time, so you can scrub back to any moment.
Key Differences Explained
- Recording Style
- Nest Aware is event‑based only. You’ll see what happened when motion or sound was detected, but not the “in‑between” moments.
- Nest Aware Plus adds 10 days of continuous recording (for wired devices), which is invaluable if you want to review footage before or after an event trigger.
- History Length
- Nest Aware: 30 days of events.
- Nest Aware Plus: 60 days of events plus 10 days of 24/7 footage.
- Use Cases
- Event‑based recording is fine for most households, especially if you mainly want alerts for people, packages, or pets.
- Continuous recording is better for high‑traffic areas, businesses, or if you travel often and want a complete record.
Which Plan Should You Buy?
- Choose Nest Aware if…
- You want affordable, smart alerts and a month of event history.
- You don’t need to see every second of footage.
- Your cameras are battery‑powered (continuous recording isn’t supported).
- Choose Nest Aware Plus if…
- You have wired Nest cameras or doorbells and want full 24/7 coverage.
- You need longer event history (60 days) for security or insurance purposes.
- You manage a rental, vacation home, or business where missing a moment could be costly.
Final Take
If you’re a casual home user who just wants to know when someone’s at the door or if a package arrived, Nest Aware is the sweet spot—affordable and feature‑rich. But if you’re serious about security, travel often, or need complete footage for peace of mind, Nest Aware Plus is worth the extra $6/month for its continuous recording and extended history.
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