Can Blink Camera Work Without Subscription?

Many people are opting for the Blink security cameras to keep an eye on their kids and pets or catch potential intruders, this cam offers many features such as motion detection, an HD camera with a night vision option, longer battery life and much more.

Many people are wondering if the Blink cam can be used without a subscription, and the answer is yes but a lot of features will be not available until you pay the Basic or Plus plan such as video sharing, extended warranty coverage, motion detection video recording and many more.

In this article, I am gonna show you all the options that you can get when you pay for a subscription and what you can still do without it, and alternative cameras that work perfectly without a subscription.

What does a Blink subscription offer?

Now you know that the Blink subscription will give you extra features that will keep the cameras operating efficiently, so let’s see what those features are.

• Motion-Activated alerts: The Blink cams have the possibility to detect movement so as soon as the motion is detected a notification will be sent to your smartphone and you can access the live feed and see what’s happening around your house.
  
• Live view streaming: Even if when motion is not detected and there’s no notification from your device you are always able to open the Blink app and access the live feed whenever you want, this option can be useful when the notification feature is deactivated.
  
• Motion detection video recording: When movement is detected the camera will not only send you a notification but will also record this shot so if you miss the notification you can see the recorded footage later.
  
• 60 day unlimited history: If you pay for a subscription plan you’re allowed to keep the recorded footage for 60 days, After this period the recorded video clips will be deleted automatically, so if you want to keep them more you have to download them on your mobile or computer.
  
• Rapid video access: According to Blink, this option allows you to instantly watch your videos as soon as they’re recorded, so videos can be accessed with reduced-loading times from the cloud, compared to clips viewed from local storage and this option is available only for people with subscriptions Plan.
  
• Video sharing: The Blink cams may capture lovely moments for your pet or your kids playing with their bikes, and if you’re the kind of person who loves to share his life with others, this function gives you the possibility to share your clips on emails or social media.
  
• Photo Capture: When you’re subscribed to the Blink plan and Photo Capture is active the camera takes a photo every hour while the system is “Armed”.
  
  If there are no motion detection, Live View, or doorbell press events in 24 hours, the Photo Capture images are converted to a short clip that you can view in the Blink app.
  

• Extended warranty coverage: Once the original warranty expires, the device will be covered under the Blink Plus Plan until your Plus Plan is canceled, also Blink accessories are covered by extended warranty if you’re an unlimited subscriber.
  
  Note: According to Blink, If you cancel your Plus Plan and then resubscribe, devices that are still within the first year (2 years for EU/UK) of setup are still eligible for extended warranty coverage. Devices that were not will lose their extended warranty coverage and will no longer be eligible, even after resubscribing.
  
  Source (Blink)
  
• 10% off Blink devices on Amazon: The Plus Plan subscribers will have 10% off on Blink devices on Amazon which may be so useful if you want to purchase more gadgets from this brand.
  
• Number of devices supported: If you subscribe to the “Blink Plus Plan” you’ll be able to host an Unlimited number of devices per account which will save you more money if you’re using multiple devices from this company.

What can you do with Blink cams without a subscription?

If your choice is to use your Blink camera without paying a subscription, you should be aware that many of the functions offered will disappear and your device will not perform as efficiently as you want it to.

In the following lines I will show the features that will continue to work without subscription:

• Motion-activated notifications: When you are not a subscriber, you can still receive alerts on your smartphone or tablet if the camera detects movement in the activity zone you have defined.
  
• Live view streaming: Accessing the live stream and seeing what’s happening in your house stay possible without having to pay for any subscription plan offered by the company.
  
• Talk with people: The Blink camera offers Two-Way audio to allow the user to hear and speak with people inside or outside his home and this option stays possible even if you’re not a subscriber.
  
• Local Storage: When you’re subscribed to one of the Blink plans you’ll store all your footage on the cloud but this feature is not available without a subscription, so you need to store your clips locally on a USB drive.
  
  In order to save your videos locally, you need the Blink Sync Module 2 that has an active port for Local Storage of motion clips on a USB drive.
  
  You must eject the USB drive from the Sync Module 2 and copy the clips on your computer to see them.

How much costs the Blink subscription?

The price of the subscription varies depending on the plan you decided to buy, if you opt for “Blink Basic Plan” it will cost you $3/month per device or $30/year, and if you want the “Blink Plus Plan” you’ll have to pay $10/month for unlimited devices or save and subscribe for $100/year.

For me, I don’t really recommend you to buy the Blink cam and use it without a subscription plan because a lot of features and functions will disappear and your camera will not be as effective as you expect.

Alternative cameras that work perfectly without a subscription.

If you feel that paying a subscription each month is not for you in this section I will show you some alternative cams to use instead of Blink products.

• Eufy Cam 2C: This device could be a good alternative for the Blink cam as it offers many features that could be so helpful in order to make your home safer such as 2K resolution with 135-degree field of view, human and face Detection, powerful battery, and many more functions.
  
  Eufy allows you to store video locally on its HomeBase Station and all the features are provided without any additional monthly fees.
  
• Reolink cameras: Reolink is a company that works on home security and they offer high-quality smart cams that you can put inside and outside your house.
  
  The Reolink E1 outdoor is one of their products, it offers an HD resolution with a colorful night vision to be able to see in the dark, this gadget can differentiate between vehicle and humans, and can also allow you to hear and talk with people in front of your door and it has much more other functions to offer.
  
  Same as Eufy the Reolink give all its services without a subscription so you don’t have to pay the additional fees at the end of the month.

Conclusion.

We can’t say that the Blink cam is a low-quality device but if you’re planning to buy one and use it without paying a monthly subscription it will not be as effective as it was designed for.

So if you are not a fan of subscriptions go and buy a smart camera that offers its features without additional monthly fees.