Blink subscription pricing and what's included
Blink offers two paid subscription tiers: Blink Basic at $3 per month (or $30 per year) and Blink Plus at $10 per month (or $100 per year). Both are optional — you can use Blink cameras without a subscription, but you'll lose cloud video storage and some features. The Basic plan stores 30 days of video clips in the cloud. The Plus plan stores 60 days of video and adds person detection, package detection, and animal detection alerts.
Blink also offers a free tier with no subscription. Free users can view live video from their cameras, get motion alerts, and use two-way talk, but they cannot save video to the cloud or access recorded clips later. If you want to keep any footage, you need at least the Basic plan.
Pricing can vary slightly depending on whether you buy through the Blink app, Amazon, or a third-party retailer, but the monthly and annual rates listed above are the standard prices Blink charges directly.
Key Takeaways
- Blink Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year and stores 30 days of cloud video.
- Blink Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and stores 60 days of video plus adds person, package, and animal detection.
- Without a subscription, you can view live video and get motion alerts, but cannot save or retrieve recorded clips.
- Annual plans save money compared to paying month-to-month — Basic saves $6 per year and Plus saves $20 per year.
What you lose without a subscription
The biggest limitation of the free tier is the lack of cloud storage. Every time your camera detects motion, it records a short clip, but without a subscription that clip disappears after a few hours. You cannot go back and watch what happened yesterday or last week. If you need to review footage — for a break-in, a package theft, or just to see what happened while you were away — you have no record to check.
You also miss out on smart detection features with the free plan. Basic and Plus both include motion alerts, but only paid subscribers get notifications that distinguish between a person walking past, a package being delivered, or an animal in the yard. Free users get a generic "motion detected" alert for all of these, which can lead to alert fatigue if you have a busy street or frequent wildlife.
Basic vs. Plus: which plan makes sense
Choose Basic if you want cloud backup of your footage but don't need advanced detection. The 30-day storage window is enough to catch most issues — a package theft, a break-in, or unusual activity — and the $3 monthly cost is low enough that it's worth it just for the peace of mind. Basic is the most popular tier for people with one or two cameras.
Choose Plus if you have multiple cameras, live in an area with frequent foot traffic, or want to filter out false alerts. The person and package detection features are genuinely useful if you're getting dozens of motion alerts per day. The extra 30 days of storage (60 total) also matters if you want to keep footage longer or review patterns over time. Plus makes sense if you're using Blink as a serious security tool rather than occasional backup.
How to pay and switch plans
You can buy a Blink subscription directly through the Blink app on your phone. Open the app, go to your account settings, and select the subscription plan you want. You can choose to pay monthly or annually, and you can switch between plans or cancel anytime. If you cancel, your cloud storage stops immediately, but you keep access to live view and motion alerts.
If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you may see a discounted Blink subscription offer in the Amazon app or on Amazon.com. Some Prime members get a discount on Blink Plus, though the discount varies and is not available to all Prime members. Check your Amazon account to see if you may have access to.
You can also buy a Blink subscription through the Amazon Alexa app if your Blink camera is connected to Alexa. The process is the same — select your plan and choose monthly or annual billing.
Blink subscription vs. other camera brands
Blink's pricing is competitive with other budget-friendly camera brands. Wyze cameras offer a free tier with limited cloud storage and a paid plan starting at $1.99 per month, which is cheaper than Blink Basic. However, Wyze's free tier includes 14 days of cloud storage, while Blink's free tier has none. Eufy cameras don't require a subscription at all — they store video locally on the camera or a hub — but they cost more upfront and don't offer cloud backup as an option.
Ring, Amazon's camera brand, charges $4 per month for a single camera or $10 per month for unlimited cameras. Ring's subscription includes 60 days of cloud storage, which matches Blink Plus but costs less per month. However, Ring's free tier also has no cloud storage, so the comparison depends on whether you want cloud backup at all.
The choice between Blink and other brands usually comes down to camera quality, app experience, and whether you prefer local or cloud storage. Blink's subscription is not the cheapest, but it's in the middle of the market and includes useful detection features at the Plus tier.
What happens to your video if you cancel
If you stop paying for a Blink subscription, your cloud-stored video is deleted. Blink gives you a grace period — usually a few days — to download any clips you want to keep before they're removed permanently. After that, the footage is gone. You can still use your cameras to view live video and get motion alerts, but you cannot access any recorded clips.
This is different from cameras that store video locally on a hub or SD card. With Blink, all your storage is in the cloud, so canceling your subscription means losing your archive. If you think you might want to review footage later, keep your subscription active or download important clips before you cancel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Blink cameras without paying for a subscription?
Yes. You can view live video, get motion alerts, and use two-way talk without a subscription. You just cannot save video to the cloud or access recorded clips. If you only need to check on your home occasionally, the free tier may be enough.
Do I have to pay for each camera separately?
No. A single subscription covers all your Blink cameras. If you have three cameras, one Basic subscription stores video from all three for 30 days. You don't buy a subscription per camera.
Can I try a subscription before committing to a full month?
Blink does not offer a free trial of paid plans. However, you can use the free tier as long as you want to test the cameras and app. If you decide to subscribe, you can cancel anytime and you won't be charged again.
What's the difference between monthly and annual billing?
Annual billing costs less per month. Basic is $30 per year (about $2.50 per month) versus $3 per month if you pay monthly. Plus is $100 per year (about $8.33 per month) versus $10 per month. Annual plans are worth it if you plan to keep the subscription for at least a year.
Does Blink offer a family plan or multi-user discount?
No. Each subscription is tied to one account. If multiple people in your household want access to the cameras, they can log into the same account or you can invite them as shared users in the app, but you don't pay less for multiple users.