Answers · guide reviewed 2026-10-28

How long do security cameras keep footage?

It depends on where the video goes. Paid cloud plans keep event video for 14 to 180 days: Ring 180 days, Blink 60 days, Google Nest 30 or 60 days, Arlo 60 days, Wyze 14 or 60 days, TP-Link Tapo 30 or 180 days and eufy 30 days on their US plans. Without a plan, Ring keeps no video, Blink keeps no cloud clips, Google Nest keeps 3 hours of event clips on most current models and Arlo keeps no cloud history. Video saved to a microSD card, hub or recorder stays until the storage fills, then most cameras overwrite the oldest clips. Plan figures are from each brand's plan page, checked 2026-10-28.

By the How Many Cameras editorial team · Manufacturer specifications and planning estimates; not hands-on product tests.

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Cloud video history by plan (US)

Event video kept in the cloud, as each brand states it on its plan page. Continuous (24/7) history, where offered, is shorter and noted in the plan description.

Brand	Plan	Video history	US / month	Without a plan
Ring	Ring Solo	180 days	$4.99	None. Events are recorded only after you subscribe.
Ring	Ring Multi	180 days	$9.99	None. Events are recorded only after you subscribe.
Ring	Ring Pro	180 days	$19.99	None. Events are recorded only after you subscribe.
Ring	Ring Protect Virtual Security Guard	180 days	$99	None. Events are recorded only after you subscribe.
Blink	Blink Basic	60 days	$3.99	No cloud clips. Local clips with a Sync Module 2 and USB drive, or a Sync Module XR and microSD card.
Blink	Blink Basic ai	60 days	$6.99	No cloud clips. Local clips with a Sync Module 2 and USB drive, or a Sync Module XR and microSD card.
Blink	Blink Plus	60 days	$11.99	No cloud clips. Local clips with a Sync Module 2 and USB drive, or a Sync Module XR and microSD card.
Blink	Blink Plus ai	60 days	$19.99	No cloud clips. Local clips with a Sync Module 2 and USB drive, or a Sync Module XR and microSD card.
Google Nest	Google Home Premium Standard	30 days	$10	3 hours of event clips on most current models; 6 hours of 10-second previews on the 2025 wired models
Google Nest	Google Home Premium Advanced	60 days	$20	3 hours of event clips on most current models; 6 hours of 10-second previews on the 2025 wired models
Arlo	Arlo Secure Smart Aware, 1 camera	60 days	$9.99	No cloud history. Local recording only through an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station, or a microSD card in Arlo Go 2.
Arlo	Arlo Secure Smart Aware, unlimited cameras	60 days	$19.99	No cloud history. Local recording only through an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station, or a microSD card in Arlo Go 2.
Arlo	Arlo Secure Smart Secure	60 days	$29.99	No cloud history. Local recording only through an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station, or a microSD card in Arlo Go 2.
Arlo	Arlo Secure Ultra Secure	60 days	$49.99	No cloud history. Local recording only through an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station, or a microSD card in Arlo Go 2.
Wyze	Wyze Cam Plus	14 days	$2.99	Records to local storage
Wyze	Wyze Cam Unlimited	14 days	$9.99	Records to local storage
Wyze	Wyze Cam Unlimited Pro	60 days	$19.99	Records to local storage
TP-Link Tapo	Tapo Care Cloud (per device; 2 maximum)	30 days	$3.49	Records to local storage
TP-Link Tapo	Tapo Care Cloud Advanced	180 days	$11.99	Records to local storage
TP-Link Tapo	Tapo Care Cloud Advanced AI	180 days	$19.99	Records to local storage
eufy	eufy Basic, 1 device	30 days	$3.99	Records to local storage
eufy	eufy Basic, 2 devices	30 days	$7.99	Records to local storage
eufy	eufy Basic, 3 devices	30 days	$11.99	Records to local storage
eufy	eufy Plus, all devices	30 days	$13.99	Records to local storage

Compare cameras that keep video locally Plan prices by brand

How long local storage keeps video

A microSD card, hub or recorder keeps video until it fills. How long that takes depends on the resolution, whether the camera records 24/7 or only on motion, and how busy the view is, so a card's "days of footage" is an estimate that changes with the scene. Brands that record locally (and the models on the no-subscription list) let you keep footage without a plan; what you give up is a copy that survives if the camera or card is stolen.

Motion-only recording lasts far longer on the same card than 24/7 recording.
A hub or recorder indoors keeps footage even if the outdoor camera is taken.
Most cameras overwrite the oldest clips when full; export anything you need to keep.

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Cameras without a paid recording plan

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One doorbell, no recording subscription

Compare one doorbell with local recording. Choose battery or wired power to match your entrance.

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Choose a bundle or individual devices, then add them to My list for compatibility checks and store links. A selected quantity is not a guarantee of coverage.

Sources & checks

Guide checked 2026-10-28. Product prices and specifications have their own checked dates on each model page.