Security camera subscription cost calculator
Pick a brand, a plan and how many cameras you need. The calculator adds the hardware at today's Amazon price to the plan at the brand's published price, then shows cameras that record locally with no monthly fee at a similar hardware cost.
- Hardware
- $199.96
- 4 cameras at today's price
- Subscription
- $39.96/mo
- Priced per camera, for 4
- 3-year subscription
- $1,438.56
- 5-year total
- $2,597.56
Arlo plan prices from Arlo's own plan page, checked 2026-10-21. See the plans page
Cameras that record without a monthly fee
Similar hardware cost for 4 cameras, recording to a card, hub or recorder you own. Smart detection works without a plan on all of them.
- Tapo C520WS 2K Outdoor Pan/Tilt Wi-Fi Security Camera
4 x $56.02
- Hardware
- $224.08
- Monthly
- $0
- 5-year total
- $224.08
Saves $2,373.48 over 5 years
- Tapo C325WB 2K ColorPro Outdoor Security Camera
4 x $59.98
- Hardware
- $239.92
- Monthly
- $0
- 5-year total
- $239.92
Saves $2,357.64 over 5 years
- Tapo C425 2K Wire-Free Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera
4 x $59.99
- Hardware
- $239.96
- Monthly
- $0
- 5-year total
- $239.96
Saves $2,357.60 over 5 years
How the calculator works
Hardware is the camera you pick at its current Amazon price, multiplied by the number of cameras. Mounts and cabling are not included.
The subscription uses the price on the brand's own plan page on the date shown. A plan priced per camera is multiplied by your camera count; a plan for the whole home is counted once. When a plan covers only a set number of cameras, it is not offered for more than that. Yearly billing is spread over 12 months.
The 3-year subscription is 36 months of the plan; the 5-year total adds 60 months of the plan to the hardware. Brands change plan prices, so check the plan page before you buy.
Updated