Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam Indoor

There are more smart security cameras on the market than ever before, representing a wide range of brands with a whole host of different features. The and Nest Cam Indoor are both excellent options with their own perks, but we feel that the Nest model takes the edge due to CVR and a better subscription model.

While Amazon is a huge company with a hand in almost every realm of technology, Nest is probably the most widely recognized smart technology brand and they have been around for years. Those years of experience have paid off in one of the best smart cameras on the market, and with a fair and comprehensive subscription plan, it’s truly difficult to beat!

Below we go into detail on the similarities and differences of the Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam Indoor — Differences

Difference #1: Field of View – The first difference worth discussing when comparing the Nest Cam Indoor vs. Amazon Cloud Cam is the field of view. When it comes to keeping the entire room inside the frame, the Nest camera will do a better job due to a 130° diagonal field of view compared to the Amazon Cloud Cam’s 120°.

Difference #2: Internet Connection – When it comes to keeping your network free of congestion, Nest Cam Indoor pulls ahead yet again due to its dual-band setup that can take advantage of both the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands. With the data traffic spread over two different frequencies, you’ll see less of a slowdown than with the Amazon Cloud Cam’s sole 2.4 GHz band.

Difference #3: CVR & Subscriptions – Perhaps the most significant difference between the two brands is their support (or lack thereof) and the way they structure their subscriptions.

The Amazon Cloud Cam, unfortunately, offers no option for continuous video recording. By default, you’ll get access to the last 24 hours of recorded clips for free. If you’d like more storage, advanced detection features, and support for more cameras, you’ll have to opt for a Cloud Cam Subscription.

There are three tiers of subscription available: Basic, Extended, and Pro. All three plans enable motion zones and person detection, with the only difference between each level being the amount of storage for video clips and the number of cameras supported.

Basic, at $6.99/month gives you access to 7 days of video clips and up to 3 cameras. Extended, at $9.99/month doubles the storage to 14 days and allows you to use 5 cameras. For $19.99/month, the Pro subscription gives 30 days of storage for video clips and support for up to 10 cameras.

The Nest Aware subscriptions are much easier to understand, with the only difference being the length of video history available. The plans are named for the amount of storage: 5-day, 10-day, and 30-day for $5, $10, and $30 per month respectively.

Regardless of the subscription you choose, you’ll have access to CVR on every Nest Cam, which is hands-down the best deal for the feature on the market. Additionally, the subscription unlocks intelligent alerts, clips and time-lapse, and activity zones.

The main downside to the Nest Aware setup is that you only have access to a 3-hour snapshot history if you don’t pay for a subscription, making it significantly less useful than the Amazon Cloud Cam if you don’t want an ongoing monthly fee. If you’re willing to pay for a subscription, however, Nest Aware blows the Cloud Cam subscription out of the water — no question about it.

Difference #4: Smart Home Integration – Since Nest has been around for ages, the integration with other smart home products is much more impressive than the Amazon Cloud Cam. With the Amazon camera, all you’ll really have access to is Alexa support, which isn’t exactly surprising considering it’s made by the same company. Conversely, the Nest Cam supports Alexa, Google Assistant, Google Home Hub, and even conditional trigger systems like IFTTT and Stringify. Additionally, the Nest Cam Indoor works with other products within the company’s ecosystem such as the Nest Hello doorbell, Nest x Yale lock, Nest Protect, and Nest Secure.

With that said, one advantage that the Amazon Cloud Cam does have going for it is the Amazon Key Service. If you have an Amazon Cloud Cam and a supported smart lock, you can opt-in for in-home Amazon prime delivery — a great perk for Amazon addicts that are worried about their packages being stolen while they’re away from home.

Difference #5: Color – While the color of the camera isn’t really a dealbreaker in most scenarios, it’s worth mentioning that the Amazon Cloud Cam is only available in White with the Nest Cam Indoor only available in black.

Since the specifications of these cameras are so similar, it’s possible that the design could come into play. After all, you don’t want to sacrifice your cohesive decor with a clashing colored security camera!


Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam Indoor — Comparison Chart

Nest Cam Indoor
Video resolution Up to 1080p 1080p
Frames per Second 30 FPS 30 FPS
Video Format H.264 H.264
On-Demand Live View Yes Yes
Record Live View Yes with Nest Aware
Field of View 120° diagonal 130° diagonal
Zoom Yes 8x digital zoom
Power AC AC
Optional Power Source N/A N/A
Battery Life N/A N/A
Two-Way Audio Yes Yes
Motion Detection Yes Yes
Motion Zones with a Cloud Cam subscription with Nest Aware
Person Detection with a Cloud Cam subscription with Nest Aware
Facial Recognition No No
Sound Detection Yes Yes
Night Vision 8 Infrared LEDs
850 nm LEDs:
illuminates up to 25 feet
IR cut-off filter
8 Infrared LEDs
850 nm LEDs:
illuminates up to 25 feet
IR cut-off filter
Internet Connection WiFi: 2.4 Ghz WiFi: 2.4GHz or 5GHz
Requires a Base Station No No
Siren No No
24/7 Recording No with Nest Aware
Local Backup Storage No No
Cloud Storage 24 hours Free / Subscription 3-hour snapshot history
or with Nest Aware
Review, Share, & Save Yes with Nest Aware
e911 Emergency Call No No
Instant App Alerts Yes Yes
App Support Android, iOS, Fire OS, Web Android, iOS, Web
Weather-resistant No No
Amazon Alexa Echo Show, Echo Spot Echo Show, Echo Spot
Google Assistant No Yes
Google Home Hub No Yes
IFTTT No Yes
Stringify No Yes
Operating Temperature 32°F to 95°F 32°F to 104°F
Dimension 4.1 x 2.36 in 4.5 x 2.8 in.
Color White Black

Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam Indoor — Things in Common

Nest Cam Indoor

Video Quality – While there are certainly differences that set these two cameras apart, they have a lot in common as well. Both models offer 1080p HD recording at 30 FPS. They also record in H.264 video format which compresses the stream to reduce the load on your home internet — allowing the average network to support 3 or 4 of either camera without any noticeable slowdown.

Live View – Both the Amazon Cloud Cam and Nest Cam Indoor offer the ability to view and record an on-demand live view. However, the Nest Cam requires a Nest Aware subscription to record the live video, giving the Amazon camera a bit of an edge.

Zoom – With digital zoom featured on both cameras, you’ll never be too far away from the details. This can make all the difference when trying to identify intruders.

Two-Way Audio – In addition to being able to listen in on the covered room, you can also speak through the cameras using the two-way audio feature. It’s great for scaring off intruders, but we’re probably more likely to use it to shoo the cats off the counter!

Motion & Sound Detection – Both cameras offer the same features when it comes to motion and sound detection, although some of the said detection is locked behind a subscription plan. On either device, basic motion and sound detection are included by default. Amazon and Nest also offer Motion Zones and Person Detection to reduce the incidence of false alarms, but you’ll need the Nest Aware or Cloud Cam subscription if you’d like those enhanced features.

Night Vision – Last but not least, the Amazon Cloud Cam and Nest Cam Indoor feature 8 infrared 850 nm LEDs that can illuminate up to 25 feet, ensuring that you get the same quality of coverage day or night. An IR cut-off filter further enhances the picture for crystal clear details even in pitch black darkness.


Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam Indoor — Accessories

Nest Cam AC Outlet Mount

As far as accessories for the Amazon Cloud Cam and Nest Cam Indoor go, we mainly recommend taking a look at the various mounts available in order to ensure you can set up the camera the way you please.

The Amazon camera has an Outlet Mount, Wall Mount, and Hole-Free mount that may be worth the buy, while the Nest Cam Indoor is a lot easier to install with either the AC Outlet Mount or the Twist Mount.


Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam Indoor — Our Thoughts

Nest Cam Indoor - Extras - 01

Overall, when comparing the Amazon Cloud Cam vs. Nest Cam Indoor, we would recommend the Nest model in the vast majority of cases.

The reason for this recommendation is the much better structure of their subscription plans as well as the far superior smart home integration. With that said, the may be a more attractive option for those who don’t want to pay a monthly fee since you’ll have access to 24 hours of snapshots vs. the paltry 3 you get with Nest, plus there’s no denying that the in-home delivery is an excellent perk.

Long story short, we believe you’ll be happy with either camera, but we can confidently say that the Nest Cam Indoor is the better choice in almost every situation.

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Last update on 2024-03-28 at 02:21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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