Blink cameras have quite a fan base because they work fantastically well, even without a subscription – it’s one of the biggest reasons people go for this brand.
Now, if your Blink cameras are up and running with no issues, even without a subscription, you might be scratching your head, wondering why you’d need a subscription in the first place.
If your Blink cameras are already nailing it without a subscription, then why bother getting one? What’s the edge a subscription gives you?
These queries usually pop up as the free trial is about to wrap up, and you’re contemplating whether to subscribe or not.
Let’s unpack everything you need to know about Blink camera subscriptions.
Am I expected to pay for anything soon?
If you’re in the midst of a free trial, you might be curious if there are any concealed costs or if you’ll be sweet-talked into subscribing down the line.
But rest easy. Blink stands by its promise – there won’t be any surprise charges post the free trial.
The decision to subscribe to any plans is totally your call.
Features without subscription
Now, let’s take a step back and reflect on your free trial experience: How was it?
The free trial is basically your sneak peek into what the full subscription brings to the table.
Anything you could do during the trial is included in the subscription plan.
So, this experience can steer your decision on whether or not to subscribe.
If you’d rather your Blink camera system stay status quo, you might want to contemplate getting a plan.
On the other hand, if you’re having second thoughts and you’re curious about what you’ll miss out on without a subscription, let’s run through the features that will say goodbye once your free trial ends.
After the free trial, you’ll have to say adieu to the following features:
- Live view recording (you can stream but not record)
- Extended live view streaming (you can only stream for up to 5 minutes without a subscription)
- Auto-local storage backup
- 60-day unlimited video history
- Instant access to recorded video
- Video sharing
- Person detection
- Periodical snapshots for more coverage
- Custom snooze (temporary pause of motion alerts for up to 24 hours)
Even without a subscription, you’ll continue to receive motion alerts, live view streaming, two-way audio (if applicable), and motion recording (if you have Sync Module 2, which supports local storage).
Blink subscription plans
As you can see, things can feel a bit restrictive without a subscription, but having one opens up some pretty cool perks.
Since there’s a monthly fee involved, Amazon has made sure it’s worth every penny.
Blink extends two subscription options: the Blink Basic plan and the Blink Plus plan.
Amazon has compiled a helpful chart to highlight the difference between the plans. Here’s the lowdown on them:
Blink Basic plan or Plus plan – What should I get?
Choosing the ideal plan is a breeze.
You just need to figure out the number of cameras you have or intend to install.
Remember that subscriptions apply to each camera, not per household. This detail sometimes trips up users.
If your goal is to just monitor your front door or if you’re running three or fewer cameras, then the Blink Basic plan, at $3 per month per camera, could be your best bet.
$9 a month for three cameras is a tad cheaper than the $10 monthly fee for the Plus plan.
Yet, if your property’s on the larger side and you need to roll out four or more cameras, the Blink Plus Plan might be a more economical choice.
It costs $10 a month, or $100 a year, and allows you to hook up unlimited devices to the plan.
On the flip side, if you’ve got time to regularly clean out the local storage (depending on how fast your flash drive fills up), skipping the subscription could work regardless of the number of cameras.
How to get a subscription plan
Ready to get a plan? Follow these three easy steps.
1. Link your Amazon and Blink accounts
You may recall being asked to link your Amazon and Blink accounts during the initial setup.
If you’ve already done this, then skip this step and jump to 2. Attach a Blink subscription plan to your device or account.
If you hit Skip when asked to link the accounts earlier, here’s how to do it now:
- Open your Blink app, then go to Settings > Account and Privacy > Link to Amazon Account > Link Accounts.
- Enter your Amazon account email address and password.
You’ll know the linking was successful if the Link to Amazon Account on the screen switches to Amazon Account Linked.
Our next step is to purchase a Blink subscription plan and assign it to your account or device.
2. Attach a Blink subscription plan to your device or account
Once you’ve picked a plan, follow these steps to get the ball rolling and attach the Blink subscription:
- Purchase a Blink subscription plan on Amazon.com.
- If you opt for the Blink Basic plan, you’ll be asked to choose the device you want to attach the subscription to.
If you go for the Blink Plus, you won’t have to choose a device since it covers all your eligible devices.
- Tap Continue Checkout.
- Complete the checkout process, then select Place your order.
3. Check if the subscription plan is activated
You’ll get a heads-up when your subscription is active.
If you’re still in your trial period, you’ll see a message like, “Your Blink Basic/Plus Plan will activate once your free trial ends.”
If you’re past the trial phase, your subscription will automatically begin and you’ll see a “Your Blink Basic/Plus Plan is now active” message.
If you pick the Basic plan, you’ll see a “Tap to see the covered device” message. And if you’re on the Plus plan, it will read, “All devices under your account are covered.”
You can also check the status of your subscription in the app.
Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > Blink Plans > Manage Blink Plans.
All the devices and plans available will be listed under the Manage Blink Plans section.If you hit a snag with your subscription, don’t hesitate to reach out to Blink customer support. Either give them a ring at 1-833-392-5465 or submit a support ticket.
What will happen if I cancel my subscription?
If you’re curious about what happens if you decide to pull the plug on a paid subscription, especially if you’ve signed up for a full year, are you going to get a refund?
Absolutely!
If you cancel your subscription, your current plan will stop immediately, and you’ll be refunded for the unused balance. Cool, huh?
If you’re a monthly subscriber, you’ll get a prorated refund.
If you’ve committed for a year and choose to bail, you’ll also receive a prorated refund based on the remaining months in your subscription.
Is the Blink subscription worth it?
Let’s bring this home by tackling whether the Blink subscription holds its weight.
As we’ve already touched on, Blink cameras do function without a subscription.
So, the value of the subscription really boils down to what you’re looking for as a user.
Having sampled the free trial, you should have a good idea of whether you want your Blink camera system to continue operating that way or not.
Keep in mind, sans subscription, you’ll be waving goodbye to a slew of features like live view recording, extended live viewing, unlimited storage, and more!
However, you’ll still have access to basic features like live view, motion alerts, two-way talk (if available), and motion recording (if you have local storage).
You’ve got two plans to choose from: Basic and Plus.
Go Basic if you’re dealing with three or fewer devices, while Plus is your best bet if you have four or more.
The cherry on top is you can cancel the plan anytime you want, and you’ll get a refund for the remaining balance.
So, what’s it going to be? To subscribe or not to subscribe?