Are Blink Cameras Always Recording?

Constant and reliable home security monitoring is essential for protection and peace of mind for many homeowners. Some security cameras, like those used in commercial buildings, can continuously record and store video footage for later reference. With this in mind, I wanted to find out if Blink cameras are always recording.

Blink security cameras record in short intervals based on motion detection and are not designed to record continuously. Motion detection will remain active as long as your system is armed. Additionally, users can manually record footage using the Live View feature, depending on your Blink subscription plan.

Though Blink security cameras do not continuously record by default, there are some important factors to understand when considering your setup’s capabilities. This article will provide an in-depth look into how Blink cameras record and store footage and some tips for using your system.

How Do Blink Cameras Record and Store Footage?

When your system is armed and active, Blink cameras will record footage immediately once motion is detected. Users have the option of setting recording durations ranging from 10 to 60 seconds. Once your Blink camera detects movement, the device will send a notification to your phone or tablet, allowing you access to live-stream footage.

Though you can also manually record footage using the live view feature, a Basic or Plus subscription plan is required to store the footage on Blink’s servers. These optional subscription plans allow you to record and store events in the Cloud and view them remotely at any time via the Blink Home Monitor app.

Here’s a quick look at what the plans offer regarding recording and storing your camera’s footage:

Feature(s)	Free	Basic	Plus
Motion Detection Alerts	Yes	Yes	Yes
Live Streaming	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video Recording and Photo Capture	No	Yes	Yes
Footage Sharing	No	Yes	Yes
Clip Storage Duration	N/A	60 Days	60 Days
Price	N/A	$3/Month or $30/Year	$10/Month or $100/Year

Depending on your needs, it may be worth considering an optional subscription plan for additional services. Since I’m interested in using a monthly plan for storing my recordings, I wanted to find out what the Blink Cloud storage could provide for my setup.

Cloud Storage

Depending on the subscription plan you opt for, you can access Blink’s Cloud servers to store and view your recorded footage.

By default, Blink servers can store up to 120 minutes (or 2 hours) of footage. If you hit your storage limit, Blink will automatically overwrite your oldest footage with new recordings. Your storage is allocated based on the number of Blink Sync Modules you have in your system.

In other words, if you use multiple cameras with a single module, you will use your allotted storage more quickly.

Now that we have a better idea of how Blink cameras store and record your footage, let’s take a closer look at some tips for recording with your security camera.

Tips for Recording with Your Blink Camera

Regardless of your subscription plan, the continuous recording would require excessive bandwidth and network resources to be a practical solution with Blink cameras. That being said, there are still some alternative methods for recording footage and keeping your home secure.

Motion Detection vs. Live View

As we briefly touched upon earlier, Blink cameras record footage in adjustable durations based on motion detection. By default, the cameras will record up to 60 seconds of footage once the motion detection has been triggered. In the Blink Home Monitor app, you can adjust the “retrigger time” (or how long the device will record before re-arming itself) from 10 seconds to 60 seconds.

Blink cameras have a live view feature providing access to your camera’s footage in real-time, right on your mobile device. Some models even support live view on Alexa-compatible smart home devices.

If you’re using an Alexa-enabled device for live view, you can record up to 5 minutes of footage per session. However, extended recording times may exceed your allotted Cloud storage, requiring additional subscription services. Depending on your subscription plan, you can manually record footage using the live view feature as well.

How to Tell if Your Camera is Recording

If you want to verify you’re recording, or you’re unsure if your Blink camera is capturing a motion event, there are some easy ways to tell if your system is active.

Blink cameras with motion detection enabled have a blue LED light to indicate the device’s recording status. However, it is important to note that some users have expressed concern over the blue light as it will potentially alert a trespasser that they’re being recorded.

In Summary

Blink security cameras provide competitive and reliable features for homeowners looking to add security to their property while controlling what and when they monitor. The devices record security footage based on motion detection or manually through live view (requiring an optional monthly subscription plan).

Though Blink cameras cannot record continuously, they are still a competitive and reliable addition to any security system.

Curious about whether your other smart camera devices, like the Nest cam, is always recording too? Read this article to learn more!