Amazon Blink Subscription Explained
Blink Subscription (also called Blink+ or Blink Subscription Plan) is an optional paid service that adds cloud video storage and extra features to your Blink security cameras. Without a subscription, your Blink cameras record video but store it only locally on the Sync Module or in limited cloud storage. A subscription unlocks longer video history, person detection, and other tools that make the cameras more useful for home security.
The subscription is sold by Amazon and works with all Blink camera models — the Blink Video Doorbell, Blink Outdoor, Blink Indoor, and others. You do not have to buy a subscription to use your cameras at all; it is purely optional. But if you want to review video from days or weeks ago, or if you want the camera to alert you specifically when it detects a person (rather than any motion), you will need the paid plan.
Key Takeaways
- Blink Subscription stores your camera video in the cloud for 30 or 60 days depending on which plan you choose, so you can review footage from the past month or two.
- Person detection alerts you only when the camera sees a person, not every time motion triggers the camera, which cuts down on false alarms from pets or wind.
- You can subscribe to one camera individually or pay a higher price to cover all cameras on your account at once.
- The subscription renews monthly or yearly, and you can pause or cancel it from your Blink app settings without penalty.
What Video Storage You Get With Each Plan
Blink offers two subscription tiers. The standard plan stores video for 30 days in the cloud; the higher tier stores video for 60 days. Both plans let you read video clips to your phone or computer and share them with others through the Blink app.
Without any subscription, your Blink cameras still record video, but it is stored only on your Sync Module (a small hub that connects your cameras to your home network). That local storage is limited — typically a few hours to a day of footage depending on how many cameras you have and how much they record. Once the local storage fills up, older video is deleted. A subscription moves that video to Amazon's servers, so you have a much longer history to look back through.
If your internet connection drops, local recording continues on the Sync Module. Once your connection comes back, new video uploads to the cloud. This means you do not lose footage during a brief outage, though you will not be able to view it remotely until the connection restores.
Person Detection and Other Subscription Features
Person detection is the most useful feature most people add a subscription for. Without it, your camera sends you a motion alert every time it detects movement — which can mean dozens of notifications a day from leaves blowing, shadows, or pets walking past. With person detection turned on, the camera only alerts you when it sees a person in the frame.
The subscription also includes package detection, which alerts you when the camera spots a package on your doorstep or porch. This is especially useful for the Blink Video Doorbell, since it can tell you the moment a delivery arrives.
Other subscription features include the ability to create custom activity zones (so the camera ignores motion in certain parts of the frame, like a street or neighbor's yard) and access to Blink's cloud-based video library, where you can organize and search your clips by date or alert type.
Subscription Pricing and Billing
Blink Subscription pricing varies depending on whether you subscribe to a single camera or all cameras on your account. A single-camera subscription costs less per month than a plan covering multiple cameras, but if you have more than one or two cameras, a whole-account plan is usually cheaper overall.
You can pay monthly or yearly. Yearly plans cost less per month than paying month-to-month, though you pay the full year upfront. Both options renew automatically, and you can cancel or pause your subscription at any time from the Blink app without any cancellation fee or penalty.
If you have an Amazon Prime membership, check whether you are already enrolled in Prime Video. Some Prime members receive a limited Blink Subscription benefit as part of their Prime membership, though this varies by region and membership tier. Log into your Blink app to see what you currently have.
How to Start a Blink Subscription
Open the Blink app on your phone and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines). Go to Subscription or Plans — the exact wording depends on your app version. You will see the available plans listed with their prices and what each one includes.
Select the plan you want (single camera or all cameras, and monthly or yearly billing). You will be asked to confirm your payment method — Blink uses the payment method linked to your Amazon account. After you confirm, the subscription activates when ready, and you will see the new features available in your app right away.
If you are not sure which plan to choose, start with a monthly subscription for a single camera. You can always upgrade to cover all cameras or switch to yearly billing later. Many people find that person detection alone is worth the cost, since it reduces notification fatigue.
Pausing or Canceling Your Subscription
You can pause your Blink Subscription for up to three months without canceling it entirely. This is useful if you are traveling or temporarily do not need the extra features. When you pause, you stop being charged, but you can turn it back on whenever you want without signing up again.
To cancel, go to the Subscription section of the Blink app and select Manage Subscription or Cancel Plan. Confirm the cancellation. Your subscription will end at the end of your current billing period — if you paid for a month, it ends at the end of that month; if you paid yearly, it ends at the end of that year. You will not be charged again, and you will not receive a refund for the time remaining.
After you cancel, your cameras continue to work and record video locally on the Sync Module. You just lose cloud storage, person detection, and the other subscription features. Any video you downloaded or saved before canceling remains on your phone or computer.
Blink Subscription vs. Other Camera Services
Many other home security camera brands — Ring, Wyze, Google Nest — also charge for cloud storage and advanced features. Blink's subscription is generally less expensive than Ring's, though Ring offers some features Blink does not, like professional monitoring. Wyze has a lower-cost subscription option but stores fewer days of video. Google Nest's storage is included with some Google One membership tiers, so the cost structure is different.
The main advantage of Blink is that the cameras work without a subscription at all, with local recording on the Sync Module. If you do not want to pay for cloud storage, you can still use your cameras for live viewing and local recording. Other brands require a subscription for most useful features, or they do not offer local recording as an option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a subscription to use my Blink cameras?
No. Your cameras record video locally on the Sync Module and send you motion alerts without a subscription. You can view live video from your phone anytime. A subscription adds cloud storage, person detection, and other features — it is optional.
What happens to my video if I cancel the subscription?
Cloud video stored during your subscription period is deleted 30 days after cancellation. Any video you downloaded or saved to your phone or computer before canceling stays with you. Local recording on your Sync Module continues after you cancel.
Can I subscribe to just one camera if I have multiple cameras?
Yes. You can buy a subscription for a single camera, or you can buy a plan that covers all cameras on your account. Single-camera subscriptions cost less per month, but a whole-account plan is usually cheaper if you have more than two cameras.
Does Blink Subscription work if my internet goes down?
Your cameras continue to record video locally on the Sync Module during an outage. Once your internet comes back, new video uploads to the cloud. You will not be able to view remote video until the connection restores, but you will not lose any footage.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind about the subscription?
Refunds depend on how long you have had the subscription and your reason for requesting one. Contact Blink Support through the app or Amazon's website to ask about a refund. Most subscriptions are non-refundable after the first few days, but it is worth asking if you signed up by mistake.