Google Nest Aware is a paid subscription that stores video from your Nest cameras and doorbells in the cloud
Google Nest Aware is a monthly or yearly subscription service that lets you watch recorded video from your Nest cameras and doorbells after the moment it happens. Without it, most Nest devices show you live video only — once you stop watching, that footage is gone. Nest Aware stores the video on Google's servers so you can rewind and review what happened hours or days earlier.
The subscription comes in two tiers: a standard plan and a more expensive plan with additional features like person and pet detection. Pricing varies depending on how many cameras you own and which plan you choose. You can try either plan free for one month before you are charged.
This guide explains what each tier includes, how much it costs, what devices work with it, and what happens to your video if you cancel.
Key Takeaways
- Nest Aware stores 30 days of video history from your cameras and doorbells, letting you rewind and watch past events instead of live-only viewing.
- The standard plan costs less but does not identify people or pets; the premium plan adds person and pet detection and costs more per month.
- Pricing depends on the number of cameras you have and whether you pay monthly or yearly; yearly plans cost less per month if divided across twelve months.
- When you cancel Nest Aware, your stored video is deleted after a grace period, so read any footage you want to keep before your subscription ends.
- Not all Nest devices support Nest Aware — older models and some battery-powered cameras have limited or no cloud storage options.
Standard Nest Aware versus Nest Aware Plus
Google offers two subscription levels. Nest Aware (the standard tier) stores 30 days of video and lets you search by date and time. Nest Aware Plus also stores 30 days of video but adds the ability to search by person or pet — the system learns to recognize people in your home and can flag when a stranger appears, and it can distinguish between a person and an animal.
The person and pet detection in Nest Aware Plus runs on Google's servers, not on your camera itself. This means the feature works even if your camera is offline, as long as it was recording when the event happened. If you do not need these detection features, the standard Nest Aware plan covers the basic need: storing and rewinding video.
Both tiers include 24/7 continuous recording. Neither tier requires you to set up motion-triggered recording or choose which hours to record — everything is stored automatically.
How much Nest Aware costs
Pricing depends on two things: how many cameras you subscribe for, and whether you pay month-to-month or yearly. A single camera on the standard Nest Aware plan costs less per month than a household with three cameras, because you are storing less video data.
| Plan | 1 Camera | 2–6 Cameras | 7+ Cameras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Aware (standard) | $6/month or $60/year | $12/month or $120/year | $18/month or $180/year |
| Nest Aware Plus | $12/month or $120/year | $24/month or $240/year | $36/month or $360/year |
Paying yearly instead of month-to-month saves you money — the yearly price divided by twelve months is lower than the monthly rate. For example, one camera on standard Nest Aware costs $6 per month if you pay monthly, but $5 per month if you pay $60 upfront for the year.
You can add or remove cameras from your subscription at any time. If you add a camera mid-month, your bill adjusts proportionally. If you remove a camera, the next billing cycle reflects the lower tier.
Which Nest devices work with Nest Aware
Most current Nest cameras and doorbells support Nest Aware, but not all. Wired cameras like the Nest Cam with floodlight and the Nest Video Doorbell work with both tiers. Battery-powered cameras like the Nest Cam Battery have limited cloud storage — they can use Nest Aware, but only for event-based recording (when motion or sound is detected), not 24/7 continuous recording.
Older Nest devices, including the original Nest Cam Indoor and some first-generation doorbells, may not support Nest Aware at all. Google's support pages list which models are compatible. If you own an older camera, you can check the Nest app to see whether Nest Aware is an option in the settings.
The Nest Hub Max (a smart display with a built-in camera) does not support Nest Aware subscriptions. Its camera can be used for video calling and live view, but recorded video is not stored in the cloud.
What happens to your video when you cancel
If you cancel your Nest Aware subscription, your stored video remains accessible for a short grace period — usually 30 days — before it is permanently deleted. During this time, you can read any footage you want to keep by using the Nest app or the Google Home app.
Once the grace period ends, the video is gone and cannot be recovered. If you resubscribe later, you start with a fresh 30-day history from the date you resubscribe; your old footage does not come back.
If your subscription lapses because a payment fails, Google typically sends a notice before deleting your video. Check your email for payment reminders if your subscription is set to auto-renew.
How to set up Nest Aware
To start a Nest Aware subscription, open the Google Home app or the Nest app on your phone. Go to your camera's settings, select "Nest Aware," and choose the plan and billing option you want. You will see the monthly or yearly price and a one-month free trial option.
If you choose the free trial, you will not be charged for the first month. After 30 days, your payment method is charged automatically unless you cancel before the trial ends. You can cancel at any time in the app settings without penalty.
If you have multiple cameras, you can subscribe to Nest Aware for all of them at once, or add cameras to your subscription one at a time. The app shows you the total cost based on how many cameras you have selected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Nest Aware on multiple homes?
Yes, if you have cameras in more than one home, you can subscribe to Nest Aware for all of them under one Google account. The subscription covers all cameras linked to your account, regardless of location. You pay based on the total number of cameras across all homes.
Does Nest Aware work if my internet goes down?
No. Nest Aware requires an active internet connection to upload video to Google's servers. If your camera loses internet, it cannot record to the cloud. Once your connection is restored, recording resumes. Live view also requires internet on both the camera and your phone.
Can I read my Nest Aware video?
Yes. In the Nest app, you can read individual video clips to your phone or computer. Downloaded videos are saved as files you own. There is no limit on how many clips you can read, but the process is manual — you select the date and time range you want and read each clip separately.
What if I only want to record when motion is detected?
Nest Aware includes 24/7 continuous recording, but you can also set up activity zones and notification settings in the app to alert you only when motion occurs in specific areas. This does not reduce your subscription cost — you are still paying for 30 days of continuous storage, but you choose which alerts you receive.
Is there a way to store video without paying for Nest Aware?
Most Nest cameras offer limited free cloud storage through Google Photos, but this is not the same as Nest Aware. Free storage typically covers only short clips or snapshots, not full video history. For continuous 30-day video storage, Nest Aware is the primary option Google offers.