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Blink is a line of home security products owned by Amazon. The company offers budget-friendly cameras, video doorbells and accessories with helpful monitoring features, but it doesn’t have any traditional alarm systems with sensors or hazard-alert devices.
We tested Blink’s equipment and appreciated the user-friendly setup and high-quality video features. All of the devices can be DIY-installed and self-monitored, and monthly subscription plans give you access to advanced features such as video recording and person detection.
Though it doesn’t offer the same level of features or equipment as higher-end providers, overall, we found Blink to be a functional camera-only home security system that may be best for renters or DIY-ers on a budget.
To get a Blink security system, you purchase individual devices or equipment bundles on Amazon. From there, you download the Blink for Home app, where you can also sign up for a subscription plan to access advanced features if you want.
Without a subscription plan, you can still arm and disarm the system from the app, receive basic notifications and watch your home live on your cameras. All Blink devices can be Alexa-enabled for voice control, but unfortunately Blink devices don’t integrate with other smart home systems, including Google Home.
Deciding factors | |
|---|---|
One-time costs | Starts at $39.99 for one camera or $199.97 for a whole-home bundle. |
Monthly fees | None required. |
Installation | DIY. No professional install available. |
Video monitoring |
|
Contract | None. |
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Cameras have high-quality view and easily differentiate between people and other motion, which other providers don’t do as consistently. | No alarm system or door/window sensors, just cameras and doorbells. |
Offers both wired and battery-powered devices. Some devices can do both, and battery-powered devices have a two-year battery life. | No professional monitoring available. |
These are the list prices of Blink’s home security equipment.
Item | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
Mini 2 camera | $39.99. | Indoor/outdoor use, night vision, spotlight and two-way audio. Plug-in only. |
Outdoor 4 camera | $99.99. | Night vision, two-way audio and two-year battery life. |
Video doorbell | $59.99. | Two-way audio, can be wired or battery-powered. It connects with the Sync Module for live view anytime (instead of just when something moves or the doorbell rings). |
Mini Pan-Tilt camera | $39.99. | Two-way audio and night vision. Indoor and plug-in only. |
Wired floodlight camera | $89.99. | Two-way audio, night vision, 2600 lumen LED lights and security siren. Plugs in outdoors. |
Wireless floodlight camera | $129.99. | Two-way audio, night vision, 700 lumen LED lights and two-year battery life. |
Battery extension pack | $29.99. | Attaches to the Outdoor 4 camera for four years of battery life instead of two. |
Blink also offers product bundles at a discount. The prices below are list prices.
Package | Price | Items |
|---|---|---|
Blink Whole Home Bundle | $199.97. | Outdoor 4 camera, Mini 2 camera, video doorbell and Sync Module 2, which connects up to 10 devices. |
Video Doorbell and Outdoor Camera Bundle | $159.98. | Outdoor 4 camera, video doorbell and Sync Module 2. |
Without a monitoring plan, you can arm and disarm your Blink system from the app, receive motion-activated notifications and see a live camera view for up to five continuous minutes.
These are the additional features you’ll access with a $3 monthly plan, which covers one camera:
Lets you watch your camera feed for up to 90 minutes continuously.
Saves live view and motion event recordings.
Unlimited cloud storage for up to 60 days.
Automatically backs up to local storage with a Sync Module.
Photo capture.
Person detection.
These are the advanced features you can access with a $10 monthly plan, which covers unlimited devices:
Blink Moments, which combines multiple motion recordings from different devices in the same time period into one video.
Ability to snooze motion-activated alerts for up to 24 hours.
10% off additional Blink devices.
Extended warranty coverage.
Blink had one of the easiest setup processes of the home security systems we’ve tested. Step-by-step instructions for downloading the app and setting up the device are on the inside of the box for each item, and a “quick start guide” booklet is also inside the box itself.
The app setup walkthrough is simple and clear. The mounting instructions for any device that needs to be screwed onto a wall are on the Blink support website, which has a web address on the box or can be accessed in the device settings in the app.
Blink’s cameras had some of the sharpest video and sound quality of those we’ve tested. The cameras were the only ones we’ve tried that didn’t emit a high-pitched interference noise when we watched the live feed while right next to the device, though there is a one- or two-second playback delay.
Blink’s motion detection was also very fine-tuned, immediately and reliably sending different notifications for people and other motion. However, you’ll need a monthly Blink subscription plan to access this feature.
We found Blink devices very customizable. In device settings, we could:
Rename the device. This let us label the devices according to where they were or what they were guarding.
Change the motion settings. We could turn on/off motion detection, record all motion or record only people, adjust motion sensitivity on a 1-10 scale, select activity and privacy zones and change the “retrigger time” (time after a motion during which the camera will not detect motion).
Change video and photo settings. We could change the length of the motion clip; change video quality to battery saver, standard or best; flip the video upside down; turn night vision on or off; adjust infrared LED intensity for nighttime; turn on once-per-hour photo capture when armed and end a clip early if the motion stops.
Change the brightness and volume. We could adjust the speaker volume of the camera, change the light brightness, change the light timeout and motion-activate the lights.
Change the feed. We could turn on or off video recording and audio streaming.
Get help. We could call tech support in-app.
We had some trouble connecting the first Blink device we tested (the Mini 2 camera) to Wi-Fi. At first, the app said that it was “Unable to communicate with Mini 2 camera” over the network, and we had to start over the in-app setup process. Then, we were able to join our Wi-Fi network, but when we returned to the app's home screen, it said that the camera was offline and there was no connection.
Finally, we started over a third time and were able to go through the setup process and successfully connect the camera to Wi-Fi. We didn’t have this issue with any other device.
on SimpliSafe's website
on Money.com and Amazon.com
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