Introduction to eufy Cloud Storage
What is eufy Cloud Storage?
eufy Cloud Storage is a cloud storage service offered by eufy, a smart home security and appliance company owned by Anker Innovations. It allows users to store video footage and images captured by eufy security cameras and video doorbells in the cloud.
The service was launched in 2020 as an optional add-on for eufy device owners who want to access their footage remotely without relying solely on local storage. eufy Cloud Storage provides secure cloud backups of recordings, advanced features like facial recognition, and compatibility across eufy’s product ecosystem.
How eufy Cloud Storage Works
eufy security cameras and doorbells record video locally to a microSD card or internal storage. Users can access this footage through the eufy Security app when connected to the local network.
With an eufy Cloud Storage subscription, new recordings are also uploaded to the cloud automatically. This allows users to view and manage footage from anywhere via the eufy Security app, rather than only when connected to the home network.
Uploaded videos are stored in the cloud for a set number of days depending on the subscription plan. Premium plans offer 365-day video history. Facial recognition capabilities also allow users to easily search for people detected across recordings.
eufy Cloud Storage Plans
eufy offers tiered Cloud Storage plans to meet different needs:
– Basic Plan: Stores recordings for 7 days. Limited to one camera. $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
– Premium Plan: Stores recordings for 30 days. Up to 10 cameras supported. $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
– 360-Day Premium Plan: Stores recordings for 365 days. Unlimited cameras supported. $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year.
The Basic plan is included for free with purchase of select eufy devices for a limited period. Users can try Premium free for the first month.
Features and Benefits
Key features and benefits of eufy Cloud Storage include:
– Remote viewing and management – Access recordings anytime from smartphone.
– Extended video history – Premium plans store more footage in the cloud.
– Facial recognition search – Quickly find people detected by cameras.
– Encrypted storage – Data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.
– Automated backups – New recordings are instantly backed up.
– Smart camera integrations – Works across eufy’s ecosystem of smart security devices.
– Activity zone monitoring – Receive alerts for detected motion in customized zones.
– Share access – Provide limited access to friends and family.
Is eufy Cloud Storage Worth It?
For most homeowners, eufy Cloud Storage is a worthwhile investment to enhance convenience and security. The automatic backups provide peace of mind against hardware failures or stolen devices. Remote access enables monitoring when away from home. And facial recognition simplifies footage reviews.
The longer video history of Premium plans is especially valuable for high traffic areas or users that want to review or save incidents beyond a week old. Overall, the prices are competitive for the level of service compared to other security camera cloud storage platforms.
How eufy Cloud Storage Compares to Competitors
eufy Cloud Storage competes most closely with other security camera manufacturers’ cloud offerings like Arlo Secure and Logitech Circle Safe. Here’s how eufy stacks up:
Storage Duration
eufy’s Premium plan matches competitors with 30 days of video history. The 360-day extended plan differentiates eufy with lengthy storage duration that few rivals provide. This makes eufy a good choice for users that want long-term archives.
Number of Cameras Supported
Both eufy and Arlo support up to 10 cameras on mid-tier plans while Logitech Circle caps at 5 cameras. eufy allows unlimited cameras with the 360-day Premium plan. So eufy can handle larger camera deployments.
Video Resolution
eufy streams and stores video at each camera’s max resolution up to 2K. Competitors often downgrade quality or have an overall resolution limit. So eufy delivers excellent video fidelity in the cloud.
Smart Alerts
Activity zone alerts are a strength across eufy, Arlo, and Circle Safe. eufy also features human, animal, vehicle and package detection. However, it lacks facial recognition alerts offered by Arlo.
Price
eufy’s monthly pricing is very competitive, especially for unlimited camera plans. Yearly rates offer 20-30% savings over monthly. Arlo and Circle have similar annual discounts while Logitech lacks yearly options.
Overall, eufy Cloud Storage is a top-tier choice thanks to long retention, unlimited cameras, strong smart alerts and competitive pricing.
Getting the Most Out of eufy Cloud Storage
Here are some tips to maximize the benefits of a eufy Cloud Storage subscription:
Enable Automatic Backups
Automatic uploading of recordings is not on by default. Be sure to enable auto-backups in the eufy Security app settings so all footage is archived in the cloud.
Adjust Motion Sensitivity
Cameras detect motion through infrared and AI technology. Adjust sensitivity so important activity is captured without excessive false alerts.
Use Activity Zones
Define zones like walkways or driveways to only get notifications when motion occurs there. This filters out irrelevant background movement.
Add Facial Recognition
With facial recognition enabled, eufy cameras will identify people and let you search clips based on who was detected. Great for seeing when regular visitors stop by.
Schedule Do Not Disturb
Set schedules and modes to disable motion alerts during certain time periods or situations, like overnight hours. This prevents excessive notifications.
Taking advantage of these features ensures you fully benefit from the versatile capabilities of eufy Cloud Storage.
