© Phonlamai Photo / Shutterstock.com
Key Points:
- Blink offers home security cameras and video doorbells, while Nest provides home security cameras, video doorbells, smoke detectors, smart locks, thermostats, and displays.
- Nest became popular upon launching the Nest learning thermostat in 2011. Nest Labs was purchased by Google for $3.2 billion in 2014.
- Blink’s largest product line is the Blink cameras which consist of four models including two video cameras designed for the outdoors.
If you’ve shopped for a video doorbell or security camera in the past few years, you’ve probably put Blink vs Nest through your mind to see which was best. The brands are owned by two tech giants and both companies are considered leaders in their fields.
Each ecosystem is also an investment if you plan on purchasing several devices. That means it’s a good idea to take a better look at the companies as a whole, which is what we’re going to do as we break down Blink and Nest along with their current collections.
Blink vs Nest: Side by Side Comparison
| Blink Home | Google Nest | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Home automation company | Home automation company |
| Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Formerly | Immedia Semiconductor Inc | Nest Labs |
| Parent Company | Amazon | |
| Products | Home security cameras, video doorbells | Home security cameras, video doorbells, smoke detectors, smart locks, thermostats, displays |
| Website | https://blinkforhome.com/ | https://store.google.com/ |
Blink vs Nest: 5 Must-Know Facts
- Nest has released three additional versions of the Nest Thermostat since 2011
- Blink raised $1 million through a crowdfunding campaign to launch its first product.
- Nest fully merged with Alphabet after Google’s reorganization in 2018.
- Ring, not Blink or Nest, was the first company to gain popularity with a video doorbell in 2014.
- Before being discontinued, the Nest Cam IQ was the company’s first 4K HDR security cam.
Blink Vs Nest: What’s the Difference?
Blink and Nest got off to similar starts in the tech world. They were founded roughly a year apart and even have a similar line of products including video doorbells and security cameras for inside and outdoors.
Blink began life as Immedia Semiconductor in 2009 before shifting to consumer electronics. They gained a lot of attention through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014 that helped launch an indoor security camera. Since that time, the company has released other home automation devices and was acquired by Amazon in 2017 for $90 million.
Nest became a household name when they launched the Nest learning thermostat in 2011. Nest Labs was purchased by Google for $3.2 billion in 2014, and video cameras were introduced into the lineup with the Dropcam. Google Nest has one of the larger lines of home automation products and began a partnership with ADT home security systems in 2020.
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Blink Cameras and Systems
Blink doesn’t have the largest selection of home automation products, but its lineup has a distinct design from the Blink Mini to its outdoor solar charger. Their largest product line is the Blink cameras which consist of four models including two video cameras designed for the outdoors.
Blink Cameras
The most affordable option from Blink is the Blink Mini, a wired camera designed for indoor use. This diminutive camera plugs into anything with a USB port and can give you an idea of what’s happening inside your home.
The Mini is a 1080p security camera with motion detection, two-way audio, and a 110° field of view, but it is not wireless. If you don’t want to deal with cords, the Blink Indoor is a better alternative. It has the exact same specifications as the Mini, but with a slightly higher price tag.
You’ll only need to replace the Blink Indoor batteries every 2 years. That’s the only difference between the mini, however, and the company carried the same style and specifications outdoors. The Blink Outdoor is the same security camera as the indoor model with a few important exceptions.
Blink’s Outdoor camera also has a 2-year battery along with IP65 certification. That means the camera is protected against “water jet” sprays, but it is not waterproof – just water-resistant. It has an outdoor operating range of -4° to 113° F, so cold and heat shouldn’t be a problem.
The Blink Outdoor Floodlight provides the same degree of protection but in a completely new form factor. This outdoor floodlight camera produces 800 lumens of light, motion detection, two-way audio, and night vision like the rest of the Blink lineup. Battery life is good for around two years depending on usage.
- Blink Indoor is a wireless, battery-powered security camera that helps you check in on your home day or night with infrared night vision.
- With long-lasting battery life, Indoor runs for up to two years on two AA lithium batteries (included).
- Store video clips and photos in the cloud with the Blink Subscription Plan and save events locally to the Blink Sync Module 2 via a USB flash drive (sold separately).
- Get customizable motion alerts on your phone through the Blink Home Monitor app so you’re only alerted when you need to be.
- See, hear, and speak to people and pets in your home with live view in real time and two-way audio features in the Blink app.
Blink Video Doorbells
Blink currently has two video doorbells. You can wire one into your existing system and use the chime in your home along with the app, while the other model is completely wireless.
Blink video doorbells have two-way audio like the cameras, and the resolution tops out at 1080p. Both versions of this video doorbell have a range of 23 feet when mounted and an effective working range of 12 feet for knee-level motion.
Both models require two AA batteries and work with other Blink products along with Amazon Alexa. They have night vision and a variable frame rate of 15 to 30 frames per second with a 135° horizontal and 80° vertical field of view.
- 1080p HD video, two-way audio, and infrared night vision video
- Two-year battery life for wireless option
- Push notification alerts and custom privacy settings on mobile
- 30-day free trial for Blink Subscription Plan
- Save and share clips with included Sync Module 2
- Simple setup with two AA batteries included
Google Nest Home Automation Products
Considering how many products Google has produced since it took over Nest, it’s not fair to compare Blink vs Nest lineups as a whole when you factor in speakers, displays, Nest Wi-Fi modules, and smart door locks. Instead, we’re going to focus on Nest cameras, doorbells, and the product that made the company famous.
Nest Cameras
Like Blink, there are several cameras in the Google Nest lineup. Each serves a different purpose, so there’s an indoor security cam to go along with an outdoor model. The company also has a floodlight system called the Nest Cam with Floodlight.
The most affordable option from Nest is the Nest Cam indoor. This camera requires a power source and it has the widest field of view in its lineup at 135° diagonal with a 16.9 aspect ratio. It has night vision, two-way talk, and HDR at 1080p. It’s also very stylish like its battery-powered brother – the Nest Cam Outdoor.
The Nest Cam Outdoor has a built-in 3.65v rechargeable battery, but you can also wire it into your existing system. This camera works just as well indoors as it will outside with a night vision range of up to 20 feet. It’s an IP54-certified device with a temperature rating of -4° to 104° F. It has the same video capabilities and features as the Nest indoor, but with a 130° field of view.
From a design standpoint, the Nest Cam with floodlight resembles their outdoor cam with two floodlights attached. Those lights produce 2,000 lumens of brightness and the system has motion detection, night vision, and all the features you’d expect. It’s also IP54 certified like the outdoor model of the Nest Cam.
- Built-in intelligence and can tell the difference between a person, animal, and vehicle and send alerts directly through the Google Home app
- Controller Type: Google Assistant
- Connectivity protocol: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Power source type: Corded Electric
- Easily check in from anywhere 24/7 with 1080p HDR video with night vision, and see what you missed with 3 hours of free event video history
- If your Wi-Fi goes down, Nest Cam will store up to 1 hour of recorded events so you can see what you missed
- Talk and listen with the built-in speaker and mic on your security camera or call your local emergency service directly from the Google Home app
- Set up Activity Zones to receive phone notifications about specific areas of your home and know when familiar faces arrive
Nest Doorbells
Like most companies that produce video doorbells, Nest gives homeowners two models to choose from. There’s a wired doorbell that you can tie into an existing chime in your home and a wireless model that relies on a lithium-ion battery.
The Nest wired doorbell is slightly smaller and cheaper but requires the Nest app to function. This camera is only available in one color and has a 160° field of view with a 4:3 aspect ratio. It can detect motion and people and has a two-way talk system with HD video, HDR, and night vision.
By comparison, the Nest battery-powered doorbell stores its event history as video clips, not still images. It can tell the difference between a vehicle, animal, and person as well. The aspect ratio is 3:4 and the field of view isn’t as large, but it’s just as capable. This model utilizes the Google Home app and comes in three additional colors.
- The Nest Doorbell has built-in intelligence and can tell the difference between a person, package, animal, and vehicles and send you an alert in the Google Home app[1], no subscription...
- Easily check in from anywhere 24/7 with live HD video with HDR and night vision[1]; see what you missed with 3 hours of free event video history[2]; or add a Nest Aware subscription (sold separately)...
- If your Wi-Fi goes down or there’s a power outage, the Nest Doorbell will store up to 1 hour of recorded events so you can see what you missed[4]
- The Nest Doorbell is easy to install wired or wire-free; the built-in battery means it works with any door, or connect it to your existing doorbell wires with the included wire connector
- Whether you choose battery or wired installation, the battery-powered Nest Doorbell cannot continuously record 24/7 video history, even with a Nest Aware subscription
Nest Protect and Nest Thermostat
The first product ever produced by Nest was their learning thermostat. While it’s undergone significant changes over the years, it still serves the same purpose and remains one of the best smart thermostats money can buy.
There are two models, the basic Nest Thermostat and the smarter Nest Learning Thermostat. The latter lives up to its namesake after installation by adjusting itself based on your usage and habits. It’s compatible with the Nest temperature sensor and has s design that works with 95% of HVAC systems on the market today.
Nest used a mirror display on the base Nest Thermostat, instead of a digital display with Farsight. It doesn’t look as premium as their flagship model and isn’t as smart, but performs most of the same features. Both systems can turn down your HVAC unit while you’re away while allowing remote control access through the Google Home app.
Want to add a smart smoke detector to your home? The Nest Protect and CO alarm does that with style. It’s a split-sensor smoke detector with a 10-year electrochemical carbon monoxide detector. It “speaks” while sounding the alarm and lets you know where the trouble is in your home. You’ll also never be awoken in the middle of the night by the chirp of a dying battery.
- Certified to save you energy (Energy Star)
- Compatible with Google Home app for app control
- May require C wire to enable integration with certain HVAC systems.
- Provides helpful statistics on your energy use
Blink vs Nest Pricing
To say that Blink and Nest have a similar line of security cameras and doorbells would be an understatement. While their style sets them apart along with the ecosystem they’re tied to, there is also a significant gap in pricing across the board between Blink vs Nest.
Blink products are cheaper than Nest whether you’re interested in a security camera, floodlight, or video doorbell. The prices fluctuate throughout the year with sales and as new models are released, but you will pay more for Nest smart home products than you will for anything from Blink.
The cheapest camera from Blink is the Blink Mini which typically has a price tag of around $34.99. While more stylish, the wired Nest Cam is $99. The trend continues with the Outdoor Nest Cam at $159-179 compared to the Blink Outdoor at $74.99 and the Blink Indoor which is $64.99. The Blink Outdoor floodlight is less than $100, and the Nest Cam with floodlight comes in at over $200.
Doorbells from Blink run from $39 to $59 depending on whether you choose the wired or wireless model. The wired version of the Nest is $149 and the battery-powered Nest Doorbell is priced at $179, which is more than the most expensive item from Blink.
Blink vs Nest: Which One is Better?
Both of these companies have loosened up on compatibility recently, which makes choosing between Blink vs Nest more challenging than in previous years. If you’re shopping on a budget the answer is simple, however.
Homeowners that want to smarten up their homes without breaking the bank will love Amazon’s lineup of Blink home automation products. You can’t beat the value for the price, although you will have to deal with traditional batteries or rely on their solar charger outdoors. They don’t have the largest lineup, but you can expect more additions from Amazon in the near future.
The Nest lineup has more style and a bit more intelligence in some areas. Their devices are more expensive and their outdoor cameras aren’t quite as resistant to the weather, although neither company’s security camera is waterproof. If you are considering adding additional speakers, displays, or a smart thermostat, they have an entire ecosystem to choose from.
At the end of the day, whether Blink is better than Nest is up to the consumers and what they need from a video system in their home. Both lines have been well-received by consumers, and you’ll need a subscription plan through either company to take full advantage of their products.
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