A Price Hike Is Coming!

Hold onto your wallets! Google has just announced another price increase for its Nest Aware subscriptions, sending shockwaves through the smart home community. Effective from your first billing cycle after August 15, 2025, the entry-level Nest Aware service will jump from $8 to $10 per month, or from $80 to $100 if you pay annually. Meanwhile, the premium Nest Aware Plus will see its price soar from $15 to $20 a month, or from $150 to $200 for a year up front!

What Does This Mean for Your Nest Devices?

You can still use your Nest devices without a subscription, but be prepared to make do with just a few hours of footage. Without Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus, your storage is limited! Subscribing to Nest Aware gives you 30 days of event-based video history, while Nest Aware Plus takes that up a notch to 60 days plus the last 10 days of continuous footage.

Cool Features at Your Fingertips!

Both subscription tiers come loaded with fantastic features. Imagine knowing when glass shatters or smoke alarms ring—thanks to sound detection! Plus, the Familiar Faces feature can identify your friends and family. And if you're ever away, you can still call 911 through the Google Home app—major peace of mind!

Are You Still Getting a Good Deal?

While no one likes price hikes, it's worth noting that the new Nest Aware fees fall in line with competitors. The premium plan from Ring Home is currently priced at $19.99 monthly, while Arlo Plus starts at $7.99 per month for a single camera, but jumps to $17.99 for multiple cameras. Importantly, both Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus allow for an unlimited number of devices per household!

What’s New on the Horizon?

Google hasn't provided specific reasons for this increase, but there's buzz about a Gemini-powered camera intelligence feature that's being tested with select Home app users. This feature will enhance how camera events are described, potentially saying things like 'the dog is digging in the garden'—making your smart home even smarter!