You might not have heard this, but Google has purchased Nest, which previously bought Dropcam. So technically, Dropcam and Nest are owned by the same company.
Dropcam is one of the most successful DIY security camera brands and gained particular popularity with the Dropcam Pro model. When they first showed up in 2009, Dropcam grew into an industry giant that was later purchased by Nest.
Nest Cam is considered to be “the improved Dropcam” and to exceed it in every aspect. However, rather than rely on given statements, we'll do our own investigation in this article to find out if the current owners of Dropcam Pro should upgrade to Nest Cam Indoor or which of these two should be purchased to gain the maximum benefits.
To do so, we'll compare some of the most critical aspects of Dropcam Pros and Nest cam. We'll rate their features, create charts and conclude the article with a reasonable verdict.
Table of Contents
Nest Cam vs Dropcam Pro: Pros & Cons and Verdict
There are lots of security cameras available on the market today. Dozens of manufacturers claim that they create the highest quality cameras and give promises that their products will never fail you.
Sadly, the majority of these companies advertise poor products that are either substandard or die in a month or two. So we need to be careful when choosing a security camera.
1. Setup Process
The first thing we need to write about is the installation process of Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam. We need to know if we can activate these security cameras easily and without professional help.
Nest Cam
Some people might tell you that setting up Nest Cam is a painful process that takes forever to complete. Fortunately, that's a huge lie.
Nest Cam is one of the easiest security cameras to setup since it takes approximately 30 seconds to complete. All you have to do is download the Nest mobile application (you should be familiar with it if you own Nest Learning Thermostat) and connect it to your security camera.
Plus, you must plug in the power cord. If you've done so and have connected Nest Cam with its mobile application, you're good to go. If you find this hard to understand, Nest has uploaded a detailed guide that perfectly explains the setup process.
Nest Cam's package also includes the user's manual that explains how to complete the setup process.
Dropcam Pro
Setting up Dropcam Pros is kinda easy. Like the Nest Cam, all you have to do is plug in the power cord and download/install Dropcam Pro's application on your phone or PC.
Dropcam Pro's setup process takes approximately 5 minutes, and it can be completed by even a novice user. If you want to know more about this process, make sure to watch the setup vid posted below.
So the vid shows the simplicity of the setup process. There's no way for you to mess up. It's intuitive and easy. If you still have concerns about how to do it, Dropcam Pro's package will include a user's manual, and you can check it out for additional tips and explanations.
2. Design
Having a good design is an essential component of a security camera. Firstly, it should leave a serious impression on a visitor, and it should scare away the burglars. Plus, if needed, these security cameras must know how to camouflage.
Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam are quite similar regarding design. They have identical dimensions, colours and features.
Dropcam Pro
Dropcam Pro is different to the previous Dropcam model. Dropcam Pro has a black stand, it's a little thicker, and has a six-element, all-glass lens. The dimensions of Dropcam Pro are 4.5 x 3.15 x 3.15, and it weighs 5.7oz.
Dropcam Pro is a beautifully designed security camera that is one of the most attractive products on the market. On the back of the security camera, there's a USB port located at the bottom of the rear panel, and there's also a Dropcam logo.
Thanks to the shiny black exterior, Dropcam Pro is one of the sexiest security cameras that perfectly blends with its surroundings. If we had to compare Dropcam Pro with models like Netgear Arlo and Belkin Netcam, Dropcam Pro surely takes the top spot.
Suggested Read: Arlo vs Arlo Pro: Pros & Cons and Verdict
I've read some interesting reviews and talked with several people who own this security camera. All of them mentioned that the Dropcam Pro blends seamlessly with their houses. Whether mounted on the wall or placed somewhere else, it attracts attention and makes your home appear more beautiful and modern.
Nest Cam
Nest Cam Indoor is another beautifully designed security camera and is one of the best-looking. Nest Cam has a design that looks quite similar to the Dropcam Pro. Some might even think they look identical.
The dimensions of Nest Cam Indoor are 2.9 x 4.5 x 2.9 inches, and it weighs 0.45 pounds. On the front side of Nest Cam, there's a small green light that indicates the status of the security camera. For example, if the Nest Cam is on, the light will turn green.
You can also see the brand name “Nest” on the lower side and, in the middle, there's the camera lens that has a 130° wide-angle view.
I own Nest Cam Indoor, and I must admit that it's one of the most beautiful products I've ever had. I have several of these mounted on my walls, and it makes my house look exceptionally modern and “techie”.
3. Features
The next topic we need to write about is the features of Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam Indoor. The primary reason why people purchase security cameras is their capabilities. In other words, if a security camera has poor features and it can't guarantee us safety and optimal reports, what's the use of investing in such products?
So to make sure the security camera offers what we expect, we should know what unique and useful features these security cameras have and whether they meet our requirements. Hence we've created a handy chart that shows the primary features of Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam Indoor.
| Dropcam Pro | Nest Cam Indoor | |
|---|---|---|
| 130° Field of View | 130° Field of View | |
| Two-Way Talk & Intelligent Alerts, | 1080p HD Video | |
| Cloud Video Recording | Alerts and Snapshots | |
| 720p HD Video | Talk & Listen | |
| Night Vision | Night Vision | |
| Optional Sharing | Activity Zones | |
| Live Secure Streaming | Nest Aware | |
| Quality Mobile & Web Apps | Cloud Storage | |
| Auto Emergency Activation | 24/7 Live Streaming & Recording | |
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As we see from the chart above, both of these security cameras have fantastic and unique features that can keep you safe.
If I had to opt for one of these security cameras and say it was superior, I would go for the Nest Cam Indoor. It has a better camera, it's a newer product and has enhanced capabilities.
NB: For the Nest Cam Indoor, if you want to use the 24/7 Live Streaming & Recording feature, you'll have to buy the subscription to the Nest Aware.
Nest Aware is a fantastic feature that gives the owner of Nest Cam more freedom and flexibility. It saves up to 30 days of continuous video history in the cloud (depending on your subscription type), and that's something any person can find useful.
Dropcam Pro has some amazing features too. If we compare it to the first generation Dropcam, the new one has noticeably improved. Now Dropcam Pro has a better camera, a mobile application, 8x Zoom and a superior audio quality.
We'll talk more about the features and capabilities of Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam Indoor, but for now, let's sum up this part of our article.
It's evident that Nest Cam can offer more freedom, security and flexibility. Dropcam Pro has some beautiful things to offer too, but it cannot get near the Nest Cam.
4. Video Recording
Besides the features, it's essential to know how well Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam can record vids. If these two can't take clear shots, well, it's a good time to start looking for alternatives.
We've tested the recording capabilities of both security cameras, and the results were quite impressive. We'll share what we've found out and will also present whether these two successfully passed the tests.
Dropcam Pro
According to Dropcam, the Pro version's night vision is 7x stronger than the standard model's, and it takes 2x sharper pictures. If you decide to subscribe to Dropcam's Cloud Video Recording, you'll get some additional perks like having a timeline of events beneath the live feed.
Just to let you know, new users of Dropcam Pro get two weeks of CVR for free, and you can test it out. If you like using it, you'll have to pay to continue the subscription. If it's something you don't need or want, you can simply stop using it and not worry about paying for this extra feature.
In the picture posted above, you can see the activity tab below the live stream. So if you want to view the activity of the previous days when you weren't home, you can just select the date or the time, and Dropcam Pro's application will automatically roll back to it.
As for the camera quality, Dropcam Pro takes kinda good vids and pictures. You'll have zero problems detecting who is walking in your house day or night.
As you see from the picture posted below, Dropcam Pro has excellent recording capabilities, and the stream is high quality. The fact that Dropcam Pro now records in 720p HD gives the security camera a huge boost in quality compared to its standard model.
The zoom feature is pretty impressive too. With the newest update, the Pro version allows you to digitally zoom in on parts of the image – up to 8x. We should mention that when we zoom in, the picture sometimes loses quality so don't freak out if it becomes a bit blurry.
The key part here is that the Dropcam Pro takes clean and quality pictures. It's something vital for a security camera, and Dropcam Pro does the job well.
If we compare the camera's quality to other devices to make it easier for you to understand how good it is, Dropcam Pro's is on par with iPhone 5S. The capabilities of these two are quite similar if not identical.
Nest Cam
Think about the Nest Cam as the real deal. It's a security camera that changed the whole game. Nest Cam Indoor has the BEST camera capabilities on the market. It takes sharp pictures; it lets you control the activity zones and works pretty good at night too.
If we compare it to Dropcam Pro, boy, Nest Cam is so much better. Nest Cam's video never disappoints. Live stream of Nest Cam in regular and night vision modes was top notch, and it even takes more detailed snapshots and vids.
To help you better see the difference between the qualities of Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam, we've compared both of them in terms of video quality. Here are the results:
The difference isn't serious, and some people might not even notice that these security cameras have different camera capabilities (Nest is more detail-oriented).
What I want to talk more about are the motion zones Nest Cam lets you configure. For example, if you think that certain places in your home should get all the attention, you can use your mobile application to allow Nest Cam to know what areas it should monitor and what to ignore. This way, you can minimise the numbers of false alerts.
If you want to make the most out of your Nest Cam Indoor, you should subscribe to the Nest Aware. It's something that unleashes the maximum potential of this security camera and gives the owner wonderful perks like 24/7 continuous recording and person alerts.
5. Mobile Application
Since we're trying to make our homes more secure and modern, we're purchasing gadgets that can help us achieve our goals. In this particular case, security cameras help us monitor the indoor activity of our houses, and they alert us if something goes wrong.
To see what's going on, we need a platform that'll allow us to check the recorded and live activity. For this, Dropcam and Nest have mobile applications that give us some fresh insights and flexibility.
Dropcam Pro
Controlling Dropcam Pro from the mobile is straightforward, and it's compatible with Android and iOS devices.
As we've already said, navigating Dropcam Pro's mobile application is intuitive and straightforward. It takes no time to understand how it works and it's impossible to get lost finding what you came to look for.
The activity feed shows recent activity detected around the places where Dropcam Pro is. If you take a look at the picture above, it says things like, “Loud Noise”, “Hallway” and “Window”. Dropcam Pro makes sure to record any activity it detects so that you can watch it at a later time.
There's also a ‘setting' menu that enables the owner to activate things like motion alerts, location services and to adjust the camera settings. If you have the CVR subscription, there will be a separate button that shows a list of recorded clips.
Nest Cam
Nest has a wonderfully constructed mobile application that works flawlessly, never crashes and smoothly operates on most of the Android and iOS devices. Nest App is so good that it exceeds anything any other company has ever created.
It offers so much comfort and flexibility that you'll start wondering how you've lived without it so many years.
Must Read: Blink vs Arlo Pro: Pros & Cons and Verdict
When you first connect the Nest Cam with the mobile application, you get a free Nest Aware subscription for a short period to test what it does, and if you decide that the motion zone controller is worth the investment, you can extend your subscription.
As for the rest, Nest Cam sends notification alerts on your phone when it detects activity around your room. If you have several Nest Cams installed, the mobile application will send precise messages like, “Nest Cam detected activity in the kitchen”.
When you activate your Nest Cam with the mobile app, it'll request you to fill specific forms that include fields like your name, location, zip code, etc. If you also own other Nest products, they'll show up on the opening screen with the Nest Cam.
Frankly speaking, Nest Cam Indoor's mobile application is extraordinary. It's easy to use, flexible, never crashes and doesn't make mistakes.
The only thing that I don't like about it is that Nest App sends notifications once every thirty minutes. That can be an issue since there's no way for you to know if something happened during the thirty-minute interval.
6. Advantages and Disadvantages
Before we decide which security camera to purchase, it's important to know the advantages and disadvantages of Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam Indoor.
If for some reason these security cameras underperform and can't meet our expectations and needs, there's no reason for us to hit the purchase button. So before we jump to conclusions, we need to know what are the pros and cons of these cameras.
Dropcam Pro
| PROS | CONS | |
|---|---|---|
| Ridiculously Easy to Set Up | Weak Mobile App | |
| Good Night Vision | Storage Only in Cloud | |
| Nest Compatible | ||
| Nice Mobile & Web App | ||
| 720p HD Camera | ||
| 130° Field of View | ||
| Superior Audio Quality | ||
| Intelligent Alerts | ||
| Excellent Digital Zoom | ||
| Cloud Video Recording | Purchase Dropcam Pro |
Nest Cam
| PROS | CONS | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to Set Up | Limited Notifications | |
| 24/7 Live Streaming | Sometimes Runs Hot | |
| Crisp 1080p HD Video | ||
| Flexible Mobile Application | ||
| Nest Aware | ||
| 130° Field of View | ||
| Enhanced Night Vision | ||
| Intelligent Alerts | ||
| Talk & Listen | ||
| Excellent Digital Zoom | Purchase Nest Indoor |
If we thoroughly analyse the information we've written in the charts above, it'll become clear that Nest Cam Indoor exceeds the Dropcam Pro in every aspect.
Nest Cam is a superior security camera that has enhanced features, functions better and has a lot more positive reviews, satisfied customers and ratings.
Overall, Dropcam Pro isn't a bad security camera. It has excellent features, and having Dropcam can make you feel safer and add to your security.
8. Comparison Chart: Nest Cam vs Dropcam Pro
Before we conclude our article, we have to compare Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam directly to find out which of these security cameras is superior. Hence we've created a detailed chart that directly compares the most important aspects of Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam.
| NAME OF THE SECURITY CAMERA | DROPCAM PRO | NEST CAM INDOOR |
|---|---|---|
| Video Quality | 72op HD | 1080p HD |
| Field of View | 130° | 130° |
| Mobile Application | Yes | Yes |
| Night Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Zones | Yes | Yes |
| Intelligent Alerts | No | Yes |
| Audio Capabilities | Enhanced | Enhanced |
| Live Stream | Yes | Yes |
| Third-Party Friendliness | Average | High |
| Easy to Set Up | Yes | Yes |
| Notifications on Phone | Weak | Normal |
| Dimensions Of The Product | 3.15 x 3.15 x 4.5 inches | 2.9 x 4.5 x 2.9 inches |
| Problems | Weak Mobile Application | Sometimes Runs Hot |
| Unique Feature | None | None |
| Warranty | Unknown | 2-years |
| Check Price |
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| Robotic Vacuum Name | Dropcam Pro | Nest Cam Indoor |
There isn't a big difference between Dropcam Pro and Nest Cam Indoor. These two security cameras have similar features and work identically. Nest Cam exceeds Dropcam Pro in most aspects, but its superiority is minor.
Nest Cam has a better camera, mobile application and motion zones. It's a newer product, and it integrates with third-party apps more freely. If you already own other Nest products, you should go for the Nest Cam without a second thought.
The only thing you need to know about the Nest Cam is that it sometimes gets hot while being in live stream mode. Nest is aware of this problem and is working on solving it as soon as possible.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, both of these security cameras are top-notch products. They have excellent features and enhanced capabilities. I'm 100% sure that either of these two products can increase your overall security and help control your surroundings much efficiently.
Since this is a comparison article, we need to choose a winner so that the reader can know which of these two take the top spot.
From my personal experience, as well as according to other publications and buyers, Nest Cam Indoor is a better security camera, and it exceeds Dropcam Pro in every important aspect. So if you want to buy yourself a high-quality security camera, you should go for the Nest Cam.
Lastly, Nest Cam is a newer product, and it's the improved version of Dropcam Pro. So there's no reason for us to prefer the Dropcam Pro over Nest.
| Security Camera Name | Dropcam Pro | Nest Cam Indoor |
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