• 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.

© Phonlamai Photo/Shutterstock.com

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.

  • Nest has released three additional versions of the Nest Thermostat since 2011Blink 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 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.

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.

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.

©Bandersnatch/Shutterstock.com

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 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.

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.

  • Answer your door anytime, anywhere from your smartphone with 1080p HD day and infrared night video and two-way audio.Experience up to two years of powerful battery life, custom alerts, privacy settings, and more.Choose to save and share clips in the cloud with a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan or locally with the included Sync Module 2 and USB drive (sold separately).Designed for every home, go wire-free or connect to doorbell wiring to also sound your existing in-home chime. Without wiring, you can use your Blink Mini camera (sold separately) as an indoor plug-in…Set up yourself in minutes with the two included AA lithium batteries then connect to wifi in the app.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

  • ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with…The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or…Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home; easily program an energy efficient schedule in the Google home app on your Android or…Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]Savings Finder looks for more ways your thermostat can help you save, and suggests tweaks to your schedule in the app; check with your energy provider to learn more about rebates and more ways to save…

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.

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.

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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