Everyone should have this cheap add-on for their home security
You may know these little chips as common storage options for cameras, smartphones, or handheld gaming, but microSD cards play another role: they’re great for home security systems.
If you don’t already have a dedicated microSD card for your home security, now is a good (and affordable) time to get one. If you want to save money and get the latest features, here’s why they’re so important.
MicroSD cards provide better video storage
MicroSD cards are widely available and very affordable.
MicroSD cards provide a lot of storage space (in many cases up to 1 TB) in a very small space. That makes them perfect for expanding the storage of other small devices. This is especially important for home security camerasbecause they usually don’t have storage space on board.
Many security cameras offer cloud storage to hold captured video footage, but that comes with its own problems. Cloud storage typically requires monthly subscription fees, and you may have privacy concerns about how easily your videos can be accessed or hacked, which has caused problems in the past.
Many security companies, including Eufy, TP-Link’s Tapo, Lorex, and others, now offer another option: security cameras with microSD card slots, so you can buy a storage card and keep all your videos locally, without having to rely on cloud storage. It’s a one-time purchase and you can manage videos through security apps just like you would with cloud video.
Even if brands don’t offer built-in microSD slots on their cameras, some like Blink offer a similar setup if you use a security hub device that can connect to the camera. Either way, it’s a nice, direct answer to video storage problems, with one other notable advantage: it’s cheap.
MicroSD cards are an easy investment
The card promises to be super durable, but still be careful with those metal contacts.
As the capacity of these small cards continues to increase, they have also become very affordable. You don’t have to worry about monthly subscription fees, and you can find a microSD card for much less than what you would pay for the security camera itself.
For example, you can find a 256GB Lexar microSD chip for just $30or less if it’s on sale. Or this 128GB card from Samsung is available for just $13 and is easy enough for basic video management on a camera. Moreover, if necessary, you can change cards or delete video manually to get more space.
Add a storage card to your home security
You can erase and reuse microSD cards on many devices.
Whether you have a security system or are planning to purchase a security camera, an inexpensive microSD card is an excellent addition. Even if you like cloud video storage, it’s a good idea to have a compatible card on hand in case the cloud storage goes down or if one day you decide to cancel your subscription but still have your camera want to use.
MicroSD cards do not work each security camera (for example, Arlo limits local storage to only devices like the Arlo Go 2 camera or the compatible SmartHubs), but support is common and most cameras and/or hubs I’ve tested work this way with local storage. And while microSD cards need to be formatted for specific devices, you can erase them later and use them in phones, portable consoles, and many, many other devices.
One final note: if your camera or hub doesn’t have a microSD card slot, there’s still a chance it supports a USB drive. These drives are larger, but they are also an affordable way to expand storage with similar benefits.
For more information, check out our list of the best nanny cams, the best 4K cameras, and the best camera options for Apple users.
