ONLINE STORAGE COSTS

You can view live video for free, but other features may cost you extra

When your camera detects an intruder, it sends an alert to your iPhone and streams the video image so you can see what’s going on.

However, you may need to store recordings for longer, perhaps as evidence of a crime.

Unusually, Netatmo’s Welcome and Presence cameras include a MicroSD card to store video directly on the camera itself. In contrast, most manufacturers opt to use online storage instead, and this is where you need to watch out for extra hidden costs.

Netgear’s Arlo cameras enable you to store video footage online for seven days for free, which should be enough for most people. Beyond that period, it charges £6.49 per month to store your recordings for 30 days. Logitech’s Circle stores video for 24 hours for free, before charging £2.99 per month for 14 days of storage. Swann’s SoundView camera and the Sengled Snap, however, only provide you with live streaming – they provide no free online storage at all.

Check the small print before buying, as some security cameras require a monthly subscription fee in order to store your videos online.