True cost · 3 years

What it really costs over 3 years

A doorbell that costs $70 to $100 can cost $250 or more over three years once the plan you need to see saved video is added. Here is the price on the box next to the price after three years.

Where the cost adds up

These cameras and doorbells work without a plan, but saved video history needs one. The last column adds three years of the plan to the typical price.

Product	Up front	Plan	3 years with plan
Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera (2-pack)	$160-$180	Arlo Secure (from $9.99/month)Arlo's Canadian page says plans start at $9.99/month and does not state the currency. Check which plan covers your cameras. Source: Arlo Canada	from $520-$540
Google Nest Cam Indoor	$120-$140	Nest Aware (CA$100/year)Reported at CA$10/month or CA$100/year in February 2024. Google may have changed it since, so confirm the current price. Source: 9to5Google, February 2024	$420-$440
Ring Video Doorbell	$70-$100	Ring Protect Solo (CA$59.99/year)Solo covers one device. Ring Multi (all devices at one home) is CA$149.99/year. Source: Ring Canada plans	$250-$280
Wyze Cam	$40-$60	Cam Plus (CA$40.99/year per camera)Cam Unlimited, for all your cameras, is listed at $9.99/month or $99/year. Source: Wyze Canada Cam Plus	$163-$183

No plan needed

These have no plan to pay for. Replacement parts are named but not priced, because they vary by retailer and model.

Product	Typical price	Ongoing
Philips Hue starter kit	$130-$160	None to speak of
TP-Link Kasa or Tapo smart plug	$15-$25	None to speak of
Lutron Caseta dimmer kit	$100-$130	None to speak of
ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium	$250-$280	None to speak of
Mysa thermostat for baseboard heaters	$120-$150	None to speak of
Levoit Core 300 air purifier	$100-$130	Replacement filters
Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH	$230-$260	Replacement filters
Yale Assure Lock 2	$230-$280	None to speak of
DEWALT 20V MAX drill/driver kit	$150-$200	None to speak of
Bosch laser distance measure	$60-$90	None to speak of
Klein Tools non-contact voltage tester	$30-$45	None to speak of
Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights (100ft)	$80-$100	None to speak of
Amazon Smart Plug	$30-$40	None to speak of
Wyze Bulb Color (4-pack)	$60-$75	None to speak of
Google Nest Thermostat	$115-$135	None to speak of
Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat	$190-$215	None to speak of
Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier	$280-$310	Replacement filters
Schlage Encode Plus	$380-$410	None to speak of
DEWALT 20V MAX impact driver	$180-$210	None to speak of
Zircon StudSensor e50	$45-$60	None to speak of
Stanley FatMax 25ft tape measure (2-pack)	$45-$60	None to speak of
Amazon eero 6+ mesh WiFi system	$150-$350	None to speak of
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)	$55-$85	None to speak of
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)	$100-$140	None to speak of
Apple HomePod mini	$130-$150	None to speak of
Roku Streaming Stick 4K	$55-$80	None to speak of
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar	$550-$700	None to speak of
APC Back-UPS 600VA battery backup	$80-$120	A replacement battery every few years
Ninja single-basket air fryer (4 qt)	$90-$150	None to speak of
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 (6 qt)	$110-$170	A sealing ring about once a year
eufy RoboVac 11S robot vacuum	$180-$300	Filters, brushes and battery
Roborock Q Revo robot vacuum and mop	$500-$900	Bags, filters, mop pads and brushes
Midea Cube 35-pint dehumidifier	$300-$420	Electricity
Levoit Classic 300S smart humidifier	$110-$160	Filter and cleaning supplies
Dyson V8 cordless vacuum	$450-$650	Filters and a future battery

How this is worked out

Up front is the typical price range shown on each product. It is approximate and changes by retailer and over time.
Plan prices come from the maker's Canadian page, linked beside each row, before tax. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.
Three years is 36 months of the plan. A plan is optional, but without one most of these cameras cannot save video.
Electricity, batteries and tax are not counted.