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Apple Home’s new security camera features cost as much as $60 a month
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Apple is bringing Apple Intelligence to HomeKit Secure Video with iOS 27 and tvOS 27, but the new AI-powered security camera features come with a steep price. Depending on how many cameras you want to cover, the cost can reach as high as $60 per month. The features include AI-generated video summaries, natural language video search, and multi-camera clip stitching.
The move marks a shift for Apple Home, which has long positioned HomeKit Secure Video as a privacy-focused, affordable option. Previously, users only needed an iCloud storage plan to record and review footage. Now, the company is gating its most advanced intelligence behind premium tiers.
According to Apple's support page, the new features start at $9.99 per month for the 2TB iCloud+ plan, which covers a single camera. Alternatively, users can pay $39.95 per month for Apple One Premier. Adding a second camera requires the 6TB plan at $29.99 per month. For up to five cameras, the cost climbs to $59.99 per month on the 12TB tier.
The technology works by analyzing video clips to generate short text descriptions of what a camera detected. Users can search footage using natural language, such as "show me when the dog came through the back door." The multi-camera stitching feature combines related clips from different cameras into one timeline, reducing manual scrubbing.
The pricing is likely to frustrate smart home enthusiasts, especially those with multiple HomeKit cameras. A $60 monthly fee adds up to $720 per year, far more expensive than competing cloud video services from Ring, Nest, or Arlo. However, Apple's privacy stance and Home app integration may still appeal to users in the Apple ecosystem.
Early reactions from industry observers have been mixed. Some analysts say Apple is following the trend of monetizing AI features, while others argue the per-camera pricing feels punitive for households with several cameras. On social media, some users expressed disappointment that features once expected with iCloud+ now require top-tier subscriptions.
The rollout begins with the public release of iOS 27 and tvOS 27. It remains unclear whether Apple will introduce lower-cost options for smaller camera setups or bundle the features into existing plans. Apple may also expand AI capabilities over time, potentially adding facial recognition or package detection.
This move fits a broader trend of tech companies charging extra for AI-powered services. From Microsoft's Copilot to Google's Gemini, premium AI features are increasingly behind subscription paywalls. For Apple, the challenge is convincing users the added intelligence is worth the recurring cost in a price-sensitive smart home market.
