When we search for a good CCTV brand to secure our homes and businesses, many brands come to mind. Among them, the two important brands that come most frequently to our minds are Blink and Night Owl.
The Blink CCTV Brand is known for its wireless and portable systems. It is easy to install and manage installed cameras in our homes and businesses.
The Night Owl brand is popular for its powerful & strong wireless and wired cameras. It records internally and is very safe. The brand is affordable and chosen by many for its prices and quality.
The Blink vs Night Owl brand is compared here for a detailed understanding of these brands. The complete analysis helps in selecting a proper brand based on our needs, values and locations.
| Feature | Blink | Night Owl |
|---|---|---|
| Product Range | Blink has portable, wireless, DIY and standalone cameras. The company focuses on the best AI cameras. Its cameras are good for smart homes, shops and offices. | The brand is known for smart cameras used in homes and other small-scale projects. They are wired and wireless both. |
| Video Quality | 1080p HD cameras with good night vision capabilities. Have a model with a colour night vision. IR-studded cameras. The colour night vision device is spotlight supported. | The video quality is decent. Its cameras have a resolution between 1080p and 2K. WDR features make the image quality quite good.. |
| Target Market | Moderate to advanced AI features. Can differentiate humans and non-humans, count people, detect motion, and push alert signals to sense threats. | It targets homes, shops and offices. It has good featured CCTV cameras with basic AI features. It gives decent video quality. |
| Mobile App | Blink Home Monitor App gives live view, playback, and camera control remotely. | The Night Owl Pro App is simple. Its user interface is easy. It has all the basic features for remote surveillance. |
| Storage Options | Cloud storage and SD card storage. Cloud storage is initially free for a week and then requires a subscription plan. Internal storage through the Sync Module 2 System. | Suports HDDs & SD cards. Cloud storage is an optional thing. The company doesn’t promote cloud features concerning privacy issues. |
| Installation | Easy-to-install DIY cameras. Any person can install it easily. | Easy to install wired and wireless products. A non-technical person can install cameras. NVR and wired cameras require a record internal storage in the SD card or the Hard drive. |
| AI Support | Basic and advanced AI features. Can differentiate humans and non-humans, count people, detect motion and push alert signals to sense threats. | Basic AI features. Can detect motion and audio. Pushes alert signals to sense threats. |
| Durability | Delicate cameras with waterproofing. Not vandal-proof. | The company has portable and standalone cameras. They are good but not as durable as Lorex’s devices. |
| Warranty & Support | 2-Year warranty on cameras. Extended warranty with a paid subscription. | 2-Year warranty on cameras. Extended warranty with a paid subscription. |
| Price Range | The brand has an affordable to costlier range of products. The ongoing subscription charges for advanced features increase the expenses of using Blink cameras. | Moderate-priced cameras for daily use. |
| Best Items | Blink Outdoor 4 Wireless, Blink Outdoor & Floodlight 1080p camera, Blink Indoor Camera, Blink Outdoor Camera | Night Owl 4K Spotlight Camera, Night Owl 1080p Wifi camera, Night Owl F6 series NVR, Night Owl Colour Night Vision Cameras. |
Blink vs Night Owl- Best Brand Comparison for Home & Business Security
The brand comparison is done to present a complete picture of the BLonk and Night Owl. The point-by-point study helps in selecting the right brand at the right location within our budgets.
1- Brand Overview- Blink vs Night Owl
2- Brand Pros & Cons
3- Product Range
4- Image & Video Quality
5- Brand Night Vision
6- AI & Smart Features
7- Brand Product Pricing
8- Storage Capacity
9- Mobile App & User Interface
10- Installation & Setup
Now, we will discuss these features one by one.
1- Brand Overview- Blink vs Night Owl
Blink
Blink is a CCTV company that deals in home automation, security surveillance products. The company was formed in 2009 in America, and since then, it has been a strong contender in the standalone, wireless and portable CCTV world.
The brand is associated with Amazon and sells its products through the Amazon platform. The brand specialises in smart cameras. Its devices are intelligent and detect suspicious people and their behaviours.
It raises alarm alerts and sends alert messages. The Blink cameras can be voice-commanded through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It supports cloud storage.
The Blink Brand devices are a little costlier compared to the Night Owl Brand and have premium-quality cameras. Blink cameras prove costlier because of their ongoing costs.
You have to purchase paid plans for full features. Its surveillance cameras are generally used by premium segment clients. Blink’s indoor and outdoor cameras are highly popular. Its video doorbell is a successful piece.
Night Owl
The Night Owl brand was established in 2009 in America. The brand is used and highly trusted in North America. It deals in robust and latest wireless and wired systems. Its wireless cameras are affordable. They are cheaper than Blink cameras. Its devices come with basic-level intelligence.
The Night Owl smart cameras are more popular than their wired CCTV ranges. The Night Owl brand is more commonly used by clients who come under the middle and lower-middle ranges.
Its cameras record internally. It doesn’t support cloud data storage. You can keep data on the SD card, hard drive, or NVR.
The Night Owl Brand focuses on affordability, ease of installation, and remote surveillance with its wireless devices. Its wired devices are used for small-scale camera projects for smaller and less sensitive locations.
2- Blink vs Night Owl- Brand Pros & Cons
Blink- Pros
- Blink products function in premium market zones with advanced and quality AI cameras.
- It has smart cameras. They are wireless, portable, battery-operated, or battery-operated.
- No hassle of wiring in the installation. Easy-to-install products.
- Its products are easily available on Amazon and other e-commerce platforms.
- An Amazon company.
- High-resolution cameras. Its basic cameras come with 1080p resolution. It has no 2K or 4K cameras.
- It has some spotlight and floodlight cameras. They give colour night vision.
- Cameras have advanced features for maximum protection.
- They store data internally and externally.
- Supports SD cards up to 256 GB and Cloud storage.
- Battery cameras have a long battery life.
- Supports Amazon Alexa.
Blink- Cons
- No 2k or 4k cameras.
- Costly cameras compared to Night Owl.
- Users need to purchase subscription plans for its full features.
- Local storage capacity is limited.
Night Owl- Pros
- Night Owl has budget-friendly cameras.
- The brand deals in every kind of device. It has both wired and wireless cameras.
- The best feature is that Night Owl brand cameras record data internally.
- Stores data on NVRs, HDDs, and SD cards. The cloud storage option is not available.
- Good for smart homes with affordable prices. Its wireless and standalone devices are ideal for small-scale projects.
- Since it doesn’t record data on servers, no privacy issues with the brand.
- The Night Owl cameras have general smart features with basic AI technology, which are relevant for homes and businesses.
Night Owl- Cons
- The brand has basic smart features because of its low prices.
- The system performs well for small-scale projects. It is not ideal for sensitive and large-scale projects.
- The ONVIF compliance is limited to a few products only.
3- Blink vs Night Owl- Product Range
Blink
- Blink outdoor cameras– These cameras come with weather-proof systems. They are battery-operated with good features. Its 4 generations of cameras available.
- Blink indoor cameras– It is a battery-powered camera with quality indoor features. Good for home monitoring.
- Blink mini camera– It is a plug-and-play camera series ideal for indoors.
- Blink-wired floodlight cameras– It is a mini camera that gives colour night vision.
These are some available models in the Blink Brand. Blink brand has limited but efficient cameras.
Night Owl
- Night Owl cameras come with 1080p to 2k resolution.
- It has 4K cameras as a premium product.
- It deals in wired and wireless cameras for homes and small-scale projects.
- Night Owl has IP cameras, HD cameras, thermal cameras, wifi cameras, wireless cameras, and portable cameras.
- Night Owl has a range of NVRs and DVRs as well.
- Night Owl cameras record internally and keep data on the SD card or hard drives.
4- Blink vs Night Owl- Image & Video Quality
Blink
- Blink cameras are popular for their 1080p UHD resolution.
- Its cameras generally capture in 30 frames per second.
- Blink cameras generally cover a wide angle. Its devices capture a field of view up to 110 degrees and 135 degrees.
- Its devices generally give black-and-white night vision. Its Blink2 model and some other models give colour night vision.
- Good image quality with motion detection, alert notification, and two-way audio.
Night Owl
- Night Owl cameras are designed for homes and other small locations. The image quality is clean and crisp.
- The camera resolution of the devices is between 1080p and 2k.
- High-profile cameras have 4K resolution.
- Supports WDR features in some models.
- Night Owl cameras are better in image and video quality than Blink cameras. But Blink cameras are smarter.
5- Blink vs Night Owl- Brand Night Vision
Blink
- Blink cameras come with 1080p resolution. It is captured in Ultra HD.
- Its cameras are IR-studded. A few models have spotlights.
- A few colour night vision models only.
- It views up to 50 feet in the darkness and 20 feet in colour night vision cameras.
- WDR features are moderate.
- Less detailed images in dusky lights.
Night Owl
- Its devices come with IR LEDs. Some of its higher-value cameras come with colour night vision.
- Colour night vision in select cameras with the built-in spotlight.
- Good night vision quality. It can view up to 100 feet with its top cameras.
- WDR features are given on its high-range cameras.
- Images are recognisable in low-light conditions.
6- Blink vs Night Owl- AI & Smart Features
Blink
- Blink has all the smart model cameras.
- Its cameras detect motion, push alert notifications to owners on their smartphones, and give perimeter protection.
- Supports Amazon Alexa, Fire TV, and Amazon Echo Show.
- IFTT (If This Then That) supported feature, though it gives limited support.
- Two-way audio communication.
- Motion-triggered spotlight on and off feature.
- The Blink subscription plan is required for some advanced AI features. It has two subscription models.
- Blink Basic Plan: $3/month or $30/year per device.
- Blink Plus Plan: $10/month or $100/year for unlimited devices.
Night Owl
- Night Owl Camera models support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa with basic features.
- AI features are free compared to Blink cameras, where users have to subscribe to paid plans.
- Motion-detection-supported cameras. Its devices recognise humans and differentiate between humans and non-humans.
- Its premium cameras give perimeter protection.
- Any suspicious move is detected and alerted.
- In some premium models, facial recognition features and people counting are given.
7- Blink vs Night Owl- Brand Product Pricing
Blink
- Blink single cameras start from $30 and go as high as $150 per camera. Different models have different prices.
- Its cameras start at affordable prices, but it has costlier cameras as well.
- Blink devices perform in full functionality after subscribing to a paid plan. Ongoing costs make Blink’s cheap devices costlier. Night Owl cameras don’t require any subscription plan.
- In some compatible devices, if we use the Sync Module 2 system, we don’t require a paid plan.
Night Owl
- This brand is for cost-effective users.
- Its products have a price range between $150 to $700.
- Night Owl cameras don’t require a subscription to use their premium cameras.
- Devices are wired and wireless, Its devices are suitable for homes, offices, or shops.
- Doesn’t support a cloud storage plan. Records internally.
8- Blink vs Night Owl- Storage Capacity
Blink
- Some Blink cameras record internally on SD cards. Blink cameras support Cloud plans.
- Its cloud storage plans are chargeable.
- It offers a $3 per-camera subscription and $10 for unlimited devices.
- It keeps 60 days of data from the cloud history.
- It gives local storage via Sync Module 2 and a USB drive.
Night Owl
- Night Owl cameras record internally. Its wired and wireless devices can store large amounts of data without any additional planning.
- Its devices can store data on HDDs and SD cards.
- It supports SD cards of up to 256 GB and a hard drive of up to 4TB.
- Cloud feature not supported.
- Supports expanded storage.
- No privacy issues.
9- Blink vs Night Owl- Mobile App & User Interface
Blink
- The Blink gives remote access through its Blink Home Monitor App.
- The app is user-friendly and easy to operate.
- Its app is easy to operate with modern smart features for security and protection.
- Alerts users of threats.
- Live view with Alexa Echo Show and Fire TV Stick.
Night Owl
- The Night Owl Protect App is handy and powerful.
- It can give views to many cameras at a time. Viewers can watch playback from the local storage.
- The 2-step authentication process adds security.
- It has all the basic remote surveillance features. Senses motion and detects suspicious behaviour.
- Good app for remote surveillance and two-way talking.
10- Blink vs Night Owl- Installation & Configuration
Blink
- Blink cameras are designed in such a way that their installation process is simple. Anybody can do it. DIY installation is effortless.
- Many of its cameras are battery-operated. Its 2AA lithium batteries last long.
- The Wi-Fi-enabled cameras to connect easily. Its devices have no Ethernet connection support system.
- The App is compatible with Alexa.
Night Owl
- Easy to install wireless cameras. Wired cameras require a little technical skill.
- The configuration system is simple. Its UI is a little complex compared to Blink’s smooth application.
Conclusion- Which Brand to Choose? Blink vs Night Owl
Choose Blink
- If you want a very simple and stylish camera for indoors and outdoors.
- If you give preference to convenience over money.
- If you are ready with paid subscriptions for advanced features.
- If you want motion-triggered recording.
- If you have no issues with the Amazon Ecosystem.
Choose Night Owl
- If you want high-resolution cameras like 2k and 4k.
- If you want local storage for standalone cameras.
- If you want cameras with scalability features.
- If you want strong DIY cameras over delicate cameras.
Both cameras are affordable, but Blink cameras prove costlier over the long run because you have to pay per month, camera-wise, for subscriptions.
A comparative study has been done for a more detailed analysis of these two brands. The comparison will help users select a better camera based on location requirements, budget, technology and choice.
Kindly share your opinions and queries through the comment section with us. We read queries and respond to them. You are valuable to us.
Thank You.
Which brand is more affordable, Blink vs Night Owl?
Blink is affordable, especially for basic indoor/outdoor home setups, but its every month ongoing monthly expenses for the camera subscription plan make it dearer in the long run. Night Owl is also affordable in the DIY range, but its wired cameras are costlier due to its local storage systems and DVR/NVR-based solutions.
Does Blink require a subscription for cloud storage?
Yes, Blink requires a subscription plan for cloud video storage. Though local storage is possible with a Sync Module 2 and a USB drive, in limited camera options.
Does Night Owl require a subscription?
No, Night Owl does not require a subscription plan. It gives local storage via DVR or NVR, which records footage directly to a hard drive.
Which system offers better local storage options, Blink or Night Owl?
Night Owl is superior in local storage. It comes with built-in DVR/NVR systems and large-capacity hard drives. It also records data on SD Cards.
Can Blink cameras work without the internet?
Blink cameras need the internet for setup and remote access, but local storage with Sync Module 2 allows recordings without a constant cloud connection.
Are Night Owl cameras usable without internet?
Yes, Night Owl cameras can function without the internet, recording directly to the DVR/NVR system.
Are Blink and Night Owl both brands easy to install?
Yes, but among the two brands, Blink is easier to install, especially its DIY cameras. Night Owl systems may require running cables and more setup effort for a wired setup. Its wireless setup is easy to install, like Blink’s system
Which brand has better night vision quality, Blink or Night Owl?
Night Owl has better infrared night vision and even colour night vision on select models, whereas Blink offers standard infrared night vision. Blink has 1080p resolution on its devices, whereas Night Owl has 1080p to 4k resolution on its cameras.
Can I view footage remotely on Blink and Night Owl systems?
Yes, both Blink and Night Owl allow remote viewing through their respective mobile apps.
Do both brands, Night Owl and Blink, support two-way audio?
Blink offers two-way audio on some models. Night Owl has two-way audio only on select Wi-Fi models, not on DVR/NVR units.
Are Blink or Night Owl compatible with Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit?
Blink works with Alexa only. Night Owl does not support Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit.
Blink or Night Owl, which brand is more beginner-friendly?
Blink is more beginner-friendly due to its simple wireless setup and app interface. Night Owl is best for people with moderate to advanced technical ability.
