Nope, the Blink Mini 2 doesn't strictly need a subscription to work. Right out of the box, you can use live view, get motion alerts, and use the two-way audio all through the Blink app for free. So, you'll still be able to see what's happening at home and chat with whoever's there, whether it's a visitor or your pet. 🙂
But if you want a few more bells and whistles, you might want to consider a subscription. According to the manufacturer, with a subscription, you get cloud storage for your video recordings. That means you can go back, review, save, and even share footage.
They offer two plans: the Basic Plan, which gives you 60 days of video history for a single camera, and the Plus Plan, which supports unlimited cameras at a single location and includes some extra perks like extended warranties.
We've found that many folks who use this camera think the subscription is worth it because it makes storing and managing video clips super easy. Otherwise, you'd have to deal with local storage, like using a USB with the Blink Sync Module 2 (which you have to buy separately). Some people find the subscription easier and less of a hassle.
And hey, the camera also features customizable activity zones. This lets you select specific areas for motion detection and helps avoid false alarms, which is handy if you’ve got a busy household. People who've set this up generally find it pretty useful, though you might need to fine-tune it a bit.
So, in short, you don't need a subscription, but it does add extra features that could be beneficial depending on what you're looking for.
