One camera in one room isn't home security

Is Canary Security Worth It? What You Should Know

If you're searching for a Canary alternative, you've likely realised the fundamental limitation of all-in-one security devices: one camera watching one room isn't home security.

Canary makes beautifully designed devices with clever features like air quality monitoring and built-in sirens. But criminals don't enter through your living room - they come through gardens, side gates, and back doors.

Why People Look for Canary Alternatives

The most common frustrations that send people searching for a Canary alternative:

• Single room coverage - Canary's all-in-one design means one device in one location. Your property has multiple entry points.
• Subscription dependency - Without the membership (from £130/year), you lose video history, downloads, and desktop access. Features that should be standard.
• Rising costs - Users report membership prices doubling from one year to the next, with some paying over £330 for multi-camera setups.
• Indoor limitations - The Canary Pro is indoor-only. The outdoor Flex has limited night vision and battery delays that miss events.

Should I Buy a Canary Camera?

Canary is genuinely well-designed. If you want a single device for a small flat to check in while you're away, it works. The air quality and temperature monitoring are nice touches.

But if you're asking "is Canary worth it for actual home security?" - that's a different question.

A single indoor camera can't protect:

• Your front door and porch
• The side passage to your garden
• Your back door and rear access
• Your driveway or garage
• Multiple floors of your home

The Subscription Problem

Canary's hardware is reasonably priced, but without the membership you're severely limited. No video history beyond one day. No full-length recordings. No desktop streaming. No video downloads.

Users report subscription prices increasing dramatically - some have seen costs more than double from one renewal to the next, with no prior notice. When you've built your security around a platform, you're locked in.

The scOS Alternative to Canary

We built scOS with a simple belief: your security system should work like having a dedicated person watching your cameras around the clock.

It focuses on what matters. scOS AI detects suspicious activity - not every passing car or swaying branch. It understands the difference between a courier dropping off a package and someone casing your property.

It only alerts you when needed. Just like a person watching your cameras would, scOS contacts you when something genuinely requires your attention. No notification fatigue. No crying wolf.

It's designed to be left alone. You shouldn't need to constantly check your security system. scOS works quietly in the background, learning your property's patterns and watching for anomalies. Set it up once, then get on with your life.

All features are included. From £19/month (+£11/month per additional camera), you get everything - no tiers, no locked features, no surprises. See the full feature list.

It works with any wired camera brand. You're not locked into proprietary hardware. scOS connects to professional-grade PoE cameras from any manufacturer, giving you the flexibility to choose cameras that fit your property and budget.

Making the Switch from Canary

Upgrading from Canary means moving from a single room viewer to comprehensive property protection. Our scOS Architects assess your entire property - identifying entry points, coverage gaps, and optimal camera positions.

No more wondering what's happening in the areas your Canary can't see.