Aosu cameras are built around a local-first storage model. Most cameras record to a microSD card or an aosuBase hub at no ongoing cost. However, aosu also offers an optional cloud subscription called aosuProtect+ for users who want offsite video storage, cloud backup, and advanced AI features. There are three tiers: Basic, Pro, and Premium. Before subscribing, there is one critical point to understand: all aosuProtect+ plans are priced per camera, not per household. That changes the cost calculation significantly for anyone running more than one camera.
What Aosu Cameras Include for Free
Before getting into aosuProtect+, it is worth being clear about what aosu cameras offer at no cost because it is more than many competing brands. Without any subscription, aosu cameras provide live streaming, motion alerts, and local video storage via microSD card or the aosuBase hub. The Aosu SolarCam D1 Classic, for example, accepts microSD cards up to 128GB, while camera kits with the aosuBase hub store up to 60 days of footage locally for free. Furthermore, live view, pan-tilt control, and basic motion alerts all function without ever opening a wallet.
In contrast, brands like Ring, Arlo, and Nest require a paid subscription to unlock video history or AI detection. Aosu’s free local storage option is therefore genuinely useful and for many users, aosuProtect+ is optional rather than necessary.
Free tier summary: Live view, motion alerts, and local video storage via microSD or aosuBase hub — all without paying anything. aosuProtect+ adds cloud video history and advanced AI features on top of this.
aosuProtect+ Pricing
aosuProtect+ is purchased through the aosu app. The website offers minimal pricing detail and the full rate card is only visible inside the app itself. Plans are billed monthly or annually, with annual billing offering meaningful savings. A 30-day free trial applies to Basic and Pro. Premium offers only a 7-day free trial. All pricing below is per camera.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Free Trial | Cloud Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $4.49 | $44.99 | 30 days | 14 days |
| Pro | $6.99 | $69.99 | 30 days | 30 days |
| Premium | $13.49 | $134.99 | 7 days only | 30 days |
All pricing is per camera. Figures reflect current in-app pricing after promotional discounts and may change. Verify current rates in the aosu app before subscribing.
These rates are per camera and not per household. A three-camera system on Pro costs $16.97/month. The same three cameras on Premium runs over $30/month. For comparison, Ring covers every camera in the house for $20/month flat, and Arlo’s unlimited plan is $12.99/month. Aosu offers no household or unlimited plan as every camera is billed individually.
Basic Plan — $4.49/month or $44.99/year per camera
The Basic plan is the entry tier and covers a single camera with 14-day rolling cloud storage. It includes cloud video recordings, event categorization, secure AWS encryption, Person Detection Ultra, video preview notifications, Person Smart Alert, and a Security Report. The 14-day storage window is notably short — most competing brands offer 30 days even on their entry plans. That said, Basic comes with a 30-day free trial, which is the most generous trial period of the three tiers and worth using to evaluate the service before paying.
Pro Plan — $6.99/month or $69.99/year per camera
Pro bumps storage to 30 days and adds a significantly expanded AI feature set on top of everything in Basic. Additional features include dangerous animals detection, gun detection, face recognition, stranger recognition, familiar faces, name your visitors, and search by face. For users who want the full AI experience, Pro is where it becomes available. Furthermore, Pro also includes a 30-day free trial. At $6.99/month for a single camera it is manageable however, that figure multiplies with every additional camera on the system. See aosu cameras on Amazon.
Premium Plan — $13.49/month or $134.99/year per camera
Premium includes everything in Pro and adds one additional feature: an AI Enhanced Security Report. That is the only functional difference over Pro. Additionally, Premium is restricted to compatible hardware — specifically the HomeCortex System, C9C, and C9L models. The free trial also drops to just 7 days at this tier, which is a short window to evaluate a $13.49/month commitment. For most users the jump from $6.99 to $13.49 for a single added feature is very difficult to justify.
Premium reality check: The only feature Premium adds over Pro is an AI Enhanced Security Report. Three cameras on Premium costs over $30/month which is more than Ring’s or Arlo’s unlimited household plans — for cameras from a single brand with no household pricing option whatsoever.
The Free Options
The good news is that aosuProtect+ is genuinely optional. There are two solid no-cost paths for storing recorded footage, and for most users they are sufficient.
Local storage via microSD card: Many aosu cameras support a microSD card for on-device local storage. Motion-triggered clips are written directly to the card at no ongoing cost. It is a one-time purchase with no monthly fees. Note, however, that microSD write speeds on some aosu cameras including the D1 Classic can be slow, which affects playback performance.
Local storage via aosuBase or aosuCortex hub: Cameras purchased as part of a kit include an aosuBase hub with 32GB of built-in storage, capable of holding up to 60 days of motion-triggered recordings with no subscription required. The newer aosuCortex hub expands this further up to 1TB and still at no monthly cost. Because footage is stored locally on the hub, it remains accessible even without internet.
Local storage caveat: If a burglar takes the aosuBase hub along with the cameras, all locally stored footage goes with it. Cloud storage survives a theft because recordings are offsite. For higher-risk outdoor locations, pairing local storage with even a Basic aosuProtect+ plan on the most critical camera is worth considering.
aosuProtect+ vs. Competing Subscriptions
| Brand | Annual Cost | Cameras Covered | Cloud Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| aosuProtect+ Basic | $44.99 per camera | 1 (per camera) | 14 days |
| aosuProtect+ Pro | $69.99 per camera | 1 (per camera) | 30 days |
| Blink Basic | $39.99 per camera | 1 (per camera) | 60 days |
| Blink Plus | $119.99 | Unlimited (1 location) | 60 days |
| Arlo Secure | $155.88 unlimited | Unlimited | 30 days |
| Ring Home | $240/yr unlimited | Unlimited | 180 days |
The comparison makes aosu’s per-camera model look expensive, particularly for multi-camera households. Blink’s Plus plan covers unlimited cameras at one location for $119.99/year whereas three aosu cameras on Pro would already cost $209.97/year. For a single camera, aosuProtect+ Pro at $69.99/year is pricier than Blink’s Basic plan at $39.99/year, and Blink gives 60 days of storage versus aosu’s 30.
Which Option Is Right?
Using a kit with an aosuBase or aosuCortex hub? Free local storage with up to 60 days of retention is already built in. A subscription is not necessary for basic video history.
Using a standalone camera without a hub? A microSD card is the most cost-effective path — a one-time cost with no ongoing fees.
Need cloud backup for one camera? Basic at $4.49/month is a starting point, though the 14-day storage window is short. Pro at $6.99/month adds 30-day storage and the full AI feature set, making it the better value of the two paid tiers.
Have multiple cameras? Run the numbers before subscribing. Three cameras on Pro costs nearly $21/month. Three on Premium tops $40/month. At that point, a brand with a household plan becomes a more financially rational choice.
| Situation | Recommended Option |
|---|---|
| Camera kit with aosuBase or aosuCortex hub | Free local hub storage — no subscription needed |
| Standalone camera, no hub | microSD card — one-time cost, no monthly fee |
| 1 camera, want cloud backup, 14-day storage OK | aosuProtect+ Basic ($4.49/mo or $44.99/yr) |
| 1 camera, want 30-day storage and full AI | aosuProtect+ Pro ($6.99/mo or $69.99/yr) |
| 3+ cameras, want cloud backup | Consider Ring or Arlo — unlimited household plans cost less |
| Premium tier — is it worth it? | Rarely. One extra AI feature over Pro at nearly double the price. |
Bottom Line
For single-camera users, aosuProtect+ Basic or Pro is manageable. For anyone with multiple cameras, the per-camera pricing model makes costs spiral quickly — and at that point the free local storage options are by far the smarter play. The Premium tier is hard to recommend at any camera count given its minimal feature advantage over Pro and its steep price. Most aosu users are better off skipping the subscription entirely and relying on the aosuBase hub or a microSD card for local storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do aosu cameras work without a subscription?
Yes. Live view, motion alerts, and local video recording all work without a subscription. Footage is stored locally via microSD card or the aosuBase hub depending on the setup. aosuProtect+ is an optional add-on for cloud backup and advanced AI features and not a requirement for basic camera functionality.
Is aosuProtect+ priced per camera or per household?
Per camera as there is no household or unlimited plan. Every camera on the system requires its own separate subscription. A three-camera household on Pro pays nearly $21/month, which is more than Ring’s or Arlo’s unlimited plans that cover every camera in the home.
How long does aosuProtect+ store cloud video?
Basic stores 14 days of rolling event-based recordings. Pro and Premium both store 30 days. After the retention window, older clips are automatically deleted. Videos are not immediately deleted when a subscription expires — they are removed when they age past the retention window, so downloading important clips before canceling is advisable.
What cameras are compatible with aosuProtect+ Premium?
Premium is limited to the HomeCortex System, C9C, and C9L models. Not all aosu cameras are eligible. Basic and Pro are available across the broader aosu camera lineup.
Can aosuProtect+ be canceled at any time?
Yes. The subscription can be canceled at any time through the aosuProtect+ store page in the app. Once canceled, the current billing period remains active until it expires and the next cycle is not charged.
Does aosuProtect+ record continuously?
No. aosuProtect+ uses motion-triggered recording only as clips are saved when the camera detects activity. There is no continuous 24/7 recording option, which is standard for aosu’s battery and solar-powered camera lineup.
This article is part of our Aosu Security Camera Reviews guide.
