Nest Account FEE Increase by Google

[VTXRider]

Well, once again, Google has completely disregarded and disrespected their customer base, and I'm being polite. I received notification that my Nest Camera Account fees will be going from $270 per year to $540 per year! They DOUBLED the yearly fee in one shot! No doubt this is all in an effort to drive all Nest Customers off the Amazing Nest App, and to the crappy Google Home app. If there was ever a company that does not listen to it's customer base, Google is it. They continue to drive customers away from Google products and software, and to other vendors. Such a shame they screwed up Nest so badly. 

[MplsCustomer]

@VTXRider 

We migrated from a Nest Account to a Google Account in 2020 in order to get the less expensive 2nd gen Nest Aware Plus subscription for $120/year for ALL of our cameras and doorbells, while continuing to use the Google Nest app (which we are still using). Our new price will be $150/year when it renews in June 2024. (They emailed the price increase notice in Sept. 2023.)

Google Nest has been trying to push customers to move to the 2nd gen subscriptions since 2019.

Here's their price list:

https://store.google.com/product/nest_aware?hl=en-US&modal=upgrade-pricing

[VTXRider]

Thanks MplsCustomer. I understand the migration to Google reduces camera subscription cost. Unfortunately migrating to Google forces use of Gmail, eliminates e-mail notifications, and we still have to use the Nest app for other Nest products. Add to the fact Google is bricking our Nest Secure security system, forcing us to go with AT&T, or to another vendor altogether, and it just continues to drive customers away from Google to other vendors. 

[EmptyNester]

Hello, MplsCustomer is correct.  I convert my Nest Account to a Google Account in order to get the less expensive Nest Aware Plus.  Keep in mind if you do this you MUST use a Gmail address as they don't support email addresses outside Google anymore.   The other thing you loose is the ability to have an email sent when the camera see motion.  Only alerts from the App are available.

One question: why are your fees at $270?   Did you have (2) separate accounts perhaps because you have cameras in 2 different locations?

[VTXRider]

Thanks EmptyNester.  Yes, Google has screwed up Nest Products from day one. Quality of camera's was reduced, the Google Home app is still not anywhere as good as the Nest App, and now they are increasing prices just to drive customers off the Nest App. Yet we still need to use the Nest app to access our thermostat, smoke detectors, etc. To answer your questions: All my Nest products are in one home. We have multiple cameras. If I migrate to Google, I lose access to e-mail alerts, are forced to use Gmail, and still have to use both Nest and Google apps to manage all our Nest Products.  If Google had continued the high quality Nest product line, they would have increased market share for cameras, security, and all the other Nest products. Instead they reduced product quality, drop products, brick our security system, and  continue to drive customers away from Google. 

[MplsCustomer]

@VTXRider 

Just one comment: if you migrate your Nest Account to a Google Account, you will NOT lose access to email alerts from the Google Nest app, but they will now come to your gmail account.  The rest of what you report is true, unfortunately.

[MplsCustomer]

@VTXRiderand @EmptyNester 

Sorry, I stand corrected. We don't use email alerts, but we migrated in 2020 and the option used to still be there.  I see now that the email notification option disappeared at some point.

[VTXRider]

Thanks MplsCustomer. As I said, Google just continues to screw up what used to be an amazing product liine and app.