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Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) without Google Home Premium: what still works
With no Google Home Premium (formerly Nest Aware) plan, the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) keeps live view, person, package and motion alerts, and 3 hours of event video. 30 days of history costs $10/month or $100/year.
| Brand | Google Nest |
|---|---|
| Model | Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) |
| Type | Video doorbell, wired |
| Power | Must be connected to a 16–24VAC, 10–40VA, 50/60Hz doorbell transformer [S1] |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac on 2.4GHz and 5GHz, plus Bluetooth Low Energy; Google recommends at least 2 Mbps upload per camera [S1] |
| Local storage | None listed. Event video is kept in Google's cloud: 3 hours free, longer with a plan [S1][S2] |
| No-plan score | 3 of 5 checks met with no plan. How the score works |
| Cheapest plan | Google Home Premium Standard: $10.00/month or $100.00/year, covers all devices in one home [S4] |
| Plan cost, 1 year | $100.00 if billed yearly, or $120.00 if billed monthly [S4] |
| Plan cost, 3 years | $300.00 if billed yearly, or $360.00 if billed monthly, at today's prices [S4] |
| Last verified |
The short answer
- Without a plan you keep: live view, Two-way Talk and Listen, Quick Responses, activity zones, and person, package, animal, vehicle and motion alerts [S2].
- Without a plan you get only 3 hours of history. Event recordings of up to 5 minutes are kept for 3 hours, then they're gone [S2][S3].
- Google Home Premium Standard ($10/month or $100/year) keeps 30 days of event history [S2][S4]. Advanced ($20/month or $200/year) keeps 60 days and adds 10 days of 24/7 video history [S2][S4].
What works with no plan
No-plan score: 3 of 5
| Feature | With no plan | Details and source |
|---|---|---|
| Live view | Yes | Google's feature table for this doorbell marks Live view and Two-way Talk and Listen as included with no subscription [S2]. Google also says you can open any Nest camera's live stream anytime, with or without a subscription [S3]. |
| Local recording | No | Google's tech specs for this doorbell list no memory card or other local recording option [S1]. |
| Motion alerts | Yes | Motion alerts are marked as included with no subscription [S2]. |
| Person detection | Yes | Person, animal, vehicle and package alerts are marked as included with no subscription [S2]. |
| Clip history (24 hours+) | Limited | Event recordings of up to 5 minutes are kept for 3 hours with no subscription [S2][S3]. Anything older than 3 hours isn't kept without a plan, so this fails our 24-hour check. |
What needs a paid plan
What the plan costs
| Plan | Covers | Price | 1 year | 3 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Home Premium Standard [S4] | all devices in one home | $10.00/month or $100.00/year | $100.00 yearly $120.00 monthly | $300.00 yearly $360.00 monthly |
| Google Home Premium Advanced [S4] | all devices in one home | $20.00/month or $200.00/year | $200.00 yearly $240.00 monthly | $600.00 yearly $720.00 monthly |
Want a different number of years or cameras? Use the plan cost calculator.
This doorbell can record 24/7, unlike the battery model
Because it's always wired, the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) is eligible for 24/7 video history on the Advanced plan, stored for 10 days [S2][S3]. Google says the Nest Doorbell (battery) can't get 24/7 history, even with optional wired installation [S3]. If round-the-clock recording matters to you, that's the main difference between the two, and it only applies if you pay for Advanced.
Some Gemini features aren't offered for this model
On Google's feature table for this doorbell, AI notifications, AI descriptions, Home Brief and Ask Home video history search aren't marked as included on any plan, including Advanced [S2]. Help me create is marked as included with Standard and Advanced [S2]. Check the table for your model before paying for Advanced for its AI features.
Nest Aware is now Google Home Premium
Google renamed Nest Aware to Google Home Premium. Standard was previously Nest Aware, and Advanced was previously Nest Aware Plus [S6]. One plan covers the Nest cameras and doorbells in your home [S4].
Power and setup
- It needs doorbell wiring. Google says the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) must be connected to your home's doorbell system, and some homes need a transformer upgrade for its power needs [S5]. The required rating is 16–24VAC, 10–40VA, 50/60Hz [S1].
- No compatible wiring? Google suggests its indoor power adapter or a local professional [S5]. Google says you can't use your chime with the indoor power adapter option when there are no wires behind the chime [S5].
- App: setup uses the Google Home app [S1].
- Video: HD, 960 x 1280 pixels, up to 30 FPS, with a 145° diagonal field of view and night vision [S1].
Buying one now
When we checked on October 22, 2026, the Google Store's Nest Doorbell page offered the Nest Doorbell (battery) at $199.99, and we didn't see a wired 2nd gen option to buy [S7]. Google's support pages still cover the wired 2nd gen and its plan features [S1][S2], so this page is mainly for people who already own one or are buying one elsewhere.
Common questions
Does the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) record without a subscription?
Yes, but only briefly. Google lists 5-minute event recordings stored for 3 hours with no subscription [S2]. Longer history needs Google Home Premium [S2][S4].
Can the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) record 24/7?
Yes, with the Advanced plan. Google lists 24/7 video history stored for 10 days for this doorbell on Advanced only [S2].
Do I need doorbell wiring for the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen)?
Google says it must be connected to your home's doorbell system, and some homes need a transformer upgrade. If your system isn't compatible, Google points to its indoor power adapter or a local professional [S5].
Where to buy
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): retailer link not set up yet. Manufacturer page for Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) (not an affiliate link).
Sources
- [S1] Technical specs for Google Nest cameras and doorbells (Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen)), Google Home and Nest Help. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- [S2] Learn what you get with a Google Home Premium subscription (feature table for Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen)), Google Home and Nest Help. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- [S3] Event and 24/7 video history, Google Home and Nest Help. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- [S4] Google Home Premium Subscription, Google Store. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- [S5] Check Google Nest doorbell compatibility, Google Home and Nest Help. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- [S6] Learn about price changes for Google Home Premium, Google Home and Nest Help. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- [S7] Nest Doorbell (Google Store product options), Google Store. Accessed October 22, 2026.
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