The $40 Million Funded Startup Canary Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on Jun 16, 2015

This startup, Canary, has raised $40 million total since 2014.

With Google buying Dropcam for $555 million, investors see big opportunity in security / video startups.

Canary now has a sizeable warchest for aggressive expansion.

But is Canary's product any good? We bought one to find out, testing it against Dropcam, as shown in the image below:

We tested:

  • How easy is it to set up?
  • Is the app simple to use?
  • How well does video search / playback work?
  • How well do Canary's extra features like environmental monitor and built-in sounder work?

Inside, we answer these questions and more.

**** *******,******, *** ****** $** million ***** ***** ****.

********** ****** ******* *** $555 *******, ********* *** *** opportunity ** ******** / video ********.

****** *** *** * sizeable ******** *** ********** expansion.

*** ** ******'* ******* any ****? ** ****** one ** **** ***, testing ** ******* *******, as ***** ** *** image *****:

** ******:

  • *** **** ** ** to *** **?
  • ** *** *** ****** to ***?
  • *** **** **** ***** search / ******** ****?
  • *** **** ** ******'* extra ******** **** ************* monitor *** *****-** ******* work?

******, ** ****** ***** questions *** ****.

[***************]

Key ********

*******, ****** ** * mixed ***, **** **** interesting **********, ******* **** potentially ********* *************:

**********

****** ****** **** ***** features **** ** * built-in ***** *** ************* monitors ***** *** *** found ** **** *********** options. ************, *** *** performance *** *********, **** few ***** ** ****** activations, ********* ** ***** nuisance ****** ** ****** recordings.

*** ******* ** *** third ***** ********** ** also * ****, ***** in *** *********** (*** notably *** ** *******), and ******* * ****** objection ** **** ******** cameras: **** **** **** be ****-*********, ******* ***** tied ** ***** ****** or ********** ** *****-** or ***** ******.

***********

*******, ***** *** *** limitations ***** *** ** dealbreakers *** **** *****:

  • ** ******:*** **** ** *** sort ** ****** ***** users *********** **** ****** through ******** ****** ** their ******** ** ***** to ****** ***** ***** while **** **** **** from ***** ******. ****** third ***** ********** ** view ***** ****** ** possible, *** **** $** per ***** *** **** camera.
  • ** ****/******* *****:*** **** ** * wall ** ******* ***** limits ****** ** *********/******** use, ***** *** ** undesirable ************* *** ********** impact ***********, ** * wall/ceiling ** * ****** option ** ***** ******* areas.

***************

***** ******* ***** ***** only, *** **** ******** access ** ***** ****** device, **** **** ****** most ******. ***** ***** may ****** **** *** camera's *****-** *****, ** well, ** ** *** remotely ********* ** ***** off ********* ** **** of *****-**.

*******, *** **** ******** users, *** *** *** constantly **** ** ***** mobile ******, *** **** the **** ** *** advanced ****** ** ****** functions *********, *** ** better ****** **** ******* or ***** *******.

Camera *****

****** ***** *** $***, direct, ** *** ****** retailers. **** ** ~**%/$** more **** *** $********** ************ ********. *******, ***** ****** do *** ******* *** built ** ***** ** environmental ********** ******** ** Canary.

Recording ***** *** *******

****** ************* ********* *****, ******* **** **** to $**.** *** *** month:

*** ***** ******* ****** recording *** ******.

******** ** *******, *** "Never **** * ******" plan ** ****** ********* ($9.99 **. $*.**). *******, the ******** ** *** plan ** $** **** than *******'* ********** ************.

***** ***** **********

****** **** ***********, ***** are **** ********* ** the **** ****, ****** offers ******* ******* ********** of *** ****** (********* *****), ***** *** ** added ** *********** *** ** ********** $10 *** *****. **** Basic ***** *** *** use **** *******.

Physical ********

****** **** ***** ************ cameras, ****** ** ******** to *** ** * table ** *****. ** wall ** ******* ***** options *** ********. ***** this ** *** ******** means ** ********, ********* for *** ******** ******, it ****** ***** *** camera *** ** *********, potentially ********** ** **** obtaining ***** ***.

Setup *******

****** ***** ** ******, with *** ****** *** walking ***** ******* ******** an ******* *** ****** a ******. ****** ***** cameras, ***** ******* ******* setup *** *** ** wi-fi/Ethernet, ****** **** * stereo ***** ******* *** camera *** ****** ******, with **** *********** *********** as ****** ** ******** setup ***********.

*************, ***** ***** ** no *** ** ****** a ****** **** ** account **** *********, ******* waiting *** *******, ** cannot *********** *** **** setup *******. *** ******* from ******** *** ***, creating ** *******, *** starting ************ *** ****** cable, ** **** *****:

App ********

*** **** ****** ** the *** ******** ***** information ********* ****** ****** and ************* **********. ***** may *** "***** ****" to **** ******(*), ***** up ** **** *** timeline, *** **** ** open *******/****** ********.

**** ****

**** *** **** ******, users *** ***** ****** recording, ******* *** *****-** siren, ** **** ********* calls. **** **** ********* numbers ****** ** ****** checked ***** ***** ** they *** ** *********, which ** ****** ** configuration, *****.

******* ******* **** **** screen ** *** **** of ******** ********. ***** must *** ***** ****** device's *****-** ********** ****** (home + ***/**** ****** on ***, *** *******) to **** *********. ***** is **** ** *** to ****/****** *** ********** of *** ******, ** audio ** ****** **.

********

******* ** ** *** live ****** ***** ** the ********, *********** ****** a **** ** ****** and ********** *****. ***** the ******** ** ****** to ***, **** *** controls, ***** *** *** key ***********:

  • ** ******:***** ** ** *** to ****** *** ******** days ** ***** ** timeline, ******* ***** ** scroll ******* **** ********. Users *** **** ****** from *** ******** *** easier ********* *****, **** each ******** ******* ***** saved ***** *****.
  • ** ******:***** ** ** *** to ****** * ***** clip **** *** ****** app. ***** ******* ** turn **** ***** ** law ***********, *** *******, are ******* ** *********** only (**** *******, *** above).

*************

******* ****, ***** *** access *************. **** ******* here:

  • **** **** *********:***** *** ********* ******* Canary ************* ******** **** to ******** ** ******* when ***** *** ******* (in *** ******** ****** configured ** *****). ******** mode ********* *********, *** does *** *****, ***** Privacy ******** *** ****** altogether, **** **** ***** and ***** ***********.
  • ********* ********* *******:****** ************* ********* ***** numbers *** ******, ********* medical ********, *** **** based ** *** ******** given ****** *****. *******, in *** ********, *** out ** ***** (****** and ***) **** *****. Users ****** ** ******* to ***** ******* *******, or ****** *** ***, to ****** **** *** contact *** ****** ********** in ** *********.

VMD ***********

**** *** *********** ** especially ********* *** ******, as **** ***** ***** party ********** ** ***** alerts, *** ** ***** it ** ** ********, with **** *** ***** positives ** ****** ***********.

**** ********* ** ** open ****** ****, ****** did *** ***** ** all ***** ***** ****** lights ** *** **** morning, **** ** ******** caused ** ******* *****, floating *********, ** ***** changes. ************, ******'* **** missed *********** **** ** low ***** **** *** subject *** ****** *** IR *****. ** *** conference **** **** ***** (20'x30', ****** **** * typical *********** ****), ****** did *** **** *** valid ***********.

Image ******* **. *******

******'* ****** ** *****, higher ********** **** **** competitors, **** ** *** Dropcam *** (****). *******, video ** ****** **********, with ******* ***** ********* and ************, ********* ** only ******** **** ****** than **** ******.

************, *** ***** ***** of **** (***° **. 130° ** ******* ***, seen *****) ******* ******* PPF.

** **** **** ***** comparison, ***, ** ***, more ****** ******* *** delivered ** ****** ******** to *** ******* ***, with *** *******'* ******** slightly **** **********, *** lines */* ** *** test ***** ******** **** legible (*****/*****).

** *** ****, **** IR **, *** ********** is **********, **** ******* camera ********* ****** ****** of *** *******, *** only **** ******* ******* on *** ***** **** of *** *****.

Comments (10)

Hunter Fort

06/17/15 12:53pm
I've got an idea! And yes I work for Mobotix. 12x40= $480 recurring yearly plus $250 for camera. Buy any other real security camera with SD card recording , event search, analytics, two way audio, and list goes on and on- for under $550 and you will be 10 times better off and save 2 to 3 times the cost of this solution!

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Hunter Fort | 06/17/15 01:37pm

Hunter, how happy are you Mobotix guys now that you have a camera under $1000? :)

A few things:

  • The $40 per month cost estimate is misleading. That's for their longest storage duration plan (60 days) that very few take. As a point of reference, a while back Dropcam's CEO disclosed the percentage paying monthly and it was ~40%, meaning 60% pay nothing ongoing. Literally, for most of these people, the only cost is for the camera.
  • Both Dropcam and Canary have made set up and ongoing access far simpler than what any 'real security camera' does. For professionals, this is not a big deal, but for consumers, easy set up and access is a critical differentiator.
Avatar

Brandon Knutson

IPVMU Certified | 06/17/15 03:23pm

I'm disappointed that the Canary doesn't have built-in PIR for detection. I read the Amazon reviews where people reported falses with the VMD.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Brandon Knutson | 06/17/15 03:33pm

Hey Brandon, it does seem a bit of a strange omission, especially when a number of others have started to include them.

In our tests, we had few false positives. A few Amazon reviewers mentioned events every time the camera switched from night to day, and we didn't experience that. It happened once or twice, but not consistently enough to call it a major issue.

Haley Cipkala

06/23/15 12:33pm

This will sell, as it's all about ease of use. The typical consumer doesn't really know the difference between low light lux ratings, IR, or any other "professional industry" terms. They only care about 3 things, 1. Price, 2. ease of use, and 3. can I see video.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Haley Cipkala | 06/23/15 01:30pm

Andre, though on price, this is not exactly low cost at $250. I do wonder how much of a market they can capture at this price point.

Haley Cipkala

In reply to John Honovich | 06/23/15 04:22pm

I believe they will not have any issue selling at the $250 price, dropcam is at $199 and you have a handful of additional features for only $50 more.....

A lower cost model would not hurt though.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 06/23/15 05:55pm

It's not a direct answer to how much of a market they can capture, but they are ranked fairly high in some Amazon categories:

Of course, Dropcam has been #1 in at least one category or more for years, and the Nest Cam took that over in the only a couple of days:

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Ethan Ace | 06/23/15 07:13pm

Being #22nd in surveillance cameras is not impressive given how new they are. However, given how much marketing budget they have, maybe it's not.

The list of products ahead of them are not that impressive but most are half the Canary's price.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 06/23/15 10:44pm

The Canary iOS app updated today with the ability to download videos, which was one of their key limitations. Users queue downloads for processing, and the app alerts them when the clip is ready, which is then downloaded to the device's camera roll.

Note that the video looks a little square when I start playing back. That's due to the way the iPad screenrecorder I'm using works, not the app. It plays back just fine in the proper aspect ratio in the app.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

How To Quickly Assess An Unknown Company on Jul 23, 2019
There are hundreds of companies in the physical security markets, ranging from a flood of new startups to small companies that may or may not be...
Avigilon ACC7 VMS Tested on Jul 22, 2019
Avigilon's Control Center 7 boldly claims it will "transform live video monitoring" with the new Focus of Attention "AI-enabled" interface. We...
Wyze AI Analytics Tested - Beats Axis and Hikvision on Jul 17, 2019
$20 camera disruptor Wyze has released free person detection deep learning analytics to all of their users, claiming users will "Only get notified...
ZeroEyes Gun Detection Startup on Jul 16, 2019
A gun detection video analytics startup, ZeroEyes, is being led by a group of 6 former Navy SEALs, aiming to "save lives" by using AI to assist...
Calipsa - UK AI Startup Profile on Jul 10, 2019
Analytic startups are a major industry trend. One UK company, Calipsa is aiming to use AI to filter out false positive alarms for live video...
RaySharp Revealed - Major China OEM For Western Consumer Video Surveillance on Jul 02, 2019
RaySharp is mostly unknown, even among people in the video surveillance industry, though it is a major supplier of OEM surveillance equipment such...
2019 Mid-Year Video Surveillance Guide on Jul 01, 2019
IPVM's new 400+ page Mid-Year Industry Guide brings all of these issues and events together in a single resource to read and review. It can be...
Directory of 60 Video Surveillance Startups on Jun 25, 2019
This directory provides a list of video surveillance startups to help you see and research what companies are new or not yet broadly known. 2019...
Risk of Amazon Alexa Guard: No Battery Or Cell Backup on Jun 20, 2019
Amazon positions its Alexa Guard Service as a "smart home security system" and says it can help you "keep your home safe". However, the...
Startup Vaion Launching End-to-End AI Solution Backed with $20 Million Funding on Jun 17, 2019
An EU / USA video surveillance startup, Vaion, founded by ex-Cisco Senior Directors is launching an end-to-end VSaaS platform with $20 million in...

Most Recent Industry Reports

How To Quickly Assess An Unknown Company on Jul 23, 2019
There are hundreds of companies in the physical security markets, ranging from a flood of new startups to small companies that may or may not be...
Bosch Starlight 8000i Cameras Tested on Jul 23, 2019
Bosch has released their new Flexidome IP Starlight 8000i cameras, claiming "exceptional detail even in extreme low-light situations." To see...
Responsibility Split Selecting Locks - Statistics on Jul 22, 2019
A heated access debate surrounds who should pick and install the locks. While responsible for selecting the control systems, integrators often...
Vivotek Trend Micro Cyber Security Camera App Tested on Jul 22, 2019
Vivotek and Trend Micro are claiming five million blocked attacks on IP cameras, with their jointly developed app for Vivotek cameras. This new...
Avigilon ACC7 VMS Tested on Jul 22, 2019
Avigilon's Control Center 7 boldly claims it will "transform live video monitoring" with the new Focus of Attention "AI-enabled" interface. We...
History of Video Surveillance on Jul 19, 2019
The video surveillance market has changed significantly since 2000, going from VCRs to emerging into an AI cloud era.  The goal of this history...
Mobile Access Usage Statistics 2019 on Jul 18, 2019
The ability to use mobile phones as access credentials is one of the biggest trends in a market that historically has been slow in adopting new...
New GDPR Guidelines for Video Surveillance Examined on Jul 18, 2019
The highest-level EU data protection authority has issued a new series of provisional video surveillance guidelines. While GDPR has been in...
Wyze AI Analytics Tested - Beats Axis and Hikvision on Jul 17, 2019
$20 camera disruptor Wyze has released free person detection deep learning analytics to all of their users, claiming users will "Only get notified...
Anyvision Aims For 2022 Revenue of $1 Billion on Jul 17, 2019
Only 3 video surveillance manufacturers do a billion dollars or more in annual revenue - Hikvision, Dahua, and Axis. Now, Anyvision plans to join...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact