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

Sharpvue | 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

Sharpvue | 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.

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,428 reports, 865 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.

Already a member? Login here | Join now

Related Reports

YOLOv5 Released Amidst Controversy on Jul 27, 2020
YOLO has gained significant attention within video surveillance for its...
New Axis M30 Cameras Tested on Mar 26, 2020
Axis has released a new generation of, for them, relatively low cost M30...
Start-Ups Online Show May 2020 - On-Demand Recording of 40+ Company Presentations on May 15, 2020
All 40+ presentations can now be watched on-demand, with 20+ hours of...
Proxy Raises $42 Million on Mar 17, 2020
Startup Proxy has raised $42 million, an astounding amount for the access...
JCI "Fever Camera" Partners With China TVT on May 19, 2020
Johnson Controls (JCI) is the next big player to get into the 'fever camera'...
Proxy Presents Mobile Credentials For BLE Devices and Access on May 29, 2020
Proxy presented Mobile Credentials For BLE Devices and Access at the May 2020...
Startup Videoloft Presents Cloud Storage on May 27, 2020
Videoloft presented offsite cloud storage at the May 2020 IPVM Startups...
Directory of 95 Video Surveillance Startups on May 20, 2020
This directory provides a list of video surveillance startups to help you see...
Remote Network Access for Video Surveillance Guide on Jul 27, 2020
Remotely accessing surveillance systems is key in 2020, with more and more...
Video Surveillance History on May 06, 2020
The video surveillance market has changed significantly since 2000, going...
OpenEye Presents Cloud Integration For Remote Alarm Monitoring on Apr 29, 2020
OpenEye presented its cloud-to-cloud integrations designed for remote alarm...
Cambium Presents cnVision Surveillance Wireless on May 12, 2020
Cambium presented its cnVision wireless for surveillance at the April 2020...
Low Voltage Nation Wants to "Help You Carve Out A Fulfilling Career" Interviewed on Jul 06, 2020
It is difficult to make your way in this industry as there is little formal...
AndroVideo Presents Edge AI Face Recognition Cameras on Jun 26, 2020
AndroVideo presented its AI at the edge face recognition cameras at the May...
Startup Solink $17 Million USD Fund Raise Expands To Mass Market on Jun 24, 2020
Solink has raised ~$17 million USD, a sizeable round for the company that...

Recent Reports

Google Invests in ADT, ADT Stock Soars on Aug 03, 2020
Google has announced a $450 million investment in the Florida-based security...
US Startup Fever Inspect Examined on Aug 03, 2020
Undoubtedly late to fever cameras, this US company, Fever Inspect, led by a...
Motorola Solutions Acquires Pelco on Aug 03, 2020
Motorola Solutions has acquired Pelco, pledging to bring blue back and make...
False: Verkada: "If You Want To Remote View Your Cameras You Need To Punch Holes In Your Firewall" on Jul 31, 2020
Verkada falsely declared to “3,000+ customers”, “300 school districts”, and...
US GSA Explains NDAA 889 Part B Blacklisting on Jul 31, 2020
With the 'Blacklist Clause' going into effect August 13 that bans the US...
Access Control Online Show July 2020 - On-Demand Recording of 45+ Manufacturers Presentations on Jul 30, 2020
The show featured 48 Access Control presentations, all now recorded and...
Face Detection Shootout - Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek on Jul 30, 2020
Face detection analytics are available from a number of manufactures...
Sunell is The First China Manufacturer to Market NDAA Compliance on Jul 30, 2020
Most China manufacturers are going to be impacted by the NDAA 'Blacklist...
Ink Labs Relabels China YCX Fever Camera And Steals Dahua's Marketing on Jul 30, 2020
A US company marketed a 'thermal temperature scanner' as its own, selling...
Genetec and Dahua-Backed Intelbras Split Examined on Jul 29, 2020
China is the cause of the breakup between Canada's and Brazil's largest video...
This YouTuber is Now Selling ThermoHealth Temperature Screening on Jul 29, 2020
An enterprising 20-year old is mass marketing medical devices on Facebook and...
Hikvision Returns To Growth Driven By Overseas Fever Cameras on Jul 29, 2020
While Hikvision's revenue fell in Q1 2020, it rebounded in Q2 attributed to...
Brazil's Biggest Domestic Surveillance Company Intelbras Profile on Jul 29, 2020
While Intelbras is not widely known outside of Latin America, Intelbras is a...
The Kiosk Market Pivots To Temperature Screening (Interviewed) on Jul 28, 2020
Video surveillance is not the only market that has pivoted to medical device...
Integrator Acquisitions 'A Good Market' During COVID-19, Says Greybeards on Jul 28, 2020
Industry broker Ron Davis of the "Greybeards" says that the integrator and...