If you have a NAS setup already, you might be DIY enough to setup something cheaper. Ubiquiti has been nice because it’s self hosted, but without having to do much work yourself. You buy the box that runs the software, the cameras, plug it in, and it just works. You pay a premium for that, but there are no monthly fees.
I have:
Cloud Gateway Max. This is both the router and the NVR. I bought it for $200 with no bundled SSD. Instead I bought a separate nvme SSD and slotted it into the cloud gateway max.
U7 Wall Pro. My apartment is small enough that I only need a single WiFi access point. This one supports WiFi 7.
G4 Doorbell Pro (WiFi addition). Excellent quality, and records directly to the SSD I installed in the cloud gateway max
What I may have done differently.
I would have considered the Cloud Gateway Fiber instead of the Cloud Gateway Max. The Max doesn’t have any POE outputs, so you need a POE injector to power the U7 Wall Pro. The Cloud Gateway Fiber however has a single POE port out. But I’m not sure that’s worth an extra $70 when you can get a POE injector for cheap.
If you can run Ethernet to your door, the G4 Doorbell Pro wired will have a more stable connection. Though my WiFi version has been running very well.
If you want more than 2 cameras, or you have a house instead of an apartment, you might want to consider one of their dedicated NVRs, and either multiple U7 Wall Pros, or one of their bigger WiFi access points. You can spend a lot of money on ubiquity quickly, but I don’t think you should write off their entry level equipment because of that. I’m very happy with the ~$700 I spend on my small setup, and that setup will have plenty of headroom for years. And if you buy used or older models I bet you can get a router, access point, and doorbell for under $400. Or incrementally upgrade what you have.
If you have a NAS setup already, you might be DIY enough to setup something cheaper. Ubiquiti has been nice because it’s self hosted, but without having to do much work yourself. You buy the box that runs the software, the cameras, plug it in, and it just works. You pay a premium for that, but there are no monthly fees.
I have:
What I may have done differently.
If you want more than 2 cameras, or you have a house instead of an apartment, you might want to consider one of their dedicated NVRs, and either multiple U7 Wall Pros, or one of their bigger WiFi access points. You can spend a lot of money on ubiquity quickly, but I don’t think you should write off their entry level equipment because of that. I’m very happy with the ~$700 I spend on my small setup, and that setup will have plenty of headroom for years. And if you buy used or older models I bet you can get a router, access point, and doorbell for under $400. Or incrementally upgrade what you have.