Canary Reviews 339

This company advertised a all in the box solution when I bought it in or around 2015. Since then, features have been slowly stripped away and moved to a subscription plan. It’s a total bait and switch. Don’t trust this company with your money. They have a proven track record of pulling back from commitments (originally they offered something like a week of free storage and all the alerts without a subscription, then progressively reduced to where they won’t even send you a screenshot of an event) and upselling you monthly subscription plans to get back what you initially paid for up front.

The company and item was great then suddenly they got greedy, I can not even see my events now completely locked me out unless I pay for the device again then £25 for each device after that I have 3 no way. Would opt for another device with no extra charge.

Purchased originally so could record motion triggers when out of the house but now you have to pay for this service. Pretty pants now as this wasn't what we bought the device for. Better cameras out there that record and send you notifications with sound and adjustments of view. Do your research. Our canary device is going in the bin.

Company is untrustworthy. Like so many people here, the deal I entered into with Canary was paying money for hardware - a camera, with minimal network access. Now, they have remotely bricked my camera and turned it into an expensive motion detector. I get alerts to say that movement was detected, but now I cannot even see the clip. Used to be for 24 hours (fine), then it was 3 hours (useless overnight) and now ZERO. Nothing.

If they have a new business model for new customers that customers AGREE to, then fine, pay for your camera and pay your annual subscription. But that is not what I paid for, the camera is now NOT a camera.

If a company can do that in the time between when I bought it and now, you should not trust this company not to do something similar in the future.

They smile and offer me a US Amazon voucher for $100 to ease my transition. I don't live in the US nor do I live in a country with Amazon. And it does not forgive the fact they have bricked my camera and turned it into a motion detector. I have those, by the way, from Hue, and they do what they're supposed to do. The Canary detects motion but now I can do nothing with that information, I can't even turn on lights.

This company is untrustworthy. Even if you think the money is worth it, please, take your business elsewhere, because what you buy from Canary today is certainly not secure.

I have three cameras bought in good faith. Now the company has removed the features I bought the cameras for, and wants to charge me an annual fee to bring them back. The hardware is good, but the way they treat customers is not. DO NOT BUY - there are plenty of alternatives.

Same as everyone else, complete rip off.
Bought my Canary several years ago as it offered all the features I wanted and with no hidden charges. As time has gone by the features have all become chargeable so now I'm left with a totally worthless camera as I'm not prepared to pay for extras that were free when first purchased.
I've now bought something else that actually works a lot better, is more reliable and is a fraction of the price I paid for my Canary.

I bought mine several years ago, and thought it was pretty good at the start. They've now cut their free service so much that it's essentially useless without paying their annual fee. Absolute ripoff merchants.

If you’re thinking of purchasing any of their products-DON’T BOTHER! I feel ripped off and scammed by them. Camera is absolutely useless now. After having purchased this hardware, they should have at least left current users with the minimum service that they promised. I will bin this camera and look for alternatives.

Bought Canary many years ago. It didn't always work as intended, for example automatic arming function never did work for me. Still, the hardware is a quality product and it's a great shame that the company now starts to change the rules on its long term users. Ahh well, time to look for alternatives I guess, hope more people think like me. We should resist this rentier economy at all cost.

When this system was bought 4 years ago it was one of the most expensive but it had a good feature set. All these features have now been removed unless you pay a quite high monthly price which make it practically useless. The retail packaging states all the features straight on the box and nowhere does it state that some may be removed. Stay far away from this company and their products. I have contacted the consumer affairs board regarding them.
Update: just received the same cut and paste reply as everyone else. I have contacted that email several times and never get a reply. Stay away from these criminals. Look at their reviews. 95% one star says it all.

I agree with all the prevoius bad reviews. A total crap as a security camera! It was a superb product when I first bought it. But now they have changed so much in the software that it's basicly useles if you don't buy thier membership plan!

DO NOT BUY!!!! STAY AWAY!!!🤬
(And now I'm going to get the same "bot" answer as everyone else here! 🤷‍♂️🤣)
WHAT A JOKE! 🙈

A pior empresa que dia para dia tem tirado todas as funcionalidades da câmera para “obrigar” os clientes a comprarem o plano pago, desta forma tornado-a completamente inútil sem esse plano. Evitar a todo o custo, a não ser que alguém goste de ter um tijolo em casa que se parece com uma câmera… SCAM ao mais alto nível!!! Irei com certeza relatar tudo o que se passou à Apple, que foi onde comprei a câmera, e pedir um reembolso, pois quando comprei tinha 24h de gravações, depois passaram a 3h e agora 0h… Para será que serve a câmera neste momento???

Non seulement j’ai eu droit depuis 5 ans à expérimenter de nombreux bugs depuis que j’utilise cette caméra pour un logement secondaire mais en plus la politique de Canary est maintenant de forcer ses clients à s’abonner en supprimant des services de base indispensables.

A éviter absolument. De nombreuses offres concurrentes existent sur le marché.

I bought canary cameras around 5 years ago and I was happy with the cameras and features.
The time I purchase them, camera prices were higher and if you would like to get premium services you had to pay extra. But their basic service was enough for our needs.

They are making changes now limiting all basic services and try sell premium services. But selling cameras cheaper.

I paid higher amounts to cameras because of basic services were included.

This is unacceptable and nothing different than a scam.

Going to repeat all these other comments as paid a premium to purchased this all in one security system for my home over 5 years ago. Now they have slowly removed all the features which provide the all in one security so much that it’s just a camera. Contacted customer services a number of times to complain and request a refund however, they say they are well within their rights to reduce this service. They said they would email me their terms but never received the email. I will defiantly be taking this further as they are clearly in breach of contract. This is not what I purchased and what I signed up for. The service should remain as it was when I purchased it or they should provide a full refund and I will purchase a better system from a trustworthy supplier. Disgusting and unacceptable to brush people off. You can’t scan so many people and get away with it.

Update 22/09/2022 - Sent multiple emails to canary since writing review and still no reply 2 months later! I need a refund for this device as it is now just an overpriced camera rico_9 @ hotmail.com

Same as everyone else here I simply cannot believe that Canary has ripped me off so badly and that we are all taking it. Class action lawsuit anyone? I will in no way subscribe to their service!

Disgusting behaviour from this company… as someone that invested in three devices and then being held ransom by either having those devices effectively ‘bricked’ or pay huge subscription! I’ve moved to Google Nest now and never looked back! Do not recommend - avoid!!

Same as everyone else. Canary screwed up with their greed. The device is now worthless.

A 1 camera cctv setup is only a few hundred quid. Definitely worth it now. Canary is worthless.

EDIT 18/7/22

Device is now detecting motion 3-5 times EVERY night. Historically I was genuinely unsure it was even working as it wouldn't detect motion if I did a tango in front of it.

Canary have lost all integrity with this money grab. They have 'matched' the service provided by other devices like Ring, but Canary is not, and never was a doorbell. Its a security camera. To remove the ability to review activity turns it into an expensive door stop.

EDIT 01/08/2022

I understand Amazon/Curries etc are now providing no quibble refunds even if your device is old. I am pursuing Canary under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. I suggest everyone does the same.

Unfortunately I got 2 devices. From the beginning it was my biggest mistake to spend some amount for such a crook company!
I Still can use arlo pro & pro 2 without paying any fee. Netatmo without any plan. Recently I bought eufy which is perfect and free to use.
So canary attitude is unacceptable and if was in USA for sure I would bring the case in court! Such a crook company must be forbidden and must be closed.

Don't buy anything from canary!

Shocking behaviour.
In an attempt to move me away from the free service to premium, Canary now send me daily notifications of ‘motion detected’.

I hardly even receive a notification but since they removed the ‘view 3 seconds of video’ from the free service they send me fake daily notifications.

I’ll now buy a new home camera and disconnect Canary.

DO NOT BUY CANARY!!!