Shelly Group unveils an affordable, subscription-free smart camera designed for seamless integration into broader automation systems across homes and small businesses, promising flexible storage and local AI features.
Shelly Group has entered the smart camera market with a device that is priced aggressively and, in its basic form, does not depend on a paid subscription. The Shelly Camera is aimed at homes, offices and smaller businesses, and the company is positioning it as part of a broader automation platform rather than a simple stand-alone security product.
The camera records in Full HD 1080p and offers a 110-degree horizontal by 70-degree vertical field of view, which should make it suitable for covering a single room or other modest indoor space. It also includes night vision, motion detection, live streaming and two-way audio through a built-in microphone and speaker.
Where Shelly is trying to stand apart is in how the camera interacts with the rest of its ecosystem. Motion events can trigger other Shelly devices, such as lights or relays, without relying on cloud services. For users who want more advanced detection, Shelly Cloud adds object recognition for people, pets and vehicles, while more technical users can connect local AI models on compatible hardware for fully local automation.
Storage is flexible, but the trade-offs are clear. Users can watch a live feed without recording, store footage locally on a separately sold microSD card, or use Shelly Cloud for cloud storage. The company includes three months of Shelly Cloud with each purchase, after which a subscription is required for those who want to continue using cloud features.
The camera connects over dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Shelly says no separate hub is needed. It supports MQTT, WebSocket and WebRTC, which means it can work with platforms including Home Assistant, Frigate NVR, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings. The device is powered by USB-C, ships with a two-metre cable and mounting plate, and can be placed on a shelf, desk, wall or ceiling. Shelly has set the recommended price at £37.90 in the UK, €39.90 in the eurozone and $49.99 in the US, with black and white versions covered by a two-year warranty. According to Stamen Tasev, Shelly Group’s UK and Ireland country manager, the company built the product to fit into a wider automation system rather than add another camera to an already crowded category.
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