Logitech Circle 2 vs. Canary: Which should you buy?

Both security cameras provide a powerful, useful experience. It's the little things that distinguish one from the other and that'll make the difference for you.

The differences

When it comes to price, service plans, and storage, these products are surprisingly similar. Elsewhere, each has individual strengths (and weaknesses).

Neither choice is objectively better over the other. Both cameras are terrific in what they do. The Circle 2 looks like a camera and has an ultra-wide angle lens to prove it. Thanks to its built-in swivel, you can rotate and tilt the camera for the best 180-degree view. Logitech's product is also the one that offers two-way communication without charging a monthly membership fee.

Circle 2 is also the one easiest to customize. While it's primarily for indoor use, you can purchase a window or plug mount and also a weatherproof extension for outdoor use. That way, you can use it just about anywhere. The Canary All-In-One would get all wet, by contrast. The Logitech product is also available in a corded or wireless model and is the one with more integrations and voice control options.

Canary's flagship product, on the other hand, has better video quality (by default the Circle 2 records at 720p, not 1080p) and superior extra features. For example, the Canary offers a built-in emergency alarm you can activate remotely to alert the authorities to distress. Canary is also distinct for having the ability to monitor air quality, temperature, and humidity in your home and alert you when there's a problem.

You can add extra features to both cameras through premium memberships. Circle Safe is available in a basic and premium package. The former gives you 14 days of camera footage, person detection, and motion zones, while the latter includes 31 days of footage plus the other features. Logitech charges as little as $1.15 per month, depending on the number of cameras you own.

For Canary, there's one premium package that runs $10 per month or $100 per year. For this, you get 30 days worth of video recordings, two-way communication, a safety button to alert authorities in the event of an emergency, and incident support. Discounts per device are available when you have multiple cameras on an account.

So the choice here comes down to which features you want. If you plan on using your security camera to talk to others in your home, you might want to select the Circle 2 since this feature doesn't require the purchase of a premium package. Otherwise, there's not much different about either package except that Logitech offers two membership levels.