Trail cameras are used for capturing wildlife, nature, and the outdoors in general. They are commonly used when hunting to capture game and it is very convenient to be able to look at the photos without going to the location where the trail camera is set up.
Cellular trail cameras require a data plan to be able to transmit photos and videos to your phone. Trail camera manufacturers offer several data plans that can fit your needs. The cost of these plans will depend on the provider and the data plan you will choose. The cost typically ranges anything between $5 to $50 per month but you can also opt to pay annually at a discounted price.
If you are looking for cellular trail cameras but are wondering how much a cellular plan for a trail camera is, you are in the right place! This article will talk about how much a data plan for a cellular trail camera costs.
Why Do You Need a Cellular Trail Camera Data Plan
A trail camera is a great gadget if you are one who likes to go hunting or enjoy wildlife, nature, and the outdoors in general. Using a trail camera can allow you to capture images and videos of wildlife without disrupting their natural activities.
Unlike traditional trail cameras, cellular trail cameras can send photos and videos taken outside right to your phone. You won’t be needing an SD card to store photos and videos with a cellular trail camera.
With a traditional trail camera, you will need to go to your hunting area to be able to get the SD card and check the images and videos that it captured. Cellular trail cameras are also called scouting cameras or game cameras as they are usually used outdoors and in remote locations.
These kinds of camera works like a cellular phone and they need an outbound signal and an inbound signal to be able to transmit photos and videos from the camera to your phone using a cloud-based system as well as store photos via a cloud storage. If you are planning on getting a cellular trail camera, you will definitely need to subscribe to a data plan to be able to transmit images to your phone.
How Much Is A Cellular Plan For A Trail Camera?
The cost of a cellular plan for a trail camera will depend on your chosen provider and the plan that you want to avail of. The cheapest cellular trail camera plan can go as low as $5 per month but there are also providers that offer additional features and data allowances at a higher cost. Most trail cameras are compatible with cellular networks such as AT&T and Verizon but you can also find trail cameras that work with T-mobile.
If you are using your own network provider, the cost will also depend on the plan you will choose. AT&T cellular camera plan cost varies. AT&T has data plans that are available to use for LTE or cellular cameras.
AT&T’s DataConnect plan at 50GB is priced at $65 per month and can be reduced to $55 per month with AutoPay and paperless billing. You can also opt to avail of the DataConnect plan at 100GB for $100 reduced to $90 per month with AutoPay and paperless billing. This $10 per month discount will start within 2 billing periods. Both DataConnect plans are only available to use for LTE-compatible devices.
If you are looking at Verizon cellular camera plan cost, they offer $20 per line per month. This plan includes unlimited 5G / 4G LTE data plus 15 GB of premium data. If your cellular camera exceeds this data, the data speed will be reduced to 600 Kbps per month. So far, this is Verizon’s only data plan for cellular security cameras.
Like AT&T, the T-mobile cellular camera plan cost also varies. T-mobile offers 3 data plans for your needs. Their cheapest plan is $10 per month and it includes 2GB of premium data.
T-mobile’s most popular plan is $20 per month and it includes unlimited 5G & 4G LTE / 50GB premium data with unlimited 3G hotspot data. The other plan is $35 per month and it includes 5G & 4G LTE / 50GB premium data with up to 20GB high-speed hotspot data.
T-mobile has the cheapest cellular trail camera plan at $10 per month but it only has 2GB of premium data. If you are going to be using your trail camera a lot, this may not be enough.
If you are planning on using your own SIM card, make sure that it is compatible with the cellular trail camera that you are planning to get. There are also trail cameras that already include a SIM card so you don’t have to buy one. Let’s take a look at some of the cellular trail cameras that has a SIM card included and how much their cellular trail camera plans are.
Spypoint Data Plans
Spypoint is one of the manufacturers of trail cameras. When you buy a Spypoint trail camera, you have 4 trail camera data plans to choose from.
Spypoint has a free plan where you get 100 photos each month. This free plan is perfect if you know that you won’t get more than 100 photos per month.
Spypoint also has a Basic plan that captures 250 photos for $5 per month. The Standard plan offers 1000 photos for $10 per month and the Premium plan offers unlimited photos for $15 per month.
You can also opt to pay for your desired plan annually which is cheaper than if you pay monthly. There are no activation fees and you can only get one plan per camera. Spypoint trail cameras will connect to several carriers as long as it has an LTE cellular network such as AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon.
Muddy Manifest Data Plans
Like Spypoint, Muddy trail cameras also offer several data plans that can be availed monthly or annually. Muddy has a 30-day unlimited plan for free. You will be billed for $5 per month after the 30-day free plan is up. This $5 starter plan includes 650 images per month.
Muddy’s other data plan includes 2000 images for $10 per month and unlimited images for $15 per month. Their Bundle Pro plan gets you 3GB / 36000 images at $50 per month.
This Bundle Pro plan can hook up to 3 cameras at an additional $5 for each additional camera. Muddy cellular trail cameras provide AT&T and Verizon coverage and will choose the network with the strongest signal in your area.
Moultrie Mobile Cellular Data Plans
Moultrie trail cameras use signals from AT&T or Verizon. Moultrie has 3 data plans that you can choose from and their cheapest plan is the Standard plan at $9.99 per month. This plan includes 1000 images plus 10 videos.
Moultrie also has an Unlimited plan at $16.99 per month and this will get you unlimited images plus 50 videos. Moultrie’s Pro Series plan offers the same features as the Unlimited plan. For $34.99, you will also get unlimited images plus 50 videos. The difference is, the Unlimited plan is for 1 camera only while the Pro Series is $34.99 for the 1st camera and any additional camera is at $7.99 each. Like with the other cellular plans for trail cameras, you can also opt to avail of the plans monthly or annually.
Tactacam Cellular Plans
Tactacam trail cameras are one of the cheapest you can get. Tactacam’s Starter plan is $5 per month and it includes 250 photos. The Intermediate plan is $8 per month and it includes 500 photos. Tactacam’s Pro plan is $13 per month and you will get unlimited photos.
If you avail of the Starter plan, you will also need to pay an additional $5 per month for every additional camera. You will have to pay an additional $7.50 per month for every additional camera for the Intermediate plan and an additional $12 per month for the Pro plan.
Browning Defender Wireless Plans
Browning offers several data plans if you buy their cellular trail cameras. You can choose between AT&T or Verizon as the service provider.
Browning’s cheapest plan, Scout, is $9.99 per month and it includes 1200 standard images for one camera. This plan does not include HD images and videos.
The next plan is $12.99 per month. The Scout Plus includes 2400 standard images plus 10 HD image uploads. This can be used in up to 2 cameras.
The Hunter plan is $19.99 per month and it includes 3000 standard images plus 50 HD image uploads. This can be used in up to 3 cameras.
The Hunter Plus plan is at $29.99 per month and it includes 6000 standard images, 200 HD image uploads, and 100 video uploads. This plan can be used in up to 4 cameras.
Browning’s Guide Pro plan is the most expensive at $49.99 per month and it includes 12000 standard images, 400 HD image uploads, and 150 videos. This plan can be used in up to 6 cameras.
However, do note that there is an additional payment of $5 per month for every additional camera used for the Scout Plus, Hunter, Hunter Plus, and Guide Pro plans. Browning also has an Unlimited Plan that starts at $14.99 per month but it does not include HD image and video uploads. An additional cost of $9.99 per month is also applicable for any additional camera you will add to the Unlimited plan.
Things To Consider When Choosing A Cellular Data Plan
If you are considering buying a trail camera, you should first consider what the strongest cellular network is provided in your area or the area you will be using the camera for. AT&T and Verizon are two cellular service providers that are commonly used by trail camera brands.
Make sure to also consider the features included in the trail camera’s data plan. The lower-tier plans have a limited amount of photos that can be captured. If you know your trail camera will capture a lot of movement, you might opt to get a higher plan at a higher cost.
Trail cameras are also not just for hunting but can be used as security cameras as well. Trail cameras detect movement so if you are using a trail camera for security purposes as well, you can also get a plan that includes video footage.
Wrap Up
There is no standard price for a cellular trail camera data plan. It will all depend on the trail camera’s service provider and the plan you choose. However, be prepared to spend anything between $5 to $50 for the plan alone. The trail camera unit, of course, is not included in that price. You will also have to spend more if you have multiple cameras as most plans only allow one camera per plan.
We hope this article answered your question about how much a cellular plan for a trail camera is! If you have any other questions, let us know!
