iOS 27 AI camera summaries require a paid iCloud+ plan: Apple is charging $9.99 per month for the 2TB tier to enable Apple Intelligence Home app features for a single HomeKit camera, with higher-priced tiers needed to add more cameras.
The feature provides text-based descriptions for motion alerts using Apple Intelligence, recognizing people, animals, vehicles, packages and general motion and summarizing what is happening.
iOS 27 AI camera summaries: pricing and camera limits
Apple previously indicated during the beta that a 2TB iCloud+ plan or higher would be required for video summaries, but did not specify camera limits. Apple later published details showing the 2TB iCloud+ plan priced at $9.99 per month will only add AI summaries to one camera. A $29.99 per month 6TB plan is required for AI summaries on two cameras, and a $59.99 per month 12TB plan covers up to five cameras. Apple One Premier subscribers are limited to a single camera because that bundle includes 2TB of iCloud+ storage.
Apple is not offering an iCloud+ plan that provides AI summaries for an unlimited number of cameras.
HomeKit Secure Video has always required a paid iCloud+ plan for recording, but the recording limits differ from the Apple Intelligence limits: a 50GB iCloud+ plan at $0.99 per month supports a single HomeKit Secure Video camera, a 200GB plan at $2.99 per month supports five cameras, and the 2TB plan at $9.99 per month supports unlimited cameras for recording. That means someone with a 2TB iCloud+ plan who has multiple HomeKit Secure Video cameras will be able to use the new Apple Intelligence feature for only one of those cameras.
There are dozens of complaints about the subscription requirements on Reddit and on forum threads.
Apple warns that supported camera counts and other iCloud+ plan features could change over time. The company also says there will be usage limits on Siri AI, photo editing tools and Image Playground, with paid options to increase access; Apple has not announced pricing for features other than the Apple Intelligence Home app options.
Rumors suggest Apple may launch its own home security cameras as soon as next year and is working on a home security and monitoring service; those cameras could require an iCloud+ subscription for advanced AI features.
