Canary Reviews 

Avoid Canary. A fine example of a company that prioritises profit over service. It has meant they will not get my continued service. There are plenty of better services so keep looking around.

A once-great product, which I consistently recommended to friends, now rendered totally useless by what they refer to as an ‘update’.

Usually updates fix problems or increase functionality.

This one simply removes features, paywalling them.

There are many, many other brands that now work out as cheaper than Canary. Will be fascinated to see how long the CEO stays in their position

Edit: worth pointing out that the reply mentions ‘due to our competitor’s offerings.’

To be clear: if you buy a canary now, and don’t pay for the premium, you don’t get any visual alert - not even a thumbnail - of what has triggered the camera. So you’re absolutely blind as to whether it’s a burglar or a ray of sunlight.

That’s fine if that was the offering in the first place, but Canary made its name with a punchy unit price that was worth it for lack of subscription.

Now, they’re simply not worth it when compared to eg amazon’s offerings.

I purchased a Canary Pro several years ago as, despite costing significantly more than other similar devices, it provided the services I require without the need for monthly fees (as outlined on the packaging). Unfortunately, despite being assured that ‘With Canary, the app and primary service are free, and accessible via as many phones as you’d like.’ (Indie Go Go campaign) the device which I own has been remotely broken by you and is now effectively useless for the purpose for which it was purchased.

Please could Canary explain how what has been done is legal with regards to The Consumer Rights Act 2015, applicable to England and Wales? This legislation outlines that services should match up to what has been agreed and that unfair terms in a contract are not legally binding.

I have contacted support at canary.is but received no reply. I expect my next point of call will be Trading Standards when I am ignored again.

Have three cameras in different locations

Have pointed out to their reps that a security camera sending a notification is a basic not a premium service element

Have used them since 2015 and now phasing them out

Tried to upgrade to premium plan since they took away all features on basic. Chatted with a rep. was given a discount code. However, the payment page would not allow completion using PayPal. Tried several times. Then after reading the recent reviews I'm glad it did'nt take my money. I'll stick to basic and/or change devices. I will not give my cc # to any offshore company. Only PayPal.

Like many others here, I was offered a promotional credit card to upgrade to the paid service via email for my canary accounts.

Its been some time since I've upgraded and have yet to obtain the credit card or a response communication from canary. This was the entire reason why I opted to upgrade. I've actively tried 7+ times to get in touch with their team via email and chat to resolve this issue, each without a response.

I'll be issuing a chargeback with my credit card and filing complaint(s) with the FTC and relevant state consumer protection agencies if this issue isn't resolved.

I've really tried to be patient, understanding, and offer as much information as possible to their team to resolve. Overall a dissapointing experience coming from an otherwise loyal customer.

And again, two weeks later: no contact with Canary. On my two previous messages, canary constantly replied: 'we will contact you'. But unfortunately it remains with nice promises without substance. Canary doesn't seem to have any feeling for its customers and customer-service seems to be a word they do not know. I'm very curious if Canary will care about all these terribly bad reviews and dissatisfied customers.

I was asked to update to the premier with the offer of 100 pound amazon gift card which never arrived and my canary was never updated I have e mailed every day for weeks but no reply and I am out of pocket for 79 pounds I will not renew. david bruce

I had Canary cameras installed at 4 different locations. As other reviewers stated at first they worked well, than the company started reducing the functionality, limiting the users ability to view videos and restricting the ability to effectively filter for notifications. These significant changes occurred without any notice to customers. What customer service focused company does that without communicating. With these changes also came a significant deterioration in the performance of the equipment.

3 of our locations did not have premium service so this was a significant change and rendered these cameras useless. We’ve already replaced these cameras with another system at these locations. For the location with the premium service we are in the process of having a full security system installed with its own cameras and we intended to cancel the premium service. We noted a pending charge on our credit card evidently on the renewal date. Called immediately to cancel that day. Canary claims that we were notified a week prior of the impending charge. That notification was never received. They refuse to cancel until the next renewal date in 2023 and will not refund the annual $85 charge. If a company has to chain their customers to them like that it speaks volumes about their company ethics and customer service. We were satisfied customers, so much so that we installed them in 4 locations. Shortly the last of our 4 installations will be disconnected. Certainly don’t feel like we were a valued customer.

Additional note after Canary’s Reply: their reply is without substance. It’s not as if we didn’t contact Canary Support prior to this review. We’ve had numerous contacts with them and spent countless time via phone, chat and email trying to resolve our issues. 1) their move from an equipment to a service based business model was very poorly executed. The lack of communication to customers regarding this change was a case study in how not to do business. It never goes over well to take away benefits and reduce functionality without customer outreach. Contacting them further on this debacle serves no purpose. 2) Their refusal to refund the annual premium service fee on the day of renewal, which they have reiterated in several communications with us, is illustrative of their lack of customer focus and poor business practice. Their exceptionally poor rating just on this platform illustrates we are not an isolated case. My time has value - further contact with them is not worth the effort. I hope they enjoy my $85 over the next year while providing no service. At least the future income stream has been cancelled.

I’ve had a system for four years now, I used to love the features, the geo-fencing was on point and I took a paid subscription.

Since the recent changes in subscription I stopped paying premium. Suddenly my unit was sending upwards of 40 notifications a day, but although they claim a clip is included on the free plan, the software refuses to load it. I turned the camera to a blank wall to see if there was something going on with the unit, and still upwards of 30 notifications. I emailed customer support but nothing after 6 weeks. I decided to junk the unit and install a competitor which has SD card playback.

Sadly what was a lovely system, working seamlessly, has been rendered useless by whatever software update they have forced out. What’s so frustrating is this is just about subscription, bottom line, cash…….I may have taken out premium again but not with the lack of customer service and not even a transition period, i.e ‘in 3 months things will change, try it out for free’

Used my canary for many years without issue. Unfortunately their paid for price plan has rendered their device obsolete. I have replaced it with a similar device/ plan which costs 3.99 per 3 months

Canary is Horrible. Way better services out there. We have wasted our $$
, so hopefully you won’t!!!

One star is far too good for this product, since the changes to the “free” functionality have been removed, the system is now redundant and I have wasted my money investing in a company with no morals.

I have reached out to support@canary and am looking forward to hearing back.

26 August - I had a few emails and was indeed offered an option, this was not suitable to me therefore proposed a similar offer back to them however this was not acceptable therefore anybody want to buy some lovely bits of plastic/glass that I bought under false pretences?

Like so many of the poor reviews, my experience is that this was an excellent product, until they reneged on the deal and wanted me to pay for a plan. Customer support is appalling, they just do not reply.

IF I could give no stars I would, If I could take them to court I would. Utterly appalling service that they should not be allowed to get away with. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.

I bought this camera because of the free features that suited my needs. Now that they have pulled the bait and switch and removed those features unless I pay, I have to find another camera solution that doesn't want to rip me off. I really don't understand how they can get away with such fraud??

I liked the camera when new, purchased a second one. The selling point I liked was you don't have to get a subscription to use. I could review any notices at first for I thought it was a few days at first then 24 hrs then 3 hrs, they slowly backed the review period off to now you must have a subscription in order to review anything. You should have to buy it back if you change the original information and functionality of the item. Then hold us hostage for a piece of now useless crap. You didn't get me to purchase a subscription. You lost a once happy customer. I just bought a different camera system, I will also tell everyone I can about your lousy company and the way you tried to manipulate your customers.

I was originally very happy with my Canary device, nicely designed tech and app. But sadly over the last couple of years (as I don’t want to subscribe to their yearly package) the functionality of the device has now been reduced to the point of being as much use as a chocolate teapot. I am now looking at the Eufy system, hoping they don’t pull the same s**t!

Satisfied with using the Canary, it has done exactly what it should do and can even measure the air quality. However i shipped them back since for us is actually not necessary have bought the Camara for outdoor and can only recommend Canary. It was very good because no one recognize it is a Camera. Very good recordings, it is only 24 hours without subscription but for longer can be downloaded. Top !

Camera has become more and more useless over time with features removed bit by bit. Over the past few days I've been requested to take up an expensive subscription and this evening the camera does not connect at all! I'd like a refund. It doesn't do ANYTHING any more!

I have/had canary cameras. After one stopped working, I bought another. They constantly lose connection so I quit using them. While I was looking at an old email account, I noticed an email from them and it said it was charging me for top service for the year! I sent an email and filed a complaint, but they did not refund my money! Not even a partial refund!!