We also looked into home cameras recently and I spent so much time researching before deciding, so I totally understand the confusion. My husband and I were comparing a few brands and found that the subscription and SD card setup really differs quite a bit between models, so it is worth checking the specific Tapo model you are eyeing on their official site since the cloud storage terms can vary. For Xiaomi cameras with SD card, from what my friend who uses one shared, you can actually view the footage history directly from the app itself without needing to remove the SD card, which is quite convenient. Hope that helps you narrow down your choice, and do check the product listings carefully since promotions sometimes include a trial period for cloud storage lah.