Imou review
Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Our verdict
Imou suits homeowners and renters who want cameras, a video doorbell and a smart lock under one brand without a subscription. Hardware runs on battery and PoE power, Imou Protect cloud storage is an optional extra, and the cost score reads 9.1.
Key facts
- Best for
- Camera, doorbell and lock bundles that keep working with no subscription and no minimum term.
- Minimum contract
- 0 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- Camera, Smart-lock, Video-doorbell (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Professional monitoring
- No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Local storage
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Free features
- Devices work without any subscription; Imou Protect cloud storage, AI detection, security reports, SD card download and device sharing are paid extras, with a free trial for new cameras (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Recording retention
- 7 to 30 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Hangzhou Huacheng Network Technology Co., Ltd. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- China (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Diy
- Power source
- Battery, Poe
- Official website
- imou.com
Floor care
- Reference models
- RV1L Pro, RV1 Pro Max, RV3, RV3 Ultra (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Top suction (Pa)
- 8,500 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Self-empty dock
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Mop type
- Pad (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Obstacle avoidance
- Structured light (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- LiDAR navigation
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Runtime
- 180 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Dust bin capacity (ml)
- 340 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- VN, TH, AU, PH, ID, IN, KZ, UZ, SG, MY, PK, PA, BO, CA, US, MX, CO, AR, PE, CL, EC, CR, VE, GB, PL, NL, FR, ES, IT, RO, DE, PT, AE, SA, MA, EG, IQ, KW, ZA (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Hangzhou Huacheng Network Technology Co., Ltd. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- China (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- Camera, Smart lock, Video doorbell
Smart home devices
- Markets
- VN, TH, AU, PH, ID, IN, KZ, UZ, SG, MY, PK, PA, BO, CA, US, MX, CO, AR, PE, CL, EC, CR, VE, GB, PL, NL, FR, ES, IT, RO, DE, PT, AE, SA, MA, EG, IQ, KW, ZA (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Hangzhou Huacheng Network Technology Co., Ltd. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- China (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Device types
- Thermostat, Plug, Hub, Sensor
- Protocols
- Wi fi
Pros and cons
Pros
- Local storage is supported, so footage can stay on the device and the Imou Protect plan is not needed at all.
- There is no minimum term: contract terms run 0 months, ranking 1 of 60 brands on contract length.
- Imou covers camera, smart lock and video doorbell, a wider set than Annke's camera and video doorbell.
- Battery and wired installs sit in one range, since power runs to battery and poe across the cameras.
- The robotic models add a self empty dock, pad mopping and suction of 8,500 Pa at the top of the range.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so no response service calls out when something trips.
- Support runs on help centre only, so written documentation is the route to any fix.
- The Imou Protect plan keeps cloud video for 7 to 30 days, so older clips must be copied off before the window closes.
- Connectivity is wi fi only, with no mesh standard listed for the range.
Ready to try Imou?
Scored 8.8 / 10 by SmartHomeCue.
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who want one account covering cameras, a video doorbell and a smart lock, since Imou sells camera, smart lock and video doorbell.
- People who want footage kept on the device, given local storage is supported and the paid cloud window runs 7 to 30 days.
- Shoppers after the robotic cleaners, where suction reaches 8,500 Pa with a self empty dock and pad mopping.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants a monitored alarm: professional monitoring is not offered here, so The Home Security Superstore fits better with alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Buyers who want a smoke alarm in the same kit, since Aqara covers camera, smart lock and smoke alarm.
- Shoppers who only want cameras and video doorbells, as Annke's camera and video doorbell covers that ground without the locks.
Core features
The range spans camera, smart lock and video doorbell, so a camera, a video doorbell and a smart lock can sit under a single account. Cameras support local storage, which keeps recordings on the device rather than sending every clip off site. The Imou Protect cloud plan holds video for 7 to 30 days, so anything older than that window has to be copied out first. Professional monitoring is not part of the offer, which leaves alerts going to your own phone and the response to you. In practice this is a self run kit: the hardware works on its own, and the cloud features are add-ons rather than the reason a camera works at all.
The company behind it
Imou is operated by Hangzhou Huacheng Network Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in China and founded in 2015. One brand name covers the cameras, the doorbell and the lock, so there is a single app and a single support desk behind them. Support runs on help centre only, with no phone line or live chat listed, so help arrives as written documentation. Buyers who need to speak to a person after a fault should weigh that before buying, while buyers happy reading a manual will find the arrangement workable.
How Imou compares
- 8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.1- 8.8 vs 8.5
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 8.9
8.8 vs 9.0- 8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.4Arno
- 8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 8.7- 8.8 vs 9.2
- 8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 8.7BlazeVideo DE
Frequently asked questions
Do Imou cameras need a subscription?+
No. Cameras run with no subscription at all, and the hardware is the only thing you have to buy. Imou Protect cloud storage, AI detection, security reports, SD card download and device sharing are the paid extras, and new cameras come with a free trial to try them. Contract terms are 0 months, so there is no minimum period to serve first.
What does an Imou setup cost?+
Imou has no single price, since the range runs from indoor cameras to PoE models and robotic cleaners. Among security camera brands the middle price sits at €40.34, with the upper quartile at €109.18. The robotic side, including the RV1L Pro, RV1 Pro Max, RV3, RV3 Ultra line, sits above that band, with entry pricing in this group around €11.27.
What happens when the free trial ends?+
The trial covers Imou Protect, and after that the cloud storage, AI detection and security reports are paid extras rather than part of the kit. The hardware itself is unaffected, and contract terms are 0 months, so nothing locks you in when the trial runs out. Local storage stays available for anyone who would rather not renew anything.
How long are Imou recordings kept?+
Cloud video on the Imou Protect plan is kept for 7 to 30 days. Local storage is supported, so you can record onto the device and hold footage far longer without paying for a plan. For most camera only setups the local option does the work, and the cloud window matters mainly when you want to share clips with family.
Does Imou offer professional monitoring?+
No. Professional monitoring is not offered and the range is set up to run by you, so alerts land on your phone and no team calls out. For context, monthly monitoring across alarm systems in the wider comparison set runs €9.38 at the middle, and The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock including alarm kits.
What can I connect, and how is it powered?+
Imou sells camera, smart lock and video doorbell for the home, and the Imou Link hub adds thermostat, plug and hub alongside them. Power runs to battery and poe, so battery and PoE installs are both in the range, and the robotic models bring a self empty dock and pad mopping. Connectivity is wi fi only, so the whole setup rides on your existing network.
Which Imou model should I buy?+
The RV1L Pro, RV1 Pro Max, RV3, RV3 Ultra names cover the robotic and pan tilt camera range. On the cleaning side, suction peaks at 8,500 Pa, the dock empties itself and mopping uses a pad pad with structured light obstacle avoidance plus lidar. The dock bin holds 340 ml and a charge runs 180 minutes.
Which countries does Imou sell in?+
Imou lists VN, TH and AU as its markets, and the company sits in CN under the legal entity Hangzhou Huacheng Network Technology Co., Ltd.. The range is not tied to a single market, so a UK buyer is served alongside buyers across Europe, the Gulf, Africa, the Americas and Asia, with the same hardware list rather than a separate regional build.
Sources
- imou.com checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Protocols
“Wi-Fi Indoor Cameras ... Wi-Fi Outdoor Cameras ... PoE Cameras”
- imou.com/en/about-us/contact-us checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Markets
“Hangzhou Huacheng Network Technology Co., Ltd. ... Hangzhou, China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone”
- imou.com/en/product/detail/imou-link checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Device types
“Smart Sensors Smart Sirens Smart Plugs ... Smart Hubs Smart Buttons Smart Thermostats; Smart Thermostat (TRV1)”
- imou.com/en/product/detail/rv1-pro-max checked September 30, 2026
Backs: LiDAR navigation
“Lightning-fast mapping with LiDAR The mapping camera spins 6 times per second”
- imou.com/en/product/detail/rv1l-pro checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Dust bin capacity (ml), Reference models
“340mL Dust Bin 250mL Water Tank”
- imou.com/en/product/detail/rv3-ultra checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Mop type, Obstacle avoidance, Runtime, Self-empty dock, Top suction (Pa)
“Vacuuming & mopping 2-in-1 Dual-side brush Pressurized mop Extendable mop”
- imou.com checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Power source, Products, Support channels
“Wire-Free Cameras ... PoE Cameras”
- imou.com/about-us checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Founded in 2015, Imou is a smart home product provider that aims at the smart IoT market for global consumers.”
- imou.com/imou-protect checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Minimum contract, Free features, Local storage, Pricing model, Professional monitoring, Recording retention
“You can transfer the subscription to other cameras or cancel the subscription on Imou APP”
Compiled from 9 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price, Monitoring per month.
Imou
Camera, doorbell and lock bundles that keep working with no subscription and no minimum term.