24/7 Recording vs Motion-Triggered: Which is Right for You?

Introduction

One of the first decisions when setting up video surveillance is choosing between 24/7 continuous recording or motion-triggered event recording. This choice significantly impacts storage requirements, footage review time, and your ability to capture critical events.

This guide breaks down the pros, cons, and ideal use cases for each approach to help you make an informed decision.

24/7 Continuous Recording

How It Works

Camera records video non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All footage is saved to storage regardless of whether motion is detected.

Advantages

• Zero missed events: Every second is recorded, including events before motion detection triggers
• Context capture: See what happened before and after an event (e.g., someone casing your property before entering)
• Reliable evidence: No gaps in footage due to detection failures or misconfigurations
• No configuration headache: Skip sensitivity tuning, detection zones, cooldown periods
• Smooth timeline: Scrub through a continuous timeline without jumping between clips
• Forensic value: Review footage for events you didn't know happened

Disadvantages

• Massive storage requirements: 1 camera @ 1080p consumes 2-5 GB/hour (48-120 GB/day)
• Difficult footage review: Finding specific events requires scrubbing hours of video
• Higher hardware costs: Need large hard drives or NAS systems
• Faster drive wear: Constant writes reduce SSD/HDD lifespan
• Bandwidth heavy: Can strain network if recording remotely

Storage Calculation Example

Rule of thumb: 1 TB stores roughly 7 days of 24/7 footage from one 1080p camera.

Best Use Cases

• High-security environments: Banks, jewelry stores, critical infrastructure
• Legal compliance: Businesses with regulatory recording requirements
• High-value property: Locations where missing an event is unacceptable
• Small camera count (1-2): Storage costs are manageable with few cameras
• Unlimited storage: Large NAS systems or dedicated surveillance servers

Motion-Triggered Recording

How It Works

Camera continuously monitors for motion but only saves video when movement is detected. Typically includes pre-buffer (5-10 seconds before trigger) and post-buffer (10-30 seconds after motion stops).

Advantages

• Minimal storage: 95-99% less storage than 24/7 (only events saved)
• Easy review: All clips are already filtered to interesting events
• Longer retention: Keep 30-90 days instead of 7 days with same storage
• Cost-effective: Works with small drives (256GB-1TB for multiple cameras)
• Reduced drive wear: Writes only during events
• Bandwidth friendly: Remote recording consumes less data

Disadvantages

• Missed events: Misconfigured sensitivity can miss slow-moving intruders
• No context: Clips start when motion detected, missing pre-event activity
• Configuration required: Must tune sensitivity, zones, cooldown times
• False alarms: Shadows, pets, weather can trigger unwanted recordings
• Fragmented timeline: Footage is broken into individual clips
• Detection failures: Camera malfunctions, dead zones, or clever intruders can avoid triggers

Storage Calculation Example

Assuming 10 motion events per day, 2 minutes average duration per event:

Result: Motion-triggered uses ~95% less storage than 24/7 for typical residential setups.

Best Use Cases

• Residential homes: Most homeowners need event-based recording
• Limited storage: Works with modest drives (256GB-1TB)
• Multiple cameras: 4+ cameras make 24/7 storage prohibitively expensive
• Long retention: Keep 30-90 days of events vs 7 days of continuous
• Remote monitoring: Lower bandwidth for cloud uploads

Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds

Many users combine both strategies:

Option 1: Priority-Based Recording

• Critical cameras (front door, safe): 24/7 recording
• Secondary cameras (backyard, garage): Motion-triggered

Option 2: Dual Recording Modes

Guardian Eye Pro supports:

• Continuous low-res recording (720p): 24/7 timeline for context
• High-res clips (1080p/4K): Triggered on motion for detail

Option 3: Time-Based Switching

• Business hours: Motion-triggered (8 AM - 6 PM)
• After hours: 24/7 recording (6 PM - 8 AM)

Making Your Decision

Choose 24/7 Recording if:

• ✅ Storage budget is not a constraint (large NAS or server)
• ✅ You have 1-2 cameras (storage manageable)
• ✅ High-security environment where missing events is unacceptable
• ✅ Legal/compliance requirements mandate continuous recording
• ✅ You need forensic review capability (investigate unknown incidents)

Choose Motion-Triggered if:

• ✅ Limited storage budget (under 1TB available)
• ✅ You have 3+ cameras (storage costs multiply)
• ✅ Residential or small business use (events are infrequent)
• ✅ Want longer retention (30-90 days vs 7 days)
• ✅ Easy footage review is a priority (clips pre-filtered)

Choose Hybrid if:

• ✅ You have mixed-priority cameras (some critical, some not)
• ✅ Want context (continuous) + detail (high-res events)
• ✅ Moderate storage budget (1-4 TB)
• ✅ Different recording needs at different times (day vs night)

Guardian Eye Recommendations

Free Version (1 camera, 7-day retention)

Recommended: Motion-triggered

• 7 days @ 24/7 = 224 GB (1080p)
• 7 days @ motion = ~10 GB (saves 95% storage)

Home Plan (4 cameras, 30-day retention)

Recommended: Hybrid

• Front door: 24/7 (critical, want full context)
• Backyard, garage, side: Motion-triggered
• Total storage: ~1-2 TB

Pro Plan (Unlimited cameras)

Recommended: Priority-based hybrid

• Tier 1 cameras (2-3): 24/7 recording
• Tier 2 cameras (rest): Motion-triggered
• Consider dual-mode (continuous low-res + high-res events)

Conclusion

There's no universally "correct" choice—it depends on your priorities:

• 24/7 = Peace of mind + storage cost: Never miss an event, but pay for storage
• Motion = Efficiency + configuration effort: Minimal storage, but requires tuning
• Hybrid = Balanced compromise: Apply 24/7 only where critical

Start smart: Begin with motion-triggered recording, monitor for false alarms and missed events for 1-2 weeks, then switch critical cameras to 24/7 if needed.