Hi @BrenL58,
Tapo Care is completely optional - there are only a few main features that it adds to your cameras when applied to a camera.
- Saving Clips Automatically to the Cloud
- Smart Filtering of Detections by Type
- Rich Notifications with Screenshots
- Activity Summary Videos
If the device is connected to the internet, you can always view the livestream of the camera from the Tapo app.
If you would like to keep recordings of the camera, you would need to use an SD card with the camera. These clips are accessible anywhere, even when stored on the camera.