You can view cloud footage and SD card playback footage from the smartphone app. You don't have to go retrieve it or anything. The paid cloud storage just enables you to playback from the cloud with no SD card. The paid cloud is also per camera, so if you have 10 cameras etc, it's roughly $2 each.
The wyze cam V3 (is outdoor rated) has been doing good for me. If you don't use an SD card, it cost for cloud viewing previous footage (motion etc) in the app. It's like $2 a month