We’ll help you choose the best home security cameras and nanny cams to keep your house secure.
It used to be prohibitively costly to equip your home with a cutting-edge security system, but today practically anybody can afford to keep their home secure with the finest home security cameras on the market. There are several kinds available, including smart home security cameras that can give you warnings and transmit live video when motion is detected. There are also many low-cost variants available, and some are waterproof, allowing you to use them both indoors and outside.
With so many choices available – indoor, outdoor, wireless, and DIY – it might be difficult to discover the ideal fit for the camera system you have in mind. However, we are here to assist you in locating the right gadget for the task. We’ve compiled a list of the top indoor and outdoor security cameras on the market right now so you can obtain some additional security at a reasonable price.
The finest home security cameras give peace of mind by watching your house day and night, inside and out, and alerting you when an intruder is detected. These smart security cameras instantly stream footage to your smartphone, allowing you to monitor what is going on in real time, no matter where you are. Home security cameras offer night vision and motion-activated recordings, and some even have built-in speakers, allowing you to converse with anybody you see or sound an alert.
We put dozens of the top cameras through their paces in our own homes, both inside and out, to see how they performed in real-world situations. to determine which operate best, capture the finest footage, and provide the most value for money.
Best Home Security Cameras of 2023
Best home security camera overall : Wyze Cam (2020)
Best Overall home security camera : Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera
Best corded home security camera : Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In
Best Outdoor home security camera : Reolink Argus 3 Pro
Best smart detection home security camera : Google Nest Cam (Battery)
Best indoor home security camera : Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24
Best ultra-budget home security camera : YI 1080p Home Camera
Wyze Cam v3
PRO
It is reasonably priced.
It provides 14 days of free video clip storage.
It is waterproof and may be used outdoors.
CONS
- You must now pay for person notifications.
Wyze’s insanely inexpensive cameras became significantly less unbelievably cheap in 2021, disappointing some of its consumers. But, at $36, the Wyze Cam, which we rated 8.5 out of 10, is an excellent cheap security camera – and a wonderful camera in general.
The Wi-Fi security camera has live streaming HD video quality, motion detection, night vision, a nice app, and, most of all, 14 days of free motion-based cloud storage. If you wish to save footage locally rather than depending exclusively on Wyze’s cloud service, this security camera has a built-in microSD card slot ( though you have to buy the microSD card separately.
This home security camera supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, has a motion detection zone, and can listen and notify you for particular frequencies such as smoke alarms. If you desire a more comprehensive home security system, Wyze offers additional cameras that may be connected to the grid.
Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera
PROS
- Completely wireless and simple to set up
- Color night vision in 2K HDR video
- It is compatible with Alexa, Google, HomeKit, and IFTTT.
- There are several third-party integrations.
- Embedded siren
- No hub is needed.
CONS
- Some functions need an Arlo Smart subscription.
The battery-powered Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight is one of our top options because to its sharp 2K video, wireless installation, and rich feature package. In addition to Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, the camera can communicate with a variety of third-party devices through IFTTT. Throughout testing, it produced crisp, vivid footage during the day and night, as well as accurate motion alerts.
This is an excellent pick for anybody looking for a wire-free outdoor camera that can do it all. It is simple to set up, connects with a variety of different smart devices, and has a built-in flashlight and siren to deter unwelcome guests. You also get some cool features like motion tracking, auto-zoom, and smart alerts.
Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In
PROS
- Long battery life
- Excellent video quality throughout the day.
- Indoor/outdoor device mobility and flexibility
CONS
- Color night mode consumes more battery power.
- Most functions need a subscription.
This 1080p camera can differentiate between humans and other moving objects and is powered by a weather-resistant wire that is supplied (or an add-on battery).
It’s for people who wish to keep an eye on welcome or unwanted visitors on their front porch, rear deck, garage, pool area, driveway, or anyplace else outdoors.
The Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In Wi-Fi camera has a long, weather-resistant power connection but may alternatively be powered by a battery which is sold separately. We like the cable since it allows the camera to record longer movies and catch motion occurrences more precisely. With a 130-degree field of vision, the camera provides clear two-way audio and 1080p video. To save camera footage, a Ring Protect Basic subscription (starting at $4 per month or $40 per year) is necessary, but it also allows person alerts and smartphone notifications with video stills. In addition, despite some prior concerns, Ring currently offers more privacy and security features than any other camera vendor whose models we reviewed.
Flaws, but not fatal flaws
The Ring camera can identify persons as well as general motion, but not both at the same time. It also lacks the specific detection offered by certain other cameras, such as animal, package, and vehicle detection.
Reolink Argus 3 Pro
PROS
- Video quality is excellent.
- Profitable and cheap (particularly the solar panels)
- Bright spotlight Video storage on microSD cards
CONS
- Inability to remove batteries
We like the Reolink Argus 3 Pro with Solar Panel because it performs almost as well as the Arlo Pro 4 for 75% less money, making it an obvious decision to be the best home security camera in our rankings. While Reolink’s online storage isn’t as excellent as that of Arlo or Ring, it does include a microSD card slot for local storage. A paid membership is not required to store footage from your Reolink camera.
It also helps that it is a low-cost solar security camera. The integrated Reolink solar panel costs roughly $35, which is almost half the price of Arlo and Ring solar panels.
We strongly suggest the Reolink Argus 3 Pro over the standard Reolink Argus 3. The Arlo Pro 4 competes with its 2K video quality, greater battery, and compatibility for 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Because this camera runs on a rechargeable battery or solar power, you have a variety of options for camera location. However, unlike the Arlo Pro 4 and Ring Stick Up Cam, it lacks a replaceable battery, making it impossible to swiftly put in a replacement.
Another gem in Reolink’s hat is that it survived the Arlo Pro 4 in long-term battery testing. Local storage reduces the camera’s Wi-Fi consumption (which depletes batteries) for improved overall performance. This contrasts with our experience of batteries depleting very rapidly while recording or viewing video on a regular basis without a solar panel adapter.
Despite the fact that this camera has a smaller field of vision (122 degrees) and did not do well in our motion zone testing, it is still a top pick for the majority of customers. It is also compatible with smart home systems such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
You can see well up to 33 feet away in the dark thanks to its starlight night vision. Overall, we found the setup to be simple, and the camera exceeded our expectations, therefore we’re big supporters of Reolink.
Google Nest Cam (Battery)
PROS
- Excellent video quality
- Local backup storage
- Powered by batteries
- Aesthetic and design quality
CONS
- Its Expensive
- Subscription is required for facial recognition.
When it comes to picture and sound quality, the Google Nest Cam (Battery) is among the finest we evaluated. In addition, it addresses one of our primary grievances with the Nest Cam IQ by making the vast majority of its smart alerts available to anyone who does not have a Nest Aware membership.
We’re happy to report that evaluations of Google’s first battery-powered security camera have been successful. The battery, according to Google, will not charge in subfreezing conditions, so you may want to bring it indoors during the winter. Wireless exterior cameras from other manufacturers, such as Arlo and Reolink, share same shortcomings with Google.
Nest is now far more accessible to those on tighter budgets because to the widespread availability of free cloud storage options. Only three hours of video may be stored, but that’s still better than the zero hours of free storage offered by Arlo and Ring. Even if your internet connection goes down, you won’t lose a week’s worth of footage since the camera has its own internal storage for videos.
Free smart alerts include motion zones, as well as the ability to identify people, animals, and vehicles. It’s a huge improvement that so many services may be used without paying a monthly fee. We’re not quite as enthusiastic about the fact that you have to pay to utilize the face recognition. What we enjoy most is that there isn’t a different monthly charge for each IP camera.
Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24
PROS
- Superb video quality
- Local Video storage on-site
- Low cost
- Excellent smart home integration
CONS
- It has no weatherproofing.
- Power cord is wired
To most people, the Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 is the top choice for an indoor camera. The combination of the affordable price and high quality 2K video means that several cameras may be purchased for the home. The ability to connect to other smart home devices is an added advantage.
Like Wyze, Eufy has a microSD card slot for local video recording. A memory card’s initial cost is the only expense involved. There is a premium cloud storage plan available for Eufy, but it doesn’t add any functionality to the camera beyond storing your footage remotely, making the extra features and price discounts offered by Nest, Arlo, Ring, and Wyze more enticing.
When compared to our top smart home selection, Arlo, it is one of the most compatible solutions available. We really like that it works with Apple HomeKit, which isn’t supported by as many home security cameras as Google Home and Alexa. (Eufy is compatible with both of those systems too.)
It’s one of the few cameras we provide that isn’t waterproof, so it can’t be used to keep an eye on your yard outside. Even though Eufy offers some great battery-powered models, such the EufyCam 3, this one doesn’t have that option, either.
If you’re an Apple HomeKit lover or just looking for a high-quality indoor camera at a reasonable price, the Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 is a great option.
The YI 1080p Indoor Security Camera (around $50 for two-pack) is great if you want to spend as little as possible on a security camera (that is at least still very excellent). Because of YI’s ability to identify when a baby is crying, it can also serve as a cheap Wi-Fi nanny cam in a hurry. When your child makes a sound indicating that they need attention, you’ll get a notice on your phone.
Another amazing thing is that you may store as much data in the cloud as you like without paying anything. Access to the app may be shared with up to five other users. However, Android users should be wary, since a number of problems have been reported with the app.
When selecting a home security camera, what factors should be taken into account?
Wired Vs Wireless: Home security cameras come in two distinct forms: those that need an electrical outlet and those that don’t. When it comes to continual monitoring, bigger properties are better served by wired cameras than wireless ones without a solar panel, since the former never need to be recharged. Reviewers on the Internet tend to choose wireless cameras since they are more flexible in terms of placement.
Indoor Vs Outdoor: When deciding between an indoor and an outdoor camera, keep in mind that the former will record video before a potential thief enters your property, while the latter may serve as a deterrent thanks to motion-activated technology. Having a camera inside your home is a terrific way to keep an eye on your pet and provide an added layer of protection. Although inside cameras can’t be used outdoors due to not being waterproof, outdoor cameras can be utilized indoors.
Price: You should realize that most home security cameras need a subscription in order to see all of the video captured by the camera before making a purchase. While many reviewers on the internet were satisfied with the features they received as part of the base package and didn’t feel the need to upgrade, others were unaware that they wouldn’t have full access without a membership. Most of the included cameras need a monthly or annual subscription that gives you access to complete video rather than shorter clips and other sophisticated capabilities like face recognition, meaning your babysitter or family members will not get intruder warnings.
Conclusion
When it comes to wireless home security cameras, the options are almost endless; we just scratched the surface here. But the Reolink Argus 3 Pro stands out from the crowd with its completely cordless operation, local storage, built-in solar panel, and high-quality video.
Although it’s not the best home security camera on the market due to its lack of motion zones, it’s a nice change of pace from cloud-focused companies like Arlo and Ring.
