If you want to keep your home safe and surehole home security system it may be your first impulse – and that’s not a bad idea. However, it can become much more affordable if you choose a stand-alone home security camera instead. Convenient, very excellent smart cameras and video surveillance systems are on the market, offering features such as two-way talking, motion tracking, night vision, cloud storage, smart notifications, professional surveillance and HD video for premium video quality.
With so many options on the market – including indoors, outdoor, wireless or Make yourself safe Cameras – You may feel discouraged to find the perfect match for the camera system you are considering. But don’t worry, we are here to help you find the best device to work with.
We tested dozens of cameras and we’ve put together everything we’ve learned on this list of the best home security cameras. Below you will find the best home security cameras in every major subcategory of smart doorbells to models that work well Google Now, Amazon Alexa and Siri voice commands. Some are fairly simple, with a motion sensor that sends a push notification to your smartphone when it detects motion, while others come with features like professional monitoring and cloud storage that keep you from viewing hours of footage.
If you are looking for the best home security camera, get ready to dive. We will periodically update this list of the best home security cameras.
Wyze
Wyze disappointed some of its customers in 2021, when its ridiculously cheap cameras became a little less ridiculously cheap. But at $ 30, the Wyze Cam, which we rated 8.5, remains a great budget security camera – and a great camera, period.
The Wi-Fi security camera features HD live video streaming, motion detection, night vision, decent app and best of all, 14 days of free cloud storage based on motion. This Wyze security camera also has a built-in microSD card slot if you want local video storage instead of relying solely on its cloud service (you need to purchase the microSD card separately).
This home security camera works with voice commands from Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and has a motion detection area and the ability to listen and alert for special frequencies such as smoke alarms.
Read our review of Wyze Cam (2020).
David Priest / CNET
Wyze continues to dominate the affordable camera market, thanks not only to their Wyze Cam, but also to this indoor camera with panoramic and tilt. For $ 50, this thing offers 1080p resolution, two-way speech, an alarm and the ability to horizontally monitor 360 degrees. It also offers free cloud storage and alerts and super cheap smart services. I was so impressed with the device, I gave it a rating of 9.2 for review in 2021. If you want a device that can effectively cover a large interior space – or if you are looking for a pet camera or a nanny camera to monitor moving targets while they are not – that’s it.
Read our review of Wyze Cam Pan v2.
Tyler Lissenby / CNET
The $ 150 Arlo Video Doorbell, which we rated 8.5, has had very good results. Although $ 150 isn’t cheap, it’s more affordable than most other smart buzzers I’ve tested. As a doorbell camera, it is designed to be an external camera, so you never have to worry about the elements. Like the Arlo Pro 3 external security camera, the Arlo Video Doorbell has activation / deactivation modes, two-way audio, movement zones and an integrated siren.
The security camera system also has a competitive subscription cloud storage plan starting at $ 3 per month. If you pay for cloud storage, you get access to advanced features such as personalized detection of people, animals, vehicles, and CCTV packages with an external camera.
Read our review of Arlo Video Doorbell.
David Priest / CNET
Arlo’s latest Pro camera, which we rated 8.5 and won an editorial award, is a fantastic home security camera with extra features. It boasts 2K resolution, 160-degree field of view, two-way speech, full color night vision, built-in siren and projector, compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit – the list goes on.
This powerful camera costs only $ 200 – more expensive than super affordable options like Wyze, but easily worth the premium. For $ 3 a month, you can also get smart alerts, traffic zones, 30 days of event history and a few other great features. In short, the Arlo Pro 4 is a fantastic security camera for most people.
Read our review of Arlo Pro 4.
Chris Monroe / CNET
Google’s latest – and smartest – Nest Cam is a special internal and cable gadget that offers many great features in a beautiful package. The cable camera is also available in four unique colors, because who doesn’t love the light pink security camera? This “cable” designation separates it from the Nest Cam (battery), a more powerful model of Google Nest, designed for indoor or outdoor use, which also launched in 2021. Armed with the latest software features such as object identification, areas for activity and app Google Home browsing and support, this new Google Nest device has both beauty and brain – and that’s why we gave it a rating of 8.4 for review.
Nest Cam (cable) for $ 100 is not only the most affordable Nest camera so far, but is also our favorite of the brand. Thanks to its easy setup, attractive design and most importantly, free smart features, it ranks first among all Google Assistant cameras.
While Wyze currently offers better cloud storage options and cheaper prices, the Nest Cam (Wired) internal security camera is one of the best home security cameras on the market for Google Assistant loyalists.
Read our review of Nest Cam.
How we test home security cameras
Some devices are tested in a laboratory, and some need to be tested in a real context. Home security cameras are the last. This means that every device we test gets a full installation at home and usually about a week of testing.
Testing begins with checking whether or not all camera functions work (for example, whether you can adjust movement zones, whether the camera can distinguish between people and pets, whether it can record videos, etc.). Most cameras do what they say they will do. Then the question arises as to how effectively the camera performs these tasks. A 90 decibel siren will be a more effective deterrent than a 4 decibel siren; Night vision, which reaches only 10 feet in the dark, is less useful than night vision, which gives a clear view of the entire alley.
The calculation of how all these features – their availability and their effectiveness – compare to the price of the camera is subjective, but in general we are looking for the best features for the lowest price. In some cases, cameras with slightly lower ratings will be better for certain uses than those with slightly higher results. For example, a fantastic indoor camera, such as the Wyze Cam Pan v2, would be a terrible device for outdoor use.
To deal with this complexity, at the end of each review we try to provide ideas for the types of people who might find the camera in question most or least useful, and we provide lists like this one to help research these options in more depth.
Frequently asked questions about the home security camera
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about home security cameras. If you have others, feel free to connect to Twitter (@david_p_priest) or you can send me an email from my author page (just click on the small orange envelope).
What is the difference between security cameras and surveillance cameras?
Much of the terminology when it comes to security and surveillance cameras can be difficult to track, not least because people use the terms informally and interchangeably all the time. Surveillance cameras are generally used with video surveillance, in business and where there is continuous recording. They are designed to record actions when they occur so that they can be investigated later. Home security cameras, in contrast, are often triggered by traffic and are connected to cloud storage. Often people install them primarily to deter potential thieves.
Can wireless cameras work without the Internet?
Many wireless cameras in 2022 cannot function fully without an Internet connection. Some cameras – especially those that are part of a larger home security system – use alternative radio protocols to transmit information. These cameras will require a separate hub. Other cameras, if they have local storage, will be able to record and store footage – for example on a microSD card – even if the Internet is turned off. All that said, most wireless cameras will require Wi-Fi to use all of their features for their intended purpose.
How do you know if a security camera is watching you?
Cameras can really increase the security of your home, but they can also impair its privacy. Hackers have made headlines by spying on people or using two-way features with children in their rooms. So can you easily find out if a security camera is actively recording you? Well, it depends. Most security cameras will include a small light that will turn on when recording, although this may not be a reliable indicator if the camera has been hacked. Others, such as the Arlo’s internal camera, include design features that make it clear when the camera is watching and when it is not. In general, however, devices with physical shields are always a solid option if you’re worried about keeping your privacy.
When installing wireless security camerasnote that the smart home the camera you buy (and your security system in general) will be as good as the quality of your Wi-Fi connection where you plan to install it. Yes check the speed of your Wi-Fi connection before drilling holes in the walls or otherwise confusing the door frame, brick or siding for your home security camera. If the connection is uneven on your wireless security camera, you’ll notice significant latency times, pixelation in live broadcasts, and other Wi-Fi delays that make video quality poor and security cameras difficult to use.
With a good Wi-Fi connection, you need to be in good shape to use yours internal camera or external security camera without any serious problems with the camera system and get clear shots every time. Still have questions? Take a look at mine Home Security Camera Buying Guide.
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