Best Home Security Cameras of 2024

Home Security Cameras..The top outdoor and interior home security cameras have been tried and evaluated by us. These are our top picks for security camera manufacturers, including Google Nest, Arlo, Ring, and more.

The best overall home security camera for 2024

Following over 150 hours of testing and evaluation of the newest indoor and outdoor home security cameras, the Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera is our top choice for individuals seeking a compact camera that can do it all. The Arlo home security camera has all the characteristics we want, including an extra-wide field of view, good night vision, robust quality supported by HDR enhancement, and a long battery life.

Best home security cameras of 2024

We understand that not everyone is a good fit for the Arlo Pro 5S, even if it may be at the top of a crowded field—especially if you want to avoid paying for a monthly subscription. Thus, we’ve added more of our best choices from companies like Eufy, Ring, Google Nest, and Lorex. Whether you’re searching for the most inexpensive security camera, wish to avoid using internet video cameras, or both, this guide has you covered.

See more about how we arrived at these recommendations and what factors are most important to consider when purchasing a security camera below. Answers to frequently asked issues concerning installing security cameras in your house are also covered. If you’d want to keep some cash in your (digital) wallet, check out our selections for the best affordable home security cameras, the best interior security cameras, and the best outdoor security cameras for a closer look at our security camera suggestions.

Best overall home security camera

Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera

Depending on the kind of protection you require—what you want to be watched over, when and how you look, and how you receive alerts—the best security cameras can operate anywhere and adapt to any circumstance. With all of the functions that the Arlo Pro 5S has, it was difficult to think of anything that it couldn’t do. You can monitor every detail thanks to the up to 2K resolution with HDR, color night vision, digital zoom, and remarkable 160-degree field of view for a camera this compact.

Smart warnings with detection zones and two-way audio are only two of the many intelligent features available to users. With years of experience, Arlo has perfected the motion detection system, which can recognize objects such as people or packages and turn on the integrated spotlight when it becomes dark. It can operate in temperatures as low as minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, thus weather-related concerns are also minimized.

Note to the buyer: This camera may be used both indoors and outdoors, and it comes with an indoor cable if you don’t want to rely on the battery (outdoor-rated cables are sold separately). The only drawback for those on a tight budget is the inevitable subscription fee: To get the most out of this already expensive camera, the Arlo Secure plan is essentially required because it offers so many benefits, including as full 2K streaming, cloud recording, and round-the-clock emergency responses. It is possible to store data locally, but doing so will increase the cost of your purchase of a suitable SmartHub or Base Station.

Best versatile home security camera

Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor Cam (2nd-gen)

You don’t have to worry about the local weather unless it’s really cold outside. You can place Google’s battery cam almost anywhere, indoors or out. It’s difficult to find that flexibility in smart security cameras, so Google’s AI detection is a great companion feature. It can recognize people, animals, cars, and (with a subscription) well-known faces to provide you with helpful warnings.

Important security features like two-way audio and HDR night vision are included in this 1080p/HD Nest cam. When the battery runs low, you can quickly recharge it by popping the cam off the magnetic base, which is a beneficial feature of the design. Furthermore, if you’d rather use Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, it still functions with this Google Home cam.

However, the Nest cam’s excellent video storage package is one of the main reasons we recommend it. You don’t need a membership to enjoy the benefits of cloud video with Google Nest since, in contrast to other cameras, it offers free three hours of video storage. If you don’t like monthly payments, it can save you a lot of money over time, but you won’t get some of the more sophisticated AI functions.

Best portable home security camera

Ring Indoor/Outdoor Stick Up Cam (2nd-gen)

One major benefit of mobile wireless cameras is that you can move them about as needed, from the living room or kitchen to a sunroom or playroom, depending on your needs. By enabling you to move the camera outside to a patio or deck if you’d like, our Ring Stick Up Cam model increases that advantage even further and eliminates the concern of keeping it outdoors in the weather.

Ring’s Stick Up camera is mobile, but it also has two-way audio, motion detection with alerts, and customizable motion or privacy zones to concentrate the camera on key locations. When you’re at home, you can rapidly switch between modes to conserve battery life using the home/away option. If you ever discover the ideal location, the camera also comes with a wall mount.

You might also want to look into the Ring Stick Up Cam Pro, which has even more enhanced capabilities (although, oof, at a much higher price). In any case, we would consider the Ring Protect membership to be required for this particular cam. You might want to factor that membership into the total cost because without it, you can’t utilize person identification, save footage, or activate the home/away modes we indicated. Please be aware that Ring is raising the starting price of Ring Protect Basic to $5 per month in the spring of 2024, from its previous $4 starting price.

Best cellular/LTE home security camera

Eufy 4G “Starlight” Camera S230

There are many uses for home security cameras, and you could have a location in mind that is far from Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi may not even reach the exterior of bigger homes, let alone outdoor garages, granny pods, weekend camping spots, or construction sites. One option is a PoE (power over Ethernet) camera, but it requires a connecting cable. This far more adaptable choice is the Eufy cellular security camera, which runs on a SIM card that you can purchase already loaded with minutes for easy use.

The S230 cam has a 2K resolution, an extra-high IP67 certification to remain operational even in severe weather, and a starlight sensor to maintain great detail at night. Although the battery is only supposed to last for three months, you might not need to worry about battery charging for a very long time if you pair it with a suitable Eufy solar panel. In addition to offering customisable detection zones, Eufy’s AI recognition helps restrict warnings to those involving humans. If the camera is near enough, you may even initiate two-way audio for communication.

Lastly, there is no membership fee or cloud storage for this portable camera. Rather, 8GB of internal storage is available for storing recorded footage. There are no costs, but when the storage fills up, you will need to remove everything. In our head-to-head, we also much preferred the Arlo Go 2, provided you don’t mind shelling out extra cash for a more advanced model.

Best local storage home security camera

Lorex 4K Spotlight Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera

Do you find cloud video storage to be a pain point? Particularly in light of the frequent occurrence of data breaches, many consumers find it difficult to trust businesses with their home video recordings. The security performance of the brands on our list is passable, but if you’re searching for something different, Lorex is the way to go. Similar to this model, their cameras include a 32GB microSD card (which may be upgraded) for local video storage as opposed to cloud storage.

You may adjust the color of the LED lighting this 4K indoor/outdoor camera uses to meet different camera modes or purposes. It glows anywhere you need extra illumination. Furthermore included at no extra cost are color night vision and integrated object identification for people, cars, animals, and parcels.

We suggest a Lorex cam like this as the solution, regardless of whether you’re looking for a 4K high-definition camera or something that stays local storage only to stay out of the cloud. But managing local storage does need a bit extra work, particularly as the hard disks fill up with old video material. These kinds of Lorex wired cameras are designed to record constantly by default, which means that storage may quickly fill up without the need to modify any settings—such as to schedule or enable motion-activated recordings.

Best video doorbell camera

Google Nest Doorbell 2nd-gen (battery)

Many excellent video doorbells, such as the Arlo 2K 2nd-generation Doorbell, were discovered throughout our testing; nonetheless, there’s a particular reason why we suggest this Google Nest model. Video doorbells often record more footage than other security cameras since, even with AI detection turned on, they still catch everyone entering and leaving your house as well as frequent passersby running or walking their dogs. It may rapidly take up local or cloud storage, which is why Nest’s three hours of free cloud storage are so helpful. At no additional cost or subscription, you may use the app to fill them up and empty the storage whenever you want (though the Nest Aware plan does increase these capabilities).

Additionally, we discovered that the Google Nest Cam was very straightforward to set up and use, easy to recharge, and quite accurate at both identifying parcels and notifying you when they have been removed. The camera is also available in a wired version, but the battery variant offers additional positioning choices, making it ideal for fitting into any oddly shaped doorway. If your space is limited, the doorbell also comes with a wedge to tilt it in a certain direction.

With its doorbell, Google incorporates crucial security camera features like two-way audio and night vision. But for a contemporary security camera, the resolution is really low—it doesn’t even approach 1080p/HD. But this isn’t as crucial as it would be for other cameras because doorbells often concentrate on action that is happening nearby.

Best budget home security camera

TP-Link Tapo Pan/Tilt C210 Camera

Many of our highly feature-rich selections cost more than $100, and some even surpass that amount. This HD Tapo camera offers a considerably cheaper offer if that is a deal breaker for you and your pocketbook. TP-Link provides an incredibly comprehensive interior security camera with pan and tilt functions for about $30. With smartphone controls, it can record an entire room.

The C210 camera manages to pack in useful capabilities like two-way audio, an integrated siren, and 30-foot night vision despite its inexpensive price. In order to provide you with notifications when there is unexpected movement or noise throughout the house, it also employs motion and audio detection. For an open floor plan, keeping an eye on a playroom or baby’s room, and a variety of other chores, this makes it an excellent budget option. Additionally, it has the capacity to simultaneously divide live viewing across two devices, allowing two individuals to see the camera at once.

Although the Tapo C210 isn’t the greatest pan/tilt model we’ve looked at, it is unquestionably the most reasonably priced and offers an amazing amount of security features for the money. You have two options for local video storage: purchase a microSD card or subscribe to the inexpensive Tapo Care plan, which costs just $3.50 a month.

Home security cameras compared

Other home security cameras we’ve reviewed

Wyze Cam v2: Wyze cameras are highly regarded because to their affordable costs and intuitive user interfaces. As a result, models like as the Cam v2 have consistently ranked among the best. However, Wyze has been dealing with a number of security flaws for the past few years that don’t appear to be getting any better. One such issue was a late 2023 video caching fault that caused viewers to see outside of stangers’ live views. We’re holding off buying Wyze until it’s evident that their security concerns have been resolved, but if you don’t mind—many brands have periods of vulnerability—it may be a good choice for low-cost cameras.

Our in-store Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Floodlight Camera Although Lorex Pick is an all-purpose cam, Lorex also offers additional role-specific features. The floodlight camera was one variation that we really enjoyed; it’s perfect for placing over a garage or patio to add extra lighting to your home.

The Eufy SoloCam S230 has a built-in solar panel. The correct outside location for solar power might assist solve battery problems. Eufy combines a built-in solar panel on top of the cam to simplify this sunny option. You might not have to worry about battery life until the middle of winter if you can place it right.

Another excellent option from Lorex if you’re looking for an inside camera without a subscription is the 2K Wi-Fi inside Camera. But, you can switch to a completely offline mode where your system doesn’t utilize the internet at all when paired with the Lorex Smart Home Security Center, which may be what privacy-conscious consumers are searching for.

Blink Mini: If you want to keep an eye on a dorm or leased room, we suggest the Blink Mini cam because it’s small and incredibly user-friendly. However, it’s a feasible choice for anyone looking for a compact, reasonably priced camera.even if accessing certain significant perks requires a membership.

How we test home security cameras

Our assessment of all home security systems starts and ends with practical testing. whether it comes to security cameras, we begin by locating fresh and reliable models from reputable producers; these are the cameras that you are most likely to encounter whether browsing the internet or visiting your neighborhood hardware or electronics store. We get these goods and carefully evaluate them over the course of a week in an actual household setting, often even before they hit the market.

Setting up the camera in accordance with the manual or the app’s instructions is how we start testing, and we record any problems we run across. After the camera is operational, we assess every function, taking particular note of things like quality, night vision, notification delay, local or cloud storage, and integration with smart home ecosystems such as Apple HomeKit, Google, and Alexa.

These assessments may be completed in a day or so, but we keep an eye on the camera for a week to get a more thorough understanding of its performance during the day and night. Additionally, to test how fast and precisely the camera and app capture events and send alerts, we’ll set up a pretend scenario, such as a porch pirate scenario, if that normal use doesn’t provide us with all the data we’d need to see.

See our detailed post on how we evaluate video doorbells and home security cameras to learn more about our evaluation procedure.

Factors to consider when choosing a home security camera

The cost, features, and quality of the hundreds of home security cameras available today vary greatly. It might be difficult to avoid being overwhelmed quickly with all the options, particularly when you’re thinking about something as significant as the safety of your house. If you’re looking to buy a new home security camera, we have some recommendations based on CNET’s years of evaluating them. Here are some factors to think about:

Confidentiality

Naturally, this is a significant one. You don’t want someone breaking into your camera or spying on your land. Because wireless home security cameras can be accessed remotely and are connected to Wi-Fi networks, they may be more vulnerable to hackers, particularly if your router security is weak. In general, home security cameras that are wired and do not utilize Wi-Fi are more secure. (Click here to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of wired vs. wireless). Furthermore, as we just discussed, security flaws and data breaches may also be harmful to your privacy, so it’s critical to take a company’s recent reputation into account.

Inside versus outside

The location of your home security cameras should be one of your initial considerations. You’ll probably want an outside camera that is also weather resistant or has night vision if you want it to be outside and film your yard or porch.

While many cameras are designed to be used both indoors and outdoors, some, like the Wyze Cam Pan v2, are only intended to be used indoors. Be sure the cameras you choose are capable of withstanding the weather.

video quality

When purchasing a home security camera, video quality must to be taken into account carefully. Put simply, if all the footage your camera is capturing is pixelated and unintelligible, then it will not function properly.

The quality of the movie improves with increasing resolution. The majority of home security cameras available today have a resolution of 1,080p, while some even provide 2K (like the Arlo Pro 4) or 1,536×1,536 (like the Arlo Video Doorbell) resolution. Just keep in mind that better video quality uses more bandwidth and increases the likelihood of latency or other issues with your camera.

Viewpoint

The term “field of view,” which is often given diagonally, describes how wide the camera can see. In general, wider is preferable as it encompasses greater area and facilitates the identification of activities. Although some go above that, the ordinary security camera typically reaches a maximum temperature of 130 degrees. Because the camera can move, features like pan and tilt lessen the significance of the field of view.

Connected or battery-operated power

The choice between wired and wireless cameras, each with their advantages and disadvantages, comes down to personal preference.

Installing and using wireless solutions is typically simpler, and they frequently utilize cloud storage, allowing you to access your video from any location. Since wireless security cameras are self-sufficient, they may continue to record and save footage even in the event of a power or internet failure. Unless you choose a solar-powered home security camera, one of the main drawbacks is that you’ll need to manually change the batteries or charge them periodically.

Because they are tethered to a constant connection, wired cameras seldom require recharging and may frequently increase the resolution of their high-quality videos. They don’t require monthly cloud storage costs and have a tendency to be more dependable, secure, and consistent in their video quality. Unfortunately, wired home security cameras don’t work with smart home assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, and they frequently require expert installation.

Cloud versus local storage

Video storage is not created equal. Which of the two primary alternatives you have will depend on your own preferences. There are two types of video storage available: cloud storage, which stores your video footage on a remote server, and local storage, which uses a separate device, often a microSD card, to save any material you choose to keep. Cloud storage often has a monthly cost.

Wi-Fi range and quality

When installing wireless home security cameras, bear in mind that the strength of your Wi-Fi connection at the installation site will determine how well the smart home camera you purchase and how effective your security system will be overall. Thus, before you drill holes in the walls or cause any other damage to your door frame, brick, or siding for your home security camera, verify the speed of your Wi-Fi. Your wireless security camera may have severe lag times, pixelation in the live stream, and other Wi-Fi delays if your connection is inconsistent. These issues will make your home security cameras difficult to operate and the video quality poor.

You should be able to utilize your indoor or outdoor home security camera without any serious problems and always obtain clear footage if you have a strong Wi-Fi connection. Do you still have questions? Check out my shopping guide for home security cameras and the FAQs that follow.

What should you look for when buying a home security camera?

When buying a home security camera, there are many factors to take into account because this is a large and expanding sector that includes anything from DIY cameras, sensors, and locks from manufacturers like Wyze and Arlo to professional companies like ADT and Vivint. The first choice you’ll have to make is if you want a DIY security system or one that is professionally installed.

The specifications and features of the gadget will be the subject of your next selection. Would you want live streaming? Is two-way communication important? How about eyesight at night? Contemporary home security cameras come equipped with a ton of useful extra features, including weather resistance, cloud video storage, push notifications, motion and sound alerts, professional monitoring, motion detection, and third-party device integration. Making a final selection will be made easier if you can specify exactly the smarts you want on your device.

Can a security camera record sound?

The general response to this question, which we receive often, is no. State and national laws pertaining to sound recording differ; many of them call for “two-party consent,” meaning that both parties to the discussion must be aware of and in agreement with the audio recording. Thus, security brands go the easy route and completely prohibit audio recording. For this reason, although movies can be stored, audio is usually not included. For a real-time chat, you may, nonetheless, always go live with the two-way audio.

Do security cams work with existing security systems?

Some do, but you’ll need to confirm the details. Check whether any other manufacturers or cameras are compatible with your app, panel, and hub by looking up your present security system. For instance, the “Works with Vivint” page on Vivint’s website explains how to integrate products like Philips Hue, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa with the Vivint platform. It is not a given that a gadget will be compatible with your security system. Always obtain the information first, and if needed, give support a call.

Is the Matter standard important for security cams?

Matter is a security and compatibility protocol, a significant advancement for smart homes that resolves certain long-standing issues with platform support and data security. Since Matter does not yet support video or smart video devices, home security cameras are not currently a top priority. When Matter finally incorporates security cameras, it will become an even more crucial factor to take into account because the standard is updated often to ensure compatibility with new devices.

Can wireless home security cameras work without Wi-Fi?

Without an internet connection, many wireless cameras cannot operate to their full potential. Some cameras employ different radio protocols to convey information, particularly those that are a part of a larger home security system. A different hub will be needed for those cameras. Even when the internet is down, other cameras with local storage will be able to capture and save footage—on a microSD card, for instance. Though it may need some effort, Lorex is among the greatest brands for completely avoiding the internet.

Can a home security camera be hacked?

Although they might improve your home’s security, cameras can potentially compromise your privacy. Hackers have gained notoriety via eavesdropping on individuals or conversing with kids in their rooms using two-way chat facilities. In short, the answer is yes, but it actually depends on how vulnerable your equipment are. Your security cameras may be hacked. High-end encryption is a feature of many professionally monitored security systems and even of standalone cameras from reliable manufacturers like Google Nest and Wyze. It jumbles communications inside a system and allows access with keys. To put it simply, this means that you shouldn’t be too concerned about getting hacked through software or firmware vulnerabilities if you keep up with app and device upgrades.

Can you determine whether a security camera is currently capturing your image? It also depends. The majority of security cameras come with a little light that illuminates when the camera is recording, but that might not be a trustworthy way to tell whether the camera has been compromised. Others, such as the indoor camera from Arlo, include design elements that clearly indicate when the camera is and is not monitoring. However, if you’re concerned about protecting your privacy, physical shielded gadgets are usually a good choice.

How much should you spend on home security cameras?

The cost of a home security camera can vary greatly, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Depending on the features, services, model, and video storage you choose for your camera. Considering this, you should budget between $30 and $500 for a home security camera.

However, high-priced home security cameras are not always necessary. The most affordable home security cameras that CNET evaluated are all in the $25 to $250 range. Though if you can, we’d advise spending no more than $100, our selections for affordable cameras still deliver great value for the money.

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