Best Multi-Camera Security Systems of 2023
Updated by Alexia on
We Review at over three dozen kits across 10+ brands to find the best multi-camera security system. Ultimately think EufyCam 2C is the best multi-camera security system.
Before stand-alone security cameras took over the market, multi-camera security systems were once the standard for video surveillance. We think the EufyCam 2C is the best of the bunch for its easy installation, , wide field of view, and affordable cloud storage.
For this review, we've added more wireless cameras that are easier to install than traditional wired systems. We recommend both types, so choose the multi-camera system that best suits your needs. Read on for our review.
Top 5 Best multi-camera security systems
- EufyCam 2C: Best value
- Wyze Cam Outdoor: Best budget
- Arlo Essential Spotlight: Best for smart homes
- Reolink 5 MP: Best wired system
- Swann 8 Channel security system: Best bulk value
The best multi-camera security systems compared
Camera | Best for | Price* | Multi-cam cloud storage | Local storage | Power source | Audio | Learn more | Read review |
EufyCam 2C | Best value | $329.99 (3 cams) |
$9.99/mo. (10 cams max) |
16 GB in base station | Battery, solar | Yes | View on Amazon |
Read review |
Wyze Cam Outdoor | Best budget | $189.94 (3 cams) |
$1.99/mo. (per cam) |
Up to 32 GB microSD(per cam) | Battery, solar | Yes | View on Amazon |
Read review |
Arlo Essential Spotlight | Best for smart home | $349.99 (3 cams) |
$9.99/mo. (all cams) |
With optional base station | Wired, battery, solar | Yes | View on Amazon |
Read review |
Reolink 5 MP | Best wired system | $350.99 (4 cams) |
Via FTP server | 2 TB in NVR | Wired | Yes | View on Amazon |
Read review |
Swann 8 Channel security system | Best bulk value | $379.99 (8 cams) |
Via Dropbox | 1 TB in NVR | Wired | No | View on Amazon |
Read review |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
The best multi-camera security systems reviewed
1. EufyCam 2C: Best value
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EufyCam 2C -
1080p resolution
135º field of view
Wire-free install
Pros | Cons |
Easy installation 135º field of view Affordable cloud storage Works with HomeKit and Amazon Alexa |
Pricey add-on cameras No wired power source Limited local storage No anti-theft protection |
We love the EufyCam 2C, one of its biggest selling points is that, unlike many of its competitors, it doesn't require a subscription fee to save footage. And it offers more installation flexibility than a wired system. The 135° field of view more than makes up for its exorbitant price per camera. Weatherproofing, encrypted video, and 180-day battery life are just some of the reasons this is a great security camera for the home. With tons of useful features and night capabilities, I can't think of a better one than the EufyCam 2C. In terms of smart home compatibility, it can connect to Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant or Alexa.
HomeKit Secure Video allows 10 days of encrypted cloud storage, however, you'll need to pay for an iCloud storage plan. If you choose to only use HomeKit, you won't get the benefits of local storage. If you have both apps installed, you can of course record to both local and cloud storage at the same time.
Eufy has some of the best video quality among security camera brands, and while this model tops out at 1080p, its video is crisp and detailed. It even has a spotlight if you want color night vision as well as infrared night vision.
The local storage of EufyCam 2C is only up to 16 GB. You can store approximately three months of footage at a time. With recent rumors that some cloud-based security camera footage could be accessed and used by people other than the owner, its focus on local storage is comforting. Eufy uses 256-bit account encryption and 128-bit video encryption to keep your data completely private so it can only be accessed by you.
Learn more in our full review of Eufy cameras.
2. Wyze Cam Outdoor: Best budget
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Wyze Cam Outdoor -
1080p resolution
110º field of view
Wire-free install
Pros | Cons |
Affordable cameras Local storage on microSD cards Most affordable cloud storage |
4-camera limit per base station No wired power source No discount for multiple cameras on cloud plan |
We've been fans of Wyze Labs' $20 indoor Wyze Cam since it launched in 2017. Wyze Cam Outdoor is also easily the best wireless security camera system. Like the EufyCam 2C, it's powered by a rechargeable battery that should last three to six months, depending on use. The Wyze Cam's battery is not removable and requires you to bring the entire camera inside to charge it. But it offers an optional solar panel charger to ease your charging anxiety.
Wyze Cam Outdoor's base station supports up to four cameras, making it ideal for small homes. While it's not as powerful as an 8-channel security system like Swann or Reolink, it's basically adequate. If you want to expand, you can consider adding more base stations or directly buying a combination of Wyze wired cameras is a better choice.
Wyze Cam Outdoor has great local storage. Each camera has a microSD card slot. It can support up to 32GB. It can provide you with several months of storage. You'll need to buy microSD cards for each camera—the total cost for four 32GB SD cards is less than $50.
Wyze also gives you two weeks of free rolling cloud storage for 12-second video clips recorded when motion is detected. If you need longer clips, you'll have to wait for the camera to support Wyze's Cam Plus cloud subscription, which costs $1.99 per camera and gives you full video and person detection, which only triggers when human motion is detected alarm.
All in all, the Wyze's entire camera and microSD card add up to an investment of just under three hundred dollars. Still very cost-effective.
Learn more in our full Wyze Cam Outdoor review.
3. Arlo Essential Spotlight: Best for smart home
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Arlo Essential Spotlight -
1080p resolution
130º field of view
Wire-free install
Pros | Cons |
Excellent smart home integration Affordable cloud storage Works without a hub |
Best features require a subscription No video storage included Local storage requires an optional hub |
The advantage of the Arlo Essential is that it works with Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and less commonly, it also connects with Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings. If you're an Apple or Samsung stan then you need a hub.
The Arlo Essential Spotlight is expensive, already approaching $130 per camera. The Arlo Secure multi-cam cloud storage plan costs $9.99 per month for 30 days of storage on unlimited cameras. If you have more than 5 cameras, the ongoing cloud storage costs can add up to be an expensive investment.
Overall, the Arlo Essential Spotlight's excellent smart home integration and unlimited camera cloud storage make it a solid EufyCam 2C alternative. We'd prefer that its video storage, especially for an overpriced hub, doesn't cost extra.
Learn more in our full Arlo cameras review.
4. Reolink 5 MP: Best wired system
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Reolink 5 MP -
1920p resolution
80º field of view
Wired install
Pros | Cons |
Massive, expandable local storage Impressive video quality Person and vehicle detection |
Narrow field of view Wired installation |
The word of mouth of the Reolink brand has always been high. So we're delighted that the Reolink 5 MP Wired Multi-Camera System lived up to our high expectations. 1920p (2K) video quality is crystal clear. It's not as easy to install as battery powered systems, but the POE power connection makes it more reliable than Wi-Fi and analog systems.
Reolink includes a massive 2 TB hard drive, and you can expand the system up to 12 TB should you need additional storage. It comes with four 2K cameras, but the NVR has eight channels—it can support a total of eight cameras (up to 4K resolution). The system supports Reolink's various camera types such as bullet cameras, dome cameras, and pan-tilt-zoom cameras.
Reolink's POE cameras have a built-in smart detection function. This means your system will flag people and vehicles as it records video and sends notifications to your smartphone, but its cameras only have a narrow 80º field of view, so you'll need more cameras to cover the lack of field of view. Still, adding a camera to the system is more affordable than Eufy, Wyze, and Arlo.
Wired installations are time consuming as you need to find a mounting point within 60 feet of cable. You'll also need to drill holes and run the wiring, which is why many opt for professional installation to keep their sanity.
In the end, Reolink is a solid investment if you want the reliability, local storage, and performance of a wired system with multiple cameras. It has 2k high-definition video and supports large capacity. Although the installation is troublesome, it can be completed independently without too much professional knowledge.
Read more about why we love Reolink in our Reolink camera review.
5. Swann 8 Channel security system: Best bulk value
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Swann 8 Channel security system -
1080p resolution
90º field of view
Wired install
Pros | Cons |
8 cameras 1 TB local storage Remote access via smartphone or computer |
Wired installation Narrow field of view No audio on cameras |
Swann 8 Channel is equipped with eight outdoor cameras, and Swann uses wired cameras. So you don't need to charge batteries or worry about wireless interference. Swann 8 Channel is more used in large families or warehouses or shopping malls.
A standout feature of Swann's multi-camera system is the NVR, which is similar to a DVR but allows live viewing and playback over the internet—plus, it comes with 1 TB of storage. If you need to store more footage, you can even swap out the hard drive for a hard drive of up to 4 TB—perfect for more than a week of 24/7 footage on eight cameras.
The cameras in this Swann system are relatively low-tech. There's no audio compared to the rest of our top brands, and the 90º field of view means you need three Swann cameras to match the coverage of two Eufy cameras.
Overall, Swann is a great example of how much money you can save by using wired cameras with an NVR for tons of local video storage. But the extra effort to install isn't worth the tradeoff for some folks.
Learn more in our full Swann security cameras review.
Final word
The EufyCam 2C is our top choice for the best wireless multi-camera security system. Its wide field of view, easy installation and affordable cloud storage make it an excellent choice. It's not the best choice for local video storage, but we think it's great for the masses.
If you're not ready to invest in multiple security cameras, we recommend heading over to our wireless camera reviews to check out our reviews.
The Multi-camera security system FAQ
Placing multiple security cameras around your home has two benefits: deterrence and coverage:
- Deterrent: Security cameras are a strong visual and psychological deterrent to potential break-ins. The intruder shuddered.
- Coverage: Multi-camera systems are ideal for monitoring larger physical spaces. While you can manage many standalone cameras through the mobile app, sometimes buying a system can save you the trouble of trying to connect mismatched hardware later—especially with wired cameras.
Your space, situation, and camera viewing angle determine the number of surveillance cameras you need. In general, if a camera has a wider field of view, fewer cameras are needed to cover the same area.
If you want complete coverage of your home, make sure your camera can see every entrance to your home (including doors, windows, garages, and storage).
Each camera costs about $100 to $200. That means you'll pay $750 to $1,150 for the cameras and installation, assuming you're buying a 4-camera security system at the $350 market average.
Let's say you don't like running security camera cables around your house, and you don't want to pay for professional installation. In that case, we recommend multi-camera wireless security systems from brands like Eufy, Wyze, and Arlo, which are an easier DIY project.
A CCTV camera or CCTV camera is a type of security camera that is often used in public places to deter crime. Security cameras, on the other hand, can be used in both public and private settings, and are often used in homes to provide additional security.
The difference between DVR and NVR security systems comes down to cost, how the data is transmitted, and the types of cameras involved. NVR systems tend to have better picture quality, easier installation, greater flexibility, and native support for audio on each camera with a microphone.
- Channels tell you how many cameras a DVR, NVR, or base station can handle. You need a channel for every camera you want to record or control. For example, an 8-channel security system works with up to eight cameras.
- Cameras tell you how many cameras come in the box. A 4-camera security system is just what it sounds like and should include four cameras.
If you want to buy a smaller camera system and expand later, look for one that offers more channels than cameras. To accommodate the extra video storage you'll need for more cameras, consider buying a DVR or NVR that allows you to swap in or add another hard drive.
How We Reviewed Multi-Camera Systems
Before our review, we looked at the ten best 3+ wired or wireless camera security systems on the market.
In terms of price, we give priority to the range of US$300-500. Make it affordable for everyone within the budget. Generally, systems that cost more than $600 are generally 2k and 4k products including more than 8 cameras. All of the systems on our list use outdoor cameras and have a mobile app. Ultimately, we're down to the top 10 systems with three or more cameras.
We tested a handful of brands, and we scoured owner manuals, Amazon customer reviews, manufacturer specs, and online reviews to learn the pros and cons of a camera system to make an accurate judgment call.
Disclaimers
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