Best Home Security Cameras 2023
Updated by Alexia on
We've picked the best home security cameras based on price, video quality, smart features, and more. Our top pick for the Arlo Pro 4.
With so many types of security cameras on the market these days, it can be difficult to know which model to choose. Whether babysitting from inside or outside to deter package thieves and potential intruders. The wireless design of the Arlo Pro 4 is better than most of the competition, and you can install it anywhere, indoors or out. It has high-quality 2k video, which can capture any picture details.
In addition to the Arlo Pro 4, we've also recommended some other brands for your consideration and the features you should look for before buying.
Top 5 home security camera picks
- Arlo Pro 4: Best overall
- Wyze Cam Pan v3: Best budget camera
- Nest Cam (Battery): Best indoor camera
- Ring Spotlight Cam Plus: Best outdoor security camera
- Wyze Cam Pan - Best pan-and-tilt camera
Best home security cameras comparison
| Camera | Best for | Price | Video quality | Field of view | Type | Smart home compatibility | Learn more |
 Arlo Pro 4 |
Best overall | $199.99 | 1440p (2K) | 160° | Amazon, Apple, Google, IFTTT, SmartThings | Indoor/outdoor | View Packages |
 Wyze Cam Pan v3 |
Best budget | $39.98 | 1080p | 120° | Amazon, Google | Indoor/outdoor | View Packages |
 Nest Cam (Battery) |
Best indoor | $179.99 | 1080p | 130° | Indoor | View Packages |
|
 Ring Spotlight Cam Plus |
Best outdoor | $169.99 | 1080p | 140° | Amazon | Outdoor | View Packages |
 Wyze Cam Pan |
Best pan-and-tilt camera | $169.99 | 1080p | 110° | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT | Indoor | View Packages |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Best home security camera reviews
1. Arlo Pro 4: Best home security camera
 Pros |
 Cons |
 100% wire-free operation Quick, easy setup Siren and spotlight Indoor/outdoor Solid design |
Barriers to HomeKit compatibility Limited free features Battery life is limited
|
The Arlo Pro 4 was released in October 2020, and to this day remains one of our top recommendations for outdoor cameras, even at a relatively high $200 price tag.
The Arlo Pro 4 body is IP65-rated for normal operation in rainy, hot, or cold weather (-20 to 45 degrees Celsius). It features high-quality 2K video, a true wireless design (no base stations), and a bright spotlight for color night vision video. It's also a favorite on our list of the best wireless security cameras.
When it comes to smartphones and smart homes, Arlo works well with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, FTTT, and Samsung SmartThings.
Read our full review of the Arlo Pro 4 security camera for all the details.
2. Wyze Cam Pan V3: Best budget home security camera
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Sharp video Intelligent alerts Mechanical pan and tilt controls Local and cloud storage options Color night vision Lots of third-party integrations Weatherproof design Affordable price |
Some features require a subscription Lacks HomeKit support No email alerts Glitchy sound quality
|
Shortly after the announcement of Ring's Pan and Tilt Mount, Wyze followed up with an updated version of its pan-and-tilt-capable security camera, the Wyze Cam Pan v3. But the Wyze Cam Pan v3 sets itself apart from the Ring in two main ways — it's a more affordable camera at under $40, and it's tough enough to mount outdoors, too. If you don't need pan and tilt capabilities, consider the Editors' Choice-winning Wyze Cam v3 Pro ($49.99), which offers sharper 2K video and a built-in spotlight.
Sure, features like two-way audio, motion detection, and detection zones for disabling motion detection in specific areas work well, but these features are becoming commonplace in security cameras.
Read our full Wyze Cam Pan review to learn more.
3. Google Nest Cam (Battery): Best indoor security camera
Google Nest Cam (Battery)- $179.99
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer .
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
High resolution Person and package detection included for free Free smart alerts Up to 20 ft. night vision range |
Expensive Only 3 hours of clips included No pan-and-tilt capability |
Nest is one of the top security camera brands. It offers smart security cameras powered by Google AI analytics. Nest Cams have sharp image resolution and forward-looking smart home design, and provide advanced smart functions such as facial recognition.
Nest Cam integrates seamlessly with Google Assistant and the rest of the Nest home automation suite.
Nest has had successful but pricey security cameras before, like the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor ($399), which is great but a bit more expensive than most outdoor cameras. Less than two years ago, Google introduced the $180 Nest Cam with batteries. Nest Cam lets you watch the last three hours of footage for free. Plus, most of its best features, like smart detection, are available without a subscription. If you want more features like facial recognition and additional cloud storage, the Nest Aware plan is just $6 per month. So it's worth considering, especially if you already have other Nest or Google Assistant devices in your home.
Read more in our complete review of Nest security cameras.
4. Ring Spotlight Cam Plus: Best outdoor security camera
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus- $169.99
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer .
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Battery, wired, or solar power options Cunning vertical or horizontal mount design Alexa integrations Loud siren |
Moderately high cost No HomeKit or Google Assistant support No on-board storage
|
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery earned high marks for its easy installation process, clear video quality, and third-party integration. The new Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (plugin) brings many new features.
It has a built-in, motion-activated spotlight that stops trespassers in their tracks. Add in extras like two-way audio, a 110-decibel siren, and integration with Amazon Alexa for $229.99, which is why the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus is rated our #1 pick for outdoor security cameras. But you can get more versatility with our top pick for outdoor security cameras, the $229.99 Lorex 4K Spotlight Indoor/Outdoor Wi-Fi 6 Surveillance Camera.
Read our full review of the Ring Spotlight Cam.
5. Wyze Cam Pan: Best pan-and-tilt security camera
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Pros |
Cons |
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Affordable Mechanical pan and tilt Sharp 1080p video Color night vision Lots of third-party integrations |
Doesn't support HomeKit Some features require a paid subscription
|
Wyze was founded by ex-Amazon employees who were disappointed with the home security cameras on the market at the time. While more technologically advanced cameras are quite expensive, more affordable ones lack quality.
The Wyze Cam Pan, which lets you monitor an entire room with one camera, ($29.99) gets higher marks for its affordable price, crisp 1080p video, and mechanical pan and tilt. Its iteration, the Wyze Cam Pan V2 ($39.99), is also affordable and retains the mechanical pan and tilt controls while offering some improvements, including color night vision. It delivered crisp 1080p video in testing and responded to movement and voice commands without issue.
Wyze Cam Pan features:
- 360º panning, 93º tilt range
- 110º/second rotation speed
- HD video
- Automatic motion tracking
- Free 14-day cloud storage
- microSD card storage option
- Continuous recording option (with microSD card)
- Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT integrations
Learn more in our full review of Wyze Cam Pan.
Final word
The Arlo Pro 4 is one of the best home security cameras we've rounded up. Its wireless design, high-resolution video surveillance, and affordable cloud monitoring set it apart from the competition. As perfect as it is, it's one of the more expensive cameras you can buy, and if you're on a tight budget, we'd recommend the Wyze Cam Pan v3.
Home security protection is a topic of science, and home security cameras are only part of the equation for protecting what's important. If you're ready to fully defend against thieves, vandals and incidents, check out our comprehensive collection of security tips and expert advice.
FAQ
If you don't need to protect too valuable items, then it is useless for just an ordinary monitoring and restoring the truth of the event. Fortunately for consumers, there are plenty of competing brands and cheap webcams to choose from. The $50 to $100 price range offers HD video, motion detection, two-way audio, spotlights, sirens and a smartphone app for remote control.
You can expect better features and stronger customer support with more expensive cameras. Monitored security cameras are more expensive because they are part of a professionally monitored security system that monitors your home 24/7. Ultimately it depends on what you need to protect to decide how much to invest in security.
Video resolution A camera with a resolution of at least 1080p must be selected. Sharp images help you see details on faces and objects.
Field of view Field of view of at least 110º. Refers to the extent of the area that the camera sees through the lens. It will affect where you place it and the number of cameras you need to buy.
Two-way audio Two-way talk effectively turns your security camera into a walkie-talkie, communicating with the courier delivering the package where to place it.
Infrared night vision It can bring you some clarity in low light or when the light source is not enough, try to choose a camera with a night vision range of at least 15 feet.
Motion detection Send a notification to the phone APP when the camera observes motion. Choose a motion sensor camera with smart detection to flag people, animals, and vehicles for more effective motion alerts.
Absolutely! there are two ways to monitor your home:
Deterrent: Installing surveillance cameras in prominent locations can make burglars think twice about trying to enter your home.
Description: Security cameras can gather information about burglars and the items they take. That made enough evidence to file a police report and an insurance claim. At the same time, you can also restore things that you can't imagine.
You just have to consider how much it costs to buy the camera.
Indoor cameras cannot see outside after dark, so it is not recommended to use indoor cameras to look out of windows.
If you need to monitor both indoors and outdoors, our suggestion is to buy a combination of cameras for different scenes, you may be able to find an indoor camera (such as Wyze Cam v3), which can minimize the glare and reflection of the window.
Watch video live
Transfer locally stored video to the cloud
Control the camera through the mobile phone APP
Connect with smart home
Use the two-way audio function
Most modern cameras are Wi-Fi enabled, as installation is very simple, but there are some models that use a cable to connect to your internet router or security camera DVR.
If you have internet data usage caps, check how your security cameras can affect your monthly bill. You should also verify that your router can handle the extra devices and outputs.
The best security camera systems also help turn your house into a smart home. Security cameras often integrate with smart home hubs like Amazon Echo or Google Nest Audio.
This can give you a huge home security advantage -- the ability to remotely control lights, door locks, and security cameras. If you know programming, you can also enhance your device, and use your imagination to do some unexpected things
How we reviewed the best home security cameras
We are a team that loves life and is professional. We have experience in using the product. Here are a few points to summarize:
- Years of product experience
- Filter customer reviews from different channels
- Professional security experts conduct in-depth testing of all aspects of the product
In the selection process, we will select various factors such as product attributes and prices that you are more concerned about for selection. At the same time, we will also regularly follow up the dynamics of some new products to even root our comments.
Learn more about how we rank and review products in our full methodology.
Disclaimers
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Bestwirelesscam.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.