Swann Security Cameras Review

Updated by Alexia on

Swann security cameras can be a great addition to your home. Let's see what we think you'll like about it.

Swann is best known for its professional wired security systems, but lately it's been trying to move into more consumer-friendly categories like this simple product. More recently, Swann has continued to move upmarket, with its newest home security camera, the Xtreem Wireless, designed to compete with some of the high-end home systems available, such as the Arlo.

What really impressed us about the Swann security camera was its more advanced features, like 2 TB of video storage, thermal sensor motion detection, and even strobe lights that mimic a police car.

The Swann cameras perform well, but as a security product they stutter. But hopefully it can be improved in the future with more focus on responsiveness and usability.

pro Pros con Cons
pro No monthly fees
pro Google Assistant integration
pro Weatherproof cameras
con No professional monitoring options
con No cellular backup
con No Alexa integration

The Best Swann Cameras

  1. 8-Channel: Best all-around
  2. Gen 2 Pan and Tilt: Best nanny cam
  3. Tracker: Best field of view
  4. Indoor/Outdoor: Most versatile
  5. Enforcer: Best to scare intruders

Swann security cameras Compare

Camera Best for Price Resolution Field of view Two-way talk Night vision Learn more
Swann 8-Channel
8-Channel
Best all-around $749.99 4K Ultra HD 93° Icon Yes  Light Yes Color View
Packages
Swann Gen 2 Pan and Tilt
Gen 2 Pan and Tilt
Best nanny cam $99.00 1080p 93° Icon Yes  Light Yes Black and white View
Packages
Swann Tracker
Tracker
Best field of view $79.99 1080p 180° Icon Yes  Light Yes Black and white View
Packages
Swann Indoor/Outdoor

Indoor/Outdoor
Most versatile $59.99 1080p 90° Icon No Light No Black and white View
Packages

Swann Enforcer

Enforcer
Best to scare intruders $79.99 1080p 90° Icon No Light No Color View
Packages

 

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

 

What’s in A Security System From Swann?

 

Camera

Swann's camera can be used both indoors and outdoors, and while this is a great camera for indoor use, it will also work just fine outdoors without issue. It's IP65 rated, meaning it can withstand rain, snow, or the scorching summer heat without any issues.

 

Installing Swann

Swann cameras tend to take longer to install because most of them need to be hooked up to your electrical system and connected to an NVR (Network Video Recorder) or DVR (Digital Video Recorder) system. While the process is more involved than installing a Nest Cam or setting up an Arlo security camera, it's not overly complicated. Wired cameras also require professional installation. We had to connect two separate cameras to the hard drive, so most of the time was spent deciding where to place and mount the cameras.

 

Storage

NVR and DVR systems store footage locally, so you don't have to pay for video storage or worry about someone stealing your footage. To view footage, you can use the app, or connect the NVR box directly to your TV or laptop with an Ethernet or VGA cable. Many popular security cameras can't do this, such as Ring or Wyze cameras.

If cloud storage is more your thing, the Swann Cloud Subscription Plan gives you up to 60 days of rolling storage for a very competitive monthly fee. Many Swann cameras also allow you to upload footage to your Dropbox account. If you are a person who pays attention to privacy, it is recommended to use local storage. 

 

Storage plans

Plan Price Cameras covered
Extra Security Plan $4.99/month, $49.90/year 1
Complete Security Plan $14.99/month, $149.90/year Up to 10

 

 

Thermal motion detection

The heat-sensing motion detection feature is one of our favorite features, and the Swann camera goes into spy mode by detecting body temperature and motion to trigger recording and push notifications to your phone. The heat-sensing mode does a good job of preventing false alarms from foliage or bugs, so we like it a lot.

 

Swann security camera reviews

 

1. Swann Ultra HD 8-Channel, 4-Camera System: Best All-around

Best all-around
View Packages

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

This camera has just about everything you could want from a security camera. The Swann Ultra HD 8-channel system is fully featured, including:

  • 4 cameras
  • 4K video resolution
  • Two-way audio
  • 2 TB local storage
  • 24/7 recording
  • Person detection
  • Thermal motion detection
  • Weatherproofing for outdoor use
  • Color night vision
  • Cloud storage subscription
  • Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility

It also has other fancy features that you haven't heard about in security cameras of the past.

In addition to having ultra-clear 4K video resolution, it also gave us enough surprises at the software level. You can draw a line anywhere in your yard or room, and if something crosses the line, you will receive a notification. notify.

Plus, the system comes with four cameras, perfect for monitoring multiple areas of your home.

We liked the Swan Full HD so much it made our list of best multi-camera security systems.

 

2. Swann Gen 2 Pan and Tilt: Best nanny cam

Best nanny cam
View Packages

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Swann Gen 2 Pan and Tilt is small, but it also has a lot of great features:

  • 1080p video resolution
  • Two-way audio
  • Night vision

What is the difference and similarity with other brands of cameras? The direction of the camera can be adjusted using the application.

 

3. Swann Tracker Camera: Best field of view

Best field of view
  • Swann Tracker Camera
    Swann Tracker
  • SecureScore™: 8.9 / 10
  • $79.99
  • pro Wide view
    pro 32 GB storage
    con No color night vision
View Packages

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Swann Tracker camera has a field of view of up to 180°. This is enough to cover all corners of your home without additional cameras.

We also like that this indoor security camera zooms in and tracks whatever sets off its motion sensor. Features include:

  • 1080p video resolution
  • Two-way audio
  • Night vision
  • Siren

 

4. Swann Indoor/Outdoor Camera: Most versatile

Best Most versatile
View Packages

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Swann Indoor/Outdoor Camera is the security company's most versatile camera. It can be used indoors or outdoors, it has a spotlight that both scares off intruders and acts as a light, plus it's small enough to fit anywhere.

The Swann Indoor/Outdoor Camera also has these features:

  • 1080p video resolution
  • Night vision
  • Thermal motion detection

Like the Enforcer, this camera doesn't have two-way talk. If you want a spotlight camera with two-way talk and similar features, we recommend the Arlo Pro 4.

 

5. Swann Enforcer Camera: Best to scare intruders

Best to scare intruders
  • Swann Enforcer Camera
    Swann Enforcer
  • SecureScore™: 8.8 / 10
  • $79.99
  • pro Flashing lights
    pro Cloud storage
    con Color night vision
View Packages

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The standout feature of the Swann Enforcer Camera is its red and blue flashing warning lights that mimic police car lights. Invisibly giving off a sense of oppression, these red and blue flashing warning lights have subtly given off a sense of authority, and if these lights don't scare off intruders, we don't know what will.

In addition to the flash, this camera also has a powerful spotlight. We love security cameras with spotlights because they not only scare off intruders but also illuminate them.

 

Swann’s Support

We have a few different options when it comes to customer support at Swann:

  • The Technical Support Line is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm PST.
  • You can also email customer support using the contact form on the support page or using the live chat feature on their website.
  • If you want to try to solve the problem yourself, Swann also provides a knowledge base and community page where you can find answers.

 

Swann camera warranties

All Swann products come with a 12-month warranty. The warranty covers any defective and faulty equipment.

 

In summary…

Swann cameras offer features that are hard to find elsewhere. Thermal motion detection is great for reducing the number of false positives sent to your phone. We also like the Enforcer's flashing red and blue lights to deter intruders. We thought of many uses for cross-line detection. All in all, this is probably fine for business or outdoor use, where two-way audio isn't necessary. But for most people looking for a smart home security camera, the Swann just isn't for it.

Of Swann's large selection of cameras, we recommend these selections:

With so many options, those looking for a fully hands-on security system are sure to find something they like from swann.

 

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.


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