The best home security camera keeps your family and possessions safe, keeping an eye on your surroundings and alerting you if there is trouble. Choosing the wrong one can result in a break-in or worse. Our evaluation focused on video quality, connectivity, wired vs. wireless security cameras (battery evaluation on the latter), the field of view, local storage capabilities and cloud services. We also looked into auxiliary features such as night vision, measuring its quality, and smart features like Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility.
After more than 21 hours of researching, our top pick goes to the Blink XT2 Outdoor Indoor Smart Home Security Camera. It boasts crystal clear audio and video quality, two-way audio, and a responsive motion detection system that automatically uploads footage to a dedicated smartphone app. Keep reading to learn more about the Blink XT2 Outdoor Indoor Smart Home Security Camera and six other ones that made the grade.
Top 7 Best Home Security Camera
#1 Blink XT2 Outdoor/Indoor Smart Home Security Camera
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best indoor outdoor security camera system, featuring 1080p HD video, 2-way audio, and a dedicated smartphone app. It is a great choice for people who want to monitor and interact with guests outside of their homes.
Read Full Review: Blink XT2 3 Camera System
- Best quality
- Great for outdoors (IP65 rated)
- Easy to install & 2-year battery life
- 110 ̊ field of view could be better
- Save/discard option can be counterintuitive
This home security camera is really easy to set up for two-way audio and a real-time view outside your home. Simply create a Blink app account, plug in your camera/s, and sync it to the app. Up to 2 hours of footage is automatically uploaded to Blink’s cloud video storage with new footage overriding the old – all without any monthly fees. It is also good enough for a 2-year battery life and its 1080p HD video quality is very impressive, lacking any graininess even in poor weather conditions. For more quality products like home security systems, check out our guide to the best secret back door.
We love this home security camera’s motion-detection system, recording a clip up to 60 seconds long when sensing motion. Users are able to configure the length of each clip and retriggers, maximizing the 2 hours of cloud storage assigned to the device. This home security camera is also Alexa compatible, allowing voice commands to watch camera footage on Echo devices or pulling up the last motion clip. This makes it a winner in our book. We all want the best home security system.
#2 Ring Indoor Home Security Camera
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best wired security camera system for indoors, coming in a very discreet compact size with live 1080p HD video recording and Amazon Alexa compatibility.
Read Full Review: Ring Indoor Home Security Camera
- Best wired indoor security camera
- Portable with outstanding video/audio quality
- 150 ̊ field of view
- No video history without monthly cloud subscription
- 60-day video history costs extra
- Not weather resistant
Like our #1 pick Blink XT2 Outdoor/Indoor Smart Home Security Camera, this home security camera has a built-in motion detector that fires off a chime and displays the video on compatible video devices. Two way talking is crisp and responsive with no noticeable lag. Bonus points for being very easy to install, taking less than 5 minutes with a simple plug-in connection. If you’re looking for an outdoor model but really want wireless connectivity, consider the best wireless outdoor security camera as well.
We love this home security camera’s portability, which can easily sit on any stand using the included mounting bracket. Installation takes less than 5 minutes, only needing a quick plugin to a wall outlet and a WiFi connection to pair it with the Ring app. Its video quality is also phenomenal with 1080p video with a pretty good definition throughout. A 150 field of vieẘ is also much more generous than the Blink XT2, covering an entire mid to large-sized living room with ease. Lastly, this home security indoor camera is Alexa compatible, so it is easy to watch footage on Echo devices with a simple voice command – a must have feature for the best indoor home security system. Learn more about the best smart home devices to make life easier.
#3 AMICCOM Home Security Camera
Award: BEST MOTION DETECTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is one of the best outdoor security cameras, featuring night vision (up to 32 feet),motion detection/recording and an alarm that can be sounded to thwart would be criminals.
Read Full Review: AMICCOM Home Security Camera Review
- Great for outdoors
- Long night vision range (up to 32 feet)
- IP66 waterproof and Alexa-compatible
- Narrow 75 ̊ field of view
- Does not connect to 5G band wifi
- No cloud storage; SD card only
This wired home security indoor camera comes with motion detection, which automatically records footage to an SD card. Two-way audio is also very clear with a built-in noise filter and video offers a sharp 1080P resolution. While researching at 10 PM at night, we were easily able to note a car’s license plate number, which was roughly 20 feet away from the camera. Though audio/video quality is superb, we wished this SD-card (up to 129 mb) compatible home security camera included cloud storage so that we can access it from anywhere with an internet connection.
We appreciate this home security camera’s durable aluminum construction. It is also IP66 waterproof rated, which offers enough resistance to withstand torrential rainfall and powerful streams of water. This makes us really comfortable that it will not go dark on us in extreme weather. Lastly, installation is a breeze. Simply download the app, log into Wifi, and pair the camera/s before seeing the footage. Each camera has its own thumbnail for immediate playback. The best home security in Las Vegas or anywhere else starts with good cameras.
#4 HeimVision HM241 1080P Wireless Home Security Camera
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Award: BEST DVR
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is the best outdoor wireless security camera system with DVR, supporting up to 8 wireless cameras.It is a great choice for large homes h looking for an additional layer of security.
Read Full Review: HeimVision HM241 1080P Review
- Great for large properties
- 65 feet of range and 1080P HD video quality
- Email alerts & supports HDD up to 6GB
- 110° viewing angle
- App may be cumbersome
- Not Alexa-compatible
This home security camera’s 1080P HD video quality really pops. While researching, some users were able to recognize faces from several dozen feet away. Setting the camera up is easy – all you have to do is connect the video recorder/ bullet cameras and connect the feed to a PC/TV monitor using a standard HDMI cable. Bonus points for its IP66 waterproof rating which holds it up well in extreme weather.I
We love this home security camera’s smartphone app, with all motion automatically recorded, with email notifications sent out each time. This allows the user to review the footage and assess for any threats. This system is set up to support up to 8 cameras, making it work for large warehouses and office parks. You will also want the best smart lock for added security.
#5 Arlo Pro – Wireless Home Security Camera
Award: BEST CLOUD STORAGE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This home security camera is wire-free and uses rechargeable batteries. It is a great choice for people who prefer the flexibility in placing it anywhere they want, including areas away from wall outlets.
Read Full Review: Arlo Pro Review
- Does not use wires
- Good video quality & 100 dB siren
- Good 130° viewing angle & IP65-certified
- For indoor use only
- Some users reported battery charging issues
- So-so customer service
We love this home security camera’s HD video quality, which covers well with a 130-degree field of view and a 25-foot night vision range. 2-way audio also allows users to listen in and talk remotely. It also works with Alexa, so you can use a voice command to view footage. Its battery life is good for 4 to 6 months with normal use (assuming 3-5 minutes of daily recordings).This is respectable compared to our #1 pick Blink XT2 with a 2-year battery life. Bonus points for its free cloud service, which keeps all recordings for 7 days, along with a USB backup option.
Like our first 3 picks, recordings are activated through motion and sound detection. It’s also a great choice to deter would-be burgers with a piercing loud, 100 dB siren which activates whenever motion or sound is detected. It is so loud, it is comparable to a revving motorcycle or ATV motor. You can also check out the best smart outlet for more versatility.
#6 ANNKE Home Security Camera System
Award: BEST STORAGE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This wired home security camera features 8 wired cameras and a 1TB hard drive to store up to 25 days of recordings. It is a great choice for surveilling large homes or commercial areas.
Read Full Review: ANNKE Home Security Camera System Review
- Great storage capacity (1TB) & IP66 weatherproof
- Up to 100-foot night vision range & Alexa compatible
- Motion detection and email alerts
- Instruction manual could be better written
- Not Alexa compatible
This home security camera system also comes with 8 channels, 1 for each camera. This allows users to place them in strategic areas such as front porches and backyards. Its video resolution is very crisp (1080p HD) and night vision is pretty detailed, good for roughly 100 feet of range. While researching, faces and license plate numbers were clearly visible.
We love this home security camera system for its monstrous storage capacity, using a 1TB built-in hard drive to record and save videos for 25 days. Note, no cloud storage is available with this unit, which is a bummer (although a monstrous hard drive should be more than enough to compensate) This kit also comes with 8 cameras, each with motion sensor alerts that send email and app notifications. Bonus points for lifetime email support and good all-around customer service. Also have a look at the best spy cameras and spy gadgets.
#7 YI 1080p Home Security Camera
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: These are the best hidden home security cameras, only three inches tall with a built-in emergency response . It is a great choice for people who need a dependable nanny or pet monitor.
Read Full Review: YI 1080p Home Security Camera Review
- Great when hidden
- Alerts emergency services & Alexa compatible
- Motion detection sensibility can be adjusted
- Cannot set recording time limit
- Some users reported delay in two-way audio
- Sensitive mic & not weatherproof
Our favorite feature on this home security camera is its size. It is only 3.1 inches by 4.5 inches and can snugly fit in between books on a cupboard or other discrete place without being found. Plus, it offers a comparable field of view as the Ring Indoor Home Security Camera and the HeimVision HM241 1080P Wireless Home Security Camera with a 112° field of view. This means it can capture an entire mid to large sized room such as a living room in a single frame with no issue. Setup is also a breeze through WiFi.
Another feature we like with this home security camera is its built-in emergency dispatch service, which uses a service that can digest alerts and feeds to send out personnel in case of a threat. This could be very useful for the elderly or those with limited mobility with no quick access to a phone in case of emergency. We also love 7 days of free cloud storage to access footage from anywhere, along with micro SD- card support (up to 64GB). Compare this to the best digital camera.
How We Decided
In determining the best home security camera to buy, we looked into the field of view, night vision, motion and sound detection, battery life, ease of setup, smartphone app compatibility, and wireless vs. wired security cameras. Look for home security cameras with a minimum field of view of 110 ̊
This should provide more than enough coverage for a mid to large-sized room, as well as the span of a driveway or front porch depending on camera placement. These are all important considerations when finding the best home security camera for you.
Our favorite wireless home security cameras have a strong battery life, good enough for a minimum of 4 months of use with normal usage. Setup should also take less than 10 minutes, with the exception of the HeimVision HM241 1080P Wireless Home Security Camerawhich supports up to 8 cameras and requires a DVR connection.
Motion and sound detection is very important. It triggers automatic recording when motion is sensed, helping you save valuable cloud storage space. Some home security cameras, like the Arlo Pro, even blast a 100 dB siren, which is great for deterring would-be burglars.
Smartphone app compatibility is a must for reviewing live footage, saving recordings, and configuring motion sensitivity for some cameras.
It is also important to note the benefits of wireless vs. wired security cameras. Wireless cameras typically have rechargeable batteries and greater flexibility in placement, whereas wired security cameras can run indefinitely when plugged into an outlet. However, its placement is limited to areas near a wall outlet.
Best Home Security Camera Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Field of View
The wider the field of view, the more the area you can observe remotely. We like home security cameras with a minimum field of view of 110 ̊, which should provide enough coverage for mid to large size rooms indoors. - Night Vision
Our top pick, ANNKE Home Security Camera System, has a night vision range of 100 feet. This is phenomenal. Our recommended picks show clarity that far out, sharp enough to make out faces and license plate numbers. - Wireless vs. Wired Security Cameras
Wireless security cameras like the Arlo Pro can be placed anywhere in the home. It is best for hard to reach places with no close proximity to a wall outlet. However, this comes with the responsibility of having to recharge it every several days or weeks. - Cloud Storage
Many home security cameras come with free or paid storage costs. Note, many of them collect clips as opposed to full recordings with storage minimums. For example, the Blink XT2 can record continuous clips up to 60 minutes long, uploaded to the cloud with 2 hours worth of storage. There are also home security with built-in storage like the ANNKE Home Security Camera System with 1TB of space. - Ease of Setup
Look for home security cameras that do not take more than 5 minutes to setup. For wireless cameras, it is usually a direct plug in, followed by an app download and pairing over WiFi. - Battery Life
Battery life should be good for a minimum 4 to 6 months with normal usage. We feel this is best for users’ patience levels. - Alexa Compatibility
Alexa compatibility allows us to issue voice commands to pull up footage. This is especially useful when you have multiple cameras, where you can assign a name to each one.
