Do you have concerns about the porch pirates out there pilfering your packages right from your front porch? Do you ever wonder if a prowler might be sneaking up on your home? Do you want to be proactive to ensure security in your neighborhood? If so, both indoor and outdoor security cameras may be perfect for you.
It doesn’t matter if you’re concerned about the threat of home invasions or you just want to see what your dog does when you aren’t home these cameras can live stream video directly to your phone. Sometimes it’s best to just keep an eye on things even when you aren’t at home, and these cameras are essential when it comes to protecting your home and family.
Burglars and thieves are out there, and you shouldn’t have to worry about being their next target. Plus, when they do attack, they could be long gone before you even realize you’ve become their next victim. Even worse, these thieves might even get away with no consequences if you don’t have any type of camera to catch them in the act.
The newest security cameras out there are smart and they’re filled with advanced technology. This ensures that you’ll always be able to keep a close eye on your home, even when you aren’t there. Some of these systems even send alerts to your phone when they detect motion, and they can record HD product videos, even during the night or during times of inclement weather.
If you’re looking for some of the best security cameras on the market, then this is the perfect time to buy. There are more good security cameras on the market than ever before, and there are both wired and wireless options.
There are also DIY systems available that allow you to install your own home security technology, including IP cameras, wireless security cameras, and motion detectors. You don’t have to worry about dealing with cables, screens that you don’t know how to control, or even huge hard drives to store your video feed. These days, you can control everything from your phone and store it on the cloud.
On top of providing video capabilities, many cameras go beyond this. For example, you can place one of these at your front door and they alert you to arriving visitors or deliveries when you are away. In some cases, you can even chat with the person who is standing on the porch or yell at anyone who shouldn’t be there.
Are you ready to dive in to see the top 10 contenders for the very best home security cameras on the market? In no particular order… let’s go.
#1: Arlo Ultra – Outdoor Security Camera ($379)
The Arlo Ultra outdoor security camera is a cutting-edge option, which takes technology to a new place. It has a ton of awesome features that aren’t often seen in other cameras. The best feature of this particular camera is its ability to do 4K streaming with HDR, which offers amazing clear and crisp footage that allows you to zoom in on details such as license plates and faces without worrying about messing up the quality of the image.
This is the first outdoor security camera that we know of that actually records and streams in 4K. Yes, this feature makes it a bit more expensive, but it also has a host of other features including motion tracking, motion detection, auto zoom, and color night vision, another feature that you won’t find elsewhere. Here are the details:
Resolution – 4K Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wireless
Type of Viewing Angle – 180 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – MicroSD or Cloud
Cost of Subscription – Just a few dollars each month
Pros of the Arlo Ultra
- Made for outdoor use, but can use it indoors
- Totally wireless design
- Smart home integration
- Easy to set up
Cons of the Arlo Ultra
- Mounting isn’t totally secure
- More expensive than other cameras
- Requires the purchase of a base
- 4K live stream can be choppy
#2: Arlo Pro 3 – Indoor Outdoor Security Camera ($460 for two cameras)
The Arlo Pro 3 is a rechargeable indoor/outdoor home security camera that has a lot of features you probably are interested in. It has a very straightforward app and the set-up is easy to do. This really is one of the best options out there because it is totally wireless. There aren’t even power cords! It also has one of the best and most versatile cameras we have tested. It works both indoors and out, and even when in the dark, under artificial light, or on the brightest sunny days, the picture from this camera is still clear. Additionally, this camera has an integrated spotlight, which you can turn on manually, or it can be set to automatically turn on when it detects motion. The camera also has a smart siren, which can be a big shock to any burglar that comes around. Just keep in mind that if you want to view your full recording history, you must pay for it, but you do get a three-month trial to see if this is a feature that you like.
Resolution – 2K Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wireless
Type of Viewing Angle – 160 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – Cloud
Cost of Subscription – Just a few dollars each month
Pros of the Arlo Pro 3
- Easy to set up
- Smart home integration
- Totally wireless
- Works both indoors and outdoors
- Clear audio
- High quality video
- Siren and spotlight
- Color night videos (optional)
- Easy to use software
- Motion and sound detection tools
Cons of the Arlo Pro 3
- Motion detector is overly sensitive
- Expensive
- Base station is required
- You must purchase two cams…no option for one
- Blurry videos in very low light
- Some features require a subscription
- No free cloud storage
- Can only log in to one device at a time
#3: Wyze – Indoor Security Camera ($25)
If you are on a budget, this is the camera for you. The Wyze cam is 1080p, and it comes with two weeks of cloud storage, for free, and a microSD slot, which allows you to both create time-lapse videos and continuously record. You can also link this camera to other Wyze products, including smart bulbs and motion sensors, and even link it to Google Assistant and Alexa.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wireless
Type of Viewing Angle – 110 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – MicroSD or cloud
Cost of Subscription – None
Pros of the Wyze Indoor Security Camera
- Infrared night vision
- Extremely affordable
- Motion detection
- 8x digital zoom
- Free two-week rolling cloud storage
- Motion tagging
- Local storage
- Advanced sound recognition
- Works with door sensors
- Integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons of the Wyze Indoor Security Camera
- Indoor use only
- Limited field of vision
- Cameras must be plugged into an outlet
- Professional monitoring is not available
- Cloud storage clips are only 14 seconds
#4: Nest Cam IQ Outdoor – Outdoor Security Camera ($399)
If you choose the Nest Cam IQ, you are choosing one of the smartest Wi-Fi cameras out there. It offers technology like person tracking, facial recognition, and 4K image sensing. The quality of the picture is amazing no matter what time of day it is, and the motion tracking, which can follow whatever is moving and zoom in, as well as the facial recognition, are top notch.
This camera has 1080p live video in HD, and a 130-degree wide angle lens, which offers a clear view. With this camera from Nest, you can stay up on anything happening around your home 24/7 via the company’s app, and you also get mobile notifications when you need them.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wired
Type of Viewing Angle – 130 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – Cloud
Cost of Subscription – A few dollars a month
Pros of the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
- Excellent app
- High quality images
- Motion tracking and facial recognition
- Two-way audio to speak to visitors
- Night vision capabilities
- Continuous video recording
- Weather-proof system
Cons of the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
- No floodlights or sirens
- Expensive to buy
- You have to pay for features like facial recognition
- A bit more complicated to install
#5: Nest IQ Indoor – Indoor Security Camera ($299)
Like the outdoor cam from Nest, the Nest IQ Indoor also has some amazing features. It offers things like motion alerts, HD live streaming, person alerts, and much more. There is a Nest Aware subscription available, too, which gives you access to things like facial recognition starting at only $5 a month. This camera is smart, and the app for this camera certainly proves that. The video is crisp, and it can even shoot footage in 4K. This ensures a clear picture, even when zooming. Speaking of zooming, there is an auto-zoom mode that you can use, making it a very good choice for anyone looking for a good indoor system.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wired
Type of Viewing Angle – 130 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Indoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – Cloud
Cost of Subscription – A few dollars a month
Pros of the Nest IQ Indoor
- Motion tracking is amazing
- Clear footage
- High-quality app
- Facial recognition with subscription
- Google Assistant is built in
- Integrates with Google Home devices
Cons of the Nest IQ Indoor
- Poor Wi-Fi connectivity
- High price point
- Facial recognition isn’t fully accurate
- Subscription is required for some of the features
#6: Reolink Argus 2 – Indoor-Outdoor Security Camera ($184 for two cameras)
When you look at the price of the Argus 2, you will immediately see that it is a great value for your money. It is weatherproof, wire-free, and even has a magnetic mount. You also get local storage and HD footage. The Argus 2 also has color night vision and a rechargeable battery pack. It also has clear night vision that can capture clear images up to 36 feet away without any extra light.
The Argus 2 also gives you local storage as an option, so you don’t have to use a cloud. However, if you want to take the cloud option, you can pay $4.99 a month and up to access video history.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wireless
Type of Viewing Angle – 130 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – MicroSD with optional cloud
Cost of Subscription – None-$4.99 a month
Pros of the Argus 2
- Wireless design
- Affordable
- 1080p, sharp video
- Weatherproof body
- Color night vision
- MicroSD card for local storage
- Multiple mounting options
- Solar-powered or rechargeable cameras available
Cons of the Argus 2
- Two cameras are required for purchase
- Siren is not very loud
- No free cloud storage
- SD card is not included
- No integration with other smart home devices
- Poor two-way audio
#7: Blink XT2 – Indoor-Outdoor Security Camera ($89.00)
The Blink XT2 is an upgrade of the company’s previous security camera, the Blink XT. This version is compact, light, and freestanding, which makes it easy to move around your home and place it where you want. When placed outdoors, you can mount it, and you won’t have to worry about weather, either, because it has an IP65 rating, which means it is protected from rain, snow, wind, and even high and low temperatures. The best thing about this is you get some really good features for less than $100, and it has double the battery life of the Blink XT. Though it doesn’t have some of the features you find in the higher priced cams out there, this one is a great value for your money.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wireless
Type of Viewing Angle – 110 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – No
Storage Type – Cloud
Cost of Subscription – None
Pros of the Blink XT2
- Inexpensive to buy
- Weatherproof
- Works both indoors and outdoors
- Records 1080p clear video
- No subscription to pay
Cons of the Blink XT2
- No facial or person recognition
- Doesn’t work with Google Home
- No on-demand recording
- Only 60 seconds of recording after detecting motion
#8: Ring Stickup Cam – Indoor-Outdoor Security Camera ($99)
The Ring Stickup cam is also a great and affordable option. it is battery-powered and wireless, and you can use it both indoors and outdoors. It records motion-triggered video, and then stores it in the cloud. It has a lot of great features including motion detection alerts, night vision, two-way audio, and 1080p HD video. Though the 115-degree vision field isn’t great, it does the job.
Though this isn’t the most affordable option, it is a good value for what you spend. Just keep in mind that you have to pay a few dollars to access cloud recordings, but you DO get a free trial to check it out before you start paying. You can also use the Ring app and set up an account and use to access your camera.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wireless
Type of Viewing Angle – 115 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – Cloud
Cost of Subscription – A few dollars a month
Pros of the Ring Stickup Cam
- Clear 1080p video
- Totally wire free
- A lot of features on the cam and the app
- Works with Alexa
- Motion detection
- Easy to install
- Built-in siren
Cons of the Ring Stickup Camera
- No option for local video storage
- A bit pricier than other models
- Requires a subscription to access recorded video
#9: Ring Indoor Cam – Indoor Security Camera ($59)
The Ring indoor cam is another smart and affordable option that offers high-quality 1080p video. You can use it with voice controls and even with other smart devices, but like the other Ring option, you also have to pay a fee in order to view your motion-triggered recorded video. This is Ring’s only indoor camera, and it is also the most affordable from the company. You get 1080p video and you can use it with Amazon Alexa and other smart devices. There is also the option to add motion detection for a small monthly fee. You completely control this device through the Ring app, and if you already have Ring products, this makes a great addition.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wired
Type of Viewing Angle – 140 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Indoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – Cloud
Cost of Subscription – A few dollars a month
Pros of the Ring Indoor Cam
- Crisp 1080p video
- Motion detection
- Affordable
- Small, compact design
- Works with Alexa and other smart devices
- Easy to setup and install
- Ring app is very user-friendly
Cons of the Ring Indoor Cam
- No sound detection
- Subscription is required for video
- No battery backup
- No clip archive for free
#10: Ring Spotlight Cam – Outdoor Security Camera ($199)
The Ring Spotlight outdoor cam has a sharp 1080p HD video offering clear live footage. It is battery-powered, and it only takes 5 to 10 minutes to set up. You can use the Ring mobile app, which allows you to use your mobile device to control the system including triggering the siren when you see something suspicious. You also get instant alerts when motion is detects, and it has a light and begins shooting video, immediately. It also has two-way audio, so you can talk to people right through the app.
Resolution – 1080p Max
Wireless or Wired? – Wireless
Type of Viewing Angle – 270 degrees
Outdoor or Indoor? – Outdoor
Is Audio Two-Way? – Yes
Storage Type – Cloud
Cost of Subscription – A few dollars a month
Pros of the Ring Spotlight Cam
- Pairs with Alexa
- Includes night vision
- Two-way audio through the app
- Long-lasting battery
- Weatherproof
Cons of the Ring Spotlight Cam
- 1080p HD recording, not 4K like other cameras similarly priced
- Have to pay extra for cloud recordings
- Design could be better
There you have it. Now you have a full overview of some of the best home security cameras available right now. With both indoor and outdoor options for every budget, you can easily find something that works for you.
Pro-tip: for the most comprehensive solution to protect your home, consider pairing your camera system with a wireless home security system.
