Best Wireless Security Cameras of 2020

Overview

Setting up a wireless camera is an easy and convenient way to keep your home secure. Some of the best security cameras are wire-free, meaning they rely on both a Wi-Fi connection and a wireless power source. With this design, you can put your camera wherever you like without worrying about cords getting in the way or someone unplugging your camera.

The Arlo Pro 2 is a rechargeable wireless security camera that can be used indoors and outdoors, has a 100dB siren that’s as loud as a revving motorcycle engine, and comes with a microSD card slot for local storage.

The Arlo Pro 2 has a feature called Look Back that allows you to review three seconds of activity before an event triggered by motion or sound in the Arlo app. It’s a great way to keep track of any suspicious activity and moving objects.

The Arlo requires a hub, and its lowest-priced equipment package includes two cameras. That makes it pricier than the competition, especially in comparison to other wire-free cameras like Ring and Canary.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Arlo Pro 2 is a reliable and versatile choice. It’s our favorite wireless security camera overall, but since it requires the purchase of a minimum of two cameras, we recommend it for people who are serious about monitoring their home inside and out.

>>Keep your home safe. Buy the Arlo Pro 2.

>>Arlo has plenty more to offer. Check out our review of Arlo’s top cameras.

The Ring Spotlight Cam is a solid wireless outdoor camera that has a motion-activated LED spotlight, a remote-activated 110dB siren (think front seat at a rock concert), and two-way audio with noise cancellation.

This is a camera with versatile power options. You can extend your battery life by purchasing a second battery pack for backup power or one of Ring’s solar panels for a continuous charge. The Ring Spotlight Cam also has sharp, HD-quality video and is a breeze to install.

To save, view, and share recorded video, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, Ring Protect Basic is affordable: you’ll get access to those basics starting at $3 per month.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: If you want to keep an eye on what’s going on outside your front door without the fuss of a bunch of wires, the Ring Spotlight Cam is a natural choice.

>>Power on. Buy the Ring Spotlight Cam.

>>Interested in more Ring? Check out our review of Ring’s doorbell cameras or their home alarm system.

Blink’s latest offering, the XT2, covers all the bases. It’s wire-free and relatively inexpensive, and it has two-way talk, live view, and customizable activity zones.

The Blink XT2 offers a decent amount of versatility. It can be used indoors and outdoors, day and night—thanks to its infrared HD night vision—and it also works with Alexa commands. Plus, it has free cloud storage with no contract, which can be helpful when you want to keep multiple clips for future reference.

On the other hand, Blink lists the standard battery life of the XT2 as up to two years. Because the Blink XT2 is so new, it’s hard to say whether that’s accurate or not, but we have our doubts; the original Blink XT’s batteries were supposed to last up to two years, but most customers said they would last for only four to six weeks.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Blink XT2 is a solid, adaptable security camera that will be at home either inside or outside your house. It makes a great fit for someone looking for a reliable camera without the fuss of more advanced features.

>>Unplug. Buy the Blink XT2.

The Canary Flex is flexible and reliable: it integrates with both Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands, can be used indoors and outdoors, and works both wire-free and plugged in. It also has unique features like person detection and includes free access to 24 hours of cloud storage.

The Canary Flex lets you watch and record live activity on your smartphone or tablet 24/7 in HD. It’s also weatherproof, comes with two-way audio, and has a decent field of view at 116 degrees. Unfortunately, a lot of its other features—including two-way audio—can be accessed only with a Canary membership subscription, priced at $9.99 per month.

The Flex’s main drawback is its poor night vision. While Canary doesn’t explicitly list the Flex’s night vision range, it does note that the Flex has only a single IR LED, and it’s not meant to illuminate large images. You’re better off using this camera indoors or in outdoor spaces that already have a decent amount of ambient light.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Canary Flex is a secure wireless outdoor camera that has limited night vision but plenty of features to spare. Invest in it if you’re looking for an easy camera for the outside of your home on a well-lit street.

>>Brighten up. Buy the Canary Flex.

The Nest Cam Indoor is a safe bet from a reliable brand. It’s Wi-Fi compatible, but it has wires. This Nest Cam has 130° viewing angle, night vision up to 20 feet, and two-way talk. For more features, you’ll need a Nest Aware subscription. That’ll get you 24/7 recording, the ability to save up to 30 days of footage, person alerts, and more.

Smonet’s Wireless IP camera isn’t wire-free, but it works over Wi-Fi. It has a resolution of 960p HD, saves up to 30 days of data, and boasts a night vision range of up to 65 feet. But if you’re looking for something simpler than a CCTV camera, look elsewhere: you’ll need to buy a compatible monitor, VGA, or HDMI cable and router for this one to work.

The Wyze Cam Pan is a super affordable pan-tilt camera that connects to your Wi-Fi network and has motion tracking, free 14-day cloud storage, and a microSD card slot for local and backup storage. However, we’re concerned about Wyze’s history of poor customer service and potential security issues. If you’re looking for something secure but budget friendly, we suggest one of our picks for affordable security cameras.

The Yi Dome Camera is an inexpensive indoor security camera that covers the basics: two-way communication, 4x digital zoom, and a microSD slot for local storage. But we have serious concerns about how secure the camera itself is: customers report major privacy concerns and instances of their Yi cameras being hacked.

The Zmodo Sight 180 is a basic smart security camera that’s wireless but not wire-free. And though it has some standard features like 1080p HD and an impressive 180° viewing angle, like the Blink XT2 it doesn’t support two-way audio. We think that’s a must for any security camera, especially an outdoor one.

When it comes to wire-free home security systems, there are tons of options to choose from. But we think the Arlo Pro 2 is the best. It can be used indoors and outdoors, has super clear HD playback, and offers up to seven days of rolling cloud storage. It’s a little pricey, but it’s a solid choice that you can rely on to keep your home or business safe, indoors and out.

>>Keep your home safe and sound. Get the Arlo Pro 2 from Amazon.