Best Home Security Cameras

Home security cameras don’t just add an important layer to your home security system by giving you an extra set of eyes inside and outside your home. They can also deter break-ins, capture and store important event footage, and offer a little more comfort when you leave the kids and pets back at home.

We’ve looked at dozens of home security camera systems on the market to find the best ones for your house, whether you want to keep a (digital) eye on your toddler, your new puppy, or just your backyard.

Best indoor security camera: Nest Cam IQ Indoor

Pros and cons of Nest Cam IQ Indoor

Why we recommend Nest Cam IQ Indoor

The Nest Cam IQ Indoor comes loaded with some pretty impressive features. This camera can recognize familiar faces, automatically zoom in and track motion, and tell the different between people and that tree branch blowing in the wind outside your window. Plus, it has built-in Google Assistant.

High-end equipment

Everything about the Nest Cam’s hardware is top of the line. Its camera records in crystal clear 1080p resolution, and its speaker automatically suppresses ambient background noise, so you can listen in on your phone and hear your kids talking instead of just the neighbor mowing their lawn.

Built-in Google Assistant

If you’re tired of pulling out your phone every time you want to turn on the camera or even just check the weather forecast, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor makes your life a little easier with its built-in Google Assistant.

We haven’t seen any other security camera build a voice assistant right into its system. With the Nest Cam IQ Indoor, you don’t have to buy a separate device to get all the same benefits of a smart speaker.

The Nest Cam IQ Indoor comes loaded with some pretty impressive features. This camera can recognize familiar faces, automatically zoom in and track motion, and tell the different between people and that tree branch blowing in the wind outside your window. Plus, it has built-in Google Assistant.

High-end equipment

Everything about the Nest Cam’s hardware is top of the line. Its camera records in crystal clear 1080p resolution, and its speaker automatically suppresses ambient background noise, so you can listen in on your phone and hear your kids talking instead of just the neighbor mowing their lawn.

Built-in Google Assistant

If you’re tired of pulling out your phone every time you want to turn on the camera or even just check the weather forecast, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor makes your life a little easier with its built-in Google Assistant.

We haven’t seen any other security camera build a voice assistant right into its system. With the Nest Cam IQ Indoor, you don’t have to buy a separate device to get all the same benefits of a smart speaker.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Nest Cam IQ Indoor is great if you want a top-notch camera with some high-tech features. (And if you don’t mind paying top dollar to get the best quality.) Learn more in our Nest camera review.

>>Convinced? Buy the Nest Cam IQ Indoor today.

Best outdoor security camera: Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

Pros and cons of Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

Why we recommend Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor has a lot of the same top features you get with the Arlo Ultra but at a slightly lower price point and with a few downsides.

You get person detection and automatic zoom and tracking (a feature Nest calls “Supersight”) the same way you do with the Arlo Ultra, but the Nest has a 4K image sensor instead of 4K resolution, and you have to drill a hole in your wall.

4K image sensor

A 4K image sensor is not quite the same thing as 4K resolution. (The Nest Cam IQ’s resolution is still a solid 1080p.) But the image sensor does make it so you can zoom in on details in an image and still see a high-quality picture.

If someone walks across the street from your house and you want a closer look at their face, the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor gives you 12x digital zoom so you can get a way closer look, and that 4K image sensor means you’ll still be able to see their features clearly.

Wired installation

The Nest Cam IQ doesn’t come in a wireless model, and to install this outdoor camera you do have to drill a hole through your wall.

Nest has installation videos and guides so you won’t totally mess up your house trying to install the cam. (Or at least, you probably won’t.) But it’s definitely still annoying to have to break out the drill.

That said, a wired camera has a more stable power source and you’ll never have to pull down the camera to recharge the battery.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is a hardy all-weather camera that gives you a lot of similar features to the Arlo Ultra but in a slightly less expensive (and slightly less convenient) package.

>>Ready to have eyes outside your home? Get the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor.

Best wireless security camera: Arlo Pro 2

Pros and cons of Arlo Pro 2

Why we recommend Arlo Pro 2

With its wire-free design, the Arlo Pro 2 excels as a wireless security camera. You can put it anywhere, and it comes with an impressively long battery life so you won’t have to bring it down to recharge too often.

Wireless security camera systems

Because it’s wireless, the Arlo Pro 2 makes it easy for you to connect multiple Arlo cameras together in one system to give you a more complete view of your property—and you can control them all within the same Arlo app.

The app also lets you set zones to limit unnecessary motion detection notifications, like when your neighbor takes their dog past the house twice a day. Read our full Arlo review to learn more.

Hub required

Keep in mind when you buy Arlo Pro 2s that they’re still Wi-Fi cameras, which means that you also need a hub. The hub connects the cameras (whether you have one, two, or six) to your Wi-Fi network, as well as to each other.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We like the Arlo Pro 2 outdoor camera for its high-resolution image recording and its wireless design that lets you set it up anywhere.

>>>Want an excellent wireless camera at a reasonable price? Buy the Arlo Pro 2.

>>>Looking for more wire-free options? Check out our roundup of the best wireless cameras.

Best budget security camera: Logitech Circle 2

Pros and cons of Logitech Circle 2

Why we recommend Logitech Circle 2?

The Logitech Circle 2 packs a bunch of features into one (relatively) cheap security camera package. You get a superwide 180º field of view, full HD 1080p resolution, and a full 24 hours of free cloud storage. Plus, a bunch of different mount options to fit your needs.

Indoor/outdoor functionality

This camera is nothing if not versatile. You can put it either indoors or outdoors, depending on where you need it. You can also choose different mount options for the Circle 2, including wall and window mounts.

HD resolution

You won’t get 4K resolution or a 4K image sensor with this camera, but you do still get super-clear 1080p footage. Before 4K came along, 1080p was the industry standard for high definition, so it’s still pretty good.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We recommend the Logitech Circle 2 to anyone looking for a cheap(er) security camera that still gives you a great set of base features like 1080p video, 24 hours of cloud storage, and two-way communication.

We think it’s the best security camera you can buy on a budget without having to worry about quality or security issues (like the camera being hacked).

>>>Found the affordable camera you’ve been looking for? Buy the Logitech Circle 2.

Best doorbell camera: Nest Hello

Pros and cons of Nest Hello

Why we recommend Nest Hello

The Nest Hello is our favorite video doorbell camera because it gives you sharp video footage with a ton of useful features like powerful night vision, full HD resolution, and a unique facial recognition software that remembers familiar faces, so you’ll know who’s at your door before you open it.

Reliable performance

In our testing we found that the Nest Hello looks better, sounds better, and functions more reliably (no Wi-Fi connection issues or fuzzy video) than competing Ring doorbell cameras.

Nest integration

If you already use Nest cameras, a Nest thermostat, or the Nest Secure alarm system, then the Nest Hello will fit right in. It works seamlessly with all other Nest products and you can control them all from the same app. Plus, it has Google Assistant integration.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We like the Nest Hello for its powerful camera and app that includes useful features like motion zone settings and facial recognition. Learn more about the Nest Hello.

>>>Want the best video doorbell on the market? Buy the Nest Hello.

Best HD security camera: Arlo Ultra

Pros and cons of Arlo Ultra

Why we recommend Arlo Ultra

The Arlo Ultra is one of the best cameras we’ve ever seen. It gives you 4K video footage with a 180º field of view, which makes for some of the highest-quality footage and one of the widest fields of view on the market.

This camera also comes with color night vision, which gives you clear, full-color video in the dark without washing out images like we’ve seen from lower-quality night vision cameras.

Ultra HD resolution

The Arlo Ultra is the first camera we’ve seen to give you full 4K resolution. Some other cameras, like the Nest IQ Outdoor and the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro, give you a 4K image sensor, but that’s not quite the same thing as ultra HD, 4K resolution.

That high of a resolution means the Arlo Ultra lets you see every leaf on a tree and every stray dog in your yard with the utmost clarity. And if an intruder ever steps foot on your property, you’ll have no problem seeing their face.

Color night vision

Most outdoor cameras these days include night vision, but it’s almost always in black and white. Arlo Ultra is one of the few cameras to give you full-color night vision, so you can still see the color of someone’s clothes or the color of their car—even in the dark.

Plus, with color night vision, you don’t get that zombie-eye silver glare on people’s faces that you see sometimes with traditional black and white night vision.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We recommend the Arlo Ultra to anyone who wants the best and isn’t afraid to pay for it. You’ll benefit from a high-quality security camera with incredible resolution and smart features.

>>>For ultra-sharp security camera video, buy the Arlo Ultra HD.

Best PTZ camera: Amcrest UltraHD PTZ

Pros and cons of Amcrest UltraHD PTZ

Why we recommend Amcrest UltraHD PTZ

The Amcrest UltraHD PTZ gives you a super-crisp HD resolution and an expansive viewing angle. But what sets it apart is its PTZ (pan, tilt, and zoom) capabilities.

The Amcrest gives you 360º pan, 90º tilt, and up to 16x digital zoom. That gives you a view of everything in the room as opposed to just a stationary feed based on where you place the camera.

You also have the choice between cloud storage through the Amcrest app or local video storage through a hard drive or micro SD card.

ONVIF compliant

If you want to use different security cameras together as part of a CCTV system, then the Amcrest UltraHD PTZ will fit right in. This camera is ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) compliant, so you can use it with other compliant devices and control them through third-party apps like Blue Iris.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We really like the Amcrest’s ONVIF-compliant, high-resolution camera, plus its pan, tilt, and zoom functions that give you a much broader range of view than most cameras. That versatility is useful if you want one camera that covers the field of view you’d get from multiple cameras.

>>Buy the Amcrest UltraHD PTZ.

Best pet camera: Furbo

Pros and cons of Furbo

Why we recommend Furbo

No one wants to leave their furry friends at home, but if you don’t have a pet-friendly office, you might not have a choice. The Furbo gives you a window into your pets’ lives at home while you’re not there.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: We recommend Furbo to pet owners who have to leave their furry ones home during the day. Two-way chat and a treat dispenser make time away easier for both parties.

>>>Ready to shoot treats at your dog from work? Buy the Furbo.

How to choose the best home security camera system

What features matter?

Security cameras offer a lot more than just video footage of your home. While there are more options than ever, there’s also more to consider. Between the confusing tech specs that come with these cameras and all the extra features, here are some things to look for when searching for the best security camera for you.

Resolution

Resolution determines the quality of a security camera’s video. Not all cameras with high resolution will look the same, but for high-quality HD footage you should look for something with 720p (standard HD), 1080p (full HD), or 4K (ultra HD) resolution.

Field of View (FOV)

Resolution determines the footage quality, and field of view (FOV) determines the observable field of your camera lens. Wider FOVs help you see more at once, which can reduce the number of cameras you need. But wider isn’t necessarily better. Security cameras with fields of view around 180º and wider can look distorted. The FOV sweet spot is around 160º, which gives you a plenty large viewing area without sacrificing quality.

Two-way voice

Families with kids or even pet owners might benefit from two-way audio. This allows you and whoever’s at home to communicate with each other if you see something urgent happening. Two-way chat is also useful on doorbell cameras like the Nest Hello so you can communicate with people at your door and give the impression that you’re home.

Power source

This is an important consideration if you’re looking for a camera you can set up anywhere in or outside of your home. Cameras have a few common power sources.

Security camera power sources:

1. Battery (either rechargeable or replaceable)
2. AC power (this kind plugs into a wall)
3. Power Over Ethernet (POE) (this kind gets power through an Ethernet cord)

How do I install a security camera?

If you choose wireless IP cameras, then it’s as easy as turning on the cameras, connecting them to a hub (which you usually have to buy along with the cameras), and then just installing a mount for wherever you want to put the cams.

Wired outdoor security cameras can be a little trickier. Some cameras, like the Nest IQ Outdoor, require you to drill a hole through your exterior wall so you can keep the camera plugged into an indoor wall outlet while the actual camera goes outside your house.

>>Check out our full article on how to install security cameras.

Do you have to subscribe to cloud storage?

It depends on which camera you buy. Some cameras give you a certain amount of free cloud storage for video clips (anywhere from 3 hours to 30 days). Some cameras also let you store footage locally, such as on a micro SD card.

For the most part, yes, you probably will want to subscribe to a cloud storage plan. Your camera provider will usually offer a few different plan options for you to choose from, and many, such as Nest Aware, start as low as $5 per month.

How do security cameras recognize faces?

Cameras that have “familiar face detection” basically let you name people the camera has spotted. So you can pull up the clip the camera took of your kid and name them in the camera app. Going forward, the camera will know who that person is and name them in any alerts it sends you.

What is the best security camera?

The best security camera for you depends on what you’re looking for. Whether you want an outdoor camera, an indoor camera, or a pet cam you can use to hand out treats while you’re gone, you can choose the model that works for you.

Contributing author: Mindy Woodall