The smart home revolution has brought features to the masses that were previously too expensive for most people to use. For example, a multi-room audio system used to involve a lot of money and a whole heap of wiring. Today, you can set up a multi-room audio system just by placing a few Echo Dots around your home and asking Alexa to play music everywhere.
The same applies to home security. There are plenty of low-cost products that can help you protect your home. A monitored alarm system used to be a serious investment, but now you can get the same features by installing a low-cost Ring Alarm system. And if you want to set up security cameras both inside and outside of your home, it’s never been more affordable to do so, with a wide range of models at different price points available. We take a look at some of the best smart security cameras that you can buy right now.
Best smart security cameras: Our top choices
Google Nest Cam (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery)
1. Best smart security camera overall
A great battery-powered smart security camera for indoors or out.
$140 $180 Save $40
The Google Nest (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery) may have a ridiculous name, but it does describe the product accurately. Being powered by battery means you can place it almost anywhere, and it’s suitable for use either inside or outside your home.
- No power source needed
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Clever magnetic mount
- Cable required for continuous video
- At risk of theft due to lack of physical fixings
If you want to add security cameras both inside and outside your home, then it’s preferable if you can use the same brand. It’s even more preferable if you can use the same cameras. The Google Nest Cam Outdoor or Indoor, Battery is a great fit for monitoring the interior of your home. Thanks to the battery power and clever magnetic mount, it’s also a great choice for monitoring the outside of your home, too. Because you don’t have to worry about wires, you can place it almost anywhere you want.
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The camera records in 1080p and has a 130-degree field of view which is wide enough for most needs, and if you do decide you need continuous power, you can use a weatherproof power cable (sold separately) to keep your smart security camera powered up. With a Nest Aware subscription, you get up to 60 days of event video history, 24/7 continuous video history if you’re using it with the optional power cable, as well as vehicle, animal, and person detection. Unsurprisingly, the Google Nest Cam integrates seamlessly with Google Assistant and Google Nest Hub smart displays, but you can also see the video feed on Echo devices such as the Echo Show 8, which is a nice plus.
Arlo Essential Indoor Camera
2. Best indoor smart security camera
A smart indoor camera with a built-in privacy shield.
$60 $100 Save $40
The Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is a wired smart security camera specifically for use indoors. Unlike some Arlo’s other cameras, it connects over Wi-Fi with no need for an additional hub. The built-in privacy shield ensures its only filming when you want it to be.
- No need for additional hub
- Infrared night vision
- Built-in privacy shield
- Needs to be within 2m of power
- Some features require a subscription
If you’re only looking for a camera to use indoors, then you can’t go far wrong with the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera. It’s a wired smart security camera that can reach up to two meters from your power socket. Additionally, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera can connect directly over Wi-Fi, so there’s no need for an additional hub. You can set up motion alerts within the app, and there’s also a two-way talk feature, so you can use the camera as an intercom.
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The Essential Indoor Camera features a 130-degree field of view to ensure a good view of the room you place it inside. It also records 1080p HD video, with infrared night vision. One of the best features of this indoor camera is that it has a built-in privacy shield so that you can be certain that the camera isn’t recording your home when you don’t want it to be. You don’t need to worry about forgetting to open the privacy shield either, as you can open it remotely from the app. You’ll need a subscription to take advantage of 30 days of cloud storage.
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
3. Best indoor/outdoor smart security camera
A smart security camera that’s easy to install indoors or out.
The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is a great option for indoor or outdoor use. As it’s battery-powered, you can place it almost anywhere, and it’s quick and easy to install. You can see the feed from your Ring Stick Up Cam on an Echo Show just by asking Alexa.
- Easy installation
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Works well with Alexa
- Can’t flip image if mounted upside down
- Requires subscription for many features
Another great option if you’re looking for a smart security camera that you can install both indoors and out is the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery. The built-in battery means there’s no need for any cables, so you’re not limited to where you can place the camera. If you need continuous power, you can connect it to a power adapter, or use an additional Ring solar panel to power it with sunlight.
The camera records in 1080p HD and has a 130-degree field of view to give you a good view of the inside or outside of your home. It has motion detection and night vision, as well as two-way talk, just like Ring video doorbells. As you’d expect from a company owned by Amazon, the camera works seamlessly with your Echo devices, allowing you to view your video feed on smart displays such as the Echo Show 10. You’ll need a Ring Protect plan to view up to 180 days of your video history.
Logitech Circle View
4. Best HomeKit smart security camera
A great HomeKit-compatible camera for Apple users.
If you’re an Apple user, the Logitech Circle View is a great HomeKit-enabled camera. You can take advantage of HomeKit Secure Video to store video from your Circle View in iCloud without any additional subscription. It’s not compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant.
- HomeKit compatible
- Free cloud storage through iCloud
- Privacy via switch or tilt
- No Alexa or Google Assistant support
- Wired only
If you’re an Apple user, then you may prefer a smart security camera that works with HomeKit. The Logitech Circle View is not only HomeKit-compatible, but it can also take advantage of Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video. It’s a feature that allows you to store video on iCloud and view the content from the Home app on your iPhone. All the video is end-to-end encrypted, and it won’t count against your iCloud storage quotas, although you’ll need a compatible HomePod or Apple TV to act as your HomeKit hub. The camera also won’t work with Alexa or Google Assistant.
The camera itself records in 1080p HD, has night vision and two-way talk, and features a wide 180-degree field of view. You can also maintain your privacy by pressing a switch on the back of the camera to turn it off, or by simply tilting it so that it’s facing straight down. It can be used both indoors and out, although you’ll need to factor in connecting the power supply when mounting outdoors. You can use Logitech’s cloud storage with a subscription, but as mentioned, if you’re using HomeKit Secure Video, a subscription isn’t required to access your recordings from iCloud.
Arlo Ultra 2
5. Best 4K smart security camera
A 4K security camera for high-quality video capture.
$241.99 $299.99 Save $58
The Arlo Ultra 2 is a security camera that can record in 4K HDR for high-quality recordings. You’ll need an additional hub, but you can then save your recordings locally without the need for a cloud subscription. You can also utilize up to 12x zoom to see exactly what’s going on inside or outside your home.
- 4K resolution
- 12x zoom
- Built-in siren and spotlight
- Requires additional hub
- Not cheap
The Arlo Ultra 2 is a 4K security camera that you can use indoors or out. Unlike with the Arlo Essential or Arlo Pro 5S, however, you’ll need to connect it to an Arlo smart hub. The 4K HDR video capture can then be saved directly to the smart hub or, if you have a subscription, it can be saved in the cloud, too. The camera has a wide 180-degree field of view that corrects for any distortion, and you can zoom in up to 12x thanks to the high resolution of the captured images.
The Arlo Ultra 2 can also track an object when motion is detected, and even automatically zoom in on it. It’s a great option for home security, thanks to the built-in siren that you can set to sound if motion is detected. There’s also a motion-activated spotlight that can light up your doorway when you arrive home, as well as features such as package detection. The Arlo Ultra 2 works with Alexa and Google Assistant, but also with Apple HomeKit, which many security cameras are unable to support. The Arlo Ultra 2 also works with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.
Blink Outdoor 4
6. Best value outdoor security camera
A smart security camera with two built-in spotlights and a siren.
$100 $120 Save $20
Blink is known for its low-cost security cameras with good feature sets, and the Blink Outdoor is a great example. It offers 1080p recording, person detection, and local storage via the included Sync Module 2. You can also sign up for a subscription to unlock cloud storage, extended live streaming, and more.
- Great price
- Person detection
- Local recording via Sync Module 2
- Not the highest-quality image
- Requires subscription for many features
Blink updated its Outdoor battery-powered security camera last August. The fourth-generation model offers even more features at the same great price. There’s a camera with a wider 143-degree field of view, as well as improved low-light performance for better images at night or when it’s overcast. Another useful feature is the addition of software that can generate alerts if a person is spotted within the camera’s field of view. This feature isn’t available with the third-generation Blink Outdoor.
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It’s possible to store recorded video locally thanks to the USB port on the included Sync Module that connects your Blink Outdoor to the internet. This device stays within your home, and you can attach a storage device such as a thumb drive to save your recordings. You can also sign up for a Blink subscription if you want to save your recordings to the cloud. A subscription also includes up to 90 minutes of continuous live streaming, live view recording, video sharing, time-lapse, and up to 60 days of video history.
Blink Mini
7. Best value smart security camera
A 2K smart security camera at an affordable price.
Blink offers a range of highly affordable smart home products. The Blink Mini is a low-cost smart security camera that can offer 1080p recording, two-way talk, and motion alerts. With an additional Sync Module 2, you can save your recordings locally, or you can save them to the cloud with a Blink subscription.
- Great value
- Two-way talk
- Local storage with Sync Module 2
- No on-board storage
- Subscription required for many features
Smart security cameras don’t have to break the bank. If you’re on a budget, then the Blink Mini can offer 1080p HD video, motion detection, night vision, and two-way talk all for an impressively low price. Since Blink is owned by Amazon, you can view your live feed on your Echo Show just by asking Alexa. With an Echo Hub, you can see a live feed of all of your Blink and Ring cameras on the same screen at the same time. You can view your Blink Mini camera and get motion alerts free of charge, although there’s no way to save your recordings locally on the Blink Mini itself. However, if you have a Sync Module 2 (which comes included with the Blink Outdoor camera) you can attach a USB storage device to save your Blink Mini recordings locally.
If you want additional features such as unlimited cloud recording, 60-day cloud storage, live view recording, and extended live view streaming, you’ll need to sign up for a Blink subscription, with plans starting from as little as $3 for a single device. You Blink Mini can also work as a chime for your Blink Video Doorbell, too, if you have one, making it easier to hear when someone is at the door.
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus
8. Best smart security floodlight camera
A smart security camera with two powerful floodlights.
$120 $200 Save $80
The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus is a smart security camera with two built-in 2000 Lumen LED floodlights that can offer powerful illumination. There’s also a 105dB siren if the lights aren’t enough to scare off unwanted visitors.
- Two powerful 2000 Lumen floodlights
- 105 dB siren
- Motion activated
- No 3D motion detection
- Expensive
If you really want to keep your home protected, then the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus can offer serious levels of deterrence. Alongside the 1080p HD video camera, there are two 2000 Lumen motion-activated LED floodlights that can light up the area in front of your home and make sure that anyone lurking there is in full view no matter how dark it is. There’s also color night vision for those areas that aren’t quite as well-lit.
The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus doesn’t include the 3D Motion Detection of the most expensive Ring Floodlight Cam Pro, but you can still set up customizable motion zones so that the floodlights don’t get triggered every time a car goes past. There’s a 140-degree field of view, and a 105dB remote-activated siren if the bright floodlights aren’t enough to scare away unwanted visitors. You’ll need a Ring Protect subscription to access some of the features, however.
Best smart security camera: The bottom line
If you’re looking for a smart security camera for your home, you can’t go far wrong with the Google Nest Cam (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery). It’s suitable for use both indoors and out, and the fact that it’s battery-powered means that you can install it almost anywhere you want. The clever magnetic mount makes it easy to get your Google Nest Cam pointing exactly where you want it, and you can see your live feed on both Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo smart displays. If you’re after a more affordable option, the Blink Mini has some decent features at a price that’s hard to beat.
Google Nest Cam (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery)
Editor’s Choice
FAQ
Q: How I chose the best smart security camera
When selecting the best smart security cameras, there were a few considerations to make. I wanted to ensure there was a mix of both indoor and outdoor cameras, as well as those that are suitable for both uses. I also wanted to ensure that the smart security cameras on this list provided options that were compatible with the major smart home ecosystems. I also chose a range of price points, as well as trying to include different types of smart security cameras, from basic cameras, to floodlight cams.
Q: How to choose the best smart security cameras
When you’re choosing a smart security camera, there are a few questions you that you should keep in mind.
Is my smart security camera suitable for use outdoors?
Some of the cameras on this list are suitable for use both indoors and out, but this isn’t the case with all smart security cameras. Many are designed for indoor use, meaning that they’re not weatherproof, and may also require plugging into a power socket with a plug that also isn’t intended for outdoor use. If you’re looking for a smart security camera for outside, you’ll need to make sure it’s safe to use outdoors.
Where am I planning to place my smart security camera?
The location where you want your smart security camera may impact your choice. If you want to put the camera outside your home, the spot you want may be quite far from any accessible power points. If this is the case, you may need to opt for a battery-powered camera. If you want continuous coverage, however, then you may have to place your camera somewhere where it is within reach of power.
If you’re placing your camera indoors, you’ll need to consider how far away from power sockets you want to place it if you’re choosing a camera that requires plugging in.
What type of smart security camera do I need?
There are multiple different types of smart security cameras, including standard cameras, spotlight cameras, and floodlight cameras. You should consider exactly what you want from your camera and where it will be placed. In some cases, a floodlight camera may be overkill, whereas in others, a spotlight camera may not offer enough illumination for your needs.
What smart home systems is my smart security camera compatible with?
If you have other smart home tech, you’ll want to choose a smart security camera that works with your smart home ecosystem of choice. If you’re an Apple user and use HomeKit smart home devices, then you’ll need to be sure that you choose a HomeKit-compatible smart security camera, as there are fewer that support HomeKit. Most cameras will support Google Assistant and Alexa, however.
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