Home Security Cameras: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right One
In today’s world, home security is more important than ever. Fortunately, advancements in technology have made it easier and more affordable than ever to protect your home and belongings. One of the most popular options for home security is the home security camera. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. In this guide, we’ll go over some of the key factors to consider when choosing a home security camera and provide our top picks for the best home security cameras on the market.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Home Security Camera
Connectivity: There are three main types of security cameras when it comes to connectivity: wired, wireless, and wire-free. Wired cameras can be difficult to set up and have limited mobility due to their physical cables, but they typically have more reliable connections. Wireless cameras are easier to install, but they’re more vulnerable to hacking and signal drops. Wire-free cameras are super flexible and portable and keep working during power outages, but you have to keep their batteries fresh.
Location: If you’re installing a camera outside, it needs to be durable enough to withstand temperature changes and a variety of weather conditions. A good indoor camera should look decent (or blend in) with the rest of your home decor.
Resolution: A security camera with blurry, low-quality video is a useless security camera. Look for a camera with at least 1080p (Full HD) video quality for crystal-clear footage.
Night Vision: Make sure you can see who is paying you a visit no matter what time it is. Keep in mind that you’ll usually pay a premium for color night vision (as opposed to infrared, which produces a black-and-white picture).
Field of View (FOV): A wider viewing angle allows you to see more, but it may result in what’s called barrel (or fisheye) distortion. Alternatively, some security cameras can pan and tilt, which gets you a huge FOV with less of that curved, bulging effect.
Two-Way Audio: A security camera with a built-in microphone and speakers will let you hear and talk to whoever’s visiting.
Recording Type: Most options will capture recordings only when they detect motion within their FOV, though some security cameras also offer continuous or 24/7 recording. (That’s less common because it eats up a ton of storage space.)
Notifications: Most security cameras’ companion apps offer instant motion alerts and a live video feed at minimum.
Smart Home Integration: Get a security camera that works with smart assistants for hands-free voice control. IFTTT or Apple HomeKit support is also a plus if you want to play around with automation between your camera and other smart home devices.
Storage: While a few home security cameras support microSD cards, the vast majority of them use cloud services for clip storage and remote access.
Add-On Services: Most security camera manufacturers offer optional monthly subscriptions for premium features like continuous recording, “activity zones” where important areas get extra attention, and AI-based object detection and facial recognition.
Cost: A nice security camera will cost you $50 to $200 depending on the features you’re after.
Our Top Picks for the Best Home Security Cameras
1. Arlo Pro 4 – Best Overall
The Arlo Pro 4 is our top pick for the best home security camera. It’s easy to install, has great video quality, and offers a wide range of features. It’s also weather-resistant, making it perfect for outdoor use. The Arlo Pro 4 offers 2K video resolution, color night vision, and a 160-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be integrated with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Arlo Pro 4 offers both event-based and continuous recording, and it comes with a free three-month trial of Arlo Smart, which includes advanced features like object detection and e911 emergency call service.
2. Nest Cam IQ Outdoor – Best for Outdoor Use
The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is our top pick for the best outdoor home security camera. It’s weather-resistant and has a sleek design that blends in with your home’s exterior. The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor offers 1080p video resolution, color night vision, and a 130-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be integrated with Google Assistant. The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor offers event-based recording and comes with a free trial of Nest Aware, which includes advanced features like facial recognition and activity zones.
3. eufy Solo IndoorCam P24 – Best for Indoor Use
The eufy Solo IndoorCam P24 is our top pick for the best indoor home security camera. It has a sleek design that blends in with your home decor and offers great video quality. The eufy Solo IndoorCam P24 offers 2K video resolution, color night vision, and a 140-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be integrated with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The eufy Solo IndoorCam P24 offers event-based recording and comes with a free trial of eufy Security Cloud, which includes advanced features like facial recognition and activity zones.
4. Ring Stick Up Cam Battery – Best Budget Option
The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is our top pick for the best budget home security camera. It’s easy to install, has good video quality, and offers a wide range of features. The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery offers 1080p video resolution, black-and-white night vision, and a 130-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be integrated with Amazon Alexa. The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery offers event-based recording and comes with a free trial of Ring Protect Basic, which includes clip storage and sharing.
5. Wyze Cam v3 – Best Value
The Wyze Cam v3 is our top pick for the best value home security camera. It’s incredibly affordable and offers great video quality and a wide range of features. The Wyze Cam v3 offers 1080p video resolution, color night vision, and a 130-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be integrated with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Wyze Cam v3 offers event-based recording and comes with free cloud storage for 14 days.
6. SimpliSafe SimpliCam – Best for SimpliSafe Users
The SimpliSafe SimpliCam is our top pick for the best home security camera for SimpliSafe users. It’s easy to install and integrates seamlessly with your SimpliSafe system. The SimpliSafe SimpliCam offers 720p video resolution, black-and-white night vision, and a 120-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be controlled through the SimpliSafe app. The SimpliSafe SimpliCam offers event-based recording and comes with a free trial of SimpliSafe’s Interactive Plan, which includes advanced features like remote control and video verification.
7. Google Nest Cam Indoor – Best for Google Nest Users
The Google Nest Cam Indoor is our top pick for the best home security camera for Google Nest users. It’s easy to install and integrates seamlessly with your Google Nest system. The Google Nest Cam Indoor offers 1080p video resolution, black-and-white night vision, and a 130-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be controlled through the Google Home app. The Google Nest Cam Indoor offers event-based recording and comes with a free trial of Nest Aware, which includes advanced features like facial recognition and activity zones.
8. ADT Blue Doorbell Camera – Best for ADT Users
The ADT Blue Doorbell Camera is our top pick for the best home security camera for ADT users. It’s easy to install and integrates seamlessly with your ADT system. The ADT Blue Doorbell Camera offers 1080p video resolution, color night vision, and a 180-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio and can be controlled through the ADT app. The ADT Blue Doorbell Camera offers event-based recording and comes with a free trial of ADT’s Video Package, which includes advanced features like clip sharing and cloud storage.
Conclusion
Choosing the right home security camera can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By considering factors like connectivity, location, resolution, night vision, field of view, two-way audio, recording type, notifications, smart home integration, storage, add-on services, and cost, you can find the perfect camera for your needs. Our top picks for the best home security cameras include the Arlo Pro 4, Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, eufy Solo IndoorCam P24, Ring Stick Up Cam Battery, Wyze Cam v3, SimpliSafe SimpliCam, Google Nest Cam Indoor, and ADT Blue Doorbell Camera. With one of these cameras in place, you can rest easy knowing that your home and belongings are protected.
