Best microSD cards for home security cameras

SD cards are a useful addition to your home security camera, especially if you need extra storage. Here are our favourites.
Best overall
Samsung EVO Plus
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.75
  • pro
    Weatherproof
  • pro
    Great for 4K video
  • pro
    High reading and writing speeds
Best value
SanDisk High Endurance
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
  • pro
    Weatherproof
  • pro
    Cost effective
  • pro
    Decent reading and writing speeds
Best performance
SanDisk Extreme Pro
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
  • pro
    Weatherproof
  • pro
    Excellent performance
  • con
    High cost

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

Most people get a security camera to keep up to date on who, or what, is lingering around their property. The video footage captured by this security camera can be vital if something happens around your house, and you need to give the footage to law enforcement. To get the most out of your security camera, make sure you select the right memory storage, speed class, and card size for your camera. 

Many security cameras, whether they offer cloud storage or not, will have the option to add expandable storage via a microSD card. That way, everything that is recorded is stored on the device itself.

If you’re on the hunt for a reliable security camera microSD card, here are our top picks.



Compare the best microSD cards for home security cameras

Product
Best for recording
Price Range
Read Speed
Write Speed
Storage Capacity
Learn more
720p to 4kUp to 130MB/sLess than 130MB/s64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
720p to 2KUp to 100MB/sUp to 40MB/s32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
1080p to 8KUp to 200MB/s*Up to 140MB/s*32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

*Read and write speeds may differ based on microSD card storage capacity and device compatibility.

1. Samsung EVO Plus: Best microSD card overall

Best overall
Samsung EVO Plus
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.75
From
$30.99
for 256GB
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Samsung EVO Plus MicroSD card is our top pick. It offers sizes ranging from 64GB to 512GB, so you can store as many of your recorded videos on there and not have to cull them all and keep the highlights. This microSD is rated C10, U3, and V30 for speed, with a maximum reading speed of up to 130MB/s (and a write speed confusingly quoted as "lower than read speed"). It's engineered to handle security cam recordings up to 4K, so it will probably be compatible with whatever security cam you’re using. 

It's built to withstand the rain, scorching sun, magnets, and X-rays, so you can rest assured your footage will be safe on your outdoor security camera. Thanks to the 10-year warranty, your data continues to remain secure. We’d pair this microSD with the Reolink Argus 3 Pro, one of our favourite outdoor security cameras.

Read about more of our noteworthy outdoor security cameras.

pro
Pros
pro 10-year warranty
pro Comfortably writes up to 4k video
pro High read and write speed
con
Cons
con Not a whole lot of storage for 4k video
con Exact write speed unknown

2. SanDisk High Endurance: Best value microSD card

Best value
SanDisk High Endurance
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
From
$14
for 32GB
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The SanDisk High Endurance is an affordable microSD perfect for the budget conscious. It sits around a reasonable $50 for the 256GB size – which is the most you can expect to pay for this microSD card. If you know you won’t need a heap of storage, like if you already have a cloud storage subscription, you can expect to pay about $15 for the smaller 32GB card. With speed ratings of C10, U3, and V30, and a write speed of 40MB/s, this little guy packs a punch at its price point. It can store up to 20,000 hours of HD footage and is resistant to high temperatures if stored outdoors, making it ideal for dash cams. It's also shockproof, waterproof, and x-ray proof, so if you drop it or it rains, your data and videos will remain safe. 

This microSD is an excellent choice for those looking to save but still wanting the peace of mind of some added local storage. You can also look at saving on your security cam too – check out these security cameras for under $150

pro
Pros
pro Cost effective
pro Excellent performance
con
Cons
con Limited storage options
con Not the best option for those with 4k cameras

3. SanDisk Extreme Pro: Best performing microSD card

Best performance
SanDisk Extreme Pro
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
From
$18.95
for 64GB
Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

With a read speed of up to 200MB/s and a write speed of 140MB/s (for capacities of 256GB or more), the SanDisk Extreme Pro is one of the best-performing microSDs on our list. However, this performance does come at a price. It retails for just over $200 for 1TB of storage – exceptional performance doesn't come cheap. If you’re looking for a microSD that is groundbreakingly fast, can support quality video footage, and need lots of storage, the SanDisk Extreme Pro is a commendable choice. Its speed ratings are excellent, at A2, U3, and V30, making it the perfect choice for your security cam that shoots 4K, or even 8K video.

We recommend pairing it with the Reolink 4K PoE security camera. 

pro
Pros
pro Exceptional reading and writing speeds
pro Good range of storage options
pro Perfect for 4k cameras
con
Cons
con Expensive
con Smaller capacities come with slower speeds

What’s the right microSD card for my security camera?

The best microSD card for your security camera depends on your model. Below are some questions you might ask to determine what is best for your camera:

  • Is my camera a motion sensor? If your camera only records when something or someone enters the frame, you might not need as much local storage. 
  • Do you have a cloud storage subscription? Companies like Arlo offer a monthly subscription service that uploads all recorded footage to your cloud storage (among other added features). Whether or not you decide to renew your subscription will determine how much local storage you need. If you have the subscription and all footage is uploaded to the cloud anyway, there's no need for a fancy microSD card with a huge storage capacity.
  • What resolution does your camera record in? Cameras that record in 4K, or even 8K, require a much higher write speed than cameras that don't. In addition to this, videos that are shot in high-resolution take up much more space.

Compare the best wireless security cameras

Camera
Best for
Rating
Price
Type
Video resolution Icon Tooltip  Dark
Night vision
Learn more
Best overall
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Indoor/outdoor, battery or solar-powered 1440p (2K) Colour/infrared
Best budget
4 out of 5 stars
4
Indoor, wired1080p Infrared
Best video quality
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
Indoor/outdoor, battery-powered1440p (2K) Colour/infrared
Best design
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
Indoor/outdoor, battery-powered1080p Infrared
Best viewing range
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Indoor, wired 1080p Infrared
Best for Alexa
3.8 out of 5 stars
3.75
Indoor/outdoor, battery-powered 1080p Infrared

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

MicroSD card speeds explained

Arguably one of the most important parts of microSD cards regarding security cameras is speed. While microSD cards will detail their read and write speed, security cam microSD cards only really rely on the write speed. The read speed is how quickly video can be accessed on your camera, while the write speed is how quickly data can be recorded and written to its memory. If your microSD card is slow, it might skip frames or make your uploaded video laggy. A higher write speed on your card is important for security cameras because you’re sending a constant stream of data to local storage. If this stream is interrupted, it won’t perform as expected. 

There are 3 different types of speed classifications: 

(Original) Speed Class

  • C2 - minimum write speed of 2M/s
  • C4 - minimum write speed of 4MB/s
  • C6 - minimum write speed of 6MB/s
  • C10 - minimum write speed of 10MB/s

Class 10 is the current industry standard – newer hardware requires more speed and higher write speeds, so C10 is usually the minimum speed requirement nowadays. 

UHS (Ultra-High Speed) Class

  • U1 - minimum write speed of 10MB/s
  • U3 - minimum write speed of 30MB/s

The UHS class is more commonly used than the Speed Class. High-end cameras require at least U3, especially for recording high-resolution video. Security cameras that are capable of recording in 4k will usually require at least a U3-rated microSD card. 

Video Speed Class

  • V6 - minimum write speed 6MB/s
  • V10 - minimum write speed 10MB/s
  • V30 - minimum write speed 30MB/s 
  • V60 - minimum write speed 60MB/s
  • V90 - minimum write speed 90MB/s

The video speed class is the newest class, created to enable high-resolution recording features like 360-degree capture and 4k (or even 8k) resolution videos. One of the fastest speeds available, it's ideal for ultra-high-resolution video, 4k and 8k recording, and 360-degree cams.

You can find the best one for your device by choosing the same speed class or higher than the one recommended for your device. For example, if your device requires C4, you can use C4, C6, or C10. If you don’t have a recommended speed, but if you have a 4K or high-definition security camera, you should think about opting for a microSD with a speed class of C10, UHS 1, V10 or above.

MicroSD vs SD cards

Most security cameras use microSD cards for local storage. While there are other minor differences, the main difference between microSD cards and SD cards is the size. SD cards are larger and are therefore somewhat limited as to where they can be used. Most modern devices favour microSD cards, which are small enough for use in security cameras, mobile phones, dash cams and more. MicroSD cards can also be used like regular SD cards with the help of an adapter (which is often sold alongside the microSD card).

Final word

Choosing the right microSD card for your security might seem like a daunting task given the choice that's available. However, there are factors to consider (like size, speed class, and operating temperature) that will impact which one is the right option for you.

When it comes to finding the best for home security cameras, we think the Samsung EVO Plus, SanDisk High Endurance and SanDisk Extreme Pro microSD cards are the top choices on the market right now.

How we reviewed the best microSD cards

To find the best microSD cards for a range of uses and budgets, we extensively researched all the major microSD brands available in Australia. We looked at price, read and write speeds, storage capacities, consumer warranties, and customer reviews to learn which ones were worth your hard-earned cash.

You can learn more about how we review products by checking out our methodology.


Disclaimer

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.

Hannah Geremia
Written by
Hannah Geremia
Hannah has had over six years of experience in researching, writing, and editing quality content. She loves gaming, dancing, and animals, and can usually be found under a weighted blanket with a cup of coffee and a book.

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