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7 min readOutdoor security cameras can be your home’s first line of defence. The Reolink Argus 3 Pro tops our list yet again as the best outdoor home security camera because it offers fantastic video quality, great performance, and doesn't come with any monthly fees. Wireless outdoor security camera systems like the Eufy 2C Pro, which comes with two cameras, also impressed us.
Find out how each outdoor camera performs for features, cost, and ease of installation and use.
Every outdoor security camera on our list features motion detection and DIY installation. See how they compare in cost, power source, and image quality.
Product | Best for | Price | Power source | Resolution | Night vision | Weatherproof rating | Horizontal field of view | Learn more |
| Best overall | $159.99 | Battery, solar (panel sold separately) | 2K | Colour/infrared | IP65 | 122º | View on Amazon | |
| Runner up | $399.95 | Battery, solar | 3K | Colour/infrared | IP67 | 360° | View on Eufy | |
| Best spotlight | $329 | Battery, wired, solar, plug-in | 1080p | Colour/infrared | IP65 | 140° | View on Amazon | |
| Best for smart homes | $247 | Battery | 1080p | Infrared | IP54 | 110° | View on Amazon | |
| Best budget | $86.99 | Wired | 1080p | Colour/infrared | IP65 | 100° | View on Amazon |
Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
The Reolink Argus 3 Pro security camera gets the job done without requiring a hefty upfront investment and no ongoing fees. Setup is super easy, and you have the option to permanently mount the cameras outside or set them on a ledge or other vantage point. One of the things we appreciate about the Argus 3 Pro is that it works just as well indoors as out. We also love the 2K video resolution for ultra-crisp footage.
When you add multiple cameras to your Reolink system, you have an interactive outdoor security camera system that can keep an eye on every access point to your property, since they're completely battery-powered. If you're not keen to climb up and recharge the camera, you can also grab the solar panel bundle for around the same price.
We're also fans of the microSD card slot for easy local storage and the fact that you get 7 days of free rolling cloud storage.
To learn more, read our full Reolink Argus 3 Pro review.
Affordable (even the solar version)
Excellent video quality
Bright spotlight
MicroSD video storage 
Field of view could be a little wider
No motion zones There's no getting past it—the Eufy SoloCam S340 is expensive. However, we reckon it's worth every single dollar.
It features not one, but two lenses (one ultrawide and one telephoto/zoom), allowing you to see every tiny detail, thanks to its ultra-crisp 3K resolution.
It's also great for larger outdoor areas because it can pan 360 degrees and also tilt, allowing for much greater coverage than a static camera. It also comes with a high-efficiency solar panel, making it easy to place just about anywhere and capable of keeping itself powered for years.
The SoloCam S340 comes with 8GB local storage included, which is great, but it's worth noting that if you need to expand it, you'll need to fork out for the Eufy HomeBase 3.
To learn more, read our full Eufy SoloCam S340 review.
3K video resolution
Dual lenses
8GB local storage included
360° coverage
Expensive
Local storage not easily expandable Ring made its name with excellent video doorbells, but you can find the same tech in the sleek Ring Spotlight Cam Pro. It's the priciest camera on our list, but it has an excellent spotlight and unique motion detection features.
The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro boasts cool features like 3D Motion Detection and Bird's Eye View, which use radar for a precise view of people entering your property and even show their route on a satellite map. Still, these cool features don't make up for Ring's lack of animal and vehicle detection.
Unfortunately, it also doesn't include any free storage—a Ring Protect plan (which comes with cloud storage and rich notifications) will set you back at least $4.95 per month.
Still, we love the multiple different power options and the fact that it supports two battery packs for extra time between charging sessions. (The second battery costs extra.) Plus, you can sound a built-in siren from your phone, making this outdoor cam a mini all-in-one security system.
Built-in spotlight
105-decibel siren
Easy installation
Multiple power options
Expensive
Resolution could be higher
No free storage 
Several Ring camera users have reported breaches in their accounts that allowed a stranger to use the two-way communication to intimidate them. This is a risk every user takes when they use any internet-connected wireless system. The good news is you can minimise the risk with proper internet security. Here are a few easy tips for securing your system from online threats:
We still confidently recommend Ring and other similar wireless internet-connected systems. And while these threats are real, they can be avoided with a few extra precautions.
Smart gadget pioneer Nest doesn’t disappoint with the Google Nest Cam Battery, which we consider one of the best outdoor battery-powered security cameras. It offers a bevy of features including intelligent motion and activity alerts, and two-way talk. We're especially big fans of its smart home compatibility since it supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the most popular smart home platforms around.
Although the Google Nest Cam Outdoor is the best outdoor camera with continuous recording, this feature is only available if you add a Nest Aware subscription. The same goes for person alerts, which reduce the number of false alarms due to wandering dogs or rambunctious tumbleweeds.
One thing we really like is that the Nest Cam Battery includes three hours of cloud storage. Sure, it's not a lot, but it's something. For more storage, fees range from $9 to $18 per month to record video from all of the Nest cameras in your home, with a discount if you pay for a whole year upfront.
Intelligent motion detection
Provides 130° view with wide-angle lens
Crisp picture
Three hours free cloud storage
Expensive
No solar power option
No siren For a sub-$100 security camera, the Reolink Lumus bats well above its average when it comes to features. It boasts a spotlight, 1080p video, colour night vision, PIR motion detection, two-way talk, and a siren.
It even has a higher weatherproof rating (IP65) than our Ring and Nest picks (IP55 and IP54, respectively) and offers SD card storage, meaning you don't have to pay any monthly subscription fees unless you want more than the included seven days of free cloud storage.
If the Lumus was battery or solar-powered, it'd give our top picks a run for their money. Unfortunately, it's wired only. While that makes for simple plug-and-play installation, it means placement is limited. Also, the 100-degree field of view falls behind our other picks, and since there's no pan or tilt functionality, the camera is stuck on a static view.
Colour night vision
Affordable
SD card slot
7 days free cloud storage
Wired power only
Comparatively small field of view 
Some of the most important features to look for when deciding on outdoor security cameras include:
We recommend the Reolink Argus 3 Pro as the best outdoor security camera for your home because it offers fantastic value and versatile power options. With its motion detection system, video recording, and built-in siren, it provides solid protection while deterring break-ins.
SafeWise recommends NBN 50 plans for households with security cameras, video doorbells and other smart devices. Here are the most popular plans right now from our sister site, WhistleOut.
The number of outdoor wireless security cameras you need depends on a few things, including how much area you want to cover and the field of view provided by the camera.
If you have multiple access points you want to keep an eye on, like the front porch, the garage, and the backyard, you’ll probably need a camera for each of those locations. And, depending on both the size of your yard and the wide-angle view of the camera, you could need multiple cameras to cover the whole area.
For whole-home coverage, you may want to check. out the best DIY home security systems with outdoor cameras.
An outdoor security camera needs to be able to take a beating, and the best way to tell if your camera can withstand the whims of Mother Nature is to check out the IP (Ingress Protection) rating.
The first number in an IP rating shows how difficult it is for things like dust and water to enter the camera enclosure. The second number shows how tamper-proof the enclosure is.
An IP65 rating means the camera enclosure is protected from dust as well as low-pressure water spray, which means the camera should stand up to rain and snow. A rating of IP67 means total dust protection and the ability to withstand full immersion in water up to about three feet.
If you only want to capture video footage during the daytime, then lighting probably won’t be a concern. But most of us want a security camera to be an extra set of eyes when ours aren’t available—like when we’re sleeping.
To capture clear images after the sun sets, you want a camera with night vision. Night vision capabilities vary, but the most important things to look for are the range for which night vision works and the image resolution.
For those who want to do more than catch culprits in the act, a spotlight security camera or a floodlight camera is a good option. These cameras use motion sensors to activate both video recording and the lights.
But lights can interfere with night vision capabilities, so keep that in mind. If video footage is more important to you than scaring off hoodlums, then you might want to skip the lights.
The benefit of a battery-operated camera is the ability to place the unit anywhere on your property. Hardwired cameras have more placement restrictions (and trickier installation) because you have to connect them to a power source.
But cameras that rely on batteries are at higher risk of leaving you unprotected if the batteries run out and you don’t notice. It really comes down to what matters more—placement flexibility or an uninterrupted power supply.
Outdoor security cameras can get power through a battery or by tapping into your home's electrical system.
Some cameras have batteries that can be recharged through a solar panel. Otherwise, you'll need to regularly replace the batteries to keep the camera up and running.
Wired cameras plug into an outlet or are spliced into your home's electrical circuit by a professional. The latter is known as hardwiring. Wired cameras sometimes feature a backup battery to reduce vulnerability during a power outage.
To find the best outdoor security cameras, we looked for the features that matter most to consumers, including cost, reliability, ease of use, smart home capabilities, weatherproofing, and night vision. Our team tested multiple wireless outdoor security cameras in-house and at our homes. Plus, we looked at more than 20 expert reviews and thousands of customer reviews.
To make our list, cameras needed to stand up to weather and have good night vision. We also liked cameras that use a wireless connection, are motion-activated, and offer some smart home compatibility. For this list, we only considered standalone outside cameras rather than those available as part of a professionally monitored outdoor security camera system.
