We tested over 50 wireless security cameras to find the best features, video quality, and cloud storage to protect your home. We awarded the Reolink Argus PT 4K+ as our winner for top wireless home security cameras.
22 min read
Reviewed ByKatie McEntireFor over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to write unbiased, human reviews (not robots). Learn more.
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With 9 years in journalism, John focuses on smart home tech, writing for ASecureLife and previously serving as Smart Home Editor at Top Ten Reviews.
Which is the best wireless security camera?
We have over a decade of home security experience and have spent over 500 hours testing wireless home security cameras, which we love for their convenience and flexibility.
Our top pick is the Reolink Argus PT 4K+ because it sports 4K video quality, a bright spotlight, and a wire-free design — features it shares with Arlo Pro 4, one of our previous winners. But Reolink offers a smaller price tag.
Although, Arlo offers more advanced features like better smart home compatibility, Reolink offers local storage, a more extended warranty, and a very affordable solar panel add-on. These minor improvements make a huge difference when the best wireless security cameras are so similar.
Find out which cameras on our list are truly wireless and what innovative features each offers in our comparison tables and security camera reviews.
Want to save on your security camera? Check out Amazon's Big Spring Sale deals March 25–31!
What's the difference between a wireless camera and a Wi-Fi camera?
A wireless camera (or wire-free camera) gets power from a battery or solar panel. Not all wireless cameras connect to the internet. Many do, but some store videos on a local SD card.
A Wi-Fi camera is a security camera that uses a wireless internet connection to communicate with a mobile app. "Wireless camera" is often used interchangeably for both meanings.
For more info, check out our Beginners Guide to Security Cameras.
What are the best wireless home security cameras of 2025?
- : Best overall wireless home security camera
- : Best wireless outdoor home security camera
- : Best smart detection home security camera
- : Best indoor wireless home security camera
- : Budget pick for best wireless home security camera
Do wireless security cameras need Wi-Fi?
Most of the time, yes. Modern security cameras use Wi-Fi for five tasks:
- Streaming live video
- Storing video footage in the cloud
- Mobile device controls and alerts
- Two-way audio
- Communication with smart home devices
Compare the best wireless security cameras
In our side-by-side comparison table, you can see how our favorite wireless cameras vary in price, monthly cloud storage fees, usage, and resolution. While all of them are great cameras, some are better than others depending on what you want to watch. Indoor cameras are great for pets and kids while outdoor cameras can keep an eye out for package thieves and intruders.
Product | Price | Type | Learn more |
| $119.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | View on Amazon | |
| $179.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | View on Amazon | |
| $179.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | View on Google Store | |
| $42.99 | Indoor wired | View on Amazon | |
| $79.99 | Indoor wired | View on Amazon |
Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change Read full disclaimer.
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Best wireless security camera reviews
1. Reolink Argus PT 4K+: Best overall wireless home security camera
Best overall
We love the Reolink Argus PT 4K+ because it performs like the excellent Reolink Argus 3 Pro (our former top pick), but with better camera resolution, making it an easy choice to top our rankings as the best home security camera. While Reolink's cloud storage isn't as good as the options from Arlo and Ring, its microSD card slot gives it a local storage advantage. You don't need a paid subscription to save videos from your Reolink camera.
It doesn't hurt that it's a solar security camera. The included Reolink solar panel means you don't have to charge the battery every few months.
- Indoor/outdoor usage: Outdoor
- Power source: Solar powered, battery
- Connectivity protocol: Wi-Fi
- Compatibility: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa
- Mounting type: Wall mount
- Video capture resolution: 4K
- Included components:
- Argus PT 4K
- 6W solar panel
- Quick start guide
- USB-C cable
- Bracket
- Strap
- Reset needle
- Mounting template
- Surveillance sticker
- Number of channels: 1
- Wireless communication technology: Wi-Fi
- Viewing angle: 360 degrees
- Installation type: Screw in
- Night vision range: 33 feet
- Frame rate: 15fps
- Voltage: 5 volts (DC)
- Wattage: 21.6 watt-hours
- Item dimensions (L × W × H): 3.86 × 3.86 × 4.8 inches
- Field of view: 110 degrees
- Low light technology: Night color
- Zoom type: Digital zoom
- Zoom ratio: 16
- Alert type: Motion only
- Light source type: LED
- Video capture format: MP4
- Specific uses for product: Outside (professional, amateur)
- Photo sensor technology: CMOS
- Effective still resolution: 8 MP
- International weather protection rating: IP64
- Maximum webcam image resolution: 8 MP
- Control method: App
- Flash memory supported size maximum: 512 GB
- Item weight: 3.72 pounds
- Batteries: 1 lithium-ion battery required (included)
Pros
Affordable (especially the solar panels)
Excellent video quality
Bright spotlight
MicroSD video storage 
Cons
No removable battery We also highly recommend the Reolink PT Ultra+SP and the Reolink Floodlight camera. They both have 4K video resolution and rechargeable battery or solar power, so you have crisp images with a lot of flexibility for camera placement. Still, it lacks a removable battery like Arlo Pro 4 and Ring Stick Up Cam — you can't quickly swap in a spare.
The new Reolink Argus PT 4K+ also has motion zones, so you can customize what your camera sees. Is your camera picking up traffic from the street and bugging you with too many notifications? Customize the motion zone so the camera doesn't detect the street.
The Reolink Indoor Security Camera (about $80) is one of the best pan-tilt-zoom cameras we've ever tested at SafeWise. It easily beats the Argus Pro 3's video quality but isn't wire-free or weatherproof, making it worth considering if you need a great indoor cam!
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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During our tests, we noticed that the Reolink Argus 3 Pro camera lacks motion zones and has a narrower field of view (122º) than the Reolink Argus 2 Ultra. So the Ultra is a big upgrade. It even boasts compatibility with smart home platforms like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Its starlight night vision gives you clear, color images without extra ambient light. Overall, we found the setup easy, and the camera outperformed our expectations, so we're enormous fans of Reolink.
Image: Katie McEntire mounting the Reolink Argus PT Ultra
2. Arlo Pro 5S: Best wireless outdoor home security camera for smart homes
Best outdoor camera
The Arlo Pro 5S 2K offers compatibility with more smart home platforms than any other entry on our list. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. Although it's no longer our top pick, it's still one of our all-time favorites.
We love that it's 100% wire-free — it doesn't need a power cord and still manages to outperform the competition. Its Wi-Fi connection and battery make it easy to install anywhere a ladder can reach.
- Indoor/outdoor usage: Outdoor
- Power source: Battery powered
- Connectivity protocol: Wi-Fi
- Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings
- Mounting type: Wall mount
- Video capture resolution: 2K
- Included components:
- (1) Arlo Pro 5 camera
- (1) Rechargeable battery
- (1) Magnetic charging cable
- (1) Wall mount and screw kit
- (1) Quick start guide
- (1) Video monitoring decal
- Number of channels: 2
- Wireless communication technology: Wi-Fi
- Viewing angle: 160 degrees
- Wattage: 5 watts
- Item dimensions (L × W × H): 3.5 × 2 × 3 inches
- Batteries required?: Yes
- Focus type: Automatically
- Field of view: 160 degrees
- Low light technology: Night color
- Zoom type: Digital zoom
- Alert type: Audio and motion
- Video capture format: MPEG-4
- Unit count: 1.0 count
- International protection rating: IP65
- Item weight: 1.17 pounds
- Batteries: 1 lithium-ion battery required (included)
Pros
2K video resolution
100% wire-free design
Indoor/outdoor versatility (includes color night vision)
Smart home integration Cons
High price
Paid cloud storage The Arlo Pro 5S 2K is an excellent battery-powered camera, especially if you want a quick setup, multiple cameras, and outstanding video quality. Its 2K video captures more detail than 1080p outdoor cameras and records clear video any time of day, thanks to infrared night vision and a built-in spotlight.
It's a breeze to set up, thanks to a helpful tutorial in the Arlo app. And the magnetic wall mount makes it easy to install anywhere. While you have to pay for cloud video storage on the Arlo Pro 5S 2k, it's one of the cheaper subscriptions out there at $2.99/ month.
3. Nest Cam (battery): Best smart detection home security camera
Best smart detection
The Nest Cam (battery)† is awesome for image, video, and sound quality, producing some of our testing's best recordings. Plus, it fixes one of our biggest complaints about the Nest Cam IQ by opening up most of its smart alerts to users without a Nest Aware subscription.
- Indoor/outdoor usage: Outdoor, indoor
- Power source: Battery powered
- Connectivity protocol: Wi-Fi
- Compatibility: Google Assistant
- Video capture resolution: 1080p
- Included components:
- Power adapter
- Nest Cam camera
- Charge cable
- Wall anchors and screws
- Magnetic and wall plate
- Number of channels: 1
- Wireless communication technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Effective video resolution: 1080 pixels
- Installation type: Magnetic
- Night vision range: 20 feet
- Frame rate: 30 fps
- Wattage: 24 watts
- Water resistance level: Waterproof
- Item weight: 14.04 ounces
- Optical zoom: 6×
- Video encoding: H.264
- Field of view: 130 degrees
- Low light technology: Night color
- Zoom type: Digital zoom
- Zoom ratio: 0.127777777777778
- Alert type: Motion only
- Light source type: Infrared
- Video capture format: H.264
- International weather protection rating: IP54
- Maximum webcam image resolution: 2 MP
- Item weight: 14 ounces
- Batteries: 1 lithium metal battery required (included)
Pros
Great video quality
Battery-powered
Local backup storage
Quality design and aesthetic Cons
High price
Facial recognition requires subscription This is Google's first battery-powered security camera, and we're pleased to say its battery holds up well in tests. Still, Google says the battery won't charge in freezing temperatures, so you may need to bring it inside to warm up during the winter charging sessions. This isn't unique to Google — many wireless outdoor cameras like Arlo and Reolink have similar limitations.
There's even free cloud storage now, making Nest a lot more viable for folks on a budget. It stores only three hours of video clips, but that's better than Arlo and Ring's complete lack of free video history. As a bonus, built-in video storage keeps the camera recording up to a week's worth of clips when the internet drops.
Among the smart alerts you can use for free are person, animal, and vehicle detection, along with motion zones. Using so many features without a monthly subscription is a big improvement. You still need to pay to use facial recognition, but we're not as excited about that. We especially like that you don't need to pay a separate fee for each IP camera in your home.
Check out our full Nest Cam (battery) review for more info.
Image: Katie McEntire, Footage from the Nest Cam Battery (left), Mounted Nest Cam Battery (right).
4. Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24: Best indoor wireless home security camera
Best indoor camera
The Eufy Solo IndoorCam C120 makes a big splash as the best indoor camera for most folks. This comes down to excellent 2K video quality and a low price, which means you can buy multiple security cameras for the house. It's also one of the best smart security cameras on our list, thanks to multiple smart home integrations.
- Indoor/outdoor usage: Indoor
- Compatibility: HomeBase 3, Apple HomeKit, the Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa
- Power source: Corded electric
- Connectivity protocol: Wi-Fi
- Video capture resolution: 3 MP
- Included components:
- 1× eufy Security Indoor Cam
- 1× USB adapter
- 1× USB cable
- 1× Mounting bracket
- 1× Screw pack
- 1× Quick guide
- Number of channels: 2
- Wireless communication technology: Wi-Fi
- Installation type: Self-adhesive
- Voltage: 5 volts
- Wattage: 15 watts
- Item dimensions (L × W × H): 2.24 × 2.24 × 4.11 inches
- Item weight: 0.23 pounds
- Field of view: 125 degrees
- Low light technology: Night color
- Zoom type: Digital zoom
- Zoom ratio: 8×
- Alert type: Audio and motion
- Video capture format: MP4
- Unit count: 1.0 count
- International weather protection rating: IP65
- Item weight: 3.68 ounces
Pros
Excellent video quality
Local video storage
Low price
Great smart home integration Cons
No weatherproofing
Wired power cord Eufy comes with a microSD card slot for local video storage — just like Wyze. This means you don't pay anything after buying a memory card. Eufy has a paid cloud storage plan, but it doesn't really add any features to the camera beyond storing your video remotely, making the added features and discounts of Nest, Arlo, Ring, and Wyze more appealing.
It's one of the best options for smart home compatibility compared to Arlo, our smart home pick. We love that it's compatible with Apple HomeKit, which is less common than the Google Home and Alexa options available on most home security cams. (Eufy also works with those two platforms.)
It's indoor-only, making it one of few cameras on our lineup without weatherproofing to watch your yard. There's also no battery power option for this model, though Eufy makes some excellent battery-powered models like the EufyCam S3 Pro.
Looking for an outdoor Eufy Camera option?
The Eufy SoloCam S220 is a solar-powered, weatherproof outdoor cam with local storage and military-grade encryption. You can get the 2-, 3-, or 4-cam kit.
Overall, we think that the Eufy Solo IndoorCam C120 is worth it for Apple HomeKit fans or if you want a budget indoor camera with outstanding video quality.
Learn more in our Eufy cameras review.
5. Blink Indoor: Best budget pick for wireless home security cameras
Best battery life
Blink is an Amazon-owned brand focusing on budget cameras. The Blink Indoor is an attractive little camera you can buy for about $80. Thanks to an indoor-only design, this makes it cheaper than most other surveillance cameras for home security.
It has a long battery life of up to two years — much longer than the competition. It achieves this by recording short clips and turning off Wi-Fi when the camera is inactive. Connecting to Alexa and Fire TV devices is easy, and you can even see a live view on Alexa smart displays like the Echo Show.
The Blink Indoor has optional local storage if you connect a USB drive to the included Sync Module. There's also a paid cloud subscription (about $3/ month) to save videos, but it stores only about two hours of footage, which is tiny compared to most brands. Still, the Blink Indoor is a good option if you want an affordable wire-free indoor security camera to use with Alexa.
Check out our Blink cameras review for more information.
- Field of view: 110° diagonal
- Video resolution: 1080p HD video during the day, infrared HD night vision after dark
- Photo resolution: 640 × 360 nHD
- Camera frame rate: Up to 30 fps
- Size: 71 × 71 × 31 mm
- Weight: 48 grams
- Camera battery: 2 AA 1.5V lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries
- Wi-Fi network: 2.4 GHz
- Included in the box:
- Blink Indoor camera (dependent on quantity selected)
- Sync Module 2
- 2 × 1.5V non-rechargeable AA lithium metal batteries (per camera)
- Mounting kit (per camera)
- USB cable
- Power adapter
- Generation: 3rd generation
- Operating temperature: 32 to 95° F
Blink Mini
If you don't mind wires, the Blink Mini is a cheaper option for around $30. But you need to buy a Sync Module separately if you want local storage.
More security cameras we recommend
Product | Best for | Price | Type | Learn more |
| Best video doorbell | $179.99 | Outdoor wire-free | View on Google Store | |
| Best floodlight camera | $229.98 | Outdoor wire-free | View on Amazon | |
| Best for Alexa | $79.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | View on Amazon | |
| Best ultra-budget | $22.99 | Indoor wired | View on Amazon |
Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
There are so many great wireless cameras out there, we couldn't stop at just ten. Here are a few more options with side-by-side comparisons for prices, uses, and resolution.
6. Nest Doorbell (Battery): Best video doorbell
Best video doorbell
The Nest Doorbell (Battery) brings the same smart motion detection and cloud storage we love about the Nest Cam to your front door. Even though its video resolution is on the lower end, the Nest Doorbell proves that using your pixels effectively can make all the difference. It somehow achieves some of the best-looking video quality in a doorbell camera.
A built-in battery means you can install the Nest Doorbell anywhere, but we like that it supports existing doorbell wires, so you don't need to bring it inside to recharge. The battery lasts up to six months on a charge with regular usage, though this drops depending on the weather and how often it records video.
At around $180, the Nest Doorbell (Battery) costs almost twice as much as the Ring Video Doorbell. Still, we think its smart detection, affordable cloud storage, and attractive design are worth the price.
Read our full Nest Doorbell review for more testing insights.
7. Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight: Best floodlight camera
Best floodlight camera
The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight is a solid floodlight camera that makes the most of Arlo's signature style of easy installation and excellent outdoor cameras.
It turns up the brightness compared to a typical security camera and lights a huge area of your yard. This improves color video quality at night and provides a visual deterrent to would-be intruders. Plus, it's nice to have an app-controlled floodlight when you need more light on the patio.
We love that the Arlo floodlight uses a rechargeable battery, which means it's way easier to install than wired floodlight cameras from Eufy, Ring, and Wyze. If you use the floodlight often, you can drain the battery quickly, but at least Arlo sells an optional power cable. While the cable adds $50 to your price tag, it also unlocks a maximum brightness of 3,000 lumens compared to the 2,000 lumens in battery-only mode.
Learn more in our full comparison of the best floodlight cameras.
8. Ring Stick Up Cam Battery: Best for Alexa
Best for Alexa
The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is completely wire-free, so you have a ton of flexibility in where you put it. And it costs around $100, making it a fairly affordable security camera you can use both indoors and outdoors. It's an ideal wireless camera for an Alexa smart home, though we'd like it better if it supported Google Assistant and HomeKit like Arlo does.
If you need a wireless outdoor camera on a budget, the Stick Up Cam Battery is a great bet. Ring also has one of the most competitive plans on the market for storing recorded video—Ring Protect Basic costs just $5/month for 180 days of storage.
We've seen reports of short battery life on Ring products (some say it lasts about a month), and recharging the Stick Up Cam is tedious since you need to remove the battery each time. There's a wired option (Stick Up Cam Plug-In) but you lose the flexibility of anywhere installation.
You can get a solar panel accessory so you don't need to remove the battery as often, but it'll cost you extra.
Read our full Ring Stick Up Cam review to learn more about this great little camera.
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus, Battery
The Ring Spotlight Cam Plus, Battery (about $170) costs a bit more than the Stick Up Cam but has some extra perks: a built-in siren and bright spotlight help deter unwelcome visitors by making the camera hard to ignore.
We also like that the spotlight doubles as a path light for walking to the door at night. The latest model even has an extra battery slot to double your battery life — it comes with a single battery.
9. YI 1080p Home Camera: Best ultra-budget camera
Best ultra-budget camera
If you want to spend as little money as possible on a security camera (that's at least still pretty good), then you'll love the YI 1080p Indoor Security Camera (less than $50). It even makes for an affordable Wi-Fi nanny cam in a pinch with YI's baby crying detection. This sends a notification to your phone when your little one sounds off that they need some TLC.
Unlimited free cloud storage is another great feature. You can also share app access with up to five people. But watch out if you're an Android user: there are several reported issues with the Android app.
Check out our full YI Home Camera review to learn more.
10. Wyze Cam v3
Caution: Recent Wyze security issue!
Wyze experienced another breach on Friday, February 16, 2024. As many as 13,000 users were affected. Once again, users received access to thumbnails, events, and even videos that weren't from their camera's feed.
Wyze responded quickly, apologized, and resolved the issue, but that isn't enough for some users who no longer trust their Wyze cameras to keep images of their homes private. If you have a Wyze camera, check out our recommendations of what to do in light of these breaches.
The Wyze Cam v3 builds on the foundation of Wyze's original sleeper hit by introducing outdoor capabilities, a built-in siren, improved night vision, and a higher frame rate for smoother video. While the v3 saw a small price bump shortly after release, under $35 is still a steal for a wireless camera this good.
Pros
Affordable price
Powerful color night vision
Indoor and outdoor capabilities
Built-in siren Cons
Wired power cord
Special power source for outdoor operation Wyze Cam v3's night vision is noteworthy because it uses a starlight sensor with two types of infrared LEDs to produce color video at night. This is also one of the first Wyze cameras to record videos at 20 frames per second (fps) during the day, which gives it smoother video playback and live viewing than Wyze's older cameras.
We're fans of Wyze's free cloud storage that saves 12-second clips for up to 14 days. The Wyze Cam Plus paid cloud storage plan allows full-length video clips and is great for folks who want better video recording without buying a microSD card. It's also one of the cheapest plans from any security camera company — costing just $3/ month or $20 for an annual plan.
A window mount, spotlight kit, and floodlight mount are three compelling accessories for the v3. The window mount improves recording video through a window — typically a no-no with indoor cameras. The LED spotlight kit brings Wyze Cam v3 closer to Arlo Pro 4 in nighttime functionality, while the floodlight camera mount offers the best lighting experience for this cam.
One of the only things we don't like is that you need a power cord, which limits placement options.
See footage in our full Wyze Cam v3 review.
A window mount, spotlight kit, and floodlight mount are three compelling accessories for the v3. The window mount improves recording video through a window — typically a no-no with indoor cameras. The LED spotlight kit brings Wyze Cam v3 closer to Arlo Pro 4 in nighttime functionality, while the floodlight camera mount offers the best lighting experience for this cam.
One of the only things we don't like is that you need a power cord, which limits placement options. To make matters worse, outdoor operation requires a special cord.
See footage in our full Wyze Cam v3 review.
New! Wyze Cam v4
The new Wyze Cam v4 is the latest from the budget brand. Some of its newest improvements include:
- 2.5K QHD Resolution
- Enhanced Color Night Vision
- Motion-Activated Spotlight
- 24/7 Local Recording
- IP65 Weather Resistance
- Advanced Audio Features1
Camera brands not in our roundup
We cover a lot of security cameras on SafeWise, so it's impossible to talk about everything in a single article. Here's where you can find our reviews of other popular security camera brands:
What to look for in a wireless security camera
After 10-plus years of testing and living with more than 50 different security cameras in our homes, we know what makes a camera stand out (or not). Here's a peek into our process and a guide to follow when picking the best wireless security camera for your home, including which ones you can use indoors and outdoors.
Five major factors make up the foundation of our criteria:
This is really what it's all about. Depending on where you plan to use your camera, you should consider performance in different light conditions, image resolution, how wide the field of view is, and whether you can pan or tilt the camera for better coverage.
Experience is very subjective, but we look for cameras that keep it simple when it comes to setup and control. We like cameras with robust mobile apps that make it easy to find video feeds, sort through clips, adjust notifications and other settings, and, above all, let you control your privacy options.
We prefer cameras with a bevy of customer resources, including everything from a good product warranty to multiple options for contacting customer service (some of us like online help; others like to pick up the phone).
We consider cost and value when we look at how much a camera (and any required subscriptions) will set you back. A cheap camera with poor quality and no features may meet your budget but won't do a great job offering security. In contrast, a slightly more expensive camera with a free app and crystal-clear picture can be worth the extra investment.
If you want to use your camera footage in the event of a break-in or package theft, you need to know that the clips of the event won't be lost because of limited storage. We like cameras that include free storage but also offer additional options. We also prefer local storage over cloud storage for those worried about privacy breaches.
We also go beyond these basic categories and consider extras like floodlights/spotlights, doorbell function, two-way audio, subscriptions, and smart home or security system compatibility. Choosing a camera that functions well is easy, but finding one that matches your specific security and convenience needs is what sets each one apart. In this roundup, we highlight how each camera fares in these categories and against each other.
Wireless security camera FAQs
The sweet spot for a mid-range security camera is around $100, give or take $50. You'll find plenty of wired, wireless, indoor, outdoor, and pan-and-tilt options from reputable brands without sacrificing quality or features. In general, you can expect better features and stronger customer support with more expensive cameras.
If you're looking for cheap security cameras, stick to brand names you recognize between $20 and $50. Keep in mind that most budget cameras require a power cord. Aside from the occasional sale by a well-known brand, don't buy any security cameras under $20.
On the upper end of the spectrum, we recommend keeping your cost under $200 per camera unless you need specialized features like a floodlight, 4K video quality, LTE cellular connection, or security monitoring. Ultimately, it's your call how much you want to invest in security.
Learn more in our guide to Security Camera Cost & Installation Fees.
In general, we recommend wired cameras for indoor settings and wireless cameras for outdoors.
An abundance of electrical outlets indoors makes a perfect habitat for wired security cameras. While you won't have as much placement flexibility as with a wire-free camera, the installation process is just as easy in most cases. Plus, wired cameras are usually more affordable, so you can have excellent indoor coverage while focusing the bulk of your budget on outdoor cameras.
Wireless security cameras are a natural choice outdoors because you can achieve perfect placement, especially when using a solar panel charger. You'll need to keep on top of the battery life, but it's a small price to pay for quick installation.
In some cases, it might make sense to use a wired camera outdoors. A wired outdoor camera may take more effort to install but is easier to maintain. We recommend wired power for video doorbells and floodlight cameras. It's especially useful for charging batteries in wireless models.
Likewise, using a wireless camera indoors is a good way to keep recording during a power outage. Most wireless cameras support a power cord, so charging the battery is effortless. You can also install the camera where a power cord won't reach.
Learn more in our guide to Wired vs. Wireless Security Cameras.
With a wireless security camera, the video signal — and, with some, the audio signal as well — transmits over the internet or other wireless network to a receiver that connects to your viewing and recording device. Many people use computers or cloud storage accounts to save the video footage for later viewing.
A wireless camera must maintain a signal and connection to your network to record and capture footage. If there's a disruption to your connection, your wireless security camera can’t send the feed to your mobile device.
- Video resolution affects the quality of your home security footage. A clear image helps identify a recording's faces, vehicles, and items. Choose a camera with at least 1080p resolution.
- Field of view refers to how much area a camera sees through its lens. It affects how many cameras you need and where to place them. Look for a field of view that's at least 110º.
- Motion detection sends notifications when a camera observes movement. Choose a motion sensor camera with smart detection to tag people, animals, and vehicles for more effective motion alerts.
- Infrared night vision helps eliminate security camera footage that's too dark in low- and no-light situations after sunset. Choose a camera with a night vision range of at least 20 feet.
- Two-way audio (also called two-way communication) uses a microphone and speaker to interact with people or pets on the other end. Two-way talk effectively turns your security camera into an intercom to address a delivery driver or check in on the kids after school.
- Pan-and-tilt motors or a digital zoom adjust the camera's view remotely. A motorized pan-and-tilt camera is ideal for recording a larger area than a static camera and reduces the number of cameras you need overall.
- Movement tracking allows some pan-and-tilt cameras to follow the action in a room automatically, whether it's a pet racing around the living room or a youngster toddling toward trouble.
Related questions
Absolutely! Home security cameras allow you to watch over your home in two primary ways more effectively:
- Deter: A survey by Fox News Atlanta supports the findings of a 2012 study by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, revealing that a surveillance camera in a conspicuous location can make 60% to 66% of burglars think twice about attempting to enter your home.
- Describe: Security cameras can collect information about burglars and the items they take. This makes it easier to file police reports and insurance claims.
The best part is that you choose how much to spend on security cameras for your home.
Related questions
Unfortunately, security cameras can be vulnerable to hacking, but we have a handful of protective tips for you.
Nearly every security camera we looked at supports encryption. This protects the camera's data stream (like videos of your kids after school) from prying eyes.
No matter what security features come with your CCTV camera, these tips can help you maximize the privacy of your security cameras:
- Buy a camera with a recognizable name and purchase it from a trustworthy seller.
- Make sure your home Wi-Fi network is secure.
- Create unique, strong passwords for your camera and any apps you use to access it.
- Keep firmware up to date on your camera and your Wi-Fi router.
- Turn off remote viewing when you don't need it.
- Block your camera's lens when you're not using it — sticky note or a piece of painter's tape will work.
- Instead of a wireless security camera system, choose a wired system that connects to a DVR for complete privacy.
Get more tips from our video on how to protect your cameras from hackers.
Related questions
We've learned that many people want a wireless security camera to keep an eye on the people and pets they love. If this is your goal, here are some things to consider:
- Two-way communication: This feature lets you listen in and talk to the pets or people at home.
- Night vision: Clear, low-light images are essential for using the camera as a baby monitor.
- Field of view: Most security cameras use a wide-angle lens, while baby monitors and nanny cams often use a more narrow range of vision to focus on the baby.
- Pan-and-tilt: If you’re viewing pets or older kids remotely from the office or on a beach, you may want to move the camera angle.
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Beware of using an indoor camera to look outside through a window. They can't capture images after dark because the night vision LEDs reflect off the glass, blinding the camera to the outside view and rendering it useless.
If outdoor and indoor security are priorities for you, we recommend getting the right type of camera for each area. You may be able to find an indoor camera (like Wyze Cam v3's window mount) that minimizes the glare and reflection of a window, but make sure customer reviews back up the claim.
Related questions
Most security cameras connect to your home network using Wi-Fi, but some models use cables to connect to your internet router or a DVR for security cameras. We recommend using Wi-Fi security cameras because they are typically the easiest to install.
If you have an internet data usage cap, check how your security camera(s) could impact your monthly bill. You should also verify that your router can handle the extra devices and output.
Related questions
The best security camera systems also help turn your house into a smart home. Security cameras often integrate with a smart home hub like Amazon Echo or Google Nest Audio.
This can give you a huge home security advantage — the ability to remotely control lights, door locks, and your security cameras. You can also program your system to boost security measures when you're out of town or during the holidays when lots of packages arrive.
Related questions
CCTV and security cameras have been around since the early 20th century. But cameras like those on our lineup didn't come onto the scene until the new millennium.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn how to protect your home, loved ones, and belongings.
Contributing writers: Rebecca Edwards, Alina Bradford
How we tested wireless cameras
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
We tested most of these camera models in our homes and have experience using all of the brands in our lineup. We also read expert reviews, researched industry standards and camera specs, and consulted thousands of customer reviews to supplement our testing.
- 500+ hours of research and testing
- 50 in-home tests
- 50+ products considered for our top 10
- 150+ products evaluated
How we chose our top picks
When selecting cameras for this list, we generally feature a single model for each brand — representing the brand as a whole — though we call out other noteworthy models. Our representative is usually the highest-rated camera from that brand, but sometimes, we find a niche use case worth highlighting.
We may feature one extra model from a brand in exceptional cases when we can't decide between the representative and a use case. Otherwise, it would be far too easy for some brands to dominate our rankings.
Battery-powered cameras that fall entirely into the wire-free category, like Reolink and Arlo, got extra credit when it came to ranking the best home security cameras this year. But we couldn't dismiss high-quality Wi-Fi cameras from Wyze and Eufy just because of a compulsory power cord.
Our security camera ratings methodology
We evaluate security camera performance, services, and specifications across five categories. These categories form the foundation for our security camera coverage. However, we make small scoring adjustments when applying the scores to other camera lists, such as budget, floodlight, video doorbells, and more.
Find out more about how we rank and review products in general by checking out our full methodology.
Here's more detail on our security camera ratings
Price balances the features and performance of a camera to find the best options for the money. We rate each camera's retail and cloud plan prices, giving slightly more credit to the retail price because cloud storage is largely optional. Although products with lower prices in both categories earn higher scores, we leave a narrow gap between price points so that pricier cameras remain competitive.
Video is the clearest indicator of an excellent security camera. Performance makes up the largest share of our video score — with equal weight going to daytime and nighttime video quality. While we don't conduct scientific video quality testing, we have enough experience to spot issues at a glance. Individually, these scores carry less influence than resolution, another critical factor in video performance. Even with the advent of image processing, higher resolutions still capture more detail.
Next, we reward a wide field of view — 130º or more — which is most effective in outdoor settings where wireless security cameras thrive. The rest of our rating comes from video options — the ability to adjust resolution, frame rate, and bitrate. Video options are crucial for optimizing your camera's performance, especially on slower internet connections. Although we look at the frame rate for each camera, it doesn't factor into our scoring.
Storage carries the lowest weight among our categories because it's essentially a Video subcategory. We rate local and cloud storage equally. For local storage, we consider whether a camera supports it out of the box, if you need an add-on, or if you must buy cloud storage. We don't count microSD cards as add-ons because most cameras don't include one. Instead, we define add-ons as a hub like the Blink Sync Module.
For cloud storage, we reward brands offering plans for multiple cameras instead of requiring a separate plan for each camera. Currently, we don't rate video history because most brands meet our 14-day benchmark — for those that don't, they usually lack multiple-camera plans. We address camera features requiring a cloud subscription in our user experience category.
User experience beats out Video as our most complex category, with seven weighted criteria. We give the most weight to ease of setup because a frustrating setup process can make you rethink your purchase. Next, we look at privacy options to see if a brand makes users set up at least one of the following: an access code, fingerprint lock, or two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access from a new device.
We look at app usability next, giving high scores to apps with great navigation that helps you find video feeds, recordings, and settings without digging through menus. For notification options, we value customization through smart motion detection, motion detection sensitivity, and notification cooldowns — this helps a camera send relevant alerts without spamming your phone with every motion event.
Security cameras benefit from excellent smart home compatibility, so we rate based on whether cameras support Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home. Keeping your camera running is essential, so we also consider its power source, giving perfect marks to products with battery, wired, and solar options.
Lastly, advanced features reflect our excitement about a camera. While they don't make up much of the overall score, they're useful for crediting unique features and exceptional performance. It's our way of giving an A+ to any other item on our rubric.
Support covers the resources that help you learn more about your camera and maximize its potential. Customer resources comprise the bulk of this score and cover how you interact with the company. We give more credit to brands offering a robust mix of contact methods like email, phone, chat, and user forums — in addition to an extensive, helpful library of support articles. Lastly, we look at the warranty period from each brand and how easy it is to file a claim.
Final word on top wireless cameras
There are so many wireless home security cameras to choose from — we barely scratched the surface of what kinds of cameras are out there. Still, the Reolink Argus PT 4K+ is a standout option with 100% wire-free operation, local storage, included solar panel, and impressive video quality. It's a refreshing change from cloud-centric brands like Ring. That said, Arlo Pro 5S 2K is our pick for the best outdoor wireless camera with great battery life, easy installation, and excellent smart home compatibility.
See our list of frequently asked questions below for more information about residential security cameras. If you're looking for a wireless camera that works with a security system, you can start with recommendations from our best home security systems.
Haven’t found what you’re looking for?
Disclaimers
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
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