Best Multi-Camera Security Systems

Before stand-alone security cameras took over the market, multi-camera security systems were once the standard for video surveillance. Still, their camera bundles are often more affordable than buying extra Wi-Fi cameras.

We think the EufyCam 2C is the best of the bunch for its easy installation, wide field of view, and affordable cloud storage. It's one of the weakest on our list for local storage, but you can use all of the camera's features sans subscription.

We've added more wireless cameras with easier installation than traditional wired systems in this update. We recommend both types, so choose the best multi-camera system for your needs.

The EufyCam 2C stands out for its affordable cloud storage that costs around $10 a month for the multi-camera Premier Plan. It stores video clips for up to 10 cameras for 30 days, which should work for most folks.

There's no option for continuous recording, but you probably don't need it because Eufy's motion-activated clips work well enough for your home. Continuous recording and battery-powered cameras don't mix, so you'll want a wired system like Reolink if you want 24/7 video recording.

Eufy has some of the best video quality among security camera brands, and while this model tops out at 1080p resolution, its video is clear and full of detail. It even has a spotlight if you want color night vision—along with infrared night vision.

EufyCam 2C's local storage tops out at a meager 16 GB. Eufy says this is enough space for three months of video for a single camera. With the three-camera kit, you'll get a similar capacity to cloud storage. But each additional camera saps storage space, giving you less time to review older videos.

Overall, the EufyCam 2C is a great multi-camera system for folks that prefer cloud storage over local storage. It's more affordable than Arlo Essential Spotlight, and the charge-and-play wire-free installation keeps it simple for most homeowners. Still, if you're more tech-savvy and don't mind running cables, a traditional wired system like Reolink is better for local storage.

Learn more in our full Eufy cameras review.

The Wyze Cam Outdoor's base station supports up to four cameras, so it's not as robust as an 8-channel security system  like Swann or Reolink. Four cams are enough for most small homes, but you can also add more base stations or wired Wyze cameras if you want to expand.

One of Wyze's strongest features is its local storage. Each Wyze camera has a microSD slot that supports up to a 32 GB card, which gives them months' worth of storage for motion sensor-triggered video clips. You need to buy microSD cards for each camera—four 32 GB SD cards cost less than $50 total.

Wyze's cloud storage is a surprisingly good deal. A free cloud option saves tiny 12-second clips for up to 14 days. We recommend a paid Cam Plus subscription to remove the short time limit and add smart motion detection so your outdoor camera can tell the difference between people, animals, vehicles, and packages.

Wyze Cam Plus costs just $1.99 a month for a single camera—the annual plan drops it down to $1.25. Unfortunately, there's no plan option for multiple cameras—you pay for each Wyze camera, which makes Eufy and Arlo more affordable after you hit five cams on the monthly plan.

Overall, the Wyze Cam Outdoor is a great option if you want a wireless multi-camera system for less than $300—assuming you're buying microSD cards or subscribing to Cam Plus for video storage.

Learn more in our full Wyze cameras review.

The Arlo Secure multi-camera cloud storage plan costs $9.99 a month for 30 days of storage on unlimited cameras. Arlo Secure is even a better price than Eufy if you have more than 10 cameras. Still, Arlo Secure is practically a requirement for anyone wanting Arlo's best features: video storage, motion zones, and smart motion detection.

When you consider that Arlo Essential Spotlight is the brand's cheapest wireless multi-camera system but still over $100 per camera, then ongoing cloud storage costs add up for an expensive investment.

Arlo Essential Spotlight works without a hub, unlike other cameras on our list. This keeps starting costs low and makes for easier setup. Unfortunately, it also means you're in for a costly upgrade if you ever want local storage since you'll need to buy the hub and a storage device. The Arlo Pro 3 comes with a hub if you want local storage with Arlo, but it's more expensive and older—there's no guarantee how long Arlo will keep making it.

Overall, Arlo Essential Spotlight's excellent smart home integration and unlimited-camera cloud storage make it a solid alternative to the EufyCam 2C. We'd prefer that its video storage, especially for the overpriced hub, didn't cost extra.

Learn more in our full Arlo cameras review.

We love that Reolink includes a huge 2 TB hard drive, and you can expand the system up to 12 TB if you need extra storage space down the line. It comes with four 2K cameras, but the NVR has eight channels—it can support eight cameras total (up to 4K resolution). The system supports various camera types from Reolink like bullet cameras, dome cameras, and pan-tilt-zoom cameras.

Reolink's POE cameras have built-in smart detection. This means your system will tag people and vehicles when recording videos and sending notifications to your smartphone, making it easier to keep track of when your child comes home from school.

As impressive as Reolink's POE IP camera selection is, they all have a narrow field of view around 80º. This means you need more cameras to see your whole yard than other brands on our list. Still, adding cameras to the system is more affordable than Eufy, Wyze, and Arlo.

The wired installation is time consuming since you need to find spots within reach of the 60-foot cables. You'll also need to drill holes and run wires, which is why many folks opt for professional installation to keep their sanity.

Overall, Reolink is a solid investment if you want the reliability, local storage, and performance of a wired system with multiple cameras. It's not an impossible DIY project, so you don't need a pro install, but it's still more intense than quickly mounting some battery-powered cameras and solar panels.

Learn more about why we love Reolink in our Reolink cameras review.

A standout feature of Swann's multi-camera system is the NVR, which is similar to a DVR but allows for live viewing and playback in real-time over the internet—plus, it comes with 1 TB of storage. If you need to store more video footage, you can even swap out the hard drive for one as large as 4 TB—perfect for over a week of 24/7 footage on eight cams.

The Swann Security app provides access to camera footage anytime from your computer or smartphone. You can also customize the sensitivity of the motion detectors on the cameras to reduce false alarm notifications.

Still, the installation will take a lot longer as you string each analog camera's 60-foot cable this way and that. Some folks might see the cables as an eyesore, but they're hard to avoid unless you spend extra on a professional installation.

The cameras in this Swann system are relatively low-tech. There's no audio compared to the rest of our top brands, and the 90º field of view means you need three Swann cameras to match the coverage of two Eufy cameras.

Overall, Swann is a great example of how much money you can save by using wired cameras with an NVR for tons of local video storage. But the extra effort to install isn't worth the tradeoff for some folks.

Learn more in our full Swann security cameras review.

We like the Amcrest 5 MP (about $430) for its four high-resolution turret cameras, which come with a 103º field of view. This is wider than you'll see on most wired systems. Amcrest's NVR comes with 2 TB of storage space and support for eight video channels. Amcrest cameras use a POE power supply but the system costs about $80 more than Reolink.

Learn more in our full Amcrest cameras review.

The Blink Outdoor is a budget wireless multi-camera system with cameras costing less than $100. These cameras have an extremely long battery life of up to two years. Still, they don't record clips longer than a minute, even if you pay for a cloud storage plan or insert a USB stick into the base station that comes with the multi-camera kits.

Learn more in our full Blink cameras review.

Lorex offers a vast selection of multi-camera systems like the Lorex Home Center and the Lorex 4K analog. We like the Lorex Home Center's smart display, making it easy to view cameras without rustling up a spare computer monitor or TV, but the storage tops out at 1 TB.

The 4K analog is a more traditional wired surveillance system with four cameras for around $300, making it an excellent alternative to Reolink for folks wanting affordable 4K video.

Learn more in our full Lorex cameras review.

You won't find a cheaper wired multi-camera brand than ZOSI, which comes with four cameras and an eight-channel, 1 TB NVR for around $190. Plus, add-on cameras cost about $20, so you can expand the system without breaking your budget. While ZOSI gets great reviews online, we think Wyze is the better budget option.

Learn more in our full ZOSI cameras review.

Night Owl is a popular wired multi-camera brand that you'll likely run across in a local retail store. We tested a Night Owl system in early 2021. We found it average but there's not much in the way of detailed product guides to help troubleshoot problems after installation—something Reolink, Swann, and Lorex all excel at.

Learn more in our Night Owl camera review.

There are a lot of features to consider when you're looking for the best multi-camera system for your property:

• Wired or wireless: Wired cameras are trickier to install and usually require professional installation, but they don't need a battery and have better local storage.
• Field of view: This is how much you can see through the camera lens. The wider the field of view, the better the visibility, and hopefully, the fewer cameras you'll need to cover a large space.
• Video resolution: This refers to the clarity of the picture. Typically, you want at least 1080p or higher to see relevant details. Keep in mind that higher resolutions use more video storage.
• Video storage: Most wired multi-camera systems come equipped with an NVR, which is handy because you need to store all that footage. Opt for an NVR with at least 1 TB if you intend to expand your camera system someday. Wireless cameras tend to rely more on cloud storage and use motion detection to create clips rather than recording continuously. Still, they usually require a monthly fee.
• Night vision: Infrared night vision helps you record in the dark and is a standard feature on modern security cameras. It works best close to the camera—look for models that provide at least 30 feet of night vision range.

The EufyCam 2C is our pick for the best wireless multi-camera security system. Its wide field of view, easy installation, and affordable cloud storage make it a great choice for a simple system without unsightly cables or professional installation. It's not the best choice for local video storage, but we think it's a perfect fit for most folks.

If you're not ready to invest in multiple security cameras, we recommend heading to our wireless cameras review to see our top picks.

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While we have hands-on experience with most of the brands on our list, we haven't tested everything. To fill in the gaps, we also scoured user manuals, customer reviews, manufacturer specs, and online reviews to see what's great and not so great about the camera systems.

Check out our full methodology for an overview of how we approach product ranking and testing.

• Best Wireless Security Cameras
• Best Home Security Cameras
• Best Cheap Security Cameras under $50
• How Many Security Cameras Do I Need?
• NVR vs. DVR
• Lorex vs. Night Owl

1. Seagate Technology LLC, "Video Storage Calculator | Seagate US," July 2018. Accessed December 14, 2021.