Best Night Vision Cameras

Get a camera to keep an eye on the things that go bump in the night.

Best Range
EZVIZ C3W Outdoor
Pro:
100 ft. night vision
Con:
No zoom
High Compatibility
Arlo Ultra
Pro:
Color night vision
Con:
Range unverified
Best Budget Pick
EZVIZ Indoor
Pro:
Low cost
Con:
No outdoor use
Best Solar Pick
Reolink Argus 2E
Pro:
Starlight night vision
Con:
Power source separate
Brianne Sandorf
Feb 13, 2023
Icon Time To Read6 min read

We may earn money when you click our links.

A security camera is like having an extra, all-seeing eye looking out for your home. But if your camera doesn’t have night vision, it can’t see anything that happens in the dark.

Getting night vision cameras is the best way to ensure full-time camera coverage. To help you out, we’ve rounded up four of the best night vision security cameras out there.

Lights and night vision
Light Bulb

Some people eschew night vision cameras in favor of good lighting. Theoretically, if your camera location has good lighting 24/7, night vision isn’t necessary. You don’t even have to keep the lights on all the time if they have motion detection.



Best night vision cameras comparison
Model
Price
Indoor or outdoor
Learn more
EZVIZ C3W Outdoor

$87.00

Outdoor

Arlo Ultra

$597.79

Outdoor

EZVIZ Indoor

$39.99

Indoor

Reolink Argus 2E

$69.99

Both

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 09/20/2022 11:00 MST) Full disclaimer

EZVIZ C3W Outdoor Wi-Fi Security Camera: Best night vision range

See farther in the dark with EZVIZ.

One of the most important features of a night vision camera is how well it can see in the dark. This EZVIZ C3W ezGuard camera’s night vision is good for about 100 feet. That’s one of the longest verified night vision distances we’ve seen on the market.

The EZVIZ is also one of the less expensive offerings you’ll find in the camera world, although it’s missing a few nice-to-haves.

Pros
  • 100 ft. of night vision
  • 1080p
  • Motion detection
  • Swivel mount
  • 2-way audio
  • Strobe light
  • Siren
  • IP66 weatherproofing
  • First month of cloud storage free
  • MicroSD card storage
Cons
  • No zoom
  • Plug-in only

What we like

As we mentioned, this little beauty can see in the dark for up to 100 feet. In most US cities, that’s the width of several suburban streets. And get this: the EZVIZ mounts on a swivel base, which means that, in theory, it has a 360° field of view.

This camera even has a siren feature that you can turn on and off. If the camera detects motion, it’ll set off both the siren and a strobe light as a way to deter intruders.

EZVIZ C3W ezGuard price and features
Model
Price
Smart home integrations
Learn more
EZVIZ C3W Outdoor

$87.00

Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 09/20/2022 11:00 MST)

Storage

You have your pick between cloud and local storage with this camera. If you choose to use the cloud storage, you get the first month of EZVIZ CloudPlay free. After that, the prices depend on the number of cameras and storage length.

EZVIZ subscription plans
CloudPlay plan
Days
Cameras
Price monthly
Price annually

Standard Plan

7

1

$5.99

$59.99

Standard Plan

30

1

$10.99

$109.99

Home Plan

7

Up to 4

$8.99

$89.99

Home Plan

30

Up to 4

$15.99

$159.99

Data effective 9/20/2022. Offers subject to change.

The Home Plan isn’t a bad deal, so if you decide to use cloud storage, that’s what we’d go with.

If you choose local storage, you don’t have to pay for anything.

What we don’t like

You can’t zoom in on stuff with this camera. Not manually, not automatically. So if there’s something in the feed you can’t quite see, you can’t get a closer look.

Also, sadly, this camera has to be plugged in, so you’ll need an (outdoor) outlet.

Arlo Ultra: High compatibility

The Ultra is ultra in its ability to connect with smart home brands.

If you’re a smart home junkie, we suggest the Arlo Ultra. It’s one of the most feature-rich cameras on the market, and it works with tons of major smart home brands.

The downside is that, at close to $600, you’re paying dearly for every feature this camera offers.

Pros
  • High compatibility
  • 4K
  • Color night vision
  • Motion detection
  • Person detection
  • 180° field of view
  • 2-way audio
  • Light
  • Siren
  • Zoom
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Indoor/outdoor
  • IP65 weatherproofing
  • First year of Arlo Smart Premier free
  • MicroSD card storage
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Unverified night vision range

What we like

This camera is overflowing with fun, useful features. Color night vision? You got it. Person detection? Sure thing. Rechargeable battery? We’re glad you asked. The Arlo Ultra leaves you wanting very little.

One of our favorite things about this one is its connectivity. You can link your Arlo Ultra to several major smart home brands, like Amazon, Apple, and Google/Nest. You can also connect to smart home control platforms like IFTTT.

You can link your Arlo Ultra to Amazon, Apple, and Google.
Arlo Ultra price and features
Model
Price
Smart home integrations
Learn more
Arlo Ultra

$597.79

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Apple HomeKit

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 09/20/2022 11:00 MST)

Storage

Like the EZVIZ, this camera has both microSD and cloud storage capabilities. You even get a free year of Arlo Smart Premier when you buy an Arlo Ultra.

Arlo subscription plans
Arlo plan
Days
Video Resolution
Cameras
Price monthly

Arlo Secure

30

Up to 2K

1

$2.99

Arlo Secure

30

Up to 2K

Unlimited

$9.99

Arlo Secure Plus

30

Up to 4K

Unlimited

$14.99

Data effective 9/20/2022. Offers subject to change.

What we don’t like

Arlo Secure Plus has color night vision. We’ve tested it out, and it’s a great feature. But Arlo’s not 100% clear on how far that night vision can go. That’s one of two reasons we ranked Arlo below EZVIZ.

The other reason is the sky-high price. Yeah, the Arlo Ultra comes with almost every feature imaginable. But you’re gonna pay through the nose for them.

EZVIZ Indoor Security Camera: Best budget pick

If you want nighttime security but don’t want to spend tons of money, check out the EZVIZ Indoor Camera.

All security cameras come at a price, but the price doesn’t have to break your budget. Try the EZVIZ Indoor Security Camera for the cost of a sushi dinner for one. You won’t get every feature on the market, but you’ll get all the basics, including night vision.

Pros
  • Low cost
  • 33 ft. of night vision
  • Motion detection
  • 135° field of view
  • 2-way audio
  • Zoom
  • Magnetic base
  • 2 colors to choose from
  • First month of cloud storage free
  • MicroSD card storage
Cons
  • Plug-in only
  • No outdoor use

What we like

The EZVIZ Indoor Security Camera is super cheap yet competent. It has 33 feet of night vision, a zoom feature, and a magnetic base for easy installation. You also have two color options (black and white) if you’re particular about your camera’s appearance.

EZVIZ Indoor Security Camera price and features
Model
Price
Smart home integrations
Learn more
EZVIZ Indoor

$39.99

Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 09/20/2022 11:00 MST)

Storage

The EZVIZ Indoor’s storage capabilities are identical to the EZVIZ C3W ezGuard’s. This camera has a place for local storage, but it also comes with a free month of CloudPlay.

EZVIZ subscription plans
CloudPlay plan
Days
Cameras
Price monthly
Price annually

Standard Plan

7

1

$5.99

$59.99

Standard Plan

30

1

$10.99

$109.99

Home Plan

7

Up to 4

$8.99

$89.99

Home Plan

30

Up to 4

$15.99

$159.99

Data effective 9/20/2022. Offers subject to change.

What we don’t like

This camera isn’t rated for outdoor use; it’s for indoor security only. And, like the other EZVIZ camera, the EZVIZ Indoor has to be plugged in to work. There are so many battery-operated cameras on the market (like the Arlo Ultra), so it’s frustrating that this isn’t one of them.

The EZVIZ Indoor Security camera isn’t rated for outdoor use.

Reolink Argus 2E: Best solar pick

Harness the power of the sun with the Reolink Argus 2E.

If you want to go green with your nighttime security, we suggest the Reolink Argus 2E. You’ll get 33 feet of colored night vision that you can power by solar energy. Unfortunately, you’ll have to buy the solar panels separately.

Pros
  • 1080p
  • 33 ft. of color “starlight” night vision
  • Motion detection
  • 130° field of view
  • 2-way audio
  • Siren
  • Zoom
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Solar capabilities
  • Indoor/outdoor
  • IP65 weatherproofing
  • MicroSD card storage
Cons
  • Solar panel sold separately
  • Power cable sold separately

What we like

The Reolink Argus 2E works both indoors and outdoors and runs on either a rechargeable battery or a solar panel. And while this camera doesn’t have 100 eyes like the mythological figure it’s named for, its lens provides color night vision with starlight technology.

What’s starlight night vision?
Pin

“Starlight” is a newer advance in night vision tech that allows cameras to see better in low light.¹

Reolink Argus 2E price and features
Model
Price
Smart home integrations
Learn more
Reolink Argus 2E

$69.99

Google Assistant

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 09/20/2022 11:00 MST)

Storage

In addition to the microSD card storage, you can also use the Reolink app for video playback. You get one gigabyte of free seven-day video history for a single camera before you have to start paying a fee.

Reolink subscription plans
Reolink app plan
Days
Cameras
Price monthly
Price annually

Basic Plan

7

1

$0.00

$0.00

Standard Plan

30

Up to 5

$4.99

$49.99

Premier Plan

30

Up to 10

$9.99

$99.00

Business Plan

60

Up to 20

$14.99

$149.00

Data effective 09/20/2022. Offers subject to change.

What we don’t like

You have to buy your solar panel separately. And, according to the product description, you also have to buy a USB cable to charge the battery. So no matter what you do, you have to spend extra money to keep this thing charged.

Other night vision cameras we like

We found a few more night vision cameras worth mentioning.

A lot of good security cameras have night vision. We couldn’t include all of them here, but we wanted to call out a couple more that are worthy of recognition.

Ring Stick-Up Cam Battery

The Stick-Up is one Ring camera among many with night vision capabilities. We picked the Stick-Up Cam to mention here because it has a full 30 feet of night vision plus indoor and outdoor capabilities.

See our Ring Stick-Up Cam review.

Blink Outdoor

The Blink Outdoor runs on batteries and comes with a cloud storage trial. Like the Arlo Ultra, the Blink Outdoor’s manufacturers don’t explicitly state the night vision range, but it’s a reasonable price and comes from a reputable camera brand.

See our Blink cameras overview.

Recap: Which night vision camera is best?

Make sure you don’t forget anything when you make your decision.

Here’s what we love (and dislike) about our top four night vision security camera picks.

EZVIZ C3W Outdoor: Best night vision range—Come for the 100 feet of night vision. Stay for the swivel base, siren, and strobe light. Just be prepared for the lack of zoom feature and tedious wrestling with an outdoor power plug.

Arlo Ultra: High Compatibility—With Arlo Ultra, you can connect with seemingly every smart device under the sun. You just won’t know quite how far you can see in the dark (and you’ll pay $$).

EZVIZ Indoor: Best budget pick—Spend as little money as possible! But you’ll have to keep the camera indoors and plugged in for it to work.

Reolink Argus 2E: Best solar pick—Save energy with this solar option, as long as you buy your own solar panel (or power cable).

Is your house ready for night vision cameras?

To install a functioning night vision camera with cloud storage, you’ll want speedy internet service.

Recommended internet plans

Cameras can eat up a ton of bandwidth, so depending on how many other Wi-Fi devices you have, you’ll want more Mbps rather than fewer.

Recommended internet plans for night vision cameras
Service
Plan
Price
Download speed
Details
XfinityFast$50/mo.*Up to 400 Mbps
Verizon Authorized Dealer5G Home Internet$50/mo.Up to 300 Mbps
ATTAT&T Internet 300$55/mo.300 Mbps
* For 24 months. No term contract. Taxes not included. Includes $10/mo automatic payments and paperless billing discount. Not available in all areas. Prices may vary by location.
w/ Auto Pay. Available in select areas.
Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. One time install chrg may apply. Ltd. avail/areas. Call or go to www.fiber.att.com to see if you qualify.

Night vision camera FAQ

There’s always a risk involved in buying a camera from a security provider. Namely, the selection will be much smaller than if you hop online and buy a standalone device.

But there are upsides too. For instance, a camera from your home security provider will be compatible with your larger security system.

We’ve especially seen a lot of buzz about the night vision cameras from Vivint, ADT Self Setup, and Ring.

We generally lean towards an outdoor security camera. Our reasoning goes as follows:

  1. Most camera users are concerned about outside threats approaching their homes.
  2. If you use a regular non-night vision camera indoors, it’s easy to flip on a switch to make up for the lack of night vision.

There are definitely exceptions to these instances. For example, you might want to put a camera in your baby’s room. Either way, we’ve included some indoor cameras in our line-up, so if you want an indoor night vision camera, you’ve got it.

Sources:

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon.com. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time. 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.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Reviews.org utilizes paid Amazon links.

Brianne Sandorf
Written by
Brianne Sandorf
Brianne has a degree in English and creative writing from Westminster College and has spent 6+ years writing professional, research-based content. Before joining Reviews.org, she wrote safety and security content for ASecureLife.com. Her pieces and quotes are published across the web, including on MSN.com, Social Catfish, and Parents.com. Hobbies include wearing a seatbelt, wearing a life jacket, and keeping her arms and legs inside the ride at all times. Contact her at brianne@reviews.org.

Related Articles

A woman holds an infant in her lap while she uses a laptop at the dining table
How Does DSL Internet Work?
How does DSL internet work, and is it right for you? We compare DSL to...
A brunette woman wearing glasses browses the internet on her laptop
An Honest AT&T Internet Review: Is It Worth Your Money?
Is AT&T internet good? Read our AT&T internet review to learn more about prices, plans,...
A laptop sits on a small table with a cup of coffee and a flower illuminated by sunlight
Hughesnet vs. AT&T Internet Air Review
We compared rural internet providers HughesNet to AT&T DSL internet and AT&T Fixed Wireless. Find...
Best-5G-Home-Internet_feat
Best 5G Home Internet
There are currently three companies offering fixed 5G home internet: Verizon, T-Mobile, and Starry. Here’s...