Best Home Security Cameras 2021

There are so many different kinds of security cameras on the market now that it’s hard to know which model to choose. Whether you need an indoor security camera to watch your new puppy at work or an outdoor security camera to deter package thieves and potential intruders, we’ll help you find the best one for your house.

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Arlo Pro 3: Best camera system

The Arlo Pro 3 is a versatile wire-free camera, but it’s a bit pricey.

What we like

The Arlo Pro 3 can handle just about anything you throw at it. If you want an indoor camera, just set the Arlo Pro 3 on any flat surface in your house. If you want outdoor cameras all around your property, go ahead and mount the Arlo Pro 3 on a wall.

We love that this camera is wire-free, so you can put it wherever you want without worrying about being near an outlet. (You can also connect it to a power cord if you want to.) Plus, you can backup your footage onto a USB drive if you want to save that video of your cat catching birds forever.

What we don’t like

The Arlo Pro 3 doesn’t come cheap—it’s a bit of a pricey cam. And you need the Arlo SmartHub to connect your cameras to your Wi-Fi network, so you can’t just buy a single camera and be on your way.

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor: Best outdoor camera

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is the cream of the security camera crop—but you’ll pay for all those fancy features.

What we like

If you want the champagne of security cameras, then Nest is where it’s at. The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor looks great and has some seriously impressive top-notch features.

This camera automatically zooms in when it detects a person, and its 4K image sensor means you can zoom waaayy in and still see every little detail clearly. Plus, the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor knows when it’s seen a face before, and it lets you name specific people, so it knows who they are in the future. (At least it does if you have a monthly Nest Aware subscription.)

What we don’t like

As cool as the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor’s features are, you will definitely pay for them. The IQ is one of the most expensive cameras in its field. And while it’s cool that the cam knows it’s your Uncle Ned who’s just there to fix your shed in your backyard, that might not be worth the price to you.

The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor’s installation process is also a bit tricky. The cam’s power adapter is meant for indoor use, so plan to either drill a hole through your wall or find some way to route the cord through a window.

3. Nest Cam IQ Indoor: Best indoor camera

The Nest Cam IQ Indoor is a seriously cool camera, but you need a monthly subscription to get the best features.

What we like

The Nest Cam IQ Indoor has almost all the same cool features as its outdoor counterpart. This cam looks high-end and has basically every fancy feature you could ever want from your living-room camera.

Just like the outdoor version, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor can recognize familiar faces, automatically zoom in on people, and lets you see details clearly—even when you magnify the image.

What we don’t like

Also, like the outdoor version, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor is super expensive. You’ll pay a lot up front for the camera itself. Plus, if you want those VIP-level features, you’ll need a monthly Nest Aware subscription too.

4. Ring Video Doorbell 3: Best doorbell camera

Ring was one of the first makers of doorbell cameras, and its Ring Video Doorbell 3 is still one of the best on the market.

What we like

Doorbell cameras are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Stick one of these babies on your house and you never have to open the door for a stranger again. Plus, you can see and talk to people on your porch no matter where you are.

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 lets you choose to either use a rechargeable battery or hardwire the cam right into your existing doorbell outlet. (We recommend the hardwired option, just so you never have to mess with it again.) It also lets you select motion zones, so you get alerts about people on your porch but not kids on the street in front of your house.

What we don’t like

Ring Video Doorbells, in general, are a bit bulky. But you can find some options that look a little nicer and blend into your doorframe a little better.

One thing to consider, though: we’ve heard a lot of reports of customers getting alerts but only seeing the backs of people leaving their porches, not their faces while they’re actually there. That’s usually an indicator that your Wi-Fi isn’t fast enough for the camera, so you might want to invest in a Wi-Fi extender if this turns out to be a problem for you.

5. Wyze Cam v2 – Best budget pick camera

Wyze gives you some top-notch features for an unbelievably low price.

What we like

We honestly can’t believe how cheap the Wyze Cam v2 is. Like, seriously, does Wyze know how much it’s selling it for? For only about $25, you get some features we’d expect from much more expensive cameras, like 1080p video and 14-day cloud storage.

Plus, you can mount the Wyze Cam v2 basically anywhere. Stick it on your fridge, drill it into the wall, or just set it on a bookshelf—it’s up to you.

What we don’t like

It’s so cheap, and the Wyze camera does feel/look a little, well, cheap. But we can’t complain about that too much for a camera that costs less than $30.

6. Ring Spotlight Cam – Best lighted security camera

The Ring Spotlight Cam combines a camera with a safety light for a bright combo.

Security lights are one of the oldest ways to scare away intruders and keep your house safe. With the Spotlight Cam, Ring combines the classic power of a bright light with an HD security camera.

You can customize when the light turns on and how bright it is, plus set up custom motion zones for your Ring camera. Heads up, though—you might want to subscribe to one of Ring’s monthly plans for more cloud video storage.

7. Wyze Pan Cam – Best pan-and-tilt camera

The Wyze Pan Cam lets you monitor entire rooms with one camera—and it’s not even expensive.

Just like the Wyze Cam v2, Wyze’s Pan Cam is incredibly inexpensive for the level of features you get. The Wyze Pan Cam gives you HD video plus full pan-and-tilt capabilities. You can look around a whole room in one go or set the camera to scroll over the same set spots every time you check in.

8. Reolink Argus 2 – Best standalone security camera

The Reolink Argus 2 doesn’t have many smart home integrations, but it’s pretty versatile as a standalone option.

We love that the Reolink Argus 2 lets you use a microSD card for storage if you want to. We also love that it’s solar powered and can go either inside or outside. But as far as smart home integrations go, the Argus 2 falls short.

If you want your camera to work with your Amazon Alexa or with IFTTT, then there are other cameras on this list we’d recommend instead.

9. Logitech Circle 2 – Most versatile camera

The Logitech Circle 2 lets you mount it basically anywhere—even on a window.

Our favorite thing about the Logitech Circle 2 is that you really can put it just about anywhere. It can go inside or outside. You can opt for the wireless or the wired version. It can be set on any flat surface, mounted on a wall, or even stuck to a window so you can keep an eye on your yard.

Recap

Home security cameras aren’t just for spying anymore. They have more features than ever before, and you can find the exact right model to keep an eye on your porch, your baby’s nursery, or just your mischievous kitten.

Arlo Pro 3 can be put just about anywhere, and it’s wire-free design makes it easy to set up. You can set it on a shelf or put it in a tree. Just be aware it’s a bit pricey.

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is one of the smartest outdoor camera models we’ve ever seen. You do have to plug this one into an outlet though.

Nest Cam IQ Indoor is a perfect companion to the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor. It has all the same smart features, and you can cover it with the same monthly Nest Aware subscription.

Ring Video Doorbell 3 is the latest iteration in Ring’s doorbell camera line-up, and we like that you can choose between battery-powered or hardwired connections.

Wyze Cam v2 is astoundingly cheap for such a smart little camera. It’s not the fanciest model around, but it will give you basic features at a very affordable price.

Ring Spotlight Cam is great if you want an HD security camera with a built-in security light. It’s a bit bulky, but potential intruders will definitely notice it.

Wyze Pan Cam is another offering from the affordable Wyze line, and it can spin around to see a whole room.

Reolink Argus 2 has multiple power options, including battery-powered and solar-powered. This camera’s great if you want to let the sun charge your security camera.

Logitech Circle 2 has multiple mount options so you can put it just about anywhere, including indoors or outside.

Want to see more camera options for the great outdoors? Check out our Best Outdoor Security Cameras review.

FAQs

What is two-way audio?

Two-way audio lets you both hear what’s going on in the place where your camera is and talk through your camera using its microphone.

Most cameras work a bit like a walkie talkie where you can’t talk and listen at the same time. Some cameras do let you make outgoing phone calls directly from the camera itself, like the Vivint Ping camera.

Do I need a subscription for cloud storage?

Almost always, yes. Unless your camera lets you use a USB drive or a microSD card to store footage locally, your footage will go straight to the cloud. Most camera companies will give you a few hours or days of cloud storage free, but beyond that, you’ll need a monthly subscription.

Monthly subscriptions are usually somewhere between $3 and $30 per month.

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