Even if your lifelong wish is to be one of those people who sits on their porch all day and keeps an eye on the neighborhood, you can’t watch everything all the time. Lucky for you, security cameras can.
There are so many different kinds of security cameras on the market now that you can keep a virtual eye on basically anything you want to watch. Want to check on your new puppy while you’re at work? Indoor security camera. Want to see if that’s a burglar or just the baseball-obsessed neighbor kids in your backyard? Outdoor security camera.
We’ve rounded up all the best home security camera options out there so you can get a constant inside view on the happenings in your house.
Our top 10 home security camera picks
- Arlo Pro 2 – Best overall
- Nest Cam IQ Outdoor – Best outdoor camera
- Nest Cam IQ Indoor – Best indoor camera
- Ring Video Doorbell 2 – Best doorbell camera
- Wyze Cam v2 – Best budget pick
- Ring Spotlight Cam – Best lighted camera
- Arlo Baby – Best baby monitor camera
- Wyze Pan Cam – Best pan-and-tilt camera
- Reolink Argus 2 – Best standalone camera
- Logitech Circle 2 – Most versatile
Best home security cameras tech spec comparison
| Model | Resolution | Field of view | Night vision | Learn more |
| Arlo Pro 2 | 1080p | 130º | 25 ft. | View on Amazon |
| Nest Cam IQ Outdoor | 1080p | 130º | Yes | View on Walmart |
| Nest Cam IQ Indoor | 1080p | 130º | Yes | View on Walmart |
| Ring Video Doorbell 2 | 1080p | 160º | Yes | View on Amazon |
| Wyze Cam v2 | 1080p | 110º | 30 ft. | View on Amazon |
| Ring Spotlight Cam | 1080p | 140º | Yes | View on Amazon |
| Arlo Baby | 1080p | 110º* | 15 ft. | View on Amazon |
| Wyze Pan Cam | 1080p | 120º | 30 ft. | View on Amazon |
| Reolink Argus 2 | 1080p | 130º | 33 ft. | View on Amazon |
| Logitech Circle 2 | 1080p | 180º | 15 ft. | View on Amazon |
* Adjustable up to 130º
1. Arlo Pro 2 – Best overall
The Arlo Pro 2 is a versatile wireless camera, but it’s a bit pricey.
Arlo Pro 2 features
- Custom motion zones
- Weatherproof
- 24/7 CVR option
- HD video
- Rechargeable battery
- USB backup storage
- 100+ decibel siren
- Outdoor/indoor compatible
- Wireless
- Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, and Stringify integrations
What we like
The Arlo Pro 2 can handle just about anything you throw at it. If you want an indoor camera, just set the Arlo Pro 2 on any flat surface in your house. If you want outdoor cameras all around your property, go ahead and mount the Arlo Pro 2 on a wall.
We love that this camera is wireless, so you can put it wherever you want without worrying about being near an outlet. 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 2 doesn’t come cheap—it’s a bit of a pricey cam. And you need the Arlo Hub to connect your cameras to your Wi-Fi network, so you can’t just buy a single camera and be on your way.
2. 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.
Nest Cam IQ Outdoor features
- Weatherproof
- Custom motion zones (with Nest Aware plan)
- HD video
- Tamper-resistant
- Person detection
- Face recognition (with Nest Aware plan)
- Automatic zoom in on human motion
- LED light ring
- 4K image sensor
- Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Amazon Alexa integrations
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.
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.
Keep in mind
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.
Nest Cam IQ Indoor features
- Custom motion zones (with Nest Aware plan)
- HD video
- Person detection
- Face recognition (with Nest Aware plan)
- Automatic zoom in on human motion
- LED light ring
- 4K image sensor
- Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Amazon Alexa integrations
- Built-in Google Assistant
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 images clearly even when you zoom in.
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 2 – Best doorbell camera
Ring was one of the first makers of doorbell cameras, and its Ring Video Doorbell 2 is still one of the best on the market.
Ring Video Doorbell 2 features
- HD video
- Adjustable motion sensitivity
- Rechargeable battery or hardwired option
- Custom motion zones
- Weather-resistant
- Amazon Alexa and IFTTT integrations
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 2 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 set custom 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.
5. Wyze Cam v2 – Best budget pick camera
Wyze gives you some top-notch features for an unbelievably low price.
Wyze Cam v2 features
- HD video
- Magnetic base
- Drill-free mounting options
- Sound recognition
- MicroSD card storage option
- Free 14-day cloud storage
- Continuous recording (with microSD card)
- Amazon Alexa and IFTTT integrations
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 $20, 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 only $20.
6. Ring Spotlight Cam – Best lighted security camera
The Ring Spotlight Cam combines a camera with a safety light for a bright combo.
Ring Spotlight Cam features
- HD video
- Custom motion zones
- Scheduled motion zones
- 110-decibel siren
- Amazon Alexa and IFTTT integrations
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. Arlo Baby – Best baby monitor camera
If you want a baby camera that can also sing some lullabies and monitor your nursery’s air quality, then look no further than the Arlo Baby.
Arlo Baby features
- HD video
- Lullaby player
- Multicolored nightlight
- Rechargeable battery
- Removable character outfits
- Air sensors
- Cry detection
- Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, Google Assistant, and Stringify integrations
The Arlo Baby is a true all-in-one baby monitor. Its camera keeps an HD on your baby at all times, and it can even put on a nightlight or play a lullaby to sing your baby to sleep. Plus, it’s cute! You can swap out its character outfits to make it look like a bunny or a puppy.
This little camera also has an air quality monitor, but Arlo is pretty clear that you shouldn’t let it replace your standard smoke and CO alarms.
8. 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.
Wyze features
- 360º panning, 93º tilt range
- 110º/second rotation speed
- Custom panning stop points
- HD video
- Automatic motion tracking
- Free 14-day cloud storage
- microSD card storage option
- Continuous recording option (with microSD card)
- Amazon Alexa and IFTTT integrations
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.
9. 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.
Reolink Argus 2 features
- HD video
- Wireless
- Rechargeable battery
- Indoor/outdoor compatible
- Solar powered
- Weatherproof
- microSD card storage option
- Multiple mounting options
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.
10. Logitech Circle 2 – Most versatile camera
The Logitech Circle 2 lets you mount it basically anywhere—even on a window.
Logitech Circle 2 features
- HD video
- Super versatile mounting options
- Wired or wireless options
- Weatherproof
- Indoor/outdoor compatible
- Wide field of view
- Adjustable motion sensitivity
- Custom motion zones
- Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant integrations
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.
The Circle 2 is a bit pricey, but for all the options you get, we’d say it’s worth it.
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 Freddie.
We’d go with the Arlo 2 if you’re looking for the best of the best, but each camera serves such unique circumstances, it’s really gonna depend on what you’re looking for.
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 $15 per month.