Best Wireless Home Security Cameras 2021

If you want security cameras but hate the drudgery of wires and plugs, wireless cameras could be just the ticket. We’ve reviewed some of the best wireless home security cameras around to make your decision easier.

^{Amazon.com List Prices (as of 11/04/2020 4:00 MST) Full disclaimer}

Arlo Pro 3: Best video quality

Seen a lot of 1080p cameras? Arlo can do you one better.

If 1080p isn’t enough for you, the Arlo Pro 3 videos in 1440p (2K) for a superior wireless camera experience. Plus, this battery-powered, indoor-outdoor camera has multiple kinds of object detection—for a price.

What we like

The Arlo Pro 3 has enviable features. Zoom, spotlights, and sirens are all pluses for cameras that can be installed outdoors (like this one). It also has color night vision.

^{Amazon.com List Prices (as of 11/04/2020 4:00 MST)}

If you’re willing to pay for Arlo cloud storage, you’ll get even more benefits. But if you want to stick with the basic features while taking advantage of the built-in local storage, go for it.

Storage

^{Data effective 11/04/2020. Offers subject to change.}

If you want to unlock your full features with the Arlo Pro 3, you’ll need to pay for Smart Premier. Smart Premier gives you access to the following:

• 2K resolution vs. 1080p
• Cloud storage
• Custom activity zones
• Person detection
• Package detection
• Smoke and CO alarm detection

Happily, both Smart Premier and Smart Elite are affordable.

What we don’t like

We’re not crazy about paying monthly subscription costs to fully use a product we’ve already bought. You also need an Arlo base station or SmartHub to get the Arlo 3 running, which costs even more money.

Wyze Cam Pan: Best budget pick

The Wyze Cam Pan doesn’t cost much.

If the sky-high wireless camera prices sound a little dear to you, the Wyze Cam Pan is an ultra-cheap option with a lot of features.

What we like

This camera costs less than dinner for two at the Cheesecake Factory, yet it has pan and tilt, zoom, and person and sound detection. It even comes with 14 days of free cloud storage. That’s quite the deal.

^{Amazon.com List Prices (as of 11/04/2020 4:00 MST)}

You can also use multiple accounts on one Wyze Cam Pan, which is really nice if you’re living with another person.

Storage

Most camera brands increase your cloud storage length when you buy a subscription plan. That’s not the case with Wyze; 14 days is the maximum. Instead, when you pay for Cam Plus, you’re getting longer clip lengths.

^{Data effective 11/04/2020. Offers subject to change.}

You also need Cam Plus if you want Wyze’s person detection feature.

Overall, the subscription price is reasonable, but it adds up if you buy more Wyze cameras.

What we don’t like

Again, we don’t love that you have to pay extra for a camera feature. We also don’t like that you can’t get more than 14 days of storage, even if you get a subscription.

Lastly, the Wyze Cam Pan isn’t rated for outdoor use, so you can’t put it outside. It’s an indoor camera only. That limits its versatility by far.

Ring Spotlight Cam Battery: Best alarm system compatibility

The Spotlight Cam is associated with a security system company.

Ring specializes in cameras, but it also sells a security system. The Ring Spotlight Cam Battery integrates with the Ring Alarm System for a smooth monitoring experience.

What we like

Apart from the obvious convenience of its battery power, this Ring Cam has a 300-lumen spotlight and 110-decibel siren. It also connects with the same app as a Ring home security system, creating one digital stop for all your security needs.

^{Amazon.com List Prices (as of 11/04/2020 4:00 MST)}

Storage

^{Data effective 11/04/2020. Offers subject to change.}

Ring’s subscription plan prices are some of the best on the market, especially with the Protect Plus plan. With Protect Plus, you get free professional monitoring for your Ring Alarm system and 10% off other Ring devices.

What we don’t like

We wish this camera had zoom and (free) local video storage.

Nest Cam IQ Indoor: Best high-end camera

For those who like the finer things in security.

If you’re looking for the best cameras that money can buy, we suggest looking at the Nest Cam IQ Indoor. It definitely costs a lot, but it has facial recognition.

What we like

The top feature for Google Nest? Definitely the facial recognition. Not many cameras offer that perk.

The Nest Cam IQ Indoor also has person detection, zoom, and a light.

^{Amazon.com List Prices (as of 11/04/2020 4:00 MST)}

Storage

^{Data effective 11/04/2020. Offers subject to change.}

To use person detection, you have to pay for one of these plans. Aware Plus also gets you access to 10 days of continuous recording storage.

What we don’t like

This camera is incredibly expensive. When you add an annual Nest Aware Plus subscription, you’re looking at more than $400 for one camera. Yeah, it’s a cool camera, but that’s quite a chunk of change. Especially since, as we mentioned, if you don’t pay for a subscription service, you can’t use the person detection or continuous recording.

Also, this Nest Cam isn’t very versatile. You can’t use it outdoors, and it needs a cord, so it’ll be married to a location with a plug.

Reolink Argus 2: Best solar pick

The Argus 2 uses a rechargeable battery or a solar panel.

The Reolink Argus 2 is both wireless and wirefree. You have your choice of either batteries or a solar panel as long as you buy a power source separately.

What we like

The Reolink Argus 2 has clear night vision, zoom, and a siren. Best of all, you can either remove the batteries every so often or install a Reolink solar panel to keep it powered. No cords whatsoever.

Also, the Argus 2 is designed to be both an indoor security camera and an outdoor security camera. You can install it almost anywhere (the mount may have some limitations).

^{Amazon.com List Prices (as of 11/04/2020 4:00 MST)}

Storage

The Argus 2 has free local storage; you just have to buy a microSD card. Each camera also comes with seven free days of cloud storage.

^{Data effective 11/04/2020. Offers subject to change.}

What we don’t like

There’s no person detection on the camera, which means it can’t tell a Prius from a jogger. Also, you have to buy a battery power cord or solar panel separately. They don’t come with.

Other wireless cameras we like

We couldn’t rank every camera that caught our eye.

If you’re feeling lukewarm about our top choices, here are a few others we wanted to shout out.

Recap: Which wireless camera is best?

Review our top picks.

As a reminder, here are the cameras we chose and why we chose them.

Arlo Pro 3: Best video quality—Go beyond 1080p with Arlo Pro 3’s 2K resolution.

Wyze Cam Pan: Best budget pick—When you choose a Wyze Cam Pan, you spend almost nothing compared to other brand prices.

Ring Spotlight Cam Battery: Best alarm system compatibility—Connect a Ring Spotlight Cam to your Ring alarm system.

Nest Cam IQ Indoor: Best high-end product—If money is no object, check out the Nest Cam IQ Indoor.

Reolink Argus 2: Best solar pick—Get the ultimate wirefree experience with the Reolink Argus 2 solar power.

If you’re leaning towards a full home security system, we can assist you there too. We can even help you find a wireless security system.

Is your house ready for a wireless security camera?

To function at full capacity, a wireless home security camera needs reliable internet. And for you to access the camera anytime, anywhere, you need a phone plan that lets you use your camera app whenever necessary.

Recommended internet plans

Cameras take up a lot of internet bandwidth. The more cameras you have, the better your download speed should be. Otherwise, your Wi-Fi will slow to a crawl.

Recommended mobile plans

All the home security cameras we’ve recommended in this piece have associated apps. To use the apps when you’re not at home, you’ll need data for your mobile device. We suggest going with a high or unlimited data plan.

Wireless security camera FAQ

What if I want a wireless security camera system, not a standalone device?

Camera system can mean a few different things. If you want a full-on CCTV system, it’ll be a lot harder (but not impossible) to go wireless.

If you simply want cameras that are interconnected, we suggest going with a full suite from the same manufacturer, like Ring. You can buy a bunch of different cameras and connect them with a smart hub, but that isn’t really a camera system. You won’t be able to view them all from the same app.

Are doorbell cameras wireless?

It depends on which doorbell camera you buy. Some have rechargeable batteries, while others need to be wired into the existing doorbell hookup. And sometimes, the same model offers both options.

Check out our smart video doorbell guide.

What video quality do I need?

1080p is the new standard in security camera footage. We wouldn’t go any lower than that if you want clear clips.

How does camera motion detection work?

All the wireless cameras in this review have motion detection. That means the camera hardware includes a built-in motion sensor. When something moves on screen, the camera sends you an alert and starts to record.

^{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.}