The Best Home Security Cameras of 2018

This definitive guide to the best home security cameras of 2018 explores everything you need to know before buying a home security camera, including what to watch out for and the different models available, along with which home security camera we feel are best for every type of person.

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Introduction

It’s 2018. Smart cameras are running home security companies like ADT out of business. Brinks’ home security division went bust a couple years ago, and it all stands to reason — home security cameras are to subscription-based security systems what HBO GO is to cable. Plus, there’s no need to shell out a lot for something that you only use one percent of the time. The new generation of smart surveillance cameras are perfect for a modern family smart-home, and these smart cameras make home security both more inviting and more powerful. The only question left is: which one is right for your home?

The Most Important Features To Look For

Before buying your first home security camera, there’s a lot to consider. How are you going to use the camera? Is it more for home security or is it more for monitoring a baby or pet? Where are you going to place it? Do you want it to work with your other smart devices? Are you willing to pay a monthly/annual subscription fee for premium features, like facial recognition or extensive storage features? Factoring all these things can pretty daunting.

The truth is, however, most of today’s home security cameras are more similar than they are different. Pretty much all of them have motion sensors, night vision, two-way talk and a companion app that allows you to, at any time, get a live feed of what’s happening in front of the camera. Yes, there are physical differences between cameras, such as its video resolution, the field of view, and how it stores videos and photos, but there are other things to consider that might be just as (or even more) important.

• Compatability: If you already own smart home devices, such as a smart speaker or a smart TV, there’s a good chance that you’ll want a home security camera that plays well with them. For example, if you have an Amazon Fire TV or Echo Spot, you’ll probably want a security camera that’s compatible with Alexa so you can summon a live feed from the camera on your TV or smart speaker (with a screen). The same is true with Google Assistant and a TV with Chromecast built in or with an Apple TV and a security camera that supports HomeKit.

• Price: All the below cameras come at different price points, ranging from $20 to over $400, and this is obviously an important thing to consider. The surprising thing is that even the more affordable cameras, such as the Wyze Cam v2, is still going to do many of the same things — 24/7 live feed, two-way talk, night vision, motion alerts — as the way more expensive camera systems. The reason why you’d pay more for other cameras by Nest, Amazon, Honeywell and Lighthouse is for better app experiences, smart home compatibility, image quality and some other advanced features (I’ll get into this next). Ultimately it’s going to come down to how often you’re checking in on the camera — once every few days or once every few hours — and if multiple people, such as other family members, are also going to be checking in.

• Subscription: Many smart home security cameras, especially the more expensive models, require you to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee to get its more advanced features. A lot of these features include facial recognition, person alerts, and the ability to share clips and videos with friends. Another big factor with subscriptions is how long you want the camera to save videos in the cloud. Most free accounts will allow you access to the last 24 hours of footage, but paying subscriptions (which usually cost between $3 to $10 per month) can grant you access to a week’s or month’s worth of saved clips.

• Wired or Battery: Like most of today’s smart speakers, pretty much all of today’s smart home security cameras need a constant wi-fi connection to work. That said, not all smart speakers need to be tethered to a wall outlet. There are a few models that come with rechargeable batteries, allowing you to move them around the house as you see fit. The disadvantage with portable security cameras is they need to remember to change their battery every so often, plus they tend to be more expensive than wired cameras.

These are a few of the important things to look out for. Below, you’ll find the rundown of our favorite smart home security cameras arranged by indoor cameras and outdoor cameras. Remember, just because a camera is expensive doesn’t necessarily make it immediately better. A lot of the more expensive options are only worth buying if you know you’ll use it a lot and you’re willing to pay a reoccurring subscription fee.

Indoor Home Security Cameras

Best Budget: Wyze Cam v2

The good: The camera is only $20 and offers most of the exact same features as way more expensive smart home security cameras. There’s no subscription service or any add-on costs after you buy the WyzeCam — what you buy is what you get. It can record SD and HD videos and capture photos. It has two-way audio so, using the smartphone app, you can speak with whomeever is in the same room as the camera. It also works with Amazon’s Alexa. The flexible hinge system allows the camera to point in any direction, and its magnetic/sticker base makes installing the speaker easy — no screws required.

Watch out for: The camera offers free cloud storage, but only for a couple days. If you want more storage, or you want to save clips or photos, you really want to buy a micro-SD card, which can add an extra $10+ to your total spend. The camera doesn’t have many advanced features, such as tracking and facial recognition. There’s no geofencing, so the camera can’t detect when “members” are about to arrive home. The companion app isn’t as polished as other cameras’ apps. Sound quality is harsh. The camera kind of looks like a cheap toy.