Not sure if you’ve noticed, but real estate listings for fortresses with alligator-filled moats are in short supply nowadays. (Wild housing market, man.) Fortunately, recent advancements in home automation have prompted the development of a DIY alternative when it comes to anti-intruder and theft protection: the home security camera.
Most major tech companies now offer their own version(s) of the home monitoring device — Amazon and Google included — which has added another layer to an already crowded market populated by security giants like ADT, SimpliSafe, and Frontpoint. It’s never been easier (or cheaper) to buy a home security camera, but at the same time, your choice has never been tougher: There are almost too many options to pick from.
So, how do you decide which home security camera is right for you? You read this guide, that’s how.
First off: How do home security cameras work?
A home security camera is a smart video recording device that you can hook up to your local network (either directly or with the help of a hub or base station) to access its footage from an app or a web portal. In the simplest sense, it’s really just an internet-enabled camera. But most models out there now go way beyond those basics.
There are three main types of security cameras: wired, wireless, and wire-free.
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Wired security cameras need an ethernet cord to connect to the internet and some sort of cable to connect to an electrical outlet.
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Wireless security cameras connect to the internet over WiFi but must be plugged into an outlet.
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Wire-free security cameras don’t need any wiring whatsoever (duh), instead relying on a WiFi connection and batteries for power.
Are home security cameras worth it?
Home security cameras: Not just for people trying to document their live-in demons anymore! (Although that seems to be a thing still, considering there’s a seventh Paranormal Activity movie in the works for 2022. Go figure.)
Anyway, to answer the question: Yes, installing a home security camera is extremely worth it — and not just for the obvious reason that it allows you to see who’s stopping by. Research suggests that burglars are less likely to target homes protected by security cameras, especially when they’re used in tandem with other surveillance equipment (see: alarms and decent lighting). In the unfortunate situation that someone does pilfer your next Amazon package, a security camera can then help in your pursuit of recovery or refund.
Beyond home monitoring, a security camera can also come in handy when you’re trying to check in on someone from afar, like a sleeping baby, a pet, or an elderly family member. (Make sure they know the camera’s there, of course.) And in situations where face-to-face interactions with strangers are discouraged — a global pandemic, perhaps? — a security camera can make contactless deliveries a cinch for all you Uber Eaters and Instacarters out there.
Finally, smaller households may find that installing a security camera or two is more practical (and budget-friendly) than hooking up a full-fledged home security system, which can cost upwards of $300 for a basic setup and require a pricey professional monitoring plan. (But if that’s more up your alley, check out these recommendations.)
What should I look for when buying a home security camera?
Here are some criteria to consider when weighing your options:
Connectivity: Each different type of security camera has some distinct pros and cons. Wired ones can be tricky to set up (sometimes requiring professional installation) and have limited mobility due to their physical cables, but they typically have more reliable connections. On the flip side, wireless cameras are easier to install, but they’re more vulnerable to hacking and signal drops. Wire-free cameras, meanwhile, are super flexible and portable and keep working during power outages, but you have to keep their batteries fresh. (We can say with a moderate degree of confidence that a dead camera isn’t incredibly useful.)
Location: A camera you’re installing outside needs to be durable enough to withstand temperature changes and a variety of weather conditions. A good indoor camera, meanwhile, should look decent (or blend in) with the rest of your home decor.
Resolution: A security camera with blurry, low-quality video is a useless security camera — get one with at least 1080p (Full HD) video quality for crystal-clear footage.
Night vision: Make sure you can see who’s is paying you a visit no matter what time it is. Keep in mind that you’ll usually pay a premium for color night vision (as opposed to infrared, which produces a black and white picture).
Field of view (FOV): You’re going to be able to see more with a camera that’s got a wider viewing angle, but it may result in what’s called barrel (or fisheye) distortion. Alternatively, some security cameras can pan and tilt — including the eufy Solo IndoorCam P24, one of our top picks — which gets you a huge FOV with less of that curved, bulging effect.
Two-way audio: A security camera with a built-in microphone and speakers will let you hear and talk to whoever’s visiting.
Recording type: Most of your options will capture recordings only when they detect motion within their FOV — these are also known as event-based recordings — though some security cameras also offer continuous or 24/7 recording. (That’s less common because it eats up a ton of storage space.)
Notifications: You don’t need to be sitting in a mission control room to stay up to date with the things your monitoring system sees; most security cameras’ companion apps offer instant motion alerts and a live video feed at minimum.
Smart home integration: Got an Echo Show or Google Nest Hub hanging around? Get a security camera that works with smart assistants for hands-free voice control. (“Alexa, show me the backyard camera.”) IFTTT or Apple HomeKit support is also a plus if you want to play around with automation between your camera and other smart home devices.
Storage: While a few home security cameras support microSD cards, the vast majority of them use cloud services for clip storage and remote access.
Add-on services: Need extra protection? Most security camera manufacturers offer optional monthly subscriptions for premium features like continuous recording, “activity zones” where important areas get extra attention, and AI-based object detection and facial recognition. (Cloud storage is often bundled in there, too.) You’ll pay an additional monthly fee for those on top of the price of your camera, FYI.
Cost: Not counting any subscription plans, a nice security camera will cost you $50 to $200 depending on the features you’re after. (If you find yourself gravitating toward options on the higher end of that spectrum, they’d better have built-in extras like sirens, alarms, floodlights, spotlights, and/or free storage.)
What’s all this I’m hearing about Ring?
ICYMI, Amazon’s super popular Ring security brand has a serious cop problem: The company has partnered with thousands of U.S. police departments that can request footage from its video doorbells, creating what’s arguably a massive private surveillance network.
Those requests had to be made in public as of June 2021, but it’s still not enough to quell our privacy concerns, especially when you factor in the 2019 class action lawsuit alleging Ring’s failure to protect its camera owners’ accounts from hackers. (Although to be fair, the company has since rolled out end-to-end encryption for its video devices.)
At any rate, the moral of the story is this: While we recommended Ring’s security cameras in a previous iteration of this guide, we can no longer do so in good faith.
What’s the best home security camera?
Keep scrolling to peep our top eight picks for keeping your home and stuff safe based on those aforementioned criteria:
