Rachel Cericola is a writer covering smart home. In addition to testing hundreds of smart devices, she has also tested dozens of ice cream sandwiches.
Wi-Fi security cameras let you keep tabs on packages outside your home, pets on the couch, and even prowlers raiding your refrigerator. We’ve done hundreds of hours of research and testing on outdoor, indoor, hardwired, wireless, and doorbell Wi-Fi cameras, searching for the best models to fit a variety of homes, budgets, and security needs. If you want to know what’s going on when you’re away, one of our camera recommendations will do the job.
Best cordless outdoor security camera
Our pick
This 2K-resolution model is fully wireless, so you can install it just about anywhere. Its battery pack should last a couple of months, depending on use.
Buying Options
- Subscription: required (no free video storage)
- Power: cordless, rechargeable battery
- Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home (with a compatible base station), Google Home, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings
Who this is for
People who don’t have an outdoor outlet or who want maximum flexibility when installing an outdoor camera.
Why we like it
The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera captures sharp 2K video and includes a rechargeable battery so you can install it anywhere within reach of your Wi-Fi signal—we especially like that it allows you to pull the battery out for recharging, instead of having to uninstall the whole camera. To save your recordings, you need to subscribe to the Arlo Secure cloud service (starting at $8 per month for one camera or $13 for unlimited cameras), which also adds AI-powered features like the ability to distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion. In addition, the system has a 6,500 K spotlight for color night vision, as well as a siren that peaks at 95 dB (based on our measurements), which you can set up to trigger automatically based on movement or in an emergency with a touch of a button in the app.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Recently, Arlo stopped selling single units of the Arlo Pro 4, so you can only purchase it in a pack with 2, 3, or 4 cameras. That means you will need the unlimited tier of the Arlo Secure subscription plan, which starts at $13 per month (or $150 per year).
Because the Arlo Pro 4 is battery-powered, it needs regular charging: Although Arlo claims a charge length of six months, our testing suggests that a one- to two-month estimate is closer, depending on how often the camera is triggered.
Learn more in our full review of the best outdoor security camera.
Best indoor security camera
Our pick
This camera delivers high-resolution images and can distinguish between people, pets, and motion, a feature usually available on high-priced models.
Buying Options
You save $14 (33%)
- Subscription: optional (local storage is free)
- Power: corded
- Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home
Who this is for
People who want to keep tabs on what’s going on inside, whether they’re checking in on kids and pets or watching for unidentified houseguests.
Why we like it
The Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 captures 2K images day and night, a massive upgrade from 1080p resolution, which has long been considered the gold standard. It can detect motion, tell the difference between people and pets, and even hear crying. You can store clips in one of four ways, including locally on a microSD card or NAS (network-attached storage, which you can set to capture just motion-triggered events or to record everything 24/7) and in the cloud via a paid subscription to Eufy Cloud or Apple HomeKit Secure Video. The C24 is also the least expensive, best-performing camera we’ve reviewed that supports Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Although the Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 delivers vivid 2K images for live viewing or recording to a microSD card, it downgrades clips stored on NAS devices and in the cloud to 1080p resolution. In our tests we always found its images to be sharp regardless of the storage method, but if 2K resolution is important to you, opt to use a microSD card.
Learn more in our full review of the best indoor security camera.
Best doorbell camera
Our pick
This doorbell captures clear audio and video, sends fast alerts, and offers free and paid cloud storage—including an option for 24/7 recording.
- Subscription: optional (free cloud storage)
- Power: hardwired
- Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
Who this is for
People who want a permanently installed way to screen visitors at the door, whether they’re on the other side of the door or the other side of the world.
Why we like it
The Google Nest Doorbell was the most accurate when it came to identifying types of motion (person, animal, vehicle, or package), and reacted quickly when sending smartphone alerts and displaying live views. The image resolution is only 960×1280, which is lower than our other picks, but the picture is clear, and the low-res actually ends up being easier on your Wi-Fi network to allow for smoother streaming. Audio was always clear on either end, with adjustable volume and the ability to switch off the microphone when necessary. While it offers free cloud storage, you’ll only be able to access footage from the past 3 hours . If you want to keep it longer, the Nest Aware plan (starting at $8 per month or $80 per year) can store video up to 30 days, and adds in Familiar Face Detection. In addition, if you want 24/7 recording to the cloud, you’ll have to shell out $15 a month or $150 annually for the Nest Aware Plus plan.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Familiar Face Detection feature (a feature that “recognizes” and names frequent visitors) included with the Nest Aware subscription can be faulty. It needs a good look at your visitors to work properly–and even then it still gets some wrong. The Nest doorbell also isn’t compatible with the old Nest app since newer Google products have switched to using Google Home. However, useful Nest app features like the ability to “favorite” the doorbell so you can view the live feed upon opening Google Home have made the transition easier.
Learn more in our full review of the best smart doorbell camera.
This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.
Meet your guide
Rachel Cericola is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter who has been covering smart-home technology since the days of X10. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Men’s Health, USA Today, and others. She hopes her neighbors read this bio because it would explain why she always has four video doorbells running simultaneously outside her home.
Further reading
The Best Home Security System
by Rachel Cericola
A good home security system should make it easy to find peace of mind. It can alert you to an open door or window, frighten away prowlers, and call for help.
Why We Don’t Trust Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video—and You Shouldn’t Either
by Rachel Cericola
Apple’s cloud service for security cameras has many great features, including the price—but we don’t recommend it for most people.
The Best Smart Doorbell Camera
by Rachel Cericola
A smart doorbell camera allows you to see who’s on the other side of your front door so you can screen visitors and package deliveries—even if you aren’t home.
How to Clean Your Home Security Cameras
by Rachel Cericola
You should occasionally clean your Wi-Fi cameras to keep them free from dead bugs, water stains, and other debris that might alter their function.
