We all care about our house’s security. You’ll feel more secure if one of the top home security cameras is there when you’re not home. Smart security cameras record movies with a motion and send you an alert message. We also adore home security cameras for their low cost, ease of self-installation, and weatherproof construction. Here are some of the top cameras currently on the market, whether you’re searching for an indoor or outdoor camera.
Most contemporary home video surveillance kits work seamlessly with smart home systems, making it incredibly simple to install cameras and motion detectors throughout your house and use smartphone apps to keep an eye on your property from anywhere.
Don’t thus assume that video surveillance systems are setups only appropriate for commercial use. Aside from the sensors and cameras, the best home video surveillance systems are user-friendly, inexpensive, and don’t need any specialized equipment. As previously noted, you may set everything up using a smartphone app or PC program.
What will you see here?
Nest Cam
Thanks to its magnetic base, the well-designed Nest Cam (battery) is one of the most straightforward home security cameras to install. Its microphone and speaker made discussions simple, and its 1080p camera captured clear photos day and night.
Along with free rolling video storage for three hours, the Nest Cam (battery) also has human, vehicle, and animal identification. You can receive familiar face identification and the capacity to save up to a month’s worth of video if you subscribe to Nest Aware.
Wyze Cam
When Wyze’s incredibly cheap cameras became slightly less unbelievably cheap in 2021, some consumers were upset. But the Wyze Cam, which costs $36, is still a fantastic security camera that is also a fantastic camera in general.
The Wi-Fi security camera has night vision, live streaming HD video quality, motion detection, an exemplary interface, and 14 days of free cloud storage. Additionally, this Wyze security camera has a built-in microSD card slot for local video storage if you don’t want to rely exclusively on its cloud service.
This voice-activated home security camera is compatible with Google Assistant and
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe offers a primary base station-based home video surveillance system that is simple to install. Since this can connect via WiFi or cellular networks, your home security won’t be affected if your internet goes down.
SimpliSafe offers various packages, including the base station, motion sensor, security keypad, window sensors, and other essential components. Additional sensors, panic buttons, and sensors for temperature, fire, or flooding can all be added in different packages. Alternatively, you can create your package using the hardware and features you anticipate.
To create a comprehensive video surveillance solution, there are also possibilities for adding an indoor video camera and/or a video doorbell. Both start recording HD video and audio throughout a 120-degree field of vision using motion detection. According to SimpliSafe, the SimpliSafe cam is specifically set up to detect human heat signatures. Thus, pets shouldn’t receive erroneous warnings.
Arlo Ultra 2
The Arlo Ultra cameras not only produce the most incredible footage for home security cameras but also employ their increased quality to enable digital track and zoom, making it simpler to identify and follow moving subjects. Additionally, a built-in spotlight makes it possible to record in color at night and features two microphones for superior audio.
However, all of this will cost you money: A single camera costs $399 (with the hub), while additional cameras cost $299 each. You must pay at least $3 per month for the Arlo Ultra’s limited amount of cloud storage if you wish to save any videos. Additionally, the monthly subscription, free for the first year, costs $1.99 more per camera per month if you wish to save 4K videos. The Arlo Ultra, however, has the finest video quality available if you demand nothing less.
Resideo
One of the most straightforward home video surveillance systems is the Honeywell Smart Home Security system. This has been rebranded as Resideo Security. But it’s also a clever approach that opens up many possibilities when used with Alexa voice commands.
The main component of the Resideo Security system is a single, integrated device that serves as both a motion and audio sensor and, when activated, records HD video. For up to 24 hours, this is automatically kept online. Even better, the Resideo all-in-one has Alexa built-in, allowing you to use voice commands to control your security and any other smart features built into your home. For example, you can control heating and lighting if your home has the appropriate smart fittings. This is in addition to supervising and managing anything from a mobile app.
To complete the system and expand its use in bigger homes, there is also the option to buy extra motion viewers for indoor and outdoor use. Another excellent feature is the ability to turn the top fitting to cover the video camera and provide privacy.
Blink Outdoor
The best home security camera for the one searching for a completely wireless solution under $100 is the Blink Outdoor. Two AA batteries power the camera, connecting wirelessly to a small base station wired to your Wi-Fi network.
The weatherproof Blink Outdoor casing has a simple mounting bracket and can be placed indoors and outside. The 1080p video recording, while not the best, is decent for the price. Videos can be saved locally on a USB drive despite the lack of free cloud storage like the previous Blink XT2. A year of cloud storage costs $30, or $3 per month.
Because Ring and Blink are both owned by
Vivint Smart Home
Vivint SmartHome is a complete home security system with baseline video recording and additional smart home capabilities.
The core offerings include a video doorbell, smart locks, indoor and outdoor cameras, and garage control. The inside camera features two-way audio and a full 1080p HD video recording. Custom notifications are possible, and continuous recording can be retained for up to 30 days. It also has a one-click contact button that your family may use to contact you immediately, which is a great feature.
Using a mobile app, a home security system, and voice controls with Google Home or Alexa can be managed directly. This implies that you can use voice commands or your mobile app to combine it with other smart home elements as needed, like lighting and heating. Additionally, Vivint can work with other wireless security items from Nest.
Compared to the other companies mentioned above, Vivint provides a 24/7 monitoring service. However, this typically necessitates hiring a professional installer. The monitoring is typically included with customized products for your home rather than being sold as an add-on with a flat rate price.
Ring Outdoor Cam
Another wireless home security option is Ring, which lets you manage and watch anything through Wi-Fi from a desktop or mobile device.
The video doorbell comes in four varieties and is fundamental to any Ring home security system. Whether or whether someone rings the bell, the Video Doorbell and Video Doorbell 2 both employ infrared to detect motion and notify you whenever someone is at the door. Then, you can look at what’s occurring from your smartphone or tablet and, if necessary, respond promptly with audio. The primary distinction between the two is that the Video Doorbell 2 records in 1080p HD video, whereas the original Video Doorbell only records in 720p HD.
The Video Doorbell Elite and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro are two other types that use pixel-based technology to detect motion. Both cameras have 160-degree fields of vision and record in 1080p HD.
Although all video doorbells can see in the dark, users have the choice to add outdoor security lighting to the system. The Ring monitoring system is also compatible with indoor and outdoor cameras. While the original Video Doorbell is inexpensive, adding hardware can quickly become prohibitively expensive.
The video can be recorded directly to your phone or a cloud account, or you can purchase a Ring plan to have everything uploaded automatically to a Ring cloud account for 30 days of storage.
What distinguishes surveillance cameras from security cameras?
Because so many people use the phrases casually and interchangeably, it can be challenging to keep up with the language when discussing security and surveillance cameras. CCTV and continuous recording are generally utilized alongside security cameras in commercial settings. They are designed to document actions so they can be looked into later. In contrast, home security cameras are frequently motion-activated and linked to cloud storage. They are frequently installed primarily as a burglar deterrent.
Can wireless cameras operate offline?
Most wireless cameras won’t be able to operate entirely without an internet connection. Some cameras employ other radio protocols to send information, particularly those that are a part of a more extensive home security system. Those cameras will need their hub. Even when the internet is down, other cameras with local storage will be able to record and save video, for example, on a microSD card. Most wireless cameras need Wi-Fi to operate all of their functionality as intended.
Conclusion
When installing wireless security cameras, remember that the quality of your Wi-Fi connection in the area where you intend to install the smart home camera will only be as good as the camera itself. So, verify your Wi-Fi speed before punching holes in the walls or otherwise damaging your home security camera’s door frame, masonry, or siding.
