Oct 31, 2025 9:30 AM
The Best Indoor Security Cameras
All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Learn more.
You don’t have to deck your house with window, door, and motion sensors and hire an on-call monitoring service to stay safe. The best indoor security cameras can keep your home secure without difficult or pricey installations. Knowing you can check in when you are away from home offers peace of mind, but these cameras aren’t perfect. There’s an obvious security benefit, but you need to weigh the privacy risks. After years of rigorous testing, the affordable TP-Link Tapo C120 is my top pick for most people, but there are many alternatives among my favorite security cameras below. I’ve also got details on what to look for when shopping for one.
Be sure to check out our many other guides, including the Best Outdoor Security Cameras, Best Baby Monitors, and Best Video Doorbell Cameras.
Updated October 2025: We added the new Nest Cam, honorable mentions for Wyze and Aqara, and moved Ring to our Don’t Recommend section.
What to Know Before Buying a Security Camera
Security cameras are great tools, but you also need to protect your security from these cameras. You don’t want to find out that a stranger has been watching you sit in your bathrobe bingeing trash TV for the third day in a row, or worse. If you follow these tips, you can be a vigilant and conscious consumer and still feel like your home is protected while you’re away.
Avoid no-name cameras: If you type “security camera” into Amazon’s search bar, you’ll come up with hundreds of cheap options from brands you’ve never heard of. I don’t feel comfortable recommending them. You should always go with brands that clearly outline their privacy policies and make it easy to set up security protocols. That doesn’t mean they can’t be hacked—Wyze, Nest, Eufy, and Ring have all had breaches—but you probably won’t be hung out to dry by a brand intent on protecting its reputation. Somewhat counterintuitively, it may be better to pick a brand that has had issues, because the increased scrutiny typically encourages them to improve their security practices. (This also depends on how they have responded to previous security breaches.)
Use a strong password and set up two-factor authentication: Setting a strong password you don’t use for anything else is extremely important. You should also change the password for your Wi-Fi network from its default if you haven’t already. Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) as soon as you create an account with the camera brand you’ve bought. It will make it harder for a hacker to gain access to your device, even if they do figure out your password.
Keep it updated: Make sure you’re frequently checking for software updates (for your camera and router) that can patch any security issues that may have come up. Set your camera to auto-update if possible.
Turn it off: When you’re home, or at least when you’re doing something personal you wouldn’t want someone to see, turn the camera off. Some cameras have a physical shutter that you can close or a sleep mode that obscures the lens. You could also turn the camera around for good measure.
What Features to Look for in an Indoor Security Cameras?
Here are some of the main things to think about when you shop for an indoor security camera.
Video quality: Going for the highest-resolution video isn’t always the best idea. While 4K video definitely picks up more detail, it also requires more bandwidth to stream and more storage space to record than 1080p or 2K resolution. Folks with limited Wi-Fi bandwidth must be cautious. A wide field of view is good, so the camera takes in more, but can cause a curved fish-eye effect at the corners, which some cameras are better than others at correcting. If your camera is facing a mixed lighting location with some shadow and direct sunlight (or a streetlight), look for HDR (high dynamic range) or WDR (wide dynamic range) support, as it can prevent bright areas from blowing out or loss of detail in the shadows. Frame rate is also worth thinking about, as a low frame rate can cause artifacts and blurring with moving subjects, especially in low light. Drop below 20 frames per second (fps) and you can expect blurring and jerkiness.
Connectivity: Most security camera systems connect to your Wi-Fi router on the 2.4-GHz band. Depending on where you install, you may appreciate support for the faster 5-GHz band, but it is shorter range. Some systems come with a hub that can act as a Wi-Fi range extender. Bear in mind that you should never install a security camera in a location without a strong Wi-Fi signal.
Subscription model: Most security camera manufacturers offer a subscription service that provides cloud storage for video recording. It isn’t always as optional as it seems. Some manufacturers bundle in smart features such as person detection or activity zones, making a subscription essential to get the best from its cameras. Always factor in the subscription cost, and make sure you are clear on what is included before you buy.
Local or cloud storage: If you don’t want a cloud subscription service, make sure your chosen camera offers local storage. Some security cameras have microSD card slots, while others record video to a hub device inside your home. A few manufacturers offer limited cloud storage for free, but you can usually expect to pay somewhere around $3 to $10 per month for 30 days of storage for a single camera. For multiple cameras, a longer recording period, or continuous recording, you are looking at paying between $10 and $20 per month. There are usually discounts if you pay annually.
Placement is important: A visible security camera can be a powerful deterrent. You don’t want to hide your cameras away. Also, make sure the view isn’t peering into a neighbor’s window or pointing into your bathroom. Most cameras offer customizable zones to filter out recording or motion detection for areas of the camera’s frame.
False positives: Unless you want your phone to ping every time your cat wanders into the frame, consider a security camera that can detect people and filter alerts. Good cameras also enable you to set privacy or activity zones.
Night vision and spotlights: Security cameras generally have infrared night vision, but low-light performance varies wildly. You always lose some detail when light levels are low. Most night vision modes produce monochrome footage. Some manufacturers offer color night vision, though it is often colorized by software and can look odd. We prefer spotlights, as they allow the camera to capture better-quality footage, and the light acts as a further deterrent to any intruder. But they aren’t suitable for every situation.
Camera theft: Concerned about camera theft? Choose a camera that doesn’t have onboard storage. Some manufacturers have replacement policies for camera theft, especially if you have a subscription, but they usually require you to file a police report and have exclusions. Check the policy thoroughly before you buy.
Power: I only recommend plug-in security cameras here, so they will need a power outlet nearby. If you want a battery-powered device that you can place anywhere, you’ll find several in our best outdoor security cameras guide.
Can You Use a Phone as a Security Camera?
You don’t need to spend money on a new security camera—an old smartphone will do as long as it can still connect to Wi-Fi. Just download a camera app (we like Alfred) to both your old phone and your new phone, then sign in with the same email address. Find a spot to mount your device and keep it charged, and you’ll be able to view the camera feed through your current phone.
The field of view won’t be as wide, the battery won’t last as long, and the mount will probably be a lot less secure. Still, if you’re going on a weekend vacation, it’s a quick and easy way to set up something essentially for free. Alfred is available for iOS and Android. It offers motion detection and can set off an alarm when it sees someone.
How We Test Security Cameras
I test every security camera for at least two weeks, but often far longer. I run through the installation process and note any issues. I check that alerts come through correctly to my phone when I am home, connected to Wi-Fi, or away connected to a cellular network. I usually place two or more cameras in the same spot to compare picture quality, motion detection, and other features. I consider the image resolution, frame rate, and audio quality of videos and the live feed. I also check for lag with the live feed. I test the performance during the day, see how it copes with the sun facing the lens, and how it performs in the dark at night (testing both spotlight and night vision). I check how long the live feed and recorded videos take to load at different times of the day.
I play around with the settings in the app to try every mode and feature. I test any smart detection features to see if they can correctly identify people. I test the two-way audio for a short conversation and try the siren where applicable. I also test local storage and cloud storage options for recording videos. If there are any smart home integrations, I set them up and check how quickly the feed loads on a smart display. I always ensure the cameras we recommend support 2FA and test any additional security or privacy features.
-
Best Indoor Security Camera
The C120 can stream and record video at up to 2K resolution, supports two-way audio (with a slight lag), and has a slot for up to 512 GB microSD cards to keep recordings local. This affordable security camera offers impressive color night vision, smart detection (people, pets, and vehicles) without a subscription, and an IP66 rating, which means you can also use it outdoors (provided you can run the power cable). The handy base is easy to wall-mount, can sit on a shelf, and is magnetic. There is no need to spend more than this to keep an eye on an entrance or a specific room in your home.
Motion detection is reliable, and you can tweak the sensitivity and customize the notifications you receive. The video is crisp, but the frame rate maxes at 20 fps, so fast-moving subjects sometimes appear blurry. You can set activity and privacy zones in the Tapo app, and there’s AI detection to recognize people, pets, vehicles, and the sound of a baby crying. Sadly, rich notifications, including a snapshot, are bundled with the optional Tapo Care subscription, along with 30 days of cloud storage for clips, and it’s expensive at $3.50 per month for a single camera or $12 per month for up to 10 cameras. There is no HomeKit or IFTTT support, but it works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, though it was a little slow to load the stream on my Nest Hub. This camera also supports the open Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).
If your budget is tight, the Tapo C110 ($18) is cheaper with only a few compromises (lower frame rate, no pet or vehicle detection, microSD limited to 256 GB).
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 2K, 20 fps Recording: Local microSD card (up to 512 GB) or cloud Audio: Two-way audio, Siren Smart Home: Amazon Alexa, Google Home WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Crisp and clear video
- Supports local storage
- Accurate AI detection
- Color night vision
TIRED- Rich notifications require subscription
- Limited frame rate
-
Best Upgrade Camera
With its compact design, clear video, and two-way audio, this Arlo camera matches our top pick in features and performs reliably well. It can be placed on a shelf or wall-mounted, features a privacy shutter that lowers when the camera is not in use, and stores video in the cloud. The footage is detailed, and there’s no blurring on motion (the frame rate is 24 fps). Arlo’s second-generation Essential Indoor cameras are available in two varieties: a 1080p model and a pricier 2K model. I’m a fan of the app for its ease of use, loading speeds, and two-factor authentication, enabling you to log in to the live feed with your fingerprint or face scan (phone permitting). There’s also a built-in siren and smart home integration for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, but not Apple HomeKit.
Unfortunately, cloud storage, accurate subject detection, and smart animated alerts require an expensive Arlo Secure subscription at $10 per month ($96/year) for a single camera. It’s a bit more palatable if you have multiple Arlo devices, as it costs $20 per month ($216/year) for unlimited cameras. For folks with video doorbells or other cameras from Arlo, this camera is an obvious pick to keep things in a single app. But the lack of local storage might be a turnoff, and there are occasionally a few seconds of lag on the live feed.
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 2K, 24 fps Recording: Cloud-only Audio: Two-way audio, Siren Smart Home: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Crisp and clear video
- Rich notifications
- Quick-to-load live feed
TIRED- Requires a subscription
- Occasional lag
-
Smartest Security Camera
-
Photograph: Simon Hill
-
Photograph: Simon Hill
-
Photograph: Simon Hill
With an understated style, Google’s indoor Nest Cam comes in two subtle finishes to blend in with your decor, or a bright red “berry” paint job if you want it to stand out. It has HDR, footage is clear at 30 fps, with night vision that kicks on automatically when the lights are out, and the third generation ups the video quality from 1080p to 2K. There’s also two-way audio, enforced two-factor authentication, and accurate detection to alert you about people, animals, or vehicles. This latest model also features a wider field of view and animated previews that zoom in on the subject. You can install and use the Nest Cam through the Google Home app by scanning the QR code (it’s the fastest and easiest setup I’ve encountered), and it’s quick to load on Nest displays or a Chromecast with Google TV. (It’s even accessible via a web interface.)
You only get six hours of history unless you sign up for a Google Home Premium (previously Nest Aware) subscription, which costs $10 per month ($100/year) for 30 days of event video history and familiar face alerts, but that covers all your Nest devices. (You can also use the camera in a Nest Hub Max as an indoor security camera.) Once you have tagged familiar faces, your notifications include their names, which is handy (and can be reassuring). It’s good to know when your kids get home versus when an unfamiliar face pops up. It’s not 100 percent accurate (it confuses my kids), but it’s closer than any other camera I have tested.
The overhauled Google Home app is much improved, quicker to load, and easier to navigate, and Gemini for Home provides more descriptive alerts, such as “cat walks around room” or “person walks out of gate.” However, you have to subscribe to the costly Home Premium Advanced at $20 per month to get them. Advanced also enables you to pose questions like “Who opened the back door last night?” or “Did a package arrive today?” and provides a Home Brief summarizing the day’s events. Sadly, there’s no local storage option, it lacks a privacy shutter, and the smart features that set it apart require expensive subscriptions.
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 2K, 30 fps Recording: Cloud-only Audio: Two-way audio Smart Home: Google Home WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Crisp video day or night
- Can recognize faces
- Accurate animated alerts
TIRED- Requires a subscription for best features
-
-
Best Panning Camera
With a compelling range of features, including video at up to 2K and 30 frames per second, 360 degrees of pan and 149 degrees of tilt, and local storage on a microSD card (up to 512 GB), this camera unseated the Wyze Cam Pan V3 as my favorite panning camera. The live feed is consistently quick to load, and image quality is excellent if you select the higher resolution and frame rate and toggle on HDR in the app. You can also set waypoints for the camera to patrol through on your chosen schedule, and the automatic subject tracking is top-notch. The onboard AI can categorize by motion, person, pet, or vehicle, and you can set an alert when a line is crossed. The two-way audio is relatively clear and lag-free, and there’s sound detection too (baby, pet, or glass breaking). There’s also a large image sensor for clearer image capture in low light. The privacy mode prompts the camera lens to rotate inside, so you know you aren’t being recorded.
On the downside, it’s a little bulky, and a Tapo Care subscription (starting from $3.50 a month or $35 a year for one camera) is required for cloud storage, rich notifications with snapshots in them, and easy video filtering. Everything else is available without a subscription, making this an excellent local recording option, but it’s a real shame that the rich notifications are behind the paywall. This camera is usually cheaper on Amazon under the model name C225, but it also appears as TC73 sometimes.
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 2K, 30 fps Recording: Local microSD card (up to 512 GB) or cloud Audio: Two-way audio, Siren Smart Home: Apple HomeKit Secure Video, Amazon Alexa, Google Home WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Crisp and clear video
- Supports local storage
- Accurate AI detection
- Pan and tilt capability
TIRED- Rich notifications require subscription
- Bulky design
-
A Smart Home Hub
Cute ears are amazingly effective at adding personality to a device. This pan and tilt security camera doubles as a smart home hub. It boasts wide compatibility, including Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT. It also acts as a Zigbee 3.0 hub, offering a way to bring all kinds of Aqara sensors and accessories into your smart home fold, and it even has an IR controller. A door or window sensor can trigger the camera to turn on and start recording.
As a camera, you can expect crisp 2K footage (HomeKit is limited to 1080p). The camera has a 110-degree field of view. It rotates through 340 degrees, tilts up 30 degrees, and down 15 degrees to cover a large area. Sadly, recording at 20 fps means fast movement can cause blurring. Onboard AI enables person, pet, face, and gesture detection, a cruise mode has the camera cycle through positions, and it can track subjects (though it is a little slow to do so sometimes). Insert a microSD card (up to 128 GB) for local recordings. The sleep mode has the camera lens roll up and shows a pair of closed eyes. It’s a shame you can only connect Aqara accessories and must dig into the Aqara app to access certain features (including pan and tilt). But if you’re into automation, you will enjoy tinkering with this highly customizable security camera.
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 2K, 20 fps Recording: Local microSD card (up to 128 GB) or cloud Audio: Two-way audio Smart Home: Apple HomeKit Secure Video, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Crisp and clear video
- Supports local storage
- Smart home support and hub functionality
- Pan and tilt capability
TIRED- Some features require Aqara app
- Limited frame rate
-
A Dual-Lens Camera
This feature-packed camera from Eufy is likely overkill for most folks, but it’s an impressively versatile device. It combines a regular camera with a 130-degree field of view that can go up to 4K with a 2K telephoto lens that provides 3X optical zoom. It also has 360-degree pan and 75-degree tilt controls, AI tracking that works well, and support for up to four preset positions it can patrol through, including the default it returns to after tracking a subject out of frame. There’s also privacy mode, two-way audio, and onboard AI to detect people, pets, and sounds. You can record locally with a microSD card up to 128 GB (not included), hook it up to a HomeBase S380 ($180), or subscribe for cloud storage from $4 per month. The Home Base S380 (previously called HomeBase 3) is a hub that connects to your router, ideally via Ethernet cable, and offers 16 GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 16 TB with a hard drive.
The footage is crisp and detailed enough to zoom in on, though bright areas like sun streaming in a window can appear blown out. Because the frame rate is 15 fps, sometimes fast-moving subjects appear blurry. The motion detection is reliable, and you can set up privacy zones in the app. Notifications are swift and come with a thumbnail if you don’t mind uploading to the cloud (it is optional). I sometimes noticed a slight lag on the live feed, and the sound quality could be better. There is no HomeKit support, but you get Alexa and Google Assistant, though the camera was very slow and sometimes failed to load for me via Google.
Note: After a security researcher identified cloud uploads from a “local” only device and a report warned of video streaming without encryption following a bug in May 2021 that exposed some camera feeds to other Eufy users, we stopped recommending the brand. After initial denials, parent company Anker acknowledged and fixed the issues, overhauled its policies, and instituted a bug bounty program. We spoke with third-party security researcher Ralph Echemendia, who was hired to conduct an audit, and decided to start testing Eufy cameras again.
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 4K + 2K, 15 fps Recording: Local microSD card (up to 128 GB), HomeBase S380, or cloud Audio: Two-way audio Smart Home: Amazon Alexa, Google Home WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Very crisp and clear video
- Dual lens (wide and telephoto)
- Pan and tilt capability
- Supports local storage
TIRED- Limited frame rate
- Occasional lag
-
For Homes With Philips Hue
Folks with Philips Hue smart lights will find the company’s security camera intriguing. The Philips Hue Secure is a wired security camera with an optional weighted base. It feels solid and durable (it has an IP65 rating). Video maxes out at 1080p but is crisp and deals with mixed lighting and moving subjects well. It offers a wide 140-degree field of view. Night vision is decent, there’s two-way audio, and it’s quick to send alerts or load the live feed in the Hue app. You get 24 hours of video history in the cloud for free, but if you want more than that, you need to subscribe for $4 per month ($40/year) for a single camera, which gives you 30 days of cloud storage and unlocks smart detection features.
The person and animal detection works well, helping to filter out false positives, and you can also set multiple activity and privacy zones. There’s vehicle and package detection, too, for outdoor use. There’s no local storage, but footage is end-to-end encrypted, so only you can access it. If you have a Hue bridge and lights, you can have the camera trigger them. I set it up in my office to turn the lights on and off automatically, with different brightness and color settings for different times of day. When you arm the system, it gives you a countdown, and when you get an alert, you can review and trigger flashing lights and a siren to try and scare away intruders, though the siren tops out at 80 decibels (about the volume of a food blender). While there are better cameras for this money, the impressively slick integration with the Hue ecosystem is the attraction. Trust is crucial with a camera inside your home, so it’s an easier sell for Hue fans. Philips Hue just released a 2K camera but we haven’t tested it yet.
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 1080p, 30 fps Recording: Cloud-only Audio: Two-way audio, Siren Smart Home: Philips Hue WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Crisp and clear video
- Accurate AI detection
- Integrates with Philips Hue lights
TIRED- Limited resolution
- Requires a subscription
-
Another Affordable Camera
The Blink Mini 2 brings a few crucial improvements over its predecessor that earn it a recommendation here: better image quality with a wider field of view (up from 110 to 143 degrees), enhanced low-light performance (with an optional spotlight), and on-device person detection (fewer false positives). Amazon’s Blink makes some of the most compact security cameras available, and this rounded cube comes with a circular base for easy mounting, or it can sit unobtrusively on a shelf. The footage is 1080p at up to 30 fps, and I found it clear, even in low light. You can also set activity and privacy zones, and the two-way audio is passable, though the sound quality isn’t great. I also appreciate the option to log in to the app with biometrics (phone permitting).
The catch is that you really need the subscription at $3 per month or $30 per year for a single camera, or $10 a month or $100 a year for unlimited cameras. You can technically record locally if you purchase a Sync Module 2 ($50) and insert a USB flash drive, but without a subscription, your live feed is limited to five minutes with no record option, videos are much slower to load, you don’t get person detection, and you can’t share clips. If you subscribe, you get all that and a generous 60-day unlimited cloud video history (30-day in the UK and Europe).
Specs Max Resolution: Up to 1080p, 30 fps Recording: Local USB flash drive or cloud Audio: Two-way audio Smart Home: Amazon Alexa WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Clear video with high frame rate
- Supports local storage
- Accurate person detection
TIRED- Requires a subscription for best performance
- Limited resolution
Compare Indoor Cameras
| Cameras | Price (MSRP) | Video Quality | Recording | Audio | Smart Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Indoor Security Camera: TP-Link Tapo C120 | $40 | 2K, 20 fps | Local microSD card (up to 512 GB) or cloud | Two-way audio, Siren | Amazon Alexa, Google Home |
| Best Upgrade Camera: Arlo Essential Indoor | $80 | 2K, 24 fps | Cloud-only | Two-way audio, Siren | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT |
| Smartest Security Camera: Google Nest Cam | $100 | 2K, 30 fps | Cloud-only | Two-way audio | Google Home |
| Best Pan/Tilt: TP-Link Tapo C225 | $60 | 2K, 30 fps | Local microSD card (up to 512 GB) or cloud | Two-way audio, Siren | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit Secure Video |
| A Smart Home Hub: Aqara Camera Hub G3 | $110 | 2K, 20 fps | Local microSD card (up to 128 GB) or cloud | Two-way audio | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit Secure Video |
| A Dual-Lens Camera: Eufy Indoor Cam S350 | $140 | 4K + 2K, 15 fps | Local microSD card (up to 128 GB), HomeBase S380, or cloud | Two-way audio | Amazon Alexa, Google Home |
| For Homes With Philips Hue: Philips Hue Secure Wired | $130 | 1080p, 30 fps | Cloud-only | Two-way audio, Siren | Philips Hue |
| Another Affordable Camera: Amazon Blink Mini 2 | $40 | 1080p, 30 fps | Local USB flash drive or cloud | Two-way audio | Amazon Alexa |
Best MicroSD Cards
Many security cameras support local storage, enabling you to record videos on the camera or a linked hub. A few hubs have built-in storage, and some provide slots for hard drives, but most rely on microSD cards. Here are some details on what to look for (and a few recommendations).
The microSD card you choose should have fast read and write speeds so that you can record high-quality video and play it back without delay. We recommend going for Class 10 microSD cards rated as U1 or U3. You can dive deeper into what that means in our SD card explainer. Before buying, check the card type, format, and maximum supported card size for your security camera. Consider how many hours of video each card capacity can store. For example, you might get a couple of days of HD video on a 32-GB card. If you want to record continuously, you likely want a higher-capacity card.
I recommend formatting the card as soon as you insert it into the camera. You will usually be prompted to do this, but if not, there is generally an option in the settings. Just remember, formatting will wipe anything on the microSD card, so back up the contents first.
Some security camera manufacturers offer their own branded microSD cards. They work just fine in my experience, but for maximum reliability, here are my favorites. Always remember to check the specs. Even different sizes of cards in the same range often have different capabilities.
- Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC (128 GB) for $20
- SanDisk High Endurance Video microSDXC Card (256 GB) for $25
- PNY Elite-X microSDXC Card (128 GB) for $12
Other Indoor Cameras to Consider
There are a lot of security cameras out there. Here are others I tried that didn’t earn a top spot.
Wyze Cam Pan V4 for $60: The V3 was our pick for the best panning camera, and the V4 offers several improvements, including an upgrade to 4K footage and a built-in spotlight. The smart design allows it to spin 360 degrees and tilt 180 degrees to take in a whole room. I like the option to set waypoints in the app to have it cycle through, the privacy mode, the automatic motion tracking, and the ability to record locally on a microSD card (up to 512 GB). On the downside, you must subscribe for features like AI detection and rich notifications, starting from $3 a month ($20 a year) for a single camera, though that only gets you 14 days of video storage. The frame rate also drops to 15 (from 20) at night, and I found moving subjects, combined with the camera panning, resulted in blurry footage. While we are testing Wyze cameras again after the firm beefed up its security policies, the past security breaches may still give you pause if you’re considering its cameras for inside your home.
Aqara Camera G100 for $35: This affordable camera comes from Aqara’s rapidly expanding stable of smart home gadgetry, and offers an impressive set of specs for the money (2K video, 140-degree field of view, AI detection, IP65 rating, spotlight for color night vision, two-way audio, and microSD card slot for local storage). On paper, it’s very similar to our top pick, but I found connectivity a little flaky (it needs a strong Wi-Fi signal) and the AI detection frequently identified my cat as a person. It’s still a bit of a bargain and makes sense for folks who have already invested in Aqara gear. It also boasts wide smart home compatibility, including Apple HomeKit, which is a real rarity at this price.
TP-Link Tapo HybridCam 360 C216 for $30: With a cute design that can sit on a table or shelf or be mounted the other way up, this camera has an IP65 rating, so it can also work outdoors, though it needs to be plugged in via the 6.6-foot USB-C cable. The video is sharp at up to 2K and 30 fps, and the C216 allows 360-degree pan and 152-degree tilt. It can track subjects and patrol the room, and there’s local video storage via microSD card. People detection is good, and it can recognize a baby crying (my cat can also trigger this). An excellent pan/tilt camera at a very competitive price, the only thing keeping this from a recommendation above is TP-Link’s slightly superior C225, but if your budget is limited and the C225 isn’t on sale, this is a great second choice.
Lorex 2K Dual-Lens Indoor Pan-Tilt Camera for $80: There’s a lot to like about this dual-lens camera, with one fixed-view camera and a pan-and-tilt lens on top to track subjects and cover a 360-degree area. It offers crisp 2K video with HDR, smart motion detection for people and pets, and local storage on a microSD card up to 256 GB (32 GB included). There’s also two-way audio with a call button on the camera, capable of calling the app on your phone. The tracking was sometimes a bit unreliable, and tapping on notifications did not always load the clip, but it mostly worked well. Lorex was owned by Dahua (banned by the US government) until a Taiwanese firm, Skywatch, reportedly bought it in 2023.
Eufy Indoor Cam E220 for $32: This is a solid alternative to TP-Link’s Tapo Pan Camera above. Eufy’s E220 also offers up to 2K footage with a 125-degree field of view, but pans to cover 360 degrees horizontally and tilts through 95 degrees vertically. It has person and pet detection, can automatically track movement, offers local or cloud storage, and supports Google Home and Amazon Alexa. The weakness is the limited frame rate (15 fps), which can result in choppy footage.
Ezviz C6 for $100: A cute design, crisp and clear video, and onboard AI and storage make this a compelling prospect. I like that the 2FA allows fingerprint unlock, it has a privacy mode, and it gives you the option to have gestures trigger a call. But the C6 struggled in mixed lighting, repeatedly identified my cat as a human intruder, and needs to be positioned low for the best view. I also tested the Ezviz C6N ($30), which had problems with subjects appearing blurry, and the Ezviz CP1 Pro (£20) and Ezviz SD7 (£130), which seem to be available only in the UK. The SD7 is a 7-inch portable screen with a battery inside that offers a dedicated view of your Ezviz cameras (up to 30), allowing you to play back video and control them where applicable, but that’s all it does, so I am slightly puzzled about why you would buy it over a smart display that can also do other stuff.
Psync Camera Genie S for $28: Easily the most interesting security camera I have tested, the unusual Psync Camera Genie S has a funky, blocky design that folds open to reveal a 2K camera and four LED lights. It records in a vertical format like TikTok, can pan 350 degrees and tilt 135 degrees, and has smart motion tracking. It supports two-way audio and has 32 or 64 GB of storage inside. In keeping with the AI trend, it is GPT-enabled, so if you spring for a ViewSay subscription ($1/month during Beta, then $7/month), it uploads frames of each video to a secure server and uses a visual language model to describe them for your notifications. This can have unintentionally hilarious results. Instead of getting a generic alert, it might say, “A man is opening a door, and a cat is behind him,” or, “A person is standing in a dark room, holding a baby, and looking at the camera.” Those are both real notifications I got, though the latter was actually my daughter holding a cat toy. ViewSay can also label objects in the room, but for most folks, it seems like a pointless gimmick, and it definitely needs to work on the accuracy to make it useful. The feed is quick to load, but I found the footage a bit blurry in low light (the maximum frame rate is 20), and the vertical orientation limits your field of view.
Wiz Indoor Security Camera for $17: As a 1080p camera with a relatively narrow 120-degree field of view, the debut Wiz security camera is a hard sell. Parent company Signify owns Philips Hue, but Wiz is cheaper, and if you own any of its smart lights, you can use the camera to trigger them. It also works with the company’s SpaceSense technology to use Wi-Fi and your Wiz lights to detect motion. It supports two-way audio, sound detection, and night vision. You can insert a microSD card for local recording, but you need a subscription ($4/month) for activity zones, cloud storage, and manual recording. There is a privacy mode, but it lacks a shutter. It’s a reliable camera, but only worth considering for folks with Wiz lights. It comes with a USB cable, but no power adapter.
TP-Link Tapo C210 for $20: If you want the ability to pan around the room, TP-Link’s Tapo C210 is another affordable indoor security camera with versatility. Like its sibling, our budget pick above, this camera supports up to 2K video, two-way audio, and local recordings via microSD cards up to 256 GB. But it has the same disappointing frame rate (15 frames per second), which can result in jerky video clips—more of a problem with a panning camera. There’s also some lag on the two-way audio, and the camera does not return to its starting position after tracking a subject, which can leave it facing the wrong way.
Eve Cam for $165: This is a solid HomeKit security camera for Apple households. The video quality is reasonably good, the night vision works well, motion alerts are reliable, and it can generally distinguish pets from people. The magnetic base is quite handy, and it is easy to automate this camera through Apple’s Home app so that it turns on when you leave the house or triggers lights when it senses motion. But it is relatively expensive, and it only works with Apple devices. An iCloud storage plan (starting from $1 per month for one camera) and a HomePod or Apple TV to act as a HomeKit hub are essential.
Panasonic Home Hawk Window for $120: This camera sticks to the inside of a window, so you can keep an eye on the outside of your house without mounting anything—a huge plus if you’re renting. The image quality is surprisingly clear, it has a decent 150-degree wide-angle view, and you can set it to just detect people to avoid notifications for every car that drives past or bird that pops up. But it’s pricey, there’s no 2FA, and there’s no cloud storage, so you’ll need a microSD card to view anything outside of a livestream.
Blink Mini for $30: Compact, versatile, and cheap, the Blink Mini offers good-quality video, two-way audio, accurate motion detection, activity zones, and integration with Alexa. The 1080p footage is clear, even in low light, but bright areas can appear blown out. There is two-way audio, but it often lags and distorts. If you don’t want a subscription (from $3 per month), you can add a Sync Module 2 ($50) and record to a USB flash drive (sold separately). It worked reliably in my testing, but it detects any motion (it can’t distinguish between pets and people). You can also get the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera for $40, which is a regular Blink Mini camera with a pan-and-tilt mount, so you can pan through 360 degrees and tilt through 135 degrees.
Ezviz C1C for $20 and C6CN for $60: Ezviz’s cameras are as affordable as Wyze’s. The app has a really nice grid view, so you can easily watch a live feed of all your cameras, but there’s a small delay when detecting motion—I set up the C6CN panning camera in my living room, and it didn’t start recording until I made it from the door to the other side of the room. It always detected motion accurately, but the delay might be an issue if you’re dealing with an intruder.
TP-Link Kasa Spot for $20: I tried the Spot and the Spot Pan Tilt ($22), and both are impressive and inexpensive offerings from TP-Link. They have a wide field of view and decent motion detection that alerts you instantly. These cameras lacked two-factor authentication when I tested them, but the company has since added the feature to the Kasa app.
Don’t Buy These
I didn’t like every camera I tested. These are the ones to avoid.
Ring Indoor Cam: Ring is reintroducing a policy to enable local law enforcement to request footage directly from Ring users, making its camera tough to recommend. We stopped recommending Ring a few years ago due to this policy (among other reasons), but began testing and recommending Ring hardware after it changed its tune. If you’re already in the ecosystem, you may still fancy the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen). It records crisp 1080p footage at 24 frames per second, has optional color night vision, and has a privacy shutter you can swivel around. You get motion alerts, pre-roll captures a few seconds before each event, two-way audio is decent, and the Ring Indoor Cam has a built-in siren. But the feature-packed app can be slow to load the live feed, and the best features, like person alerts and rich notifications, require a Ring Protect Plan ($5 per month for one camera or $10 per month for all your cameras and doorbells). Ring recently introduced a new version of this camera that ups the resolution to 2K and brings a few other improvements, but we haven’t tested it yet.
Chamberlain myQ Smart Indoor Security Camera: While we love the MyQ Garage Opener, the firm’s foray into security cameras was not as successful. We had issues getting the camera up and running, the MyQ app was slow and buggy, and a subscription starting from $8 per month is required if you want to record video (there’s no local option). The 1080p resolution is OK, but the night vision is weak, and there are several better options above.
Nooie 360 Cam 2: We liked the original Nooie 360 Cam. This version sports a similar design, allowing for almost 360-degree rotation and 94-degree tilt, and bumps the video resolution up to 2K. It takes microSD cards (up to 128 GB), and cloud plans start from $3 per month for 14-day event recording. Unfortunately, alerts are not reliable (sometimes they didn’t come through to my phone). The Nooie app is buggy, and it often takes a frustratingly long time to load the video feed. Any motion triggers a recording (there’s no person or pet detection), and you can set the camera to track a subject or pan and tilt manually, but annoyingly, it doesn’t return to a default position. There is 2FA, but it’s optional.
SwitchBot Indoor Camera and Pan/Tilt Cam: These cameras are affordable and offer clear video, but both struggled with exposure in mixed lighting. The app is a little flaky and crashed on me when I tried to play back video from an inserted microSD card, and there’s no 2FA. If you enable motion tracking, the pan cam also has the unfortunate habit of staying in the last position it tracked movement.
Wyze Cam V3: The V3 has been discontinued, but you can still find it on Amazon. While it offers good-quality video and works well on the whole, the free service makes this far less of a bargain than it used to be. It does boast local or cloud recordings, 2FA, and a choice of smart-home integrations. But this is one of the cameras that had a major security flaw that Wyze failed to fix for several years.
Comments
Wired Coupons
Exclusive 10% Off Squarespace Promo Code
10% off Dell Coupon Code for New Customers
Samsung Promo Code: 10% off TVs
10% off Canon promo code with upgrade
Exclusive NordVPN Coupon: 76% off
LG Promo Code: 20% Off Your First Order
Credit: Original Article
