The 12 Best Home Security Cameras of 2023 | Security.org

Pricing Rundown

Camera
Price

Nest Cam Floodlight
$279.99

Arlo Pro 4
$199.99

Nest Cam Indoor
$129.99

Swann 4K Camera
$170

Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
$100

Ecobee SmartCamera
$99.99

Ring Indoor Cam
$60

Tend Indoor 2
$60

Wyze Cam
$29

When it came to pricing, the average cost of a security camera was $168. We also had cameras that reached as low as $30 and as high as $200 or more. For example, Nest had one of the highest prices we’d seen for a home security camera. Netatmo and Arlo Pro 4 were also priced relatively high. Still, we figured this was mostly due to Netatmo’s exceptional artificial intelligence capabilities and Arlo Pro 4’s excellence crushed in every category. Even though those cameras seemed a bit pricey, we agreed their value made up for it. To put two cameras head to head, read our comparison of the Nest Cam Indoor vs. the Arlo Pro 2.

Methodology

Through rigorous research and testing, we identified the best security cameras out there. We used a few ways to make sure the security cameras we chose were up to par. First, we judged each product based on our Necessary Features Test, which evaluated cameras based on their video, audio, night vision, storage, artificial intelligence, smart platform integrations, convenience, and overall value.  We didn’t expect cameras to earn full marks in every category for us to consider them worth buying. Our test simply laid out the ideal characteristics we looked for in security cameras.

Video

One of our Necessary Features was video with a clear and detailed picture. We knew it would come in handy if we needed evidence for the police or wanted to save some footage of a special event, like a birthday party. If we wanted more clear video, we had to invest in a 2K or 4K, a significantly more expensive technology. We also needed to keep in mind that most smartphones couldn’t stream in 4K, so 4K cameras likely weren’t worth it, especially since the Arlo 4K was discontinued so soon after its release (but later put back on shelves).

Display

Next, we wanted to find a camera that zoomed-in optically. We discovered many camera companies claimed their cameras zoomed in, but the truth was they only did so digitally. We could only zoom in on our phone, not in real life. Zoom was essential to us because it allowed our camera to capture details it otherwise couldn’t. We preferred cameras that could zoom in optically at least three times. We saw the best optical zoom capability from the Nest Cam IQ Indoor, which could zoom in a whopping 12 times.

Field of Zoom

Next, we wanted to be sure we got a camera that could zoom in optically— optically being the keyword. Zoom is important because it allows the camera to capture details that it otherwise couldn’t. We prefer cameras that can zoom in optically at least three times. The most we’ve seen is from the Nest Cam IQ Indoor, which can zoom in a whopping 12 times.

Again, many cameras that come with security systems, like Frontpoint’s indoor camera, cannot zoom, which is disappointing.

Field of View

Additionally, we determined the field of view should be no less than 120 degrees. The widest field of view is180 degrees. A great example of a camera with a 180-degree field of view is Logitech Circle 2. We did not even consider cameras with a field of view under 110 degrees because the more narrow the field of view, the more cameras we would have needed to buy to reach every corner of our home.

Audio

We wanted a camera that had both a microphone and a speaker. This was potentially very useful for a few reasons. First, it could help us communicate with people in our home, whether we were watching TV in the next room or on vacation in the Bahamas. Additionally, two-way audio has been known to help stop intruders in their tracks.

Night Vision

Since infrared night vision from LED sensors is invisible to the naked eye, it allowed us to record anyone in our cameras’ view at night without them realizing they were being filmed. In contrast, the bright white light with color night vision made it obvious when we were recording. Most cameras had infrared night vision, but we took points off for color night vision. Although it sounded better in theory, we wanted our security cameras and what they recorded kept secret.

Storage

It was important to us that the cameras we selected had both cloud and local storage. Storage was important for a couple of reasons. First, we figured we might be interested in the video our cameras recorded, like a party or event. Second, the photos and videos that the camera captured would have been helpful evidence if we had an intrusion.

A micro-SD card, like the Honeywell Lyric C2, allowed us to get local storage or download the files. While some companies made us pay for storage, some gave it to us for free. Some companies provided free 32 or 64-gig micro-SD cards, which was awesome. If we had to pick between cloud or local storage, we’d choose local, as we could download the footage then backed it up to a cloud service like Dropbox.

Artificial Intelligence

During our evaluations, A.I. was a large part of home security. A.I. most often referred to person detection, meaning the camera differentiated between people and other moving objects like cars, pets, or shadows. This led to more specific and necessary notifications. Of course, we didn’t want a home security camera, so it could notify us whenever our pet bird flapped its wings! We even tested out the best pet cameras.

Aside from person detection, more advanced cameras like the Netatmo Welcome Indoor Camera employed facial recognition. With this technology, we were notified when specific people were in our home or an unfamiliar face was detected. Other detections included pet detection, baby crying detection, smoke, and C.O alarm detection, and package detection. Of course, we only considered person detection to be a Necessary Feature, but those are some nice extras.

Smart Platform Integration

Smart home quickly became a norm for us, so we also considered having integrations with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant a Necessary Feature. If we were already in a Google or Amazon ecosystem, we’d want to make sure our camera could easily integrate within our smart home.

One of the primary things we enjoyed about cameras with smart integrations was commanding them with our voices. We could also link our camera up with other smart home devices to create home automation. For example, we could set our smart light bulbs to go off whenever our camera was armed and turn on when our camera was disarmed. Extra points went to integrations with multiple smart ecosystems.

Convenience

We looked for cameras with an installation that integrated with an app for step-by-step instructions or had an easy setup. Some cameras came with hubs, which we didn’t prefer, as they took up more space. While wireless cameras may have meant easier setup and less clutter, we had to change their batteries periodically. That was why wired systems were more convenient, including power over Ethernet cameras.

Value

When it came to home security, we didn’t want to skimp on quality. We also didn’t want to break the bank. Security cameras came in a huge range of prices. The least expensive camera we reviewed was the Wyze Cam, which was priced at only $20. The average range was usually somewhere between $100 to $200 while the most expensive camera we reviewed was the Arlo Ultra 4K for $400 (we compared the Arlo Ultra to the eufyCam E here). In our opinion, there was no reason to spend $300 on a security camera when high-quality cameras existed for much less. Here are some more security camera prices so you know what to expect.

To learn more, read our Canary cameras review, our page on Canary camera pricing, our page on eufy camera pricing, and our page on Reolink camera pricing. You can save on security cameras by waiting for Prime Day. In the past, we’ve seen Arlo Prime Day deals, Blink Prime Day deals, and Ring camera Prime Day deals, to name a few.

Not sure which camera is right for you? Read the following comparisons: