The 10 Best Outdoor Security Cameras to Keep an Eye on Your Home

Best Overall

Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera

4.8

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The wireless, weather-resistant Arlo Pro 4 doesn’t have the highest resolution on this list, nor does it have the most intuitive app. However, it takes our best outdoor security camera title because it hits the sweet spot of features, quality, and cost.

By connecting directly to Wi-Fi, rather than having to run its smart capabilities via a separate hub, the Arlo 4 is a breeze to set up. It took us no more than five minutes from unboxing to being able to view our yard on our phone. Built-in Wi-Fi also means you can control the camera via any smart assistant connected to the same network with minimal effort. This list includes Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple’s HomeKit (Siri) with the addition of a hub.

The reason why many cameras connect to a smart hub is to preserve the battery; having Wi-Fi integrated within the device, especially one with video capabilities, can make a dent. However, Arlo appears to have made moves to prevent this. During our testing, the battery only dropped by around 4 percent per week, meaning it should last for around six months between charges. This performance aligns with the company’s promises and is what we’d expect for cameras of this type, price, and quality.

The color HDR camera on the Arlo Pro 4 records and streams in 2K resolution—more than enough to make out details like facial features and license plates. Plus, with a 160-degree diagonal view, spotlight, and siren, the Arlo Pro 4 provides good coverage and peace of mind—even at night.

Price at time of publish: $380

_{Power Source: Battery | Video Storage: Cloud storage | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels}

Best Budget

Wyze Cam v3 with Color Night Vision

4.6

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The Wyze Cam v3 is your best bet if you’re on a budget. Thanks to its multi-purpose, weather-resistant design, this wired camera can be used indoors straight out of the box, or outdoors by purchasing a separate power adapter. Installation is simple, and you can use either the magnet base or screws to connect to a wall or surface. And because the Wyze Cam v3 connects directly to Wi-Fi, setup is just as simple and fast. Notifications and recordings can go directly to the Wyze app, which doubles as a remote viewer and control when you’re out of the house. You can control the Wyze Cam v3 using your voice via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant when you get home.

Camera-wise, the 110-degree field of view and 1080p Full High Definition (FHD) resolution is clear enough to see faces and license plates in daylight. It’s a little harder to make out such features at night, especially if your yard or driveway is pitch-black, but thanks to Wyze’s Starlight Sensor, it’s noticeably easier than on cheaper cameras we’ve used. If you want automatic detection of faces, packages, and pets and unlimited recording, you’ll need to subscribe to Wyze Cam Plus. On the plus side, all recordings on both free and paid plans can be saved locally on the camera via a 32-gigabyte microSD card (sold separately).

Price at time of publish: $35

_{Power Source: Outlet | Video Storage: Local storage via microSD | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels}

Best Splurge

Ubiquiti UniFi Protect G4 PTZ

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The Ubiquiti UniFi Protect outdoor camera takes traditional home security to a professional level. Its 4K sensor comes with a feature known as multi-exposure high dynamic range (HDR) to capture clearer, brighter footage, even at night. It does this by taking multiple shots of the same scene at different exposures before combining them for the optimal view. Built-in adaptive infrared LEDs can capture objects and movement from up to 330 feet (100 meters) away. At the same time, its 22x optical zoom allows you to zoom into these high-resolution images to capture even more specific details via the Unifi Protect app.

Despite the wide range of advanced features, the Unifi Protect app is intuitive and easy to use. You can also access your camera from a browser and PC. Although the field of view appears narrow—up to 64 degrees—this camera comes with tamper-resistant, 360-degree pan-and-tilt features, which you can control in real-time via the app. It's easy to jump straight into the app via an alert and track visitors or intruders in real-time. While this camera is pricey, it’s a common choice for businesses and public spaces, such as train stations and shopping centers, meaning it should offer more than enough features to protect your home.

Price at time of publish: $1,599

_{Power Source: Wired | Video Storage: Cloud storage | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels}

Best Smart Security Camera

Google Nest Cam Outdoor Security Camera

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The best smart security cameras are those with a vast range of features, and our favorite of the bunch is the Google Nest. Not only is it easy to install despite its wired nature, thanks to its magnetic base and the fact it plugs straight into the main without the need for a hub, but its app is also one of the most intuitive and useful we've used. The 130-degree camera streams in 1080p FHD and records directly to the cloud, where three-hour snapshot recordings, triggered by motion, are encrypted and stored. It's worth noting this camera's field of view and resolution match the Wyze Cam v3, despite being almost six times the price.

The Google Nest works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa via an Alexa Skill, and HomeKit via a hub. On the free Google Nest plan, you get a limited choice of standard motion alerts. However, if you pay for a Nest Aware subscription, you can customize these alerts by zones, types of movement, and the faces of specific people caught on camera. These alerts come through your phone or email instantly, and you can talk via the camera to delivery drivers or warn off intruders. You can view up to 60 days of 24/7 recording with a Nest subscription and share this footage with police, loved ones, neighbors, or whomever you choose.

Price at time of publish: $199

_{Power Source: Wired | Video Storage: Cloud | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels}

Best Doorbell

Eufy Video Doorbell 2K (Wired)

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Eufy cameras stand out for transparent prices and a focus on privacy, but the standout is the Eufy Video Doorbell 2K. It streams and records in 2K with HDR support in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which offers a large viewable area from top to bottom compared to typically wide-angle cameras. When combined with the Eufy smart algorithm, this setup allows the camera to easily differentiate between people, packages, pets, friends, and strangers, and it sends alerts before a visitor even rings the bell. These alerts contain facial snapshots, too, and you can speak to visitors in real-time. You get all of this without paying extra for a subscription.

The wired version of this smart doorbell works with your existing doorbell wiring, which is more complex to install than the battery-powered version. Regardless of which model you buy, syncing it with the Eufy mobile app is easy. The doorbell range is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and you can use Alexa instead of a doorbell chime if you want to hear the chime upstairs or elsewhere in your home. Instead of storing footage in the cloud, you can store up to 4 gigabytes of video locally on the doorbell. The local storage isn't expandable, but it's easy to access the footage securely via the Eufy app.

Price at time of publish: $150

_{Power Source: Wired (battery-powered model also available) | Video Storage: 4GB local storage on doorbell | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 2560 x 1920 pixels}

Best Floodlight

Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus

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We’ve had a mixed experience with Ring Security Cameras in the past, with notification delays and intermittent connections, yet these issues appear fixed with the 2021 release of the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus. Despite being a wired camera, it’s surprisingly easy to install and connect to your Wi-Fi network. The floodlights are some of the brightest we’ve seen on such a camera setup, at 2000 lumens versus the more standard 700 lumens. When coupled with the 140-degree wide-angle camera, you get a great view of your yard. You also have the option to set specific motion zones to view via the Ring app.

This app allows you to manage who can access your cameras, link to other Ring devices, view and communicate via the camera from anywhere in the world, and remotely enable and disable the built-in lights and siren. Notifications can go to any approved phone and Amazon Echo devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network. They're a tad slower (a second or less) than seen on other apps, but they’re significantly closer to real-time than on previous Ring cameras we’ve used. All of these features are available without the need for a Ring Protect subscription, which offers advanced features such as Person Alerts, 60-day cloud video storage and sharing options, and 24/7 professional monitoring.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Power Source: Wired | Video Storage: Cloud | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels}

Best Motion Detector

Swann Wired PIR Bullet Security Camera

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Swann has been a security stalwart for decades, and it’s renowned for its True Detect Thermal Sensing technology. Rather than just detecting movement, Swann uses passive infrared (PIR) tracking to detect changes in heat associated with movement. PIR tracking helps the camera cover blind spots by extending how far it can see in the dark—up to 150 feet (45 meters). It also allows the camera’s 4K sensor to more accurately track motion to help eliminate false triggers. Rather than being notified every time a tree sways in the wind or a ball is kicked into your yard, you’ll only be alerted to events with “security relevance.”

Swann’s 4K Bullet Camera uses facial recognition for accuracy and its line-crossing software to draw lines in and around your property that will trigger auto-recording and alerts. These boundaries could be a fence line, the perimeter of your yard, or a threshold within the property. Other benefits include a two-way talk function, audio recording, a siren, and seven days of rolling cloud video storage. The only real downside is that Swann cameras can be tricky to install and set up if you want to take full advantage of these features. You can buy a Swann Secure+ Plan and get up to 60 days of cloud storage plus package, pet, and vehicle detection if you want added security.

Price at time of publish: $100

_{Power Source: Wired | Video Storage: Cloud | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels}

Best Wired

REOLINK 4K PTZ Outdoor Camera

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The Reolink 4K PTZ Outdoor Camera goes a step beyond many wired cameras to offer increased functionality. First, its 4K camera comes with 5x optical zoom, allowing you to enhance facial features, license plates, or focus on suspicious movements. You can use the camera to film timelapse videos, record footage up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, schedule recordings for specific times, or have them activated by motion. You can save this footage locally, but you'll need to purchase a memory card or Reolink network video recorder (sold separately) or set up a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server.

Once the camera detects people or vehicles, it will send a notification before tracking them through its built-in 360-degree pan and 90-degree tilt feature. This range allows you to keep an eye on the visitor, even if they go outside of the initial field of view. Once alerted, the camera can also automatically activate the built-in siren and spotlights, while a two-way talk function allows you to speak directly to the visitor in real-time. Another beauty of these pan-and-tilt functions is that you can set the camera to “patrol” the property at set times during the day, highlighting any changes and saving them to the Reolink app. Given the many customization options, the app is a little difficult to navigate and master, but it’s worth the effort.

Price at time of publish: $250

_{Power Source: Wired | Video Storage: Local via a 256GB microSD slot; FTP server, or Reolink NVR (each sold separately) | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels}

Best Wireless

Blink Outdoor Wireless Camera

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The Blink Outdoor Wireless camera took us less than three minutes to install and connect its corresponding hub, the Blink Sync Module 2, to our Wi-Fi network—and we could instantly access the HD live stream. Although the addition of the Sync Module causes a slight delay in notifications, as they need to travel to the hub first before reaching your phone, this hub also doubles up as a form of network video recorder (NVR). Built-in USB ports allow you to add a USB flash drive (sold separately) and capture your Blink photos and videos locally. This feature also helps boost the wireless camera’s battery life (estimated at an astonishing two years) by removing the need for a card reader on the camera itself.

On the free Blink plan, you can live stream for up to five minutes at a time. You can increase this duration up to 90 minutes via a Blink subscription, which also gives you 60 days’ worth of cloud storage and video sharing. You can set alerts on all plans to detect motion automatically in the full field of view, or you have the option to customize motion zones. The catch is that this camera comes with a lower-than-average, 110-degree field of view and a lack of a siren. However, its two-way audio feature allows you to hear and speak to visitors in real time as an alternative deterrent.

Price at time of publish: $380

_{Power Source: Wireless/battery-powered | Video Storage: Local and cloud storage | Smart Capabilities: Yes | Resolution: Up to 1080 pixels}