We’ve tested the best home security cameras on the market to help you ensure your family is safe. From Wyze to Arlo, we’ll help you find the perfect security camera.
What is the best overall home security camera?
With so many home security camera options, it can be difficult to find the right one for your space. Based on our testing, we’ve named the Wyze Cam our best home security camera pick overall, with its many useful features for a reasonable price. The Wyze Cam is built for indoor and outdoor use, comes with the option of free 14-day cloud storage and is priced lower than many security cameras on the market.
While the Wyze Cam is CNET’s current favorite on the market, there may be other cameras better suited for your specific needs, which is why we’ve tested dozens of home security cameras and condensed everything we’ve learned into this best home security camera list. Below, you’ll find the best home security camera for your home in every major subcategory, from smart doorbells to the models that work well with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri voice commands. Some are fairly simple, with a motion sensor that sends a push notification to your smartphone when they detect movement, while others come with features such as professional monitoring and cloud storage that prevent you from having to sift through hours of footage. No matter your need, you can find a satisfactory home security camera from the options below. (We update this best home security camera list periodically.) Best home security cameras of 2023
As mentioned above, we like the Wyze Cam for its indoor/outdoor versatility, free cloud storage options and budget-friendly price. At $30, the Wyze Cam, which we gave an 8.5 review score, is not just a great budget security camera — it’s a great camera, period. The Wi-Fi security camera features HD video quality live streaming, motion detection, night vision, a decent app and, best of all, 14 days of free motion-based cloud storage. This Wyze security camera also features a built-in microSD card slot if you want local video storage rather than relying solely on its cloud service (you have to buy the microSD card separately).
Wyze continues to dominate the affordable camera market, thanks not only to their Wyze Cam (2020), but also to this panning, tilting indoor camera. For $50, this thing offers 1,080p resolution, two-way talk, an alarm and the ability to monitor 360 degrees horizontally. Plus it brings free cloud storage and alerts and super-cheap smarts. I was so impressed by the device, I gave it a 9.2 review score in 2021. If you want a device that can cover a large indoor space effectively — or if you’re looking for a pet cam or nanny cam to monitor moving targets while you’re away — this is it.
The $150 Arlo Video Doorbell, which we gave a review score of 8.5, has a lot going for it. While 150 bucks isn’t cheap, it’s more affordable than most of the other smart buzzers I’ve tested. As a video doorbell camera, it’s built to be an outdoor camera, so you don’t have to ever worry about the elements. Similar to the Arlo Pro 3 outdoor security camera, the Arlo Video Doorbell has arm/disarm modes, two-way audio, motion zones and an integrated siren.
Arlo’s latest Pro series camera, which we gave an 8.5 review score and Editor’s Choice award, is a fantastic home security camera with features to spare. It boasts 2K resolution, a 160-degree field of view, two-way talk, full-color night vision, a built-in siren and spotlight, compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit — the list goes on.
Google’s newest — and smartest — Nest Cam is a specifically indoor and wired gadget that offers a slew of great features in a pretty package.
