The Best Smart Home Cameras for Every Part of Your Home
Updated: Aug. 31, 2022Whether you're looking for a weatherproof smart home camera or one that detects accidents, these are the best devices for every residential home security need.
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How to Choose a Smart Home Camera
Alongside voice-activated smart home products and outdoor smart lights, the key to home security is a smart home camera. To decide which option is right for your needs, identify the room or area you want to keep an eye on, then consider what features are important. If you’re gone several hours a day or travel a lot, finding a smart home camera that includes video recording at an affordable price point is ideal. If you primarily need an outdoor smart home device, opt for weather-resistant materials with night vision capability. Below, we rounded up the best smart home cameras for every residential need. File our picks under the list of 100 products that will make your home smarter.
How We Chose the Best Smart Home Cameras
We selected the best smart home cameras based on high user reviews, easy assembly and durability, such as weatherproofing. High marks went to smart home cameras with special features like affordable video recording capability.
Evaluation Criteria
- Assembly
- Quality of materials
- Components and special features
- Price
Best Overall Outdoor Security Camera
Google Nest Cam Indoor or Outdoor
The Google Nest smart home camera is a technological power house. For starters, it’s a top-selling home security camera with over 4,500 five-star ratings. The Nest Cam features built-in intelligence to distinguish between people, animals and vehicles, and sends an alert via the Google Home app when it detects movement. We love that it’s battery powered and functional in any room—indoor or out. Check in on your home when you’re away and watch what you missed thanks to three hours of event video history—no subscription required. If the Wi-Fi or power goes out, the Nest Cam will store up to an hour of recorded footage so you won’t miss a beat.
Pros
- Multi-purpose smart home camera
- 24/7 surveillance
- Automatically sends motion detection alerts
- Weather-resistant
- Battery-powered or wired w/cable
- 1080p HDR video with night vision
- Compatible with the Google Home app
Cons
- Some reviewers find it difficult to manually adjust the angle of the camera
- Some reviewers find that their WiFi-connectivity can be spotty with the Nest Cam
Best Budget Smart Home Camera
Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt Smart Security Camera
There’s a lot to love about the Kasa Indoor Smart Security Camera, including the fact that it provides sharp 1080p HD video quality and it covers multiple angles of your home. Get real-time sound or motion detection alerts—even at night. With a 360-degree horizontal view, you can keep an eye on your kiddos, pets and home with the click of a button. And when you want to change the angle of the camera, you can do that in real time from your phone. The $30 price point simply can’t be beat with the Kasa Camera, so you can add one to every room without breaking the bank. The brand also makes a genius outdoor smart device that shoppers can’t get enough of: The Kasa outdoor smart plug.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Pans and tilts to offer a 360-degree horizontal view
- Two-way audio
- Sends motion and sound detection alerts
- Offers up to 30 days of video history for free
- Patrol mode available for watching over kids and pets
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Not ideal for outdoor use
Best Weatherproof Security Camera
Arlo Pro 2
If you live in a climate that’s subject to severe weather, you’ll love the Arlo Pro 2. This smart home camera features a weatherproof exterior that stands up to the elements, including rain, snow and heat. The camera, which works with the Arlo System with Base Station, is a completely wireless security camera. When it’s time to recharge, simply remove the camera from its magnetic mount. You’ll also get two-way audio, night vision, free Cloud recordings, local backup storage and the opportunity to use the camera with your Amazon Echo devices.
Pros
- Weather-resistant
- Two-way audio
- Night vision
- Wireless with included magnetic mount
- Ability to set activity zones for alerts
- Free Cloud recordings and local backup storage
- Compatible with Echo devices
Cons
- Some reviewers report that the Arlo Pro 2 often goes offline
- Some reviewers think the night vision quality is lower than other models
Best Indoor Smart Home Security Camera
Wyze Cam Pan
The Wyze Cam Pan features 110-degree per second rotation speed, 360-degree horizontal range, and 93-degree vertical range, so you can forget about losing sight of something in your home. In fact, the camera delivers 360-degree coverage in less than three seconds to keep you up to speed on what’s happening in your home. The camera also features HD live streaming, motion alerts, an easy-to-navigate app and 14 days of free motion-based cloud storage. Plus, it works with Alexa voice commands, so you can control this smart home camera with your voice by saying, “Alexa, show me the living room” to view a live stream from your camera. With over 56,000 five-star ratings, it’s a home security tool that really delivers.
Here’s what verified Amazon reviewer, Sabrina, says: “I purchased these because I was having dog walkers come into my home while I was at work. Setting up alerts was super easy and worked great. Having no skills in tech whatsoever, these were so easy to install and setup.”
Pros
- Pan, tilt and zoom features for full security coverage
- Automatically records 12 seconds of video when motion or sound is detected
- Multiple family members can access mobile video footage from one camera
- Two-way audio
- Affordable price point
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a mount
Best Outdoor Smart Home Camera
Zmodo SD-H1080P-Z Outdoor Wireless Security Camera
Featuring high quality metal that resists harsh weather, the Zmodo outdoor security camera comes with enhanced antennas for a stronger outside signal. As one of the best smart home devices for protecting your patio, garden or garage, it captures night time activity and alerts you when it detects motion. It even sends a push notification with an image so you know what’s happening before opening the Zmodo app.
Pros
- Withstands harsh weather conditions
- Enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity for outdoors
- Captures night activity up to 65 feet away
- Notifies with in image when activity is detected
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Requires a subscription to record video after 30-day free trial
Best Doorbell Security Camera
Ring Video Doorbell Wired 1st Generation
The Ring Video Doorbell is a game changer in home security. It replaces one-dimensional peepholes with a smart doorbell system that keeps your home safer. It has HD live streaming, real-time motion alerts, and, with a Ring Protect Plan, access to saved video clips to review at a later date. Because it works with Alexa, you can pull up a live feed and even talk to whoever is at your door right from your Echo device.
“Absolutely love this ring doorbell!” writes verified Amazon reviewer, Andrea. “It took me all of five minutes to install. It rings to both to my iPhone and my Apple Watch, which is amazing. My partner is also able to access it and have live video overseas with no issues.”
Pros
- Real-time motion alerts and video coverage
- Know who’s at the front door before they ring the doorbell
- Two-way talk
- Night vision
- Compatible with Alexa
Cons
- Subscription required to record video
- No ability to adjust camera
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