In this article, we’ll review the top 10 outdoor security cameras. A security camera (or a spy camera) is a plus to keep your home safe. You can even keep an eye on it while you’re gone – you just need your phone to access the footage and spy on your surroundings.
Whether you’re concerned about home intruders or burglars, or even if you just need it for home monitoring to spy on your children or pets, these devices can stream a high-quality live video feed straight to your smartphone.
And the best part, you don’t need to hire a technician or be an expert to set up a security camera or a surveillance system nowadays.
These new IP security cameras require minimal installation and offer flexible setups and a wide range of security features. Some don’t even need to be connected to electricity, running in internal batteries.
IP spy cameras work over your house’s local wi-fi network so it is as simple as setting up a wireless home network device on your router. Most can also be connected via network cable. You can even place a hidden camera so no one notices it.
There are plenty of great options to choose from, offering features such as High-Definition video (and some, even up to 2K or more), night vision, two-way audio communication, motion detection and alert, SD card storage, and cloud storage.
You won’t break the bank either. Even the cheapest wireless security camera does a good job nowadays. Don’t give a stranger any reason to invade your property for no reason.
In a hurry? Here’s our best tip:
- The SV3C is one of the best budget security cameras with great video quality and smart motion detection at an incredibly low price.
- The Arlo Pro 3 offers one of the overall best wireless security camera systems for home use. It has the best video quality in the test with 2K (2560p) resolution, HDR, 12x digital zoom, and a 160-degree field of view.
Throughout this article, we’ll do an in-depth review of the top-rated wireless security cameras where you can find the best home security camera systems.
Security Cameras Review
In the following table, you can compare these products’ main features. For more information, please click the images to see the products on Amazon, and be sure to read this article until the very end.
| Product Name | Field of View | Night Vision Range | Storage Type | Weatherproof Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  SV3C | Not Stated | 67 ft. (20m) | SD Card | IP66 |
  Ring Stick Up Battery | 115º | 30 ft. (9m) | Cloud | IPX5 |
  ReoLink Argus 2 | 130º | 33 ft. (10m) | SD Card / Cloud | Not Stated |
  Google Nest Outdoor | 130º | 45 ft. (14m) | Cloud | IP65 |
  Arlo Pro 2 | 130º | 25 ft. (8m) | SD Card / Cloud | IP65 |
  Arlo Pro 3 | 160º | Not Stated | SD Card / Cloud | IP65 |
  D-Link DCS-8600 | 135º | 23 ft. (7m) | SD Card / Cloud | IP65 |
  Ezviz Outdoor Camera | 118º | 100 ft. (30m) | SD Card / Cloud | IP66 |
  Lorex W281AA | 129º | 50 ft. (15m) | SD Card | IP65 |
  TP-Link Kasa KC200 | 130º | 30 ft. (9m) | Cloud | IP65 |
In terms of resolution, the Arlo Pro 3 records video in 2K (2560p) while all the others record in Full-HD (1080p).
Let’s go into more detail on each one of these cameras.
Table of Contents
SV3C
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Key features
- Night vision up to 67 ft. (20m)
- Two-way communication
- Micro SD card compatible
- Smart motion detector
- IP66 waterproof rating
- 1080p video resolution
- Local storage
SVC3 group was founded in 2013 and is specialized in intelligent and secure home devices. They manufacture this simple and affordable IP outdoor camera that offers some interesting features without breaking the bank.
Being one of the cheapest home surveillance cameras for outdoor use, it is lacking some features that are standard in more expensive ones like cloud storage or smart home compatibility
Still, it offers a great Full-HD resolution and a considerable night vision range of 67 feet (20m). It is equipped with 36 IR led lights which can monitor your house plainly and quickly even when it is totally dark outside.
Also, it has smart motion detection, which means that when movement is found, this camera will send you a notification via SMS through your mobile phone or send out real-time photos to your email.
If you are after a budget security camera, the SV3C may be a great choice for you. It is one of the cheapest wireless security cameras and features and outstanding image quality for the price, offering a reasonably good build quality too. Summing up, it may be the best budget home camera.
Pros:
- Great video quality
- Broad night vision range
- Two-way audio
- Smart motion detection
- Very affordable
Cons:
- No cloud storage
- No smart home compatibility
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
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Key features
- Night vision up to 30 ft. (9m)
- 115º field of view
- Two-way communication
- Completely wire-free
- Rechargeable battery (solar-powered option)
- Motion detection
- Built-in siren
- Smart home compatibility
- IPX5 waterproof rating
- 1080p video resolution
- Cloud storage
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is an affordable camera that runs 100% wire-free. It connects to your router via wi-fi and doesn’t need to be plugged into any power source thanks to its internal battery.
It gives you a ton of flexibility in where you put it, is easy to be placed right where you want it, and is changed whenever it’s needed.
Running on the battery is also a plus in terms of security. It means this camera would still be working and video recording your home surroundings even when there is some power shortage and you’re out of electricity.
This video camera features a great 1080p video with good color reproduction and sharp detail and has a 115-degree field of view. The night vision is also sharp and clear.
It has video-based motion detection and two-way audio by offering a built-in microphone and speaker. Also, there’s a siren button in which you can activate the camera’s internal siren.
The Stick Up Cam Battery comes with a free Basic plan that gives you motion alerts and lives video-on-demand. However, you have to pay for a subscription to subscribe to a cloud plan. It is not expensive though.
On the minus side, recharging the Stick Up Cam may be a tedious process since the battery needs to be removed and placed each time you charge it.
There is a solar panel accessory available so you don’t need to remove the battery as often – it’s something you may consider. It is one of the best cheap outdoor security camera devices you can buy.
Pros:
- Sharp video quality, even in night mode
- Completely wireless
- Two-way audio
- Smart motion detection
- Smart home automation compatibility
- Good price for what it offers
Cons:
- No SD Card for local storage (Requires cloud subscription)
- Tedious process to recharge the battery
ReoLink Argus 2
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Key features
- Night vision up to 33 ft. (10m)
- 130º field of view
- Two-way communication
- Completely wire-free
- Rechargeable battery (solar-powered option)
- Motion detection
- 80dB built-in siren
- Smart home compatibility
- Waterproof
- 1080p video recorder resolution
- Local storage space and cloud storage
Like the Ring Stick Up Cam tested above, the ReoLink Argus 2 is also 100% wire-free, being connected to your router via wi-fi and powered by an internal, rechargeable battery. You can also get an optional solar panel to extend the battery life.
Thanks to its wireless network capabilities, it’s very easy to change this camera from one place to another. So you can put it where it’s more convenient. It’s also not dependable on your home’s electrical power, staying active even when there’s a cut in the power grid.
Being an IP camera, you are able to access the live video feed from anywhere using the provided mobile app on your smartphone, and it is free, no contracts required. You’ll just have to purchase a micro SD card to record video since it features a convenient SD card slot.
Also, basic cloud storage space is available for free which is a great feature! And if you want extra cloud storage, Reolink offers different paid plans that you can choose from.
The 1080p video quality at 15 frames per second is fairly good and the viewing angles are above-average for its price at 130 degrees, offering a great depth of view.
The night vision also offers good performance with sharp, clear images. This camera offers two-way audio communication and also includes a strong siren.
The Reolink Argus 2 also features motion detection, but unfortunately has a considerable delay and is not the most accurate, triggering too many alerts when set to the default Mid setting.
This camera is an interesting choice, especially for its portability and ease of installation and moving it from other places.
Not being wired to anything has also some downsides, like having to recharge its battery from time to time. Free basic cloud storage is also a big plus of this camera as well as being capable to record video to an SD card.
Pros:
- Good video quality
- Completely wireless
- Strong siren included
- Smart home compatibility
- Includes basic free cloud storage and SD slot for local storage
Cons:
- Have to be recharged from time to time
- Imprecise motion detection
- Unstable wifi connection at times
Google Nest Outdoor
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Key features
- Night vision up to 45 ft. (14m)
- 130º field of view
- Two-way communication
- Motion detection
- Smart home compatibility
- IP65 waterproof rating
- 1080p video resolution
- Cloud storage
Nest is a security camera manufacturer owned by Google and offers this great camera for outdoor usage. It features an IP65 rating, meaning it is watertight and also dustproof.
It has a 1080p Full-HD video recorder with a wide field view of 130 degrees. It also has the ability to zoom in 8x. The overall video quality is great, with vivid color reproduction and sharp images, both during the day and night, thanks to its 8-led infrared sensors. It records at an above-average 30 frames per second. giving a natural, smooth video.
Google Nest cam also offers two-way audio, meaning that you can speak through your Nest app to whoever your wifi camera is pointing at with a fairly good audio quality.
It also offers smart home compatibility and motion detection, which works very accurately and lets you select activity zones to select the areas where you want to receive an alert when motion is detected.
Unfortunately, you won’t find a microSD card slot for local video storage. You have to rely on cloud storage and you’ll get three hours of free storage, just that. You have to subscribe to a paid plan to get further storage, and it can be costly.
This camera’s strongest points are without a doubt its superior picture quality both during the day and the night. Its night vision capabilities are among the best, covering a range of up to 45 feet (14m).
This is one of the best wireless security camera systems in our opinion, offering good features for a reasonable cost.
Pros:
- Video quality (day and night) is among the best
- 30fps recording
- Great Android App
- Smart home compatibility
- Good quality two-way audio
Cons:
- No SD card slot for local storage
- Costly subscription service
- Only paid person detection and facial recognition
Arlo Pro 2
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Key features
- Night vision up to 25 ft. (8m)
- 130º field of view
- Completely wire-free
- Two-way communication
- Motion detection
- Smart home compatibility
- Built-in siren
- IP65 waterproof rating
- 1080p video resolution
- Local storage and cloud storage
Arlo is considered by some as the best IP camera manufacturer. The Pro 2 features a 2-camera kit and a hub station. Both cameras are 100% wireless, so you can easily place each one and move it from one place to another without fuss. They integrate a rechargeable battery that you can charge by connecting a USB-C cable.
The video is very crisp and clear. It records in 1080p Full-HD and has a better-than-average 130-degree viewing angle. The camera also offers a 16x digital zoom that maintains the quality throughout the zoom range, which doesn’t happen in most cameras.
Night vision capabilities are not so upper class though. The claimed 25 feet (8m) range seems too optimistic, despite the 6 infrared LEDs. This camera also integrates a good quality two-way audio and has a built-in loud “smart” siren.
Motion detection works very well too but it’s advisable to lower the sensitivity to avoid false alerts.
The Arlo Pro 2 comes with a free Basic subscription plan that gives you 7 days of cloud-based video storage, 3 months of technical support, and the ability to connect up to five cameras on one account.
Additionally, you have some paid plans offering extra features and capabilities. You also have the option to use an SD card to store video.
It may not be the best budget security camera system, as it is more expensive but it offers you a great set of features in a kit with two cameras and a hub station.
Pros:
- Super video quality during the day
- 7 days of free cloud storage
- Loud siren
- Smart home compatibility
- Good quality two-way audio
Cons:
- The night vision range could be better
- It’s on the expensive side
Arlo Pro 3
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Key features
- Night vision (color and black & white)
- 160º field of view
- Completely wire-free
- Two-way communication
- Motion detection
- Smart home compatibility
- Built-in siren
- IP65 waterproof rating
- 2K 2560p video resolution with HDR
- Local storage and cloud storage
Arlo Pro 3 is a step up compared to Pro 2. It also comes in a kit including 2 100% wireless outdoor surveillance cameras and a hub station. This kit offers a convenient magnetic charging system that promises up to six months of camera battery life between charges.
This model now features an outstanding image resolution of 2560p (2K) and support for high dynamic range (HDR) for better video quality in very dark or really bright areas.
With 12x digital zoom and a 160-degree field of view, the video quality and depth are one of the best things about the Arlo Pro 3.
The night vision is good too and this device also works as a spotlight cam. It integrates a red spotlight which allows Arlo to claim support for color night vision.
However, it also has the standard infrared night vision, if you prefer the brighter black and white solution. Arlo Pro 3’s night vision provides greater sharpness and clarity than many competitors. Two-way audio is also offered with above-average quality and minimal lagging.
The motion detection feature is very accurate, but you’ll have to subscribe to an Arlo Smart Plan to take advantage of several premium features including intelligent notifications that differentiate between people, animals, and cars, package detection that lets you know when a parcel has been delivered,
Arlo Pro 3 offers local storage via an SD card and has also its own cloud storage. It offers you 30 days if you sign up for Arlo Smart, but after that trial is over, you’ll have to subscribe to a paid plan to get 30 or 60 days of cloud storage.
This model offers the best security camera resolution in our camera review. If you’re aiming for the best security wireless camera system for your home, this may well be up to your requirements. And more, it’s so portable you can even use it as an indoor camera.
Pros:
- Superb 2K video quality both day and night
- Integrated spotlight for color night vision
- Loud siren
- Smart home compatibility
- Good quality two-way audio
Cons:
- Some features are only available via subscription
- Expensive
D-Link DCS-8600
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Key features
- Night vision mode up to 23 ft. (7m)
- 135º field of view
- Two-way communication
- Motion detection
- Smart home compatibility
- IP65 waterproof rating
- 1080p Full-HD video resolution
- Local storage and cloud storage
This D-Link camera outdoor is quite capable and offers a lot of value for what it costs. It’s robust and designed for ease of use yet features some great capabilities.
It delivers a sharp 1080p video with a 135-degree field of view and also has a very robust IR LED array getting clear images even in total darkness up to 23 feet (7m) away.
The two-way audio is loud and clear and does the job for what it’s supposed to despite being somewhat laggy at times.
Motion detection is also included and works reasonably well, letting you set up activity zones. Just make sure to adjust sensitivity settings so you don’t get false alerts every now and then.
This outdoor camera not only includes a Micro SD card slot to allow local onboard storage but it also seamlessly integrates with D-Link’s online portal where you’ll get 24 hours of free online rolling recording which is enough for most regular users. You also have some other, more complete cloud storage plans for which you have to pay.
For its price, this camera can be a great option for many, offering good quality and many nice features.
Pros:
- Local and free cloud video storage
- Good video quality
- Motion and sound detection
- Smart home compatibility (Amazon Alexa and others)
- Good quality two-way audio
Cons:
- Audio communication is sometimes laggy
- Lacks support for Apple Home-kit
Ezviz Outdoor Camera
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Key features
- Night vision up to 100 ft. (30m)
- 118º field of view
- Two-way communication
- Built-in 100dB siren
- Motion detection
- IP66 waterproof rating
- 1080p Full-HD video resolution
- Local storage and cloud storage
Ezviz is backed by Hikvision, one of the biggest names in the video surveillance market. The Ezviz Outdoor Cam is among the best cheapest security cameras, being an affordably priced outdoor security camera. It lets you keep an eye on what’s happening outside of your home at the touch of your phone.
Unlike many surveillance cameras with this price tag, it can physically pan, tilt and track motion on its own to provide full coverage with recordings of possible intrusions.
The 1080p video quality is good, with no distortion at all and offering sharp day and night video. It uses a motion sensor and you can set it up to record activities locally on the SD card, or use the cloud.
Details were sharp and color vivid and accurate. Night vision scenes are illuminated well enough to make out facial details even with minimal external light – it is surprisingly good.
Motion detection works alright as soon you adjust the sensibility settings to prevent false alerts. Two-way audio is clear and adequately loud but sometimes laggy, and push notifications arrive instantly. This camera also features a very loud built-in siren.
Ezviz comes with a 7-day free trial of cloud storage offered for one month. After that period, if you want to be able to save your videos on the cloud and access them remotely, you’ll have to subscribe to a paid plan.
If you don’t need to remote cloud access your videos, you can simply use a microSD card.
Pros:
- Local and cloud video storage available
- Excellent night vision capabilities
- Motion and sound detection
- 340-degree motion tracking and manual pan/tilt
- Built-in strobe light and a loud siren
Cons:
- No free cloud storage options
- Lacks Smart home compatibility
Lorex W281AA
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Key features
- Night vision up to 50 ft. (15m)
- 129º field of view
- Two-way communication
- Built-in 110dB siren
- Motion detection
- Smart home connectivity
- IP65 waterproof rating
- 1080p Full-HD video resolution with 30 fps
- Local storage
The Lorex outdoor cam offers a lot of powerful features that would serve almost every home user. The 1080p video delivers excellent quality with saturated colors and without any noticeable pincushion or distortions of any kind. The night vision feature also performs well, with good contrast and sharp images.
It also offers motion detection. Without any setup, the app sends text alerts every time it detects motion. You may also adjust the sensitivity level according to your needs and choose to have the security light or the powerful siren activate every time it detects motion.
Lorex doesn’t offer cloud storage. The camera stores recorded video locally on the included 32 GB SD card. It also features two-way audio communication.
Pros:
- Sharp 1080p video
- Dual-band wi-fi
- Intelligent motion detection
- Customized notification features
- Built-in strobe light and a loud siren
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer cloud storage
- Doesn’t support Apple HomeKit
TP-Link Kasa KC200
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Key features
- Night vision mode up to 30 ft. (9m)
- 130º field of view
- Two-way communication
- Built-in 80dB siren
- Motion detection
- Smart home connectivity
- IP65 waterproof rating
- 1080p Full-HD video resolution with 30 fps
- Cloud storage
The TP-Link Kasa captures 1080p Full-HD video at 30fps and has a 130-degree field of view and 8x digital zoom. Daytime video quality is a little soft but provides rich colors and no distortion. The above-average frame rate is a plus for video smoothness. Night vision is not so clear though, with facial features being harder to make out.
The camera’s two-way, push-to-talk communication is clear and very audible even beyond 30 feet (9m). Motion detection is also available and you can also adjust motion sensitivity according to your needs to avoid generating a flood of alerts. You can set activity zones so you’re only alerted if motion or sound is detected in those areas, rather than across the whole image.
Unfortunately, Kasa doesn’t feature any kind of local storage capabilities. You’ve to rely on cloud storage and subscribe to a plan. For free, you’ll get 1GB of cloud storage for two days of recorded video (up to three cameras). Although if you need more you have to subscribe to one of the Kasa paid plans.
Pros:
- Good daylight video quality
- Free cloud storage is available
- Highly customizable motion detection
- The magnetic mount makes it easy to position
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer local storage
- Video player software could be better
Wrap Up
Home security cameras are a crucial investment to protect your home from intruders. Unfortunately, you can’t watch everything around your property all the time. Lucky for you, security cameras can.
Thanks to a new wave of connected home security cameras, it has never been easier to keep an eye on your home even when you’re far away from it.
There are a bunch of different security cameras available on the market nowadays within a very wide range of prices from cheap home camera security systems to very expensive ones, offering all kinds of capabilities.
We hope this article, where we review our top 10 outdoor security cameras on sale, can be a great help for you when choosing a security camera that better suits your home needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an IP camera need power?
There are two types of IP cameras: the ones you have to connect to your home’s power supply and others that are 100% wireless and are powered by an internal, rechargeable battery.
Do home security cameras have audio?
Most security cameras feature two-way audio communication capability. Although, some inexpensive entry-level cameras may only include one-way audio or don’t offer any audio capabilities at all.
How long do home security cameras record?
Most security can be set to record continuously or be programmed to record video footage in a given period of time. Many can also record images only when motion is detected.
How long do home security cameras keep footage?
It depends mainly on two aspects: how big your storage card is in case your camera is storing video locally in a memory card, and if the video is being recorded to a cloud service, that will depend on the cloud storage plan you have subscribed to.
What is the best IP camera software for PC?
We recommend the IP Camera Viewer. It is very easy to use with a friendly interface and supports more than 2200 camera models. So yours is likely to be included. It can control and view up to 4 camera feeds simultaneously. In our point of view, it is the best IP camera software free.
What is the best IP camera software for Mac?
Ivideon is an awesome option if you’re a Mac user. Online home use and access are completely full-featured and freeware. It has smart notifications and it’s very easy to use. It’s our choice as the best software for security cameras if you’re a Mac user.
What is the best IP camera iPhone app?
Alfred Home Security Camera is one of the best IP camera apps for iPhone. It has video streaming, motion detection, a two-way walkie-talkie, free cloud storage, and instant notifications.
It is compatible with iPhones running iOS 8 and up. It’s our personal choice as the best IP camera viewer for iPhone.
What is the best IP camera app for Android?
AtHome Camera is very easy to use and includes some great features such as time-lapse recording, multi-view for up to four cameras, remote monitoring, and even facial recognition.
Also, it doesn’t have considerable cons. And what’s more, it’s free! For us, it is the best IP camera viewer app for Android.
What is PoE?
It stands for Power-over-Ethernet. Devices with Power-over-Ethernet use a single ethernet cable to connect the security surveillance camera. You don’t need to connect it to a power outlet.
In a PoE camera, the ethernet cable is capable of powering the camera and transmitting video at the same time. Outdoor PoE security is unquestionable.
