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Whether you’re concerned about theft or want to keep an eye on a mischievous pet, home security cameras can provide peace of mind with real-time notifications, built-in sirens and other security system features. You’ll find plenty of excellent video surveillance system options to choose from, with cameras that offer features such as two-way communication, night vision, cloud storage, motion tracking and HD video for top-notch video quality. The options are so plentiful, it can feel daunting to find a good match for the camera system you may have in mind, especially if that solution includes multiple cameras. We’ve tested out dozens of cameras and condensed everything we’ve learned into the list below. These are the best home security cameras in every major subcategory, from smart doorbells to the models that work well with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri voice commands — and beyond. Some are relatively low-maintenance, with a motion sensor that sends a push notification to your mobile with a motion alert, while others come with features such as cloud storage and professional monitoring that prevent you from having to sift through hours of security system footage. If you’re looking for the best home security camera, get ready to dive in. We update this list periodically.
Wyze
The $20 Wyze Cam isn’t just a great budget surveillance camera, it’s a great camera. Period. It 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 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). This home security camera works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, too, and features a motion detection zone and the ability to listen for and alert you to special frequencies, like smoke alarms.
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Now this is a smart security camera. The $150 Arlo Video Doorbell has a lot going for it. While 150 bucks isn’t cheap (it’s currently down to $122), it’s more affordable than most of the other smart buzzers I’ve tested. As a doorbell camera, it’s built to be an outdoor camera, so you don’t have to ever worry about the elements. Similar to the , the Arlo Video Doorbell has arm/disarm modes, two-way audio, motion zones and an integrated siren. It also has a competitive cloud storage subscription plan, starting at $3 per month. If you pay for cloud storage, you get access to advanced features like custom person, animal, vehicle and package detection for your video surveillance.
Chris Monroe/CNET
The $299 Nest Cam IQ Indoor camera has a lot of the same smarts and features as the Nest Hello speaker. This indoor cam features HD live streaming, motion detection, person alerts and access to the Nest Aware service option. Starting at $5 per month, a Nest Aware subscription offers advanced features like facial recognition. Create a database of friends and family and get alerts telling you “Molly” or “Andrew” is at the door. But this model also features a Google Assistant built-in speaker. So just like the , the Nest Cam IQ Indoor responds to the wake phrase “OK, Google.”
Chris Monroe/CNET
The indoor-outdoor Logitech Circle 2 is one of the few home security cameras that works with Apple’s smart home platform, HomeKit, including responding to Siri commands from a . This home security camera works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant too, giving you access to all of the main voice assistant features.
The best of the best
