Best Home Security Cameras 2022

Security cameras can keep a virtual eye on everything from your yard to your baby. We recommend the Arlo Pro 3 for smart tech and easy setup

Best Camera System
Arlo Pro 3 2-camera starter kit
Arlo Pro 3 Camera
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
  • pro
    Easy, wire-free setup
  • con
    Pricey
Best Doorbell Camera
Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus
Ring Video Doorbell 3
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
  • pro
    Hardwired and battery options
  • con
    Bulky design
Best Budget Pick
Wyze Cam v2
Wyze Cam v2
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
  • pro
    Super cheap
  • con
    Filmsy design
Best lighted camera
Ring Spotlight Cam
Ring Spotlight Cam
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
  • pro
    Built-in light
  • con
    Requires subscription plan
Mindy Woodall
Contributing Writer, Home Security & Smart Home
December 28, 2021
6 min read

We may earn money when you click our links.

There are so many different kinds of security cameras on the market now that it's hard to know which model to choose. Whether you need an indoor security camera to watch your new puppy at work or an outdoor security camera to deter package thieves and potential intruders, we'll help you find the best one for your house.



Best home security cameras tech spec comparison
Model
Image
Price
Storage type
Learn more

Arlo Pro 3

$354.98 (for a two-pack)

Cloud storage and local storage

Ring Video Doorbell 3

$179.99

1080p

Wyze Cam v2

$25.98

Cloud storage and local storage

Ring Spotlight Cam

$199.99

1080p

Wyze Cam Pan

$37.98

Cloud storage and local storage

Reolink Argus 2

$75.99

Cloud storage and local storage

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 6/10/21 9:31 PST) Full disclaimer

Arlo Pro 3: Best camera system

The Arlo Pro 3 is a versatile wire-free camera, but it’s a bit pricey

Arlo Pro 3 features

  • Adjustable motion zones
  • Weatherproof
  • Built-in spotlight
  • Built-in siren
  • 24/7 CVR option
  • HD video
  • Rechargeable battery
  • USB backup storage
  • 100+ decibel siren
  • Outdoor/indoor compatible
  • Wire-free or wireless
  • Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, and Stringify integrations
Arlo Pro 3
Arlo Pro 3 camera
pro Wireless installation
con Short battery life

What we like about the Arlo Pro 3

The Arlo Pro 3 can handle just about anything you throw at it. If you want an indoor camera, just set the Arlo Pro 3 on any flat surface in your house. If you want outdoor cameras all around your property, go ahead and mount the Arlo Pro 3 on a wall.

We love that this camera is wire-free, so you can put it wherever you want without worrying about being near an outlet. (You can also connect it to a power cord if you want to.) Plus, you can backup your footage onto a USB drive if you want to save that video of your cat catching birds forever.

What we don’t like about the Arlo Pro 3

The Arlo Pro 3 doesn’t come cheap—it’s a bit of a pricey cam. And you need the Arlo SmartHub to connect your cameras to your Wi-Fi network, so you can’t just buy a single camera and be on your way.

Ring Video Doorbell 3: Best doorbell camera

Ring was one of the first makers of doorbell cameras, and its Ring Video Doorbell 3 is still one of the best on the market

Ring Video Doorbell 3 features

  • HD video
  • Adjustable motion sensitivity
  • Rechargeable battery or hardwired option
  • Adjustable motion zones
  • Weather-resistant
  • Amazon Alexa and IFTTT integrations
Ring Video Doorbell 3
Ring Video Doorbell 3
pro Battery and hardwired power options
con Clunky design

What we like about the Ring Video Doorbell 3

Doorbell cameras are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Stick one of these babies on your house and you never have to open the door for a stranger again. Plus, you can see and talk to people on your porch no matter where you are.

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 lets you choose to either use a rechargeable battery or hardwire the cam right into your existing doorbell outlet. (We recommend the hardwired option, just so you never have to mess with it again.) It also lets you select motion zones, so you get alerts about people on your porch but not kids on the street in front of your house.

What we don’t like about the Ring Video Doorbell 3

Ring Video Doorbells, in general, are a bit bulky. But you can find some options that look a little nicer and blend into your doorframe a little better.

One thing to consider, though: we’ve heard a lot of reports of customers getting alerts but only seeing the backs of people leaving their porches, not their faces while they’re actually there. That's usually an indicator that your Wi-Fi isn't fast enough for the camera, so you might want to invest in a Wi-Fi extender if this turns out to be a problem for you.

Wyze Cam v2 - Best budget pick camera

Wyze gives you some top-notch features for an unbelievably low price

Wyze Cam v2 features

  • HD video
  • Magnetic base
  • Drill-free mounting options
  • Sound recognition
  • MicroSD card storage option
  • Free 14-day cloud storage
  • Continuous recording (with microSD card)
  • Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT integrations
Wyze Cam v2
Wyze Cam v2
pro Super affordable
con Flimsy plastic body

What we like about the Wyze Cam v2

We honestly can’t believe how cheap the Wyze Cam v2 is. Like, seriously, does Wyze know how much it’s selling it for? For only about $25, you get some features we’d expect from much more expensive cameras, like 1080p video and 14-day cloud storage.

Plus, you can mount the Wyze Cam v2 basically anywhere. Stick it on your fridge, drill it into the wall, or just set it on a bookshelf—it’s up to you.

What we don’t like about the Wyze Cam v2

It’s so cheap, and the Wyze camera does feel/look a little, well, cheap. But we can’t complain about that too much for a camera that costs less than $30.

Ring Spotlight Cam - Best lighted security camera

The Ring Spotlight Cam combines a camera with a safety light for a bright combo

Ring Spotlight Cam features

  • HD video
  • Custom motion zones
  • Scheduled motion zones
  • 110-decibel siren
  • Multiple power source options
  • Cloud storage
  • Built-in security spotlight
  • Night vision
  • Amazon Alexa and IFTTT integrations
Ring Spotlight Cam
Ring Spotlight Cam
pro Built-in security light
con Light is not very bright

Security lights are one of the oldest ways to scare away intruders and keep your house safe. With the Spotlight Cam, Ring combines the classic power of a bright light with an HD security camera.

You can customize when the light turns on and how bright it is, plus set up custom motion zones for your Ring camera.

Heads up, though—you might want to subscribe to one of Ring’s monthly plans for more cloud video storage.

Wyze Cam Pan - Best pan-and-tilt camera

The Wyze Cam Pan lets you monitor entire rooms with one camera—and it’s not even expensive

Just like the Wyze Cam v2, Wyze’s Cam Pan is incredibly inexpensive for the level of features you get.

The Wyze Pan Cam gives you HD video plus full pan-and-tilt capabilities. You can look around a whole room in one go or set the camera to scroll over the same set spots every time you check in.

Wyze Cam Pan features

  • 360º panning, 93º tilt range
  • 110º/second rotation speed
  • Custom panning stop points
  • HD video
  • Automatic motion tracking
  • Free 14-day cloud storage
  • microSD card storage option
  • Continuous recording option (with microSD card)
  • Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT integrations
Wyze Pan Cam
Wyze Cam Pan
pro Very affordable
con Requires power cord

Reolink Argus 2 - Best standalone security camera

The Reolink Argus 2 doesn’t have many smart home integrations, but it’s pretty versatile as a standalone option

Reolink Argus 2 features

  • HD video
  • Wireless
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Indoor/outdoor compatible
  • Solar powered
  • Weatherproof
  • microSD card storage option
  • Multiple mounting options
Reolink Argus 2
Reolink Argus 2
pro Wireless
con No IFTTT integration

We love that the Reolink Argus 2 lets you use a microSD card for storage if you want to. We also love that it’s solar powered and can go either inside or outside. But as far as smart home integrations go, the Argus 2 falls short.

If you want your camera to work with your Amazon Alexa or with IFTTT, then there are other cameras on this list we’d recommend instead.

Recap

Home security cameras aren’t just for spying anymore. They have more features than ever before, and you can find the exact right model to keep an eye on your porch, your baby’s nursery, or just your mischievous kitten.

Arlo Pro 3 can be put just about anywhere, and it's wire-free design makes it easy to set up. You can set it on a shelf or put it in a tree. Just be aware it's a bit pricey.

Ring Video Doorbell 3 is the latest iteration in Ring's doorbell camera line-up, and we like that you can choose between battery-powered or hardwired connections.

Wyze Cam v2 is astoundingly cheap for such a smart little camera. It's not the fanciest model around, but it will give you basic features at a very affordable price.

Ring Spotlight Cam is great if you want an HD security camera with a built-in security light. It's a bit bulky, but potential intruders will definitely notice it.

Wyze Cam Pan is another offering from the affordable Wyze line, and it can spin around to see a whole room.

Reolink Argus 2 has multiple power options, including battery-powered and solar-powered. This camera's great if you want to let the sun charge your security camera.

 

FAQs

Two-way audio lets you both hear what’s going on in the place where your camera is and talk through your camera using its microphone.

Most cameras work a bit like a walkie talkie where you can’t talk and listen at the same time. Some cameras do let you make outgoing phone calls directly from the camera itself, like the Vivint Ping camera.

Almost always, yes. Unless your camera lets you use a USB drive or a microSD card to store footage locally, your footage will go straight to the cloud. Most camera companies will give you a few hours or days of cloud storage free, but beyond that, you’ll need a monthly subscription.

Monthly subscriptions are usually somewhere between $3 and $30 per month.

Both cameras are used to protect and monitor areas where they are located, but they are used a little differently.

Home security cameras are generally motion-detected and help deter burglars and theft while allowing you to monitor what's happening in or around your home. Surveillance cameras are used more by police or businesses and are continuously recording events as they happen.

Certain Content that appears on this site comes from Amazon.com. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Reviews.org utilizes paid Amazon links.

Mindy Woodall
Written by
Mindy Woodall
Mindy has been writing about technology for seven years. She covers all things smart home for Reviews.org, and keeps track of the latest robot gadgets. Mindy attended the University of Utah and her work has been featured on the likes of Parents.com, Digital Care, Hostfully, and more.

Related Articles

Couple watching streaming service on bed while snacking on popcorn
Best Streaming Services 2023
If you’re planning on cutting the cord, we’ll help you find the best streaming service...
Best Internet Providers for Seniors
Many seniors are overpaying for slow internet. We can help. These are the best options...
An older farmer looks at his tablet while another farmer plows a field in the background
5 Best Rural Internet Providers 2023
Find your rural internet options, like satellite and DSL, here. Read on to compare providers...