Besides general video and sound quality, there are a handful of additional factories to keep in mind when looking for a new security camera for your home or business. These include the cameras day/night capabilities, and whether or not you’ll need a subscription service to store and retrieve video. Some of our top picks can stretch even the most flexible budget, so if you’re looking to keep costs low, make sure to check out our lineup of the best home security systems for under $100. When the motion sensors detect movement, the cameras begin recording three seconds prior to detection. Using the Arlo app on your smartphone, you can create custom detection zones that will send both sound and motion alerts. With the Smart Siren, you can sleep comfortably knowing the base station will alert you if the cameras detect activity. Built-in two-way speakers on the cameras let you communicate back and forth using your smartphone. Our reviewer, Erika, praised the Arlo for its great feature set, high resolution, and especially for its very reasonable price. Powered by two AA batteries, the XT2 can operate for two years before requiring new batteries. The XT2 records five-second clips by default, but you can change the settings to capture a minute at a time when activity is detected. The XT2 has free cloud storage that resets after a year, and you can store a total of two hours of clips on the servers at one time. It records up to 24 seconds when the sensor is triggered. Using the AWS Cloud, the Vigil Cam offers 30 days of rolling cloud storage, and you can even expand storage by adding a microSD card up to 128GB. The camera supports Alexa devices, so you can watch activities and a live feed from your device. Equipped with two-way audio, you can also communicate with people outside your home without opening your door. The major downside with the Vigil Cam is that it’s not wireless. Setting it up may be a hassle, but once it’s up and running, the camera offers great performance at an even better price. The picture quality is only 720p, but you’ll still get a clear, if slightly less detailed, image. It has motion detection to record triggered activities, as well as night vision and a live feed. Two-way audio lets you communicate through your smartphone to the room that houses the camera. You’ll want to add a microSD card (up to 128GB) if you plan on recording and saving footage. Compared to a security system, the Kamtron HD is more of a camera used to quickly check-in on activities. So, while it does offer motion detection, it’s main purpose is to monitor your home remotely with the MIPC app. The sleek white camera records in 1080p HD in both daylight and at night with included night vision. The highlight, though, is the Cloud Cam app — well-designed with a great interface, you can easily watch recorded activities and a live feed from your smartphone or computer. Though you can only store clips for 24 hours with the free plan, you can download and save all recorded activities. The Ring Floodlight Camera features a 1080p live feed with the Ring app, zooming and panning features, and recording options via Ring’s subscription programs. Protect Plus costs $10 per month and features 24/7 monitoring and Ring’s alarm system, while the Protect Basic plan lets you record and share footage for $3 per month. Although you need to pay a monthly subscription to get some of the better features, the Ring Floodlight Camera is a premium deterrent. The camera is also compatible with Alexa devices.
About our Trusted Experts
Steven Petite has written for IGN, and Digital Trends among others and also serves as the associate editor of Fiction Southeast, an online literary journal.
What to Look for in the Best Home Security Cameras
Camera Resolution - A security camera won’t do you much good if you can’t tell what it’s recording. A higher resolution is always better but gobbles up storage space fairly quickly. You’ll also want to check the day/night capabilities of your particular camera before you commit. Cloud Storage - Some cameras can store video through an onboard SD card, but more commonly get uploaded to cloud storage on a rolling basis. If you’re looking to keep extensive records of the comings and goings around your home or business, you may have to invest in a subscription plan for additional storage. Indoor/Outdoor - Not all cameras are made to weather the elements, depending on what you intend to keep an eye on you may have to check the specifications of your particular camera.
