No more fiddling with wiring! These smart security camera systems can be installed anywhere your Wi-Fi reaches. They'll keep your property safe day and night, and even send alerts to your phone to report suspicious movement.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. Blink Outdoor - Best Outdoor Wireless Security Camera
Top-rated: 174,734 ratings | 1000+ answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: With long-lasting battery life, this wireless security camera will run for up to two years on two AA lithium batteries (included).
Helpful review: "We've got some bad actors in the hood, so it was time to catch them with some irrefutable evidence. Our XT2 is a little old and our Arlos are acting stupid. Saw this come out and had to give it a shot. It was time to upgrade. Plus, the specs of the possibility of TWO YEAR BATTERY LIFE is mind-blowing. It's probably a lot less, but my Arlos would last a week with $10 CR123 batteries, so that had to go. Anything had to be better than those dinosaurs.
Set up was fairly easy. There is no real printed instruction manual, but those are rare today. Scanned the QR code and my smartphone popped me to their website with tons of tips, info, and even setup videos. The entire setup process is QR from the new Sync Module 2 to the camera itself. So don't make the mistake of slapping the batteries in and closing the camera unit like I did before I scanned the QR code. Whoops. Took less than 15 minutes to setup and sync. Signed up for a new Blink account so the old one won't get confused - plus there's several weeks of free cloud storage right now. Boom.
Set it up in a tree ACROSS from my house this time. When I put it over my door, my old cameras would flag every car or pedestrian close and far. All I want to see is the jerk stealing my UPS packages, so I flipped the perspective.
The HD is super clean and clear, and the camera is at least 30 feet from the sync module with no problems connecting. Big plus there. And, there's a pretty powerful little speaker in this unit! I was really surprised at the volume this thing can push for such a small speaker. Now, when this alerts me to funny business, maybe I'll be able to yell at the perps. Probably not, because they'll be long gone by the time I see the notification. Still, this feature could be useful in warning your kids from doing something silly when you're not home.
The live view was disappointing, since you have to keep clicking the app to continue the live view for longer than 10-ish seconds. So you can't use this as a spying device or a baby monitor. Bummer.
Also, the default recording time was like 5 seconds, probably to maximize battery life. You can't catch much in 5 seconds. I adjusted mine in the settings to about 20 seconds. I'll sacrifice battery life to catch a bad actor. Plus, there's a battery pack you can attach to this unit to increase battery life. I'll update in the future to let you know how the battery goes. But overall, I'm impressed with the new Blink outdoor. It's gonna rain here in Florida soon, so I'll let you know how that goes as well as night shots when available." — Fresh and Felicia
Get it from Amazon now: $119.99 & FREE Returns
2. REOLINK Argus PT - Best Outdoor Solar-Powered Security Camera
Top-rated: 8,953 ratings | 1000+ answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Argus PT is solar-powered.
Helpful review: "This is Karen's husband writing this review as I am the "tech guy" in our home. I am VERY pleased with how the camera is performing so far, so the 4.2 out of 5 rating seems well deserved. I admit I had some reservations when I read some of the reviews that were negative, in my opinion some may have been because of an individually defective product and some may have been due to lack of detailed enough directions.
When I was first trying to connect the camera to our WIFI it wouldn't connect, then I realized I forgot to type in our WIFI password, DUH ! After I added the password it connected immediately. The camera is roughly about 85 feet from our WIFI router and goes thru 2 walls and still has kept connected very well.
Also, we have Amazon Alexa and at first could not get Alexa to recognize the camera, so I did an online search for help and found a page on the Reolink support site with the steps needed to connect to Alexa, after reading that page I saw there was a step I didn't know about, once I followed those steps Alexa connected very well ! We can view the live camera feed from our smartphone app, from our "Echo Shows" via voice command, and even on our tv screens with Amazon Firestick (we have other brands of security cameras we view thru the Firestick also) so I can use a voice command and see different cameras on the screens including the Reolink camera, and I did not have to download anything to the Firestick, simply enable Alexa according to the directions on the help page I mentioned.
I already had security cameras looking from our home outward, I wanted a wireless solar PTZ camera I could mount away from the house that I could turn to look at the house as well as turn to view other areas of our property not covered by the cameras we already had.
So I mounted the camera on a thick (schedule 40) PVC pipe and mounted the solar panel on the very top of the pole, I used 3 hose clamps to fasten the PVC pipe to a 4 foot metal fence post I hammered into the ground, so far it seems to working very well.
Look, I do a lot of research before buying tech stuff, and it would be difficult to find ANY product that is perfect or that you might wish had more or better features. But for the features you get with this camera (including solar powered, PTZ capability, Alexa connectivity) I really can't complain for the price paid." — Karen Leight
Get it from Amazon now: $159.99 & FREE Returns
3. REOLINK E1 - Best Free Cloud Storage
Top-rated: 11,423 ratings | 702 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: With the built-in mic and speaker, you can hear and speak through the security camera.
Helpful review: "I have had a Reolink solar powered camera for a while to watch for "critters" under my deck that would try to tunnel under my sun room. I could catch them before they did any damage and the built in siren feature seemed to irritate most raccoons, opossums, and groundhogs and they would just turn and walk away. Not so much afraid but just irritated.
I decided to take an extended trip to a beach house and needed some sort of "do it yourself" security. I could hide a few valuables but if somebody came in for an extended time they probably could find and take anything they wanted. Things can be replaced but while traveling loosing a computer or other items would be very inconvenient. Knowing how the Reolink devices worked I looked and found this camera. After comparing with others for features and price I decided this camera seemed like a good solution.
If you need it, you can even use the remote Pan and Tilt option to look around if the wide angle view is not sufficient.
I have been VERY pleased with the performance of the camera and the iPhone app. The camera has a built in siren or custom audio and push notification to the phone. When I leave the house I set the push notification and siren on and if somebody enters the property it will alert me within a few seconds and start the siren.
With the cloud option (free for one camera or paid for more) the video triggered by motion will be captured even if somebody tries to disable the camera. Beyond the cloud option the camera will also capture videos to an SD card.
I had a question about setting the options to turn on the features I wanted when I left the house and wondered if iPhone shortcuts could activate any options. It was a few touches to find the options and turn them on or off. I could not figure it out if Shortcuts could help so I asked Reolink with a support ticket.
In a couple of hours, I got a reply and said that Shortcuts would not work but there was a feature called Scenes that could help. Sure enough I created two scenes, one to arm the camera motion sensor and siren and one to disarm then. I replied with a 'Thank You' and suggested that maybe an iPhone shortcut could be used to activate a scene and again in a couple of hours they replied and said they would pass on the suggestion to their development group for consideration. You could not ask for more.
Their support was VERY knowledgeable and quick and went beyond just a simple answer. So if you are looking for a reliable camera with a very useful assortment of features at an excellent price you should consider Reolink products." — Mark Strickland
Get it from Amazon now: $45.99 & FREE Returns
4. Arlo Essential - Best Wide 130º Viewing Angle
Top-rated: 14,189 ratings | 919 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Advanced Color Night Vision will enable you to see important features like faces and license plates in full color at night.
Helpful review: "I’m really quite amazed. I purchased the Orbi 4g LTE modem-router for non-cable WiFi connection and matched the Orbi to 4 Arlo Essential security cameras. Should work, right? Never did anything like this before. Like so many of these electronic combinations that I’ve theorized about in the past, I assumed this wouldn’t work either. I talked to several advisors – Orbi technicians, Arlo community contributors. Everyone said it should work. And it did!!!! Amazing!!
The Orbi LBR20 was a bit of a challenge. The Obi app was skittish … worked sometimes, sometimes got stuck. The password used to set-up my Orbi account (Netgear) was not the same as the password needed to activate the Orbi modem-router for Internet connection; the Orbi password is printed on the label at the bottom of the Orbi unit … Oh, that password.
PureTalk (really AT&T) indicated that they had coverage for my barn’s Zip Code but could not guarantee the Sim card would work with Orbi LBR20 … not quite the confidence booster I needed. Ok … so brave as I am, I purchased the PureTalk Sim card and a 6 Gig data plan.
After everything arrived, I first tried to connect the Orbi wireless modem-router to the Internet using the Orbi app as instructed. Nothing automatic here. After several tries, the Orbi app asked for the APN number of my Internet service provider. What’s an APN for goodness sake? Googled “PureTalk APN” and came up with “RESELLER”. I entered “RESELLER … then my PureTalk phone number as the only User ID I knew and then my PureTalk password. No contact and no Internet. Frustration!! The next day, I called PureTalk and asked for the APN number, user ID and password. After transferring through 4 different technical service associates, I received the information (APN = RESELLER, User ID = Not set up yet, Password = Not set up yet). So, I entered “RESELLER” and nothing else (no User ID and no Password). Success!! Internet access!!! Oh, so you don’t need a password in this case!! But … I was now connected to the Internet through a Orbi 4g LTE wireless modem-router … no cable. Once I got the password and APN right, Orbi activated as promised.
The next step was to see if the Arlo Essential WiFi cameras would connect to the Orbi LBR20 and then connect to the Internet. The Arlo app was needed to activate the cameras. The Arlo app worked more reliably and consistently than the Orbi app.
One by one, each of the Arlo Essential cameras activated. I could see my home office on each of the cameras. Amazing!!! What vanity looking at myself on all four cameras!!! Still, this was at home … and not 25 miles away … in the middle of nowhere. To be safe … I purchased two antennas to attach to the Orbi (not provided in the Orbi box), just in case the Orbi needed the extra help in capturing the wireless signal in the rural Midwest. The Orbi had no problem at home. Every WiFi device in the house wanted to connect to the Orbi … I had to resist. But would the same happen at the barn?
I unplugged everything and transported the Orbi and the Arlo Essential cameras to the barn. Located the Orbi 14 feet above ground. Plugged it in. Immediate Internet connection!!! You’ve got to be kidding!!! Installed the Arlo cameras. Each of the cameras … one by one … immediately linked to the Orbi … just like at home. You’ve got to be kidding!! Now … 25 miles away with no cable.
There are still questions. The jury is still out. What will the battery life be for each of the cameras be? I fully charged the cameras yesterday; today they are at 92-94 %, though was experimenting with features a lot yesterday. The WiFi signal from the Orbi to the Arlo cameras appears strong. The barn is wood frame with steel siding. Two cameras show four bars and two show two. One of the cameras showing two bars showed four bars yesterday. I may need to reposition the cameras. So … everything is still new. We’ll see." — TommyBoy
Get it from Amazon now: $129.99 & FREE Returns
5. Vision Well - Best AI-Motion Detection
Top-rated: 7,506 ratings | 631 answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Smart AI motion detection.
Helpful review: "Hello! I have purchased several different models of wireless cameras over the last few years, some for myself, and in this case, I purchased these for my neighbors, after reading the reviews for this model which were outstanding. I can share that configuration was a snap!
There was no waiting for scan codes to be recognized or whatever. The process worked perfectly across four cameras and within10 minutes, we had them up and operational. “The battery system is a major plus!!!!” The cameras I purchased for my own home all require power and some models support power over ethernet (PoE) while other models only support a transformer plugged into110 V power. Regardless, the point is, if you don’t need to worry about having a power source nearby, your options for mounting the cameras increase-exponentially.
My neighbors seem very happy with them. I am the technology guy in the neighborhood that is called upon for fixing laptops or doing anything of tech nature and I am happy to report that after installing these, my neighbors have not had a single issue that’s required my attention or theirs.
These cameras are very well designed and feel of quality in hand; they are somewhat small, but possess outstanding camera resolution. So far, from what I understand, the battery life has been superb as well. The ratings you saw are well deserved. Quality product - super easy setup!
If you were looking for private security cameras that you can attach to your home, wireless network in an absolute snap and cameras that will not require you to find power sources nearby, crawling through your attic, looking for options, etc.
I would highly recommend these cameras. I have too much invested in my current brand, which works very well but required much more work to make it operational - making power sources available, etc. The power issue is a significant factor even if you are a guy like me who is able to run house power to different locations. Given the option of not climbing through the attic to run new 110 V lines and connect to junction boxes, etc., I would go with the rechargeable battery option every single time! As stated, the resolution is outstanding and all the features work as advertised.
This system did not receive its high reviews artificially. This is an outstanding option for anyone interested in home security but not interested in paying the local security company 40 bucks a month per camera (or paying an electrician to run a new 110v line through your attic to every location you may have in mind).
After you set these up with your own wireless network, you then owe nothing to anyone for ongoing and robust wireless camera service available for viewing on your cell phone, with configurable alerts, etc. It is truly a beautiful thing! Highly recommended!!!" — Tom from New Albany, Ohio
Get it from Amazon now: $55.99 & FREE Returns
6. Wansview Q5 - Best Baby-Nanny Security Camera
Top-rated: 33,719 ratings | 1000+ answered questions
Credit: Amazon.com
Highlight: Financial Encryption Technology for cloud storage and highest protection of data. No one could access your information without your permission.
Helpful review: "My review is based on the experience of using several IP cameras from different vendors over the past 4 years.
Overall, the Wansview Q5 Cloud Camera performs very well and the initial setup / install is super easy and quick. With some of my other cameras, I sometimes spent hours (even days) in setting them up. I like the Q5 new form-factor which is nicer and much smaller than the previous Q3 camera. It feels well-built and I expect it to last for many years. The phone software can use some bells and whistles available from other competing IP cameras. That said, it is very intuitive and easy-to-use. In summary, I would recommend this camera because of its well-built hardware, functionalities, and price. Below are some more details:
Pros:
+ Setting up the first time is quick (5 min for both software and hardware) with their easy-to-follow instructions.
+ Camera hardware is well-built, good-looking, and small in size which I like.
+ The wide-angle lens is the best I’ve seen in terms of clarity and coverage.
+ Crisp & clear images and videos - day and night (see images attached).
+ Excellent audio & mic (considering the small-size factor), definitely better than that on their Q3 and K3 cameras, and other cameras I’ve owned.
+ The Wansview cloud android phone app is easy to set up, easy to use and to configure.
+ Upon detecting motions, the camera sends me alerts on my phone, and 10-sec video clips in the mobile app. This a new feature. Nicely done Wansview!
Cons:
- No audio-detection alert capability (only motion-detection).
- Viewing saved images, they don’t auto-rotate along with the phone’s rotating to a horizontal orientation (from a vertical orientation)
- It would be nice if the phone app’s white background can be manually set to a darker theme like black.
- It would be nice if the multi-camera screen can be set to load as default upon logging in. Currently it requires an extra click." — Joseph
Get it from Amazon now: $39.99 & FREE Returns