Best home security cameras

If you’re looking to keep your home safe and secure, it might be time to invest in a home security camera. There are plenty of excellent security cameras and video surveillance systems to choose from, with cameras that offer features such as two-way communication, motion tracking, night vision, cloud storage, smart notifications, professional monitoring and HD video for top-notch video quality. With numerous options on the market — including specifically indoor, outdoor, wireless or DIY security cameras — it can feel daunting to find a perfect match for the camera system you have in mind.

We’ve tested dozens of cameras and condensed everything we’ve learned into this list. Below, you’ll find the best home security cameras in every major subcategory, from smart doorbells to the models that work well with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri voice commands. Some are fairly simple, with a motion sensor that sends a push notification to your smartphone when they detect movement, while others come with features such as professional monitoring and cloud storage that prevent you from having to sift through hours of footage.

If you’re looking for the best home security camera, get ready to dive in.

BEST SECURITY CAMERA Wyze Cam (2020)

Wyze disappointed some of its customers when its ridiculously cheap cameras got slightly less ridiculously cheap. But at $30, the Wyze Cam remains a great budget surveillance camera — and 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 motionbased 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 and features a motion detection zone and the ability to listen for and alert you to special frequencies, like smoke alarms.

BEST VIDEO DOORBELL Arlo Video Doorbell

Now this is a smart security camera. The $150 Arlo Video Doorbell has a lot going for it. While not cheap, it’s more affordable than most of the other smart buzzers we’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 Arlo Pro 3 outdoor security camera, 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.

BEST OUTDOOR SECURITY CAMERA Arlo Pro 4

Arlo’s latest Pro series camera is a fantastic device with features to spare. It boasts 2K resolution, a 160-degree field of view, two-way talk, full-color night vision, a built-in siren and spotlight, compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit — the list goes on.

This powerhouse of a camera costs only $200 — pricier than super-affordable options like Wyze, but easily worth the premium. For $3 per month, you can also get smart alerts, motion zones, 30 days of event history and a few other cool features. In short, the Arlo Pro 4 is a fantastic security camera for most people.

For more reviews of personal technology products, visit www. cnet.com.

DAVID PRIEST/CNET The Arlo Pro 4 boasts 2K resolution and a 160-degree field of view.

TYLER LIZENBY/CNET The Arlo Video Doorbell is built to be an outdoor camera.

WYZE/CNET The Wyze Cam remains a great budget surveillance camera.