Best Wireless (Wi-Fi) Home Security Cameras of 2019 – Indoor …

Best Overall

The Arlo Q is an excellent security camera with great video quality, strong motion and sound detection and a generous free cloud-storage plan.

Don't be deceived: This $25 wireless security camera is very good for the price.

The Arlo Pro 2 provides a great combination of software, free cloud storage and video quality.

Need to keep an eye on your house from anywhere? Small, stand-alone Wi-Fi or wireless home security cameras are easy to set up; can stream video to your phone, tablet or PC; and will send you alerts if they detect motion or loud noises. Most cameras also provide night vision and automatic motion-activated recording, and some can be connected to other smart-home products, such as security systems and smart lights.

After testing dozens of wired and wireless options, our favorite home security camera is the Arlo Q ($149). We found that it had the best software, the most flexible options and the most affordable cloud-storage subscription plan of the home security cameras we tested. Our favorite fully wireless, battery-operated camera is the Arlo Pro 2; this 1080p camera's rechargeable battery can last for up to six months, and features two-way talk capabilities.

If you're looking for something under $100, our favorite budget security camera is the Wyze Cam 1080p, which costs about $25, yet has a surprising number of features for the price, and gives you 14 days of rolling cloud storage for free.

Can't decide which Arlo camera you should get? We've put together this handy Arlo security camera buying guide.

Our favorite indoor home security camera has an affordable price, high-quality video, and lots of features.

SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution: 1080p/30fps | Field of view: 130 degrees | Night vision: 25 feet | Audio: half duplex | Local Storage: none | Battery Powered: no | Weather resistant: No | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT | Cloud Storage: seven days' footage free;longer periods start at $10/month

Simple, trouble-free setup

Intuitive, flexible scheduling

Unusual level of control over motion detection, scheduling

Excellent video quality

Generous free cloud plan

Easy social sharing of videos

Single-user mobile app

Difficult Custom Mode setup

Activity Zones not part of motion-detection controls

Timeline requires expensive subscription

With its top-notch video quality, excellent motion detection, flexible scheduling and intuitive user interface, the Arlo Q would be a contender as our best home security camera even without its very generous basic cloud-subscription plan. That plan gives you the past week's recordings at no cost for the lifetime of the unit (although higher tiers aren't free), and more than justifies the unit's relatively high price. The Arlo Q is the Wi-Fi security camera to beat.

Read our full Arlo Q review.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

This camera costs less than $30, yet offers a ton of features, including 14 days of cloud storage for free.

SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution: 1080p | Field of view: 110 degrees | Night vision: Yes | Audio: half-duplex | Local Storage: Yes | Battery Powered: No | Weather Resistant: No | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant | Cloud Storage: Free cloud storage for 14 days (rolling, in perpetuity)

Inexpensive

Free 14-day, rolling cloud storage

Works with motion and door sensors

Local storage

Limited field of view

Cloud storage clips limited to 14 seconds

Don't let the low price fool you; the Wyze Cam 1080p is an excellent home security camera, and our best pick for its price. This device comes with two weeks of free cloud storage, as well as a microSD card slot which you can use to enable continuous recording and create time-lapse videos. With an add-on module, you can link this camera to Wyze's motion sensors and smart bulbs, as well as to third party smart-home devices with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Read our full Wyze Cam 1080p review.

This battery-powered security camera offers exceptional quality video and can withstand the elements.

SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution: 4K | Field of view: 180 degrees | Night vision: 25 feet | Audio: full-duplex | Local Storage: Yes (in base station) | Battery Powered: Optional | Weather Resistant: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT | Cloud Storage: 30-day rolling-cloud service (1080p) for up to 10 cameras free for one year;$9.99/month afterwards. Upgrade to 4K recording for $1.99/month per camera.

Excellent 4K video

Optional color night-vision videos

Comprehensive, easy-to-use software

Good audio

Can log in from only one device at a time

Web portal requires Adobe Flash:Expensive

Not only do the Arlo Ultras 4K cameras deliver the best quality weve seen from a wireless home security camera, but it also uses that extra resolution to enable digital track and zoom, which makes it easier to follow and ID a person as they move across the frame. A built-in spotlight also enables color recording at night, and it has dual microphones for better audio. Plus, the Arlo Ultras base station will be compatible with the companys smart home security kit, due out later this year. All of this will cost you, though: A single camera (with the hub) is $399, and extra cameras are $299 each. And if you want to save 4K videos, its an extra $1.99 per camera per month, on top of the $9.99 monthly plan, the latter of which is waived for the first year.

Read our full Arlo Ultra Review.

A less expensive indoor/outdoor battery-powered camera that still offers very good image quality.

SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution: 1080p | Field of view: 130 degrees | Night vision: 25 feet | Audio: half-duplex | Local Storage: Yes (in base station) | Battery Powered: Optional | Weather Resistant: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT | Cloud Storage: seven days' footage free;longer periods start at $10/month

Simple installation

Clean, intelligent interface

Flexible and easy scheduling

Geofencing turns system on/off depending on the phone's location

Very good daylight video quality

Free seven-day rolling cloud storage

Can login from only one device at a time

No auto-rotate of live or playback videos on mobile devices

Motion detection tools separate from setup section

Like its older sibling the Arlo Pro, the Arlo Pro 2 has motion detection, night vision and an intercom function, but the Pro 2 has a higher resolution (1080p vs. 720p) with a wider 130-degree field of view. The Arlo Pro 2 can be plugged in or run off battery power, and can last for up to six months without needing a recharge. You'll also get Arlo's generous cloud-subscription plan, which offers seven days' worth of footage for free.

Read our full Arlo Pro 2 review.

Nest's home security camera integrates well with many other smart home devices.

SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution: 1080p | Field of view: 130 degrees | Night vision: 25 feet | Audio: half-duplex | Local Storage: No | Battery Powered: No | Weather Resistant: No | Smart Home Compatibility: Google Assistant, Philips Hue, Nest, Leviton, Lutron, August, Abode, IFTTT | Cloud Storage: Starts at $5/month for five days' footage

Excellent 1080p video quality

Easy setup

Impressive night vision

Programmable with Nest Protect and Nest Thermostat

Pricey

Requires monthly subscription for extra features

Microphone/speakers not very powerful

The Nest Cam Indoor is the third generation of the celebrated Dropcam, and bumps up its predecessors' video quality to 1080p. It's easy to set up and, thanks to its magnetic, swiveling base, it can be installed almost anywhere indoors. The video looks sharp; night vision is clear; the camera can be used as an intercom; and it interacts with the Nest Thermostat and the Nest Protect smoke detector, as well as numerous third-party smart- home devices. But to really make use of the camera's features, you'll have to shell out $10 or more per month for the Nest Aware program, which gives you access to cloud storage, person detection and customizable activity zones.

Google has discontinued its Works With Nest program; if you migrate your Nest account to a Google account, many of the smart home integrations with the Nest cam may no longer work. We suggest to hold off transitioning your account until the integrations you currently use with the Nest cam are supported within Google Home.

Read our full Nest Cam Indoor review.

SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution: 1080p | Field of view: 140 degrees | Night vision: Yes | Audio: half-duplex | Local Storage: No | Battery Powered: No | Weather Resistant: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT | Cloud Storage: $3/month ($30/year) for 60 days of video

Wide field of view

Lets you set motion zones

Affordable subscription plan

Saving videos requires a subscription

In addition to a sharp 1080p camera, the Ring Floodlight camera has two powerful LEDS that turn on when motion is detected. Plus, Ring's app has a neighborhood-watch feature, which lets you see what's happening in your hood from other Ring users, as well as police and fire departments. Unfortunately, to view recorded video, you'll need to subscribe to Ring's cloud storage plans, which start at $30/year.

Read our full Ring Floodlight Camera review.

Arlo's cameras are expensive; this older (and cheaper) model is a lower resolution, but is just as effective.

SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution: 720p | Field of view: 140 degrees | Night vision: Yes | Audio: half-duplex | Local Storage: Yes (in base station) | Battery Powered: Optional | Weather Resistant: Yes | Smart Home Compatibility: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT | Cloud Storage: seven days' footage free;longer periods start at $10/month

Simple, quick installation

Clean, intelligent interface

rich set of features

Excellent video capture

Very good audio quality

Geofencing

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Best Wireless (Wi-Fi) Home Security Cameras of 2019 - Indoor ...