The best outdoor home security cameras of 2019 – CNET

Outdoor home security cameras rely on the same tech as their indoor counterparts, but make everything work despite shifting temperatures, rain, wind and snow. We've tested a lot of weatherproof cameras and they come in a lot of different styles.

For the purposes of this post, we're defining outdoor security cameras as any weatherproof livestreaming cam, from traditional cameras to smart doorbells -- and even smart light fixtures with built-in HD cameras.

Read more:Best home security systems of 2019 (plus DIY kits, video doorbells and more)

The $500 Arlo Pro 3 (two-camera pack, plus hub) is an excellent camera. It has 2,560x2,560-pixel streaming, color night vision, 12x zoom, a built-in siren and a built-in spotlight. Out of the box, you get motion and sound alerts and access to the live feed.

Otherwise you do need to pay an optional monthly fee, starting at $3 a month for the Arlo Smart subscription service. Arlo Smart adds a bunch of additional features, including detection zones and advanced notifications (people, animal, vehicle and package). The $10 price tier adds in E911, a feature that lets you contact local law enforcement from the Arlo app, no matter where you are.

The Arlo Pro 3 isn't cheap, but it's an excellent home security camera if you have the money to spend. Read our Arlo Pro 3 review.

Google's $229 Nest Hello smart video doorbell is the smartest buzzer we've tested. Complete with HD live streaming, night vision, a motion sensor -- and motion alerts and person alerts, it has a lot of smart capabilities even without paying for the Nest Aware cloud service.

With Nest Aware, you get to review saved video clips starting at $5 a month ($6 a month beginning next year). Nest Aware also unlocks access to the Hello's facial recognition feature. Add friends, family members and anyone else who regularly visits your home to your database in the app. Then, you'll get custom alerts whenever "Chris" or "Molly" shows up at your door. Read our Nest Hello review.

The Ring Spotlight Cam costs $199 and comes in both battery-powered and wired versions. I tested the wired version that plugs into a nearby outlet for a steady stream of continuous power. It comes with mounting hardware that's easy to install (note: the wired Spotlight Cam is wired, but not hardwired, meaning it doesn't replace an existing hardwired light fixture).

The built-in spotlight adds in reliable security lighting for your yard that you can control on demand, schedule or set to turn on automatically when motion is detected.

Ring motion zonesand motion alerts are free, but you have to pay $3 a month to view saved clips in the app. Read our Ring Spotlight Cam review.

We've tested too many outdoor security cameras to list here, so be sure to check out my gallery below for an overview of all the models. It's worth noting that whatever Wi-Fi security camera you end up buying will only be as good as your home's network connection. If the connection is spotty, you might see pixelation in the feed, lag times and other related issues, socheck your Wi-Fi speedbefore you start drilling holes in your walls.

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The best outdoor home security cameras of 2019 - CNET