An outdoor security camera can keep tabs on welcome (and unwelcome) visitors, package deliveries, and furry creatures helping themselves to a midnight snack in your garden. They can also be a powerful deterrent to prospective mischief-makers.
However, after reviewing dozens of cameras over the past seven years, we’ve yet to find a perfect model. Some are hard to place, some need to be charged frequently, and others require a subscription fee to be most effective.
If you want a completely cord-free option, we recommend the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera.
If you want something a little cheaper (and have an outdoor outlet nearby), we recommend the Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In.
And if you want a camera that can light up the night, or at least your porch, we like the Eufy S330 Floodlight Cam.
Our pick
Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera
This battery-powered camera captures clear 2K video. The video storage subscription adds the ability to detect people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with a compatible base station), Google Home, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings
The Arlo Pro 4 delivers the best combination of detailed video performance, specialized alerts, and easy installation. It does require a subscription to Arlo Secure (starting at $5 per month) in order to record clips and distinguish between people, pets, packages, and vehicles. However, it delivers clear 2K video day and night—including color video even in the dark. The Pro 4 can record up to five minutes of continuous motion, though if the camera runs often, it can quickly drain the battery—we found it needs to be charged about once a month. The Arlo Pro 4 also offers a 24/7 recording option, but enabling it has a higher subscription fee, requires an extra $150 to $200 in equipment, and is separate from Arlo Secure.
Our pick
Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In
A plug-in 1080p model, it comes with a weather-resistant cord or add-on battery, and can distinguish between people and other moving objects.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Works With Ring
The Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In Wi-Fi camera comes with a lengthy, weather-resistant power cord, but it can also be powered by battery or a solar panel. It delivers crisp, 1080p video with an expansive 130-degree view and clear two-way audio. By signing up for a Ring Protect Basic plan ($4 per month or $40 per year), you can store recordings for up to 60 days, and it also enables features like person alerts, the option to save videos, and thumbnail-enhanced smartphone notifications. Also, despite some previous issues, Ring now provides more privacy and security measures than any other camera manufacturer we tested.
Our pick
Eufy S330 Floodlight Cam
This 2K camera also has a bright but adjustable floodlight. It can store video in the camera for free or in the cloud with a subscription.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The Eufy S330 Floodlight Cam provides two modes of security in the form of a bright outdoor light and a surveillance camera. It delivered the best video and lighting quality of any floodlight camera we tested. The camera can pan and tilt 360 degrees horizontally and 130 degrees vertically, capturing stellar 2K images day and night—both with and without color night vision. Three integrated LED panels blast up to 3,000 lumens of brightness, which can be turned on and off and tweaked via the Eufy app or using voice commands to Alexa or Google Home. The Eufy is the only floodlight we’ve reviewed that supports color-temperature adjustment, from a warm 3,000 K to bright white 5,700 K. You have the option of storing video locally to 8 GB of built-in storage or in the cloud, which starts at $3 per month and lowers the recording quality to 1080p.
Also great
Eufy S220 EufyCam
This camera offers long battery life, a clear 2K image, HomeKit support, and three options for storing video.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home
Although it’s not quite as smart as the Arlo Pro 4, the Eufy S220 EufyCam has the best rechargeable battery we’ve seen on a cordless outdoor security camera. (The company claims the battery can last a year; we experienced usage between four to 12 months, so it will depend on where your cameras are placed and how often they’re triggered.) Free perks include the ability to record 2K video to storage in the included base station, as well as the ability to differentiate between humans and other moving things. To have your video sent to and stored in the cloud, you can opt for a paid subscription to either Eufy Cloud Storage ($3/month) or Apple HomeKit Secure Video (free with iCloud plans that start at $1/month); note that both services reduce video resolution from the original 2K to 1080p quality.
Budget pick
Wyze Cam v3
This camera delivers impressive 1080p video at one-fifth the price of the Arlo cam. The color night vision is bright, and you get video storage options.
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT
The Wyze Cam v3 is compact, easy to mount, and offers free onboard video storage (with a micro SD card), and yet it is cheaper than any of our top picks. It can be set to record either just motion-triggered events or everything 24/7. Add in a Cam Plus subscription for $3 per month per camera (or $20 per year), and you’ll get cloud storage and alerts that can distinguish between motion, people, vehicles, pets, and packages. However, those alerts aren’t always accurate—we regularly saw animals labeled as people and people tagged as vehicles. The v3 also doesn’t have the Ring’s solid construction and weather-resistant power cable.
