The prevalence of Wi-Fi-connected security cameras has made it easy to keep an eye on your home when you’re away. Many of these cameras include internal batteries so that you can mount them anywhere, even in places that a power cable can’t reach. We’ve rounded up our favorites to help keep your security untethered to power outlets, although our favorite is the EufyCam 2C thanks to all of its features for the price.
Best Overall: EufyCam 2C
If you’re looking for a wireless security camera with brains, battery life, and a great price, look no further than the EufyCam 2C.
There’s no need to pay for cloud service after purchasing your EufyCam 2C’s.
All EufyCam 2 models connect to the Eufy HomeBase 2, which stores all recorded videos in one easy-to-access location. This local storage is accessible via the Eufy app anywhere you might be in the world, and you can even drop an extra SD card in it for additional storage. All this to say there’s no need to pay for cloud service after purchasing your EufyCam 2C’s.
On top of that, Eufy builds in onboard AI inside of each camera that can identify humans without storing their identity or sending that data to the cloud. Just like the video storage, this option is completely free and included with every EufyCam. The EufyCam 2C even has two-way audio and customizable motion alerts, as well as the ability to arm and disarm the system based on whether you’re home or away.
The EufyCam 2C specializes in night vision thanks to a powerful infrared light that can illuminate the dark without casting light that’s visible to the human eye. But what if you want someone to know they’re being watched while they prowl around your property? Eufy has outfitted the EufyCam 2C with a spotlight that can be used to shine a little color on that nighttime video, too.
The universal mounts included make it easy to mount the EufyCam 2C indoors or outdoors, as well as on a variety of surfaces. It’s simple to remove to for when you need to recharge the built-in battery, which only needs to be topped up twice a year. All in all, this camera setup isn’t just affordable, it’s also powerful and helps keep you safe while keeping your budget in check.
Pros:
- Black & white and color night vision with a spotlight
- IP67 weather-resistant
- On-device AI-based human detection
- 135-degree field of view
- Free unlimited local recording
Cons:
- Requires a base station
- Doesn’t tie into many smart home services well
Best Overall
EufyCam 2C
Free storage, AI, and a spotlight.
The EufyCam 2C does a lot, including night vision, a spotlight, local storage, and even on-board AI human detection.
Upgrade Pick: Arlo Pro 4
Arlo’s latest flagship cameras, like the Arlo Pro 4, ditch the base and connect directly to your Wi-Fi instead, cutting out the single point of failure that existed before. Why is that important? While having an Arlo base station will still improve your Arlo Pro 4’s battery life and enable extended wireless range, it also means that if the base station loses power for some reason, all your cameras connected to it lose connection. Since Arlo Pro 4 can connect directly to your Wi-Fi, this potential issue no longer exists.
The Arlo Pro 4, like its predecessor, features the best video quality you’ll find on any wireless battery-powered camera. The unbelievably crisp 2K (2560p) HDR video means you won’t just see every minute detail, but HDR will also keep the brightest and darkest parts of the video balanced and easy to see. It can even identify humans, animals, vehicles, and packages when you pair it with an Arlo Smart subscription. It’s also got two-way audio support and a built-in floodlight for color night vision.
Arlo has some of the best security you’ll find from any provider on this list, including two-factor authentication on Arlo accounts. Arlo also ties in marvelously with popular smart home systems like Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. Apple HomeKit support isn’t available just yet but is being worked on, as some of Arlo’s other cameras do integrate nicely with HomeKit.
The biggest downside to the Arlo Pro 4 is the cost. A single Arlo Pro 4 costs as much as the two-camera EufyCam 2C package. On top of that, you’ll need an Arlo Smart subscription to get all the best features like AI-based object detection, customizable motion zones, and cloud storage. If you want to avoid the cost of cloud storage and are OK with basic motion detection, you can get an Arlo base and have videos stored locally on a USB stick.
Arlo Smart is only $3 per month for a single camera, but it starts to get pricey as you add more cameras to your system. For five cameras, you’ll pay $10 per month. Each camera above five adds another $1.50 to the cost, which can quickly meet Netflix subscription levels of priceyness if you’ve got a lot of space to cover.
Pros:
- Six-month battery life
- IP65 weather-resistant
- Stunning 2K HDR video
- 160-degree field of view
- Local and cloud recording options
- Doesn’t require a base station to operate
Cons:
- Expensive
- Requires a subscription for many features
- No Apple HomeKit support
Upgrade Pick
Arlo Pro 4
The best comes at a cost.
The Arlo Pro 4 is the most capable wireless outdoor camera in its class, with super high-resolution video and more.
Best Value: Blink Outdoor
It’s hard to find a more affordable security camera with as many features as Blink Outdoor. It offers the same two-way audio, customizable motion alert zones, and night vision as the other cameras on this list for a fraction of the cost. One of its key features is its promise to last up to two years off of two AA batteries. Amazon will even begin selling a battery pack that will last a whopping four years on a single charge.
Of course, the Blink Outdoor is also weather-resistant, making it ideal for placing outdoors, and it even has a built-in thermometer, which can come in handy if you’re putting it in a chicken coop or something similar. Blink offers free cloud storage, rather than requiring a subscription plan. The new Blink Sync Module 2 supports USB sticks and can locally store footage from up to 10 Blink cameras.
If you’d prefer to run the Blink Outdoor from a wall outlet or even a battery pack, it also has a Micro-USB port. Of course, USB-C would’ve been ideal, but you can’t win them all. The biggest downside to Blink’s wireless cameras is that they are all designed to maximize battery life. Practically speaking, that means recording clips are limited to 30 seconds at a time and connecting to the camera can sometimes take several seconds.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Free local storage with USB stick
- Lasts up to two years on two AA batteries
- Supports Amazon Alexa
- Local storage for up to 10 cameras
- Built-in thermometer
Cons:
- Clunky software
- Micro-USB rather than USB-C
- Limited recording length
Best Value
Blink Outdoor
The cheapest security camera around is better than you’d think
Blink Outdoor packs in two-year battery life, night vision, 2-way audio, HD video, and even free cloud storage.
Works with Alexa: Ring Stick Up Camera
Ring is best known for its Video Doorbells, but the Stick Up Cam packs most of the same features and can be easily installed just about anywhere. Of course, since Ring belongs to Amazon, the Stick Up Cam also integrates nicely with Alexa. You can easily pull up your video feed on smart displays like the Echo Show.
The Stick Up Camera comes in two separate configurations: one is only battery-powered, while is other is hardwired-only. But the battery has a built-in Micro-USB port for easy recharging and lasts for months at a time. It also features two-way audio, motion-activated notifications, and night vision — though you’ll have to pay for a Ring Protect plan to view recorded footage.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Box includes almost all tools needed for installation
- 1080p video with night vision
- Integrates well with Amazon Alexa
- Two-way audio
Cons:
- Requires a Ring subscription for video storage
- Doesn’t work well with Google Assistant
Works with Alexa
Ring Stick Up Camera
“Alexa, show me my Stick Up Cam”
The Stick Up Cam is a simple camera that’s quick and easy to install and lasts for months on each charge.
All the Angles: Canary Flex
The Canary Flex has a unique design that makes use of powerful magnets to connect the camera to its swivel base. This feature makes it easy to adjust its angle quickly. It works over either wired or battery power and has a built-in speaker and microphone for two-way audio.
The Flex can differentiate between people and other moving objects like animals for smarter motion alerts. This way, your pets don’t continuously set off the camera while you’re out. The 116-degree field of view isn’t quite as wide as the other security cameras in this list, and you’ll have to pay for services like two-way audio and 30-day video storage. Still, the Flex is an excellent offering with water resistance and night vision.
Pros:
- IP65 weather resistance
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Works wirelessly or wired
- Easily adjustable angle
- Two-way audio and night vision
Cons:
- Only 720p video
- Narrow 116-degree field of view
All the Angles
Canary Flex
Works with magnets for easy attachment and alignment.
The Canary Flex’s unique design allows you to attach the camera and adjust its angle quickly.
Best Security Camera with Light: Ring Spotlight Cam
If you’ve already heavily invested in the Amazon Alexa or Ring ecosystems, it probably makes the most sense to stick with Ring’s excellent line of cameras. The Ring Spotlight Cam brings the best of Ring’s outdoor cameras in a wireless, unassuming form factor. It’s large enough to feature prominent LED lights and a sizable battery, but small enough to not stand out too much.
As the price implies, the Ring Spotlight Cam is more capable than the Ring Stick Up Cam since it has a larger field-of-view (so it can see more of your yard), and even has a siren that can be used to ward off intruders. That built-in spotlight can illuminate large sections of your yard at night and works best out of all the cameras here that have lights attached.
Pros:
- Built-in LED lights
- Loud siren for warding off intruders
- Ring’s theft protection guarantee
- Crisp 1080p video with night vision
- Water-resistant
- Lots of optional accessories, like a solar panel
Cons:
- Requires a Ring subscription for video storage
- Doesn’t work well with Google Assistant
Best Security Camera with Light
Ring Spotlight Cam
Light up the yard
The Ring Spotlight Cam brings all the features you love about Ring’s outdoor cameras and adds a super bright light to the mix.
Bottom line
Home security is easier than ever to set up, use, and afford. All of the cameras here are fantastic choices and have their own sets of advantages, but the EufyCam 2C really blew us away this year when it debuted at an excellent price without skimping on the features. It’s not only got free local storage and onboard AI-based human detection, but it sports a floodlight with color night vision and six-month battery life, to boot.
Eufy’s design means you won’t ever have to pay for yet another monthly subscription cost, which is a big deal in a world full of monthly subscriptions. That’s the kind of pro-consumer behavior we’ve come to expect and love in modern smart home tech, and it makes using and recommending these kinds of fantastic gadgets easy. Looking for a great way to secure your home this year? These are definitely the best ways to do it.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Nick Sutrich Nick is a news writer and contributor to Android Central. He’s been writing about tech since 2011 and loves robot vacuums, home automation, virtual reality, and any kind of gadget that’s connected to the Internet. Find him on Twitter at @Gwanatu.
Hayato Huseman is a recovering trade show addict and video editor for Android Central based out of Indianapolis. He can mostly be found complaining about the cold and enthusing about prog metal on Twitter at @hayatohuseman.
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