The 6 Best Security Cameras of 2025

The Best Security Cameras

Best Indoor and Outdoor Security Camera

Wyze Cam v4

The Wyze Cam v4 is the best overall indoor and outdoor security camera we tested. It includes an expansive set of detection capabilities and notifications, impressive 1440p video resolution, color night vision, and the ability to record data locally to a micro SD card up to 512GB — all at a shockingly affordable price point. This camera is my personal favorite, and I own several to monitor my homestead, allowing me to keep a watchful eye on coyotes near my chicken coop.

Without a subscription, it offers great features and customization options like local storage and color night vision, though an affordable paid plan enhances monitoring capabilities (like animal, person, car, motion and package detections, and also includes facial recognition, subject tracking, and even specific sound detections.) and adds cloud storage for less than what most competitors charge. Any user will find that setting up detection zones is simple with the grid-style selection that can monitor multiple zones within the field of view. “I think the detection zone feature is much quicker and easier to use than Blink's system,” said lead tester Sentry Kelly.

Local Storage Available	Yes, microSD, 512 GB
Camera Type (Indoor or Outdoor)	Indoor and Outdoor
Included Cloud Storage	0
Power Source	Wired
Color Night Vision Chip	Yes

While my team and I mostly have accolades for the v4, I felt there were some minor issues that kept it from being perfect. Namely, it could be clearer in low-light conditions. The camera sensor or lens could also do a better job of handling glare from reflective surfaces, and I really wish Wyze would come out with the panning and tilting version of this model, as the Wyze Cam Pan v3 only supports (albeit very nice) 1080p recordings. I am especially looking forward to this as I would love the 1140p video resolution upgrade to my currently installed v3 cameras. That said, unless you are looking for a floodlight camera, doorbell-style camera, or require panning abilities, I think you'll be more than happy with the v4.

Read more: Wyze Cam v4 review

Best Floodlight Security Camera

Eufy Floodlight Cam E340

The Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 is an impressive floodlight-style camera that offers some of the best video quality and monitoring capabilities that we experienced in our hands-on testing. Its crisp 3K resolution captures fine details that competing models of any style miss. I love the excellent daytime clarity and outstanding nighttime performance, thanks to its superior infrared night vision and incredibly bright floodlights. “The picture quality is sharp as a tack. I think the Eufy takes security recording to the next level,” said Kelly.

The Eufy Floodlight's “hybrid zoom” technology combines optical and digital magnification, using two camera sensors (3K and 2K), that maintains clarity while identifying people and objects at considerable distances. Monitoring features include highly customizable motion detection with intelligent recognition for individuals, vehicles, and animals, plus subject tracking that follows movement across the camera's field of view. The intuitive app interface makes it easy for anyone to navigate settings, manage preferences, and access recorded events without excessive in-app advertising.

Local Storage Available	Yes, microSD, 128GB or up to 16TB *sold seperately
Camera Type (Indoor or Outdoor)	Outdoor
Included Cloud Storage	0
Power Source	Hardwired
Color Night Vision Chip	No

The Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 is the obvious choice among floodlight cameras, but it may be more expensive than many homeowners and renters are willing or able to spend on a floodlight security camera. The upfront price shock is hard to ignore, but when you consider that you're getting a fully featured camera with no subscription required, the sticker price feels reasonable. But, if this upfront cost is enough to deter you, I recommend the Wyze Cam Floodlight v2, which offers a nice range of similar features and functions, a powerful floodlight, and reasonable 2K video quality at about half the upfront cost of the Eufy.

Read more: Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 review

Best Doorbell Security Camera

Eufy Video Doorbell E340

The Eufy Video Doorbell E340 delivered impressive performances across the full gamut of our testing, offering sharp 2K video resolution that exceeds the quality of other 2K cameras (like the Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell). It provides exceptional clarity and detail in both daytime and nighttime recordings, with particularly remarkable night vision capabilities. It even retains impressive detail during twilight, which is a hard task for any camera. “I've spent a lot of time reviewing cameras, and this is my favorite doorbell camera. It blows the doors off the other doorbells,” said our lead tester.

Whether you use a subscription service for cloud video storage, add a base station to do the heavy lifting locally, or insert an SD card for full recording functionality without a subscription, you'll enjoy comprehensive monitoring from the get-go. The Eufy Doorbell E340 can identify and differentiate between motion, people, vehicles, and packages and is the only camera we tested that includes package theft detection. It has customizable detection zones that allow users to define precise areas for monitoring using a highly customizable drag-and-drop system. Even more impressive, this model reliably detected people at our max test distance of twenty feet and recognized faces accurately at distances up to 10 feet.

Local Storage Available	Yes, microSD, 8GB or up to 16TB *sold seperately
Camera Type (Indoor or Outdoor)	Outdoor
Included Cloud Storage	0
Power Source	Battery or Hardwire
Color Night Vision Chip	Yes

The Eufy Video Doorbell E340 is an excellent choice for those seeking premium doorbell camera performance and the possibility of local storage and monitoring tools paired with an intuitive and easy-to-use app. Those who prefer to store their data locally can add the aforementioned BaseStation (up to 16 TB), albeit with another upfront cost to a somewhat expensive camera to begin with.

Although this is a great doorbell camera, I understand the price may be an issue for some. For those who are looking for a lower initial purchase price, I recommend considering the Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell. You won't get the same incredible video quality as the Eufy, but you can expect usable video and great performance monitoring in an easy-to-use package at about half the upfront price.

Read more: Eufy Video Doorbell E340 review

Best Budget Floodlight Security Camera

Wyze Cam Floodlight v2

The Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 is an excellent budget-friendly security camera that doesn't compromise on essential features. With its extremely bright 1400-lumen floodlight and 2K video quality, this camera provides effective monitoring and security for your home and is enhanced with an affordable subscription for premium monitoring features. This camera has good daytime clarity, so you'll be able to make out faces and fine details. It also comes with color night vision. “I think color night vision is a great security tool. It's useful for identifying a person's clothing for police reports, if necessary,” said Kelly.

This floodlight-style security camera excels in its monitoring performance with reliable person recognition at far-away distances (we measured up to 20 feet) and customizable motion detection zones using an intuitive grid system. The clean design of the app makes it easy to manage multiple cameras as well as other Wyze devices. I found that the logical organization of settings and quick access to frequently used controls make any task a breeze.

Local Storage Available	Yes, microSD, 256 GB
Camera Type (Indoor or Outdoor)	Outdoor
Included Cloud Storage	0
Power Source	Hardwired
Color Night Vision Chip	Yes

The Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 delivers impressive value for budget-conscious homeowners who want reliable security without upfront sticker shock. While the infrared night vision lacks some of the sharpness seen in the most premium 2K, 2.5K, and 3K cameras, most users will find the performance more than satisfactory for the price point. It also lacks package theft detection, and the app includes a tacky in-app advertisement screen, so if a less obtrusive advertising experience or package theft detection are deal breakers, you should consider a model like the Eufy Video Doorbell E340 or Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 instead.

Read more: Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 review

Best Budget Pan Cam Security Cameras

Wyze Cam Pan v3

When the Wyze Cam Pan v3 was introduced to the home security market, it set the pace for panning and tilting cameras, boasting an impressive array of features and functions made even better with a subscription, color night vision, and 1080p video resolution. Years later, many Wyze cam fans, myself included, are awaiting the next revision of this model, as we've seen the static Wyze Cam v4 introduced, which includes even greater video resolution. However, this camera is still aging well, and I use a few of them around my homestead. By comparison to models in today's market, it still offers outstanding monitoring performance and detection features, great daytime video quality, good infrared night vision, easy operation, and an incredibly affordable price tag.

This is also one of the few cameras we tested that includes color night vision, which is particularly helpful if you need to file a police report for a stolen package or a break-in. “This camera has the most impressive color night vision I've ever seen on a security camera,” said Kelly.

You and your home security system will benefit from the v3's intuitive, feature-rich app, which offers extensive alert options, live previews from the main screen, highly customizable settings, and 360-degree panning and 180-degree tilting capabilities with motion tracking. Its affordable subscription improves motion detection and provides cloud storage for a longer event history. Without a paid subscription, the camera is still a strong option, offering basic recording, event history, and standard monitoring performance, as well as local recording capabilities to an SD card up to 256 GB.

Local Storage Available	Yes, microSD, 256 GB
Camera Type (Indoor or Outdoor)	Indoor and Outdoor
Included Cloud Storage	0
Power Source	Wired
Color Night Vision Chip	No

While the Wyze Cam Pan v3 excels in nearly every aspect, a couple of shortcomings are worth noting. The primary criticism of this otherwise outstanding camera is the quality of its camera sensor. Since the Pan v3's introduction with a 1080p camera sensor, higher resolution 2k and 3k camera sensors have become the standard, and perhaps part of the reason for its lackluster ability to perform facial recognition. Homeowners and renters who specifically seek advanced facial recognition, higher-resolution video, and smoother panning might want to consider the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 as an option if it fits within your budget. However, for significantly less than the Eufy, the v3 certainly satisfies most needs and earns our strong recommendation.

Read more: Wyze Cam Pan v3 review

Best Value Doorbell Cam Security Cameras

Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell

Like many of the Wyze cameras we've reviewed, the Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell is the most reasonably priced, dual-camera setup. This unit has a 2K resolution top camera that monitors visitors, while a 1080p bottom camera specifically keeps an eye on packages tucked up against your doorstep. The camera provides excellent coverage thanks to its wide field of view, and users can enable 24/7 local recording with an SD card of up to 256GB for a subscription-free way to maintain continuous video recordings. That said, I feel that the affordable subscription is worth the enhanced monitoring and cloud storage.

I think most people looking for a doorbell-style camera will appreciate the Wyze experience and this camera in general. Any homeowner will especially like the ease and simplicity of the app, including setting up monitoring zones and viewing live feeds. “Wyze has one of the best live view screens on the market!” said one of our testers.

The Duo offers reliable person recognition at fifteen feet and facial recognition, although it only seems reliable at two feet. You can rest assured you'll be alerted to approaching visitors well before they arrive at your door, as well as to a host of other animal, vehicle, package detections, and even sound detections, available with an affordable subscription. Motion detection zones can also be easily customized using an intuitive grid system, triggering alerts only when movement occurs within designated areas.

Local Storage Available	Yes, microSD, 256GB
Camera Type (Indoor or Outdoor)	Outdoor
Included Cloud Storage	0
Power Source	Battery or Hardwire
Color Night Vision Chip	Yes

Overall, the Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell offers high-end performance at a more modest price. While the video quality in both daylight and nighttime conditions is great, the color accuracy appears somewhat flat compared to competing cameras, exhibiting some graininess. I think if you are already in the Wyze ecosystem and use other Wyze products like I do, then it's a good camera for the price, but you'll find better video quality and monitoring performance from the best doorbell camera in our test lineup, the Eufy Video Doorbell E340, which is well worth your consideration if your budget allows it.

Read more: Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	86	Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 Best Floodlight Security Camera	$220
	83	Wyze Cam v4 Best Indoor and Outdoor Security Camera	$36
	78	Eufy Video Doorbell E340 Best Doorbell Security Camera	$180
	78	Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 Best Budget Floodlight Security Camera	$90
	78	Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen	$180
	77	Wyze Cam Pan v3 Best Budget Pan Cam Security Cameras	$40
	75	Eufy Indoor Cam E220	$55
	73	Google Nest Doorbell Battery	$180
	72	Ring Floodlight Wired Plus	$180
	71	Kasa Spot Pan Tilt	$35
	71	Ring Pan Tilt	$80
	70	Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Battery	$170
	69	Ring Stick Up Battery 2nd Gen	$100
	68	Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell Best Value Doorbell Cam Security Cameras	$90
	65	TP-Link Tapo 2k Pan c210	$24
	65	Ring Battery Doorbell	$100
	61	Blink Mini 2	$40
	57	Blink Outdoor 4	$100
	46	Blink Video Doorbell	$60
	44	Blink Mini	$30

Why Trust GearLab

For this home security camera review, my team and I started by exhaustively exploring hundreds of promising models before purchasing the 20 best cameras on the market to test both in our lab and in and around our homes. We carefully examined all technical specifications in detail before finalizing our testing plans and procedures, which focus on Three Top-Level metrics, including video quality, monitoring performance, and ease of use. In our tests, we assess day and nighttime video quality and measure each camera's field of view. We also test how effectively they alert us to motion effects and people who enter the frame, and assess what features are included with each camera. Lastly, we scrutinize the app interface, rating how easy it is to use and navigate. While we highlight individual product performances in this review, you can read about our complete testing methodology in detail by checking out our How We Test article, as well as the individual performance of cameras in their respective product reviews.

• Video Quality (50% of overall score weighting)

• Monitoring Performance (35% weighting)

• Ease of USe (15% weighting)

Sentry Kelly is GearLab's lead tester for security cameras and is largely to credit for our revamped and improved in-house testing processes. His meticulous attention to detail and passion for data collection and analysis led to the gathering of comprehensive data, metrics, and recorded video testing.

Ben Hickok is a seasoned writer and home product tester. He uses many security cameras around his homestead to keep track of all the animals on his land and monitor the deer who like to snack on his fruit trees. Hickok understands the ins and outs of security cameras and combines his experiences as a programmer and long-time tech professional with mechanical skills to bring a critical perspective to testing and writing about these devices.

Kolby Anderson also played a critical part in distilling the expansive amount of data generated from our testing into concise and tangible reviews. He brings a knowledge base of smart home integrations from building homes with integrated smart technology. His technical background allows him to navigate our datasets and extrapolate only what you need to know about security cameras.

Analysis and Test Results

Our team designed a comprehensive set of tests and simulations to determine which security camera is the best across three major test metrics. After collecting hours of setting up these cameras, creating and watching hundreds of video clips, stills, and scrolling through security camera apps, my team and I highlighted some of the best models on the market.

What's the Best Value?

Security cameras now come with incredibly advanced features like facial recognition, subject tracking, and even package theft detection. But, through our testing, I've found that most brands hide these features behind a steep paywall. However, when it comes to value, I am continually impressed by the recorded video quality and features Wyze offers its customers at bargain basement prices.

This includes the Wyze Cam v4, Wyze Cam Pan v3, Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell, and the Wyze Cam Floodlight v2. You can record locally to an SD card with Wyze cameras. However, we tested all our cameras with a basic subscription, which costs only $3 per month, and $10 per month for any additional cameras.

The Wyze subscription service adds cloud video storage and a host of advanced detections sent to your smartphone and smartwatch with an event video attached for the following detections:

• Packages

• Pets

• Sound

• People

• Vehicles

That said, while the subscription is affordable, it does add to the long-term cost of ownership. But, if you don't need these supplementary features, this is the best security camera deal on the market.

The only other brand that comes close to Wyze's great value is Eufy. While Eufy's cameras are significantly more expensive upfront, they don't require a subscription for the full suite of detections and features, and recordings can also be stored on an SD card. They also have slightly better recorded video quality across the board. So, the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 and Eufy Video Doorbell E340 may provide greater long-term value if you're able to invest in a higher upfront cost.

Video Quality

Video quality matters. Recorded video can provide key evidence for potential police reports, if necessary. So, being able to identify someone's face without a shadow of a doubt is important. Even being able to accurately depict the color of a thief's hat or jacket can be useful.

We conduct tests and evaluate video during the day, in low-light conditions, and at night. We specifically looked at sharpness, clarity, color accuracy, and video captured in infrared, as well as color night vision when available. Our testing is designed with repeatability and impartiality in mind, so we used a Snellen chart, like what you might see at the optometrist, as well as a color swatch to compare each camera's color accuracy.

Through this extensive video quality testing, I found that the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 has the best recorded video quality I've ever seen, with near-pristine clarity, no matter the time of day. The Wyze Cam v4 comes very close, and we can clearly see almost all the details on the Snellen Chart and the facial features of subjects who come into the frame. It also features an impressively wide field of view (115.8º horizontal, 98.5º vertical, to be precise) as well as color night vision.

What really surprised us was the performance of the lesser-known Kasa Spot Pan Tilt, which also has a fairly clear picture but looks just a tad more pixelated. The Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen also boasts strikingly clear video and a wide field of view.

Daytime Video Quality

Whether you are away at work, on vacation, or just running an errand, a lot happens during the day that you want to see. Bright daytime conditions are the easiest conditions for any camera to produce quality results, but some cameras were clearly superior to others.,

Blink Mini Eufy Floodlight Cam E340

Daytime Video Quality

Product	Clarity	Color Accuracy
Eufy Floodlight Cam E340	9	9
Wyze Cam v4	8.5	9
Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen	7.5	8.8
TP-Link Tapo 2k Pan c210	7.8	7
Kasa Spot	7.8	6.8
Eufy Video Doorbell E340	6	7
Wyze Cam Pan v3	7	6
Ring Pan Tilt	6.8	5.5
Wyze Cam Floodlight v2	5.5	6.5
Eufy Indoor Cam E220	7	5
Ring Floodlight Wired Plus	6	6
Ring Stick Up Battery 2nd Gen	6.8	4
Blink Video Doorbell	6	4
Blink Mini	3	6.5
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Battery	5.5	4
Google Nest Doorbell	5.8	2.5
Blink Outdoor 4	5	3
Blink Mini 2	3	4
Ring Battery Doorbell	4	2
Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell	3	2

The Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 blew the competition away with its 3K camera. The results are clear, per our team, “details are sharp as a tack,” with the 5th line on our Snellen Chart tests clearly visible and some of the 6th line on the chart being readable for most of us. Using the 2K zoom lens would produce even greater results, as it has an optical zoom, which is particularly great if you need to get a facial snapshot of an intruder for police reports. It is very impressive overall, and the colors are very accurate.

The 1080p Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen also did a great job with very true-to-life color accuracy and great sharpness. It is very competitive with the Wyze Cam v4, which has a 1440p camera sensor. While the 6th line of the Snellen Chart is blurred with the Nest Cam 2nd, it is partially readable with the v4. The v4 would have scored better if not for the oversaturation of colors it captured.

This is where the Kasa Spot Pan Tilt surprised us. At 1080p the image is crisp, and only suffers from being a little blown out around highlights while colors are a tad undersaturated. This camera, while easily overlooked, performed exceptionally well in daylight conditions.

Nighttime Video Quality

The most useful security cameras are the ones that are just as useful at night as they are during the day. We repeated our daytime tests and additionally tested transitions from infrared to color night vision where applicable. The Eufy swept the competition in these night quality tests.

Blink Mini Eufy Floodlight Cam E340

While the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 does not have a color night vision chip, the 3K camera captures incredible video using infrared capabilities, and with the use of the floodlight, you can still see colors at night very clearly. Most impressive is its ability to capture finer details, which allowed us to read part of the 6th line of our Snellen chart, something difficult for many cameras to achieve.

The Kasa Spot Pan Tilt impressed us a second time in our Nighttime testing with incredible contrast and excellent details around faces. It is a little shocking that a 1080p camera was able to perform better than many 2K cameras in our tests, especially in low-light conditions. An added bonus is that the Kasa also offers night vision color.

Eufy is doing something exceptional with hardware in their cameras all around, as many of them offer great video quality across most of their product range. This includes the Eufy Indoor Cam E220 with a 2K resolution camera. Like the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340, the E220 does not have color night vision, but impressive infrared makes up for it with crisp details that include clear facial details. We were also able to read most of the 5th line of a Snellen chart with the E220. It's worth noting that the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 doesn't have a color night vision chip, but the floodlights are powerful enough to record in full color at night if you prefer it to the black-and-white infrared.

The Wyze Cam v4 should technically be able to outcompete 2k, as 2k can reference a range of sizes, but for most practical comparisons, is less than or equal to the V4's 1440p resolution. The v4 is also able to capture facial details, and we were able to read to the 5th line of a Snellen chart, but the entire nighttime picture suffers from an evenly distributed graininess.

Field of View

A wide field of view (FOV) can help a camera capture more of an area, but it can also be detrimental to video quality because of a fisheye effect and the distortion that it can cause at the periphery of the field of view. An extra wide field of view is even less important when you consider many of the cameras we tested pan, tilt, and even track subjects, providing a bigger range of coverage without this effect.

The doorbell-style cameras, namely the Google Nest Doorbell, with a huge vertical field of view, and the Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell, with a truly massive field of view, are designed to capture everything and anything that comes near the doorbell.

Fortunately, top performers, even with wider fields of view, manage to capture a lot using higher resolution camera sensors, and in some instances, a combination of multiple cameras and hybrid zoom technologies, like what is present on the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340.

Overall Video Quality

There are some clear winners in our lineup when it comes to overall video quality, where only the best cameras produce clear video both day and night while also capturing a fuller picture. You can find the results of each camera in the chart below.

Video Quality

Product	Day Quality	Night Quality	Field of View
Eufy Floodlight Cam E340	10	9.5	7
Eufy Video Doorbell E340	8.1	6.5	9
Wyze Cam v4	9.4	7.4	6.5
Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen	9.5	6.7	6.5
Eufy Indoor Cam E220	7.4	8.2	7
Kasa Spot	8.2	9	5
Wyze Cam Floodlight v2	8	5.4	8.5
Wyze Cam Pan v3	7.5	6.4	7.5
Ring Floodlight Wired Plus	7.3	6.4	7.5
Ring Pan Tilt	7.1	6.9	7
Ring Stick Up Battery 2nd Gen	6.4	7.3	6.5
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Battery	6.7	5.8	7.5
TP-Link Tapo 2k Pan c210	7.6	7.2	5
Google Nest Doorbell	6.5	4.7	8.5
Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell	4.5	5.5	9
Blink Outdoor 4	5.7	6.1	7.0
Ring Battery Doorbell	4	4.9	9.5
Blink Mini 2	5.3	5.6	7
Blink Video Doorbell	5.8	3	8
Blink Mini	5.5	3.6	5.5

Monitoring Performance

My team and I evaluated each security camera's available features, flexibility to control detection zones, and whether or not they triggered recording events, lights, and notifications. We noted detections for motion, persons, facial recognition, out-of-view detection, packages, package theft, vehicles, animals, and sounds. We also checked for and tested subject tracking, dual cameras, two-way audio, and the presence of lights. Finally, we tested the distances at which each camera could detect a person and recognize faces, ranging from 0 to 20 feet.

The Google Nest was once a frontrunner in the home security camera space, so it isn't a surprise that years later, the Google Nest Doorbell did a top-notch job with monitoring. It accurately detects people at our max test distance of 20 feet but also performs facial recognition at an impressive 15 feet. The Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen performed similarly, but facial recognition taps out at 10 feet. Google Nest products also offer an 8-point drag-and-drop system for creating up to 4 zones, with custom notifications for each zone. The detection set includes motion, person, facial recognition, vehicle, and animal detections. Neither has package theft detection, but the Doorbell 2nd Gen does include basic package detection.

The Wyze Cam v4, Eufy Video Doorbell E340, and Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 all performed very well in our tests, excelling in a wide range of detections, zone configuration capabilities, reliable notifications, and robust settings.

Recognition

Detection and the ability to discern between different objects are critical for home security. For example, you may or may not want to know when a dog or a deer is in the yard, but you probably want to know if a package is being left in the rain, a strange vehicle pulls up to your home, or a stranger is approaching your front door. Most of the top cameras accurately detected persons at our maximum distance tested (20 feet). However, while the stand-out performers also perform facial recognition, it is the distance of facial recognition that sets them apart.

The Google Nest Doorbell proved to be great, with facial recognition at distances of fifteen feet, while the Eufy Video Doorbell E340 and the Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen were both capable of facial recognition at a ten foot distance.

Motion Zones and Features

Motion zones are probably the best advancements in security cameras over the years, right behind advanced types of detections and AI assistance in recognizing different objects. Motion zones make it easy to surveil a large area while ignoring things in the frame that move but are unimportant. Setting a zone that ignores busy traffic on your street or your next-door neighbor walking up their driveway allows you to focus on motion events that matter. The top products in our zone and feature tests offer flexible motion zone configurations in combination with robust sets of detection types.

The Wyze Cam Pan v3 is impressive in those two regards. It (and other Wyze products) offers a grid-style detection zone where you can drag your finger to select or deselect tiles. It is quick, easy, and there is virtually no cap on the number of zones you can create; that is until you run out of tiles.

Detections are also robust and include everything you would expect from a security camera, minus package theft and out of view detections, but adds sound detections that uniquely identify different sounds from crying and breaking glass, to alarms, talking, and more. The sound detections are particularly useful at my home, a small farm where predators bark or yip, and livestock noises can trigger alarms when distressed, alerting me to a potential issue.

While the v3 really stands out from its panning that follows subjects, the Wyze Cam Floodlight v2, Wyze Cam v4, and Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell also stood out for the same grid style of motion zone settings, and nearly identical feature sets, with minor differences like lights, out of view detection, and dual cameras.

The Eufy Video Doorbell E340 in partiicular offers a 6-point drag and drop motion zone system that allows you to set two zones for an upper camera and one zone for the lower camera. It has a wide range of detection settings and only really misses out on animal, sound, out of view detection, and subject tracking. Other Eufy cameras also use the robust 6-point drag and drop system, and the Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 includes animal detection. However, while sound detections are absent on all Eufy cameras, some offer a combination of the mentioned detections.

Overall Monitoring Performance

There are a lot of products that impressed me and many more that missed the mark. Generally speaking, while Google's line of cameras essentially requires an add-on subscription, they offer reliable and highly capable detection abilities at a premium price. Eufy also stands out for its all-around great monitoring performance, but similar to Google Nest products, Eufy's cameras are expensive upfront and even more expensive with the base station or subscription service. That said, Eufy products offer the full suite of advertised features and detections without a subscription, so you can buy a Eufy product and not rely on a service for robust monitoring performance.   

Lastly, Wyze products offer one of the most robust sets of detection abilities with an affordable subscription plan and some of the lowest upfront costs, although specific detections like facial recognition can be hit or miss across different products, so individual performance results are worth reviewing before your purchase.

Monitoring Performance

Product	Subject Recognition	Motion Zones	Features
Wyze Cam v4	8.8	8.5	7.7
Google Nest Doorbell	9.6	10	5.4
Wyze Cam Floodlight v2	8.4	8.5	7.7
Eufy Video Doorbell E340	9.2	8	6.9
Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen	9.2	10	4.6
Eufy Floodlight Cam E340	8	8	7.7
Wyze Cam Pan v3	8	8.5	6.9
Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell	5.2	8.5	8.5
Ring Battery Doorbell	8	9	3.8
Ring Floodlight Wired Plus	8	9	3.8
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Battery	8	9	3.8
Eufy Indoor Cam E220	8	8	4.6
Ring Pan Tilt	8	9	3.1
Ring Stick Up Battery 2nd Gen	8	9	2.3
Blink Mini 2	8	7	3.1
Kasa Spot	8	6	3.8
TP-Link Tapo 2k Pan c210	8	6	3.1
Blink Outdoor 4	4.8	7	2.3
Blink Video Doorbell	1	7	1.5
Blink Mini	1	7	1.5

Ease of Use

Most of the cameras we tested have matured from the inception of affordable home security cameras that offered basic quality and monitoring services, and most offer reliable firmware and companion apps that make using and changing the settings on each camera a fairly simple task. We narrow down our production selections for testing to the best of the best, so when it comes to ease of use, evaluating mature apps, power sources, and installation can be a task akin to splitting hairs. That said, for the amount of features and functions, settings and versatility, the Wyze cameras in our test lineup knocked it out of the park, while many of Eufy's products, and a couple of Google Nest products, followed closely behind.

The companion apps for managing each security camera are critical. If you find it too difficult to set up detection zones or modify the alerts you would like to receive, you'll probably want to suppress notifications to avoid unwanted annoyances. Consequently, you are almost guaranteed to miss something important by suppressing all notifications.

Fortunately, we found that Wyze, Eufy, and Google Nest all make managing cameras, detections, and notifications exceptionally easy. With panning and tilting abilities, as well as the largest number of detections, including a host of sound detections, live previews on a homescreen, and a robust event history, the Wyze Cam Pan v3 led the way. All Wyze products use the Wyze app, and while it is great all around, it does have in-app advertisements, even when paying for a subscription, which is our only notable gripe.

The Eufy Floodlight Cam E340, Eufy Indoor Cam E220, and Eufy Video Doorbell E340 also performed well, offering nearly as many features and detections as Wyze products, parity in terms of app design and intuitiveness, and enhancing the experience with the least noticeable in-app advertising. I especially appreciate the live view of each camera from the home screen.

The Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen and the Google Nest Doorbell chased top Wyze and Eufy products. The overall app experience is intuitive, but it lacks default home screen live previews or feeds and has a less comprehensive event history filter than Wyze products. Fortunately, it's advertisement-free.

Most modern cameras are fairly flexible when it comes to a power source. For example, nearly every doorbell-style camera we tested has the option to hardwire directly to existing doorbell wiring. And all the security cameras we tested that aren't hard-wired have incredible battery life. Most notably, we tested the battery version of the Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell, and it did not lose any of its battery life over a total of four days with constant movement. The Google Next Doorbell Cam only drained 2%.

Overall Ease of Use

Because we focus our product selections on the most promising products on the market, after researching hundreds of potential products to test and review, it is rare to have an absolute dud in any test metric. Generally, products are mature, refined, and above average when they make it to our testing. That is certainly the case with security cameras, and choosing any of the top half of the products tested will satisfy you with an easy to use and operate experience.

How to Choose the Right Security Camera

When it comes to home security, nothing provides peace of mind like a security camera. A security camera is a great way to add a robust monitoring solution to your home or property without requiring deep pockets.

Security Camera Types

Before you deep dive into our individual reviews, you'll want to identify what type of camera you need. Specific situations like package theft, a dark side yard, or a poorly lit driveway to a detached garage all call for a different type of security camera.

Doorbell security cameras generally act as a doorbell and front entry monitoring device for viewing packages, adding a layer of security to your front door and allowing you to interact with visitors.

Meanwhile, Floodlight cameras are a great option for illuminating and monitoring dark spaces like your driveway or backyard. Most security cameras offer infrared night vision at a minimum, while others use color night vision sensors/chips, and others can record in full color when floodlights illuminate the space being monitored.

Panning cameras take the standard static security camera and allow you to monitor extremely large spaces without a large field of view. Many panning cameras we tested can be set to automatically pan and will even track subjects as they try to leave the field of view, which brings us to our next bit of advice.

Field of View

Higher resolution cameras, cameras that pan, and cameras that track movement have largely eliminated the need for an extra wide or an extra tall field of view. An extremely wide field of view may 'capture' more of a space, but often to the detriment of video quality, as a wider field of view can result in a fish-eye effect and distortion toward the edges of captured video.

Lighting

Lights are only necessary if you are using a camera in a space that needs a floodlight or you hope to deter those lurking in the dark; otherwise, the night vision capabilities of the best cameras we tested are pretty exceptional, and you probably don't need lights for most applications

Upfront cost vs subcription

How much will a complete home security camera cost in the long run?

The majority of security cameras on the market today offer basic services upfront but rely on subscription-based services that unlock more advanced features at an additional ongoing cost. Eufy products, while a little more expensive up front, can do everything they advertise while recording locally to an SD card. So the initial investment is essentially all you need. A subscription or add-on base station provides additional storage and longer video histories. Wyze products generally offer all the necessary features you would probably want at a modest price and can also record locally to an SD card. However, an affordable subscription provides premium monitoring features as well as cloud storage. 

The other notable brands in our testing essentially require a subscription service, have limited or non-existent local recording options, and in many cases have higher up-front prices, but may fill a niche or mesh better with your existing smart home services. 

Conclusion

This best-in-class review of home security cameras has covered every feature, setting, and use of these devices. We conducted hands-on, side-by-side testing of the cameras' live monitoring, recorded video, and ease of use. I've laid out the results of our research and testing above in an easy-to-digest format so that you can pick the right camera for your needs. Instead of adding camera research to your worries, we've taken on that burden, so you can skip right to monitoring what you love and value the most.