What are the best home-security cameras?

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Jan 22, 2021

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10 Options Considered

Best home-security cameras	Price	Last Updated
-- Canary All-in-one Home Security	$160	Jan 22, 2021
-- Icontrol Networks Piper NV	$279	Jun 4, 2019
-- Nest Cam	$199	Sep 2, 2018
-- Withings Home	$199	Jul 3, 2016
-- Netatmo Welcome	$199	Jul 2, 2016

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score 8 · Answer 1

Canary All-in-one Home Security

Top Pro

Quality video, even when dark

The Canary has a viewing angle of 147 degrees, letting it see more than competing products. The 1080p resolution is crisp, and allows for digital zooming up to 3X. There are 12 infra-red LEDs that work as part of the night vision to keep recording even after the lights have gone out. See More

Top Con

No local storage

All of the recordings are stored directly on the cloud, and there is no local storage available. See More

Top Pro

Automatic recording

The Canary can utilize your phone's GPS to turn on and off automatically depending on where you are (when you're at home it will enter private mode, but when you leave it will activate). If you live with others, all they need to do is install the app and it won't activate when they're home either. See More

Top Con

Not mountable

This system will need a table or stand to sit on - there isn't an included wall or ceiling mount. You perhaps could fashion your own, however remember to mount it upright as the camera doesn't rotate. See More

Top Pro

Air quality sensors

There are sensors which help determine the quality of the air, including: temperature, humidity, and particles in the air. While it can't do anything about these itself, it is a useful tool for monitoring. See More

Top Con

Expensive subscription plan

The free plan is limited - your history will only go back 12 hours, with 5 available bookbarks and you can download 3 videos. The $5/month ($49 annually) plan increases this to a 2 day history, 25 bookmarks, and unlimited downloads. For $10/month ($99 annually) you get 7 day history, 100 bookmarks and still get unlimited downloads. The most expensive plan at $30/month ($299 annually) gives you a 30 day timeline with unlimited bookmarks and downloads. See More

Top Pro

Great microphone

The microphone captures crystal clear audio. This is extremely beneficial if there is motion detected, but the subject moves out of the vision of the camera, as you can still somewhat tell whats going on. See More

Top Con

Lacks a speaker

While there is a microphone to listen to sounds, there is no speaker and thus this system lacks the ability to hold a conversation with the person on the other side. See More

Top Pro

Warning siren

The Canary Security System is equipped with a siren which is rated at 90dB (similar to that of city traffic or a subway at 200ft). While not ridiculously loud, it should do the job to scare the heebie jeebies out of anybody not expecting it. See More

Top Con

Lots of false alarms

The motion detection is very sensitive - so sensitive that it only takes shadows moving or branches swaying in the wind to trick it into sending a false alarm. In the future Canary is going to add a sensitivity slider, however this hasn't been implemented yet. See More

See All

score 3 · Answer 2

Icontrol Networks Piper NV

Top Con

IFTT NO LONGER SUPPORTED

They cancelled all their IFTT integrations and hung all their customers out to dry. See More

Top Pro

IFTTT functionality

Top Con

No web app

Web apps can be handy if your phone is dead or misplaced at the time. They also allow access from any computer using just a login and password, which can be useful if you've run out of data on your phone and are out of Wi-Fi range. This also means that Windows Phone or Blackberry devices won't be able to control the Piper NV. See More

Top Pro

Built-in siren

The siren is very loud - rated at 105dB (louder than a snowmobile or motorcycle). It's loud enough to scare off virtually any intruder. See More

Top Con

No removable local storage

There is no removable local storage available on the Piper NV - all media is immediately uploaded to the Piper cloud. This online storage is free, but is limited to 1000 clips before it starts overwriting old clips. If the camera is offline when a clip recorded, the video is stored on the device and uploaded once online again. See More

Top Pro

Tracks the weather

With a temperature and humidity sensors on-board, the Piper NV can give you a good idea of what the interior 'weather' is like. It can also track outdoor temperature, and will warn you of local weather alerts. See More

Top Pro

Great Android/iOS apps

The apps are simple to use, and designed to make sure the most important stuff can be accessed the quickest. Any important actions will give you feedback from the Piper NV itself so you can rest assured each action goes through. Small details are included in the app as well - from adjustable motion sensitivity (for shadows, animals, and other small movements) to a trusted circle of contacts that will be notified each time an alert is triggered. All features worked as advertised, notifications were delivered quickly, and the camera is very responsive to actions performed in the apps. See More

Top Pro

Talk & listen supported

The Piper NV has both a microphone and speaker, letting you have a conversation with a person in front of the Piper while you are elsewhere with your phone. This can be handy for conversations with babysitters, deliverymen, or even talking with your children when you're away. See More

Top Pro

Great video quality

The 1080p camera allows for up to 10X digital zoom. Without zooming, the picture is very crisp and clear which is immensely helpful when figuring out who is on the camera and what they're doing. The digital zoom will reduce this clarity, but allows for a close-up inspection of any small details. The device can also tilt and pan - unique features that let you get the best angles of view. See More

Top Pro

Night vision tracks even in pitch black

The NV in Piper NV stands for night vision. This product included infra-red LEDs that illuminate pitch black rooms so that the camera can still see (although human eye's can't detect this light). See More

Top Pro

Wide-angle lense

With a full 180 degrees of vision, this camera can be placed on a wall and see everything around it. Because its fish-eye design, the edges of the image will be slightly warped, however this is required for such a high field of view. See More

Top Pro

Can be set up to control light within a household

Z-Wave controller is built in. See More

Top Pro

Built-in motion detector

Has a proper IR motion sensor, so does not image analysis to detect motion. This is very useful as it avoids the false alarms that many other camera are subject to when clouds change the lighting conditions. See More

See All

score 3 · Answer 3

Nest Cam

Top Pro

High quality video, even in pitch black

The 1080p resolution allows plenty of detail to be captured, and because it's a wide-angle lens you'll get a wide 130 degree picture. If you need to, you can zoom up to 8X to investigate small details. The night vision feature works surprisingly well in low light, or even pitch black. There are 8 LEDs surrounding the lens which can illuminate the scene. See More

Top Con

Inconvenient viewing of previous recordings

Previous recordings will be kept in the cloud for up to 10 days (30 days with the subscription), however when viewing these recordings there is no option to scrub through the video, leaving you no option but to view the entire clip. See More

Top Pro

Scheduling

You can schedule the camera so it isn't constantly recording your everyday activities, or sending you alerts. See More

Top Con

Annoying artifacts makes activity detection less robust

When switching to night vision, the camera momentarily goes all black, causing notifications to get fired. This should be avoidable by software handling See More

Top Pro

Talk and listen capabilities

While not exceptional quality, you can hear the audio picked up through the Nest Cam play through your iPhone. You can also speak into your iPhone, and have the Nest Cam play the sound. See More

Top Con

False alarms

While not frequently occurring, some false alarms will happen. On a particular windy day, trees blowing in the wind may cause an alarm, and sometimes the sun lighting up sections of a room can also cause false alarms. See More

Top Pro

Integrates with other smart phone appliances

If you own a Nest thermostat, the Nest Cam will automatically turn on when you set the thermostat to 'away'. If your Nest Protect (the smoke detector) goes off, your Nest Cam will activate to show you what's happening although the placement of the cam may or may not be useful. Nest Cam also integrates with other third party smart home products such as Philips Hue smart bulbs (if the Cam detects motion it can turn these bulbs on). Other products that can work together are: SkyBell (smart doorbell), Mimo (baby monitor), August (smart lock), and Petnet (smart pet feeder). See More

Top Con

No local storage

All video is immediately uploaded to the cloud, and there is no local storing happening on the Nest Cam itself. See More

Top Pro

Recreational use

The Nest Cam can act as more than just a connected security camera. You can take time-lapse videos with it, or use it to capture images or video for social media as well. See More

Top Con

Some features require a subscription

The Nest Aware App has a subscription ($10/month) which unlocks additional features. The subscription promises less false alarms, allowing for more advanced algorithms. It also allows for a history of notifications and alarms as well as continuous recording for up to 30 days. See More

Top Pro

Well designed

The camera looks sleek and compact, yet includes all the useful features you would expect from a high end security camera. The base is magnetic, helping to keep it stable (it also has a wall/ceiling mount), and the hinge allows enough movement to make sure you can place it virtually anywhere you'd want to. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 4

Withings Home

Top Pro

IFTTT compatible

IFTTT (IF This Then That) is an app that allows for custom automation. It combines triggers and actions to create recipes that are easy enough for just about anybody to create. IFTTT allows you to automate things like when you receive a specific text message from a specified number to start/stop recording, or start/stop speak & listen mode. See More

Top Con

Can't download video

There is no option to download recorded videos, and videos will only be held online for 2 days with the free subscription. See More

Top Pro

Environmental sensors

These environmental sensors include: ambient light, sound, temperature, and humidity. Average temperature and humidity can help you realize how to reduce your heating bills. There's also a VoC (volatile organic compounds) sensor which reads the amount of particles in the air - a measure of air quality. If this reading is high, and you have an air filter, it's probably time to change or clean the filter. See More

Top Con

iOS only

There is no web app, and no Android support either. You can only control it from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. See More

Top Pro

Talk and listen capability

With both microphones and a speaker, you can have a conversation with somebody through the Withings Home even while you're out and about. See More

Top Con

Extremely sensitive motion sensor

The motion sensor is too sensitive, picking up many false alarms. While other security cameras allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor, there are no such option available here. See More

Top Pro

Magnetic base

You can adjust the angle of the camera without needing a mount, thanks to its magnetic base. See More

Top Con

Low quality picture

While rated for full HD (1080p) video recording, this camera looks noticeably grainier than most 1080p cameras. It still provides sufficient resolution to see what's happening, although the clarity is a bit disappointing. See More

Top Pro

Baby monitor features

This security camera has built in features that make monitoring a baby easier. It can provide a nightlight, and also has a lullaby setting where it will play soothing music to help the baby fall asleep. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 5

Netatmo Welcome

Top Pro

Locally stored data

All data is stored locally on an SD card - included is an 8GB card. Even better - the slot is push activated, meaning it will spring out when you push it in again. This is an example of the good attention to small details. The SD card can only hold so much video though, and once storage space has run out it will overwrite any existing files. This means that if you want to keep any videos, it's important to regularly save them to another storage location (or insert a larger card). See More

Top Con

Limited positions available

There is no included mount, and it isn't supposed to be pointed at windows or areas with too much light. This limits where you can place it, as it has to be on a table or ledge of some sort, and facing in a specific direction. See More

Top Pro

Inconspicuous design

At first glance, you wouldn't expect this to be a security camera. that means that it's easy to place it in plain sight without being an eye-sore. See More

Top Con

Visible light when in night mode

When night mode is enabled, there is a glowing red light. This defeats the purpose of its stealthy design, and feels obtrusive when you are walking around your house in the dark - almost like something is watching you (because you are indeed being watched). See More

Top Pro

Facial recognition

While not a reliable source of security, the Netamo Welcome can sometimes get faces right. It has trouble differentiating between bearded folks, but other than that it does a decent job once it's sufficiently learned the different faces (it can take up to 2 weeks). See More

Top Con

Sub-par camera quality

While rated at 1080p, the quality of the video doesn't quite match that of other 1080p home security cameras. This might just be optics they used, but the overall quality of the video leaves some to be desired. See More

Top Pro

Versatile video

With the wide angle lens (130 degrees), this camera is set to record any action in front of it, as well as slightly to the sides of the main focal point. It also includes a night vision mode, where infra-red LEDs illuminate the darkness but aren't visible to human eyes. This is called night mode, and shows up in greyscale, but in decent enough quality to still be able to see everything that's going on in the frame. See More

Top Pro

Multi-platform

There are fully integrated Android and iOS apps, as well as a web app (although the web app is limited in its capabilities). This is welcome news for any family which is split between Android/iOS users. See More

Top Pro

Web app included

While some home security cameras only support mobile apps, this one allows you to view the important information in a web browser for your convenience (configuring the camera itself needs to be done through the app, but it's nice to be able to view the live steam on any computer and not just your phone). See More

Top Pro

Recognizes who enters a household and notifies via companion app

See All

score 1 · Answer 6

Simplicam

Top Pro

Very configurable

If you are getting false alarms often, you can configure the sensitivity and even choose which parts of the frame to watch and which to ignore (the app can divide the picture into 25 different zones, and you can select zone by zone which to watch and which to ignore). See More

Top Con

Low resolution video capture

At 720p, the video is usable, however it isn't crisp and depending on the distance of the movement you may not be able to make out exactly what is happening. See More

Top Pro

Facial recognition support

When you get notified of movement, the Simplicam will be able to tell you who it is so you know if you can ignore the notification or not without needing to open the app. This feature requires the subscription. See More

Top Con

Relatively small field of vision

While the 107 degree field of vision should provide enough sight for most installations, other cameras offer up to 180 degrees of vision which covers a lot more ground. With this camera, there may be blind spots depending on where you install it and which way its facing. See More

Top Pro

Android and iOS support + web app

Some cameras only support Android or iOS, but that is very inconvenient for families that have members using both major mobile operating systems (you're still out of luck with Windows Phone unless you use its browser). Lucky, this camera has support for both Android and iOS. There is also a web app that can be accessed through any computer with internet access. See More

Top Con

Face detection could use some work

Face detection is technically a beta product, and doesn't work very well yet. It can confuse people for each other sometimes, and can have a hard time distinguishing between known faces and unknown people. This feature is getting worked on, and is promised to get better with time. At this point though, it's correct most of the time - but you won't want to leave your home security to be mostly secure. See More

Top Pro

Night vision

There are built-in infra-red LEDs that let you see through the camera even when its pitch black. They illuminate the center of the picture well, but the edges of the frame remain very dark, effectively reducing the field of view further at night. See More

Top Con

Subscription required to access all features

$5/month ($50/yr) keeps videos for a single day, and allows you to save 1 hour of video. $14/month ($140/yr) keeps recordings for 11 days, and you can save 3 hours of video. $23/month ($230/yr) is the highest plan, and will keep videos for 21 days and allows for 5 hours of saved clips. See More

Top Pro

Scheduling available

You can configure your camera to turn on and off depending on a schedule you create. If the house is typically empty from 9am-3pm, you can set it to turn on then and when you go to bed. This cuts down on notifications, because if its on all the time it will constantly be sending you notifications and could feel like its invading your privacy if its always recording you when you're at home. Subscription required for this feature See More

Top Con

No local storage

Everything is uploaded directly to the cloud, and there is no local storage on the Simplicam. See More

Top Pro

2 way audio

This camera has both a speaker and microphone, which allows you to have conversations with whoever is in/around your house at the time. See More

Top Pro

Convenient installation

This camera comes with a wall/ceiling mount, and the stem is flexible allowing you to change the direction the camera is pointing even after installation. See More

Top Pro

Works over Wi-Fi

See All

score 1 · Answer 7

NetCam HD+

Top Pro

Very easy setup

Instructions can be found in the app, or in the printed manual. The steps are very simple - plug it in, connect it to the internet, and install the app on your phone. After that, you just have to worry about registration and your personal settings. See More

Top Con

Subscription required for cloud video storage

The subscription is almost required - without it you won't be able to see recorded video (only a live feed). You will also only receive email alerts without the subscription - it also unlocks app notifications. The subscription is $10/month (or $100 if billed annually), and it will allow videos to be saved online for 14 days. You can download these clips if you so wish. This subscription also allows push notifications to be sent to your phone so you will be notified of any intruders immediately. See More

Top Pro

WeMo compatible

WeMo is a home automation system by Belkin. The NetCam HD+ is compatible with this system, which means it can integrate with other WeMo compatible products such as the Belkin Wemo smart bulbs. If you own compatible products, they can interact with each other. For example, you can configure the system so that when the NetCam detects motion, it will turn on the Belkin WeMo lights. See More

Top Con

Low field of view

The NetCam HD+ has a 95 degree vision in front of it. This is more than adequate for monitoring a small corridor or a single doorway, however other options offer a much wider field of view and will be able to see more surroundings. See More

Top Pro

Multi-platform controls

There are apps for both iOS and Android, as well as a web app for any computer or other operating systems. This allows split households (in terms of operating systems) to control their smart camera with ease. See More

Top Con

No local storage

All videos are uploaded directly to the cloud, and there is no local storage on-board. See More

Top Pro

Night vision

The NetCam HD+ has infra-red LED lights that provide light that the camera can pick up, however this light is't visible to the human eye. See More

Top Con

Low resolution video

Video is only captured at 720p, which is sub-par when compared to virtually any other home security camera. A higher resolution would offer more crisp video, and greater clarity so its easier to recognize who is on your property and what they're doing. See More

Top Pro

Talk and listen

With both a microphone and a speaker, you can have conversations through the NetCam and your phone. See More

Top Pro

No cloud-based recording service required

See All

Answer 8

Samsung SmartCam HD Pro

Top Pro

Customizble features

You can manually adjust the speaker and microphone volumes, as well as wide dynamic range settings to balance the brightness of the video. Sensitivity of both motion and audio sensors can be adjusted as well. See More

Top Con

Legacy designed app

The app looks like it was created more than 3 years ago. There are different tabs and menus, and often times features aren't where you'd expect them to be. There are also few labels - icons dominate the app, and it isn't always obvious what the icons do. See More

Top Pro

Night vision

The SmartCam HD Pro is equipped with infrared LEDs. These illuminate dark rooms for the camera, while being invisible to human eyes. See More

Top Con

Uninspiring build

The design of the SmartCam HD Pro is polarizing. While it looks functional from a distance, getting closer to it will reveal its physical shortcomings. It's bigger, chunkier, and feels like it's made out of cheap plastic. The glossy plastic front panel makes it feel much cheaper than it actually is. See More

Top Pro

Speak and listen capable

You can have a conversation with somebody through your phone while they're in front of the SmartCam. This is useful as it allows you direct communication with babysitters, contract workers, house sitters or anybody else around your camera. See More

Top Con

Sub-par video quality

While it has a 1080p camera, the recordings don't match the same quality as other slightly more expensive 1080p cameras. This makes detail harder to make out, although it's usually still clear enough to figure out what's happening in the picture. See More

Top Pro

Local storage

There is a SD slot which allows for local storage. This means that as video is captured, it is recorded straight onto the local storage, while most cameras don't offer local storage (instead they upload it directly to a cloud service, and often charge a monthly fee to download these videos). See More

See All

Answer 9

Kuna

Top Pro

Built-in alarm

There is alarm functionality built-into the Kuna. The alarm is very loud at 100dB (similar to the volume of sound produced by a motorcycle or snowmobile), which should be sufficient to scare off most intruders. See More

Top Con

Spotty Wi-Fi performance

Even when placed reasonably close to the Wi-Fi router (~15 feet), the Kuna can lose connection for a few seconds from time to time. See More

Top Pro

Stealthy design

From a distance, the Kuna looks like an ordinary outdoor light. Only when you get up close do you realize there's a camera hidden just beneath the light. This approach has a couple advantages - first it isn't an eyesore and acts as a functional outdoor light, and second is that intruders won't know they are being watched. See More

Top Con

Subscription enables basic features

Without the subscription, your videos will only be held online for 2 hours. Subscriptions start at $5/month as seen below: $7.49/month (or $60 annually) retains videos for 7 days, unlimited video downloads, theft protection, and 5% discount off future devices. This price is charged per device. $15/month (or $120 annually) keeps videos online for 14 days, has unlimited video downloads, theft protection, and 10% off future devices. This subscription can be used between up to 4 devices. $30/month (or $240 annually) allows video storage for 30 days, still has theft protection and unlimited video downloads, and receives a 15% discount off future devices. This subscription can be split between up to 8 devices. See More

Top Pro

Speak and listen

There is both a mic and a speaker on the Kuna, which lets you have a conversation with whoever is on your property whether it be a delivery man, maid, dog walker, or anybody else. With just a few taps you could also play one of three messages: "I'm busy right now", "Can I help you?", and "Sorry, not interested". See More

Top Pro

Highly configurable Android & iOS apps

The app is easy to use, and gives quick access to important features. You can control the light manually through the app, set it to turn on or off based on a schedule, or whenever it detects motion. You can also adjust the motion sensitivity, which is useful if you are receiving false alarms from cars on the road or other distant or small movements. You can also adjust the speaker volume from within the app. See More

See All

Answer 10

Logi Circle by Logitech

Top Pro

Wireless

The camera itself contains a battery, and is totally wireless when not charging. It's battery can be charged when placed on the wired charging ring. See More

Top Con

Disappointing battery life

While it's convenient that it can be taken away from the charger, it would be even more convenient if the battery lasted longer than 2 hours. There is a power save feature which can extend the battery to last around 10 hours, but this cripples the resolution. See More

Top Pro

Portable

The Logi Circle is small, and can be taken virtually anywhere. It weighs just 9.6oz, and measures 2.5x3x2.5" (6.5x7.6x6.5cm). See More

Top Con

Low resolution camera

While 720p is sufficient for most media, a security camera benefits significantly from a higher resolution. More resolution allows for more digital zooming - in the case of an intruder, you can see exactly what they are doing. See More

Top Pro

Speak and listen capable

There is a microphone and speaker built into the camera, allowing for a conversation between yourself and anybody on the other side of the camera. See More

Top Con

No local storage

All videos recorded go straight to the cloud, as there is no local storage on the Logi Circle. See More

Top Con

Poor app design

The app only works in landscape, and you have to use the app (there is no browser support). See More

See All

10 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Canary All-in-one Home Security

My Recommendation for Canary All-in-one Home Security

Quality video, even when dark

No local storage

Automatic recording

Not mountable

Air quality sensors

Expensive subscription plan

Great microphone

Lacks a speaker

Warning siren

Lots of false alarms

My Recommendation for Icontrol Networks Piper NV

My Recommendation for Icontrol Networks Piper NV

IFTT NO LONGER SUPPORTED

IFTTT functionality

No web app

Built-in siren

No removable local storage

Tracks the weather

Great Android/iOS apps

Talk & listen supported

Great video quality

Night vision tracks even in pitch black

Wide-angle lense

Can be set up to control light within a household

Built-in motion detector

My Recommendation for Nest Cam

My Recommendation for Nest Cam

High quality video, even in pitch black

Inconvenient viewing of previous recordings

Scheduling

Annoying artifacts makes activity detection less robust

Talk and listen capabilities

False alarms

Integrates with other smart phone appliances

No local storage

Recreational use

Some features require a subscription

Well designed

My Recommendation for Withings Home

My Recommendation for Withings Home

IFTTT compatible

Can't download video

Environmental sensors

iOS only

Talk and listen capability

Extremely sensitive motion sensor

Magnetic base

Low quality picture

Baby monitor features

My Recommendation for Netatmo Welcome

My Recommendation for Netatmo Welcome

Locally stored data

Limited positions available

Inconspicuous design

Visible light when in night mode

Facial recognition

Sub-par camera quality

Versatile video

Multi-platform

Web app included

Recognizes who enters a household and notifies via companion app

My Recommendation for Simplicam

My Recommendation for Simplicam

Very configurable

Low resolution video capture

Facial recognition support

Relatively small field of vision

Android and iOS support + web app

Face detection could use some work

Night vision

Subscription required to access all features

Scheduling available

No local storage

2 way audio

Convenient installation

Works over Wi-Fi

My Recommendation for NetCam HD+