Most Affordable Home Security Cameras
Security cameras don't have to cost a lot to be high-quality.
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Last Updated on Mar 27, 2024
- Purchase cameras for as little as $36
- 14 days of cloud storage absolutely free
- Save money with DIY installation
- No additional charge for full Alexa integration
- Save up to $20 a year when you sign up for an annual monitoring subscription
- A single subscription covers unlimited cameras at one address
- Built-in person detection for free and facial recognition for just $6 a month
- Continuous recording available for $5 a month
- DIY your security at no charge
Putting up security cameras is a quick and easy way to boost your home security, but depending on the size of your home, it can get expensive real fast. An indoor camera typically costs $100 or more, while outdoor cameras can easily cost anywhere from $200 to $300 a piece.
We know all that because we regularly test security cameras. That’s part of what we do here. We also know that there are some really good options out there that cost way less than the industry average. We’re talking about indoor cameras that cost as low as $35 and outdoor cameras as low as $100. And they’re not cheaply built either. Some actually come with advanced features like person detection and even facial recognition. Intrigued? Let’s take a look at our favorite affordable security cameras.
Our Affordable Security Camera Findings
| Camera prices | $19.99-$179.99 |
|---|---|
| Local storage | Some, not all |
| Cloud storage cost | Free or $3-$14.99/month |
| Average video quality | 1080p HD |
Most Affordable Home Security Cameras
- Wyze Cam - Most Affordable Cam Overall
- Ring - Best Cam for Alexa
- Nest - Most Affordable Google Security Camera
- Arlo - Best Value DIY Security Camera
- Blink Camera - Most Affordable Outdoor Security Camera
All price brackets have cameras with these five key features:
- 1080p resolution or higher
- Motion detection
- Night vision
- Free smartphone alerts
- Free smartphone access to live footage
Furthermore even the cheapest home security cams have two-way voice, free video storage, and customizable motion zones. Motion zones let you eliminate alerts about motion in parts of your camera’s viewing field. For instance, you can skip alerts about sidewalk activity but get notice if somebody steps onto your lawn.
>> Related: Best No-Fee Security Cameras
This article reviews security cameras from five popular brands. First is Wyze, the cheapest security camera brand overall; they have a $35 deal and another security camera under $50. Also in the roundup are affordable security cameras from Ring, Google Nest, Arlo and Blink Home.
Detailed List of the Most Affordable Home Security Cameras
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1. Wyze Cam - Most Affordable Cam Overall
Product Specs
Resolution Up to 1080p Field of View Up to 110° Power Wired Connectivity Wi-Fi Storage Cloud, local Smart Platform Compatability Alexa and Google Home Wyze is wowing home security shoppers with its choice of security cameras under $50. The cheapest Wyze camera is the Wyze Cam V3 ($29.99 MSRP). The other, Wyze Pan Cam ($33.99 MSRP), is an attractive upgrade with its automatic 360-degree rotation. Both Wyze cameras are plug-in models with power cords. With a few screws they can attach to shelves, walls, ceilings and other flat surfaces.
Wyze Cam and its packaging Not only is the equipment affordable, but Wyze also doesn’t require any monthly fees. That’s what really sets this brand apart. It’s not the only one that offers $30 indoor cameras, but it’s one of the few that offers free cloud storage and a microSD card local storage option. There are optional subscriptions, but you won’t really need them if you’re content with the 14-day free cloud storage and the continuous recording option via a microSD card (sold separately).
Beyond free storage, Wyze cameras offer smart detection features like person detection and pet detection. Those are also free, unlike options like Blink that hides those more advanced features behind a paywall.
Additional security camera variations are available as well, and for the features they offer, all of them are affordable. Some of Wyze’s newer cameras include the Wyze Cam Outdoor, Wyze Cam Pan v3, Wyze Video Doorbell, Wyze Cam Floodlight, and Wyze Cam OG Telephoto.
Security Camera Features
Features of most Wyze cameras include:
- Power cord for AC outlet
- 110-degree field of view
- 1080p resolution
- 8x zoom on livestream
- Two-way audio
- Triggered by motion or sound
- Motion detection zones let you exclude part of the viewing field
- Smart sound detection indicates if a smoke detector siren or other alarm has sounded
- 14 days of storage per clip
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Works with IFTTT
- MicroSD card slot for continuous recording to local storage
The extra advantage of the Pan Cam is its 360-degree spin. This camera has the same 110-degree lens as Wyze Cam V2, but it follows a rotation schedule to surveille more territory. You can specify up to four specific stopping points for motion detection and recording.
Beyond Cameras…
Wyze cams can help build simple multi-part security systems. For a one-time expense of $25 you can connect a Wyze camera to two entryway sensors and one indoor motion detector. Your camera will automatically record when an external sensor is triggered.
Smart light bulbs can join your home security system too. You can set your lights to follow schedules, and also control them by voice.
What’s the Catch?
Why are Wyze cameras so cheap? Some shortcomings come to mind. Also consider:
- There’s no battery backup, so you won’t have video surveillance if your home’s power goes out. Battery backup is available only with the Wyze Cam Outdoor and the Wyze Battery Cam Pro.
- You’ll compromise on night vision with Wyze cams. Other affordable security cameras provide better clarity.
- The Alexa voice assistant integration is disappointing to many customers. The best brand for Alexa-friendly security cameras is Ring, as explained in the following review.
To sum up, Wyze features the cheapest home security cameras overall and the best home security cameras under $50. Camera purchase includes 14 days of rolling cloud storage for motion-triggered and sound-triggered events. For continuous recording you can add a microSD card. Data storage cards with 32G retail for about $10 each.
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2. Ring - Best Cam for Alexa
Product Specs
Resolution Up to 1080p Field of View Up to 155° Power Wired, battery, PoE, solar Connectivity Wi-Fi, ethernet Video Storage Cloud Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home Selling for just $59.99, the new Ring Indoor Cam is the most affordable Alexa-friendly security camera. While other home security brands are Alexa compatible, Ring’s integration with Alexa is especially smooth. That’s to be expected, as Ring and Alexa are sister companies both owned by Amazon. The Ring Alexa skill lets you manage Ring indoor and outdoor cameras and other Ring devices: doorbell cameras, smart lights, smart locks and sirens.
Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) Compared to Wyze above, Ring requires a cloud subscription if you want your cameras to store footage (and who doesn’t?). Without one, Ring cameras can stream live videos and send alerts, but there’s no recording option at all. Fortunately, Ring’s cloud plans aren’t all that expensive. For one camera, it costs $4.99 to store videos for 180 days (almost 6 months). That’s six times as long as the industry standard 30-day cloud storage. If you have multiple cameras, we suggest going for the Ring Protect Plus plan for $10 per month. It can provide cloud storage for an unlimited number of Ring cameras in your home.
There’s actually a third option, but it’s for folks who have the Ring Alarm, Ring’s full-service security system. Professional monitoring is its main feature, but if you have a few Ring cameras too, it will provide 180 days of cloud storage for them just like the Ring Protect Plus plan.
Camera Features
Ring’s Indoor Cam has a simple name and advanced features. Specs include:
- USB power cord
- 140° field of view
- Two-way voice with noise cancellation
- Motion detection
- Motion zones
- Up to 60 days of cloud storage per clip
- Best Alexa skill
- Compatible with Google Assistant
- Works with IFTTT
- Neighborhood crime alerts available with free Ring Neighbors app
It’s an impressive set of features for a camera under $60. Are there any “cons” to balance the perks? One possible shortcoming is the lack of backup battery power. Another is the lack of digital zoom. However, with its wide viewing field and crisp resolution 24/7, the Ring Indoor Cam can still capture lots of valuable footage as long as it’s powered. If power is cut, a snapshot of the last view will be sent to your account.
>> Another affordable camera option: Defender Security Cameras
Paid Plans with Ring
As mentioned above, you can use Ring security cameras without monthly fees. To get more from the devices though, choose a Protect Basic or Protect Plus plan. These contract-free plans can be month-to-month and are even more affordable when you pay for a year upfront. Each is offered with a free 30-day trial and includes lifetime camera theft protection too.
Ring Protect Basic – Ring Protect Basic lets you record motion-triggered clips. With Ring Protect Basic, you can save your footage for up to 180 days. The plan costs $4.99 per camera per month, or $49.99 when you pay annually.
Ring Protect Plus – Ring Protect Plus expands the cloud coverage of Ring Protect from one camera to all cameras installed at the same address. It’s a great deal if you have more than one Ring camera.
All in all, Ring is a flexible and affordable solution for DIY or professional camera monitoring. Cloud storage and professional monitoring are contract-free and available without a credit check. Ring home security cameras are under warranty for one year from the date of purchase. Extended warranties are activated with paid service.
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3. Nest - Most Affordable Google Security Camera
Product Specs
Resolution Up to 1080p with HDR Field of View Up to 130° Power Wired, battery Connectivity Wi-Fi Video Storage Cloud Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home You’re probably used to seeing expensive security cameras from Nest, but that’s a thing of the past now. Nest’s newer generation cameras still offer top-quality features without the expensive price tag attached to their predecessors.
Google Nest Cam The cheapest indoor camera ever developed by Google Nest is the Nest Cam (indoor). It costs $99.99, which we know is expensive compared to other cameras on this list, but wait until you see what it offers.
It has a 1080p HD resolution improved by HDR, an excellent night vision, person detection, and a sound quality better than most security cameras on the market.
For another $80, you can upgrade to the Nest Cam (battery). For $179.99, this camera takes the Nest Cam Indoor’s features outdoors. The Nest Cam Battery is weatherproof, plus it’s powered by a battery, so you can use it wire-free.
Paid cloud storage is optional month-to-month. All Nest cameras send free smartphone alerts when triggered by motion. Also, they save snapshots of the event and send them to the cloud for three hours.
Google Nest Indoor Cam Features
- 10-ft USB power cord
- 130° field of view
- High-quality night vision with 8 LEDs
- Two-way audio
- Motion detection
- Motion zones
- Google Assistant integration
- Up to 30 days of cloud storage per clip
- Works with IFTTT and Google Home
Monitoring Plans
If you need more cloud storage, or to unlock features like facial recognition, you can go for Nest Aware, a $6 monthly cost. This plan provides 30 days of cloud storage for all your Nest cameras. This cloud plan stores videos recorded automatically when the cameras detect motion or loud sound.
Moreover, you can expand your cameras’ event storage to 60 days, plus get 10 days of continuous recording. This plan, Nest Aware Plus, costs $12 per month or $120 per year.
Simple DIY Installation
For easy installation Nest indoor cameras plugin and run over home Wi-Fi. You can simply connect the wireless app, set your camera on a shelf, and consider it installed! For the best security though, take about ten minutes to secure the camera with screws. It can easily attach to a wall, ceiling, or other flat surfaces.
Nest camera purchase includes a two-year warranty and a 30-day free trial.
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4. Arlo - Best Value DIY Security Camera
Product Specs
Resolution Up to 4K HD Field of View Up to 180° Power Wired, battery, solar, PoE Connectivity Wi-Fi, ethernet Video Storage Cloud Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home Arlo Technologies is a wireless camera company focused on DIY security. This Silicon Valley brand is very well-established; it’s traded as ARLO on the NYSE and about three million households have registered their cameras. With Arlo, you’ll get the best value DIY security cameras in terms of equipment price, quality, and cost for daily use. The selection is diverse and each cam has an impressive suite of features. You’ll get two-way audio, crisp resolution in any light, activity zones, and many more features. The portable Arlo Baby cam can even play lullabies and monitor air quality.
Arlo Pro 5S 2k Prices for Arlo indoor-only cameras start at $99.99 for the Arlo Essential. Cloud plans start off free, with options to upgrade to up to $14.99 with cloud and artificial intelligence features.
Free vs Paid Arlo Monitoring
With free or paid service, Arlo Essential and all other Arlo cameras will send you alerts about sound and motion. Also for free, all motion-triggered and sound-triggered clips will be saved to the cloud for seven days. Unlike with cheaper security cameras from Wyze and Blink, new recordings won’t delete older footage.
Starting at $2.99 per month, Arlo storage time is expanded to 30 days. Even better, you can record continuously to the cloud for $14.00 a month. Some Arlo cameras connect to a base station for continuous recording as well.
The top-tier $14.99 Arlo plan activates an e911 button within the Arlo mobile app. This button accompanies smartphone alerts about camera activity and is available when you’re viewing live footage.
Arlo Q Features
- 1080p resolution
- 130° field of view
- Motion zones (Set up to three)
- Infrared night vision
- Two-way audio
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Works with IFTTT
- Local storage (Data cards sold separately)
- Free cloud storage
Installing an Arlo Essential takes about 10 minutes. You’ll connect a mobile app, attach the magnetic camera base to a flat surface, and snap the camera into place.
Arlo Q cameras carry a one-year warranty and have a money-back guarantee. For $99.99, they’re the best value in DIY home video surveillance.
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5. Blink Camera - Most Affordable Outdoor Security Camera
Product Specs
Resolution Up to 1080p Field of View Up to 110° Power Battery Connectivity Wi-Fi Video Storage Cloud Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa Blink, an Amazon-owned company, is a discount security camera company focused on feature-rich but affordable cameras. It has a mix of indoor and outdoor cameras, video doorbells, and camera accessories like solar mounts and floodlight mounts.
Blink Outdoor 4 Camera By far the most expensive camera on Blink’s lineup is the Blink Outdoor, priced $99.99. That’s an incredibly affordable price for an outdoor camera, given that the industry average is around $150.
Blink Outdoor isn’t your regular outdoor camera either. It’s wire-free, meaning, it runs off of battery power that, according to Blink, can last up to two years on a single charge. The more you use the camera’s two-way voice feature, live streaming, and motion recording, however, the faster the batteries will drain.
This affordable outdoor camera has an IP65 enclosure, which means it’s dust-tight and is safe against water splashes. Other features include:
- Long-lasting lithium batteries for indoor/outdoor use
- Optional USB power for indoor use only (Not weatherproof)
- 1080p resolution
- 110° field of view
- Infrared night vision
- Motion sensor
- Motion zones
- Two-way voice
- Temperature sensor
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa
- Free cloud storage
The Blink Alexa skill lets you arm and disarm the Blink Outdoor via an Amazon Echo speaker. It also lets Alexa send video to Amazon Echo screens.
Overall, Blink Outdoor can be a best value for DIY outdoor video security. You’ll get 1080p resolution by day, infrared night vision, and other features found on higher-priced cameras. However, it lacks free cloud storage. Rather, you’ll need to pay $3 per month to record motion events from one camera for 60 days, or $10 per month for the same amount of storage for unlimited cameras.
Are Affordable Cameras Reliable?
Wyze, Ring, Nest, Arlo, and Blink offer some of the most affordable cameras in the market today, and the truth is, they are also some of the best security camera brands. So yes, they are reliable despite their lower price.
Securing your home doesn’t need to be expensive, so if you’re on a budget, check out the brands we mentioned above.