The Best Wireless Security Cameras of 2023
Wireless cameras make for easy installation, and some of them even have rechargeable batteries.


- With local video storage means no monthly subscription costs
- Multiple wireless models available
- With no wires to worry about, place cameras anywhere
- Battery lasts up to a full year
- No cables or wires means quick, easy installation
- Includes full audio recording capabilities

- Solar-powered version available
- Connects wirelessly to smart home devices like thermostats and door locks
- Works even if the power goes out
A lot of people like wireless cameras for the same reason we like anything wireless — they’re easy to set up, convenient to use, and they deliver advanced features.
However, that freedom and convenience come with a price, as wireless cameras can be less stable and reliable than their wired counterparts. For example, wireless cameras that use Wi-Fi can face problems with signal interference, and wire-free cameras that are completely untethered and run on batteries might require frequent recharging.
That’s why, if you want to enjoy the benefits of wireless cameras, be sure to choose only the best in the market. While they are not perfect, the best security cameras can deliver unmatched wireless experience without the unreliability of less ideal options.
So if wireless security gadgets are your thing — or rather, if wiring security gadgets is NOT your thing — keep reading for the best wireless cameras on the market today.
Best Wireless Cameras: What We Tested For
First, here’s a quick specs overview of the best wireless security cameras we reviewed.
Battery life | 3-24 months |
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Video quality | 1080p HD-2K HD |
Viewing angle | 110-140 degrees |
Smart platform integrations | Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri |
Best Wireless Security Cameras
- Lorex - Best for Night Vision
- eufyCam E - Best for Local Storage
- Ring Spotlight Cam Battery - Best Outdoor Wireless Camera
- Arlo Pro 4 - Best for Video
- Ring Stick Up Cam Battery - Best Wireless Camera with Alexa
The Best Wireless Home Security Cameras of 2023
System |
Lorex
|
eufyCam E
|
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery
|
Arlo Pro 4
|
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
|
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Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
Ratings | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 |
Prices | $49.99 - $169.99 | $119.99 for add-on camera | $199.99 | $199 | $100 |
Indoor/ Outdoor | Both | Both | Both | Both | Both |
Video quality | 1080p HD - 4K HDR | 1080p HD | 1080p HD | 2K with HDR | 1080p HD |
Field of view in degrees | 114 - 125 depending on model | 130 | 110 | 160 | 110 |
Night Vision | Color and Infrared depending on model | Infrared | Color and infrared | Color and infrared | Infrared |
Two-way Audio? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Local Storage | 16 - 32 GB micro-SD card depending on model | 16 GB micro-SD card | No | Flash drive inserted into the Arlo SmartHub | No |
Cloud Storage | 2 days free | Paid options of 30 or 60 days | Paid options for 60 days | Paid options for 30 days | Paid options for 60 days |
Smart Platform Integration | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit | Alexa, Google Assistant |
Artificial Intelligence | Person detection | No | No | Optional package and person detection | No |
Extras | Monitoring zones, Smart deterrence | n/a | Spotlight, siren, activity zones | Siren, spotlight | Privacy zones, can disable motion recording, alerts and audio. |
Battery Life | 6-9 months | 12 months | 3-6 months | 6-12 months | 6-12 months |
Read Review | Lorex Review | eufyCam E Review | Ring Spotlight Cam Battery Review | Arlo Pro 4 Review | Ring Stick Up Cam Battery Review |
A Detailed List of the Best Wireless Cameras
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1. Lorex - Best for Night Vision
Pros and Cons:
What We Like:
- Plenty of options
- Up to 4K HD resolution
- No monthly fees required
- Rugged hardware
What We Don’t Like
- Security camera options can be confusing
- Not the most “stylish” in terms of design
- Not all models support cloud backup
- Not all models support smart home integrations with Alexa or Google Assistant
High-Quality Equipment
Lorex has a vast selection of high-quality security cameras, and while not all of them are wireless, you’ll find a rich catalog of Wi-Fi and battery-powered cameras from this brand. We especially liked Lorex because it offers features beyond what most wireless cameras provide. For example, there are wireless Lorex cameras with up to 4K HD resolution and color night vision aided by built-in smart lights. Those are particularly handy in an outdoor setting, as you need outdoor cameras that can capture great detail day or night.
Lorex security cameras are also tough. We’re talking about water-proof, dust-proof cameras that can operate in the coldest of winters and hottest of summers. Plus, there’s no need to worry about your video recordings getting corrupted. Most Lorex cameras transmit videos to a DVR or NVR, so your footage is stored safely inside while your cameras brave the elements.
No Monthly Fees
The local DVR or NVR recording of Lorex is one aspect we really like because aside from keeping your recordings safely indoors, they keep the usage cost down. Without need for a cloud subscription, Lorex doesn’t require monthly fees.
Now, you will have to be mindful of where you place your DVR relative to your wireless cameras. Be careful not to place your DVR and cameras too far apart, as that may affect their wireless synchronization, but if you install Lorex right, you’ll have a reliable system that can record 24/7 weeks at a time. In our experience a 1 TB DVR can store up to two weeks of rolling videos from four 1080p HD cameras. That’s more than enough for us, but if you need more, Lorex DVRs can accommodate additional storage through disk drives.
Smart Home Integration
Smart home integration isn’t Lorex’s strong suit, but some of its cameras, especially the wireless ones, can connect with Alexa and Google Assistant. With that, you can tell your cameras to arm or disarm through a smart speaker, or even livestream footage through a smart display.
If you’re looking for Alexa or Google Assistant-integrated Lorex cameras, we suggest looking for DVR and NVR systems labeled to work with either or both voice assistants. Otherwise, go with a Wi-Fi or wireless camera, as they most commonly support integrations.
Here’s a sampler of Lorex wireless cameras and their costs:
Lorex Camera Price Lorex 2K Indoor Wi-Fi $49.99 Smart Indoor/Outdoor 1080p Wi-Fi with Smart Deterrence $79.99 Lorex 2K Spotlight $169.99 Lorex 1080p Wi-Fi Floodlight $179.99 Lorex 4K Spotlight Indoor/Outdoor Wi-Fi 6 $229.99 -
2. eufyCam E - Best for Local Storage
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Water-resistant design
- Infrared night vision
- Alexa integration
- Battery life
What We Don’t Like
- Needs eufy HomeBase
- No free cloud storage
- No Google Assistant integration
- Lack of zoom
eufyCam E Wireless Local Storage
Eufy takes a page from Lorex when it comes to local storage, but rather than a boxy DVR or NVR, the eufyCam E uses a stylish base station. The eufyCam E is a wire-free camera – it runs on batteries and connects wirelessly to the base station. It uses a wireless standard that requires less power than Wi-Fi, giving it extended battery life.
Another aspect we liked about the eufyCam E and its base station was the easy setup process. We plugged in the base unit, connected it to Wi-Fi, set up the Eufy Security app, and then paired the camera. It took us less than 20 minutes to set up this battery-powered camera, and after running a firmware upgrade, it was up and ready to protect our front door.
Discounted Packages Available
If you’re looking to put up multiple eufyCam E cameras, you can save by buying multi-camera packs. One HomeBase can accommodate up to four cameras, and there are discounted options if you buy more than one eufyCam E.
Note: The eufyCam E requires a HomeBase, although add-on cameras are also available if you already have one.
It’s also relatively easy to buy and add more cameras as you see fit. Eufy offers add-on cameras and base stations, with deep discounts for existing customers. Plus, around special holidays and during sale events like Black Friday, you can expect lots of discounts and freebies from Eufy.
Two-Way Audio
This may sound hard to believe, but lots of wire-free cameras don’t have audio. That’s likely because they want to save battery power, but it’s just not the same when your security camera footage is lacking sound.
The eufyCam E makes sure you get audio with your video, and on top of that, you can speak through your camera using two-way audio. With this feature, you can yell at trespassers to shoo them away, or greet guests as they approach your front door. You can also use two-way audio to instruct delivery drivers when leaving packages at your door.
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3. Ring Spotlight Cam Battery - Best Outdoor Wireless Camera
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Siren and spotlight
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Color and infrared night vision
- Works in temperatures from -5 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Don’t Like
- No local storage
- No artificial intelligence
- No free cloud storage
- No person detection
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery Security by Lights
Making sure your home is safe requires a concerted effort from you and a dozen other devices. With the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery, you hit two birds with one stone. It is, of course, a security camera that can alert you to movement, stream live video, and record important clips. It’s also a spotlight. Coupled with the camera’s built-in motion sensor, the spotlight turns on automatically when it detects movement. That’s a great way to scare away would-be intruders.
The spotlight serves another purpose. Most security cameras use Infrared night vision to see at night. While effective and discreet, this turns your footage into black-and-white, which not everybody likes. If you prefer color night vision, the spotlight can illuminate the Ring camera’ surroundings at night, giving it 24/7 color video.
Solar Option
Battery-powered cameras are convenient, except of course when it’s time to recharge or replace their batteries. Depending on how much you use your Spotlight Cam Battery, you could be doing that every couple of months to every six months.
Ring made it a little easier by making the batteries rechargeable so you don’t have to buy new batteries every time, but if you’d rather not recharge the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery at all, there’s another option: A solar panel.
You can purchase a solar panel from Ring and keep the battery charged all-year long. Ring’s solar panels aren’t over-the-top expensive. You can get one for $60 if you purchase it separately, but if you buy the solar panel and the camera together, the panel costs only $30. Check out Ring’s pricing to learn more.
Rechargeable Battery
On the bright side of Ring’s battery-powered Spotlight Cam, the built-in batteries are rechargeable. While that means having to take down the camera every once in a while to recharge, you won’t need to purchase batteries everytime it runs out of juice.
We recommend buying a second battery pack for the Ring Spotlight Cam, though. Since the battery takes time to charge (about a few hours), you can use a backup battery pack to keep the camera always powered. Just make sure to keep the spare fully charged.
You can even purchase a solar panel and charge the camera continuously. By doing so, you can make sure the camera always has enough juice without having to go up and down a ladder to recharge the camera’s battery pack.
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery accessories Price Charging Station $29.90 Quick Release Battery Pack $34.99 Solar Panel $59.99 Charging Station + 2 Battery Packs $89.99 GO GREEN: If you’re using the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery outdoors, we recommend adding the solar panel so it’ll charge continuously. You’ll never have to recharge the battery again!
LifeTime Theft Protection
We’d also like to just throw it out there that Ring cameras come with Lifetime Theft Protection. This means if your camera ever gets stolen, Ring will replace it for you for free.
That is especially great for wireless cameras, as their wireless setup often makes them easier to steal. With Ring’s theft protection guarantee, you’re not just ensuring your home’s safety from burglars, but also your camera’s safety from theft.
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4. Arlo Pro 4 - Best for Video
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- High-quality video
- Color and infrared night vision
- Smart platform integrations
- Works indoors and outdoors
What We Don’t Like
- No free person detection
- Relatively short battery life
- Needs Arlo hub
- No free cloud storage
2K HDR Video
The Arlo Pro 4 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Arlo Pro 3, in terms of video quality. It records in high-definition 2560p resolution, which is higher than the industry standard 1080p. Plus, the Arlo Pro 4 has HDR or high-dynamic range, which is an effective feature to keep outdoor videos glare-free.
Night Vision Options
Due to the camera’s spotlight, our night vision was in color, although when we wanted to be less conspicuous, we opted to turn the spotlight off and depend on the infrared LED sensors. Either way, we could see clearly at night, whether it was in full color to greet our friends or in black and white to give directions to the takeout delivery men.
Tip: While we appreciate a spotlight, they can also make cameras very conspicuous, which may not be the best for home’s security. We recommend only using the spotlight when you’re speaking to visiting friends and family rather than having it on all the time.
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Watch
There were a bunch of ways to control the Arlo Pro 4 aside from using the Arlo app. If we were feeling particularly lazy, we did voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant, pretty common integrations when it comes to smart security cameras. However, Arlo took it a step further than most. It also worked with our Apple Watch, so whenever the Arlo Pro 4 detected motion, we got alerted and could even speak through the camera right from our wrist. And during our three month trial of Arlo Smart Home, we made it so we only got alerts when the camera detected people or packages, making for less checking of our Apple Watch throughout the day.
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5. Ring Stick Up Cam Battery - Best Wireless Camera with Alexa
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Privacy features
- Video quality
- Two-way audio with noise cancellation
What We Don’t Like
- 110-degree field of view
- Storage
- No person detection
- Ring’s history of security breaches
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery Smart Platform Integrations
Amazon owns Ring, so it’s not exactly shocking that the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery works with Alexa, their voice assistant. Using Alexa, we had our footage shown on our Echo Show 8 along with our Fire TV, even speaking through the devices. Whenever our Stick Up Cam detected movement, Alexa let us know along with our app notification. But the Stick Up Cam also works with Google Assistant, for those in the Google smart home ecosystem, as well as a bunch of other connected devices from brands like Dome and Geolink. All in all, we love how seamlessly the Stick Up Cam Battery fits into our larger smart home.
Privacy
If you’ve turned on the news in the past few years, then you’ve probably noticed that Ring has its fair share of security breaches, and they can be downright creepy. Fortunately, Ring has created a couple of privacy features in response that definitely made us feel better about the whole situation. For example, with privacy zones, we could block our bathroom from the camera’s vision so it wouldn’t detect any motion within the area. On top of that, we also had the ability to completely disable motion recording, audio and alerts, which was really good for those private nights at home watching movies. While Ring certainly has a long way to go to gain back customers’ trust, this is a step in the right direction.
Two-Way Audio with Noise Cancellation
Two-way audio is a feature we’ve come to expect from smart security cameras, but Ring takes it a step further with noise cancellation. When we used the Stick Up Cam Battery outside, we noticed that when talking to our visitors, we couldn’t hear the background traffic noise as much, making for more distinct and easy to understand audio. In New York City, there’s always something going on in the background, so we loved that the Stick Up Cam Battery had that in mind when it came to audio.
Video Review
Did you know that Security.org is on Youtube? Watch our video review of the best wireless cameras to see their footage during the day as well as at night.
Wireless Camera Methodology
When it comes to reviewing wireless cameras, we like to combine technical specifications along with our experience installing and testing the cameras to judge it in terms of its video, audio, night vision, storage, smart platform integrations, convenience, and overall value.
We prefer cameras with 1080p HD video, the ability to zoom in optically, fields of view of 120 degrees or wider, two-way audio, infrared night vision, free cloud and local storage, person detection, integrations with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, simple installation and a low price. We also look at each camera’s app to make sure that it’s user-friendly and has high ratings from either the Apple or the Google Play stores, depending on what kind of mobile device you have.
For wireless cameras, in particular, we’re looking for long battery lives and easy installation especially. Most battery-powered cameras can last anywhere from three to six months without needing a recharge or replacement, although we’ve also tested out options that worked for one to two years. Some companies offer solar panels with the cameras, which allow them to be charged continuously. If you’re using the camera outdoors, there’s no reason not to use the solar panel, as you’ll never have to take the camera down to recharge or replace its battery, but if not, we recommend getting a second battery pack so the camera can stay on all the time.
If it’s an outdoor camera, we want it to be completely dust-tight and able to handle water jets at the very least. It should also have a temperature range that works for your climate. You should always look at the camera’s IP rating to determine whether it will work for your outdoor conditions.
IP Ratings | Solids | Liquids |
---|---|---|
0 | Not Protected | None |
1 | A large body surface like the back of a hand, but no intentional contact with a body part | Dripping water falling vertically |
2 | Fingers or similar objects | Dripping water falling from 15 degree tilt |
3 | Tools, thick wires, etc. | Spraying water |
4 | Most wires, screws, etc. | Splashing water |
5 | Dust protected | Water jets 6.3mm & below |
6 | Dust tight | Powerful water jets 12.5mm & below |
7 | N/A | Immersion up to 1m |
8 | N/A | Immersion over 1m |
In addition to that, we prefer cameras with artificial intelligence, which usually comes in the form of person detection or, with more advanced devices, facial recognition. Person detection means that we didn’t just get notified whenever the camera detected motion. Rather, we got notified only when it detected a person, which made for fewer but more important notifications. Cameras like the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor also have the option for facial recognition, which meant that we could name our friends and family in the Nest app. However, note that this camera is plug-in, and none of the wireless cameras on this list have person detection or facial recognition.
Finally, for someone looking for additional security, we appreciate companies that offer 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup, especially useful for someone with a larger home security system. Professional monitoring can cost anywhere from $10 to $60 a month and usually encompasses the cost of cellular backup, which keeps the system connected to the app and monitoring center in case of a power outage. To explore our favorite tried and tested options, check out our list of each best home security system of 2023.
FAQs about Wireless Security Cameras
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What is the best wireless outdoor security camera?
The best wireless outdoor security cameras are from the brands Lorex, eufy, Ring, and Arlo. Lorex has the widest selection, eufy has the cheapest options, Ring has the best Alexa integrations, and Arlo has the smartest features.
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Do you need WiFi for wireless security cameras?
Some but not all wireless security cameras require WiFi. For example, the eufyCam E can record directly to its 16 GB micro-SD card, which doesn’t require WiFi, although the user won’t be able to livestream the footage or receive notifications. Most cameras that have a corresponding app require WiFi.
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Is there a wireless security camera system?
There are many wireless security camera systems to choose from. Eufy, for example, offers systems of two or three camera kits, while Ring also offers packages for the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery and the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery.
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How do wireless security cameras get power?
Wireless security cameras either get power through a battery or a solar panel.
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How long do wireless security camera batteries last?
Wireless security cameras’ batteries can last anywhere from three months up to a year, depending on the make and model.