Lorex Security Camera Cost and Pricing

Lorex made a name for itself with its incredibly tough and high-tech commercial security cameras, but it’s more than just a security camera brand for businesses. Even Lorex’s residential line is booming with lots of good options, but that can be a double-edged sword. Having tons of options is good. You have greater chances of finding a security camera that works for your home setup. However, with hundreds of choices available, it can be difficult to sift through everything Lorex offers.

That’s where we come in. With lots of first-hand experience buying, setting up, using, and testing Lorex cameras, we can help you find the right Lorex products for your budget.

Package pricing

Equipment Options: Cost, Features & Installation

In our experience, deciding where to start is the toughest part of unweaving the Lorex web. Lorex has a wide selection of different security cameras, DVRs, NVRs and accessories.

We recommend starting by checking out Lorex cameras based on their categories. The most common types of Lorex cameras are analog cameras with DVRs, digital IP cameras with NVRs, Wi-Fi cameras, and wire-free cameras. You’ll also find a few that are hybrid, meaning, they fall into two or more of those categories.

*Some features, like remote live streaming and push notifications, require an internet connection.
**Not all models support these features. Check the specific camera models before making any purchase.

In addition to those categories, Lorex also offers security camera bundles under the Fusion collection. These bundles include a specialized NVR with channels both for digital IP cameras and Wi-Fi cameras, allowing you to combine the reliability of the former and the smarter features of the latter in your home. We’ll also discuss Lorex’s pricing on Fusion products in this review.

Analog Cameras

Analog cameras are about as old-school as Walkman and Betamax, but that doesn’t mean they’re no longer relevant. Analog cameras from Lorex record analog videos and transfer them to a recorder via coaxial cables. The recorder is a DVR, and here’s the modern twist: The DVR processes the analog videos to make them digital and readable using modern computers. If there’s footage you want to keep, you can transfer it to your computer or even upload it to your personal cloud storage.

Additionally, Lorex DVRs are specifically designed to seamlessly integrate with modern smart home security systems. With some DVR models, you can conveniently view live videos on your smartphone and connect cameras with Alexa or Google Assistant. Lorex has successfully bridged the gap between traditional analog cameras and modern technology.

In total, Lorex offers a whopping selection of over 50 analog camera systems. These systems include a wide range of components with varying resolutions from 1080p HD to 4K, different camera types like pan-and-tilt and fixed-angle, and models suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Here are some examples:

Digital IP Cameras

Digital IP cameras are more modern than analog cameras. They use either Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi to transmit audio and video, and because of that, digital IP camera systems are more scalable. You can easily find digital IP systems that can support up to 16 cameras with just one DVR, whereas with analog systems, the limit is often eight cameras.

On top of that, digital IP cameras are easier to set up, especially the ones that support Wi-Fi or Power over Ethernet (PoE) connections. Both types of IP cameras require only one cable. For Wi-Fi cameras, only a power cable is needed since it connects wirelessly to the DVR. For PoE cameras, a single ethernet cable both supplies power to the camera and paves the way for video transmission.

One downside of digital cameras is they are prone to hacking. The same can be said about any camera that connects to the internet, but IP cameras are particularly susceptible because they stream data via the Internet Protocol (IP) that doesn’t provide much security beyond password protection for your account. That’s why we recommend changing your camera’s default password, and use a strong one!

Another downside of IP cameras? The cost. Digital IP cameras are typically pricier than analog ones. So even though digital IP cameras support larger ecosystems, we suggest keeping the system small to save money.

Wire-free Cameras

Wire-free cameras are digital IP cameras with NVRs, but as the name suggests, there are no wires involved. That means they transmit videos to the NVR wirelessly and draw power from their batteries; no outlets needed! If you’re like us who’d rather not deal with wires, Lorex’s wire-free cameras are an option.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that wire-free cameras need battery changes every so often, although some can be recharged. Either way, you’ll need to set aside time to make sure each camera has enough battery power. Usually, wire-free Lorex cameras can run for about six months on a full battery.

Wi-Fi Cameras

Wi-Fi cameras from Lorex are the odd ones out. They don’t connect to a recorder; instead, they stream directly to your smartphone and store footage locally to an on-board memory card. This approach is beneficial if you’d rather avoid the tedious setup process of analog and digital IP cameras. Wi-Fi cameras connect to your Wi-Fi router, thus they are wireless, but they still need to be plugged into a wall outlet.

This type of security camera is much more similar to the ones we see from brands like Nest Cam and Ring. You can read our Ring camera review for an overview. Wi-Fi cameras are flexible since you can manage each camera independently rather than as part of a camera system. That being said, we don’t recommend Wi-Fi cameras if you’re looking to buy a bunch. Each camera will need to connect to your Wi-Fi router, and having six or more of these Wi-Fi cameras can crowd your network and cause it to slow down.

Fusion Collection

As briefly mentioned earlier, Fusion bundles support both wired digital IP cameras and Wi-Fi cameras in one security camera system. As the Wi-Fi cameras offer the most advanced features, they take Lorex’s IP camera systems to the next level when used with Fusion bundles. Here are a few examples to choose from.

Fusion bundles are the most flexible, and since they use both digital IP cameras and Wi-Fi cameras, you can easily build a system to cover your entire property. For instance, you might find it easier to install Wi-Fi cameras outdoors and wired IP cameras indoors. With Fusion bundles, you can do just that.

Installation Cost

Most security camera brands these days don’t require professional installation, and the same is true with Lorex. Lorex will ship your new cameras to you, and then you’ll install them yourself.

Of course, there’s the question of whether you can install the system yourself or not. Even we experienced hiccups while installing Lorex, and we have decades of experience with security cameras.

If you’re more comfortable having trained technicians do the job, Lorex partnered with InstallerNet, a third-party home installation service. InstallerNet has a nationwide network of technicians qualified and trained to install Lorex systems. And while Lorex doesn’t provide pricing, we find that the average installation service costs about $100.

Monthly Fees and Monitoring Costs

One of the great things about Lorex is that there are no mandatory monthly fees. Since most of Lorex’s cameras record to a DVR or NVR locally, you don’t need a cloud subscription, which is what most camera brands charge for monthly.
That said, some cameras, especially Wi-Fi cameras, have the option to backup footage in the cloud for a fee. The fee depends on the exact camera model, but it’s usually less than $10 per month for 30 days of cloud storage for several cameras. It’s not as inexpensive as Ring’s $10 per month 60-day storage for unlimited cameras, but it’s also not bad.

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Other Integrations

Whenever we review a security system, we always stack its value not only based on its built-in features but also based on how well it works with the smart home products in our lives. Although the specific system we ordered didn’t have any smart home integrations, we’ve found that some newer DVR/NVR and camera models work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple TVs, and Google Chromecasts.1

The Alexa and Google Assistant integrations make it possible to control Lorex using your voice. You could ask Alexa or Google Assistant to show you live feed from cameras on a smart speaker with a screen, like the Amazon Echo Show for Alexa or Google Nest Hub for Google Assistant. On the other hand, the Apple TV and Chromecast integrations provide a way to check real-time feeds on a bigger screen. If you own any of these smart home products, aim for Lorex systems that advertise smart home voice control and smart TV integrations.

Is Lorex Better Than Its Competitors?

We also want to show how Lorex compares to other brands and to industry standards. By doing so, we aim to help you see its real value to your home security.

What stood out the most for us about Lorex was the number of options it offered. Some security camera companies like Canary and Ring only offer a handful of equipment selections, but Lorex provided us multitudes of choices. We admit that choosing was intimidating at first, but once we figured out what we wanted and needed, we were able to narrow down our options.

When it came to features, it was clear that Lorex isn’t your run-of-the-mill security camera brand. It offered features we don’t commonly see such as 4K video quality, smart motion detection a.k.a. person detection, and continuous recording. Most brands that offer such features (Arlo, for example) charge a monthly fee.

Of course, we also experienced setbacks like with wire management and limited app features. Those weren’t deal-breakers for us, but we thought you should know before spending hundreds of dollars on a security camera system.

Summary: What We Liked Most About Lorex

To sum things up, we think it’s only right to tell you what we felt were Lorex’s strongest points. If these are what you’re looking for in a security camera system, then Lorex might be the right one for you.

Professional-grade equipment

In our hands, Lorex cameras didn’t feel cheap. The cameras were made of metal instead of cheap plastic that we commonly see in security cameras today. Most of the outdoor models were also rated at least IP66 (safe from dust and water jets) and IK10 (vandal-proof).

No monthly fees

No matter how many Lorex cameras we used, we weren’t asked to pay a monthly fee. This is especially beneficial if you have a large property as other camera brands charge a higher monthly fee as you expand your system.

24/7 continuous recording

Except when we told it to stop, Lorex recorded 24/7. It captured every moment, so we rested easy knowing that we’ll have hard evidence in case of a break-in. We know that recordings are crucial in helping law enforcement solve crimes!

Crisp and clear videos

The video quality is always important to us, so we were glad to see Lorex deliver high-quality images all the time. Our system consisted of 1080p cameras or higher that captured and streamed crisp and clear videos with infrared and color night vision.

Advanced, High-Tech Features

Although Lorex still sells analog security cameras, which are quite outdated now, it manages to keep its cameras relevant by adding modern, high-tech features that rival that of newer brands. Our Lorex system offered smart detection and remote app viewing, while more advanced models even have voice assistant and smart TV integrations.

Our Final Thoughts

When we reviewed Lorex, it showed us how professional-grade, high-end surveillance systems fit in a residential setting. We felt protected and secured, and not only because we had eyes watching our home 24/7, but because Lorex is a trustworthy brand.

That said, Lorex isn’t for everybody. Since the brand is camera-centric, it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a whole-home security system with sensors and automation features. With Lorex, you’ll have to self-monitor as well.

If you’re after a more traditional home security approach with professional monitoring, check out our list of the best home security systems. However, if you’re looking for a security camera — or rather, a camera system — to supplement your existing home security, Lorex is definitely worth considering.