Editor’s Note: Not all security systems need Wi-Fi. If you’ve got an unreliable network, we recommend getting a wired security system that comes with all the essentials to keep your home safe.
- Wi-Fi plays a big role in video monitoring, but there are security cameras that don’t need Wi-Fi.
- Local storage is the key; store videos into a microSD card or local recorder and play them back on your computer.
- Want live video streaming without Wi-Fi? Arlo Go is the solution. Read our Arlo review for more.
We’ve all experienced the Wi-Fi dropping out. Sometimes it’s at the worst possible time, like during a big reveal on a TV show. But the last thing you want is for your security cameras to stop recording because they can’t connect to the internet. Fortunately, there are alternatives available that don’t rely on spotty networks.
The most obvious is hardwired cameras. But we’re not just talking about them. We’ve tested security cameras that can connect to cellular signals and others that record locally instead of relying on cloud technology. You’ll even find some suggestions on the best security cameras that don’t need Wi-Fi. Here’s everything you need to know.
Pro Tip: No Wi-Fi? No problem. Lorex security cameras can record every second of every day, online and offline. Read our Lorex review to see how you can turn your Wi-Fi-free space into a secure fortress.
Can Security Cameras Function Normally Without Wi-Fi?
The short answer is yes. But you need to be clear about your needs. For example, if you want to stream live video and receive real-time alerts, you should invest in security cameras that connect to cellular networks. Keep in mind this requires a data plan. But if storing footage is more important, you’ll need cameras that can save files locally. This also means you’ll have to buy a microSD card or DVR recorder. If this sounds like what you’ve been looking for, here are some security cameras to consider.
Cellular Signal-Ready Security Cameras
Some cameras bypass the use of Wi-Fi by connecting to the internet using 4G/LTE or 5G cellular signals, which are what your phone uses to connect to the internet. These cameras essentially function the same as Wi-Fi cameras. They can livestream, send live alerts to your phone, and send video to the cloud for storage.
As with everything involving cell signals, you have to pay to be on the network. Price is definitely prohibitive when it comes to these cameras and there aren’t a lot out there. We’ve tested Arlo Go and Reolink Go – outdoor cameras that cost over $200. That’s before paying for the data plan. Don’t expect to find them in our list of the most affordable cameras anytime soon. To be clear, outdoor security cameras typically cost between $100 and $200.
Still, let’s take a closer look at Arlo Go and Reolink Go.
- Arlo Go: Arlo was first-to-market with a cellular-ready security camera. Most of the Arlo cameras we test connect to Wi-Fi, but their Arlo Go lineup is fully-cellular. To use it, you’ll need to buy the camera itself and a compatible SIM card with a cellular plan. Arlo partnered with third-party mobile providers for the plan. Feature-wise, it can record to the cloud. It can also send notifications, livestream videos, and connect to the Arlo app for convenient monitoring.
- Reolink Go: After reviewing Wi-Fi cameras like the Reolink Argus 2, we tested out the Reolink Go, which also requires either a 3G or 4G LTE plan, a micro-SIM card, and a cellular data plan. Footage recorded directly onto a 64 GB micro-SD card, and cloud storage was an option as well. The Reolink Go is wireless and works with Reolink’s mobile application, so you can get notifications from motion detection along with live views.
The hardware cost can already stretch your budget, but there are on-going usage costs too. You’d need cloud storage and a data plan to use both cellular-ready security cameras. With the Arlo Go 2, we had to pay T-Mobile $2 per month for a 1 GB data plan and Arlo $7.99 per month for cloud storage. That’s $10 per month total for one camera.
The good news is you get to save on the cloud plan if you’re buying two or more cameras. Arlo offers a cloud storage plan for unlimited cameras for $12.99 per month, so you don’t have to pay $7.99 per camera if you have multiple. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to the data plan. That one is on a per-device basis.
Another thing to consider is the data usage limit. Carriers that offer data plans for the Arlo Go 2 typically provide 1 GB of data per month. The camera records and streams in 1080p. With a 1 GB data plan, you’ll be able to stream for only about two hours straight. Not to mention, if you buy a cloud subscription, the same data plan will be used to send recordings to the cloud.
You can buy additional data to ensure all recordings will be uploaded, but that further increases your usage cost. If you value video recording but want a more practical option, the second type of Wi-Fi-less cameras might be more suited for you.
With limited data, your options are to buy more data (which increases the usage cost) or limit your live streaming. If you can live with quick check-ins, which is doable, a security camera with a data plan will work for you. Just make sure you set smart detection features (e.g. person detection, pet detection) to limit false alarms and cut the data usage for cloud recording. Fortunately, Arlo Go 2 and Reolink Go both offer those.
Note: Both the Arlo Go and the Reolink Go require cellular data plans for remote control, remote viewing, and notifications.
Security Cameras With Local Video Storage
As we touched on earlier, the costs start to add up when you factor in equipment, data plans, and cloud storage. Another alternative is getting security cameras that store videos locally. One of the benefits is it means you can record footage 24/7. This might suit businesses that need round-the-clock surveillance or homeowners concerned about activities in their neighborhood. But there are some drawbacks to consider.
The biggest issue is that these cameras operate on a closed system. That means if you’re out in the world, you won’t be able to receive push notifications or stream live video, unlike with a cellular security system. This raises all kinds of questions about the purpose of a home security system, and a closed system is probably better suited to companies with employees who can monitor the video feed.
A somewhat smaller consideration with this approach is that video is stored in the cameras or on a DVR. That makes it much less accessible than if video were being stored in the cloud. Also, if the storage medium is corrupted, damaged, or stolen, you won’t have access to the stored video.
If you can live with those drawbacks, these are the different types of cameras with local video storage.
- CCTV: CCTV cameras, or closed-circuit television cameras, are used by businesses and police for surveillance; they’re not usually used for home security purposes. Instead of watching the footage on an app, guards watch CCTV footage on several monitors, and storage is on either a DVR or an NVR, a network video recorder for digital systems. CCTV cameras include analog and IP cameras, along with HD-over-coax.2
- Analog: Analog cameras transmit video from the camera to a DVR, often via coaxial cable.
- HD-over-coax: In HD-over-coax cameras, uncompressed video travels from cameras to recorders via coaxial cable. The video is high-resolution, but very few cameras work with coaxial cables.
- IP: An IP camera is usually synonymous with a surveillance camera, as it’s a lot more expensive than regular home security cameras.3
Lorex has one of the largest lineups of security camera systems with local storage. Its DVR systems typically offer 1 TB of storage space, shared among up to 16 security cameras. In our experience, that much space is enough for 20 days of 1080p videos from one camera. If you have two cameras, each will have about 10 days; if you have four, about five days.
What we like about Lorex – which we also mentioned in our Lorex review – is that you can typically expand the storage space. Our Lorex DVR had three expansion slots for hard disk drives, each able to accommodate a hard drive up to 1 TB. That’s 4 TB total, which can store a month of videos from a couple of cameras.
There’s another downside though, which is the cost. Besides the cost of cameras, you’ll need to buy the storage device as well. MicroSD cards are the cheapest, but they are also the most susceptible to tampering and getting corrupted. Plus since they go in your cameras, they are prone to theft. We recommend a DVR or NVR, but such a device with 1 TB of space costs at least $100. Each 1 TB expansion drive ranges from $50 to $100 too.
Are Security Cameras Without Wi-Fi Harder To Install?
Although many home security companies might have you thinking otherwise, security cameras that don’t require internet through Wi-Fi aren’t necessarily harder to install than Wi-Fi cameras. As some cameras that don’t need internet are wireless, like the Reolink Go and the Arlo Go, installation can be quite easy. It’s an added bonus that they’re battery-powered, so you can place them literally anywhere, whether there’s a power outlet nearby or not.
You may need to do some wiring for cameras that record to DVRs. Many require an ethernet or coaxial cable to transfer the videos to the DVR. It can make the installation more complex, particularly if you want to try to hide the wires in the walls or along baseboards. We found a way to make it work. It took us about half a day to install six Lorex cameras and set up the DVR.
On that note, look for PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) cameras if you want to minimize the amount of wires running around your house. PoE cameras use the same Ethernet wire for power and to transmit video and audio to a DVR. That’s one less wire for you to take care of.
Wi-Fi vs. No-Wi-Fi Cameras
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using cameras that do and don’t work with Wi-Fi? We’ve broken it down below.
Wi-Fi Cameras Pros and Cons
Pros
- No data plans required: Since you probably already have Wi-Fi in your home, you won’t have to pay for any additional data plans.
- Livestreaming: You’ll be able to see what’s going on at home through your mobile app.
- Remote control: Most cameras also allow for remote control, including arming and disarming, zooming in optically, and speaking through two-way audio.
- Notifications: Depending on the camera’s level of artificial intelligence, you’ll be notified when it senses movement, a person, a package, a pet, or a vehicle. The more AI capabilities the camera has, the more specific notifications you get.
While some cameras that don’t require Wi-Fi have these features, again, they’ll require data plans for a price.
Cons
- Bandwidth usage: If you’re buying more than just one camera, it could easily crowd your network. We don’t know about you, but as it stands, we have enough devices connected to Wi-Fi already, from phones to laptops and smart TVs. Connecting too many devices can slow down your internet connection, so we recommend creating a local network specifically for your Wi-Fi cameras (e.g. a separate router for cameras).
- Faulty Wi-Fi: Cameras that are heavily reliant on Wi-Fi can be rendered useless by a simple internet outage. Is your internet provider reliable enough, or does the Wi-Fi go out more often than you’d like? If it’s the latter, then a camera that doesn’t require Wi-Fi might work better for you.
- Hacking: As we’ve seen with Ring cameras4, Wi-Fi cameras can be hacked, especially if you don’t protect your network and mobile app with a secure password.
Tip: To improve your Wi-Fi connection throughout your home, use a mesh network with multiple access points. One example is the Nest Wi-Fi, which we think is one of the best smart home devices around.
No-Wi-Fi Cameras Pros and Cons
Pros
- They’re not as hackable. Although cellular data is hackable as well, it’s much safer than Wi-Fi, even secure Wi-Fi networks5 If you use an IP, Analog, or HD-over-coax camera system, it will be even harder to hack as an intruder would need physical access to your recorder to affect your cameras.
- You may still be able to get remote features. If you use a data plan, you don’t have to miss out on remote control, notifications, and livestreaming, which are the main benefits of smart home security. That is, if your security camera supports LTE functions. Otherwise, you will have to make do with local recording.
While some cameras that don’t require Wi-Fi have these features, again, they’ll require data plans for a price.
Cons
- They may require a data plan. Again, if you want the above features, it’ll cost you in the form of a mobile LTE plan.
- They’re bulky. Many CCTV cameras are bulky, especially if they require large DVRs.
- They’re expensive. Intended for business or police use, CCTV cameras cost more than regular security cameras that work with Wi-Fi.
Recap
As you’ve seen, running security cameras without Wi-Fi is doable. It might not always be feasible though. The cost of setting up and maintaining cellular-ready security cameras might be too high for some. The lack of alerting and streaming features of security cameras with local storage might be a deal-breaker for others. That’s why if possible, we recommend using internet-connected security cameras.
If you absolutely need video surveillance for a property without Wi-Fi, though, we recommend Lorex and its cameras that can record locally. It offers highly visible and durable cameras. Sometimes, that’s all you need to deter criminals. And if that doesn’t work, at least you’ll have recordings of any incident thanks to its 24/7 recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
The idea of using smart home security cameras without Wi-Fi isn’t that common, so people have a ton of questions about it. We’re here with answers!
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Can wireless cameras work without Wi-Fi?
There are wireless cameras that can work without Wi-Fi. The Arlo Go and the Reolink Go, for example, are both wireless cameras that use cellular data plans instead of Wi-Fi.
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Do all home security cameras require Wi-Fi?
Not all home security cameras require Wi-Fi. Some cameras, like the Arlo Go and the Reolink Go, can use LTE plans instead of Wi-Fi. Other home security cameras aren’t connected to the internet at all but rather record onto local storage like hard drives.
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What is better, wired or wireless security cameras?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Wire-free security cameras are easier to install than wired cameras, especially outside. However, with wireless cameras, you have to worry about batteries running out, while wired cameras are hardwired or plugged into a home’s electrical system. However, wired cameras’ disadvantage is that they’re dependent on a home’s power. A wireless camera works perfectly even during a power outage, although its internet connection may be affected if it’s connected to Wi-Fi, so you may not be able to access the camera remotely.
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Can you set up cameras without the internet?
Yes, you can set up cameras without the internet. Many cameras are local only, recording onto local storage like a micro-SD card or hard drive.