The research
Why you should trust us
I’m a senior staff writer covering smart home for Wirecutter. I have been writing about technology for over 20 years, and I have written guides about home security, smart light switches, and smart bird feeders.
For this guide:
- I have tested more than 250 security cameras over the course of eight years.
- I keep our picks connected year-round for long-term testing, checking for software updates, new features, and security issues.
- In accordance with Wirecutter standards, I return or donate all products I’ve tested once my assessment of them is complete, which may involve longer-term testing by my colleagues and me. I never hang on to “freebies” once testing is done.
Who this is for
A standalone Wi-Fi camera can offer peace of mind, allowing you to know when the kids come home from school, keep an eye on what your pets are doing, discover who’s been hitting the liquor cabinet, or learn if a trespasser has entered your home.
Note: We don’t recommend using security cameras as baby monitors. Unlike purpose-built baby monitors, which allow you to view a live video and audio stream, indoor cameras tend to time out after a few minutes, which defeats the purpose.
Although the cameras we review in this guide do provide a basic level of security, they aren’t intended as a replacement for a full home security system, which includes door and window sensors, motion sensors, smoke detectors, and other security-specific accessories.
The use of security cameras raises important privacy issues for anyone who enters your home, be they guests, family members, or even people who live there. During our testing, we read the privacy policies for our picks, which spelled out how the companies collect data, why they collect it, and what they do with it. We specifically looked for policies that strayed from what we consider to be standard in the category. There are some common important points that everyone should understand. For instance, most camera companies say that, in certain circumstances, they will cooperate with police requests to view your camera footage — and may even do so without your permission.
On a less theoretical level, having a smart camera inside your home allows you to spy on and record the activities of others — without their consent or knowledge. Thus, installing an indoor security camera presents important ethical concerns, and in some locales it may be a legal concern, especially if you plan to use facial recognition features. If you plan to install an indoor security camera, the feelings and expectations of those in your household should always be part of the decision. Things to discuss and consider include where you choose to place the camera, when it’s in use, and who has access to the video. Visitors to your home, like babysitters, housekeepers, and even tradespeople, may need to be advised that you have a camera, depending on local laws. Ultimately, deciding which camera is best for you may depend on how conspicuous you want it to be and what you want it to record.
How we picked and tested
We’ve been testing indoor cameras for years. Although many models use PoE (power over Ethernet), we consider only those cameras that operate over Wi-Fi without the need for a networked video recorder. We also look for models that meet the following criteria:
- Video quality: You’ll find a few 2K and 4K cameras, but a 1080p resolution is usually enough, as it offers sharp video that streams well over a standard Wi-Fi network.
- Wide-angle lens: Although pan-and-tilt cameras can provide a far wider view of a given space and may even have great video quality, we prefer a stationary camera that can be positioned to capture a wider area. Most standard models have viewing angles ranging from 105 to 180 degrees.
- Two-way talk: A microphone and speaker allow you to inform intruders that responders are on the way or tell your dog to get off the couch while you’re at work.
- Alerts: All cameras offer motion alerts, but some can alert you when people and pets are present, trigger based on sound, and even distinguish between, say, a smoke detector and a baby crying.
- Geofencing: This feature automates motion detection when you leave or return to a predetermined area (usually your home). For it to work properly, every person in the home (including kids) needs to have the app installed and geofencing enabled on their phone.
- Storage: We limit our testing to cameras that offer the option of cloud storage. Local storage, in which video recordings are stored on a microSD card, is also an option for some devices, but using a card means your recordings won’t be accessible if you lose power — or if the card is stolen.
- Smart-home integration: Smart-home compatibility allows you to link your camera to other smart devices. For example, you can trigger lights or thermostats when the camera detects motion.
To test indoor security cameras, I connected each one to a gigabit Verizon Fios network via a Wi-Fi router and the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8), our former upgrade pick for mesh-networking kits. We used an iPhone 12, a Google Pixel 7 Pro, and an iPad to review the cameras and their companion apps, as well as an Amazon Echo Show 8, an Apple TV, and a Google Nest Hub.
Once we narrowed down our candidates, we reviewed privacy policies, sent questions to each company regarding privacy and security practices, and connected them to Firewalla Purple SE, a firewall device that monitors devices on a network and reports which are sending out data and to what country. We also monitor the practices of each company, review issues that come up in the news, and keep tabs on how each company responds to those incidents.
Top pick: TP-Link Tapo C120
Top pick
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThings
Although the TP-Link Tapo C120 is labeled as a 2K indoor/outdoor camera, I specifically recommend it for indoor use because when I used it outdoors, the plug died after a few weeks. It’s cheaper than all but our budget pick, yet it captures high-resolution 2K video and can distinguish between motion caused by a person, pet, or vehicle. It can also detect sounds, including crying, glass breaking, barking, and meowing, without a subscription. Like our outdoor camera pick, it has settings that you can tweak to customize how and what it triggers. It can also capture all of that action locally to a microSD card or to the cloud, if you add a subscription, which starts at $3.50 per month.
It can identify more sights and sounds. Despite being a low-priced camera, the Tapo C120 can identify more types of sights and sounds than any other camera on our list — and unlike with other models, you don’t have to pony up for a cloud subscription to use them. The Tapo C120 can detect what caused it to trigger — a person, animal, vehicle, or general motion — and then tag video clips accordingly.
It can also be triggered by specific types of sound. I regularly used its audio alerts to detect whether my cat was crying (and it worked well, because he can get chatty when I’m not home), but it can also listen in and notify you if it detects human crying, a dog barking, or glass breaking.
You can easily customize it to suit your needs — and those features are all free. The Tapo C120 allows you to adjust motion sensitivity for each of the alert types. For my living room, I kept person and pet alerts on medium and cat meows on high but turned alerts for vehicles and dog barks off. (I found that sometimes I would get dog-barking notifications from action on a nearby TV.)
It also has a pair of useful features to control how motion triggers function. Line-Crossing Detection sends an alert any time an object or person goes past a specific area. Similarly Activity Zones let you designate specific areas that you want to monitor, but also what type of motion you want detected: For instance, I created a zone that would alert me whenever a person walked into the living room, but then I created a separate zone around the couch to alert me whenever my cat was climbing up for a snooze.
It captures the best stills and video of all the cameras we tested. Although three of our top picks are 2K cameras, the Tapo C120 delivered the best overall image quality. Looking at the specs on the files, I found that the Tapo C120 had a resolution of 2560×1440, in contrast to the 2304×1296 on the Eufy Indoor Cam C120 and the Tapo C110. It’s a tiny bump in quality, so you would be unlikely to notice the difference. However, I compared our picks’ still images and video side by side, and the output of the Tapo C120 was noticeably brighter and sharper.
The Tapo C120 is also the only one of our picks to include adjustable dual spotlights, which turn normal night vision into color night vision. I especially appreciate that this feature is adjustable, because I found the top level to be too bright and prone to washing out details.
A subscription isn’t necessary, but we recommend it anyway. The Tapo Care cloud subscription starts at $3.50 per month for one camera and increases to $7 for two, $10.50 for three, and $12 for up to 10. It’s a reasonable price. For reference, Google charges a flat fee of $8 per month for unlimited cameras, and Eufy charges $4 per month for one camera and $14 for unlimited cameras.
As with Eufy cameras, with TP-Link’s Tapo cameras you aren’t really missing out on anything if you don’t subscribe; the only extra features you get are Rich Notifications (the little thumbnail with your alert) and the option to organize videos by the type of activity. I’ve talked to a few readers, and very few want to pay for another subscription, and I get it — although we strongly recommend doing so because then you’ll still have access to your recordings if the camera dies, loses power, or gets stolen.
This TP-Link isn’t the other TP-Link. In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that US authorities may seek to restrict the sale of TP-Link Wi-Fi routers following federal investigations into potential security vulnerabilities, including links between the company and the Chinese government. We reached out to TP-Link and a company representative stated that there is “no interdependence” between TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd. in China, and the US-based TP-Link Systems Inc, the global headquarters since 2024 which markets and sells TP-Link smart home devices. Furthermore, the TP-Link Cloud for all global users is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), with Virginia-based infrastructure serving U.S. users. The TP-Link representative also noted that nearly all TP-Link products sold in the US are currently manufactured in Vietnam, and the remainder will eventually.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Although the Tapo C120 is technically an indoor/outdoor camera, I don’t recommend it for outdoor use. The company doesn’t sell a separate weatherproof cord or plug, and the original plug died when I was working on outdoor testing.
- The Tapo C120 does not support Apple Home. If that’s important to you, the TP-Link Tapo C125 may be a model to consider. However, the Tapo C125 doesn’t work with HomeKit Secure Video, as our runner-up does, and it’s more expensive than our top two picks.
Privacy and security snapshot
- Video that is stored locally is encrypted when transmitted; when it is sent to the cloud it is encrypted in transit and when stored.
- Location data is recorded but not shared.
- Recordings cannot be accessed without permission, unless it is in response to a legal request, and then only by limited personnel.
- Two-factor authentication is available but not required.
For more details, read TP-Link’s privacy statement.
Runner-up: Eufy Indoor Cam C120
Top pick
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home
The Eufy Indoor Cam C120 records clear 2K video day and night, and it has the ability to tell the differences between general motion, people, pets, and even the sound of crying. It’s also the only camera we’ve tested that offers four ways to store video: internally on a microSD card (not included), to network-attached storage (NAS), or in the cloud, with either a Eufy Cloud subscription ($4/month or $40/year) or Apple HomeKit Secure Video (or HSV, a free video-storage service that comes with some paid iCloud plans; see Apple’s site for more info). Although Eufy downgrades all of your 24/7, NAS, and cloud recordings to 1080p resolution, we found that video detailed.
Pick your favorite storage option. The Eufy C120 provides several modes for recording and storing video. The only way to get full 2K-quality video (2304×1296 resolution) is to have it record motion-triggered clips to a microSD card. You can instead opt for continuous 24/7 recording to a microSD card, or motion-triggered recordings to a network-attached storage device via RTSP, as well as cloud recording through paid plans to Eufy ($4/month or $40/year for one camera) or HomeKit Secure Video (starting at $1/month for one camera). But all of those options require reducing the video resolution (see Flaws but not dealbreakers).
It can catch all different types of action — and respond to them. With or without a paid subscription, the Eufy C120 can distinguish human, pet, and general-motion triggers. It can also detect crying, which we tested using YouTube clips of teary people and babies — and it worked without fail. Another notable feature is Pet Command, which triggers the camera to play an audio clip whenever it detects a pet wandering into a designated activity zone. For instance, you can highlight the couch in the app so that if your pet jumps on it, the camera will announce in a robotic voice, “Hey, what are you doing there?” You can also record a customized response (“Pumpkin, stop scratching the carpet, you evil hellcat!”).
We are monitoring privacy and security. After an incident in November 2022, a Eufy spokesperson confirmed that the company uses an AWS-based cloud server to deliver push notifications with a thumbnail preview image, meaning that even if you opt for local storage, that content will pass through the cloud. Eufy has changed language in its app to be more clear, but thumbnail-enhanced smartphone alerts are an option that can be turned off by going into your camera’s Settings, clicking Notification, and choosing an option for how you want to receive those notifications.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Despite its being a 2K camera, the Eufy C120 records at 2K resolution only when saving clips to a microSD card. If you use a NAS hard drive or rely on Eufy’s cloud plan or HomeKit Secure Video, all of your files will be converted to 1080p.
Privacy and security snapshot
- Even if you opt for local storage, Eufy will pass thumbnail-based smartphone notifications through the cloud. For truly local storage, choose text-based notifications under Settings in the app.
- When you’re using local storage, Eufy has no access to your video recordings. If you’re using cloud storage, video content will never be shared without your written consent, unless it’s necessary to comply with a valid legal order.
- Eufy doesn’t share audio or video, but may share personal data for marketing or business purposes, as outlined in the company’s privacy policy.
- Two-factor authentication is available but not required.
For more details, read Eufy’s privacy statement.
Upgrade pick: Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired)
Upgrade pick
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired) looks more graceful than our other picks, and more importantly, it feels far more substantial and rugged — it looks like it could survive not only a fall but maybe a drop-kick, too. It’s also able to record longer clips, it offers free but limited cloud storage (see below), and with a subscription it can record 24/7 nonstop to the cloud. Once you add together the cost of the Nest Cam itself and the cost of a subscription plan, it’s definitely pricier than our other picks if you’re buying only one camera, especially since it is able to record only 1080p resolution (versus the 2K of the other cameras) and doesn’t have any built-in storage.
It provides the most action in one clip. The Google Nest records the longest clips of all of our picks — up to five minutes — though it will record only as long as it detects motion. By comparison, the Tapo model maxes out at three minutes, and the Eufy camera at two. All three cameras will create a new clip immediately after hitting their clip limit, so long as motion continues. (The Tapo model was the only one to consistently leave a gap of three to four seconds between clips, which the company says is so the clips won’t “overlap.”)
It’s the most cost-effective option for multiple camera users. If you want to store recordings beyond a limited time (see below), you’ll need to subscribe to Nest Aware. The $8 monthly subscription may seem steep, but it covers an unlimited number of cameras. For comparison, the Eufy cloud plan is $4/month for one camera and $14/month for unlimited cameras, and Tapo Care costs $3.50/month for one camera or $12/month for up to 10.
It’s all about the cloud. The Nest doesn’t offer any type of local recording option, but it’s the only one of our picks that offers free cloud storage — although it will store clips for only three hours after they’re captured. If that doesn’t suit your needs, and you’d like to store and access clips for a longer time frame, you’ll need to pony up for a Nest Aware subscription, which starts at $8/month.
That Nest Aware subscription adds great features. Paying for Nest Aware not only allows you to save clips for 30 days (or 60, if you opt for Nest Aware Plus) but also adds in face recognition, so you’ll know which kid is coming home from school. We found it worked pretty well, as long as the camera gets a good look at the subject. Nest Aware will also monitor for sounds of glass breaking, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Unlike all of the other cameras on our list, the Nest really needs a paid subscription to operate at its best. You can get by without it, but in that case the video history auto-deletes after just three hours, which is of questionable usefulness.
- The Google Home app doesn’t allow you to delete single clips, and that may be concerning if you walk in front of cameras in pajamas as much as I do. If you have the free plan, this shouldn’t be a concern, since it auto-deletes. Otherwise, you can delete only the full video history.
Privacy and security snapshot
- Video is encrypted in transit and at rest but not while in use.
- Google shares data only with approved partners, such as a home-security provider. They will also share audio recordings, video footage, device sensor data, or Wi-Fi network performance data with third-party apps if you give permission.
- Recordings cannot be accessed without permission, except when required by law, such as via a valid subpoena or court order, and then only by limited personnel.
- Two-factor authentication is available but not required.
For more details, read Google’s privacy statement.
Budget pick: TP-Link Tapo C110
Budget pick
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThings
The TP-Link Tapo C110 is the most affordable camera on our list, which is pretty impressive, considering it can deliver 2K images to both a microSD card and to storage in the cloud. Although it may not be able to detect as many different types of motion, doesn’t offer as many storage options, and doesn’t work with as many smart-home platforms as some of our other picks, it’s a great choice for people who want something cheap that works well.
The video looks great, no matter where you store it. The C110 is a 2K camera that can produce sharp images day and night, which I noticed while watching people come and go during the day and my cat slink around at night. Despite being a Tapo camera like our top pick, this model doesn’t offer color night vision.
It’s cheap to buy and free (or cheap) to use. Typically available for under $20, the C110 is the least expensive of our picks. And like our top two picks, it offers a reasonable number of features without requiring you to sign up for a subscription plan, because it can save videos to a microSD card. It records motion-triggered video clips up to three minutes long, or you can opt for 24/7 continuous recording (though that will fill up your card fast). Similar to the Eufy camera, when recording in continuous mode, the Tapo C110 will still notify you when it detects motion, isolate that motion as a clip, and allow you to download those clips as needed. There is a cloud plan available, which adds notifications with thumbnails and storage for up to 30 days (which means you can access it anywhere, even in the event of a power outage).
You can create a highlight reel. If you’re not the type to check on every little smartphone alert, the Video Summary feature can condense an entire day’s events into one short video. I found that this feature worked very well, but it’s available only with a Tapo Care subscription, and it replaces captured audio with a generic soundtrack, which is sort of weird.
This TP-Link isn’t the other TP-Link. In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that US authorities may seek to restrict the sale of TP-Link Wi-Fi routers following federal investigations into potential security vulnerabilities, including links between the company and the Chinese government. We reached out to TP-Link and a company representative stated that there is “no interdependence” between TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd. in China, and the US-based TP-Link Systems Inc, the global headquarters since 2024 which markets and sells TP-Link smart home devices. Furthermore, the TP-Link Cloud for all global users is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), with Virginia-based infrastructure serving U.S. users. The TP-Link representative also noted that nearly all TP-Link products sold in the US are currently manufactured in Vietnam, and the remainder will eventually.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- This is the only one of our picks that can’t distinguish between pets or vehicles. If you don’t care about detecting specific types of motion or want to use the camera only to watch your pets, the savings may be worth the trade-off.
Privacy and security snapshot
- Video that is stored locally is encrypted when transmitted; when it is sent to the cloud it is encrypted in transit and when stored.
- Location data is recorded but not shared.
- Recordings cannot be accessed without permission, unless it is in response to a legal request, and then only by limited personnel.
- Two-factor authentication is available but not required.
For more details, read TP-Link’s privacy statement.
Other indoor security cameras worth considering
We tested a number of indoor security cameras that we didn’t prefer as much as our current picks but that are still good choices if they meet your particular needs. Note that we do not long-term test these models (as we do our top picks).
If you want a pan-and-tilt camera: I haven’t had great luck with pan-and-tilt cameras, but the Eufy Indoor Cam S350 has a 4K wide-angle lens and a 2K telephoto lens that captures subjects pretty well — when used together. When opting for single-camera mode, I did notice the camera missed activity a handful of times. My family didn’t seem to mind the missteps, considering all of them (including the cat) thought the robotic face following them was a tad creepy. Also, considering the $140 price tag, the AI features should be a bit better; as with all Eufy cams, this one didn’t always tag motion accurately.
For Apple HomeKit Secure Video users: The Aqara Camera Hub G2H Pro produces a great picture, plus it’s compact and inexpensive. It doubles as a Zigbee hub so you can connect other Aqara devices (like our sensor picks). It’s also compatible with HomeKit Secure Video — however, as with other HSV cameras, we encountered issues with the service when using this camera. Still, if you’re interested in creating a setup with HSV or Aqara, this is a good little camera. If not, we think our other picks would be better.
If you’re all in with Ring: The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) provides a clear 1080p image, person detection, and a removable privacy cover, which you can manually swivel to cover the camera while you’re at home. It is, however, typically more expensive than our top two picks, and it works only with Alexa.
The competition
We have paused all testing and recommendations of Wyze devices due to security concerns. For a full explanation, see this article.
I understand the appeal of pan-and-tilt cameras, which can scan an entire room and follow moving objects. However, the Aqara Camera E1, the Aqara Camera Hub G3, the Eufy Indoor Cam E220, the TP-Link Kasa Spot Pan Tilt (KC410S), and the TP-Link Tapo C210 all had mechanical issues and would regularly get stuck at different angles, capturing images of my windows, my television, and even my ceiling. More importantly, all of them missed action even when that action was happening right in front of the camera. And the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera doesn’t pan or tilt automatically, only manually at your command through the app — so we recommend going with the less expensive Ring Indoor Cam.
The Logitech Circle View and the Eve Cam both work with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, which we’ve had a lot of issues with. We love how secure the service is, but it consistently misses obvious movement that should trigger a recording — sometimes for hours or even days at a time.
The Roku Indoor Camera SE, the WiZ Indoor Camera, and the TP-Link Kasa KC400 all record sharp video, but we think our top picks offer a better user experience for a similar (or lower) price. The Chamberlain myQ Smart Indoor Camera was constantly off by an hour and wasn’t as good of a performer as our picks. We also dismissed the Abode Cam 2, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera, the Blink Mini, the Blink Mini 2, the Ecobee SmartCamera, GE’s Cync Indoor Smart Camera, the Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera, and TP-Link’s Kasa Cam (KC120), due to missed motion triggers and/or overall concerns with performance.
The Canary Pro and Canary View are big and costly, and they don’t perform as well as our picks. And the $20 Merkury Smart Indoor Camera was so flimsy, it broke during setup.
What to look forward to
We have started testing the TP-Link Tapo 260, which supports many of the features of our top pick, but adds a 4K image, pan-and-tilt features, dual-band Wi-Fi support, and facial recognition.
When it’s released, we will also test the Kami Fall Detect Camera, a 2560×1440 resolution, with a 87-degree field of view, the ability to rotate 360 degrees, and a microSD card slot for local storage. It also has full or partial fallen body detection, so family members and caregivers can receive notification in case of an emergency — though that requires a $45-per-month professional monitoring plan.
This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.
