The Best Outdoor Security Camera

I’m a staff writer covering the smart home for Wirecutter. I have been writing about technology for more than 20 years, and I’ve written guides on home security, smart light switches, and smart bird feeders.

For this guide:

• I’ve tested more than 250 security cameras over eight years.
• I solicited the services of my husband, a licensed electrician, to hardwire cameras and to help evaluate the installation process, when needed.
• In accordance with Wirecutter standards, I return or donate all products I’ve tested once my assessment of them is complete (this may involve longer-term testing conducted by me and my colleagues). I never hang onto “freebies” once testing is done.

Having problems with someone stealing packages off your porch or a family of trash pandas enjoying your garbage cans? If you have a Wi-Fi surveillance camera by your front door, over your garage, or attached to your back deck, you can see what’s really going on outdoors. A camera alerts you to dangers and guests, and it creates a record of the events that happen all around the outside of your home — from falling trees to floodwaters to a neighbor’s overly familiar dog.

Although outdoor cameras can do a good job of acting as a sentry, they do have limitations. We found that most outdoor Wi-Fi cameras can detect movement as far as 30 to 40 feet away. But faces and license plates may start to get fuzzy around 20 feet away — and that number could drop substantially depending on lighting conditions.

Another limitation has to do with placement. Battery-powered cameras offer some flexibility, but they need to be recharged — which can be inconvenient if you have the camera mounted in a high place. Also, rechargeable batteries have a finite lifespan, so you may need to replace them (or the entire camera, if they’re not replaceable) after some years. If these are concerns, consider a corded camera, but this is possible only if you have an outlet within a dozen or so feet. Admittedly, we have yet to find a model with an integrated cord that rates as highly as our battery-powered pick.

We’ve been reviewing security cameras for more than eight years, and we’ve tested hundreds of them. Here are the most important features that we consider for outdoor cameras.

• Image resolution: Most outdoor cameras stream and record 1080p or 2K video. Even at that resolution, however, details may not be as sharp as what you’d get with a typical smartphone camera — especially for subjects that are far from the camera. Also, streaming video chews up internet bandwidth, so be sure your home network is fast enough and has the capacity to support it.
• Night vision: All outdoor Wi-Fi cameras should have night-vision capability. Some even offer color night vision, which may add a bit of detail missed by cameras that capture only black-and-white video at night. The night-vision range can be a factor, depending on where you plan to place the camera.
• Alerts: A good outdoor security camera alerts your smartphone or tablet whenever it detects motion. Faster alerts are better, but their speed often depends more on the network you’re connected to than on the camera itself. We also looked for cameras that could distinguish between different causes of motion, such as a person, a vehicle, or an animal.
• Storage: Cloud storage — with video saved over the internet to a remote server operated by the manufacturer, instead of at your house — is the norm these days. Some users prefer to store recordings locally on a microSD card or a connected hard drive, due to safety concerns. However, it isn’t of much help if someone steals the camera or you lose power.
• Audio: A good outdoor Wi-Fi camera should have a built-in microphone so you can hear chirps and chatter. Most also feature a speaker for two-way communication, allowing you to talk to whomever is in front of the camera.
• Smart-home integration: Most outdoor cameras offer some type of smart-home integration, such as support for Amazon Alexa, Apple Home (HomeKit), Google Home, IFTTT (If This Then That), Samsung SmartThings, and more. Those will allow you to view cameras on smart displays or trigger devices (such as smart lights) when the camera detects motion.

For testing, I connect all cameras to my Verizon Fios network via a Wi-Fi router indoors (approximately 40 feet from the cameras) and the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8). I used an iPhone 12, a Google Pixel 7 Pro, and an iPad to review the cameras and their companion apps. And I used an Echo Show 8, a Google Nest Hub, and an Apple TV to see how each camera can be controlled via third-party apps and viewed on smart screens.

Top pick

The best cordless Wi-Fi camera

TP-Link Tapo Wire-Free Magnetic Security Camera

This cord-free camera offers excellent battery life, the option to store recordings locally or in the cloud, and the best array of customizations for the money.

$70 from Amazon

$180 from Best Buy
(pack of three)

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The TP-Link Tapo Wire-Free Magnetic Security Camera is a cord-free 2K camera with image detection that allows it to distinguish between people, vehicles, animals, and general motion. Despite those top-shelf features, this camera is overall the least expensive of our picks. You can store video recordings on a microSD card, or, if you add a subscription, they’ll upload automatically to the cloud. The image quality is good. And, as with the pricier Nest, you can customize Activity Zones that let you specify what and where the camera records based on types of motion.

It has the lowest cost of ownership. A single camera is usually under $100, and a three-pack runs about the same (or less) than any of our other picks, making the Tapo an outright bargain. We were pleased to find that the Tapo Care cloud subscription is also competitively priced ($3.50 per month or $35 per year for one camera, rising to $12 per month for up to 10 cameras). We also appreciate that the Tapo offers the same feature set — motion alerts, Activity Zones, and Privacy Zones — regardless of whether you opt to pay for cloud storage. (Note that we strongly recommend doing so.)

Use Activity Zones to keep it on target. By creating Activity Zones using the smartphone app, you can designate areas within the camera’s view to focus on and areas to ignore. And you can filter what is recorded using the camera’s ability to detect different types of objects, as well as choose which are important enough for smartphone notifications. In my tests, I monitored the driveway for people and vehicles, but I filtered out traffic beyond my property. I also opted not to receive notifications about cars.

If you want to keep tabs on everything everywhere, check out the Google Nest, which lets you pick and choose what gets recorded and what you get alerts about in both zone and non-zone areas.

Installation is flexible and simple. The combination of the Tapo’s modest dimensions and its magnetic mount make it very simple to set up. And the app is very well laid out, with everyday controls and recordings accessible on the camera’s dashboard page and all settings clearly marked and easy to understand under Settings.

The battery life is very good (but not the best). TP-Link claims that you should get about 300 days or six months of use on a full charge. That’s only an estimate, since camera battery life greatly depends on how much activity the camera witnesses.

In my testing, the Tapo faced both chilly and sweltering New England temperatures in an area that gets a normal amount of foot traffic, and I found it needed to be charged every four months. Although that’s less than TP-Link’s claim, it’s still good for a battery-operated camera. And it’s much better than the Nest’s paltry battery life — though still not as good as some of the Eufy cameras’ year-long battery life. As with the other cameras on our list, the battery isn’t removable, so it can’t be replaced.

They aren’t affected by ongoing security issues. 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 color night vision feature is useful, I found it to be grainy and also a power hog. Opt instead for the camera’s standard black-and-white night vision, which consistently captured clear images of my son (coming home after curfew).
• At $3.50 per month per camera, the cloud service is competitively priced. However, it gets pricey when you add cameras, increasing to $7 for two cameras, $10.50 for three, and $12 for 10.
• As with many outdoor cameras, with this one there’s an option to add a solar panel, but TP-Link does not offer a weatherproof cable to hardwire this camera.

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 they are 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.

Best for…

Best for nonstop recording

Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)

This camera sends video to the cloud, and it can be set to record 24/7 or just motion-triggered events. Face detection can even identify people.

$130 from Google Store

$129 from Amazon

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) can be powered by its rechargeable battery, but we recommend it only for use with the optional power cord, which makes it a much better camera in every way. In my testing, when the Nest Cam was plugged in, it never missed a recording, and it accurately identified whether the motion came from a person, an animal, or a vehicle. The Nest Cam is our only pick that offers free cloud storage, though that’s limited to a three-hour window (which isn’t terribly useful if you don’t catch the motion event). Subscription options increase the storage, and you can add in face recognition and the ability to record to the cloud 24/7.

Although the Nest Cam can operate via an internal battery, its battery function was well below the performance of competing models, lasting less than two weeks with normal activity. (We plan to test an add-on solar panel as an option to help out.) If you ever run into a situation where you want to use the camera temporarily in a different location — say, you’re trying to bust whatever has been rummaging in your garbage cans or raiding your pea plants — you can rely on the battery for a short time.

You can tell it what to record (and what to ignore). The Google Home app allows you to select areas within the camera’s view and label them as Activity Zones. Then you can choose what type of activity the camera should record and when you want to receive smartphone alerts, both within the field and outside of it. For instance, I monitored my driveway for people, animals, and vehicles, but I received alerts only when a person was within the frame. Users can create up to four Activity Zones per camera.

For those with a bit of FOMO, the Nest Cam also allows you to choose what the camera will record and notify you about outside of those Activity Zones. For instance, maybe you want to get vehicle recordings, but don’t need to be notified about every one that passes.

A subscription is optional (but we recommend getting one). The Nest Cam does include free cloud storage, but without a plan, clips are automatically deleted three hours after they are captured, which makes them of questionable value. If you want access to clips for a longer duration, a Nest Aware subscription lets you store recordings for up to 30 days ($10 per month or $100 per year), and it includes an unlimited number of Nest cameras.

It has advanced features, for a price. If you have a Nest Aware subscription, the camera gains the ability to listen for emergency sounds and then alert you, such as if smoke and carbon monoxide detectors go off (which probably won’t matter to you if you’re using this outside) or if it detects the sound of glass breaking. A subscription also enables Familiar Face Detection, which allows you to tag visitors, family members, and regular guests by name. It’s a nice feature, especially if you have a Google Nest smart speaker, which can be set to announce whenever someone tagged as “Familiar” comes by. I did find that the Nest has to get a particularly good look at a person’s face for it to be successful. (You can help the software by periodically checking on the list of familiar faces and correcting them.)

Have it record motion only or everything in view. The Nest is our only pick that offers 24/7 recording to the cloud ($20 per month or $200 per year). That means you can go back and check the footage to see if the camera missed someone or something stealing your packages. Even without that option, in my tests it never missed any motion — and, more importantly, it never sent any false alerts. Without the 24/7 recording plan, the Nest Cam will capture clips up to five minutes in length (naturally, something still has to move to trigger a recording). If motion continues, it starts a new recording immediately, with no gaps in between. Some cameras leave a gap of a few seconds or even a few minutes, which could mean you’re missing the exact type of event that sparked you to get a security camera.

One downside of the 24/7 recording is that it requires a lot of power, which is why we recommend you use the camera with the power cord, rather than rely on the short-lived battery.

Notifications are automatically limited to prevent nuisance. In my testing, the Google Home app sent smartphone notifications of activity about every 10 minutes following a motion trigger. And it will send just a single notification, no matter how many events happen in that time frame. That prevents you from being pestered with constant notifications when the neighbor is mowing the lawn.

But a potential downside is that with multiple short events being combined into a single notification, you may not be alerted to something important. For instance, if someone comes into view for 30 seconds and then leaves, and then another person shows up three minutes later, you’ll still only get one notification for both visits. The Nest Cam will record both interactions, but you may not be aware of both visitors if you don’t watch the clip. Note that I had considered categorizing this limitation of notifications a flaw. Yet ultimately I’ve found it’s largely a good thing, since it keeps you from getting bombarded with notifications — a common issue with cameras placed in busy locations.

You can manage it without having to use a smartphone. Although the Google Home app is needed for the initial setup, and for most of us it’s the best option for daily use, you can access and view your entire video history, customize recorded clips, and download clips by using a web browser to access Google Home for web. Not only can you call up past events, but you can view and listen to live action and even talk through the camera using the web browser interface.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The battery life is one of the worst I’ve seen on an outdoor camera, which is why I recommend hardwiring it. According to Google, if you have regular activity (nine to 12 events per day), you should get about three months of use — half that if you get 20 to 25 events per day. In my testing, I had two of them die after less than two weeks. If you must go cordless, Wasserstein makes a solar panel, which we plan to test for a future update.
• 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. (And, yes, I do that outside, too.) If you have the free plan, this shouldn’t be a concern since it auto-deletes. Otherwise, you can only delete full video history.

Privacy and security snapshot

• Video is encrypted in transit and at rest but not while in use.
• Familiar Face data is stored locally in the camera’s internal memory, which is encrypted. For security reasons, the internal memory is not accessible or removable.
• 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.

Top pick

The best floodlight camera

Eufy Floodlight Cam E340

This hardwired floodlight includes two cameras, and it has bright, dimmable lighting. It can store video internally for free or to the cloud with a subscription.

$170 from Amazon

$170 from Best Buy

$180 from Walmart

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 is a combo device that can light up a driveway, yard, or stairway while always remaining ready to record video. It has dual pan-and-tilt cameras, coupled with a 2,000-lumen floodlight that can replace existing outdoor lights. All of that tech takes power, which means this Eufy isn’t battery-powered. And since it is intended to be placed up high, it doesn’t have a wall plug and has to be hardwired into a lighting receptacle. I found it follows motion well, and it records clear audio and video. You can opt to have recordings stored to a memory card internally, a hub, or uploaded directly to cloud storage, though doing the latter downgrades video to 1080p or 2K (depending on whether you’re recording with one or both cameras).

It captures every possible angle. Of all of the camera-floodlight combos I’ve reviewed, the Eufy model is the only one to include two cameras: one with a 2K telephoto lens, for zooming in on images up to 50 feet away, and one with a 3K wide-angle camera, which captures a fuller, wider image. Both are mounted on a mechanism that can pan and tilt, which means both cameras have the ability to scan 360 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically. I’ve reviewed a lot of bad pan-and-tilt cameras; some are slow, some like to fixate on the wall and miss a lot of action, and one even spun itself right off a table when nothing was actually happening. The E340 could keep up with movement very well at various speeds, and it includes settings to adjust pan-and-tilt speed or turn it off.

Audio and video quality are great, object detection not as much. Both cameras deliver sharp video, whether in 3K, 2K, 1080p resolution. It can distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, and general motion — and did that well for the most part, although it would occasionally tag my grill as a person. I have found that reporting the issue to Eufy (you do that by clicking Donate at the bottom of the app) typically solves incidents where the camera is repeatedly misidentifying something. It may take more than one report, though. Just be aware when you donate clips to the company, they will use it to train their AI, which is stated in the app.

Store recordings at home or in the cloud. Recordings can be captured for free to a microSD card that installs in the camera (up to 128 GB) or to the HomeBase S380 Hub, both of which are sold separately. You can also opt for Eufy’s cloud storage plan, which is $4 per month or $40 per year for one camera (and $14 per month or $140 per year for unlimited cameras) for 30 days of rolling storage. However, if you use cloud storage, the image is downgraded during processing.

It won’t annoy the neighbors. The Eufy E340 includes two integrated LED panels that are capable of beaming 2,000 lumens of brightness, with a color temperature of 4,000K. (Test note: When reviewing smart bulbs, we typically measure lux in a dark room, which we aren’t able to do accurately when testing outdoor devices.) That’s bright enough to annoy the neighbors, depending on how close they are. If you want to be a good neighbor, you can manually tilt the panels or dim the brightness in the Eufy app or via voice with a smart speaker. After all, blinding floodlights are great for guiding your way to the front door or scaring raccoons away from your garbage cans, but they’re less great when you’re sitting on the porch or having a barbecue.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The E340 supports Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but the latter is limited to voice control of the light only. And, unlike some Eufy cameras, this model doesn’t support Apple Home.
• Similar to all Eufy cameras, this model downgrades 2K footage to 1080p and 3K footage to 2K when stored in the cloud. We always recommend cloud video storage, and we really only noticed a drop in image quality when comparing videos side by side. For many, though, it defeats the purpose of having a 2K or 3K camera.

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 using local storage, Eufy has no access to users’ video recordings. If using cloud storage, video content will never be shared without the user’s written consent, unless necessary to comply with a valid legal order.
• Two-factor authentication is available but not required.

For more details, read Eufy’s privacy statement.

We tested a number of outdoor security cameras that we didn’t prefer as much as our current top picks but that are still good choices. Note that we do not long-term test these models (which we do with our top picks).

For Home/HomeKit Secure Video users: The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro has support for all the major smart-home platforms, 1520p resolution, dual-band Wi-Fi, and serves as a Matter controller. It’s a good camera with a lot of caveats. First, it’s the only outdoor camera I’ve ever tested that doesn’t come with a power adapter. (I’ve seen some bad adapters, but at least it was included!) And Aqara doesn’t even offer one as a separate purchase, recommending instead users seek out a third-party solution. If you’re planning to run wires through walls, that’s fine, but even that would be difficult, since this camera’s cord is under 7 feet. (In comparison, Google makes outdoor cords in 16.4- and 32.8-foot lengths.) I also had some issues with the AI, but Aqara says that updates will be coming soon.

If you want a wider viewing angle: The Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera has a 160-degree viewing angle (versus the 150 degrees from the Tapo) and is an excellent performer when it comes to identifying types of motion and even identifying people by name (after you label them). However, I can’t recommend getting an Arlo camera unless you have multiple Arlo cameras. The reason? The company has changed up its cloud service, and to use AI features — which are the best features of this camera — you need a monthly subscription starting at $10 for one camera or $20 for unlimited cameras.

If you prefer a fixed floodlight: We like the modern design of the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight. The Eufy did capture more activity, and it can cover a much wider area (due to its pan-and-tilt function and also its pair of 2K/3K cameras). But the Nest more reliably captured clear images (though at 1080p), and the LEDs are especially bright, producing 2,400 lumens at 4,000K color temperature.

If you want a removable battery: The Ring Outdoor Cam Plus updates a previous model, with a slightly better image (2K), better AI (people, vehicles, and packages), and better night vision via Low-Light Sight technology. There are also plug-in and solar versions available or you can purchase those as add-on accessories. The battery version doesn’t have as many features as our top pick, but it does have a removable battery. I found it worked best when set with Auto recording (which records as long as motion is present, up to 30 seconds) and Motion Frequency is set to its highest setting — but the latter kills the battery quicker. I am planning to try it with a cord and will update with results later.

If you have poor outdoor Wi-Fi range: The Arlo Go 2 works with both Wi-Fi and add-on 4G LTE plans, but the LTE plans cost more and are available only via Cellcom and Verizon. Unlike most Arlo cameras, this 1080p model can record to a microSD card, but at the expense of losing Arlo Secure features, which require a subscription.

If you don’t have an existing outdoor light: The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera uses a removable, rechargeable battery to blast a bright 2,000 lumens of light — and up to 3,000 if you hardwire it (although there is a separate hardwired version). In my tests, its daytime 2K video was very good. Nighttime images weren’t as reliable, unless the subject was standing directly in front of the camera (which is fine since this model is best for focusing on a specific area, like a front porch or near trash cans). After months of testing it, we expect the battery to last about three months, depending on usage.

The Logitech Circle View and the Eve Outdoor Cam both work with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, which is a service that has a lot to offer. But in our testing it missed a lot of action — sometimes for hours or days at a time.

There are a lot of things to like about the EufyCam S3 Pro and the EufyCam S330. I actually prefer the S3 Pro because it has better motion detection and support for Apple Home and HomeKit Secure Video. However, both systems are inordinately expensive — and require a hub (which is included with the purchase with a multi-cam package). That would be fine if the AI worked well, but in my testing the camera frequently tagged tires as people and almost more bizarrely, it tagged people as animals.

Our current picks offer a better value than the Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera, the Arlo Essential XL Outdoor Camera, the Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera, the Blink Mini 2, the Blink Outdoor 4, , the Noorio Spotlight Cam B211, the Reolink Argus Track, the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro, the Ring Outdoor Cam (formerly the Stick Up Cam), the Roku Floodlight Camera, the Roku Outdoor Camera, the Roku Outdoor Wired Camera, the TP-Link Tapo C120, the TP-Link Tapo C325WB, and the TP-Link Tapo C420S2 due to features and/or performance.

A number of cameras we have tested were plagued by false alerts, including the Tapo C310 Smart Outdoor Home Security WiFi 2K Camera and the Tapo C320WS Smart Outdoor Home Security WiFi 2K QHD 4MP Camera.

We dismissed the Cync Outdoor Wired Smart Camera, the EZVIZ C3X, the Netatmo Presence, the Nooie Pro Cam, the Swann MaxRanger 4K, and the SwitchBot Outdoor Security Camera 2K due to poor audio and/or video performance. And the Abode Cam 2, the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera, and the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Battery missed a lot of events and/or left lengthy gaps in between motion recordings. We also dismissed the Reolink Argus 3 Pro because it’s not rated to operate in temperatures of less than 14 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it isn’t useful for a large swath of the country. We also cut the Canary Flex due to its poor battery power and connection issues.

After 20 months of periodic use, our test unit of the Eufy S330 Floodlight Cam suffered a water leak and no longer functions. We contacted customer service, which determined that the unit was defective but would not replace it since it was outside its one-year warranty period.

We started testing the Reolink Argus Pro 4, but had a defective unit. We are planning to test a new one soon.

Other models we’re planning to test:

• The MyQ Outdoor Battery Camera uses a built-in rechargeable battery to deliver a 2K resolution, a 130-degree field of view, color night vision, and a motion-activated LED spotlight. For video storage, people detection, and facial recognition, you’ll need a subscription plan, which starts at $4 per month.
• TP-Link’s Tapo MagCam 4K Solar (C460 KIT) functions similar to our top pick, but has a 4K image and support for dual-band Wi-Fi. This model comes with a solar panel (you can also get it without), which also allows for 24/7 recording.
• The TP-Link Tapo HybridCam Duo (C246D) has two 2K lenses: one fixed with a 125-degree viewing angle and one pan/tilt with a 6mm telephoto lens that can detect people, animals, and vehicles. It also has options for color night vision, local and cloud video storage, and integration with Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings.
• The U-tec Ulticam Dot uses four AA batteries to deliver 2K Quad HD video with a 170-degree viewing angle. Other features include person detection, 8GB of built-in storage, and 7 days of free cloud storage — with more available via a paid subscription.

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.