Outdoor cameras are designed to be your second set of eyes when you’re sleeping, relaxing or away. Nowadays, cameras are designed to meet every home security need and give you more control using your smartphone. Homeowners have a lot of choices for storage, installation, power source and more. Here’s what you need to know as you search for the right security camera.
The Top 10 Outdoor Home Security Cameras
Price | $199.99 | $139 | $259 | $199 | $99.99 | $199.99 | $199.99 | $199.99 | $199.99 | N/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Service contract required | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Two-way talk | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power source | Plug-in | Plug-in, Battery-powered | Plug-in | Plug-in | Battery-powered | Plug-in, battery-powered or solar | Battery | Battery-powered | Plug-in, battery-powered | Plug-in |
Field of view | 130 degrees | 130 degrees | 152 degrees | 130 degrees | 110 degrees | 160 degrees | 140 degrees | 140 degrees | 130 degrees | 95 degrees |
Night vision range | 20 feet | 30 feet | 50 feet | 250 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | 55 feet | 55 feet | 16.4 | 130 feet |
HD video | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 4K | 1080p | 2K | 1080p | 4K HDR | 1080p | 720p |
Installation | DIY | DIY | DIY with professional option | DIY | DIY | DIY | Professional | DIY | DIY | Professional |
Professional monitoring | No | Optional | Optional | N/A | N/A | Optional | Required | Required | Optional | Required |
Warranty | 2 years | 1 year | 2 years | 1 year | 2 years | 1 year | 3 months | 1 year | 1 year | Based on contract length |
Best Outdoor Security Camera Reviews
Our take
The Nest Cam Outdoor is easy to self-install, and control using the Nest mobile app on your smartphone. It’s equipped with popular camera features including two-way audio, activity zones and person alerts to detect people instead of objects.
Stand-out features include
- Person alerts to detect people
- 130-degree viewing angle
- Custom activity zones and alerts
Our take
The Kasa Cam outdoor is filled with features to guard your yard. It’s equipped with custom motion zones and a siren you can trigger using the TP-Link app to scare off unwanted guests. You can also see what’s happening around your home using your Fire TV, smartphone or Google Chromecast. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It’s easy to self-install and has a weatherproof design guaranteed to work with rain or dust.
Stand-out features include
- Works with Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Built-in siren
- Custom motion zones
Our take
Abode’s doorbell camera also functions as an indoor and outdoor camera to give you everything you need for your home’s surveillance. When a person is detected, the Abode Outdoor Smart Cam will automatically start recording, so you don’t miss a moment. We love that, like SimpliSafe, this camera works with the Abode system and as a standalone option. However, if you want some popular smart features like voice commands, you’ll need a paid subscription.
Stand-out features include
- Works as an indoor, outdoor, or doorbell camera, and comes with a doorbell mount
- Voice control using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- Intelligent person detection to reduce false alerts
Our take
Lorex’s popular outdoor camera gives you 250-feet of night vision, 4x zoom and 4K video resolution to provide you with the best view of what’s happening at all times. However, Lorex only offers local storage to save and playback your videos, and you’ll get a 3TB hard drive. You can connect up to eight cameras for full coverage of your home. This outdoor camera is easy to set up with Power over Ethernet and the Innovative Lorex Cloud™ mobile app. You’ll be able to use the app to get motion-triggered alerts and playback videos anytime.
Stand-out features include
- 4K video resolution
- 250 feet of night vision
- Local storage with a 3TB hard drive
Our take
The Blink XT2 Camera provides a 110-degree field of view and is designed to work well in outdoor environments. You’ll receive notifications when activity is detected, and you’ll also get free cloud storage for your footage.
Stand-out features include
- Works with Alexa and IFTTT
- Made with two-way audio to clearly speak to guests
- Includes night vision for crystal clear camera footage in the dark
- IP65-certified weatherproof outdoor security camera
Outdoor Security Camera Clip Storage
You’ll likely have two options to store your security camera footage – local or cloud storage. Here’s the difference.
Local – You’ll need to install an SD card in your camera in order to record activity. Once the card is full you’ll need to upload the footage to your computer or another device to continue recording footage. On the other hand, some cameras will automatically record over old footage.
Cloud – You’ll be able to access your footage using the camera’s mobile app or online portal from anywhere. Most companies charge at least $5/mo. for cloud storage. Your monthly cost will depend on your provider, amount of storage you need and other features included in the plan such as continuous video recording (CVR) or professional monitoring. Keep in mind, the monthly cost may be more if you have multiple cameras.
Most people trust cloud storage because of extra data and privacy measures taken to protect your footage and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
Factors to Consider Before Buying an Outdoor Home Security Camera
Before you start narrowing down your favorite camera, there are a few points to think about:
Power source
Outdoor cameras come with a few options to stay connected to power. Some rely on solar, while others are battery-powered or simply plug into an outlet indoors. A few are even hardwired to your home’s electrical system depending on your home security provider.
Your power source depends on your preference, but you’ll want to keep in mind how your camera will continue to get power during an outage. For this reason, many people prefer battery-powered cameras with a rechargeable battery pack. Others that are plugged-in or wired have a backup battery just in case.
Placement
Most cameras are mounted up high for a few reasons. They’re harder for intruders to reach and tamper with. Plus, cameras mounted up higher for a better view of your home’s vicinity. No matter where you place your camera, make sure it has a sturdy mounting template and is easy to stay connected to the power source.
Here are common places to set-up your camera outside of your home:
- Near the front and back door
- Outside of the garage or sheds
- Driveways
- Facing side streets and alleyways
Field of View
Your field of view is how much of your home’s vicinity your camera will show. The wider the field of view, the better view of your home. Keep in mind that some cameras have a warping effect to show cameras from a fish-eye view. You’ll want to avoid this for the best view outside of your home. And if it’s not enough, it might be best to add a few extra cameras.
Recording
Some cameras have continuous video recording (CVR) to record activity outside of your home constantly. Many cameras offer this feature, but for others it’s an add-on. Others only record when the camera’s motion sensor is triggered. Before you buy a camera, make sure you know when your camera will record and for how long.
Shop Indoor Security Cameras
Looking for better security equipment inside your home? Get started with an indoor security camera.
Explore Additional Security Camera Resources
Looking for more information before you decide on a camera? We’ve got you covered. Check out a few of our top picks to help you learn more before you pick the perfect camera for your home.