If you want to protect your home and family, and your home security system isn’t equipped with outdoor security cameras, now may be a good time to consider adding this crucial tool to your system. Motion-activated cameras not only provide the opportunity to keep tabs on your property and gather evidence in the event of a crime, they also have the advantage of being “smarter” than regular cameras. A motion detector camera can alert you when there’s activity around your home, start recording when someone enters view, and in some cases even tell the difference between people and animals to cut down on false alarms.
We’ll go over our top 10 best motion-activated security cameras, looking at what’s so great about them, what to look for in a camera system and how to pair your motion cameras with other smart home devices.
Bottom Line
All of the cameras and camera systems below made our top picks for a reason, and they all have something to offer. But if you want to cut to the chase, our favorite is the Arlo Ultra. Although not for everyone due to its cost, the Arlo Ultra has the best specs across the board, is consistently well-reviewed and goes above and beyond with features such as color night vision and 4K resolution.
The Arlo Ultra is smart home compatible, easy to install and flexible as well. It can be used as an indoor or outdoor camera, offers activity zones to reduce the number of false notifications, includes a motion-sensing spotlight and has high-quality two-way audio. The only thing you may want that Arlo doesn’t offer is professional monitoring. But if you’re looking for an amazing self-monitored camera, the Arlo Ultra is a cut above.
| Equipment Price | $248.49 | $499 for 3-camera system | $189.99 | $199.99 | $29.99 | $59.99 | $119.99 | $169 | $99.99 | $299 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring starting price | N/A | $49/mo. | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $19/mo.* |
| Installation | DIY | DIY | DIY | Self | DIY | DIY | DIY | DIY | DIY | DIY |
| Monitoring | Self | Professional | Self | Self | Self | Self | Self | Self | Self | Self or Pro* |
| Night vision | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Field of view | 189 degrees | 130 degrees | 155 degrees | 160 degrees | 120 degrees | 125 degrees | 135 degrees | 147 degrees | 110 degrees | 130 degrees |
| Video resolution | 4K HDR | 1080p | 1080p | 2K HDR | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Smart home capability | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our take
The Arlo Ultra is Arlo’s latest wireless security camera. It can be installed indoors or outdoors using a magnetic or hardwired mount. It uses 4K HDR for sharp video footage and close-up zoom for a closer look at activity. This weatherproof security camera includes enhanced night vision and advanced dewarping to see your home’s vicinity clearly without the ‘fisheye’ view that most cameras show with a wide-angle lens.
Stand-out features include
- Includes enhanced night vision to see clear live or recorded video footage in color
- Works with the Apple Watch, Google Home Hub and Amazon Alexa
- Includes a built-in spotlight that is automatically triggered when motion is detected
- Battery powered with a rechargeable battery
Our take
Deep Sentinel is a little different than other security or camera companies. This company offers one type of camera and one service: proactive, advanced professional monitoring assisted by artificial intelligence and human agents. Deep Sentinel’s monitoring service responds faster than other services by detecting intruders before they enter, rather than waiting for a breach to take action.
Stand-out features include
- Proactive monitoring
- Sophisticated, waterproof equipment
- Two-way audio
Our take
Similar to its better-known competitor the Ring Floodlight, The Maximus Camera Floodlight offers features not available on its rival, like a 155-degree field of view, motion detection up to 70 feet, free cloud storage and wall and ceiling mounting options. The Maximus Camera Floodlight doesn’t come with professional monitoring, but with a subscription of anywhere between $5 and $20 per month, you can get AI motion detection, more cloud storage and motion detection zone capability.
Stand-out features include
- Pre-recorded messages
- Two-way audio
- Wi-fi enabled
Our take
The Arlo Pro 3 can help you guard your home with deterrence features like a siren and spotlight, designed to make lurkers think twice. This camera has sharp 2K resolution and a 160-degree field of view. Watch recordings, set up custom motion zones, and more with Arlo’s mobile app.
Stand-out features include
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit
- Comes with deterrence features like a siren and spotlight
- Sharp 2K video recording
- 160-degree field of view
Our take
The Wyze Cam Pan is designed with a 360-degree swivel for a pan-view of your home. It shows crystal clear camera footage with 1080p HD video quality, digital zoom, a 120-degree field of view and night vision. This wireless security camera also works with Amazon Alexa for hands-free camera control. The Wyze Cam Pan automatically records 12-second videos when your camera detects motion and sends an instant push notification to view real-time footage. Wyze also offers free cloud storage for up to 14 days of footage and continuous recording and storage using local storage such as a microSD card.
Stand-out features include
- 120-degree field of view
- 1080p HD video quality
- Works with Amazon Alexa and IFTTT
- Equipped with two-way audio to speak with guests
- Continuous video recording
Our take
The Tend Insights Lynx Indoor 2 is affordable and flexible, making it perfect for renters or homeowners who want to have control over how their camera system is used. With Alexa compatibility, Wi-Fi capability and two-way audio, along with clear, 30-frames-per-second, 1080p resolution, this camera can be used in a number of ways to add security and help you monitor both the inside and outside of your home.
Stand-out features include
- Affordable
- Two-way audio
- Facial recognition
Our take
If you want to give Alexa eyes, The ZModo Pivot Cloud might be for you. This is a mid-priced indoor camera that can rotate almost all the way around to give you a 350-degree view of any room and acts as a smart home hub compatible with Alexa. It comes with four door/window sensors, which makes it a near-complete self-monitored home security system.
Stand-out features include
- 350-degree rotation
- Alexa compatible
- Door/window sensors included
Our take
A unique camera, the Canary Pro is capable of detecting motion as well as monitoring your home’s temperature and air quality. It features AI-powered person detection so you can receive smart alerts. The Canary Pro is also compatible for use with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Package Features
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- 147-degree field of view
- 1080p HD video quality with two-way audio
- Includes a 90-decibel alarm
Our take
The Blink Outdoor 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 Amazon Alexa
- 2-year battery life
- Easy local storage
- Alexa compatible
10. Nest Cam IQ Indoor
Our take
The Nest Cam IQ Indoor features a 130-degree field of view, infrared night vision, person alerts, and HD two-way audio. You can also get Familiar Face Alerts with a Nest Aware subscription and use Google Assistant for hands-free control.
Stand-out features include
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- 1080p HD video with a 4k sensor
- Access to artificial intelligence features like facial recognition with subscription
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Showing 10 of 10 products
What Smart Devices Should I Pair With My Security Camera?
How We Chose the Best Motion-Activated Security Cameras
We scoured our database for the 10 most stand-out motion-activated cameras, looking at factors such as affordability, monitoring options, video resolution and extra features like two-way audio, activity zones, facial recognition and smart home compatibility. We picked cameras that met a minimum set of feature requirements and also offered great resolution, night vision and other basic quality features that any great camera should have. Only cameras and camera systems that met our basic requirements, received consistently good reviews and offered up something special made our list.
Conclusion
Security cameras in general are known to enhance security both for homes and businesses, and motion-activated cameras are an even more advanced version of this crucial technology. Hopefully, you now have a good sense of the benefits of motion sensor cameras. You know what to look for when you’re ready to shop, as well as how motion camera systems and outdoor security cameras fit into the big picture when it comes to your home security system and smart home. And you know what our research has revealed about the top camera systems available today. You can use this information to make an informed choice about your system and enhance your home’s safety, whether you’re already using a home security system or are just starting out.
Motion Activated Security Camera FAQs
Do I need Wi-Fi for my security camera?
Not necessarily. Some camera systems communicate via cell networks and others such as Deep Sentinel communicate with a smart hub that talks to the home office directly.
How much should I expect to pay for a motion-activated security camera?
Motion cameras come in a wide range of prices from as low at $29.99 for the Wyze Cam Pan all the way up to $300 for the Nest Cam IQ Indoor.
Do all cameras have two-way voice?
No. Many cameras such as the Arlo Pro 3 do include two-way voice communication but some cameras leave this feature off.
Can my security camera be hacked?
Yes, some cameras can be hacked, exposing data and images to intruders who might have bad intentions. It’s important to make sure you protect your camera system from hackers so that your valuable camera data isn’t exposed. Fortunately, if you take the proper steps, your chances of having your camera hacked are greatly reduced.
What other home security products should I consider?
At the least, you should consider a reliable, basic home security system with entry detectors. Professional monitoring is highly recommended to make sure your home is looked after at all times. From there, consider motion detectors, doorbell cameras and door and window sensors to cover all your home security bases.
