Best Wireless Home Security Cameras of 2024
Wireless home security cameras are a great way to keep an eye on your home, your loved ones and your packages -- all with the convenience of no wires and cords.
- Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing.
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What to consider
Security cameras are no longer exclusive to the rich and famous. Nowadays, anyone can get the peace of mind that comes from having a security camera to protect their home. Whether you want the added security or you just want to be able to keep an eye on deliveries and who's at your door, a wireless security camera is a worthwhile purchase. You don't even need to hire an electrician to set it up. Whether you want to protect the inside or outside of your home, these are some of the best wireless security cameras of 2024.
Installation is significantly less involved, making the whole process easier. And the best thing about wireless security cameras is that when you need to relocate one, moving it is hassle-free. We've collected a number of the very best wireless home security cameras on the market to make finding the right one easier.
What is the overall best wireless home security camera?
You can find countless battery-powered security cameras out there, but who's got the spare time to comb through all of the options? We do. Our CNET experts have spent years testing the best cams on the market to find the best wireless security camera option for you. I considered surveillance camera factors like field of view, video quality and storage, battery life, whether it connects to your existing smart home, and if it provides a mobile app with recording options.
After thorough testing, we landed on the Arlo Pro 3 With Floodlight as the best of the best wireless home security camera. With its inclusion of weatherproof housing, crisp HD livestreaming, reliable alerts, and true security camera features with arming and disarming capabilities, this camera is a standout among the rest of the pack.
Best wireless home security cameras of 2024
You don't have to hard-wire the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera.
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","imageCredit":"Arlo","imageAltText":"floodlightenvironment.png","imageFilename":"floodlightenvironment.png","imageWidth":4000,"imageHeight":3200,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2020-01-05","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"n74fy37e3tkj918","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__e8d26fb3-df2e-44a9-b953-e038cd371a6c" index="1" imagecredit="Arlo" tagslugs="hv90,google-assistant,home-security,alexa,wyze,logitech,siri" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="FAQ Markup + BL Precap" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">Arlo's floodlight camera is the best on the market -- and unlike most floodlight cams, you can install it without wires. It includes weatherproof housing, crisp HD livestreaming, reliable alerts, and true security camera features with arming and disarming capabilities -- plus a built-in siren and a very bright built-in floodlight. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant too.
Best wireless outdoor camera
Arlo Pro 4
Arlo's latest Pro series camera is a fantastic device with features to spare. It boasts 2K HDR resolution, a 160-degree field of view, two-way talk, full-color night vision, a built-in siren and spotlight, compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit -- the list goes on.
This powerhouse of a camera lists for $200 -- pricier than super-affordable options like Wyze Cam V3, but easily worth the premium. For $3 per month, you can also get smart alerts, motion zones, 30 days of event history and a few other cool features. This wireless outdoor security camera has a local storage option to secure your videos directly from your home security system to your Arlo Base Station. In short, the Arlo Pro 4 is a fantastic home security camera for most people.
Wyze has a fantastic wireless video doorbell for $100, and you can sometimes find it for less. The Video Doorbell Pro has a tall and wide 1:1 aspect ratio with a 1,440x1,440-pixel resolution. It has everything else you'd expect a video doorbell in 2023 to have: two-way talk, live streaming, smart alerts and so on. Wyze even comes with a plug-in chime so you don't have to wire it or rely on app notifications. In short, this thing is a pretty unbeatable deal.
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Wyze Video Doorbell Pro
Editors' note, Sept. 22, 2023: A reported security breach has affected some Wyze camera users. Out of caution and until Wyze resolves its systems for reporting breaches to users, we've removed our Editors' Choice designation from Wyze products. We will update this page as we reevaluate home security cameras and accessories.
Wyze has a fantastic wireless video doorbell for $100, and you can sometimes find it for less. The Video Doorbell Pro has a tall and wide 1:1 aspect ratio with a 1,440x1,440-pixel resolution. It has everything else you'd expect a video doorbell in 2023 to have: two-way talk, live streaming, smart alerts and so on. Wyze even comes with a plug-in chime so you don't have to wire it or rely on app notifications. In short, this thing is a pretty unbeatable deal.
Wireless home security cameras compared
| Arlo Pro 4 | Arlo Pro 3 With Floodlight | Wyze Video Doorbell Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $158 | $159 | $100 |
| Resolution | 2K | 2K resolution with HDR | 1,440x1,440 pixels |
| Field of view | 160 degrees | 160 degrees wide | 150 degrees |
| Setup | Wireless, indoor/outdoor | Wireless, outdoors only | Wireless, outdoors only |
| Extra features | Live streaming, two-way talk, night vision, weather resistance | Weatherproof housing, crisp HD livestreaming, reliable alerts, built-in siren, integration with Alexa and Google Assistant. | Two-way talk, live streaming, smart alerts, cloud storage |
| Review score | 8.5 | 9 | 8.9 |
Factors to consider when choosing a wireless security camera
Does it work with smart home platforms? If so, do the smart features work well together?
Nowadays, home security cameras are expected to work with at least one major smart home platform. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit are the main ones you need to look for.
How's the live view?
Wireless security cameras and video doorbells are often exposed to direct sunlight, weather and other natural elements, but many others are installed under porches, near shady trees and in all sorts of other settings. It's important that the camera has crisp, clear video footage or even night vision, so you don't get stuck with grainy and unusable footage.
Local vs. cloud storage
Not all video storage is equal. You have two main options and picking one is up to your personal preference. There's cloud storage, which sends your video footage to a remote server to be saved, and local storage, which relies on a separate accessory or piece of hardware, usually a microSD card, to hold any footage you'd like to save. Usually, cloud storage requires a monthly fee.
How we test wireless security cameras
Hands-on testing is core to our evaluations of home security products. In short, when it comes to security cameras, we pay special attention to resolution, night vision and latency, extra features, general performance, and overall value. We evaluate all of these elements in a real home environment over the course of a week.
If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.