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The 16 Best Travel Safety Products of 2024

From door alarms to fake wedding bands, here are your travel safety essentials.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Tips for Buying
• Why Trust T+L

Travel & Leisure / Kevin Liang

Ensuring your personal safety and well-being is just as important as making memories and enjoying la dolce vita while traveling (if not more so). Luckily, staying safe while abroad or on a trip across the country doesn’t take much to get right. Simply come prepared with a few travel-focused safety products to give you peace of mind while you’re on the move. 

We’ve rounded up some of the best safety products available, including those which we personally use. We especially love the Birdie Personal Safety Alarm, Monsin Door Stop Alarm, and Raytix RFID Money Belt, which can all help you stay safe in any situation you might encounter while traveling.

Best Door Wedge

Monsin door stop alarm.

This door stop doesn’t just block unwanted visitors — it actually includes a built-in alarm that will sound if someone tries to tamper with your hotel room door.

This alarm is very sensitive and could go off if room service or housekeeping staff attempt to enter your room.

It can be hard to fall asleep in a strange hotel room — even if it’s a plush five-star property. Whether you’re traveling solo or have a travel buddy sharing your room, the Monsin Door Stop Alarm is a great option for giving you peace of mind while you’re sleeping. Just wedge it into the closed hotel room door and it’ll keep unwanted visitors out by acting as a powerful doorstop. This option also comes with a built-in alarm that will ring if anyone tries to tamper with or open your door.

Best Secondary Door Lock

Winonly travel door lock for hotel rooms.

This budget-friendly door-locking system adds another layer of security to your hotel room and is pretty simple to set up.

This option might not fit very well on doors that have weatherproofing or other large seams along the doorframe.

The Winonly Travel Door Lock for Hotel Rooms is a great safety alternative for travelers who don’t want an alarm triggered when hotel staff enter the room for cleaning or turn-down services. Use this portable door lock by attaching it to the hole on the door jam, then inserting the red handle into the lock-in-place. It’s quick and efficient to use and install, and can also be easily removed in the dark for emergencies that require quick evacuation.

Best Personal Alarm

Birdie personal safety alarm.

This personal safety alarm is small, subtle, and can easily be slipped into your pocket or handbag.

Some reviewers note that this alarm should be louder and more offensive, especially for those traveling in big cities.

You never know when a personal safety alarm will come in handy — even in your own hometown or city. This alarm will immediately draw attention to you if your personal safety is threatened, if you encounter a pickpocket, or find yourself in any other unsavory situation.

This small device looks more like a USB drive than a personal safety alarm, and it fits conveniently into your pocket or handbag so you can keep it on you at all times. The compact alarm system sounds when you remove the top pin. To turn it off, just slide the pin back into place. 

Best Motion Detector

Crevant portable mini motion detector alarm.

This compact motion detector is ultra-lightweight and small, so it’s easy to slip into a suitcase or carry-on bag.

The instructions aren’t very clear which makes the initial setup a bit difficult.

This small but mighty portable miniature motion detector alarm is a great alternative (or add-on) to a door wedge or door alarm. The compact safety product is extremely quick to trigger the alarm if it senses movement in the direction it's pointed — making it a great option for larger hotel rooms or suites where you don’t have your eye on the entrance at all times. Make sure to keep the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door so you don’t set off a false alarm when housekeeping or other hotel staff attempt to enter your room.

Best Retractable Cable Lock

Lewis n clark triple security lock.

This cable lock offers extra strong, triple-security material that ensures it can’t be cut through or tampered with.

The lock itself can sometimes be finicky and may take a few minutes to get open.

Travel safety products range beyond personal safety items — to ensure a safe trip, you’ll also need to think about keeping your belongings secure while en route, and when you’re out and about. That’s where the Lewis N Clark Triple Security Lock comes in. This extra-strength lock can prevent thieves from getting into your handbag or backpack. It’s also TSA-approved, which means you can use it on your checked luggage without worrying about having it cut off or confiscated while in transit.

Best Luggage Tracker

Eufy smarttrack link.

• Ease of Setup 5 /5
• Accuracy 5 /5
• Functionality 5 /5
• Design 4.5 /5

This subtle and compact tracker can easily be thrown in your handbag, backpack, or suitcase.

It is only compatible with Apple devices.

Most frequent flyers will tell you to buy a luggage tracker immediately if you plan on checking your luggage or taking a large carry-on on the plane with you. Adding the Eufy SmartTrack Link to your suitcase will allow you to easily track your belongings at all times. So if you do end up losing your luggage while in transit, you can pinpoint where it is — which can actually help the airline crew to expedite the process of getting your luggage back to you. We found the Eufy SmartTrack Link to be easy to use with Apple's Find My app, so you don't waste time learning a new system or downloading additional apps.

Best Portable Safe

Pacsafe travelsafe portable safe.

This portable safe isn’t imposing or heavy like a traditional metal safe — but it’ll keep your valuables just as secure while on the move.

The slim shape and flat bottom make it difficult to fit items like laptops or cameras.

Keeping your gear secure while at the beach can be a challenge — especially for solo travelers who don’t have someone with them to watch their stuff while they take a dip in the water or grab a drink at the pool bar. That’s where the Pacsafe Travelsafe Gii 5 Liter Portable Safe comes in. This unique portable safe isn’t a traditional metal security box — instead it’s lightweight and easily portable for travel. Another key feature is that it can easily be locked to a tree or a pool chair, making it extremely difficult for potential thieves to make a stealthy getaway with your belongings.

Best Money Belt

Raytix rfid money belt.

• Ease of Use 5 /5
• Comfort 5 /5
• Capacity 5 /5
• Performance 5 /5
• Quality 5 /5

This money belt fits beneath your clothing without looking bulky or obvious.

The small inside pocket is in the corner of the bag, so it's difficult to actually fit items inside.

If you’re more comfortable keeping your valuables hidden away in a discreet money belt than in a backpack or handbag, then you should absolutely consider the Raytix RFID Money Belt. When tested, we found it especially useful for carrying large amounts of cash or for storing passports on you for long periods of time.

This budget-friendly money belt is ultra-slim, discreet, and features RFID-blocking technology to ensure your cards stay safe from potential thieves. Plus, the two front pockets help keep you organized to access all items easily and quickly.

Best Anti-theft Backpack

Sherpani esprit at.

• Capacity 3 /5

This backpack features a slash-resistant bottom, zippers that clasp together, and can be worn on your back or front.

The small front pocket is a bit too small for most smart phones.

This anti-theft crossbody backpack is a stylish yet functional option for any adventure. It can easily be worn on your front or back and the shoulder strap is secured with a clip, so you don't need to lift it over your head to put on or take off. It is made from recycled materials and features a slash-resistant bottom, plus other safety features like RFID protection, locking zippers, and a wire-loop chair lock.

This bag is also the perfect size for day trips and features plenty of pockets, including an exterior water bottle pocket and shoulder strap pocket to keep small essentials easily accessible. With seven fun colors and patterns to choose from, the Sherpani Espirit offers something for everyone trying to stay safe on the go.

Best Hidden Stash Spot

Lokistashed 3-pack velvet hair tie scrunchies.

This hidden stash spot doubles as a functional (and stylish) hair scrunchie.

The zipper isn’t easy to hide and is noticeable on the lighter colorways.

Looking for a spot to safely stash a handful of cash without having to bring along your wallet or handbag? LokiStashed 3-pack Velvet Hair Tie Scrunchies are among our personal favorite options when it comes to discreet storage on the go. These velvet scrunchies function the exact same way a regular scrunchie does — but you can easily store at least a few folded-up bills inside without drawing any attention. It’s great for traveling in busy cities, and is a convenient choice if you’re heading out the door at home and don’t want to be weighed down with a handbag.

Best Fake Wedding Band

Thunderfit women breathable air grooves silicone wedding ring.

This affordable and comfortable silicone wedding band will send the desired message without attracting thieves or appearing overly flashy.

These wedding bands run large so you might want to size down at least a full ring size in order to ensure a proper fit.

Depending on where in the world you’re traveling , you may experience unwanted attention — especially if you’re a solo female traveler. If you’re worried about finding yourself in a situation where you feel harassed or unsafe, then wearing a fake wedding band might be a smart idea.

The ThunderFit Women Breathable Air Grooves Silicone Wedding Ring is a great option for this purpose. It isn’t flashy like a diamond engagement ring, so it won’t attract attention from potential thieves, but it’ll still send the right message to those who might otherwise be difficult to shrug off. These rings are waterproof and breathable, so you won’t have to worry about developing an unsightly green line across your finger, either.

Best First Aid Kit

First aid only all-purpose essentials first aid kit.

• Ease of Use 4 /5
• Organization 3 /5
• Quality 4 /5

This kit includes everything you need in a pinch.

At over nine inches long, it's not the most compact first aid kit out there.

This handy first aid kit comes with all the essentials from ibuprofen tablets to tweezers. Whether you're exploring a major city or hiking a new trail, this kit can help in the case of blisters, burns, headaches, cuts, and more. The 298-piece kit is organized with like-items together, so you can quickly access exactly what you need. Plus, it comes in a lightweight and waterproof carrying case so you can leave it in your vehicle or pack in a day bag to ensure that you're fully prepared for health issues on the go.

Best Passport Wallet

Melsbrinna waterproof rfid-blocking travel wallet.

Your passport fits snugly on one side of the wallet, so it's easy to slide out at customs.

There is no space to store coins.

We love a wallet that's large enough to safely store your passport and this Melsbrinna case is the perfect, safe-yet-stylish option that even includes RFID-blocking technology. Your passport sits on one side of this wallet and the other side features four slots for your credit cards, ID, transit cards, and more. There is also a pocket designed to hold your ticket or other important small documents and two pockets made to keep SIM cards safe. Throughout our travels, we loved that this passport wallet kept all of our items secure, but never felt cumbersome and, in fact, easily fits inside any purse or travel backpack.

Best Reflective Layer

Rei co-op active pursuits cycling jacket.

It's light, wind-resistant, and water-repellent, so it will keep you comfortable in any weather.

The hood may not fit over all bike helmets.

For a reflective layer that will guarantee you're seen whether hiking, walking, cycling, or running, this REI jacket in men's and women's sizes is the perfect choice. The neon yellow fabric features 360-degree reflective details to keep you visible even at night and is so light you can wear it year-round. If you're running or cycling in the heat, the underarm vents area breathable addition that also improves mobility. In winter months, this lightweight layer won't add too much weight to your standard set-up, but will keep you safe as the sun sets earlier.

Best Safety Bracelet

Flare smart safety bracelet.

Without touching your phone, the Flare Bracelet can alert your friends and/or emergency services of possible danger.

It is not yet compatible with Androids.

When traveling solo or to a new location, this bracelet helps keep you connected and safe. The discreet bracelet looks like an average stylish accessory, but uses Bluetooth technology to pair with an iOS app, so you can tap the bracelet in different ways depending on your needs. Hold the hidden button down to text your location to your friends, press the button once to get a pre-recorded phone call to offer you an excuse to leave a situation, or press and hold the button for three seconds to send your location to emergency services.

The bracelet works even when you're up to ten feet away from your phone and the battery lasts a full year, so you don't have to worry about charging the device. It can also be used internationally as long as you have Wi-fi or cell services in your location.

Best Drink Tester

Philmedi gcheck date rape drug test sticker.

It's designed so you can stick it on the back of your phone for discreet and handy use wherever you go.

Each sticker can only be used once.

While we hope you would never feel the need to test your drink, it's always important to be prepared, especially if you're traveling alone or notice someone hovering near your beverage. These discreet stickers test for GHB in less than one minute, so you can protect yourself quickly and effectively. They're conveniently designed to be attached to your phone, wallet, or other item you always carry with a micro-film on the outside to be removed if and when you want to test your drink. Then, you simply tap a bit of the beverage on the sticker and wait to see if it changes color.

Tips for Buying Travel Safety Products

Consider every step of your journey.

You’ll want to think about the potential risks you’ll be taking throughout your trip, from getting there to exploring your destination, and while staying at your hotel or Airbnb. Travel safety products range significantly from items focusing on solo female travelers’ personal safety to items that protect against theft. Think about where you’re going and what makes the most sense for the destination or type of travel you have in mind, and go from there.

Pick the best way and place to secure valuables

This is something to think about before embarking on your adventure — not just to avoid potential theft, but also to make sure you don’t accidentally misplace anything. You’ll want to know where your valuables are at all times, whether they be jewelry, cash and credit cards, or your passport. Keeping your belongings in a personal safe or money belt while traveling can help give you peace of mind while also keeping you organized. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, Kaitlyn McInnis used her experience as a travel writer and solo female traveler to curate the best options to suit most needs.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.

Related Articles

The best travel camera for 2024: the finest choices for your adventures

The best travel cameras for your next big trip

• Best overall
• Best-looking
• Best action cam
• Best tough camera
• Best premium compact
• Best small full-frame
• Best hybrid vlogger

Best for moving subjects

• Best superzoom

How to choose

• How we test

1. The list in brief 2. Best for most people 3. Best value 4. Best-looking 5. Best action 6. Best tough 7. Best premium compact 8. Best small full-frame 9. Best hybrid travel vlogger 10. Best for moving subjects 11. Best superzoom bridge 12. How to choose 13. How we test

Road trip or flyaway vacation, the best travel cameras let you capture incredible images of your holiday adventures. From action cameras to compact mirrorless models, we've extensively reviewed the top travel-friendly cameras and rounded up our recommendations in the expert guide below. Whatever your itinerary, this is list is your ticket to the ideal travel camera.

Based on our tests, we think the best travel camera overall is the OM System OM-5. A portable, weatherproof Micro Four Thirds model, it shoots higher quality images than a smartphone while offering the useful flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

Whatever your expectations and budget, you'll find a travel camera to fit the bill below. Our list includes some of the best mirrorless cameras , as well as some of the top compact cameras . Our expert reviewers have spent many hours testing the best options, using them in the real world to assess how well they perform when traveling. You'll find the results distilled in the list below, together with buying advice to consider when choosing a travel camera.

Tim is TechRadar's Cameras editor, with over 15 years in the photo video industry and most of those in the world of tech journalism, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with all things camera related. He’s also worked in video production with clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare time to consult a non-profit, diverse stories team based in Nairobi.

The quick list

If you don’t have time to read our full list of the best travel cameras, you can read the round-up below for a shortcut to the top options for your needs and budget. If you find one that takes your fancy, use the links to jump to our full write-up.

The best travel camera overall

Squeezing a host of features into a compact, weatherproof body that’s compatible with a range of lenses, the OM-5 is the ideal travel camera.

Read more below

The best value travel camera

With a large 1-inch sensor and useful 15x optical zoom, the Panasonic TZ200 puts smartphone-beating performance in your pocket.

The best-looking travel camera

Don’t be fooled by its lovely retro looks: the Nikon Z fc is every bit the modern travel camera, with a useful touchscreen and top image quality.

The best action camera for travel

The GoPro Hero 12 Black is the best all-round action camera available ideal for capturing your adrenaline-filled travels, with 8:9 sensor ideal for sharing travel videos to social.

The best tough travel camera

For rough and tumble travels you'll want a tough camera and they don't come much better than the OM System Tough TG-7.

The best premium compact

With a large sensor, fixed 23mm focal length, small form factor, retro design and film simulations, the X100VI is a powerful tool for street photography and documenting your travels.

Load the next 4 products...

The best small full-frame camera

Combining a small form factor with a high-res 61MP sensor and fantastic autofocus, the Sony A7C R is the best full-frame camera for travel photography.

The best hybrid for travel vlogging

A capable sensor and automated settings, including a Vlogging mode, make the Fujifilm X-S20 an accessible tool for stills and video on the go.

The best for moving subjects

The compact A6700 uses AI-powered autofocus to reliably snap on to animals, insects, cars and more. The Fuji X-S20 is better for video, though.

The best superzoom camera

Even with a 1-inch sensor, the Sony RX10 IV delivers sharp stills and video, with the added versatility of a generous 24-600mm zoom range.

The best travel cameras in 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best travel cameras in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

1. OM System OM-5

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

✅ You want a robust travel camera: Light enough to travel with but tough enough to deal with bad weather, the OM-5 is a ruggedly dependable camera. ✅ You shoot handheld a lot: The OM-5 has excellent image stabilization for stills, meaning you can cross a tripod off your packing list.

❌ You want the best image quality: Its Micro Four Thirds sensor is decent enough, but some rivals offer more pixels and better low light performance. ❌ You have large hands: Handling is surprisingly good for a small camera, but the grip is not very deep, especially for those with bigger hands.

The OM-5 is only a relatively minor update of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III , but its combination of talents make it an ideal travel camera in our book – particularly if you want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. It shoehorns a lot of features into a compact, weatherproof body that's compatible with a wealth of equally small lenses. Most of its skills, including excellent in-body image stabilization and computational photography modes, are also designed with travelers and adventurers in mind.

Our tests found that the OM-5 delivers excellent video and stills quality for its size, helped by a stabilization system (good for 6.5-stops of compensation) that gives you a high hit-rate of keepers. We also enjoyed the high-quality feel of the camera's dials, as well as in-camera software tricks, like Live ND and in-camera focus stacking, which are ideal for macro shots or blurring skies for an ethereal effect. Less good are the fairly average EVF resolution, 4K /30p limit for video and relative limitations of its smaller sensor, but these are all acceptable trade-offs considering this camera's size and price.

Read our in-depth OM System OM-5 review

• ^ Back to the top

The best-value travel camera

2. Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200

✅ You want an all-in-one compact: You can’t beat the TZ200 for portability, but it’s also a feature-packed option with a useful zoom range and 1.0-inch sensor. ✅ You want a large zoom range: At 15x optical zoom, the TZ200 offers the versatility to shoot all sorts of subjects on your travels.

❌ You like an ergonomic grip: The Lumix TZ200 has plenty of manual controls on the metal body, but there’s not much of a grip to get your fingers around. ❌ You want a cheap camera: Its generous feature set makes the TZ200 excellent value, but its still pretty pricey for a premium compact.

With smartphones now raising the bar for point-and-shoot photography, compact cameras have to offer something special to justify their place in your travel bag. The ZS200 / TZ200 does that with its large 1-inch sensor and versatile 15x optical zoom. It might be towards the upper end of the compact camera market, but Panasonic 's travel zoom continues to offer great value.

Its large 1in sensor produces better natural image quality than most smartphones, despite the latter's advances in multi-frame processing. Our tests found colors to be nice and punchy, with the dynamic range allowing you to recover lost shadow detail with post-processing if needed. Even at 24mm, vignetting and distortion is nicely controlled. There's also a handy built-in electronic viewfinder, which makes it easier to compose images in bright light. It's still quite pricey, but this is still the best travel zoom compact camera available right now.

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 review

3. Nikon Z fc

✅ You care about camera design: From the retro dials to the circular viewfinder, the Nikon Z fc channels classic style to fantastic effect. ✅ You like manual exposure control: Dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed and exposure, complemented by a lens control ring, give excellent manual control.

❌ You need a wide choice of lenses: There are only a handful of Z-series kit lenses designed for the APS-C format, limiting your options for expansion. ❌ You want a rugged camera: Although it looks like the sturdy FM2, the Z fc isn’t weather-sealed, so it’s not one to take on rainy adventures.

Travel photography is all about capturing memories and Nikon’s Z fc fully embraces the concept of nostalgia: it’s a stunning homage to the 30-year-old Nikon FM2 – complete with retro styling, dimensions and dials. Despite the throwback design, it’s a very modern camera inside, sharing many of its specs with the capable Nikon Z50. While some photographers might wish for a full-frame sensor, the Z fc’s APS-C number does a stellar job of capturing stills and 4K video, aided by reliable tracking autofocus. Our tests found that its 20.9MP sensor had an excellent handle on noise, especially under ISO 800, while dynamic range was impressive.

Its vari-angle touchscreen is also a brilliant addition, making it easy to frame travel selfies – or folding away completely for a leather-back look that lets you pretend it's the Eighties. The Nikon Z fc isn’t as sturdy as the camera that inspired it (there’s no weatherproofing, for example), but it’s still a beautifully unique camera for casual use. And with dedicated dials for ISO, shutter speed and exposure, plus a customizable lens ring, it’s also an easy one to control on the go.

Read our in-depth Nikon Z fc review

4. GoPro Hero 12 Black

✅ You want a rugged travel camera: Waterproof down to 10m, the GoPro Hero 12 Black is a great choice for capturing action-packed travels. ✅ You plan to share on social: The 8:7 aspect ratio of its sensor gives you lots of flexibility to crop footage for social, including vertical videos.

❌ You plan to shoot in low light: Its 1/1.9in sensor shoots sharp footage, but it still struggles with noise handling in lower lighting conditions. ❌ You want a hybrid for stills: While the sensor can shoot 27MP stills, you’ll get a better photography experience from a standard alternative.

If you're looking for a high resolution action camera for your travels that's as comfortable shooting smooth videos as it is crisp photos, then the GoPro Hero 12 Black tops the bill. It was an underwhelming update of the Hero 11 Black, but that's not necessarily a bad thing because that camera was already highly capable. There's the same 1/1.9in sensor with versatile 8:9 aspect ratio – you can reframe footage for different social channels without sacrificing quality, and its max resolution of 5.3K/60p beats the DJI Osmo Action 4. You can capture dramatic TimeWarps at the full 5.3K resolution, shoot photo sequences as a rapid 30fps, and pull 24.7MP stills from 5.3K video.

Design-wise, there's no change to the Hero 11 Black, the two rugged models are physically identical and come with a large Enduro battery as standard, giving more time between recharges on the road. The same interface lets you tweak the user experience, with ‘Easy’ and ‘Pro’ modes to suit your skill level. Superior Horizon Lock and HyperSmooth 5.0 smarts do a remarkable job of stabilizing handheld video. Minor updates from the Hero 11 Black are mainly for pros, including flat Log color profiles, 10-bit video, and multi-channel audio capabilities. For most people however, there's little reason to upgrade or to pick the Hero 12 Black over its predecessor which could save you a little money. 

Read our in-depth hands-on GoPro Hero 12 Black review

5. OM System Tough TG-7

✅ You want a hardcore camera: With a case that’s waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof, the OM System Tough TG-7 is built to take a beating. ✅ You like a simple interface: Premium features include RAW shooting and 4K video, but the camera itself is easy to operate, even in tricky conditions.

❌ You want the best image quality: Results from the 1/2.3in sensor are fine, but the TG-7 tends to overexpose, and detail is lost at the telephoto end. ❌ You like using a viewfinder: The Tough TG-7 doesn’t have a viewfinder, and the 3-inch LCD screen has limited visibility in bright sunlight.

The biggest change in the OM System Tough TG-7 and the camera it replaces is in the name – since OM System acquired Olympus, it has wrought extremely minor upgrades to key models from the Olympus range, including the TG-6. None-the-less, we haven't seen another tough camera to better the TG-6 in that time, and so if you want the best tough camera available today, the TG-7 now tops the list. 

Tough cameras like the TG-6 are freeze-proof, shockproof and waterproof and can therefore be used in scenarios that you simply wouldn't consider with your phone or expensive camera, and for that reason the TG-7 is still one of the best travel cameras you can buy. Its industrial design feels reassuringly rugged, while large buttons make it convenient to operate beneath the waves or while wearing gloves, plus its 3-inch LCD display offers decent visibility in most conditions. 

We found image quality to be reasonable for a camera with a 1/2.3-inch sensor, with nice, rich colors – although there was a tendency to overexpose and blow out highlights. An equivalent zoom range of 25-100mm is fair, plus the inclusion of 4K video and raw shooting enhance flexibility. Its image quality might not match your phone for regular photos, but the TG-7 will allow you to be capturing extreme travel memories when you otherwise couldn't, plus there's a range of useful accessories such as a ring light for close up photography. 

Read our in-depth OM System Tough TG-7 review

6. Fujifilm X100VI

✅ You're exploring the city: With a fixed 23mm f/2 lens, Fujifilm's best autofocus, tilt screen and hybrid viewfinder, the X100V is a fantastic choice for street photography. ✅ You want a premium camera: From its retro design to its metal body, the X100V feels well-made and looks the business.

❌ You don’t want a fixed focal length: The 23mm lens is fantastic, but some users will find it limiting, especially if you value the ability to zoom. ❌ You’re on a tight budget: The X100VI is a popular but niche premium camera, and its increased price will put it out of budget for many.

We'd class the Fujifilm X100VI as a niche premium compact camera, but the range has grown in popularity since its inception in 2010 and is more popular than ever. The sixth generation model keeps the fixed 23mm f/2 lens and retro design that's been inspired by 1950s analogue cameras and despite its single focal length and no zoom it is one of the best travel cameras you can buy if it's in your price range.

The X100VI keeps all that users have grown to love about the X100-series; sharp fixed lens, large sensor, retro design, and unique hybrid viewfinder, but then builds on the X100V with a higher-resolution 40MP sensor and in-body image stabilization. The result is a significantly more versatile camera, for example the digital teleconverter can crop into the full image for 50mm (at 20MP) and 70mm (at 10MP) focal length looks, while stablization lets you shoot slower shutter speeds in low light.  

Other key improvements over the X100V include more detailed 6K video and Fujifilm's best-ever autofocus that includes advanced subject detection for photo and video. You can rely on the X100VI as a discreet everyday camera to document the world around, especially your travels, and it comes with 20 film simulation color profiles inspired by actual Fujifilm 35mm film that you can customize with recipes to develop your own style. 

Read our in-depth Fujifilm X100VI review

7. Sony A7C R

✅ You want the sharpest stills: With a 61MP full-frame sensor, you won’t get sharper travel snaps from any other camera in this list. ✅ You want a small, powerful camera: Despite the full-frame sensor inside, the A7C R is very compact and fits neatly in the hand.

❌ You value good handling: The small design has drawbacks, including a compromised viewfinder and absent AF joystick. ❌ You plan to use big lenses: Its compact proportions mean the Sony A7C R is mismatched with larger telephoto lenses.

By combining a small, travel-friendly form factor with a 61MP full frame sensor and fantastic autofocus, Sony has created arguably the ultimate travel camera. Successor to the Sony A7C – already one of our favorite travel photography tools – and announced alongside the A7C II , the A7C R fits nicely in the hand, while a flip screen and new dials offer welcome control.

Equipped with Sony’s top-grade autofocus and AI-powered subject tracking, the A7C R can cleverly and reliably track a broad range of subjects. You won’t find a better full frame sensor, either: borrowed from the A7R V , it captures stunning, pin-sharp stills in all conditions. Cropping potential is vast, and video footage is decent too.

There are trade-offs, though. In testing, we found that the A7C R’s compact proportions come with handling compromises, especially compared to the traditional design of the A7R V. The viewfinder feels small and fiddly, and we wish Sony had included an AF joystick. It’s also not a camera to pair with large telephoto lenses. But the real kicker is the cost: it’s significantly more expensive than the A7C II. That premium means it’s only a camera to consider if you need absolutely the best possible image quality on your travels.

Read our in-depth Sony A7C R review

8. Fujifilm X-S20

✅ You value longevity: The X-S20 has double the battery life of the X-S10, making it a great choice for long days of travel photography. ✅ You shoot video, too: Capturing sharp 26MP stills and 6K/30p open gate video, the Fujifilm X-S20 is a true mirrorless hybrid.

❌ You need weather proofing: Build quality of the X-S20 is good, but you’re better off with the Sony A6700 if you need a weatherproof camera. ❌ You have a limited budget: Its additional features come at the cost of a steep price hike compared to the Fujifilm X-S10, which makes it a harder sell.

Channelling everything we liked about the X-S10 – including a compact, well-balanced body – the Fujifilm X-S20 cements its position as a fantastic mirrorless cameras for travel. It handles comfortably, with simplified dials making it accessible for beginners. In testing, we found new novice-friendly features – such as a dedicated Vlogging mode – also make the X-S20 a forgiving camera for touring first-timers.

The X-S20 is blessed with a proven shooting system, utilising the same 26.1MP sensor as the X-S10 and X-T4 to produce quality stills. It also eases the way for beginners with an automatic scene detection mode, which harnesses the power of Fuji’s latest X-Processor 5 to reliably choose the correct settings. From our first impressions, it works better than the automatic subject tracking, which was a little hit and miss.

With 6K/30p 4:2:2 10-bit internal video recording also on offer, plus in-body image stabilization that worked well in testing, the Fujifilm X-S20 is a solid option for content creators on the move. The lack of weather-sealing will discourage adventurous travellers, while the price tag means it isn’t one to leave in an unattended bag. But at just 26g heavier than its predecessor, the X-S20 is a very capable all-rounder for travel.

Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-S20 review

9. Sony A6700

✅ You want a capable travel hybrid: A sharp APS-C sensor, five-axis stabilization and AI autofocus make the A6700 a great all-rounder to take on the road. ✅ You like to get hands-on: A more ergonomic grip and lots of direct-access buttons make the A6700 a nice camera to handle and use.

❌ You shoot mostly video: The A6700 can record sharp video, but there’s a heavy 1.6x crop on 4K/120p slow-mo and Active SteadyShot stabilization isn’t the best. ❌ You like simple menus: The interface on the A6700 has quite a learning curve, and it can be tricky to navigate when shooting out and about.

It's a close-run thing between the Sony A6700 and the Fujifilm X-S20 above, but if you shoot a lot of moving subjects then the Sony should be your choice. Like the Fuji, it has a 26MP APS-C sensor and comes in a compact, travel-friendly form. And like the Fuji, it's a genuine hybrid, offering decent video options to go with its stills prowess. But there are some key differences.

First, the good: the A6700 has the same AI-powered chipset as the far more expensive Sony A7R V , and this helps it deliver incredible subject tracking; seriously, this camera will lock on to humans, animals, insects, cars, trains, aircraft and more, then follow them unerringly around the frame. However, its video chops aren't as impressive as those of the Fuji. 4K 120p slow-mo footage is subjected to a heavy 1.6x crop, while the five-axis stabilization doesn't work as well when filming as it does when shooting stills. The complex menu system also leaves something to be desired.

Still, it handles well, has a great battery and would make an excellent all-rounder for your next trip - so long as you're slightly more focused on images than video.

Read our in-depth Sony A6700 review

10. Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV

✅ You like to zoom in: With a sharp, fast 24-600mm, the RX100 IV offers fantastic versatility to capture a range of subjects on your travels. ✅ You want an all-in-one option: The RX100 IV is a high-end bridge camera with a big zoom range, high-quality EVF and capable AF system.

❌ You want a small camera: While it ticks most of the boxes for travel photography, the RX100 IV is bigger and heavier than many rivals. ❌ You like a slick touchscreen: Its tilting touchscreen is a useful addition, but you can’t use it to navigate menus or swipe through images.

In terms of offering something for everybody, the RX10 IV ticks a lot of boxes. It's like having a bag full of lenses, but with the benefit of never having to change them. There's a very long zoom (going all the way from 24-600mm), while the maximum aperture is pretty wide throughout the lens. 

The RX10 IV's sensor might not be as a large as the ones you'll find on a mirrorless camera or DSLR, but Sony's 20.1MP one-inch chip proved itself to be very capable in our tests. Noise was well-controlled, and you'd have no problem making an A3 print from one of its files (particularly if you shoot at under ISO 800). 

You also get 24fps shooting, cracking 4K video quality and handling to rival a DSLR. The major downside? The high price – if your budget is tighter, don't forget about this camera's predecessor, the RX10 III .

Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review

How to choose the best travel camera for you

Picking the right travel camera can be trickier than finding affordable flights. You’ll want a shooting tool that’s compact enough to conveniently carry on your travels, yet still capable of capturing sharp stills and stable video of your jet-setting adventures.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when choosing your ideal travel camera. Among the most important is size. While pocketable compacts offer convenience, the quality of your travel snaps will be boosted by the bigger sensors of larger mirrorless models.

If your adventures are likely to involve going off the beaten track, it’s worth considering a travel camera with rugged credentials. This could be one of the best action cameras , such as the GoPro Hero 11 Black – perfect if you plan to shoot quick, slick travel clips. Or it could be a sturdy compact such as the Olympic TG-6, which is one of the best waterproof cameras .

It’s also worth thinking about what subjects you might be shooting on your trip. A long zoom range will be handy on safari , while something light and fast is better for capturing street snaps on a city break. Travel compacts, such as the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200, usually use a zoom lens to cover a range of shooting scenarios. Interchangeable lens cameras like the Fujifilm X-T30 II can similarly offer the flexibility of both worlds, but only if you’re happy to travel with extra barrels in your backpack.

Which type of camera is best for traveling?

Travel cameras come in a range of shapes and sizes. Which style is best for you will depend on how you like to travel, what you like to shoot and how much gear you’re willing to cart around.

Travel zoom compacts such as the Panasonic Lumix ZS200 / TZ200 are pocket friendly, yet offer a broad scope for capturing a range of subjects. Thanks to generous zoom ranges, they give you the opportunity to get close to the action, or to shoot wide. The trade-off for having all of this flexibility in a compact body is generally a smaller sensor, which is less useful for shooting in low light.

If you’d like neat proportions but don’t need the versatility of a zoom lens, premium compact cameras could be worth considering. Models such as the Fujifilm X100V sacrifice zoom range in favour of larger sensors that are better at gathering light – usually a one-inch or, in the case of the X100V, an APS-C chip.

Between compacts and mirrorless cameras is where you’ll find bridge cameras. Bulkier than a standard compact, they offer more comfortable handling and a large zoom range, but without the need to carry different lenses. New bridge cameras are increasingly rare, but the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV remains a great example.

If you don’t mind traveling with multiple lenses, many of the best mirrorless cameras have been specifically designed with travel in mind. In the case of models like the OM System OM-5 , that means a portable, weatherproof body, useful image stabilization for shooting on the move, plus a versatile Micro Four Thirds sensor that balances size and performance. And with lots of different lenses to choose from, you can pack different optics depending on the type of trip you’re taking – or opt for a reliable all-round option.

Is a DSLR or mirrorless camera better for travel photography?

When it comes to travel photography, most photographers look for a balance between portability and performance. If this is the combination you’re after, mirrorless cameras will almost aways have the edge over their DSLR rivals. Mirrorless models are generally smaller and lighter than DSLRs, making them easier to wield and travel with.

Despite their more compact proportions, many of the best mirrorless travel cameras can also match or outclass DSLR cameras when it comes to image quality, as well as autofocus abilities and video features. This makes them versatile tools for shooting on the move, especially if you choose a model with in-body image stabilization for sharp handheld results. If you pick a mirrorless camera with an established lens mount system, you’ll also find no shortage of glass to pack for your trip.

That said, there are reasons why you might still want to consider a DSLR camera for travel. Some photographers prefer the chunkier ergonomic grip for which the DSLR format is famous, especially if they plan on shooting for hours on end. The best DSLR cameras also offer superlative battery life, which can be useful if your travel plans include days away from electricity.

Budget might also be a factor, especially if you’re concerned about taking an expensive camera on your travels. Older DSLR cameras can offer great value, as can second-hand mirrorless models. It’s also worth looking at our round-up of the best cheap cameras , which includes some options that are a good fit for travel photography.

• Read our in-depth DSLR vs Mirrorless comparison

How we test travel cameras

Buying a camera these days is a big investment, and travel cameras are no different – so every camera in this guide has been tested extensively by us. For travel cameras in particular, real-world tests are the most revealing way to understand a camera's performance and character, so we focus heavily on those, along with standardized tests for factors like ISO performance.

To start with, we look at the camera's design, handling and controls to get a sense of how suitable it is for life on the road, and any particular features that might be particularly useful for globe-trotters. When we take it out on a shoot, we'll use it both handheld and on a tripod to get a sense of where its strengths lie, and test its startup speed.

When it comes to performance, we use a formatted SD card and shoot in both raw and JPEG (if available). For burst shooting tests, we dial in our regular test settings (1/250 sec, ISO 200, continuous AF) and shoot a series of frames in front of a stopwatch to see if it lives up to its claimed speeds. We'll also look at how quickly the buffers clears and repeat the test for both raw and JPEG files.

In various lighting conditions, we also test the camera's different autofocus modes (including Face and Eye AF) in single point, area and continuous modes. We also shoot a range of photos of different styles (portrait, landscape, low light, macro/close-up) in raw and JPEG to get a sense of metering and its sensor's ability to handle noise and resolve fine detail.

If the camera's raw files are supported by Adobe Camera Raw, we'll also process some test images to see how we can push areas like shadow recovery. And we'll also test its ISO performance across the whole range to get a sense of the levels we'd be happy to push the camera to.

Battery life is tested in a real-world fashion, as we use the camera over the course of the day with the screen set to the default settings. Once the battery has reached zero, we'll then count the number of shots to see how it compares to the camera's CIPA rating. Finally, we test the camera's video skills by shooting some test footage at different frame-rates and resolutions, along with its companion app.

We then take everything we've learned about the camera and factor in its price to get a sense of the value-for-money it offers, before reaching our final verdict.

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Tim is the Cameras editor at TechRadar. He has enjoyed more than 15 years in the photo video industry with most of those in the world of tech journalism. During his time as Deputy Technical Editor with Amateur Photographer, as a freelancer and consequently editor at Tech Radar, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with cameras, educating others through news, reviews and features. He’s also worked in video production for Studio 44 with clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare time to consult a non-profit, diverse stories team based in Nairobi. Tim is curious, a keen creative, avid footballer and runner, and moderate flat white drinker who has lived in Kenya and believes we have much to enjoy and learn from each other. 

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5 Best Security Cameras for Your RV or Camper (Updated for 2023)

Disclosure: When you buy something through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Hitting the open road in your RV or camper can be a great way to explore the world and spend time with those you love. It’s a wonderful option to see the sites while keeping costs down and giving you freedom to roam and set up camp.

As your home away from home, it’s important to keep your RV or camper secure. You’ve got a lot of valuables and you want to makes sure you have ease of mind when you leave it to go exploring.

It’s a major reason many RV and camper owners have installed security cameras. These devices are an added layer of protection that can shield you and your family from an evolving world and continually changing environment.

Why RV and Camper Security Cameras are Important

Security cameras aren’t just for doorbells and jewelry stores anymore. Especially with RVs, people find themselves in continually changing, unfamiliar environments. It requires owners to be aware whether they are with their camper or away from it.

Although security cameras do a great job keeping you aware of what is happening around your RV, they don’t just serve a purpose after the fact. Security cameras are a proactive way to provide a visual deterrent for unwanted characters that come sniffing around. People are less likely to cause trouble when a security camera is around.

Depending on the type you get, security cameras can use their motion detection feature to alert you anytime anything is approaching the campsite. This is a significant feature for those that camp in national parks or other places where animals like bears could be nearby.

Best RV Security Cameras

There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing the best security camera for your RV or camper. In fact, our team reviewed several dozen options from just one retail website alone. To help you weed through the marketing hype and poor quality options, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 best security cameras for your RV or camper currently on the market.

We’ve made our decision based on several criteria including:

• Ease of Use: The last thing you want to do is try to figure out how to arm your security camera every time you head out. There are some security cameras that are honestly too fancy for their own good making it difficult to operate and impractical. The units we’ve selected come with an intuitive feature set that is easy to work with.
• Connectivity & Reliability: Nothing is worse than needing to review your footage and realizing that your security failed to arm or record. The cameras on this list have proven to be reliable and even offer convenience settings to make sure you have what you need, when you need it. We are fans of easy connectivity. Our team has selected products that provide the fewest amount of steps from capturing to reviewing footage.
• Startup Time: While energy efficiency is important especially for battery powered security cameras, it’s important that the time to wake up is minimal. Getting the footage you need can be the difference of only a few seconds.
• Aesthetics: Cameras should be effective while also enhancing the aesthetics of your RV or camper, not take away from it. The cameras on this list are sleek, minimal and can match a multitude RV models and aesthetics.

Best Overall: Reolink Argus 2E Outdoor Security Camera

Key Features:

• 1080P Full HD.
• PIR Motion Detection.
• Remote Access.
• Solar Power Panel.
• Expandable Storage Up to 128GB.
• 2.4Ghz WiFi Connection.
• Reolink app connectivity.
• 2 Year Warranty.

While it was a battle at the top, the Reolink Argus 2E was the clear-cut choice for the best overall security camera for your RV or camper. Established in 2009, Reolink has a great reputation in the worldwide commercial and personal security industry. We were pleasantly surprised to see several commercial-grade features built into this security camera, including its 130 degree field of view and expansive PIR motion detection feature set.

Running on a rechargeable battery and included solar panel make this solution self powered. No need to run wires through your RV to keep going. We found the battery more than capable of lasting through the night hours when the sun goes down. As far as night time functionality, a large image sensor and 1080p resolution make for great night vision footage. The motion detection works very well even in low-light situations.

Another outstanding feature is Reolink’s smartphone app which lets you access things like two-way speak, multi-user sharing, live view and sound alerts. You can really tell the brand invested heavily in their technology and it’s paying off for their customers in a big way.

Another benefit is that all Reolink security cameras are compatible with Alexa. Many users find this setup ideal for placing multiple camera units on the exterior of their RV or camper and monitoring them on one interface.

We looked at a lot of user reviews to get a feel for how it performs in the real world. For things like battery life, solar charging and night vision, the features either met or exceeded many people’s expectations. For all the reasons we’ve mentioned and more, the Reolink Argus 2E is our pick for the best overall.

What We Liked:

• Solar and battery powered means no wiring needed.
• Mobile app is the best security interface we’ve tested.
• Night vision works exceptionally well.
• Motion detection excels at avoiding false triggers.
• Easy mounting options.
• The two-way talk feature is convenient when away from the RV.
• 128GB of expandable storage space can hold months of footage.
• Weatherproof with a 2 year warranty.
• Great price for the amount of features.

What We Didn’t Like:

• Does not operate on a 5Ghz band.

Best Runner-Up: Blink Outdoor Wireless Outdoor Security Camera

• Battery powered.
• Weatherproof.
• Local and Cloud Based Storage (Additional purchase needed).
• Multiple Mounting Options.
• Two-Way Talk.
• Audio Monitor.
• Alexa-Compatible.
• Blink Smartphone App for iOS and Android.

The Blink Outdoor wireless security camera is a fantastic runner up to the Reolink. Sometimes it might actually be a better option for your specific situation. The list of cool features is very long but the two major advantages come as battery life and ease of use.

Since Blink is an Amazon company, they are the most compatible with Alexa smart home devices. If you use Alexa products and their smartphone app, this may provide a superior user experience than some of the other options on this list. Next is battery life.

Although all the cameras in our roundup have tremendous battery life, none stack up to the Blink Outdoor security camera. Lasting for an average of two years on a single set of batteries, this camera is one of the longest lasting battery powered units on the market. Even though the price point is reasonable, Blink made sure there are no cut corners in build quality. The weatherproof housing makes the device able to take a lot of weather without affecting its performance.

This is an ideal product if you are doing it solo or with a minimal amount of tools. Installation is quick and only requires a screwdriver. Once you’ve turned on your Blink camera, you can walk through an easy setup wizard inside of the Blink mobile app.

The interface is very simple and even allows you manage and organize multiple properties. Users report setting up two camera groups, one for their home and the other for an RV or Camper. It’s a prominent feature that allows you to monitor things from home and the RV.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you want to record a local copy of your security footage as opposed to the cloud, you will need to purchase an additional piece of equipment- the Sync Module 2. Of all the security cameras we’ve tested, this one takes the cake on ease of use.

• Two-way talk.
• Audio monitoring.
• Cloud and local storage options.
• Solid motion detection.
• Wide viewing range.
• Battery can last up to two years.
• Mobile app allows you to group RV cameras onto one interface.
• Night vision could be better.

Best 4G Camera: Reolink Go Plus Cellular Security Camera

• Uses 4G LTE Connectivity.
• Extra capacity battery with solar panel.
• 2K HD Recording with 4MP resolution.
• Smart Detection and Playback.

If your RV or camper does not have access to WiFi or a mobile hotspot, the Reolink Go Plus 4G Security Camera may be the best option for you. A lot of folks prefer to go as off-grid as possible when they go RVing. Rather than trudging through the hassle of trying to bring internet on-board, it might be easier to go with a security camera system that has 4G LTE built in.

The Go Plus has an extra large capacity battery for extended monitoring. The included solar panel means you won’t need to run any power to it. Like others on this list, this model provides motion detection, high definition recording, local and cloud based storage and two-way talk.

Where it sets itself apart is with its night vision filming. With 4MP of night vision resolution, it offers some of the clearest night time footage on the market. It’s weatherproof construction and Reolink technology make it the easy favorite for best 4G security camera.

• Incredible night vision.
• Built in 4G makes it self contained and accessible remotely.
• Included solar panel.
• 128GB expandable storage spot.
• Intuitive Reolink app.
• Motion detection can lag.

Best Total Package: SimpliSafe Wireless Security System (with Outdoor Camera)

• 10 Piece Wireless Security Setup.
• Optional 24/7 Monitoring.
• Alexa and Google Assistant Compatible.
• Remote Arm and Disarm Feature.
• Connected to Police Response.
• Entry Point Sensors.
• Detect motion within 30ft.

For those that want to provide their loved ones with comprehensive security and protection while traveling by RV, the SimpliSafe Wireless Security System (with Outdoor Camera) is the clear winner.

The first thing to keep in mind is that while it is expensive, it’s not much more money than some of the other options on this list while providing additional components entry sensors and first responder connectivity.

SimpliSafe has built a strong reputation in the home security space for its affordability, technological features and reliability. Everything in this kit is controllable from the included smartphone app.

When fully installed, it can notify RV owners of anything approaching while also detecting anyone going in or out. Please keep in mind that this is a total home security system and so you’ll want to see this more than a comprehensive security solution as opposed to a simple camera to monitor surroundings.

• Comprehensive security including entry sensors.
• 1080p HD resolution.
• Premium monitoring plans provide extra sets of eyes in the case of a break in.
• Cameras are fully weatherproof.
• 24-hour battery backup.
• Sometimes complicated to set up.
• Monthly monitoring fees apply.

Best Alternative: Rohent RV Backup Camera (with monitoring)

• 7” Screen Monitor Unit with 4 Video Inputs.
• LCD Display.
• Dual Antenna Design.
• Wireless Bluetooth Camera Included.
• Fully Waterproof.

The Rohent RV Backup Camera may seem like an odd choice for this list. After all, it is not a traditional security camera. However, when it comes to living out of an RV or camper, space comes at a premium. To help keep things efficient, many owners have used products like this backup camera to double as a security camera when parked.

You can place the Bluetooth wireless camera anywhere you like while viewing the feed from the 7” LCD display monitor up to nine hundred and eighty feet away. If you’d like to capture footage while you are away, you can attach a video recorder of any kind into one of the four outputs.

• Doubles as a backup camera and security camera.
• Comes with a 7” LCD monitor.
• Camera runs on Bluetooth, eliminating the need for WiFi hotspots.
• Cannot access remotely.
• Will need to purchase a video recorder to have playback.

Final Thoughts:

As you can see, there are a wide range of options to choose from. The best overall Reolink Argus 2E takes the top spot because of its incredible ease of use and multitude of useful features.

For those looking for maximum battery life and deep Alexa integration, the Blink outdoor security camera is a solid choice. The Reolink Go Plus is a brilliant option if you don’t have onboard WiFi. SimpliSafe’s security package is second to none for comprehensive RV protection. Lastly, the Rogent RV Backup Camera is ideal to pull double duty if space is limited.

Regardless of what you choose, we are confident that there is a product in this roundup to match your specific needs.

Meet Derek, “TechGuru,” a 34-year-old technology enthusiast with a deep passion for tech innovations. With extensive experience, he specializes in gaming hardware and software, and has expertise in gadgets, custom PCs, and audio.

Besides writing about tech and reviewing new products, Derek enjoys traveling, hiking, and photography. Committed to keeping up with the latest industry trends, he aims to guide readers in making informed tech decisions.

1 thought on “5 Best Security Cameras for Your RV or Camper (Updated for 2023)”

I skimmed your tutorial and am so grateful, very scared to invest so much money into the wrong thing. I’ve been looking at Reolink Go for over a mth and didn’t know anything about OwlCam until just now. I’ve looked at dash cams. Can you please tell me what it is that you believe makes the OwlCam go above and beyond for RV living. My motor home is small and old. 1980 Toyota Huntsman. Someone has already tried to break into it. I’m more afraid someone will steal the whole vehicle! I have more into it than an insurance company would pay. I live in the mountains and shop in Redding, CA 45 mins away. Please help. Victoria Thank you for you article!!! Does it come with front and rear cameras or are those separate purchases. Do you know how much a cloud subscription is after your first year? Does it work with AT&T? Thanks again!!!

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The 5 Best Wireless Security Cameras to Keep Your Home Safe

Get a direct line of sight to your property from your phone with our editor-approved picks.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Security cameras have evolved a lot over the past few years. These days, nearly all models pair with a smart device via mobile app, offer impressive camera quality, and are increasingly more compact. Wireless security cameras offer versatility, plus they’re typically easy to install with a quick and straightforward setup. There are also plenty of under-$100 options with solid features.

Regardless of whether you’re adding security to your property, updating your front door surveillance , or simply keeping an eye on your pets or kids when you’re not home, the best wireless security cameras we recommend can help protect your assets and give you peace of mind.

The Best Wireless Security Cameras

• Best Overall: Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Security Camera
• Best with Motion Sensor: Ring Spotlight Security Cam Pro
• Best Smart Cam: Google Nest Security Cam Outdoor or Indoor
• Best Mid-Range: Ring Stick Up Camera
• Best Doorbell: Blink Video Doorbell

What to Consider

Power and connectivity.

All the security cameras we write about below connect wirelessly to your computer or smart device for live footage feeds, and require batteries for power. That said, battery-powered models stay juiced for months or even years before the batteries need to be replaced. They’re typically more expensive than corded cameras, so if you plan on using it indoors near an outlet, a corded power camera can save you cash without a dip in quality.

Design and Use

Many outdoor models are equipped with floodlights or night vision for better surveillance, with varying degrees of water-resistance. Some have speakers with emergency sirens to scare off animals or strangers.

Indoor cameras prioritize camera movement and two-way speakers to better monitor pets or kids. Two-way microphones allow for direct communication through the camera, while tracking movement on camera lets you keep tabs on whoever is up to mischief.

App Features and Video Storage

Every wireless security cameras on our list transmits live feeds through a mobile app built for smartphones or smart home assistants , such as Amazon Alexa or Google Nest. These apps serve as control centers for your security cameras for direct access to live security footage and any integrated speaker or microphone.

Most apps automatically send push notifications for motion detection and save clips for short periods of time so you can review footage. They may also have additional features such as long-term video cloud storage or AI recognition software. However, access to these extras usually requires a monthly subscription service at an added cost.

How We Selected

We made our final selections for this list after significant research and testing. Our team tested cameras from Wyze, Arlo, and Google, ensuring the options we recommend are ones that function in real world conditions. We tested everyday features for each camera to make sure the apps were easy to navigate, the video footage was clear, and speakers were loud. We also tested any special features such as motion detection and night vision. If the camera had a spotlight, we tested out how well it illuminated the space in darkness and how clear the footage was with the lights on.

For security cameras we did not personally test, we spent time researching key comparable specs and weighed them against our in-person evaluations. Additionally, each camera on the list has thousands of reviews from verified customers that we also read through.

Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera

Our best overall pick for wireless security camera comes from Arlo. The brand’s most recent release of the Pro makes has some notable upgrades, along with all the key features that kept the previous iteration at the top of our list in past reviews.

The wireless security camera has a built-in spotlight that improves visibility as night and allows for crisp, color night vision as opposed to black and white footage. It also comes with up to 12x zoom on 2k resolution. That gives you the ability to see small details in the frame up close—and do so with high-level clarity.

The all-weather protection makes this a great choice for outdoor mounting even if you live in areas that get harsh weather.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro

With two motion-sensor LED spotlights on each side of the wireless device, the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro significantly brightens up your walkway even on the darkest nights.

The wireless security camera connects directly through Wi-Fi and adjusts easily through the Ring app. From the app, you choose the lighting settings, designated motion detection zones, and even set up a security siren if needed.

The camera also offers color night-vision and 3D motion-detection notifications for added security. These cameras are great for security near backdoors and porches where unexpected visitors get greeted with sirens and bright lights.

Be wary of the angle you mount from though, as many users did not find the fish-eye view helpful in expanding the range of video coverage.

Ring Stick Up Cam

Another wireless security camera from Ring, the Stick Up Cam is a more affordable option that offers a number of useful features, including easy mounting on flat surfaces or walls without extra tools or purchases.

The camera has two-way audio built for communicating with delivery drivers, neighbors, or even your own kids. The wireless camera also comes with an easy-to-remove battery pack and direct connection to Alexa devices to make its installation as seamless as possible.

As for the camera, the Ring Stick Up Cam boasts 1080p video quality so you’ll always have access to clear picture and sound. See our list of the best cheap security cameras of 2024 for even more affordable options.

Google Nest Cam Outdoor or Indoor

As a wireless security camera, the Google Nest Cam is a few notches above the rest. The actual camera is not directly connected to the mounting mechanism. So, if you want to recharge the batteries or adjust the angle, you can simply pull the camera straight off the mount without unscrewing anything.

The magnetic connection is strong enough where we felt comfortable mounting it high and shaking it around, but were still about to move and remove without issue.

Beyond the magnetic mount, the Nest cameras showed off impressive video quality, even in darkness. We were impressed by its motion detection, and how well the camera video held up when tested against water, wind, and dust.

Blink Video Doorbell

While not quite a traditional wireless security camera, the Blink Video Doorbell takes on multiple roles without dropping the ball. The camera detects motion for automatic notifications and the two-way audio makes it easy to speak directly with neighbors or delivery drivers even when you aren’t home.

The doorbell camera can also connect to your existing doorbell wiring and alerts your phone when someone presses the bell. The Blink also comes in two colors to better fit the theme of your home and front door.

As far as front door security goes, this doorbell camera from Blink keeps you in the loop while offering more than just a digital peephole.

Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling . He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website .

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Best Security Cameras/Systems for RVs, Motorhome & Travel Trailers

When you travel in an RV, Camper or Caravan, you have all your valuables with you, which makes RV safety a big risk. Installing a RV security camera, for instance Reolink Go, will be a great deterrent to the bad guys and can prevent break-ins while the RV is parked. The RV's security camera will record the movement of any suspicious person for up to about 10 seconds, and it will send an alert to your phone.

The information on the parameters you must consider when choosing an RV safety camera is as follows.

• Potential Security Risks for RVs
• Features to Consider
• Camera Recommendation

Final Thoughts

Potential security risks - rvs, motorhomes & travel trailers.

There are different kinds of RVs ( recreational vehicle) on the market for example motor-home (classes A, B, B+, or C), caravan, travel trailer, fifth wheel trailer, toy hauler, pop-up trailer, or slide-in camper. Since you may carry your personal valuables and personal possessions in an RV, the potential security threats you may face are:

• any possible unanticipated incidents

There are many security measures you could take, like:

• change or reinforce your RV locks
• install RV security cameras/systems
• install door/window sensor
• adequate RV property theft insurance

What Features to Consider - RVs, Motorhomes & Travel Trailers Camera

Using security cameras and alarm systems has proven to be effective and economical, while taking a little effort to fully understand them ahead of time, here are points to consider before you buy an RV security camera.

Easy to Install: A simple camera setup solution can save a lot of hassle, all the RV owner needs to do is to be able to simply plug the camera into an electrical outlet and connect it to the network. No serious installation, no drilling, no wiring hassles. You can try a battery-powered security camera, or a solar-panel-powered camera. For example, Reolink Go, the solar-powered WiFi camera, is the best fit for RVs.

Remote Monitoring via Phone: When your RV is parked in the RV parking area and you are no longer with your RV, you will need to monitor it remotely via your phone. Of course, you will need to consider Internet access and the camera will need access to a WiFi signal or 4G cellular network. At McDonald's, RV parks, libraries, rest stops, and Starbucks, you can usually use their WiFi. but I recommend using a 4G security camera that works with Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint's cellular network, which allows you to check on your RV anytime, anywhere without worrying about internet connectivity.

Motion Detection & Alerts: This is a must feature for RV owners, keeping tabs on your RV inside or out help give you a real sense of security and peace of mind. Instant push notification or email alert keep you informed even miles away from where your mobile home or RV is parked.

Night Vision: Infrared night vision security camera is crucial for getting good quality night shots and monitoring inside and out when parking your RV in a poor-lit area. A true IR cut filter helps to produce true color images during the day and high-quality images at night.

Alarm/Siren is A Nice-To-Have: A camping security system equipped with a loud chime or alarm is a great deterrence. When someone is approaching your parked RV, RV alarm, either sitting inside your RV or mounting outside the RV, produce a high-decibel alarm, which could deter or scare them off.

Footage Storage: Having 24/7 continuous recording on the perimeter is nice and you can retrieve old footage when you need, even footage of weeks old. That footage also serves as a great family memory. Cloud storage is a nice-to-have feature while traveling around as long as the network allows. And the SD card security cameras also come in handy to record motion and backup significant moments even without WiFi or cellular connection.

Power Supply： Installing a security camera or security camera system for RV, you also need to pay attention to the RV power supply ; many security cameras run off 12V AC/DC power and can work to plug into a power outlet. Security cameras/systems won’t draw a lot of electricity. If there is no or limited power supply, solar-powered outdoor security cameras and battery security cameras are proven helpful, as well as trail cams.

Best Security Camera for RV Recommendations

Choosing the best and suitable RV security cameras and system goes a long way to protect what you cherish and give real peace of mind.

Best Cellular Security Camera for RV - Reolink Go

Reolink Go, a 3G/4G security camera , works extremely well for those who are always on the road and looking for a mobile and portable monitoring solution that works in areas with limited or no WiFi or power.

It runs on 3G/4G LTE wireless networks provided by wireless network providers like AT&T (US), T-Mobile (US & Germany), EE Limited (UK), Vodafone (UK, Germany & Italy), O2 (UK & Germany), Three UK, Wind Tre (Italy), and it’s powered by the rechargeable battery or a weatherproof solar panel.

Simply hook it up on the roof or side of the RV, motorhome, truck, camper, you can view the live videos right on the apps. Get instant motion alerts, listen in to what’s going on, send a voice alert, watch it at night, you get it!

Key features:

• 3G/4G LTE network connectivity
• Rechargeable battery or solar-powered
• PIR Motion detection & alerts to phone/email
• Siren & alarm (2-way audio with mic & speaker)
• Motion recording to a local SD card
• 1080p HD video quality & 33ft night vision

Best Battery&Solar-Powered Security Camera for RV - Reolink Argus 2

Reolink Argus 2 is an ideal wireless security camera for RV, motorhome, camper, caravan, travel trailer, fifth wheel trailer, toy hauler, popup trailer, or slide-in camper -- weatherproof, wire-free, portable and super easy to set up

You can just attach the camera to the side your RV and connect it to the WiFi (2.4GHz) or phone hotspots without any cables and view video feeds on your mobile devices anytime anywhere.

Or you just set it up and leave it inside or outside your motorhome. It still works to detect motion and record to SD card even without the internet.

It also acts as a great alternative to the RV burglar alarm security system as it’s also packed with sensitive PIR motion sensor, loud siren, and starlight night vision.

Reolink Argus 2 is proven effective to deter burglary, theft or break-in and watch your RV, fifth wheel, coach parked on the campground, campsite, beach or holiday resort, front door or backyard day and night.

It also makes a great wireless backup camera and rearview camera for RV, truck, mobile home, trailer, van, or bus. With some add-on and mounting brackets, RVers could mount it to the tree, walls, rear, RV exterior, roof, campsite areas, or other places. It’s extremely helpful to monitor areas with limited or no access to the power supply.

• 2.4GHz wireless connection
• IP 65 Weatherproof, outdoor use

Best Wireless Indoor Security Camera for RV - Reolink E1 Pro

Reolink E1 Pro can be connected both via WiFi (2.4/5 GHz) or Ethernet cable. You can plug it into your power outlet via included 12V AC power adapter and it will be up and running in a minute.

Streaming 1440p HD videos, Reolink E1 Pro is even capable of changing pointing angle (355° horizontal pan &50° vertical tilt) with one tap on the apps to see more details. Plus, it comes with night vision and 2-way audio.

You could either put it in your motorhome, truck, trailer, fifth wheel, coach, or through glass window or windshield. Please do make sure it’s close to the window as much as possible to reduce IR glare at night.

Better yet, it’s only priced at $49.99.

• 2.4/5 GHz dual-band wireless connection
• 355° pan & 50° tilt controllable via apps
• Motion detection & motion alerts to phone/email
• Viewable on phone, PC, and laptop
• 2-way audio with mic & speaker
• Movement recording to a local SD card
• 1080p HD & 40ft night vision

Best 12 Volt RV Security Cameras

Most RVs, trailers, trucks, or motorhome come with a 12-volt electrical system that could power the security cameras running on 12volt power.

For example, some of the most popular 12V cameras RLC-422, RLC-420 are awesome rearview cameras for RVs, trailers, trucks, or caravans.

Below is the video captured by Reolink RLC-420 security camera attached to the RV (shared by Jake and Danielle who started their RV trip from home and you can click here to learn more about the Wanderlusting with Reolink series to enjoy their exciting van life).

12 Volt wireless security cameras like RLC-410W and RLC-422W are great rear and front RV backup cameras as they can be hooked up to the roof, back, and the front part of your RV wirelessly.

Best 12 Volt RV Security Camera Systems for RV & Fifth Wheel

Home security camera systems like Reolink RLK-410B4 PoE camera system could act as trailer backup camera systems, monitoring the front, side, and rear of your vehicles, van, motorhome on your Smartphone, computer or TV.

Users could also hook also it up to your TV or other monitors via HDMI port on network video recorders (NVR) so that you could keep these 12 Volt RV security cameras continuously to monitor and record what’s going on the campground, parking site, camping site or even on the road.

While you are relaxing and soaking in the summer sun, it’s nice to have an extra pair of eyes keeping tabs on your mobile home or travel trailer.

Apart from security cameras, other security measures are needed to protect your motorhome or travel trailers from theft like RV door alarms, door sensors, RV security locks, and window security film could also help protect your motorhome.

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5 Best RV Security Systems 

Just because you're relaxing while you travel, doesn't mean you should let down your guard. what is the best rv security system.

• 1 Just because you're relaxing while you travel, doesn't mean you should let down your guard. What is the best RV security system?
• 2.1 1. Canary All-in-One Indoor Security Camera
• 2.2 2. Simplisafe Security System
• 2.3 3. Reolink Argus 2 + Solar Panel
• 2.4 4. Arlo Pro 2
• 2.5 5. Tattletale Portable Alarm System
• 3.1 1. Is it Easy to Install?
• 3.2 2. Are there Motion Detectors and Alerts?
• 3.3 3. How Many Entry Sensors are Included?
• 3.4 4. What Are the Monitoring Options?
• 3.5 5. Does it Have Night Vision?
• 3.6 6. Is There a GPS Locator?
• 3.7 7. Does it Include a Panic Button?

Camping is oftentimes a relaxing adventure. It’s a way to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That is why when RV owners travel, they can sometimes forget to implement security measures.

It's not even uncommon for people to leave their RV or travel trailer unlocked when they leave the RV park. But, unfortunately, that leaves easy targets for thieves to hit.

While you should not spend time worrying about your RV being broken into, it is still a good idea to be prepared. ( Jennifer and I have been broken into before !)

Installing an RV security system is a great place to start when looking to secure your RV! Not only are security systems great when you are using your RV, but they can also be useful during the off-season. At the very least, they will provide you with peace of mind throughout the year.

5 Best RV Security Systems

Jennifer and I have been using the Canary Security System since 2016. We have been very happy with it and still recommend it to everyone.

However, I always like to provide different options for our readers. So, from my research, I've included 4 other options that seem to be the most popular RV security systems today.

If you buy something through our links, we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our lights on so we can continue to provide helpful resources for RVers. Read our  full affiliate disclosure here.

1. Canary All-in-One Indoor Security Camera

This is the latest Canary security camera available on Amazon. It has a very nice design that can easily blend in with your decor, hiding in plain site. If anything, it looks more like a speaker than a camera.

As I mentioned before, there's no installation required. You simply plug it in, connect to wifi, and all systems go.

It has a built-in burglar alert siren and works with Alexa, Plus, it sends motion, person, and air quality alerts to your smart device. Oh, and it has an HD camera with night vision.

Overall, it really lives up to its name of “All-in-One.”

2. Simplisafe Security System

One option for the best RV security system is called the SimpliSafe security system. This RV and home security system is a DIY alarm system offering economical professional monitoring.

It does not require a contract or professional installation. It is all wireless and you can easily install cameras, sensors and the control center yourself.

Aside from its easy self-installation and wireless system features, the Simplisafe security system includes a loud siren with controllable volume. It also comes complete with many different sensors to provide an extra layer of safety.

The SimpliSafe security systems offer multiple sensors that can detect breaking glass, freezing temperatures, water leaks, and bursting pipes. It can also detect carbon monoxide leaks, fires, and floods.

This system uses Wi-fi, but does have a built-in cellular connection for backup. From what we understand, the camera doesn't work on cellular, but the other features do.

3. Reolink Argus 2 + Solar Panel

The Reolink is going to be the best RV security system for night vision and two-way audio.

Its nighttime picture quality is like none other. It features starlight sensor that works very well, even in low light conditions. This provides more vivid and detailed pictures when most cameras only provide black and white images at night.

This camera system is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant and offers two-way communication. That allows you to communicate with the person (or pet) that you’re recording, and hear their response.

The Reolink Argus 2 is SD card compatible and is charged by a solar panel. It can also be charged via USB if needed.

Finally, it does not require a subscription. This device can record to the cloud where you can later view your footage.

4. Arlo Pro 2

The Arlo Pro 2 is touted as the best RV security system for its camera angle flexibility.

If you are an avid boondocker like Jennifer and me, you never know where you might end up. Having a flexible camera angle might be an important feature to you!

I also like this security system since it has a magnetic base. That means you do not have to make any holes in your RV to install this system! It is easy to move around when you travel to new spots.

Another great feature is its microphone. You can tune into your video feed, and talk to your pet or another person. That makes for an easy way to communicate when apart, or can help warn strangers that they are being monitored.

5. Tattletale Portable Alarm System

A modern security system, the Tattle comes stocked with built-in motion detector and a battery back-up when an outside power source is not an option.

It is a home security system, but is portable and wireless, making it great for your RV.

The Telltale also comes with extra features, like emergency monitoring. It also has a panic button that is easily set up with a remote control key fob.

In addition, this device can send notifications to up to five people when unusual movement activates the motion detector.

7 Things to Consider When Choosing an RV Security System

When it comes to RV security cameras, there are a lot of options on the market! It can seem overwhelming. I have broken down the major components you want to consider before deciding which is the best security system for you.

1. Is it Easy to Install?

I know that when I add new equipment to my RV, I like it to be as simple as possible. There are many RV security cameras that are difficult to install. But, there are just as many that are great quality systems that have easy installation.

Why make your life harder than it has to be?

2. Are there Motion Detectors and Alerts?

One of the best security features of an RV security camera is a motion detector. It alerts you when unusual activity is happening outside of your RV. Most cameras send an alert when the motion sensors are signaled in the form of a text message or other notification.

3. How Many Entry Sensors are Included?

Door alarms and window alarms are popular accessories with most alarm systems. These easy-to-install door sensors and window sensors sound an alarm or alert you when a door or window is opened.

In addition to motion detection, these entry alarms often pull double duty as glass break sensors.

4. What Are the Monitoring Options?

Many RV security systems provide different monitoring options. Some can be monitored using your mobile device, some using your computer, and others offer both. You want to choose which monitoring tool works best for you.

5. Does it Have Night Vision?

Most break-ins occur under the cover of darkness. The best RV security system is one equipped with a good night vision capacity. That way you can see what is occurring outside of your RV when you really need to.

6. Is There a GPS Locator?

You may also want to consider getting a camera that has a GPS locator in it. The camera will receive signals that mark its photos and video with its location and time of day. This can help track down stolen RVs or provide evidence about when and where a crime has occurred.

7. Does it Include a Panic Button?

Some cameras come complete with a panic button option. This button can be pressed to dispatch emergency crews like police or the fire department.

A panic button can increase your safety during a potentially violent crime. It can also be used in a different emergency scenario, like a natural disaster.

Now that you have an idea of features to look for in an RV security camera, here are my choices for the top five systems on the market today!

Published on 2024-03-04

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

19 Responses to “5 Best RV Security Systems ”

March 16, 2024at3:07 am , neet and angel said:

As an RV owner, I can’t agree more with this list of the best RV security systems! After having our camper stolen last year, we’ve invested in a high-quality security system that has given us peace of mind on the road. The GPS tracking feature has been a lifesaver, and we’ve already recovered our camper twice thanks to the alerts and location tracing. Definitely worth the investment for any RV owner looking to protect their property on the road!

January 03, 2024at2:53 pm , Thomas Kittinger said:

I am looking for a system that does it all (easy to install,motion detors, door&window alarms ,monitoring options ,night vinion & also GPS and Panic Botton)

August 16, 2022at1:30 am , Marsha Goggin said:

I know this is an older post so not sure if I will get a reply. I found your article very informative and helpful. I am looking for a solar or battery powered motion detector floodlight/camera. Any recommendations? Also once I find one would it work to just attach with Velcro?

August 17, 2022at1:38 pm , Team RV Lifestyle said:

Hi Marsha – This could be a good question to ask Mike and Jen for their podcast (write [email protected] ) or live on their 7 pm Eastern Time weekly ask us anything they have on Youtube and Facebook. Also could bee a good thing to ask on their facebookgroup here https://www.facebook.com/groups/roadtreking — Team RV Lifestyle

March 01, 2022at12:53 pm , Dewey W said:

SimpliSafe has gotten so big, they appear to no longer care about RVers. The first generation SimpliSafe system was great, and SimpliSafe would give you a software patch so the system did not announce that it wasn’t monitored (if you want to use it without their monitoring). They will not help you on their newer system and will answer ALL questions requesting that you call them to verify your account. Why would I need to call just to ask if I can set the system so others around will not hear that the system is not monitored? Based on the later reviews, these canned answers requesting that you call them is so they can try to sell you more things.

February 02, 2022at3:15 pm , Nicholas Spinocchia said:

I would like to fix a new cctv system in my Motorhome,I use to have the Guardzilla system with two cameras but they gone bust and no app is available any more,I would appreciate if someone could advise me of which system will be the best and easy to use Thank you all Regards Nick

October 23, 2021at8:22 am , Samantha Nichols said:

Thanks so much for sharing! I read and really liked your post. Worth article!

October 19, 2021at1:53 am , Irfan said:

Without a doubt, I like your blog post. It’s truly informative for me. I would like to suggest one more platform that provides field service management software. To know more go on our site: https://www.fieldpromax.com/

October 13, 2021at1:39 am , 8 Amazing Benefits of RV Storage Facilities | WazMagazine.com said:

[…] they make RV security systems to keep you and your family safe from harm or theft. Check out the best systems of the […]

October 11, 2021at8:24 am , Samantha Nichols said:

I feel so safe having a Wsdcam alarm, I was amazed. It was so easy to install and operate. Most wireless alarm systems work on the inside when you close the door or window and when it is opened the alarm sounds. This one you can close the door and arm it from the outside with a remote. The alarm is very loud and won’t stop until you disarm it.

August 24, 2021at1:40 am , Triton Surveillance said:

All the information that you shared with us is very useful for us. Thank you for sharing with us.

August 17, 2021at9:30 am , Steve Bottcher said:

Do you have any familiarity with the RING system?

June 07, 2021at8:32 am , Lynda said:

Please send me you packing list. Thanks

June 03, 2021at5:49 pm , 5 Best RV Security Systems (2021)  - 2boomersandababy said:

[…] Source link […]

June 02, 2021at4:08 pm , Scary & Bizarre Mysteries In Our National Parks - 2boomersandababy said:

[…] stories, sightings, and theories that may send shivers down your spine next time you park your RV for the night at a National […]

May 30, 2021at2:31 pm , SamG said:

Thanks for the alarm system intro. Argus 2 looks interesting to me. Off grid-wise. Previously I’d considered game cameras.

May 30, 2021at10:44 am , Dr. Michael said:

Very nice selection of products, but I do have one question: Am I correct that all of the security cameras must be brought back on board before departure? I really like the idea of the security of the cameras at the campsites, but the thought of attaching and removing seems like a pain in the butt.

November 16, 2021at3:50 pm , SAm Savage said:

You would want to remove the magnetic cameras before driving. I wouldn’t take down a camera that was screwed in to the RV, though.

May 27, 2021at9:43 am , Scott Ellsworth said:

I’ve been a long time subscriber and I’d like get a copy of the packing list. How do I do that? Trying to sign up again doesn’t work 🙁

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The Best Indoor Security Camera

By Rachel Cericola

Rachel Cericola is a writer covering smart home. In addition to testing hundreds of smart devices, she has also tested dozens of ice cream sandwiches.

It’s said you can’t put a price on peace of mind. Well, we’re doing it anyway—and it’s pretty reasonable.

An indoor security camera lets you keep tabs on the things at home that matter most, whether that’s your kids, your pets, or your prized vinyl collection.

We recommend the Eufy Indoor Cam C120 , which is typically available for $35. It provides sharp 2K video, has four options for video storage, distinguishes between people and pets, and even detects the sound of crying. If you want to integrate it with other smart devices, it includes support for Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit.

Everything we recommend

Eufy Indoor Cam C120

The best indoor security camera for daily use.

This camera offers a sharp image, four choices for video storage, and a continuous recording option, and it can distinguish between different motions and sounds.

Buying Options

You save $14 (33%)

TP-Link Tapo C110

An affordable alternative.

This 2K-resolution camera can produce detailed images and is less expensive than our other picks, but it doesn't include pet detection, and the cost to run multiple cameras is high.

With clipped on-page coupon (limited colors)

Upgrade pick

Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired)

More advanced, better built.

This 1080p camera distinguishes among various types of motion and has both free and paid cloud storage. The latter adds in face recognition and options for 24/7 recording.

Things to consider

Although storing video in the camera is a nice option, we prefer cameras that save footage to the cloud, which is more secure.

Check under app settings to enable two-factor authentication (2FA), which restricts unauthorized access to your camera and recordings.

Using cameras should be a household decision, which may include babysitters, housekeepers, and tradespeople, depending on local laws.

All cameras respond to movement, but some can distinguish among people, pets, and passing vehicles.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home

The Eufy Indoor Cam C120 captures stellar video day and night, has a decent 125-degree field of view, and distinguishes between different types of movement and sound, such as people, pets, or a crying baby. It also has more storage options than our other two picks. One limitation is that if you intend to make use of its 2K video resolution, you’ll need to have all motion-only triggered recordings go to a microSD card. If you use other storage options, such as capturing 24/7 video to a microSD card, a networked hard drive (NAS device), or cloud storage via a paid subscription to Eufy Cloud or Apple HomeKit Secure Video , your video is downgraded to a lower-resolution (though still sharp) 1080p.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThings

The TP-Link Tapo C110 is the least expensive indoor camera we recommend. The hardware is less than our other picks (about $25), and the camera has options to store video footage locally to a microSD card, whether you want to capture just motion events or continuous motion 24/7. However, cloud storage for the Tapo C110 is a bit more expensive than that of our top pick ($3.50 per month per camera), so if you opt for anything beyond a single camera, the cloud plan could potentially get costly. The C110 is the only one of our picks that doesn’t have the ability to identify pets, but it can tag people, as well as detect crying.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired) is built for the long haul—and longer, more advanced recordings. It captures the longest clips of our picks (up to five minutes), it can record 24/7 to the cloud (a subscription is required), and it can distinguish among people, pets, and vehicles. Unlike our other picks, it doesn’t have a microSD card slot or provide any other way to store recordings locally at home, but it’s also the only model that offers limited free cloud storage of recordings, though for just three hours after they’re captured. Nest also has the most cost-effective subscription pricing for owners of multiple cameras, starting at $8 per month for unlimited cameras—and signing up for a sub adds facial recognition.

The research

Why you should trust me, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: eufy indoor cam c120, runner-up: tp-link tapo c110, upgrade pick: google nest cam (indoor, wired), other good indoor security cameras, the competition, what to look forward to.

I first started testing smart-home devices more than 20 years ago, when the only smart-home devices were X10 . I’ve been covering smart-home gear for Wirecutter since 2016 and have had my hands on everything from in-wall light switches , smart LED bulbs , and water-leak sensors to smart video doorbells , in-wall smart outlets , and security systems . I’ve also contributed to The New York Times, Wired, and Men’s Health, among others.

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, as well . 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.

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, in testing several different models, we’ve found that all of them regularly got stuck, resulting in missed action. 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 rely on 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 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 5, 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.

The Eufy Indoor Cam C120 is everything you’d want in an indoor security camera. It records clear 2K video day and night, and it has the ability to tell the differences among general motion, people, pets, and even the sound of crying. And it’s just $35. It’s also the only camera we’ve tested that offers three 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 ($3/month or $30/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 remains detailed.

Pick your favorite storage option. The 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 ($3/month or $30/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 C120 can distinguish among a human, a 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!”).

Eufy has had security issues. After a 2022 incident , Eufy announced that the company had fixed issues with its web portal. Aside from correcting issues on its end, we noticed new protocols during our most recent round of testing. First, to access video on the website, you will need to enable Web Portal Access in the Eufy Security app under the Control Center. This allows you to generate a PIN that is good from anywhere between one and 24 hours. If you want to use web access beyond that amount of time, you will need to generate a new PIN.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Video quality may not be 2K. Although the C120 is technically a 2K camera, it only records in a 2K resolution 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. It’s still very sharp video, but not the 2K you may be expecting.

We are monitoring privacy and security. As part of the same November 2022 incident mentioned above, 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.

The TP-Link Tapo C110 is better than our top pick in a few ways. It can deliver 2K images both on a microSD card and to storage in the cloud, it’s more affordable, and we like that it’s smaller, too. However, a few minor shortcomings prevent it from being our top pick for most people. We think some people won’t be happy that it can detect only people or general motion, and it doesn’t work with Apple HomeKit.

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 we noticed while watching people come and go during the day and our cat slink around at night. When storing to a microSD card, image quality is on a par with that of our top pick, although because it will record in 2K to the cloud (unlike the Eufy), you may notice that images are a little more detailed when using cloud storage.

It’s cheap to buy, and free (or cheap) to use. At about $25, the C110 is the least expensive of our picks. And like our top pick, you can reasonably use it without having to sign up for a subscription plan because you 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 you’ll fill up your card fast). Similar to the Eufy, when recording in continuous mode, the Tapo C110 will still notify you when there’s motion, isolate that motion as a clip, and allow you to download those, as needed. There is a cloud plan available, which adds notifications with thumbnails and storage for up to 30 days (you can access it anywhere, even if there’s a power outage). But the base plan is 50¢ more per month than our top pick ($3.50/month per camera), and if you plan to use more than two cameras, it’s actually the most expensive subscription of all our picks. (Eufy is $10/month for up to 10 cameras; Nest starts at $8/month for unlimited cameras.)

You can create a highlights 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. The feature is in beta and comes only with a Tapo Care subscription, but we found it worked very well. It replaces captured audio with a generic soundtrack, though, which is sort of weird.

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.

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 maxes out at three minutes, and the Eufy at two. All three cameras will create a new clip immediately after hitting their clip limit, so long as motion continues. (Tapo was the only model to consistently leave a four-second gap between clips, which the company says is so the clips won’t “overlap.”)

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 $3/month for one camera and $10/month for up to 10 cameras, and Tapo Care costs $10.50/month for three cameras 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.

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’re a Roku user: The Roku Indoor Camera SE provides a clear image and easy controls, and it has a platform that allows you to view Roku cameras on your Roku TV or streaming box. Though these cameras are made by Wyze (note that we no longer recommend Wyze devices ), the app is managed by Roku. We prefer our top pick’s storage options, though Roku does offer local storage and a cloud plan for $4 per month (per camera) or $40 per year.

If you’re all in with Arlo: The Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera delivers great 1080p video and alerts that can distinguish among people, pets, vehicles, and general motion. However, we found our picks to be more economical, and a newer Arlo camera is coming soon.

If you’re all in with Apple HomeKit Secure Video: 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.

We have paused all testing and recommendations of Wyze devices due to security concerns. For a full explanation, see this article .

We understand the appeal of pan-and-tilt cameras, which are able to scan an entire room and follow moving objects. However, we’ve reviewed several models—the Aqara Camera Hub G3 , the Eufy Indoor Cam E220 , the TP-Link Kasa Spot Pan Tilt (KC410S) , and the TP-Link Tapo C210 —and have yet to find one we’d recommend. Although many of these are perfectly decent cameras, each of them had mechanical issues and would regularly get stuck at different angles, resulting in missed action even when that action was happening right in front of the camera.

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.

Both the WiZ Indoor Camera and the TP-Link Kasa KC400 record sharp video, but we think our top picks offer a better user experience for a similar (or cheaper) price. We also dismissed the Abode Cam 2 , the Blink Indoor , the Blink Mini , the Ecobee SmartCamera , GE’s Cync Indoor Smart Camera , the Kami Mini , and TP-Link’s Kasa Cam (KC120) , due to missed motion triggers and overall concerns with performance.

The Canary Pro and Canary View are big and costly, and they don’t perform as well as our picks. Due to performance issues, we also tested and dismissed the Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera  and the Honeywell Lyric C2 Wi-Fi Security Camera .

We’re planning to test the following indoor cameras:

• Aqara Camera E1 , a 2K pan-and-tilt camera with AI person detection, tracking capabilities, and support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. It includes built-in storage and supports paid cloud storage and HomeKit Secure Video.
• Blink Mini 2 , a $40 plug-in 1080p indoor/outdoor camera. It has a 143-degree field of view, a built-in LED spotlight for color night vision, privacy and activity zones, and person detection—but the latter is only available with the Blink subscription plan, which starts at $3 per month. The Blink Weather Resistant Power Adapter can be purchased for an extra $10.
• Merkury Smart Indoor Camera , a $20, 1080p-camera that can record locally to a microSD card or to the cloud if you pay for a subscription.
• Philips Hue Secure Camera , a 1080p indoor/outdoor camera with the option to add blackout zones and end-to-end encryption by default. Three versions are available: wired , battery operated , or a desktop model .
• Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera , a 1080p indoor model that can pan 360 degrees, has a manual privacy cover, two-way talk, and will be available in five colors. It requires a Ring Protect subscription, which starts at $5 per month (or $50 per year).
• TP-Link Tapo C120 , a 2K indoor/outdoor security camera that can detect people, pets, vehicles, and crying. It offers both local storage via a microSD card and cloud storage subscription (starting at $3.50 per month), and has two spotlights for color night vision.
• TP-Link Tapo C125 , a 2K camera with a physical privacy shutter and AI detection for people, pets, vehicles, and sounds. It’s compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.
• TP-Link Tapo C220 , a pan-and-tilt 4MP indoor camera that utilizes AI for specialized notifications of pets and people, and can detect crying. The C220 also features a privacy shield that covers the lens. It supports Alexa and Google Home.
• TP-Link Tapo TC73 , a 2K pan-and-tilt Wi-Fi camera that has AI smart motion tracking, color night vision, a privacy shield, and support for Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home.

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.

Meet your guide

Rachel Cericola

Rachel Cericola is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter who has been covering smart-home technology since the days of X10. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Men’s Health, USA Today, and others. She hopes her neighbors read this bio because it would explain why she always has four video doorbells running simultaneously outside her home.

Further reading

The Best Security Cameras for Your Home

by Rachel Cericola

Wi-Fi security cameras can help protect your family and possessions. We’ve reviewed and picked the best models for every area of your home.

Why We Don’t Trust Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video—and You Shouldn’t Either

Apple’s cloud service for security cameras has many great features, including the price—but we don’t recommend it for most people.

The Best Home Security System

A good home security system should make it easy to find peace of mind. It can alert you to an open door or window, frighten away prowlers, and call for help.

Picking the Best Security Camera for Your Needs

Wi-Fi cameras are great for security but also much more. The key is picking the model that does the job you need done.

8 Best Home Security Cameras, Tested & Reviewed

24/7 home security at your fingertips.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Keeping tabs on your home whether you’re at the office, running errands or away on vacation has become more important than ever. Not only can a home security camera alert you of any potential break ins or hazards with real-time alerts, but being able to livestream as well as review event history directly from your phone can give you some serious peace of mind. Below you’ll find the best home security cameras for monitoring of valuables, pets and any unusual motion occurring inside your home.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Home Security Camera

Arlo pro 4 wireless security camera.

Best Value Home Security Camera

Wyze cam v3.

Best Video Doorbell Camera

Google nest doorbell (battery).

Best Home Security Camera Without Subscription

Eufy indoor cam c120.

Best Indoor Home Security Camera

Ring stick up cam plug-in.

Best Outdoor Home Security Camera

Ring spotlight cam pro.

Best Solar Powered Home Security Camera

Eufy s230 solocam (solocam s40).

Best Home Security Camera with Floodlight

Google nest cam with floodlight.

A GH Institute expert favorite for both indoor and outdoor monitoring, Arlo cameras have consistently stood out in Lab tests for exceptional performance. Installing the Arlo on a wall is as simple as screwing in the magnetic base and popping the camera on. Because the camera is wireless, you can attach it anywhere you want within Wi-Fi range, which includes outdoor spaces thanks to its weather-resistant design.

Compatible with a range of smart home ecosystems like Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and more, control is easy, and all alerts go straight to your phone. We like that this Arlo camera can even capture color videos at night and has an integrated spotlight as well as a built-in siren that you can trigger directly from the app. Plus, it offers some of the highest-quality video resolution.

Just keep in mind that to view all your video recordings in that sharp 2K resolution, you'll need to purchase a $7.99 per month Arlo Secure subscription. Without it, your videos will be in lower resolution. Another alternative to accessing 2K videos is to purchase an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station with a max of 2TB of local storage.

The WyzeCam has a whopping 75,000+ Amazon reviews and starts at under $40 ! Designed for both indoor and outdoor use thanks to a weather-proof design, it'll record video clips whenever motion is detected and send an alert to your phone. A magnetic mounting kit comes included so you can install your camera anywhere feasible, and all videos are saved on the cloud for 14 days with one of the most affordable subscriptions among home security camera systems at just $2.99 per month.

You can also go subscription-free and opt for storage on a Wyze microSD card so video continues to record even if your Wi-Fi goes out. Our pros love that the v3 comes with great features such as color night vision and Alexa and Google Home compatibility, all at a fantastic price. Reviewers especially love its small size, but note that the Wyze Cam must be plugged into a power source to operate and an outdoor power adapter must be purchased separately if you plan on setting it up outside.

Need surveillance right outside your front door? Look no further than this video doorbell from Google, which impressed our tech experts in tests for its sharp video resolution, wide field of view and excellent night vision. Not only is it easy to view video history from the Google Home app (where you can see all your other smart home devices within the Google ecosystem), but our pros found alerts to be both accurate and timely.

We love that you can both view and communicate with someone at your front door directly from your phone , as well as find out when a package has been dropped off. Just keep in mind that a video doorbell doesn’t provide indoor surveillance, so you’ll need another security camera for that like the Nest Cam .

While this model is battery-powered, you can opt for a wired doorbell if you prefer constant power. Our pros also note that three hours of video history come included with your purchase, but if you need more cloud storage you’ll have to subscribe to Google’s Nest Aware plan for a minimum of $8 per month.

Most of us pay for way too many subscriptions these days, so if you'd like to avoid adding another one to your monthly bill, consider this indoor security camera from eufy. While our pros haven't tested it yet, eufy has performed well in previous Lab tests and our pros recommend it if you're looking for excellent value . Not only can this model record footage in sharp 2K resolution, but it comes with all the features you need from a camera: two-way audio, real-time notifications, an easy-to-use app, night vision and much more. Just keep in mind that a MicroSD card is required but not included, though you do have the option of using cloud storage if desired.

This versatile Ring camera scored among the highest for accurate motion detection and alerts in our Lab tests , making it a great choice to keep an eye on pets and kids. While it can be used both indoors and outdoors, our pros like this plug-in version for indoor use as you’re able to set up motion zones and privacy zones to really customize surveillance where you need it. We like the wide 130-degree field of view, but if you want full 360-degree coverage to scan the entire room you can always purchase the addition of a pan-tilt plug-in . According to our pros, installation is super easy: The camera is packaged alongside all the tools you'll need with a clear step-by-step guide. You also have options for how you power it, including a six- to 12-month battery, a USB cable or the additional purchase of a solar panel. A Ring Protect subscription lets you save and share videos captured on Ring devices for up to 180 days, making it easier than ever to set up your entire wireless home security system with Ring. Just keep in mind that there's no local storage option with any Ring cameras, meaning that to view any video footage or event history a subscription is required.

Motion detection, two-way audio, color night vision and impressive 1080p video quality are just a few of the features you’ll get with this spotlight camera created to keep an eye on what’s going on outside your house. While this model is battery-powered and comes with a rechargeable battery pack, it’s also available in a wired version that’s always connected to power or you can automatically extend battery life with the addition of a solar panel.

Our pros found setting up the camera to be easy, and we love how intuitive the Ring app is. There are two LED spotlights located on both sides of the camera to help light up dark areas outside, and in our tests motion detection and alerts were responsive. We were also impressed by the bird’s eye view feature, which gives you access to an aerial view of your home. Though you can always check your live video feed without a Ring Protect subscription, for $4.99 a month you’ll not only have access to live feeds but also 180 days of history. With this subscription, you'll get richer notifications, custom alerts and the ability to save and share videos.

Worried about your home security camera’s battery dying on you? Consider this solar-powered outdoor camera that requires just two hours of direct sunlight a day for continuous power . As soon as motion is detected, a built-in 600 Lumens spotlight will turn on as the camera captures footage in color night vision. “The 2K video resolution and quality was really nice,” comments GH Data Engineer Nik Greenwald , who recently tested the camera.

Greenwald points out how intuitive the Eufy app is, and that the camera held up to water-resistance claims during our rigorous tests by performing without issue even after it was submerged in water. Our pros also like that, unlike other home security cameras, this one comes with 8GB of local storage, which should give you about two months of storage so you can avoid paying another pesky monthly subscription fee. For a newer solar-powered model (sans spotlight), our pros also suggest the SoloCam S220 .

Once this outdoor Nest Cam detects people, vehicles or animals, it not only notifies you on your phone but can also shine two bright built-in LED lights to light up that area so you’re always aware of who or what is outside your home. The GH Home Reno Award winner is weather-resistant and packs excellent video quality at 1080p, as well as two-way audio so you can speak to your guests or delivery service from anywhere. During in-Lab evaluations, our experts were impressed by the camera's high-quality construction, though keep in mind that it's heavier than most at 3.45 pounds. Between its heft and the fact that it must be hardwired, you may need a professional to install it for you, though replacing an existing wired floodlight with the Nest Cam might be doable for experienced DIYers.

Thanks to a constant connection, your camera is able to record 24/7 so you'll never miss someone passing through the yard. We like that the optional $8 per month Nest Aware subscription offers facial recognition to avoid unnecessary alerts for family or friends approaching, though if you choose to skip the subscription you’ll still have access to three hours of event video history. While this floodlight is for outdoor use only, our pros also recommend this Nest Cam that is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use (should you not need floodlights).

How we tested the best home security cameras

The engineers and experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab test all types of surveillance electronics and smart home devices . To find the best home security cameras on the market, we evaluated more than 25 models in our most recent tests, evaluating each one for video and audio performance, ease of installation and operation, app intuitiveness and motion detection. We also considered extra features such as smart home compatibility, video storage, subscription plan options, alert sensitivity and water-resistance claims for outdoor cameras. In addition to in-Lab evaluations, we sent security cameras home with our consumer testers to share firsthand feedback on factors such as ease of setup, how well they work in day-to-day life, battery life and more.

What to look for when shopping for a home security camera

✔️ Video resolution: Our pros recommend a home security camera with video resolution that's at least 720 pixels, though if you want clearer footage, consider opting for 1080 pixels. If you’re looking for the sharpest and most detailed video quality, you'll want to opt for 2K resolution.

✔️ Local vs. cloud storage: Home security cameras store video footage either locally on the device (usually with a microSD card) or in a cloud. Typically cloud storage requires a monthly subscription, while local storage may be more affordable and easier to download footage from.

✔️ Wired vs. wireless: Home security cameras can be wired, meaning they need to be plugged in, or they can be wireless and cord-free. Wireless cameras are powered by a battery that needs to be recharged every few months (unless you’re using it alongside a solar panel that charges it in direct sunlight). Wired cameras, on the other hand, are reliable and constantly connected to power so you don’t have to recharge them, but they may be harder to initially set up. Most online reviewers prefer wireless cameras as they're easier to move around and switch locations when needed. One thing to note is that wireless security cameras may be more prone to hacking, though most major brands these days offer high-end encryption to protect your privacy.

✔️ Field of view: Typically, the wider the field of view, the better. A larger field of views means you'll be able to see more of the room or outdoor space (i.e., your front porch). If your camera doesn’t pan or tilt to see other areas (like 360° cameras that show you the entire surrounding area), we recommend choosing one with a field of view anywhere from 130° to 160°, though 180° is ideal.

✔️ Indoor vs. outdoor: If your main goal is to prevent theft, go with an outdoor camera as it'll capture footage before someone enters your home and can deter a burglar with motion-activated technology or built-in lights that switch on. Indoor cameras are a great way to supervise any mischievous pets or kids while also maintaining a level of security. Most outdoor cameras can also be used indoors, but indoor cameras that are not weatherproof must be kept inside.

✔️ Subscription fees: Before buying a home security camera, you should know that most home security cameras require a subscription for complete access to all footage the camera captures. Though you may have enough for your needs without a subscription and should usually be able to access live video streams and receive notifications, you likely will have to pay extra for access to all features. For most of the home security cameras above, brands offer a monthly or yearly subscription that gives you full access to all video footage instead of shorter clips, on top of other advanced perks such as facial detection, so you won't get intruder alerts for your babysitter or family members.

✔️ Smart home compatibility: Many home security cameras today are compatible with your favorite voice assistants, like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. If you already use a voice assistant, try to find a home security camera that supports it so you can access handy voice commands and take advantage of easy integration within your ecosystem.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

The Good Housekeeping Home Improvement Lab provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, from setting up home security systems to installing smart plugs .

This guide was originally written by Senior Product Analyst, Emma Seymour . GH Institute writer and product analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from consumer electronics to home, fitness, travel and more and frequently collaborates with the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab.

To update this review, she worked with the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, Dan DiClerico , who brings more than 20 years of experience to the GH Institute, having reviewed thousands of products for Good Housekeeping, as well as brands like This Old House and Consumer Reports. During his time at the Institute, he has evaluated all types of security cameras and home security systems.

Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance. 

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute , covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute . A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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Masha Borak

Inside Safe City, Moscow’s AI Surveillance Dystopia

Sergey Vyborov was on his way to the Moscow Metro’s Aeroport station last September when police officers stopped him. The 49-year-old knew that taking the metro could spell trouble. During a protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, police had fingerprinted and photographed him. He’d already been detained four times in 2022. But he was rushing to his daughter’s birthday, so he took a chance.

Vyborov wasn’t arrested that day, but the police informed him that he was under surveillance through Sfera, one of Moscow’s face recognition systems, for participating in unsanctioned rallies. Considered one of the most efficient surveillance systems, Sfera led to the detention of  141 people last year. “Facial recognition, and video cameras in general in a totalitarian state, are an absolute evil,” Vyborov says. 

Vyborov finds himself at the bottom of a slippery slope that privacy advocates have long warned about . Under the guise of smart city technology, authoritarian and democratic governments have rolled out huge networks of security cameras and used artificial intelligence to try to ensure there is no place to hide. Cities have touted the ability of such systems to tackle crime, manage crowds, and better respond to emergencies. Privacy campaigners say such systems could be used as tools of oppression. In Moscow, Vyborov and countless others now face that oppression on a daily basis.

The Russian capital is now the  seventh -most-surveilled city in the world. Across Russia, there are an  estimated 21 million surveillance cameras, and the country ranks among the top in the world in terms of the number of connected surveillance cameras. The system created by Moscow’s government, dubbed Safe City, was touted by city officials as a way to streamline its public safety systems. In recent years, however, its  217,000 surveillance cameras, designed to catch criminals and terrorists, have been turned against protestors, political rivals, and journalists. 

“Facial recognition was supposed to be the ‘cherry on top,’ the reason why all of this was built,” says a former employee of NTechLab, one of the principal companies building Safe City’s face recognition system.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Safe City’s data collection practices have become increasingly opaque. The project is now seen as a tool of rising digital repression as Russia wages war against Ukraine and dissenting voices within its own borders. It is an example of the danger smart city technologies pose. And for the engineers and programmers who built such systems, its transformation into a tool of oppression has led to a moment of reckoning. 

Founded in 2015, NTechLab  caught the attention of the global press with the February 2016 launch of FindFace, an app that allowed anyone to identify faces by matching them with images gathered from social network  VKontakte , Russia’s Facebook equivalent. Met with warnings of the  “end to public anonymity,” the app was reportedly downloaded by 500,000 people within two months of its launch. But for NTechLab, it was primarily a proof of concept for its nascent face recognition algorithm.

NTechLab still felt like a startup when one former employee, who asked not to be named for privacy reasons, joined the company. And he was drawn in by the complexity of the work.

Kate Knibbs

Dell Cameron

“From [an] engineering point of view, it’s very interesting to work with: It’s very difficult,” he says. 

After the release of FindFace, NTechLab began selling its face recognition tech to small businesses, such as shopping malls that could use it to catch shoplifters or see how many people return to certain stores. But NTechLab was also working with the Moscow Department of IT Technology (DIT), the government department tasked with building Moscow’s digital infrastructure. In 2018, when Russia hosted the FIFA World Cup, NTechLab’s face recognition tech was connected to more than 450 security cameras around Moscow, and its tech  reportedly helped police detain 180 people whom the state deemed “wanted criminals.”

At its inception, Moscow’s face recognition system was fed official watchlists, like the database of wanted people. The system uses these lists to notify the police once a person on the list is detected, but law enforcement can also upload an image and search for where a person has appeared. Over the years, security and law enforcement agencies have compiled a database of the leaders of the political opposition and prominent activists, according to Sarkis Darbinyan, cofounder of digital rights group Roskomsvoboda, which has been campaigning for a suspension of the technology. It remains unclear who is in charge of adding activists and protesters to watchlists.

In March 2019, following the success of the World Cup trial—some of Russia’s “most wanted” people were arrested while trying to attend matches—the Moscow Department of Transportation, which operates the city’s metro, launched its own surveillance system, Sfera. By October 2019, 3,000 of the city’s 160,000 cameras were enabled with face recognition tech, according to interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev.

NTechLab was one of many companies building the slew of systems that would later be branded Safe City. International companies, from US tech firms such as Nvidia, Intel, and Broadcom to South Korea’s Samsung and Chinese camera maker Hikvision, worked alongside local firms such as  HeadPoint ,  Netris , and  Rostelecom  that have developed various components of the surveillance systems. According to procurement documents cited by the UK’s BBC, three companies besides NTechLab created face recognition tech for Moscow’s growing surveillance apparatus, including Tevian, and Kipod, and VisionLabs. Moscow's Transportation Department said in social media posts that Sfera was built using VisionLabs technology, although the company downplays its involvement.

NtechLab says it operates in compliance with local laws and does not have access to customer data or camera video streams. Nvidia and Intel say they left Russia in 2022, with Nvidia adding that it does not create software or algorithms for surveillance. Broadcom and Samsung also say they stopped doing business in Russia following the invasion. VisionLabs says it only provides the Moscow Metro with its face recognition payment system. Other companies did not respond to requests for comment. The DIT and the Moscow Department of Transportation did not respond to requests for comment.

At the end of 2018, as Russia cracked down harder on political dissent online and in the streets, the DIT started to change, says a former employee who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. The department used to just be the “technical guys” providing assistance to security services, with the Moscow government recruiting highly paid IT specialists to make the most efficient systems possible, according to Andrey Soldatov, an investigative journalist and Russian security services expert. But according to the former employee, the DIT was beginning to reflect the Kremlin’s authoritarian bent.

Then came Covid. 

Safe City launched in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Russia, like some other countries, seemingly used the pandemic as grounds to expand its surveillance systems to catch people breaking self-isolation rules. By mid-March 2020, Safe City’s face recognition system had  caught 200 people breaking lockdown restrictions. At the same time, Moscow  introduced a regulatory sandbox for the development of AI applications with the participation of large IT companies, exempting authorities from the country’s already lax data protection requirements. “With Covid, [the DIT] essentially became a part of the repressive apparatus,” says Soldatov.

In addition to its network of more than 200,000 cameras, Safe City also incorporates data from  169  information systems, managing data on citizens, public services, transportation, and nearly everything else that makes up Moscow’s infrastructure. This includes anonymized cell phone geolocation data collection, vehicle license plate recognition, data from ride-hailing services, and voice recognition devices. As Safe City was still rolling out in 2020, the Russian government  announced  plans to spend $1.3 billion deploying similar Safe City systems across Russia. From the outside, the potential for the system to be abused seemed obvious. But for those involved in its development, it looked like many other smart city projects. “No one expected that the country would turn into hell in two years,” says one former NTechLab employee, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

Attempts to break open Moscow’s digital black box have been stonewalled. Alena Popova, whose image was captured during a protest against  politician Leonid Eduardovich Slutsky in April 2018, filed the first lawsuit against Moscow’s DIT for allegedly violating her privacy, seeking a ban on face recognition tech. The case was  thrown out , but Popova has continued to file lawsuits, including one at the European Court of Human Rights—which Russia is  no longer a part of. 

While Moscow operates one of the world’s most pervasive surveillance systems, Russian law does not safeguard individual privacy. With seemingly no hope of recourse, some activists have been forced to leave Russia altogether. Popova is now on the list of foreign agents and is living in an undisclosed overseas location. “I will not apply to any political asylum in any country because I would like to go back to my own country and fight back,” she says.

A key concern is that Moscow’s surveillance system was designed to conceal its data collection from Moscow’s 12 million residents, says Sergey Ross, founder of the Collective Action Center think tank and a former Moscow politician. Although the system is run by the Moscow government, elected members of the Moscow City Duma  say  they are excluded from regulating face recognition systems and have little insight into how it is being used. “It’s a complete black box,” says Ross.

“It was clear that sooner or later the technology would be used to catch activists and dissenters,” says Roskomsvoboda’s Darbinyan. 

Russia made  almost 20,500 political arrests in 2022 , according to data from human rights media organization OVD-Info, which characterizes the number as “unprecedented.” The arrests have sparked fears that Safe City will be expanded to catch draft dodgers—although former NTechLab employees say that doing so would be technically difficult to pull it off because of too many false positives. Still, Moscow police appear to be using face recognition to aid Russia’s war efforts in other ways.

In September 2022, just after Putin announced additional mobilization for the war against Ukraine, Viktor Kapitonov, a 27-year-old activist who’d protested regularly since 2013, was stopped by two police officers after being flagged by face recognition surveillance while he approached the turnstiles in Moscow’s marble-covered Avtozavdodskaya metro station. The officers took him to the military recruitment office, where around 15 people were waiting to enlist in Putin’s newly announced draft. 

“They let me in without waiting in line as if I were some sort of VIP person,” he says. The recruiters wanted to force Kapitonov to enlist, but he ended up escaping the draft. “I explained that I am not fit, I have a disability.”

From 2017 to 2020, NTechLab became one of Russia’s  fastest-growing companies. Other face recognition firms have cashed in as well: The revenue of Russian face recognition developers  grew between 30 and 35 percent in 2022, thanks in part to deals struck in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, and South America. Russia’s national AI strategy has supported such firms with grants, tax exemptions, and subsidies, which have benefited both startups and state corporations, including tech and finance giant Sber , telecom provider  Rostelecom , and defense firm Rostec, which previously owned a minority stake in NTechLab. While NTechLab continues to work globally, reporting a revenue increase of 35 percent in 2022, it has also faced a backlash against its work with the Russian state.

In June of last year, a “name-and-shame” list of NTechLab employees was  published [in Russian] with information collected from social media. The project went viral, and some employees reported being harassed online. Artem Zinnatullin, a software engineer now based in the US, says he published the list after NTechLab  sold its new  silhouette recognition technology to the Moscow government in June 2022. To him, it signaled support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. In the post, he called NTechLab “the blacksmith of the Digital Gulag.” Zinnatullin, who says he knew people arrested with the help of face recognition technology, believes publishing the list of NTechLab employees was only fair. “You recognize people on the street, it’s only fair if we use public data to recognize who you are,” he says.

Unlike many face recognition companies that keep a low profile, NTechLab’s splash with FindFace has turned it into a recognized brand. Employees say this high profile has made them into scapegoats. 

As arrests of activists and politicians mounted, the ethics of NTechLab’s technology became a recurring topic at company meetings. NTechLab staff have resisted the use of the company’s face recognition in rallies and refused to sell the technology to the military, according to people familiar with these discussions. Still, the NTechLab leadership concluded that the technology was ultimately positive—even if the occasional dissenting voice was arrested because of it. 

“We all saw these positive examples, we saw how it really catches criminals,” says one former NTechLab employee. “Most people in NTechLab would say they were doing something very good, technologies that can help and save people’s lives. It really did.”

As Russia furthered its march toward authoritarianism in 2021, NTechLab leadership began talking about moving the company abroad, according to people familiar with internal company discussions. But with lucrative government contracts abounding—NTechLab  received a $13 million investment from the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, in September 2020—its investors resisted the idea. The company was also changing. Its founders, Alexander Kabakov and Artem Kukharenko, stepped down from NTechLab—and both left Russia in December 2021 and February 2022, respectively, declaring   their  anti-war stance on social media. 

Other employees left amid an exodus of IT talent from Russia. The war changed how they viewed their work. “Looking back, we realize that we shouldn’t have done it,” says an NTechLab employee. “But even in 2017 and 2018, it was a completely different country. At least, that’s how it seemed to those who weren’t very immersed in politics.”

Russia’s Safe City projects show no sign of slowing. As more surveillance systems are deployed across the country, Moscow’s DIT is planning to centralize video streams collected across all regions into its own system. And new projects to digitize public services may make it even easier for the government to eventually create large databases where everyone can be found, according to Popova. “It is really scary,” she says. “If they digitalize all the databases and combine them to make this joint database, they can find everybody.” In July, Putin  signed a federal law that funnels personal biometric data collected in the country into a single system—an effort to obtain an “almost unlimited monopoly” on the collection and storage of biometrics, says Roskomsvoboda’s Darbinyan. 

In a further expansion of the Safe City project, Rostec is also  reportedly  developing software that will help authorities predict riots and prevent their escalation by analyzing media reports, data from social networks, video cameras, and other sources. Rostec did not respond to a request for comment on its development of these systems.

Similar systems have been developed in some Chinese cities, and Russia is now playing catch-up. “The Russian government would probably like to move toward China, but they do not yet have the necessary technology,” says Kiril Koroteev, head of international practice at the Russia-based Agora International Human Rights Group.

For now, many activists in Russia are left to do whatever they can to skirt the country’s growing surveillance apparatus, including avoiding the Moscow Metro. Kapitonov hopes that a balaclava will keep him safe, while Vyborov aims to ride the metro early in the morning, when there are fewer police around to detain him. 

“I think that it was inevitable that such a system would be made sooner or later,” says one former NTechLab employee. Face recognition is like a knife, he says: It can be used to cut food, but it can also be used to cut innocent people. He now regrets that NTechLab played a key role in building Moscow’s Safe City project. He has left Russia and doesn’t think he will work on face recognition again. “I do not want to mess with it anymore,” he says.

Update 9:25 am ET, February 6, 2023: Clarified the role of VisionLabs in the Sfera system and that NTechLab's founders have since left the company.

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