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Outdoor security cameras can be your home’s first line of defense. The Ring Spotlight Cam tops our list as the best outdoor home security camera because it does double-duty as a smart security camera and a motion-activated security light. Wireless outdoor security camera systems like Arlo Pro 3 and Blink Outdoor also impressed with integrated security that can cover the front yard, backyard, and any other outside areas all at once.
Find out how each outdoor camera performs for features, cost, and ease of installation and use.
Here are the best outdoor security cameras 2021
- : Best overall
- : Best for smart homes
- : Best video
- : Budget pick
- : Best battery life
Compare the best outdoor security cameras
Every outdoor camera on our list features motion detection and DIY installation. See how they compare in cost, power source, and image quality.
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| Best overall |
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$199.99 | Battery, wired, solar | 1080p | Color/infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best for smart homes |
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$192.00 | Wired | 1080p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best video |
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$209.00 | Battery, solar | 1440p (2K) | Color/infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Budget pick |
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$33.99 | Wired | 1080p | Color/infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best battery life |
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$99.99 | Battery | 1080p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
1. Ring Spotlight Cam: Best overall
Ring is known for its doorbell cameras, and Ring puts the same smart technology and sleek design into the compact Ring Spotlight Cam. It lets you see, hear, and speak to people on your property from anywhere; and you can access it on any mobile device or PC. Although it comes with a higher price point ($199 for one camera), we think its perks and reputation are worth it.
Plus, when you combine Ring's cameras with Ring Alarm you get a comprehensive outdoor wireless home security camera system.
Built-in spotlight Two-way talk 110-decibel siren Easy installation Works with Alexa Battery, solar, or hardwired options Two color choices: black or white
Expensive price tag Short battery life Spotlight interference with night visionAs soon as the Ring Spotlight Cam detects motion, video starts recording and the light comes on—that’s two burglar deterrents in one. You can even set custom motion zones to make sure the areas you want to monitor are always protected.
And because it can be powered by battery, solar panel, or hardwiring, you can buy the Ring Spotlight Cam that works for where you want to install it. Plus, the addition of a built-in siren that you can sound from your phone makes this camera a mini all-in-one security system.
Learn more in our Ring Spotlight Cam review.
Several Ring Alarm and camera users have reported breaches in their accounts that allowed a stranger to use the two-way communication to intimidate them. This is a risk every user takes when they use any internet-connected wireless system.The good news is you can minimize the risk with proper internet security. Here are a few easy tips for securing your system from online threats:
- Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts.
- Opt for extra security measures like two-factor authentication.
- Add shared users instead of sharing login credentials.
- Change your home Wi-Fi password frequently.
We still confidently recommend Ring and other similar wireless internet-connected systems. And while these threats are real, they can be avoided with a few extra precautions.
Get more tips in our video all about how to keep your security cameras safe from hackers.
2. Google Nest Cam Outdoor: Best for smart homes
Smart gadget pioneer Nest doesn’t disappoint with the Google Nest Cam Outdoor, which we consider one of the best outdoor hardwired security cameras. It offers a bevy of features including motion and activity alerts, two-way talk, and smart home integration. We're especially big fans of its smart home compatibility since it supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the most popular smart home platforms around.
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant Comes with two-year warranty Provides 130° view with wide-angle lens Delivers crisp picture
No wireless power option No sirenAlthough the Google Nest Cam Outdoor is the best outdoor camera with continuous recording, this feature is only available if you add a Nest Aware subscription. The same goes for person alerts, which reduce the number of false alarms due to wandering dogs or rambunctious tumbleweeds.
Fees range from $6 to $12 per month to record video from all of the Nest cameras in your home, with a discount if you pay for a whole year upfront. Because some of the best components of the Google Nest Cam Outdoor require you to shell out extra cash, we had to place this high-tech security camera at the number two spot on our list.
Learn more about this sleek camera in our Nest cameras review.
Looking to install one soon? We've got an installation guide to help out with that.
Check out our review of the best video doorbell cameras.
3. Arlo Pro 3: Best video
Arlo Pro 3 security cameras get the job done without requiring a lot of tech knowledge or DIY household know-how. Setup is super easy, and you have the option to permanently mount the cameras outside or set them on a ledge or other vantage point. One of the things we appreciate about the Arlo Pro 3 is that it works just as well indoors as out. We also love the 2K video resolution that outperforms nearly every other outdoor Wi-Fi camera on our list.
Easy setup Small, unobtrusive design Smart home compatibility 100% wireless 2K video resolution
Pricey No free cloud storageWhen you add multiple cameras to your Arlo Pro 3 system, you have an interactive outdoor security camera system that can keep an eye on every access point to your property. And because there are no wires (you can place them anywhere), we've deemed Arlo the best wireless outdoor security camera.
We recommend the three camera kit, which includes the base station and built-in sirens. And even though there's no free cloud video storage option on this system, you can connect local storage to the base station if you don't want to pay for cloud storage.
Learn more in our Arlo camera review.
4. ZOSI C190: Budget and night vision pick
This camera doesn’t dazzle with loads of extra features, but when cost is a deciding factor, the ZOSI C190 is right on the money. And speaking of money, you can put the ZOSI to work for about $30 per camera. That makes it easy to add multiple security cameras to different locations on your property.
Night vision up to 80 feet Cheap price tag Weather- and vandal-resistant housing Clear picture Plug and play setup IP67 weatherproof rating
Smart home compatibility not availableYou won’t get all the bells and whistles that come with a smart security camera, but the ZOSI delivers where it matters. We were impressed by this powerful night vision security camera that can capture activity up to 80 feet away. It's not a stretch to say this is also our night vision pick, considering the video quality you get in complete darkness.
It also has one of the highest weatherproof ratings of all the cameras on our list. And ZOSI leaves nothing to chance—this outdoor Wi-Fi camera has specially designed housing that makes it nearly impossible for a vandal to disable or snatch the camera.
Learn more in our Zosi cameras review.
Some of the most important features to look for when deciding on exterior security cameras include:
- Weatherproof rating
- Wi-fi range
- Ease of installation
- Power source and battery life
- Motion detection
- Alerts and notifications
- Cloud storage and live feed options
5. Blink Outdoor: Best battery life
Blink is small, smart, and discreet, which are all characteristics we like to see in a home security camera. But our favorite thing about the Blink Outdoor is that it comes with batteries that you won’t have to change or recharge for two years. That lets you set up this battery powered security camera and relax—your Blink system will be on the job 24/7 without draining the batteries.
Two-year battery life Extreme temperature monitoring Wireless camera IP65 weatherproof rating
No way to upgrade cloud storage Short recording durationThe Blink outdoor wireless security camera also has affordable cloud storage. There are low monthly subscription fees, but storage is limited. Blink’s server lets you store up to 1,440 five-second clips (that’s about two hours). Once you’ve reached your max, the server drops the oldest alerts to make room for new ones. And you can’t record clips longer than sixty seconds. For the price (about $100 per camera), we’d like to see increased cloud storage and recording duration.
With an IP65 rating, the Blink camera isn't waterproof, but it is water-resistant. This means it will withstand a typical rain shower or a splash from the sprinkler, but don't expect it to survive a hurricane.
Learn more in our Blink cameras review.
Honorable mentions
Our top five outdoor home security cameras are a formidable bunch, but there are a few notable brands that didn't quite make the cut:
- Wyze Cam v3, another popular budget pick. Check out our full review of the Wyze line of cameras.
- Reolink Argus 3 Pro, one of the best exterior video cameras with a solar charging panel. Learn more in our full Reolink Argus 3 Pro review.
- Vivint Outdoor Cam Pro, the best outdoor security camera system with professional monitoring. Read our complete Vivint cameras review to find out why we consider it the best-of-the-best for full-service smart home security.
Final word
We recommend the Ring Spotlight Cam as the best camera for outside your house because you can choose the power option that works best for you. With its motion detection system, video recording, and built-in siren, it provides solid protection while deterring break-ins.
Outdoor security camera FAQ
The number of outdoor wireless security cameras you need depends on a few things, including how much area you want to cover and the field of view provided by the camera.
If you have multiple access points you want to keep an eye on, like the front porch, the garage, and the backyard, you’ll probably need a camera for each of those locations. And, depending on both the size of your yard and the wide-angle view of the camera, you could need multiple cameras to cover the whole area.
For whole-home coverage, you may want to check. out the best home security systems with outdoor cameras.
An outdoor security camera needs to be able to take a beating, and the best way to tell if your camera can withstand the whims of Mother Nature is to check out the IP (Ingress Protection) rating.
The first number in an IP rating shows how difficult it is for things like dust and water to enter the camera enclosure. The second number shows how tamper-proof the enclosure is.
An IP65 rating means the camera enclosure is protected from dust as well as low-pressure water spray, which means the camera should stand up to rain and snow. A rating of IP67 means total dust protection and the ability to withstand full immersion in water up to about three feet.
If you only want to capture video footage during the daytime, then lighting probably won’t be a concern. But most of us want a security camera to be an extra set of eyes when ours aren’t available—like when we’re sleeping.
To capture clear images after the sun sets, you want a camera with night vision. Night vision capabilities vary, but the most important things to look for are the range for which night vision works and the image resolution.
For those who want to do more than catch culprits in the act, a security camera equipped with a spotlight or floodlight is a good option. These cameras use motion sensors to activate both video recording and the lights.
But lights can interfere with night vision capabilities, so keep that in mind. If video footage is more important to you than scaring off hoodlums, then you might want to skip the lights.
The benefit of a battery-operated camera is the ability to place the unit anywhere on your property. Hardwired cameras have more placement restrictions (and trickier installation) because you have to connect them to a power source.
But cameras that rely on batteries are at higher risk of leaving you unprotected if the batteries run out and you don’t notice. It really comes down to what matters more—placement flexibility or an uninterrupted power supply.
Outdoor security cameras can get power through a battery or by tapping into your home's electrical system.
Some cameras have batteries that can be recharged through a solar panel. Otherwise, you'll need to regularly replace the batteries to keep the camera up and running.
Wired cameras plug into an outlet or are spliced into your home's electrical circuit by a professional. The latter is known as hardwiring. Wired cameras sometimes feature a backup battery to reduce vulnerability during a power outage.
How we reviewed
To find the best outdoor security cameras, we looked for the features that matter most to consumers, including cost, reliability, ease of use, smart home capabilities, weatherproofing, and night vision. Our team tested multiple wireless outdoor security cameras in-house and at our homes. Plus, we looked at more than 20 expert reviews and thousands of customer reviews.
- 16 hours researched
- 32 products considered
- 1,200+ customer reviews
- 13 coffees consumed
To make our list, cameras needed to stand up to weather and have good night vision. We also liked cameras that use a wireless connection, are motion-activated, and offer some smart home compatibility. For this list, we only considered standalone outside cameras rather than those available as part of a professionally monitored outdoor security camera system.
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