We love the convenience and flexibility of wireless home security cameras and this year, there's a new sheriff in town: Reolink Argus 3 Pro. Reolink sports 2K video quality, a bright spotlight, and a wire-free design—features it shares with Arlo Pro 4, our previous winner. But Reolink offers a smaller price tag.
Although Arlo offers more advanced features like motion zones and better smart home compatibility, Reolink offers local storage, a longer warranty, and a very affordable solar panel add-on. These small improvements make a huge difference when the best wireless security cameras are so similar.
Find out which cameras on our list are truly wireless, which ones you can use indoors and outdoors, and what smart features each one offers in our comparison table and security camera reviews.
Keep an eye on Google Store's Black Friday page to find deals on Nest cameras, Nest thermostats and more!
Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Here are the best 10 wireless security cameras of 2021
- : Best overall
- : Best budget camera
- : Best for smart home
- : Best tech
- : Best for Alexa
- : Best pan-tilt
- : Best all-in-one camera
- : Best climate sensors
- : Best battery life
- : Best for privacy
Compare the best wireless security cameras
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Camera
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Rating
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Price*
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Type
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Video resolution
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Night vision
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Learn more
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| Best overall |
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$134.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | 1440p (2K) | Color/infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best budget |
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$35.98 | Indoor/outdoor wired | 1080p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best for smart home |
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$199.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | 1440p (2K) | Color/infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best tech |
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$179.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | 1080p | Infrared | View on Google Store | Read Review |
| Best for Alexa |
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$99.99 | Indoor/outdoor wire-free | 1080p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best pan-tilt |
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$69.99 | Indoor wired | 1520p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best all-in-one camera |
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$329.00 | Indoor wired | 1080p | Infrared | View on Abode | Read Review |
| Best climate sensors |
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$169.00 | Indoor wired | 1080p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best battery life |
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$79.99 | Indoor wire-free | 1080p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Best for privacy |
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$47.99 | Indoor wired | 1296p | Infrared | View on Amazon | Read Review |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
1. Reolink Argus 3 Pro: Best overall
We love the Reolink Argus 3 Pro because it performs on nearly the same level as Arlo Pro 4 for 70% of the price, making it an easy choice to top our rankings as the best wireless camera. While Reolink's cloud storage isn't as good as the options from Arlo and Ring, its microSD card slot gives it a local storage advantage. You don't need a paid subscription to save videos from your Reolink camera.
It doesn't hurt that it's also an affordable solar security camera. You can pick up a Reolink solar panel for around $25, which is half the price of solar panels for Arlo and Ring cameras.
Affordable (especially the solar panels) Excellent video quality Bright spotlight MicroSD video storage
No removable battery No motion zonesWe highly recommend the Reolink Argus 3 Pro over the normal Reolink Argus 3. Its 2K video resolution, larger battery, and support for 5 GHz Wi-Fi give the Arlo Pro 4 a run for its money. This camera uses a rechargeable battery or solar power, so you have a lot of flexibility for camera placement. Still, the camera doesn't have a removable battery like Arlo Pro 4 and Ring Stick Up Cam—you can't swap a spare in when needed.
It outlasted Arlo Pro 4 in long-term battery tests, which is another notch in Reolink's belt. The local storage helps reduce the camera's Wi-Fi usage (which chews through batteries) for better performance overall. This contrasts with our experience of batteries draining fairly quickly if you record or view video often without a solar panel accessory. Our test wasn't exactly taxing on the cameras, so you can expect to drain the battery in a month or two under normal conditions.
During our tests, we noticed that this camera lacks motion zones and has a narrower field of view (122ยบ) than average, but it's still one of the best choices for most folks. It even boasts compatibility with smart home platforms like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Its starlight night vision gives you clear images up to 33 feet without any extra ambient light. Overall we found setup easy and the camera outperformed our expectations, so we're enormous fans of Reolink. Read our in-depth reviews of the Reolink Argus 3 Pro and other Reolink cameras to learn more.
2. Wyze Cam v3: Best budget camera
The Wyze Cam v3 builds on the foundation of Wyze's original sleeper hit by introducing outdoor capabilities, a built-in siren, improved night vision, and a higher frame rate for smoother video. While the v3 saw a small price bump shortly after release, $36 is still a steal for a wireless camera this good.
Affordable price Powerful color night vision Indoor and outdoor capabilities Built-in siren
Wired power cord Special power source for outdoor operationWyze Cam v3's night vision is noteworthy because it uses a starlight sensor with two types of infrared LEDs to produce color video at night. This is also one of the first Wyze cameras to record videos at 20 frames per second (fps) during the day, which gives it smoother video playback and live viewing than Wyze's older cameras.
We're fans of Wyze's free cloud storage that saves small 12-second clips for up to 14 days. The Wyze Cam Plus paid cloud storage plan allows for full-length video clips and is great for folks wanting better video recording without buying a microSD card. It's also one of the cheapest plans from any security camera company—costing just $2 a month or $15 for an annual plan.
You can buy the Wyze Outdoor Cam Starter Bundle for about $35 more than the Wyze Cam v3. The rechargeable battery is great for folks that want a wire-free option that's more affordable than most other outdoor security cameras.
A window mount and spotlight kit are two compelling accessories for the v3. The window mount improves recording video through a window—typically a no-no with indoor cameras. The LED spotlight kit brings Wyze Cam v3 closer to Arlo Pro 4 in nighttime functionality.
One of the only things we don’t like is that you need a power cord, which limits placement options. To make matters worse, outdoor operation requires a special cord. Head over to our Wyze cameras review to learn more about the best bargains in security cameras.
The Wyze Cam Pan v2 can scan an entire room in just three seconds. You can adjust settings with the Pan Scan feature to automatically scan an area to your specifications. This little Wi-Fi camera’s motion tracking is also cool—if a kid or dog runs through the room, the camera will follow all the action. (No more arguments about who broke the lamp.) Read our full Wyze Cam Pan review.
3. Arlo Pro 4: Best for smart home
The Arlo Pro 4 offers compatibility with more smart home platforms than any other entry on our list. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. Although it dropped in ranking this update, it's still one of our all-time favorites.
We love that it's 100% wire-free— it doesn't need a power cord and still manages to outperform the competition. Its Wi-Fi connection and battery make it easy to install practically anywhere a ladder can reach.
2K video resolution 100% wire-free design Indoor/outdoor versatility Smart home integration
High price Paid cloud storageThe Arlo Pro 4 is an excellent battery-powered camera, especially if you want a quick setup, multiple cameras, and outstanding video quality. Its 2K video captures more detail than 1080p outdoor cameras and records clear video any time of day thanks to infrared night vision and a built-in spotlight.
It's a breeze to set up, thanks to a helpful tutorial in the Arlo app. And the magnetic wall mount makes it easy to install anywhere. While you have to pay for cloud video storage on the Arlo Pro 4, it's one of the more affordable subscriptions out there at $2.99 a month.
Arlo 4 fixes the biggest drawback of Arlo Pro 3 in that it no longer requires a base station, which was available only when buying two or more cameras. This makes it a more affordable choice, though it's still more expensive than the average wireless camera (including some Arlo cameras). The price played a major role in the Reolink Argus 3 Pro claiming the top spot in our latest update—something Arlo held for many years.
Read our full Arlo Pro 4 and Arlo camera reviews to learn more.
Arlo recently released a more affordable wire-free camera: Arlo Essential Spotlight (about $130). We love that it doesn't require a base station like older Arlo cameras, and it sports a bright spotlight for color video at night like the Arlo Pro 4.
4. Google Nest Cam (Battery): Best tech
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The Google Nest Cam (Battery)† is awesome when it comes to image, video, and sound quality. Plus, it fixes one of our biggest complaints about the Nest Cam IQ by opening up most of its smart alerts to users without a Nest Aware subscription.
Great video quality Battery-powered Local backup storage Quality design and aesthetic
High price Facial recognition requires subscriptionThis is Google's first battery-powered security camera, and we're pleased to say its battery holds up well in tests. There's even built-in video storage that keeps the camera recording up to a week's worth of clips when the internet drops.
There's even free cloud storage now, making Nest a lot more viable for folks on a budget. It stores only three hours of video clips, but that's better than Arlo and Ring's complete lack of free storage.
Among the smart alerts you can use for free are person, animal, and vehicle detection, along with motion zones. The fact that you can use so many features without a monthly subscription is a big improvement.
You still need to pay to use the facial recognition, but we're not as excited about that. We especially like that you don't need to pay a separate fee for each camera in your home.
Read more in our review of the Nest cameras suite.
Google just released its first-ever battery-powered models: Google Nest Cam and Google Nest Doorbell. There's also a new Google Nest Cam Indoor and Google Nest Cam With Floodlight.
Aside from the floodlight camera, all of Google's new products are cheaper than $200, which was historically the lowest price for Nest cameras.
5. Ring Stick Up Cam Battery: Best for Alexa
The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is completely wire-free, so you have a ton of flexibility in where you put it. And it costs around $100, making it one of the most affordable security cameras you can use both indoors and outdoors. It's an ideal wireless camera for an Alexa smart home, though we'd like it better if it supported Google Assistant and HomeKit like Arlo does.
No power cables to wrangle Indoor/outdoor capability Motion-activated sensors Alexa compatibility
Tedious process to recharge battery Short battery lifeIf you need a wireless outdoor camera on a budget, the Stick Up Cam Battery is a great bet. Ring also has one of the most competitive cloud storage plans on the market, costing just $3 a month for 60 days of storage.
We've seen reports of short battery life on Ring products (some say it lasts about a month), and recharging the Stick Up Cam is a tedious process since you need to remove the battery each time. While there's a wired option for this camera—Stick Up Cam Plug-In—you lose the flexibility of installing it anywhere.
You can get a solar panel accessory so you don’t need to remove the battery as often, but it’ll cost you extra. Read our full Ring Stick Up Cam review to learn more about this great little camera—or check out our Ring Alarm review to see how Ring products all work together.
The Ring Spotlight Cam Battery (about $200) costs twice as much as the Stick Up Cam but has a couple of added benefits. The built-in siren and bright spotlight can help deter unwelcome visitors by sounding an alarm that's hard to ignore. We also like that the spotlight can double as a path light for getting to and from your car at night. Learn more in our Ring Spotlight Cam review.
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6. Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor: Best pan-tilt
At SafeWise, we’re Amcrest fans, and this wireless indoor security camera doesn’t disappoint. Its remote pan-and-tilt function, easy setup, and variety of video storage options make this one of the best cameras available for under $100.
While this camera records video without issues, there’s a noticeable lag when you view live video. Unfortunately, the user manual is hard to follow, and mounting the Amcrest 4MP UltraHD on the wall limits the camera’s rotation options. But we still like the free cloud storage and the addition of two-way talk. Learn more in our full Amcrest cameras review.
7. Abode Iota: Best all-in-one camera
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
The Abode Iota is a high-end home security camera and security system in one. This compact device delivers two-way talk, high video quality, and sensitive motion detection. It also comes with the option to add 24/7 professional monitoring. That gives you a direct link to help through a monitoring center without buying any additional security equipment.
Best of all, Abode’s professional monitoring starts at just $20 per month, and there’s no contract required. Learn more in our full Abode cameras review.
8. Canary Pro: Best climate sensors
The Canary Pro combines home security features like a siren and environmental sensors with a smart home security camera. And don’t let the small, unobtrusive design fool you. Canary packed enough security features into this Wi-Fi camera to make it qualify for home insurance discounts from many major insurers. It's essentially a small security system, right down to a loud siren and quick access to emergency response services.
We love the Climate Monitor sensors since they allow Canary to track the humidity, temperature, and air quality in your home. This means that the camera can sense if the fireplace isn’t fully off or when someone leaves the tub running.
Subscribing to the Canary Premium Service plan (about $10 a month) nets you 30 days of cloud video storage instead of the single day on the free plan. You also unlock two-way audio, which is often free with other brands. Overall, the plan is good but too pricey for the added benefits.
We wish it had a little more night-vision power—it only sees about 20 feet in the dark. But its other superpowers make this little camera a strong contender. Read our full Canary review.
9. Blink Indoor: Best battery life
Blink is an Amazon-owned security camera company that focuses on budget cameras. Its latest product is the Blink Indoor, an attractive little camera. You can buy this camera for about $80, making it cheaper than other wire-free cameras thanks to an indoor-only design.
It has a long battery life of up to two years—much longer than the competition. It achieves this by recording short clips and turning off Wi-Fi when the camera is inactive. Like all Amazon smart devices, this camera is less susceptible to incompatibility issues than third-party brands. Connecting to Alexa and Fire TV devices is easy, and you can even see a live view on Alexa smart displays like the Echo Show.
The Blink Indoor requires a paid subscription (about $3 a month) to save videos, but it stores only about two hours of footage, which is tiny compared to most brands. Still, the Blink Indoor is a good option if you want an affordable wire-free indoor security camera to use with Alexa.
Check out our Blink cameras review for more information.
10. YI Dome Camera: Best for privacy
The YI Dome Camera makes us think a little of R2-D2. It’s cute and looks like the type of tech you can count on to stay in touch with kids and pets when you can’t be at home. The anti-noise filter makes it easy to listen for baby’s cries or chat with kids about homework after school. You can even tell Rover to get off the sofa.
Its biggest improvement over the original YI Dome Camera is a physical privacy shutter you can close to prevent the camera from recording when you want more privacy in a space.
Another great feature of this wireless security camera is unlimited free cloud storage. But watch out if you’re an Android user—there are several reported issues with the Android app. Learn more in our YI Dome Camera U review.
Final word
There are so many wireless security cameras to choose from—we barely scratched the surface of what kinds of cameras are out there. Still, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro is a standout option with 100% wire-free operation, local storage, cheap solar panel, and impressive video quality.
It's not a perfect camera, especially since it lacks the motion zones you can find on most competitors, but it's a refreshing change from cloud-centric brands like Arlo and Ring.
For more information about wireless security cameras, see our list of frequently asked questions below. If you're looking for a wireless camera that works with a security system, you can start with recommendations from our best home security systems.
Wireless security camera FAQ
Unfortunately, yes, security cameras can be vulnerable to hacking—but we have a handful of protective tips for you.
Nearly every security camera we looked at supports encryption. This protects the camera’s data stream (like videos of your kids after school) from prying eyes.
No matter what security features come with your camera, these tips can help you maximize the privacy of your security cameras:
- Buy a camera with a recognizable name and purchase it from a trustworthy seller.
- Make sure your home Wi-Fi network is secure.
- Create unique, strong passwords for your camera and any apps you use to access it.
- Keep firmware up to date on your camera and your Wi-Fi router.
- Turn off remote viewing when you don’t need it.
- Block the lens of your camera when you’re not using it—a post-it or a piece of painters tape will work.
Get more tips from our video on how to protect your cameras from hackers.
We’ve learned that many people want a wireless security camera to keep an eye on the people and pets they love. If this is your goal, here are some things to consider:
- Two-way communication: This lets you listen in and talk to the pets or people at home.
- Night vision: Clear images in low light are especially important if you want to use the camera as a baby monitor.
- Field of view: Most security cameras use a wide-angle lens, while baby monitors and nanny cams often use a more narrow range of vision to focus on the baby.
- Pan and tilt: If you’re viewing pets or older kids remotely from the office or on a beach, you may want to be able to move the camera angle.
Wireless cameras can’t have it all. It would be great if they could watch things inside by day, and keep an eye on what’s going on outside after dark, right? But it rarely works.
Most indoor security cameras will pick up glares and reflections when aimed out a window. This obscures the outside view, making it useless.
If security both outdoors and indoors is a priority for you, we recommend getting the right type of camera for each area. You may be able to find an indoor camera (like Wyze Cam v3's window mount) that claims to be specifically designed to minimize the glare and reflection of a window, but be sure to read a lot of customer reviews to back the claim up.
If your goal is to protect against intruders, we recommend an outdoor camera first and foremost.
Outdoor security cameras can deter criminals and provide an early warning before someone enters your home. While indoor security cameras often help people catch a burglar after the fact, you have a better chance of sending a thief running with an outdoor camera.
And if you want to be connected to the police, you should look into security cameras that come with an option to add professional monitoring.
Contributing writer: Rebecca Edwards
How we reviewed wireless cameras
To find the best wireless security cameras, we looked at price, image quality, reliability, ease of setup, smart features, night vision, and customer satisfaction.
We tested several cameras in our homes, read expert reviews, researched industry standards and camera specs, and consulted thousands of customer reviews.
- 200+ hours of research and testing
- 33 in-home tests
- 48 products considered
Battery-powered cameras that completely fall into the wire-free category, like the Reolink Argus 3 Pro, Arlo Pro 4, Google Nest Cam, and Ring Stick Up Cam, got extra credit when it came to ranking the top wireless security cameras this year. But we couldn’t dismiss high-quality Wi-Fi cameras like the Wyze Cam v3 just because of a compulsory power cord.
Find out more about how we rank and review products in our full methodology.
Related articles on SafeWise
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
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