Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras for 2024

Purchasing an outside home camera is a wise decision for several reasons. Although a camera’s primary function is to discourage would-be thieves from breaking into your home, it may also detect motion, and flash in reaction to movement, alert you when a package comes, and generally keep you updated on local happenings. We’ve researched over 200 hours, and the Arlo Pro 5S 2K is the best outdoor camera, in our opinion. It has several sophisticated characteristics and an outstanding resolution.

We’ve tested cameras from Ring, Blink, Dufy, and TP-Link for over five years, and we will suggest a few more types. Check out the options below if you’re searching for a wide-angle floodlight or would rather save a ton of money on a less costly camera than our unquestionably pricey top selection. Also, you’ll discover advice on how to position security cameras around your house, how to test them, and what factors make an outside camera beneficial (or where not to put security cameras). Visit our lists of the greatest wireless cameras for your house and the finest home security cameras for further alternatives and information on how home security technology operates.

Cameras for outdoor security

Rugged and waterproof security cameras are also called outdoor cameras, and they include a variety of power sources, including solar, batteries, and PoE. Apart from that, they are much the same as your standard security cameras. They have two-way communication, motion detection, streaming, and recording capabilities. On the other hand, some exterior cameras are equipped with more sophisticated functions like zone recognition, person detection, and motion-activated lights. A Brief Synopsis of Outdoor Cameras: To keep them safe from the elements, outdoor cameras are constructed with waterproof housing.

The three most crucial aspects of outdoor cameras are clever motion detection, night vision, and video quality.
Lorex offers the largest selection of outdoor cameras, and our evaluation revealed that they are incredibly advanced and high-tech Check it out for yourself.

The Function of Outdoor Cameras in Residential Security

Even though they have many of the same functions as inside cameras, outside cameras are significantly more useful for home security. Since they are in charge of perimeter security, they are the first line of defense when it comes to spotting intrusions.

After more than ten years of testing security cameras, we’ve discovered that the following are the most crucial components of outdoor cameras:

High-quality video resolution: They must be able to record crisp footage in every lighting situation since they must be able to monitor larger regions.
Good night vision: Videos taken at night sometimes have more grain than those taken during the day; thus, outside cameras must have good night vision during one of the most important times of the day: at night.

Video recording: A lot is going on outside, including passing cars and little creatures frolicking over the grass. With motion detection and artificial intelligence, a high-quality exterior camera can identify significant events and capture them for later viewing.

Even if burglars aren’t put off by seeing a security camera, you can still keep your home secure when you’re not there. We were able to compile the top outdoor security cameras by examining those qualities, contrasting security cameras that provide them, and testing those cameras. Without further ado, these are the top security cameras for outdoor usage, ranked from most durable to most intelligent.
 Top Outdoor Cameras in 2024

The best wireless outdoor security cameras are Arlo, the best DIY outdoor cam is Lorex, and the best outdoor security camera for Alexa is Ring.

The Best Outdoor Security Camera with Local Video Storage is the Wyze Cam Outdoor v2.

The cheapest outdoor cameras are offered by Blink Outdoor.
Additional excellent outdoor security cameras

Even if they weren’t as good as our current top recommendations, the outdoor security cameras we examined are still worthwhile investments. Please take note that, unlike our top recommendations, we do not do long-term testing on these models.

When hooked into an outlet, the Google Nest Cam (battery) works well for continuous cloud recording. If you want to use it for that purpose, consider getting the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight or the optional waterproof connection. With a brightness of 2,400 lumens and a color temperature of 4,000 K, the 1080p floodlight has a contemporary style.

If you want to purchase simply the camera, the 3-foot long, non-weatherproof provided cord may restrict where the camera may be installed. You may record continuously (with a Nest Aware service) whether the camera is corded or placed with the floodlight, and we found that when plugged in, the camera generally produced better, more dependable warnings.

If you’d rather remain with Ring, the Ring Remain Up Cam Plug-In was a former favorite. It supports a battery or solar panel and has an 8-foot wire for interior usage and a 14.5-foot IPX5-rated extension for outdoor use. It is no longer a recommendation because it is devoid of certain features found in our current top recommendations, but Ring has increased the price of its membership.

The Stick-Up Cam can identify humans and movement in general, but it cannot tell a car from an animal. It also restricts you to choosing from preset durations, preventing you from choosing to have a clip automatically cease recording when a motion trigger ends.

If your outdoor Wi-Fi range is limited, you may use the Arlo Go 2 with Wi-Fi or add-on 4G LTE plans, which are only available through Cellcom, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon and cost extra. The viewing angle of this 1080p model is less than that of our best cordless option, at 130 degrees as opposed to 160. It includes the option to record for free on a micro SD card but at the cost of losing the subscription-based Arlo Secure capabilities.

If you lack outside light: The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera emits 2,000 lumens of intense light, or up to 3,000 lumens if hardwired, using a detachable, rechargeable battery. Its 2K video in the sunlight performed admirably in our testing. Unless the subject was immediately in front of the camera, nighttime photos weren’t as trustworthy. However, this approach works well for concentrating on a narrow region, such as a front porch or the area around garbage cans. We anticipate the battery to last around three months, depending on usage, after months of testing.

To update to a cord-free device: Although the EufyCam S330 is almost 50% more expensive than our already excellent choice, it comes with two 4K solar-powered cameras, the upgraded HomeBase S380 Hub, facial recognition, and pet and vehicle detection. A few problems we encountered were the solar panel’s requirement for direct sunshine and the weaker battery compared to other Eufy versions. Additionally, the algorithm still tags tires as persons, which is a regular problem with Eufy cameras, despite their intelligence.

When comparing outdoor security cameras, bear the following crucial aspects in mind

Power Source: The power sources which is used by outdoor security cameras differ. Three primary options were solar, battery, and plug-in electricity. We were able to set up wire-free versions from all of our top-pick brands. Long-lasting rechargeable batteries were often used to power cordless outdoor cameras. Arlo, one of the companies we mentioned, sold solar-powered cameras. A camera was probably equipped with a cord if it ran on the mains. The finest outside cameras with cables included battery backup and shielded connections to help fend off vandals.
Continuous Video Recording: Certain outdoor security cameras only capture sound and visuals in response to intruder activity. Others might keep a running record. There have been advertisements for continuous video recording, or CVR.

Resolution: Leading cameras consist of resolutions ranging from 720p to 4K. The most famous was 1080p, which denoted 1920 pixels in width by 1080 pixels in height.
Cost Recording: All of the brands mentioned offered desktop or smartphone applications. We can see free live camera footage with apps. But typically speaking, saving video snippets or continually recording required a premium package. One exception was the low-cost security camera line Blink XT. We received very little free cloud storage from Blink. Professional system monitoring and video storage were included in many premium home security programs. Expert observation warned emergency dispatchers of possible issues. This allowed them to dispatch police even if we were unable to dial 911.

Most alarm monitoring services can send out paramedics and firemen as well.

Two-Way Voice: The audio from our top picks for outside security cameras was quite clear. All of them should have had advanced audio capabilities like echo cancellation. Some even had two-way voices, allowing us to communicate with family members nearby or yell at would-be thieves.
Doorbell Video Camera: Our doorway was watched over by a long-range, wide-angle doorbell camera. Even though they didn’t ring the bell, a sophisticated motion detector warned us of a person’s existence despite dodging squirrels and swaying trees. We were able to communicate in both directions and felt as though we were at home thanks to a smartphone app.

Some doorbell security cameras might also play pre-recorded messages for anticipated guests based on facial recognition, like the Nest video doorbell. While selecting any kind of security camera, there were always a lot of aspects to take into account; this was especially true for outdoor security cameras. We began with our essential features test to compile our list of the Best Outdoor Cameras for 2024. These cameras were all resistant to weather and functioned in a range of regions and seasons. We knew we didn’t want a camera that would break the bank, whether we were searching for wired or wireless. Continue reading to find out more about our choices for the Best Outdoor Camera list of 2024, including their prices, our rationale, and other details.

Pricing Rundown

Methodology for Outdoor Security Cameras

So how did we choose which outdoor security cameras cut our list? We go into great depth on the technique used to make our choices in this section.

Design

We thought about whether we wanted a tethered or wireless camera in addition to basic aesthetics. Although installing a camera that was connected to our house was undoubtedly more difficult, we preferred not to have to worry about batteries dying. We did worry, though, about how far many of the exterior cameras would be able to see from outside outlets. We also considered the expenses of hubs, bridges, and DVRs before making our purchases because certain cameras required them.

When it came to design, durability was the most important factor. This took the shape of an IP rating, which determined how vulnerable an item was to liquids as well as solids, and a temperature range.
Features
Naturally, we tested all of our outside cameras for critical functionality, just like we would with any other security camera. Join us as we explore the reasoning behind every feature we looked for while choosing the top outdoor security cameras for 2024.
Watch Video
The Arlo Secure app’s video. We searched for a camera with a minimum 1080p HD video display, as this is the current industry standard.

Audio

Blink XT2 Speaker for Bidirectional Audio
We searched for cameras with integrated microphones and speakers because they allowed us to communicate with the subject of the camera in two ways: through speech and audio. This worked rather well for remotely frightening away luck seekers or possible intruders in addition to alerting our children to come in for supper. A security camera was this.
Seeing in the Dark
Nest Cam’s night vision
Nest Cam’s night vision
specifically, instead of using a strong white light for color night vision, we chose cameras with infrared night vision. A feature we sought out in a smart security camera, infrared was much more discrete. Before making a purchase, we also carefully checked the camera’s night vision.

Keepsake

Additionally, we made a point of including enough storage in our cameras so that buying an outdoor security camera would be profitable. Our favorite cameras were those that provided local and cloud storage, via a hard drive, micro-SD card, Dropbox, or other means.

How to Run Security Cameras Outside.

Usually powered by solar panels or batteries, outdoor security cameras are wireless. For individuals who have access to outside outlets nearby, there are plug-in outdoor cameras available. You have four options for powering outdoor security cameras: you may use a solar panel, put it into an outlet, change the batteries, or recharge the camera inside your house.

The best outdoor security camera overall

Arlo Pro 5S 2K
The Arlo Pro 5S 2K is a top DIY model with a good feature set if price is not an issue and you’re searching for the newest capabilities. A 160-degree field of view is excellent for a camera this tiny, the 2K video quality provides more information (albeit a subscription is needed for optimum resolution), and the color night vision greatly improves photographs in low light. With new low-power modes to help reduce those tedious recharge sessions, the battery is stronger than ever (certified for up to eight months) and it’s wireless for flexible mounting possibilities.

Additionally, the outdoor camera features accessories that are quite helpful for an all-purpose security camera. In low light, the built-in flashlight illuminates (though you can adjust this using the app), and the 12x zoom and auto-tracking features aid in concentrating coverage on the most crucial aspects. In addition, the two-way audio is a great feature if you want to call out people or conduct talks via a camera. It is suitable for houses in almost any environment because it is weatherproof, UV resistant, and has a working temperature range of minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s still simple to operate the camera alone, even though connecting it to an Arlo Security System or base station offers additional advantages like extended battery life. If you choose this outdoor camera, we strongly advise spending for an Arlo Secure membership, which unlocks 2K quality streaming and allows cloud recording for clip storage. You’ll need to purchase an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station, which may cost well over $100 if you’d rather have local storage.

Check out our analysis of an earlier Arlo Pro cam model Pros

160-degree perspective
Digital zoom of 12x with auto-tracking
DIY-friendly
extended battery life and low-power settings
An integrated spotlight that works well in -20-degree weather.

Cons of two-way audio

Subscription is needed to access all features, including the maximum quality.
Costly
Local storage costs are significantly higher.
Resistance to Temperature: -20 degrees F
Eight months of battery life
Support for Voice Assistants
Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and Amazon Alexa Ideal for security and driveway monitoring
TP-Link Tapo C310
Just as big of an exterior home security risk as porch pirates taking gifts from your doorstep might come from thieves searching cars for open doors. Porch pirates can be discouraged by an effective video doorbell, but it might be more difficult to keep them out of your driveway and away from your vehicles.


One of your best weapons against intruders may be an outside camera, such as the TP-Link Tapo C310, which has an automated alarm and illumination. The camera may be positioned to observe particular areas.
Advantages
Adaptable camera with Wi-Fi antennae and long-range night vision
2K quality
Siren was among them.
Option for local storage
Cons
Installing a wired model is more challenging.
Two-way audio isn’t particularly helpful.
Arlo Go 2, the best LTE camera

A smart security camera that connects via cellular data can be what you need if you need to monitor an area without Wi-Fi, including building sites, nearby workshops, or camping vacations. The Arlo Go 2 and the Eufy 4G Starlight Cam is your best choices; they both have comparable features, such as night vision and adjustable motion alerts, plus a SIM card slot for cellular access. They are all priced at about $250, while the Eufy 4G Starlight Cam is a little less expensive.

Advantages of Home Outdoor Security Camera

Great LTE alternative for areas without Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi may still be used to store data. It has a flashlight and night vision.

Monitoring a location to locate misplaced cameras
Superior weather protection Drawbacks
a little costly
Arlo’s plan is really necessary to unlock all functionalities.

The Ring Spotlight Cam Plus is the best outdoor security camera with a spotlight.
A specialized spotlight camera directs its light beam in a particular direction, illuminating shadowy areas of your yard such as porches, patios, and corners where vision is poor. Additionally, spotlights significantly increase visibility at night. When they are motion-activated, like with the 1080p Ring Spotlight Can Plus, they may even deter potential invaders. We find that the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus is superior due to its design and extra functionality. Few spotlight cameras are as small as this, with sturdy LED bars that make it simple to use. Pros
Small size, brilliant LEDs, and simple battery replacement

Night vision in color
Adaptation to motion detection
Complete Alexa compatibility
Cons
To unlock, you must subscribe.