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The best wireless security cameras will let you know all is well at home when you’re out, whether you want to check on possible intruders or see how the dog is coping without you.
Some cameras are designed for use on the outside of your home, while others will keep on eye on what is going on inside. Some models work both indoors and outdoors.
While the best security cameras can record in high resolution and are simple to use, bottom-of-the-heap models suffer from poor-quality video, sub-standard app interfaces and cheap build quality.
See below for the key things to look for when buying a smart home security camera. Or, head directly to our wireless security camera reviews.
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Could your wireless camera be breaking the law? Read more about the laws around privacy and recording footage with security cameras at the home.
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
While some cameras can be used both inside and outside your home, the majority are designated for use as either indoor or outdoor models.
If a camera is to be used outside then it has to be weatherproofed to survive the elements and usually must be mounted on a wall or external surface.
Some outdoor cameras also double up as security lights or even alarm systems.
You'll generally pay over £100 for one of the best outdoor cameras. By contrast, you can pick up Best Buy wireless security cameras that cost less than £50.
There are a wide range of wireless security cameras available, and fortunately you can find great models at low prices.
We've tested a number of Best Buy wireless security cameras that cost less than £50.
However, be wary at the cheap end of the market, especially if you're shopping at online marketplaces like Amazon Marketplace, eBay, AliExpress and Wish.com.
Our investigations have frequently found security issues with cheap cameras from little known or unknown brands. Read more in our guide to wireless security cameras and hacking.
Wireless security cameras aren’t necessarily wire-free, the term ‘wireless’ meaning they connect wirelessly to your existing wi-fi network.
Most wireless security cameras are plugged into the mains, with a few of these offering some back-up battery time in case of power failures.
However, there are battery-powered, wire-free security cameras, which are easier to position as they doesn’t need to be near a power source. But bear in mind this does mean you’ll have to charge the battery or pay for new ones if they’re disposable.
One of the key decisions you’ll need to make is whether you’d prefer a camera with cloud-based and/or internal storage.
This allows you to store your recordings remotely online and easily access them over the web from any device. Online storage also means you won’t have to worry about losing an SD card, and you’ll still have footage even if your device is stolen. On the other hand, there are some privacy concerns about cloud-based storage, as your data will be transmitted and held online.
Most wireless security cameras use a cloud-based storage system, but the level of free storage varies and some offer none at all. Check out how much free storage is on offer, as extra cloud storage can cost as much as £9.99 a month. See all reviewed security cameras with cloud storage.
Find out more in our guide on how to save money on smart home subscription services.
This is available with some cameras, and your footage will be stored on an SD card rather than in the cloud. This means you’ll be able to cut costs, as you won’t need any subscription plan to store video clips.
You can buy SD cards with plenty of storage capacity, so you can record a reasonable amount before changing or clearing the card.
Although your recorded footage won’t leave the device, and so your data isn’t being transmitted and stored online, if someone burgles your home and steals the device, they will have access to your recordings. That's why we check if the camera encrypts the footage so someone couldn't steal your video files.
Some cameras also support separate storage devices, such as a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive. Check our reviews for storage options on each tested model.
You can find cameras with local storage in our reviews.
While data protection laws do not apply if your camera only covers your private property, they do come into force if it captures footage outside the boundary, for example the street or neighbouring properties.
Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), anyone captured on footage from your camera has the right to ask for a copy, have it erased or request for them not to be filmed in the future. Therefore, it's important to consider where your camera is placed, how wide the angle is and what is included in the view.
If you are recording parts of your neighbour's garden, or a shared passageway, either shift the camera view, or alert your neighbour that you have a camera recording there. As long as you use your camera in a responsible way that protects the privacy of others, you should be fine. Read our guide to legally recording at your home for more.
As well as connecting your wireless security cameras to your devices to manage and view footage, some wireless security cameras also are compatible with other smart home devices such as light bulbs, doorbells and smart home security systems.
This compatibility is usually controlled via a voice assistant platform, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple Homekit.
So, you could link your security camera to a voice controlled device and then control aspects with your voice, while also linking up other devices. In some instances, you can also set scenarios, such as your security camera stopping motion notifications when you signal that you are home via a smart security system.
However, devices may not be compatible with each other if they are from different brands or systems, so it is best to do your research before investing heavily.
See our guide to the best smart home security systems to find out how else you can protect your home.
A good wireless security camera will seamlessly switch between day and night modes, and should be able to pick out the same level of detail even in low light. For night vision, most devices use either LED lights or infrared, or a combination of the two.
This is the most important aspect of the security camera, especially if you want to identify someone. All wireless security cameras support at least 720p resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels), and some record in 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). A higher resolution will generally mean higher-quality footage, although 720p is usually clear enough to make out faces.
Ideally you want the best video resolution possible – no less than Full-HD (1080p) – so the images are clearer and easier to see.
If you want to hear what’s going on in your house – whether it’s a knock at the door or the dog barking while you’re out – look for a wireless security camera with one-way audio recording. If you would like to be able to communicate with the people or animals in your home, for example, to tell your children to get on with their homework or the dog to get off the sofa, two-way audio is what you need.
Wireless security cameras with this feature will trigger recording when motion is detected. Some will send an alert to the app on your phone or via email. One handy feature to look out for is the ability to set up a schedule so that motion alerts are enabled only when you know you'll be out of your home.
Most wireless security camera apps will be compatible with both iOS and Android, but check that the app will work with the version you have. A simple-to-use interface will make it easier to live-stream footage or view recordings. Before buying your wireless security camera, check whether all app features, such as setting a schedule or sharing footage, come as standard, or if you will need to pay extra to unlock the full functionality.
As home smart security becomes more popular, there are more and more brands on the market. Some of the most popular are Nest, Arlo and Hive as well as brands such as Motorola, Netamo and Logitech.
As well as providing security for your home from burglars and intruders, a wireless camera should also provide digital security against hacking attacks.
That's why we ask all brands of cameras that we review how long they will support the device with updates. While a few brands do give clear information on this, sadly many do not. We will continue to press all companies to be more transparent.
Other brands, including Arlo, did not provide specific support lengths for their cameras. Hive said it is dedicated to support until it officially decommissions devices, as it announced recently with Hive security cameras and Homeshield devices.
If a camera you own falls out of update support, there's an increased risk to using it. Although it's unlikely to immediately get hacked, the risk does go up with out of support products. For more information, read our guide to smart devices and security.
As with any internet-connected device, data privacy and security are of the utmost importance. While the camera may record first-class-quality video, the camera isn’t fit for purpose if it has weak security setting, making it vulnerable to being hacked.
So how can you stop hackers and other nefarious users from finding your camera(s) on the internet and watching you?
Although there aren’t any wireless security cameras which are ‘unhackable’ per se, you can follow these simple steps to greatly reduce the risk of someone accessing your footage and device.