Best security camera of 2024 – top wired and wireless cameras for better home security and peace of mind

You can’t always have eyes on your home, family, or pets, but the best security cameras can. That’s why more and more homeowners are choosing to protect the things they love with the help of constant video monitoring.

Security cameras will always be considered one of the best security measures for a house, alongside the best video doorbells and smart home security. But if you’ve ever tried to buy indoor or outdoor cameras, you’ll know that the market is full of them - especially from big-name brands like Hive, Ring, Ezviz, and more. Because of this, it can be hard to know which one to choose.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide on the best security cameras. Below, we have everything you could possibly need to know about the different models and makes on the market, including their technical specifications, affordability, ease of use, and our tried-and-tested opinion on whether they’re a worthy investment for your home.

Quick list

Best security camera overall

Top of the pack is the Ring Spotlight Cam, which is completely wireless and includes both an LED spotlight and an in-built alarm for additional security coverage. Like Ring's other products including its doorbells, you can use the camera's two-way audio to communicate safely with someone outside, and you'll receive an alert when motion is detected.

The 110dB siren can be activated from your chosen device and serves as both a warning to your household and neighbours and a deterrent for unwanted visitors. All of this plus live view (available on your phone, tablet or PC) are included with the camera, and you can choose to pay for a Ring Protect Plan if you want to record, re-watch and share footage that's been captured.

Ideal Home rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Best budget security camera

The cheapest security camera on our list, the Ezviz C6CN offers brilliant value for money. Like more expensive models, the camera can be used with the Ezviz app on a smartphone to view footage in real-time and, with 360-degree motion tracking, you're unlikely to miss anything important. Motion detection will send you alerts when the camera senses movement, even taking a snapshot of the event for viewing at your leisure.

Those concerned about their camera constantly watching will also be pleased with the C6CN's privacy shutter, which gives you the power to pick and choose when your camera needs to be operational. Two-way audio means you can communicate with whoever is around even when you're away from the house. All in all, the C6CN is a bargain.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Best budget security camera runner-up

A smarter alternative to the entry above, the Ezviz C6N can connect your security solutions to Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT for more interactive monitoring. The camera boasts a 360-degree Pan & Tilt function and automatic motion tracking, as well as the ability to access live view through the Ezviz app on your phone.

As with other Ezviz cameras, you will receive an alert when motion is sensed, and a snapshot will be captured for a better idea of whether it was triggered by a genuine intruder or your furry friend wandering somewhere they shouldn't be. If that happens, two-way audio means you can speak with the culprit from wherever you are.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Best complete security system camera

The standout feature of this cute cylindrical design is the ability to identify faces, not just react to noise and motion. As a result, you can be told precisely when the kids get in from school, whether they’ve come back with 'new' friends and even text you when the cleaner shows up. And unlike Nest and others, face recognition comes as standard.

The face detection technology isn’t flawless but it is reliable once it sees a face a few times; for instance, you would need to identify yourself with and without glasses via the app. You can set the camera to only record strange faces, so you don’t feel spied upon once you're all home.

Full HD 1080p video quality is great even in low light and thanks to the 8GB MicroSD card included you can store a week's worth of content without the need for a cloud subscription.

It's a reliable system with features unavailable elsewhere, and the design is stylish, but unless you have a shelf or sideboard in a very prominent position in the hallway or living room, finding the perfect location for it to track faces accurately is tricky. A wall mount would earn this camera a test-winning five stars.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Best wireless outdoor security camera

Our favourite wireless security camera, the Ezviz C3A battery cam is a bite-size option that's easy to mount to your home wherever it will capture the most action. It's completely weatherproof so can be used both indoors and outdoors, and the fact that it's battery-powered means you have far more choice about where you place it.

Two-way audio and a wide 126-degree field of view are both present and correct, and full HD 1080p video and effective night vision ensure you'll be able to see everything you need to. You can also connect the C3A to your Google Home or Alexa, making it even easier to protect your home from unwanted guests.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Best stylish security camera

Designed by the hugely respected Yves Behar, Hive View is a stylish little camera. You can choose from black and brushed copper or white and champagne gold – it doesn’t exactly scream CCTV!

It can be mounted just about anywhere and the dinky 56mm cube can even be removed and used remotely for up to an hour. I had no issues with setting up and adjusting settings is straightforward. It took a while to get the sensitivity levels on the alerts right, but it’s worth persevering to avoid false alarms.

You can choose to ignore pets and just focus on people, and you get 24 hours of cloud recording for free, so you can look back over the day’s events without a subscription. If however, you have a particularly amusing pet you can upgrade for £3.99 per month and download any hilarious clips.

Likewise, you can also save clips of your house being burgled, or your partner stealing your chocolate, and they’re stored on the cloud for 30-days.

Since we last reviewed the Hive the app has had a complete overhaul. The camera is now compatible with the other products in the Hive range - you can improve home security by turning lights on in the house if the sensor is activated - and the app now comes with all the useful push alerts, motion notifications and sound detection we would expect.

Ideal Home rating: 4 out of 5 stars

How we test

Chris Haslam is one of the leading technology journalists in the UK, with two decades of experience. He has installed all of the leading wireless security cameras in his own home, and tested them out over weeks and months, getting the whole family involved – including the dog! This is key, as many cameras have pet modes, so he's been able to give them truly thorough reviews.

Chris has set up hundreds of smart home products over the years, so he is an excellent judge of how easy – or tricky – these products are to install. And as a former Ideal Home staff member, he knows which cameras will truly work for you, day to day.

You'll also find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our how we test page.

How to choose the best security camera for your home

There are so many security cameras on the market, and the best security cameras come in so many different shapes and sizes. Because of this, it’s best to hone in on the different security features on offer and decide which ones matter most to you and your home safety:

• Motion sensors – If someone walks in front of your Wi-Fi camera it will instantly start recording and send an alert to your smartphone. With more advanced wireless security cameras you can choose where in a room (and how far from the lens) it senses motion.
• Noise sensors – Like motion, these listen for extremes in sound before alerting you, such as breaking glass. This isn’t available on all wireless security cameras.
• HD camera – The vast majority of Wi-Fi security cameras offer 720p HD resolution, which is perfectly acceptable for most needs, but cameras with 1080p HD will have sharper images and smoother video.
• Lens – Look for the widest possible lens angle to ensure your security camera covers as much of the room as possible. Most are around 120-150° but some 180° models are available. By the end of the year, we expect to see 360° cameras that can view an entire room from one point.
• Outdoor use – The majority of Wi-Fi cameras are designed for indoor use, but brands have started to develop all-weather designs with long-lasting batteries that can be mounted on the outside of buildings and offer another layer of home security. As with traditional security systems, just having a camera can be a deterrent enough to the opportunistic burglar.
• Night vision – An essential if you're using the camera outside, with infrared LEDs they can pick out surprising levels of detail, even in (almost) pitch black.
• 2-Way communication – With a built-in microphone and speakers these wireless security cameras allow you to talk – or shout – via your smartphone. Essential if you're installing it by the front door and want to chat with any visitors.
• Smartphone app – All 'smart' gadgets come with an app that gives you total control and quick access to the live camera and alerts. The best brands also offer compatibility with other devices – Nest, for instance, has thermostats, smoke alarms and other cameras, plus cross-brand compatibility with smart lighting and locks.
• Power – Mains-powered wireless security cameras can often have more sophisticated features as battery life isn’t an issue, but you will have to hide more cables. Battery operated cameras are increasingly popular as you can install them anywhere. Some can last for years, but it's more typical for them to last a few weeks, so you'll need to remember to charge them (the app will warn you when it's time).
• Internet connectivity - Some security cameras require the use of internet to protect your home, so this is something you need to consider. Anthony Neary, security expert at Safe.co.uk says, ‘Whilst having an internet connection isn’t imperative with wireless cameras, internet connectivity does unlock extensive functionality and insights for homeowners through smartphone apps featuring live feeds, playback, audio functions and more.’

FAQs

Are security cameras worth it?

From a security point of view, an app-controlled security camera means you can now catch an intruder and – thanks to high definition cameras with night vision – have evidence for the police, while also being able to call 999 instead of simply scaring the baddies off with an old-fashioned alarm.

Wireless security cameras are useful if you need to keep an eye on both the young or elderly. The smartest Wi-Fi cameras can now recognise faces and alert you when a specific person gets home – from school, for instance. Just being able to log on and check that an elderly relative is home safe, or that their carer has been in, can offer genuine peace of mind.

And then there's Fido to think of, stuck at home all day with only the sofa to chew on. With a new Wi-Fi camera, you can watch your pets in action, and if you choose a model with a built-in speaker you can even yell at them to get off the sofa.

Is it better to have wired or wireless security cameras?

Ultimately, this all depends on your needs. Anthony Neary at Safe.co.uk, explains, ‘For households who want robust, consistent and traditional cameras, wired security cameras are the best option. Wired cameras need direct connection from the mains which ensures good and consistent video feeds and lessens the likelihood of connectivity issues.’

However, wired security cameras do require specific installation, and you may be limited by the length of the wire. But what about wireless security cameras?

Anthony says, ‘Wireless security cameras are a great renter-friendly option which also bypasses the worry of having the wire on show. The lack of wires means no modifications must be done to the house, and the homeowner can tailor the positioning of the camera to their liking and place it in spots a wired camera may not be able to reach or fit in.’

Just remember that wireless cameras do require a strong and very stable internet connection to provide you with constant security. So, they might not suit everyone.

How much should I spend on a wireless security camera?

At the cheapest end of the market, you'll find plenty of Wi-Fi cameras costing around £70-100, but the flagship brands such as Nest, Hive and Logitech can cost between £150-300 per camera. These generally have the best image quality and most useful features.

Logitech, Netgear and Blink, to name just three, also sell multiple camera bundles which can help reduce costs, but if you want to cover your house – front and back doors, in the living room, office and nursery, maybe the garage – you will need to budget at least £600.

The great thing about smart home kits is that, unlike the old fashioned wired CCTV systems, being wireless means you can simply add on components as and when you like.