Following years of expert testing and with the most critical camera features in mind, the Wyze Cam v3 earns our stamp as the best cheap home security camera for 2023. It’s built for indoor and outdoor use, comes with the option of free 14-day cloud storage and is priced lower than many security cameras on the market. Below, you’ll find all of our picks for the best cheap camera options that come with basic features, security measures and more. Some are better suited than others for indoor or outdoor monitoring, motion tracking or other specific uses, but I’d deem them all to be worthwhile and relatively low-cost home security investments.
Best cheap home security camera overall
Editors’ note, 22 Sept 2023: A reported security breach has affected some Wyze camera users. Out of caution and until Wyze resolves its systems for reporting breaches to users, we’ve removed our Editors’ Choice designation from Wyze products. We will update this page as we reevaluate home security cameras and accessories.
The Wyze Cam v3 is one of the cheapest home security cameras you’ll find, now on sale for just $34. Given the low cost, it’s certainly plausible to outfit your home with multiple Wyze Cam v3 cameras for the same cost as a single outdoor camera (or less) from another manufacturer. In addition to standard features like 1080 HD resolution, motion detection and Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility, the camera also includes two free weeks of cloud storage — a perk you won’t get with most other cameras — and optional local storage via a built-in micro SD card slot.
Unlike most cheap security cameras, the Wyze Cam v3 is built for indoor or outdoor use, though I’d recommend it primarily for indoor use due to its requirement for a wired power source. The Wyze Cam Pan v2 is also a solid choice for an indoor camera and comes with the added ability to pan 360 degrees, though it’ll cost you about $10 more than the Wyze Cam v3.
Best security cam that also works as a nanny cam or pet cam
The $45 Kasa KC410S indoor security camera features a crisp 2K video resolution, automatic motion detection and tracking, a Patrol Mode, plus 360-degree pan range — all perfect tools for keeping up with your pets or home care professionals wherever they happen to go. Additional features include two-way talk, vibrant colour in low-light conditions and local storage on a (not included) microSD card up to 256GB. Cloud storage with up to 30 days of video history is available with a Kasa Care account, starting at $3 per month per camera.
Two-step authentication is also a prominent feature of the Kasa KC410S and the accompanying app. Though I didn’t set it up initially, the app prompted me to do so roughly 50% of the time when I pulled it up. I appreciated the emphasis on security, especially from a camera that could be used primarily to monitor a nursery or home activity while you’re away.
Best cheap home security camera for outdoors
Power cables aren’t much of a concern with indoor cameras, but they can limit where you place an outdoor camera and may require running long, unsightly extension cords along your home’s exterior. Amazon remedies this problem with its wireless Blink Outdoor Security Camera — a battery-powered HD camera that enables you to set up a vantage point virtually anywhere your Wi-Fi signal will reach.
The $100 kit includes the wireless camera, two AA lithium batteries, a Blink Sync Module 2, charging cables and mounting hardware. Even on sale, it’s a bit more expensive than other cameras on the list, but I’d say the convenience of not having to plug anything in is worth the extra cost. From a security standpoint, the Blink camera features Multiple Factor Security and end-to-end encryption, like other cameras on this list. Additionally, the company also hides your account details from Blink support unless you grant access permission from the Account Management screen.
Best cheap home security camera with a built-in alarm
The $50 (currently out of stock at B&H) TP-Link Tapo 2K HD Outdoor Security Camera isn’t wireless, unfortunately, but it does come with the added security feature of an automatic siren. When armed and triggered, the camera activates two lights and a sound alarm to scare off potential intruders. The lights aren’t super bright, but they will definitely put any trespassers on notice. As for the sound, it’s loud and intimidating, but not so loud as to excessively disturb the next-door neighbours, if at all.
You can turn the alarm on or off, of course, and program specific times, activity zones or line-crossing detection to trigger it. Additional features include colour night vision up to nearly 100 feet away, two-way audio and local storage of 128GB (SD card not included). Cloud storage is available with a Tapo Care subscription starting at around $3 per month.
