Best Home Security Cameras of 2024

Our Experience with SimpliSafe Security Cameras

Camera Options

SimpliSafe doesn’t offer dozens of options like our 2nd (Lorex) and 3rd (Ring) picks do, but it hit the mark with just its three cameras. They are a mix of wired and wireless devices. The SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera we tested ran on a rechargeable battery; the SimpliCam was plug-and-play; and the Smart Alarm could run either on batteries or plugged in.

A SimpliSafe indoor SimpliCam

We really appreciated the uncomplicated approach, but don’t let the simplicity fool you. SimpliSafe cameras do an impressive job of protecting against burglars. The Smart Alarm and the outdoor camera work with the Live Guard Protection feature from SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect plan ($29.99 per month). Here’s how that feature worked in our testing:

1. The camera detected movement
2. It used A.I. to verify it was human movement
3. The camera alerted SimpliSafe and opened a live video and two-way audio link
4. A security professional assessed the situation (and would use two-way talk to attempt to scare away a burglar if there were a break-in in progress)
5. The agent can also report the incident to law enforcement, providing all relevant information

The only other brand we tested that offered live monitoring was Ring, and the service plan cost four times as much as SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect. So SimpliSafe is a practical option that doesn’t skimp on features and won’t break the bank.

As for the other indoor camera – the SimpliCam – it works with video verification. It’s almost like Live Guard Protection, but minus the audio link. Instead of driving burglars away themselves, SimpliSafe monitoring professionals use video verification to gather and relay useful information to law enforcement. In our observation, video verified alarms sometimes speed up police response.

>> Read More: SimpliCam Hands-On Test and Review

Equipment and Subscription Costs

SimpliSafe’s cameras strike a near perfect balance between functionality and affordability. They don’t offer a lot of bells and whistles, but they cost a lot less than the feature-rich but pricey Arlo cameras we tested.

Take a look at how each SimpliSafe camera measures up against each other.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera on Garage

One of SimpliSafe’s downsides is that it doesn’t record without a cloud subscription. We had to sign up for a cloud plan for five cameras ($9.99 per month) but later realized we could do much better with the Fast Protect plan. Sure, it cost us three times as much, but it unlocked Live Guard Protection and video verification. Here’s a quick comparison of SimpliSafe’s security camera subscriptions:

Home Security Compatibility

We were intrigued by the fact that SimpliSafe cameras come from a well-established security system brand, unlike options like Lorex and Swann that solely offer security cameras. But that aspect proved to be a double-edged sword.

We loved that we could use the cameras with our SimpliSafe system, one of our top-rated security systems. We monitored them side-by-side using the SimpliSafe app, and they even played well together when we signed up for Fast Protect monitoring. The pairing was seamless.

SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Camera video on the app

That said, if you want to use Live Guard Protection and video verification, you’ll need to set up a SimpliSafe system as well. We learned while setting up the outdoor camera that it doesn’t work alone, unlike the SimpliCam and Smart Alarm. That leaves you with no other choice but to buy a SimpliSafe system if you want an outdoor camera or SimpliSafe’s advanced video monitoring.

Still, it was well worth it. SimpliSafe’s security system is a great pick for home security. When you supplement it with SimpliSafe cameras – our top picks overall – you get a pretty impressive security outfit for your home.

Our Experience with Lorex Security Cameras

Camera Options

Picking your security cameras from Lorex isn’t going to be easy. This brand offers several dozen cameras and over two dozen more DVRs and NVRs. We loved the variety of options, but choosing just one camera can feel like drinking from a firehose.

Lorex cameras

To make things easy, we highly recommend picking from the Fusion Collection like we did. NVRs under that product line can combine wired and wireless cameras, making them more versatile than your typical Lorex system. We tested a system with one wireless outdoor camera and one wireless indoor camera. You can read more about that in our Lorex review, but here’s a quick specs highlight:

Later on, we also purchased two Lorex 4K outdoor cameras. Those made our list of the best 4K cameras because they came with a unique feature called Smart Deterrence, which highlights Lorex’s ability to deter burglars. Here’s how it worked:

1. Motion detection and person detection combined to detect human movement
2. Once the camera verified there was someone approaching, it turned on its built-in spotlights to warn the intruder
3. The camera sent an alert to our phone
4. When we opened the Lorex app, we had the option to trigger the built-in siren. We could also customize the siren’s volume, intensity, and tone depending on the situation.

You’ll still need to trigger the siren manually. That’s why we think Lorex’s Smart Deterrence isn’t as great as SimpliSafe’s Live Guard Protection. It’s just not as proactive at deterring crime as SimpliSafe. But if you’re looking for security cameras that can deter criminals, Lorex is definitely a better pick than most other camera options.

Motion Events on the Lorex app

Equipment and Subscription Cost

Lorex has a lot of crowd-pleasing aspects, one of which is the affordable price of its cameras. It typically ranges between $80 to $150. We’ve even seen options under $50, like the $39.99 Smart Wi-Fi Indoor Camera we brought home. That’s right down there with the affordable Blink Mini we tested ($35) and most of Wyze’s low-cost cameras ($20-$30).

We recommend buying a Lorex package instead of going a la carte. Package deals are cheaper. They include an NVR and at least two cameras, usually starting at around $300. Here are a couple of examples:

Another aspect of Lorex that’s hard to beat is the fact that you don’t need a subscription. Unlike SimpliSafe that requires a cloud plan to record, Lorex uses the included NVR to save videos locally. But there is some risk to that. For instance, a burglar might see the NVR and smash it to pieces. But if you’re looking for low-maintenance security cameras, Lorex is simply the best option without monthly fees.

Home Security Compatibility

Unlike SimpliSafe and Ring that both offer security systems, Lorex is solely focused on cameras. But that doesn’t mean you can’t integrate it with other security equipment you own. Some Lorex NVRs – particularly those under the Fusion Collection – are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. That means you’ll be able to control them with your voice.

Fortunately, our NVR was compatible with Alexa, so we got to test it with our Echo Show 8. Here’s a list of commands we tested:

• “Talk to the front porch”: Initiated a two-way audio link between our Echo Show 8 and the wireless outdoor camera.
• “Turn off front porch light”: Turned off the spotlight after Smart Deterrence was triggered.
• “Show me the backyard”: Streamed live footage from the 4K camera in our backyard on our Echo Show 8’s screen. (The video quality was fuzzy due to our Echo Show 8’s screen resolution – 1280*800 pixels.)

We’d like to note that while those voice commands worked the majority of the time, they didn’t always fire up instantaneously. There was about a five- to 10-second delay between us giving the command and Alexa responding. So while we’re thrilled that Lorex works with smart home platforms, we’re not big fans of how well those integrations work.

>> Smart Guide: How to Stream Security Cameras on a Smart Display

Our Experience with Ring Security Cameras

Camera Options

Ring’s Spotlight Cam, Stick Up Cam, and Indoor Cam

In contrast to Lorex cameras, the Ring security cameras we tested were a cinch to set up and even easier to use. All of them connected via Wi-Fi and except the Indoor Cam, all came with different power options.

Ring doesn’t offer 2K and 4K cameras like Lorex does, but it doesn’t really need to. The 1080p HD resolution coupled with HDR processing to remove glare was enough, in our opinion. We didn’t have much problem capturing small details like license plate numbers with our Ring Spotlight Cam.

The real highlight, though, is the audio. Each of those four Ring cameras has a built-in siren you can trigger manually via the app. The ones on the Stick Up Cam and Indoor Cam weren’t very loud, but the siren on our Spotlight Cam was loud enough to be heard from down the street.

Ring Spotlight Cam Video Quality

Compared to SimpliSafe’s Live Guard Protection feature, though, Ring isn’t as proactive in deterring crime. The Spotlight Cam and Floodlight Cam have motion-activated lights, but the siren on all Ring cameras can’t be triggered automatically. You can only trigger the siren from the Ring App manually.

Equipment and Subscription Cost

Ring cameras aren’t expensive, but they aren’t cheap either. They’re somewhere in the middle of the pack. Take a look at our full guide to Ring’s pricing, and see the roundup below:

Ring Floodlight

Note that there’s a range of prices due to the different versions for each model (battery, solar, wired, etc.), but Ring’s camera pricing is well within the industry average.

Even Ring’s long-term usage cost is low, thanks to its affordable cloud plans. Much like SimpliSafe, Ring cameras can only use cloud storage. Ring doesn’t offer free cloud storage, but you can get a lot with just $10 per month. For context, let’s compare Ring’s cloud plan with that of SimpliSafe.

Home Security Compatibility

Since these are Ring products, the security cameras integrate nicely with other Ring home security devices. That includes the Ring video doorbells and the Ring security systems called Ring Alarm. (See our Ring Alarm review for more.)

Unlike SimpliSafe, though, Ring doesn’t professionally monitor its cameras with their standard monitoring plan. If you remember, we had Live Guard Protection from SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect plan. With Ring, you’d need a professional monitoring plan for the Ring Alarm and a separate subscription to Virtual Security Guard. The latter costs a whopping $99 per month.

Here’s what you’ll need to activate that service:

• A Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro security system
• At least one compatible Ring security camera (most are compatible)
• A Ring Protect Pro professional monitoring subscription ($20 per month)
• A Virtual Security Guard subscription ($99 per month)

Ring’s advantage over SimpliSafe is that most Ring cameras are compatible with live monitoring. But as you can see, the monthly cost is also four times of SimpliSafe’s Fast Protect plan. So for live camera monitoring, we’d still go with SimpliSafe. But if you only want security cameras that can integrate well with a security system and offer affordable cloud video storage, Ring is a solid alternative.