Buying Guides for Security Cameras

In our many years testing home security equipment, we’ve come to realize that no two homes have the same security needs. Security cameras, in particular, serve different functions. Some are great at deterring trespassers, while others are good at raising the alarm when they detect an intruder. Some offer advanced detection technologies, while others keep things simple with a trusty motion sensor built in. With so many options, how do you choose the right security cameras for your home?

That’s where our expertise comes in. Having tested dozens of security cameras, our experts are well-equipped with the knowledge and insight needed to make recommendations you’ll find useful. In fact, we built our website to address the differing security needs of our readers. On this page, we’ll reduce the complex world of security cameras and give you practical advice on how to assess your needs. The goal isn’t to convince you to like the same camera we like; it’s to empower you to make your own decisions.

What to Know About Pricing

You can’t put a price on security, right? Well, sort of. You can’t afford to leave your home unprotected, but we’re not all made of money so the bottom line matters.

Unfortunately, making sense of the bottom line isn’t as easy as you might think when it comes to home security cameras. It’s not just that there are different companies to sort through. Purchasing a camera can involve several costs, and making sense of them all feels like it requires a compass and a slide rule. Luckily we have both, and we’re happy to offer a few pointers to help you demystify it all.

Upfront Costs vs. Monthly

There are a dozen different ways to structure your security camera purchase. Do you want to pay one price upfront for the equipment, or break it down into a monthly subscription for storage and usage? Do you want to pay a lot now and a little later, or a little now and a little more later, or nothing now and everything later?

In fact, it sometimes seems like every brand has its own model for pricing. And while choice can be a good thing, it makes comparing options more difficult.

For instance, we like cameras with local storage options. That way we can store footage and keep it as long as we want, but without having to pay a dime in cloud storage fees. As a result, we’re fans of Lorex, a company that offers multiple different local storage cameras. You can find out more by checking out our hands-on Lorex camera review.

Of course, if you’re interested in local storage, you may have to deal with fees for extra equipment – SD cards, for instance, or NVR/ DVR systems. Usually, you have to give up professional monitoring as well. We generally encourage homeowners to invest in professional monitoring if it’s available, but most companies that provide local storage options don’t offer it.

Reolink Argus 3 MicroSD Slot

Other brands offer pre-inserted cards to their cameras so you don’t have to worry about an extra purchase. Wyze is a good example. And, of course, an SD card is just one option. In addition to SD card models, for example, Lorex offers DVR and NVR-compatible devices for an alternative approach to video storage.

Wyze SD Cards

You don’t have to go with local storage. Many companies that offer self-monitoring also offer cloud storage. Most of them charge a monthly fee for this storage, but it’s usually reasonable – $10 a month or less.

You’ll also find that several companies bundle services and charge a single rate. Canary, for example, charges one monthly fee. That fee covers both equipment and monitoring. You pay nothing up-front, but your monthly fee may be higher than what you’d pay for other systems. Of course, whatever pricing structure you choose, there’s almost always a downside. With Canary that downside is a long-term contract. After all, the company needs to make sure you pay for that equipment before they let you go.

Canary Packaging

Of course, one of the simplest factors when it comes to pricing is deciding how many cameras you need. Generally speaking, the more cameras, the more money. However, some companies, like Lorex, offer bundles of cameras at discounts. You can buy up to 32 Lorex cameras in one package and save. In this case, the downside is obvious. If you’re only looking for one or two cameras, you’re not going to want to pay for 32 cameras no matter how cheap they might be.

Here’s the thing. Purchasing equipment is one component in a larger process. You’ve also got to consider what monitoring adds to your bill. Let’s turn to that next.

Do You Need Professional Monitoring?

Our usual answer to this question is a resounding yes. Here’s the thing: no matter how committed to your home security you may be, no matter how willing you are to get up in the middle of the night and check an alert from your security camera, there is going to come a moment when you won’t be able to check. Maybe for you, it’s the dentist, when you’re full of laughing gas. Maybe it’s a Marvel film that you just can’t stand to look away from. Whatever it is, you need someone there to pick up the slack, to check your home to make sure everything’s OK when you can’t.

We also understand that all of us operate under some budget constraints. Home security isn’t a luxury anymore. In this day and age, it’s a necessity. There are ways to cut costs, though, if that’s what it takes to ensure your home has some type of protection. Sometimes it makes sense to self-monitor your system, for example. Whatever your particular situation, you want to carefully consider what features a given camera offers, so you’re sure the camera you choose will fit your particular situation.

For example, does a camera provide you with real-time alerts? Does it allow you to store footage so that in the event of an emergency you have something to show to the police? How easy is it to review footage? Can you use the app to contact emergency personnel, since you’ll be solely responsible for doing that? Does the company offer single-month subscriptions so you can sign up for a month of professional monitoring while you’re at Disney World?

In the end, both professional and self-monitoring can be effective. As with so much else, it really depends on your specific situation. But, you need to carefully think through all the options before you make your final decisions.

Police Officer checking up on us thanks to Cove Monitoring

For more on that interesting experience, head over to our hands-on Cove security system review. But in the meantime, we’ll say this: Cove happens to have one of the least expensive monthly monitoring fees in this biz. So if you are interested in professional monitoring, a Cove kit might be the way to go. Clearly, it does work! Other great options for whole home security include Ring Alarm, SimpliSafe, and Frontpoint.

Our Final Thoughts

Blink Outdoor Camera

Hopefully, we’ve given you plenty to think about in this guide to home security cameras. It’s easy enough to grab a camera off the shelf at Best Buy and stick it in a corner or on a roof edge and be done with it. But while that will improve your security, you’ll ultimately be safer if you take the time to think through all the facets of choosing, purchasing, and installing a camera.

We all want better security – we need better security these days. We also want cameras and systems that utilize the latest technologies to provide us with the most modern conveniences. There are lots of cameras and systems out there that can do that. We’re constantly exploring new devices that offer new approaches to home security. The best equipment for your home, though, is going to be the equipment that fits your particular situation.

Ultimately, then, we try to offer guidance – here, and on all of our many resource pages, like our guide to the best motion sensor cameras. We want you to be fully informed. Only you can know what’s best for you, but we want to make sure you know how to find that out.