Best Home Security Cameras of 2025

Our Experience with SimpliSafe Security Cameras

Camera Options

Read a little further, and you’ll discover that Lorex offers dozens of different camera models. Ring (our third favorite), offers around 20 options. Most homeowners don’t need that kind of choice. They just need one reliable indoor camera and one reliable outdoor camera. In terms of indoor models, SimpliSafe offers a reliable wired camera or the new wireless model. Outdoors, the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera runs on a rechargeable battery, so you never have to worry about tracking down an outside outlet or running an extension cord from inside. So don’t let SimpliSafe’s limited inventory fool you. The three models they offer will give any other cameras out there a run for their money.

Inside, you can go with either a wired camera or the new wireless model. Out-of-doors, the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera runs on a rechargeable battery, so you never have to worry about tracking down an outside outlet or running an extension cord from inside.

A SimpliSafe indoor SimpliCam

Besides, having options isn’t always just about a choice of camera models. SimpliSafe gives you a ton of options in terms of how you use its cameras. When it began, the company focused exclusively on DIY monitoring, and it remains committed to providing excellent self-monitoring features like real-time alerts and live video feeds. More recently, though, the company has been revolutionizing professional monitoring. Take its new Active Guard Outdoor Protection plan. It’s one of the few professional monitoring plans out there – and certainly the cheapest – that uses actual human monitors to protect the perimeter of your home. Yep, human eyes on your yard for just about $50 a month, when most charge close to $100 per month for the same feature. 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. Had they needed to, this security professional would have reported the incident to law enforcement, including relevant information and video verification.

We need to be crystal clear about Active Guard and SimpliSafe’s comparable indoor plan, Fast Protect. You’ll find plenty of comparably priced monitoring plans out there, and a fair number of plans that actually cost less. Ring monitoring, for instance, costs around $10 a month less. That’s comparing apples and oranges, though. Ring’s plans don’t include any sort of human involvement. In most cases, monitoring is entirely automated. You can add professional monitoring, where someone uses your cameras to watch your property. That add-on feature is $99 a month, though. That’s three times SimpliSafe’s price.

One note: these SimpliSafe plans require you purchase a wireless indoor camera or an outdoor camera. The wired indoor model (SimpliCam) doesn’t have the same capabilities.

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

Equipment and Subscription Costs

With SimpliSafe, you can put together a low-cost home security system, or, if you’re willing to pay premium prices, you can put together a sophisticated one. Flexibility and options are the name of the game.

SimpliSafe offers packages that range in price from $250 to $730, but these are normal everyday retail prices. SimpliSafe rarely charges the full price. Instead, you can usually find devices listed at between 20 and 60 percent off. That includes SimpliSafe’s wired indoor camera, which provides basic video security with 1080p HD for just $99. At the other end of the spectrum, SimpliSafe now offers both a wireless indoor camera and a wireless outdoor camera. Both feature two-way talk and AI-powered person detection. The Wireless Indoor normally costs $150, while the Wireless Outdoor costs $200.

SimpliSafe is just as flexible when it comes to monitoring. You can self-monitor for free. Of course, you don’t get video recordings, but for just $10 a month, you can add cloud storage to 10 cameras. If you’re buying a full system, there’s a Core monitoring plan – $32 a month – which adds video verification and Intruder Intervention.

Intruder Intervention works on the Wireless Indoor Camera. Whenever the SimpliSafe system detects an emergency, the camera comes alive and establishes a link with the monitoring center so they can see and speak with intruders. You can even extend the feature to the outdoor camera, but it requires a higher subscription tier.

Here’s a quick look at SimpliSafer’s various camera offerings.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera on Garage

And here’s an overview of SimpliSafe’s most popular subscriptions for systems that include security cameras.

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.

There are serious advantages to using a camera as part of a home security system, and SimpliSafe isn’t just any system. It’s one of our top-rated security systems. That means we didn’t just have video feeds. We had a network of sensors and detectors that created a net of security around our home. Components worked in sync to keep us more protected than cameras alone.

SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Camera video on the app

On the other hand, you can certainly save money with systems that let you buy cameras and don’t require you buy sensors and hubs. We should point out that you can use the SimpliCam as a standalone system with SimpliSafe’s Smart Alarm service. If you’re interested in an outdoor camera, though, you’re sort of locked into Live Guard Protection and that means you have to buy an entire system.

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

Lorex presents the opposite problem to SimpliSafe. SimpliSafe’s selection is limited; Lorex’s is so large that you need a compass and a map to pick out a security camera. It’s not just about choosing between indoor and outdoor models. Lorex has bullet cameras, dome cameras, wireless cameras, wired cameras, PoE cameras, cameras with onboard video storage, cameras with NVR connections – you name it, they have it.

Lorex cameras

Of course, if you’re looking for a camera that’s going to do its job, one that simply works to keep your family safe, that many options can be intimidating. Here are a couple of good suggestions, though.

We’re fans of Lorex’s Fusion Collection, for example. These cameras make use of NVR storage, so you never have to worry about paying a monthly fee to record and save videos. Cameras come in wired and wireless versions, but both work smoothly with the NVR. You can read more about our experience in our Lorex review, but here’s a quick specs highlight:

If you’re looking for cameras with more features, we’d suggest Lorex’s 4K outdoor cameras. In addition to 4K resolution sharp enough to count the hairs on your neighbors’ dog, these cameras include a feature Lorex refers to as Smart Deterrence. Here’s how it works:

• Motion detection and person detection combine to detect human movement.
• Once the camera verifies someone is approaching, it activates built-in spotlights to startle any potential intruder.
• The camera then sends an alert to your phone.
• Once you open the Lorex app, you have the option to trigger a built-in siren. You can also use the app to modify the siren’s volume, intensity, and tone.

Smart Deterrence is a giant leap in home security cameras, and you can probably see why. It makes DIY monitoring infinitely easier by cutting down on the number of false alerts and automating some of the response process for you. Spotlights come on automatically, so by the time you pull up the live feed, you’re likely to find any aspiring burglars have fled the scene. Don’t worry, though. You can still make sure they’re held accountable. With free recording options, you can always go back and review footage, isolate screenshots, and turn over images to the policy. Adding these 4K cameras to our list of the best 4K cameras was pretty much a no-brainer.

Keep in mind that Smart Deterrence doesn’t offer the same features you get from SimpliSafe’s Active Guard. Professional monitoring agents aren’t going to check your footage when there’s trouble and confront potential home invaders directly. On the other hand, you won’t have to pay $50-$80 a month either. With Lorex cameras you’ve got to do the work of monitoring your own cameras, but the company gives you some powerful tools with which to do that.

Motion Events on the Lorex app

Equipment and Subscription Cost

As you might imagine, it’s difficult to talk about Lorex’s prices with such a huge selection of cameras. We can tell you, though, that most models cost between $80 and $150. You can occasionally find a better deal. Lorex’s Smart Wi-Fi Indoor Camera, for instance, can be had for just $39.99. That’s only five dollars more than the Blink Mini we tested ($35) and not much more than Wyze’s low-cost cameras ($20-$30). Lorex also offers more expensive models, such as the new 4K Dual Lens Wi-Fi cameras, which cost around $200.

Keep in mind that external equipment like NVRs costs extra. As a result, we recommend investing in a total Lorex package rather than single cameras. In the long run, package deals are cheaper. An NVR and two cameras, for instance, starts at around $300. Here are a couple of more package examples. Balance these costs, though, against the fact that you don’t ever have to pay for monthly monitoring. And did we mention that Lorex installation is entirely DIY? That saves additional money.

Home Security Compatibility

SimpliSafe and Ring both offer complete home security systems, including a wide range of monitors and sensors. Not so Lorex. The company is exclusively focused on cameras. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. First, it means Lorex really knows its cameras. You can count on its products to be feature-rich and reliable. Second, a good set of cameras can actually work quite nicely as a home security system. Put them in the right spots, and they can do the job of entry sensors, motion detectors, and even smoke alarms.

Plus, Lorex integrates well with a number of smart home devices, and many of these – from smart door locks to garage door openers – can significantly improve your security. Connect your system to your Alexa device or Google Home, and you get the convenience of voice activation. The fact is, when operating your system is easier, you’re more likely to use it properly and effectively, and that’s going to keep you safer.

We tested our Lorex NVR with our Echo Show 8, and discovered a handy list of Alexa commands:

• “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 should 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. Nine times out of ten, that’s just going to be an annoyance. Every once in a while, though, it could delay your response to a real emergency. So while we’re thrilled that Lorex works with smart home platforms, we’re not big fans of how well those integrations work.

Our Experience with Ring Security Cameras

Camera Options

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

Ring’s range of models is a bit more limited than Lorex’s. For example, Ring doesn’t offer any cameras with 2K or 4K resolution. In addition, all the company’s models all look roughly the same. There are no dome models, for instance, or bullet cameras. Ring does offer several levels of features, though. In addition, you can get models that work through a variety of different power options, including solar. Plus, Ring leads the way when it comes to outdoor lighting options, with both a Spotlight Cam and a Floodlight Cam. Here’s a list of some of the company’s most popular offerings.

Most of Ring’s cameras are 1080p HD, but they’ve recently introduced a 2K model. But even with 1080p HD, the cameras capture clear footage, especially with the added HDR. In our testing, for example, we could see everything from the neighbor’s dog nosing around our trash cans to the license plate on a speeding Camaro. All of Ring’s outdoor cameras come with night vision, so we didn’t have to worry about missing events at night. And with added spotlights and floodlights, we were able to startle that nosy dog away. Plus, all of the Ring security cameras we tested featured easy DIY installation that took us just minutes to complete. Lorex cameras can sometimes be tricky to get set up.

Ring Spotlight Cam Video Quality

Of course, these aren’t perfect cameras. What cameras are? One of our biggest complaints is the fact that Ring’s built-in motion sensors don’t automatically trigger the available siren. You get a text alert, and you can turn the siren on yourself. And again, if you have a Floodlight or Spotlight Cam, those lights will come on immediately. Seems like in a real crisis, though, you might want the siren to come on automatically.

Equipment and Subscription Cost

When you buy a Ring camera, you can be sure you’re getting exactly what you pay for. The company offers some great affordable, entry-level models. Ring charges just $59 for its Wired Indoor Cam, for instance. That’s a full $40 cheaper than the comparable SimpliSafe Wired Indoor Camera. Ring’s Indoor Cam offers fewer features than SimpliSafe’s Wired Indoor model, though. That’s OK. If you’re looking for more features, Ring’s got a camera that will suit your needs, all the way up to the Ring Floodlight Cam, which costs $269.99. In fact, the Floodlight Cam’s price can go even higher if you add bonus features like a solar panel. Here’s a more complete pricing overview.

Ring Floodlight

As for monitoring options, Ring – like SimpliSafe – lets you choose between self-monitoring and professional monitoring. Complete self-monitoring, without recording, won’t cost you a dime. Cloud storage for a single camera costs $5 a month, or you can store footage from an unlimited number of cameras for $10 a month.

Ring’s professional monitoring plan is a full $10 cheaper per month than SimpliSafe’s, $12 if you sign up for an annual plan. Of course, there’s that whole apples-to-oranges thing again. Ring’s professional plan includes an impressive array of features, but you’re not going to get a trained, experienced monitor taking a look at your camera footage. You’re not going to get video verification service either. This can mean more false alarms and it may take emergency personnel longer to get to your home. Ring does offer a similar service, but it charges $99 a month.

Home Security Compatibility

Ring began life as a video doorbell company. It has grown into a full-service home security company, though, offering every kind of device you could need, from entry sensors to smoke detectors, as well as a large selection of indoor and outdoor cameras. All of this equipment is up to the same high standards as Ring’s video doorbell. And all of it works seamlessly together.

As you might expect, Ring also works particularly well with Amazon’s Echo. This means you can operate everything with nothing but your voice. Our system told us someone was at the door while we were washing dishes one evening, and we managed to pull up the live feed and tell the guy selling newspaper subscriptions that we weren’t interested without ever having to towel off. Don’t worry, Ring is completely compatible with Google Home as well.