Best Home Security Cameras of 2024

Our Experience with SimpliSafe Security Cameras

Camera Options

Read a little further, and you’ll discover that Lorex (our second entry on this list) offers dozens of different camera models. Ring (our third entry), 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. 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

You also have options in terms of how you use these cameras. SimpliSafe began life as a DIY monitoring company, and it’s still committed to giving homeowners who want to self-monitor excellent features like real-time alerts and live video feeds. More recently, though, the company has been revolutionizing professional monitoring. Sign up for Active Guard Outdoor Protection, and professional monitors protect the entire perimeter of your home 24/7. 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. The SimpliSafe Fast Protect plan costs around $10 per month more than Ring’s monitoring plan, but SimpliSafe’s professional monitors can actually see what’s happening in your home and respond to it. We’d say that’s well worth $10 more each month. LiveGuard uses video verification to ensure emergency personnel are on site fast, and monitoring personnel are specially trained to try and drive burglars away themselves in the meantime.

You do need one of the new Wireless Indoor Cams to take advantage of all LiveGuard features. The SimpliCam allows for professional live video monitoring, including video verification, but it doesn’t include an audio link.

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

Equipment and Subscription Costs

One of the nice things about SimpliSafe is that you get great options whether you’re looking to put together a low-cost affordable DIY system or you want an affordable up-scale system with professional monitoring.

The Wired Indoor Camera, for instance, is just $99. That’s not much more than you’ll pay for brands like Ring and even some of the Arlo cameras we’ve reviewed. Pair that with self-monitoring, and you’ve got strong protection for just under $100 with nothing more to pay, ever. Of course, this model has a limited 120-degree field of view. It doesn’t include 10x zoom or infrared night vision. And if you self-monitor, you won’t have two-way audio or video verification services. That’s not all bad, though. Beyond saving a lot of money, you’ll have instant message alerts and the ability to check live footage any time.

Of course, the safer, if more expensive, option is to invest in new wireless indoor cameras or new outdoor cameras or – heck – both. Yes, they’re priced higher, and you’ll want to pair them with SimpliSafe’s Active Guard professional monitoring. That costs just over $30 a month. Ultimately, though, both SimpliSafe’s equipment and its monitoring are priced comparably to the competition, and when you consider the value you get for them, they’re a bargain.

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

SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera on Garage

And here’s a complete overview of SimpliSafe’s monitoring plans.

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.

Lorex Smart Deterrence doesn’t offer the kind of safety you get with SimpliSafe’s Live Guard Protection. For one thing, you have to respond to alerts yourself rather than let professional monitors handle emergencies. For another, the siren doesn’t come on automatically. You have to trigger it. That said, Smart Deterrence is a huge advancement over basic home security cameras, one reason why these 4K cameras made it onto our list of the best 4K cameras.

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

Unlike SimpliSafe and Ring, which both offer complete security systems, Lorex is almost exclusively focused on cameras. A good set of cameras can serve as a solid home security system, though. Plus, keep in mind that Lorex integrates well with a number of smart home devices, including both Alexa and Google Home. That means you can control cameras with your voice.

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

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.

Our Experience with Ring Security Cameras

Camera Options

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

Ring doesn’t offer quite the selection that Lorex does. For example, Ring doesn’t offer any 2K and 4K cameras. At the same time, Ring offers a healthy number of models, and all of them come with different power options. Here’s a list of some of the company’s most popular offerings.

As for the lack of 2K and 4K models? The truth is, you don’t need that kind of resolution to protect your home. Ring cameras provide at least 1080p HD resolution – the industry standard – plus HDR processing that removes glare. In our testing, we had no problem seeing everything from the neighbor’s dog nosing around our trashcans to the license plate on the Dodge Charger that insists on speeding through our quiet neighborhood. Choose a Spotlight or Floodlight Cam and you’ll get the added security of lighting bright enough to startle the most brazen burglars. Plus, the Ring security cameras we tested were a cinch to set up and easy to use. That’s not always the case with Lorex models.

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

Ring’s pricing puts it pretty squarely in the middle of the industry. It’s definitely a company that follows the old You Get What You Pay For principle. Ring charges just $59 for its entry-level camera, the Wired Indoor Cam. That’s a full $40 cheaper than the comparable SimpliSafe Wired Indoor Camera. Ring’s Indoor Cam is basic, though. If you’re looking for a camera with more features and a built-in floodlight, you’ll pay significantly more. A Ring Floodlight Cam costs $269.99. Here’s a more complete pricing overview.

Ring Floodlight

One of the nice things about Ring is that you get what you pay for. You can get most camera models for a competitive price, but if you want to add extras like solar power, you’re going to pay a more premium price.
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 is a full $10 cheaper per month than SimpliSafe’s, $12 per month if you sign up for a year-long subscription. Keep in mind, though, that these two companies offer different features with their monitoring plans.

Home Security Compatibility

You should know, though, that Ring’s basic professional monitoring plan doesn’t include video verification the way SimpliSafe’s Live Guard Protection does. Monitors don’t have eyes on your property under this plan. That means the system is prone to more false alerts. At the same time, it can take longer to get emergency personnel to your home since Ring calls you to verify there’s a true emergency.

If you want video monitoring with Ring, you have to sign up for an additional subscription to Virtual Security Guard. Be prepared for sticker shock, though. That service costs $99 a month, some three times what SimpliSafe charges.

And you can’t just buy a camera and sign up. Here’s what you need to activate the plan:

• 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)

That’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of money. Suffice to say that if you’re in the market for live professional camera monitoring, SimpliSafe is definitely the better option. If you don’t mind monitoring your own cameras, though, or you’re interested in professional monitoring that doesn’t rely on video feeds, Ring makes for an excellent option.