Top Budget Home Security Cameras for 2025: This Tapo Is Your Top Pick
You get a lot for a low price with this Tapo camera.
There are hundreds of home security cameras on the market, varying widely in price, functionality, and quality. With all the options, it can be difficult not to quickly feel overwhelmed, especially when you’re considering something as important as your home security. After years of CNET testing home security cameras, we have some tips if you’re looking for a new, budget-friendly camera that still meets your quality expectations. Here’s what to consider.
Confidentiality
It’s a big problem. You don’t want anyone looking onto your property or hacking into your camera. Wireless home security cameras may be more susceptible to hacking because of their connectivity to Wi-Fi networks. This isn’t a major problem, especially if you have a strong Wi-Fi password, but it’s good to be aware of a potential risk.
A bigger privacy issue comes with cloud storage and video management. Trying to track data breaches and security breaches is exhausting, which is why we take care of this aspect for you. We track companies that have had security issues and improved, like Ring, and companies that have changed their policies around sharing video with police, like Ring again. We track companies that are struggling to show improvement in their security, like Wyze’s ongoing issues.
Inside versus outside
One of the first things to consider is where you want to place your home security cameras. If you want your camera to be located outside and record your porch or yard, you will likely need an outdoor camera that is also weatherproof or has night vision.
Many cameras can be used interchangeably indoors or outdoors, but some cameras are only designed for indoor use, like the Lorex 2K Indoor Camera, so be sure to buy cameras that can handle outdoor elements with an IP rating that shows weather resistance.
Local or cloud storage
Not all video storage is equal. You have two main options and choosing one depends on your personal preference. There is cloud storage, which sends your video footage to a remote server to save it, and local storage, which relies on a separate accessory or piece of hardware, usually a microSD card, to hold all the footage you want to save. Usually, cloud storage requires a monthly fee.
Aqara’s app showing maps for security camera views, lights, sensors and more.
Field of view and resolution
Field of view refers to the width of the angle that the camera lens can capture, in degrees. The best cameras can reach 160 degrees or more, but this is rare. For a budget camera, between 110 and 130 degrees is common and will suffice for most security purposes when oriented correctly. You can also choose a pan/tilt camera, which can move to capture any viewing angle.
Likewise, the resolution is usually around 1080p for budget cameras like these. If you can find 2K resolution on an affordable camera, it can be a significant feature upgrade.
Smart home compatibility
What smart home systems do security cameras work with? If you already like using Google Home and Google Assistant or the Alexa platform, you’ll need a compatible camera, and most will work with these voice assistants. Apple Home and Siri compatibility is much harder to find. If you have a whole-home system based on a brand from a company like Vivint, Abode, or Frontpoint, you’ll want to check if a specific security camera can integrate with your system.
Once the Matter standard is applied to security cameras, it will be the best way to ensure compatibility, but this protocol has not yet been adopted by cameras.
Battery versus wired
Battery cameras are very suitable for DIY and apartments, and you can install them wherever you want. You’ll need to recharge them every few months on average, or use a solar panel to help (they’ll notify you via the app when the batteries are low).
Wired cameras are more limited and often more difficult to install, but you never have to worry about recharging a battery. If you choose a Power over Ethernet camera, you don’t need to rely on Wi-Fi either.
Monitoring Options
If you are interested in professional home monitoring that can monitor your home and contact law enforcement, you will need to pay for it. Home monitoring services typically cost at least $20 per month and can go beyond $70. This is why I didn’t include a lot of monitoring information in my choices, as it’s not a budget-friendly option.
However, if you’re determined to add professional monitoring services, several of my picks support it, including the Arlo and Reolink models. I suggest starting with these models.
