What Is The Smallest Security Camera

Dwelling house security is nowhere well-nigh equally expensive as information technology used to be. Sure, somesecurity cameras notwithstanding cost over $100, merely there are also plenty of cheap home security cameras on the market from trusted companies likeWyze and Amazon Glimmer that volition help keep your home well protected.

These more than affordable security cameras accept many of the aforementioned features as their pricier counterparts, such every bit continuous recording, a motility sensor, a rechargeable battery and apps that send a push notification when something triggers the camera. And though these cameras cost as little as $35 -- and are often on sale -- they tend to have 1080p resolution or better. Any models on this list would make a bully nanny cam or pet cam, and they can even connect to your existing smart home setup or smart devices to keep you in the loop at all times.

And then if you're determined to create a cheap video surveillance system for under $100, hither are my picks. Each security photographic camera varies in terms of functionality and features, but they're both solid choices. We included an indoor and an outdoor camera to ensure your surveillance system covers every inch of your property.

All that said, if your home needs stronger security, you may desire to opt for apricier security camera with advanced features such as professional person monitoring, two-way audio and color night vision. You lot besides might want a model with more video storage or a slot for an SD card if you demand to review footage from days or weeks earlier.

Wyze

You really can't crush the new Wyze Cam v3 if you're looking for an affordable security camera system with solid operation. Here's the gist:

It costs $36, but tin frequently exist constitute on sale.
Information technology comes with two weeks of free cloud storage.
The wired security photographic camera has optional local storage via a built-in microSD card slot.
You lot can set a custom motion detection zone for free.

These things combined brand the Wyze Cam hard to friction match, particularly since this adjacent-gen model can be used as an indoor or outdoor camera, cheers to new weatherproof housing. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, every bit well as with Wyze's other devices -- and that's why it earned a slap-up 8.5 review score when we tested it in 2020.

Read our Wyze Cam v3 review.

David Priest/CNET

If y'all're willing to pay a little more than, the fantabulous Wyze Cam Pan v2 gives you something few other dwelling house security cameras practise: a panning, tilting characteristic that allows you to monitor whole rooms, follow move, and even scan large spaces periodically for abnormalities. At $50, information technology costs a trivial more than others on this listing -- merely it earned a 9.two in our 2021 review, thanks to nifty operation and enough of interesting uses.

Read our review of the Wyze Cam Pan v2.

Chris Monroe/CNET

The Blink Mini is a $35 indoor security camera -- though you tin can find it for less than $20 during some sales. It comes with a ability adapter, works with Amazon Alexa and has a small footprint that won't take up much space within your home. While its seven.2 review score might give you pause, its solid bones features and reliable performance make information technology a practiced option if you're looking for a straightforward indoor home security camera.

Read our Blink Mini review.

How nosotros test abode security cameras

Hands-on testing is cadre to our evaluations of any home security products. In brusk, when information technology comes to security cameras, nosotros pay special attention to resolution, night vision and latency, extra features, full general performance and overall value. We evaluate all of these elements in a real home environment over the grade of a week. If you want to read more about our review process, bank check out ourin-depth commodity on how we exam abode security cameras and video doorbells.

Cheap Home Security Cameras Compared

Our Picks	Wyze Cam (2020)	Wyze Cam Pan v2	Blink Mini
Price	$36	$50	$35
Resolution	Full Hard disk 1080p	Total HD 1080p	Full HD 1080p
Field of View	130 degrees	120 degrees	110 degrees
Setup	Moveable, indoor/outdoor	Moveable, indoor but	Moveable, indoor simply
Extra Features	Livestreaming, move detection, dark vision, weather resistance, integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant	Livestreaming, two-mode talk, sound/motility alerts, color night vision, panning and tilting functions	Livestreaming, motion alerts, two-mode talk, integration with Amazon Alexa
Review Score	eight.5	9.ii	7.2

Habitation security camera FAQs

What'south the cheapest dwelling security camera?

Home security cameras are cheaper than ever, only if yous detect any brands consistently clocking in under $20, you may want to avoid the temptation to buy a bunch of units. Security cameras can pose a privacy risk, and cheaper off-brand devices tend to have fewer security measures -- similar multi-factor hallmark and encryption -- in place. More often than not, the cheapest but still-relatively-secure devices you lot'll find volition be in the $30 range, unless they're on auction.

Which security photographic camera has no monthly fee?

Most dwelling security cameras don't require monthly fees to employ them. That said, subscriptions volition normally give you access to more advanced features, like person alerts, deject storage and so on. Wyze offers one of the best subscription-costless experiences, though, because ii weeks of outcome storage is included with the devices -- even though there's a 5-minute cooldown between effect recordings.

What is the easiest dwelling security camera to install?

If you care about affordability, you may as well be wondering about full general convenience. The good news is, past this point, about smart security cameras from major developers are a breeze to install, requiring piffling more than downloading an app and following a few onscreen directions. More often than not speaking, indoor cameras will be less involved than outdoor cameras to ready up, since you can plop them on a shelf and forget about them. If you're installing a device outside, screwing it into a wall or fence isn't a bad idea, but it may have a piffling extra elbow grease.