Best home security cameras without subscription for 2024
Blink’s person detection works well enough, but it’s a subscription feature only.
Resolution and display
With home security cameras, we always pay attention to the resolution and field of view. Checking details, up close and at a distance, is very important for live viewing and the quality of recorded video. It’s important to pay attention not only to the resolution numbers and how wide the field of view is, but also to whether a brand locks higher resolutions behind a subscription (some do).
Video storage
Video storage refers to how easily video can be recorded and shared, usually in the cloud or locally via a connected hub/hard drive. Cloud storage is almost always behind a subscription, except in rare exceptions like Google Nest and a few others. Local storage is generally a better way to avoid subscriptions and still maintain this important quality of life.
Smart home integration
Smart Home support for voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant) or platforms such as Google Home or Apple Home is not often tied to subscriptions: what you see in the specifications is what you get. This can be limited to one platform (Amazon likes to keep its devices focused on Alexa for the time being) or spread across multiple platforms. If you already use a voice assistant or a full smart home security system, look for a camera that is compatible with them.
Object detection
Object detection, such as recognizing packages or approaching human-shaped creatures, is another feature that is often included behind a subscription. Some cameras offer free object detection. Eufy uses human detection for many of its cams, TP-Link Tapo cams offer some free detection, and several Lorex cams offer package and people detection.
Usability of the app
High-quality secure cams come with apps that are intuitive and have easy-to-manage settings. It’s also a big bonus if they don’t constantly have pop-ups telling you to sign up for a subscription.
Night vision
We always look carefully at the night vision and its distance to ensure it works properly and provides sufficient usability for taking images from the other side of your garden or room.
Two-way audio
Two-way audio features help deter intruders, talk to strangers or tell the kids to come inside for dinner. They are always free, but we also look carefully at the quality and range.
