Best Cheap Home Security Cameras in 2024

There are hundreds of home security cameras on the market, ranging widely in price, features, and quality. With all the options, it can be hard to avoid getting overwhelmed, especially when you’re considering something as important as your home’s security. After CNET’s years of testing home security cameras, we’ve got some tips for you if you’re on the hunt for a new, budget camera that still meets your expectations for quality. Here’s what to look for:

Privacy

This is a big one, of course. You don’t want anyone snooping on your property or hacking into your camera. Wireless home security cameras can be more susceptible to hacking because of their connection to Wi-Fi networks. It’s not a huge deal, 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 from cloud storage and video management. It’s tiring to keep track of data breaches and security breaches, so we take that side of things off your hands. We track companies that have had security issues and improved, like Ring, and companies that have changed their video sharing policies with law enforcement — like Ring, again. And we track companies that have struggled to show any improvement in their security, like Wyze’s ongoing issues.

Inside vs 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 outside and record your porch or yard, you will probably want an outdoor camera that is also weatherproof or has night vision.

While many cameras can be used both indoors and outdoors, there are also cameras that are designed exclusively for indoor use, such as the Lorex 2K indoor cam. So make sure you buy cameras that are weatherproof and have an IP rating that indicates they are weatherproof.

Local vs. Cloud Storage

Not all video storage is created equal. You have two main options, and the choice really comes down to personal preference. There’s cloud storage, which sends your video footage to a remote server for storage, and local storage, which relies on a separate accessory or piece of hardware, usually a microSD card, to store all the footage you want to save. Typically, cloud storage costs a monthly fee.

Field of view and resolution

Field of view refers to how wide an angle the camera lens can capture, in degrees. Top-of-the-line cameras can achieve 160 degrees or more, but this is rare. For a budget camera, between 110 and 130 degrees is typical and will be sufficient for most security purposes if tilted correctly. You can also opt for a pan/tilt camera, which can move to capture any angle within its field of view.

Likewise, resolution is usually around 1080p for budget cameras like this. If you can find 2K resolution on an affordable camera — and a few of our picks have it — it can be a significant feature upgrade.

Smart Home Compatibility

Which smart home systems do security cameras work with? If you already enjoy using Google Home and Google Assistant or Alexa’s platform, you’ll want a camera that’s compatible — and most will work with those voice assistants. Apple Home and Siri compatibility are much harder to find. If you have a branded whole-home system from a company like Vivint, Abode, or Frontpoint, you’ll want to see if a specific security camera can integrate with your system.

Once the Matter standard is available for security cameras, this will be the best way to ensure compatibility. However, cameras are not yet supported with that protocol.

Battery vs. Wired

Battery powered cameras are very DIY and apartment friendly, and you can install them anywhere you want. However, you will need to charge them on average every few months or use a solar panel to help (they notify you via an app when the batteries are low).

Wired cameras are more limited and often more difficult to install, but you never have to worry about charging a battery. And if you opt for a PoE (power over Ethernet) camera, you don’t have to rely on Wi-Fi either.