How much should you pay for a security camera in 2024?
While I love talking about the ins and outs of the latest AI home security technology or how high the resolution of cameras is these days, there is another inescapable factor: your budget. And I know some of these high-tech cameras are durationespecially if you are not familiar with all the technology that goes into it.
So, how much should you pay for a new security camera for your home? Prices vary, especially between wired and wireless models, but as they continue to come down, we have some important guidelines and factors to follow before you hit the buy button.
Cheap Security Cameras That Still Work: Around $30
TP-Link’s Tapo brand is one of the most reliable budget security options for your home.
If you like big value for minimal cost, expect to pay around $30 for a budget camera. These cameras are typically wired and indoor, but still come packed with smart features, including object detection, video recording options, two-way audio, night vision, and voice assistant support.
To see what I mean, take a look at my favorite model, the Tapo C210 pan/tilt cam with 2K resolutionusually available between $20 and $30. Or the Blink Mini 2, which has outdoor options with an extra cable and is available between $40 and $60.
Mid-range security cameras for high-quality images: $100
Eufy’s camera allows you to monitor large spaces.
If you want a solid all-around security camera with good resolution and lots of smart home support, set your budget at around $100. That’s right in the range for the Google Nest Indoor CameraEufy’s high-resolution pan/tilt S350, or the Blink Outside 4 model with extra long battery life.
These cameras offer ways to manage all types of home surveillance, often with 2K or 4K resolutions, wireless mounting options, wide fields of view, and plenty of third-party support, including compatibility with existing security systems. And when big deals come along, their prices often drop well below $100.
High-end security cameras with all the bells and whistles: $200
This Arlo Pro camera is useful both indoors and outdoors.
A single high-end security camera shouldn’t cost you more than $200 in 2024. In that segment, we have plenty of models that are suited for the outdoors, like our top pick the Arlo Pro 5S 2K retails for $180or the Google Nest Video Doorbell Battery model, also for $180.
This 4K Lorex Spot Camera is an excellent choice for outdoors, available for $200, and Arlo’s Go 2 is an ideal LTE camera for far-flung places without wifi that retails for $250 but often has discounts that bring it under $200. Or you can opt for a portable, indoor/outdoor model like the Ring Stick Up Cam Pro.
These cameras offer better smart home support, smarter AI object detection, extras like floodlights, sturdy construction for outdoor use even in harsh winters, and other benefits. They can also be bundled with solar panels, Wi-Fi hubs for adding more cameras later, or other key components for setting up more home security in the future.
Local Security Camera Storage Options: $0 to $20
If you want to avoid monthly subscription fees altogether to save even more on home security cameras, look for cameras that don’t have video storage plans and instead offer local storage options. Brands like Lorex, Eufy, and Tapo are known for this type of local storage, which is usually a microSD card slot or a hub with a USB drive slot.
You don’t have to pay much more for this built-in storage. For example, Lorex has a 2K camera with an included 16GB microSD card at no extra cost. But if you do need to pay for a card or want to upgrade your storage, you can a large 256GB microSD card for just $25 (less on offer), an acceptable price to get rid of subscriptions.
It’s great to see ADT becoming more integrated with Nest and Yale, but cost is still an issue for this long-standing security brand.
Security camera plans: $5 to $10 per month
Some camera brands take advantage of a subscription service, including Arlo, Blink, and Ring. If you don’t mind paying a monthly fee to enable a bunch of extra features, including cloud video storage and object detection, expect to pay between $5 and $10 per month for most plans. Some are a bit lower (Blink is currently around $3 per month), but basic plans shouldn’t cost more than $10, especially for a single camera.
Plans start at $20 or $30, but at that point the services start to include 24/7 emergency response or professional home monitoring. That’s nice, but not necessary, especially if you don’t have a full security system yet.
My advice? Look at plans under $10 to get started, then explore other options if you want to expand your security technology in the future.
One final tip: Once you’ve chosen the right security camera, check out our guide on where to install a home camera, the worst places to mount a camera, and the legal issues surrounding recording video in your home.
