As our connected lifestyles and smart homes continue to merge, we are finding new ways to secure our houses and belongings. One of the best devices for keeping tabs on our stuff is a smart security camera, and there certainly are tons to chose from. In light of recent data breaches and privacy scandals, many are looking for options that feature local storage solutions (a.k.a. don’t use the Cloud), so we’ve put together a list of some of our favorites here for your reference. My favorite out of the bunch is the eufy Cam 2. It has all of the features I want, with none of the added expenses (subscriptions).
Best Overall: eufy Cam 2
Eufy makes a line of quality smart home products like this Indoor/Outdoor camera, but one of the things we like best about its products is the one-time fee model they espouse. You don’t have to purchase an ongoing cloud storage subscription to access or store your videos, and this device even comes with a 16GB EMMC digital storage, which is enough to store up to a year’s worth of recordings. Eufy also promises that USB storage expansion will be coming soon to the product line. While all files are stored locally, you can use smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant to connect it to the rest of your smart home system. Unlike some other cameras on this list, you can view your recordings through the app, safely and securely.
This particular bundle comes with two cameras and a base station. The camera films in 1080p with night vision and has an IP67 weatherproof rating, which should protect it from most weather events. The camera’s 140-degree field of view isn’t the best on this list, but it’s still comprehensive. Best of all? A single charge will last up to a full year, so no fiddling about with charging the batteries every few months.
Pros:
- No monthly subscriptions
- 16GB of on-device EMMC storage built-in
- Works indoors and outdoors
- Year-long battery life
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons:
- Storage capacity could be better
- A bit on the pricey side
- Field of view isn’t the best
Best Overall
eufy Cam 2
- $300 at Amazon
- $300 at Best Buy
- $300 at Walmart
No nickel and diming here
This 1080p wireless security camera system is weather-proof and is suitable for use both indoors and outside.
Best Value: Wyze Cam Pan
This little device from Wyze is a true utility camera. Not only can you record and live stream in full 1080p HD (including night vision), but you can use Alexa or Google Assistant to control the camera from wherever you are. Perhaps most interesting of all is the granularity of control that this indoor camera affords users. You can pan, tilt, and zoom through the app, and attached to its base, and it can rotate a full 360-degrees to see the entire room.
All of these granular controls are available directly in the Wyze app, which makes you feel like a security guard at a high-end Las Vegas casino. That’s right, you can follow your cat all around the house directly from your phone!
Yes, Wyze has come under fire due to a major data leak, but if you opt-out of its cloud service in favor of the onboard storage option (of up to 32GB), then you should have no worries. Note that this device is not compatible with 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, but it should still record and stream adequately for most needs.
Pros:
- 360-degree view with rotating base
- Can pan, tilt, and zoom
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Superb value
- HIgher storage than the top pick
Cons:
- Recent data leaks are concerning
- Expandable storage limited to 32GB
- Doesn’t work on 5GHz networks
Best Value
Wyze Cam Pan
- $38 at Amazon
- $53 at Walmart
Versatile value camera
This camera can pan up to 360 degrees and even tilt up and down to make sure you see everything that’s going on.
Biggest Storage: Arlo Pro 3
The Arlo Pro 3 might be one of the more expensive security camera systems available, but it comes packed with a lot of great features. For starters, the base-level configuration comes with two cameras and a base station that enables the Arlo cameras to communicate with each other wirelessly. You can back up data your data locally on a microSD card via a USB drive that can be connected to the base station.
The downside to all of that local storage is that you can’t view recordings through the otherwise good Arlo app; instead, you’ll have to connect it to your computer If you want to be able to view recordings in the app, you’ll have to subscribe to Arlo’s cloud storage plan.
Not only can you view and record in 2K HDR, but you can even view and record in color regardless if it’s day or night. The cameras also feature an integrated spotlight and sport a 160-degree field of view.
Setup also could not be easier. There are no wires to mess with, and the cameras attach magnetically to their mounts. You also recharge the battery with a magnetic cable (like the one for some smartwatches), and each charge lasts up to six months. Most impressive of all the Arlo Pro 3’s features is that you can store up to a whopping 2TB of footage through the external hub. That’s a lot of squirrel footage to go through!
Pros:
- Can store up to 2TB via the hub
- Color night vision
- Record in up to 2K HDR
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons:
- One of the more expensive systems
- Local storage can’t be viewed through the app
Biggest Storage
Arlo Pro 3
- $485 at Amazon
- $463 at Best Buy
- $485 at Walmart
Wireless wonder
This system features upgrades from the previous version, including a built-in spotlight, 2K HDR recording, and color night vision.
Biggest microSD Capacity: AHOME A1 Outdoor Security Camera
This brand might not be as well-known as some of the others higher up on this list, but don’t take that as a sign of its quality. This affordable security camera comes packed with a ton of great features, including IP66 weatherproofing, 1080p imaging, night vision, two-way audio, and up to 128GB microSD card capacity for a ton of on-device, local storage.
The AHOME A1 camera offers a pretty standard app experience, with the ability to set up alerts and view live, on-demand video. While you can put up to a 128GB microSD card in the device, AHOME offers a 30-day trial of their cloud service, should you wish to try out that option before committing to a subscription plan.
The loud motion detection alarm can scare away any intruder, but you can also carry a conversation with visitors thanks to its two-way audio capability.
Pros:
- FHD image and night vision
- 128GB capacity for local storage
- Two-way audio
- IP 66 weatherproofing
- Great value
Cons:
- No AI or machine-learning human detection
- No battery-powered option
Biggest microSD Capacity
AHOME A1 Outdoor Security Camera
- $37 at Amazon
Cheap curbside coverage
This camera has high-end features at a low-end price, including tons of on-device storage capacity and IP66 weatherproofing.
Most Imposing: Foscam Outdoor Security Camera
Some cameras are innocuous, and some just mean business. This Outdoor Security Camera from Foscam definitely looks the part of a menacing security guard, which might be just the deterrent you’re looking for at your home. It has one of the better IP ratings we’ve seen on a security camera with IP66, and it can see up to 66 feet ahead at night with its night vision and IR lights. On the downside, its 112-degree field of view isn’t the best we’ve come across, and it doesn’t have a battery-powered option.
The 4-megapixel camera can record up to 1080p, and it has built-in, two-way audio so that you can communicate with whoever may be on the other side of that lens through Foscam’s app. As with all of these providers, Foscam offers cloud storage solutions, but you don’t have to take advantage of that if you don’t want to. This camera can accept up to 128GB microSD card so that you can store all of your files locally for added peace of mind. Note that this camera only works on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi spectrum.
Pros:
- Military-grade appearance
- 128GB capacity for local storage
- Human detection
- Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons:
- No battery-powered option
- Doesn’t support 5GHz spectrum
- A relatively short field of view
Most Imposing
Foscam Outdoor Security Camera
- $80 at Amazon
This camera means business
Not only does this camera look tough, but it IS also tough with IP66 weatherproofing and infrared lights.
Most Futuristic: EZVIZ Outdoor Security Camera
I love this little camera not just for what it’s capable of, but for how it stands out. To me, it looks like something straight out of WALL-E or Voltron, and those looks alone go a long way towards making it “futureproof.” This device sits somewhat in the middle of the others in terms of price but has a few features that are not so common with the other cameras on this list.
For starters, the camera is on a 360-degree swivel base, so you really can get a full view of your front or backyard. It has a siren and strobe lights (which is a first as far as I’ve seen) to alert you to the presence of an intruder and scare them away. Its camera also features two different focal lenses for a wide-angle view and a zoomed view, like many recent smartphones! Best of all, you can put in a 256GB microSD card to keep your footage literally in-house. It also has IP66 weatherproofing and works with Alexa and the Google Assistant. If you don’t have an Amazon Echo Show or Nest Hub, fret not. All of the camera’s great features can be accessed via the EZVIZ app, including the ability to zoom in up to eight times.
There is a new, more premium option available with dual-lens color night vision if that’s something you’re interested in, though you’ll pay a premium for it.
Perhaps the biggest downside to this camera is the way it’s powered. It needs to be within three feet of an outlet, or you’ll have to configure power over Ethernet, which may require additional hardware and/or professional installation. Just be prepared to get a little help setting it up.
Pros:
- Highest storage we’ve seen for microSD card
- Dual-focus lenses
- Built-in strobe light
- 360-degree viewing
Cons:
- No battery-powered option
- Installation can be challenging
Most Futuristic
EZVIZ Outdoor Security Camera
- $50 at Best Buy
- $53 at Walmart
The future of surveillance
This little camera punches above its weight class, with features like strobe lighting, dual-lenses, and ample storage capacity.
Bottom line
As you can see, while there is no shortage of security cameras that can store your data in the cloud, the list of devices that can store video locally seems to be dwindling. My favorite is the eufy Cam 2 because I like that the company offers a great product for a flat fee, no hidden costs or subscriptions needed. Assembly is simple, the camera is durable, and the battery lasts forever. Win, win, and win!
If the eufy is a little too pricey for you or doesn’t quite meet your needs, then there are a number of less expensive alternatives with varied feature sets. Whatever device you go with, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that your data is safe in your hands.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Jeramy Johnson is proud to help to Keep Austin Weird and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. When he’s not writing about Amazon products and services, he’s defending his relationship with his side-chick Alexa to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.
