Best Battery-Powered Security Cameras

The Nest Cam is tiny, but it’s packed with a lot of features when combined with an ADT professional monitoring plan.

Google Nest doesn’t offer nearly as many camera models as Lorex – our number two pick on this list – but it’s enough to cover all of our needs. The Nest Cam (battery) works indoors and outdoors, which helps make up for the smaller product range. They’re easy to install, too. It only took us about 15 minutes and that included mounting the wall plates for our outdoor installation.

>> Learn More: ADT 2025 Home Security Review

It’s when we started using these ADT devices that we were most impressed, though. Our Nest Cams tagged our notifications as people, pets, packages, and vehicles so we always knew at a glance what was happening, even without pulling up footage. In fact, with the ADT app, we were able to disable the pet and vehicle alerts. Targeted alerts mean less distraction at work.

Nest Cams also come with facial recognition software, so our alerts also let us know if we were dealing with regular visitors or random strangers. Again – before we pulled up the actual footage.

Note that you need an ADT professional monitoring plan to access these features. ADT plans with camera support start at $39.99 per month, but in addition to target alerts, you get cellular backup, video verification, and access to smart home automations. Those plans also include 30 days of video event history via the ADT+ app.

All Lorex cameras feature, at minimum, 1080p HD resolution. That’s the industry standard. Some Lorex cameras even go up to 2K and even 4K resolution. With that kind of clarity, we were able to read the labels on our porch packages. We didn’t have quite that sharpness of detail at night, but Lorex’s night vision is certainly clear enough to recognize anyone who happens by your front door.

We’ve tested both wired and wire-free Lorex cameras, and they’re all built to last. The cameras we ordered were rated IP66 — they were dust-tight and could withstand powerful water jets, making them perfect for use outdoors. Newer models utilize Wi-fi 6 connections, so even with our router in the middle of our house, our backyard camera had no trouble getting a signal.

While we liked Lorex hardware, the software left a bit to be desired. The Lorex app is difficult to navigate, and oddly enough, different cameras require different apps. Our system required three different apps we had to constantly switch back and forth between to control our cameras.

Almost every Ring camera is available in battery-powered models, including outdoor cameras like the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro and the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus (the one exception is the Ring Floodlight Cam). If that isn’t convenient enough for you, Ring also offers solar panels. Attach them to any camera and you get wire-free power without the worry of changing batteries.

Battery-operated Ring cameras cost the same as wired models, and Ring offers all of its devices at an affordable price point. Both versions of the Spotlight Cam Plus, for example, cost just $149.99. Ring also runs frequent sales. Our guide to Ring’s deals and sales can keep you updated on all the details.

Even with no monthly subscription charges, you get real-time alerts and access to live footage anytime with Ring. However, it relies only on cloud recording. Subscriptions aren’t free, but they’re affordable. You can add cloud storage for a single camera for $4.99 a month or get recordings for unlimited cameras for $9.99 a month.

Arlo cameras are among the easiest cameras we’ve installed. Besides the fact that they were wire-free, they came with peel-and-stick applications, so we didn’t have to break out a screwdriver (don’t worry, there’s mounting equipment included if that’s your preferred approach). No complicated battery instructions either. The battery chamber simply popped out, so changing batteries was zero hassle.

When it came to performance, we were even more impressed. The Essential Indoor includes two-way talk, night vision, and a privacy shield. With a sharp 2K resolution, we had a clear view of everything. Even more impressively, it cost us just $80. Arlo offers an outdoor model of this camera, too, which costs $100.

Arlo is unique in that it offers some of the least expensive and most expensive battery-powered security cameras. The Essential we just mentioned costs as little as $40 if you opt for the 1080p over the 2K version. As for Arlo’s Ultra 2, it costs up to $300, which is more than any Ring camera.

>> Read More: Arlo Camera Home Security System Packages, Cost & Pricing

One way Blink makes its camera batteries last so long is by requiring a Sync Module for connecting the cameras to Wi-Fi. Fewer components in the cameras help keep Blink’s prices low.

Of course, you have to know going in that these aren’t Vivint cameras or Nest devices. You can’t expect facial recognition. In fact, there’s no real AI at all in Blink cameras. At the same time, you get some pretty useful features for the money. For example, the Blink Outdoor comes with motion-activated alerts, infrared night vision, and two-way audio. Ultimately, that’s all you need to protect your home and your family.

The biggest upside to a workhorse camera is its lower price tag. Blink’s equipment is extremely affordable, with the latest 4th generation Blink Outdoor Camera costing just $99.99. If you’re looking to outfit a large property with a network of security cameras without dipping into the kid’s college fund, this is a great way to do it.

If there’s a downside to Reolink, it’s the fact that the company’s best cameras aren’t battery-powered. Battery-operated models don’t include the company’s most impressive features such as person detection. They also can’t record 24/7. But then, it’s hard to imagine a battery-powered camera that could. It just takes too much juice. But trust us, Reolink’s battery-powered models are still dependable.

The Reolink Atlas PT Ultra we purchased was rated IP65, meaning it was dust-tight and could withstand water jets. It was also guaranteed to work in temperatures between 14 degrees and 131 degrees Fahrenheit. If we ever find ourselves in 131-degree conditions, security will be the last thing on our minds, but it’s nice to know we’ll be safe anyway.

The bottom line is that ReoLink offers a broad range of solid cameras, all at a reasonable price. They offer a constant stream of sales as well, bringing their prices down even lower.