Best Cloud Security Cameras

We tested SimpliSafe cameras alongside the SimpliSafe security system we reviewed. Among the cameras we tested were the SimpliCam and Smart Alarm indoor cameras, and the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Pro. And frankly, we weren’t thrilled about the $9.99-per-month cloud recording plan. It supports up to five cameras only and doesn’t offer much extra features. Ring offers recording for unlimited cameras for the same price.

Installing the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Pro outside our house.

Our favorite though is the Core (formerly Fast Protect) plan from SimpliSafe. It’s more expensive – $31.99 per month – but we felt that we got the best value for our money from it. It included professional monitoring with cellular backup for our SimpliSafe security system, plus video verification with Live Guard Protection.

The ADT cameras we reviewed were actually Google Nest Cams, which are next on this list. These are some of the most advanced cameras we’ve encountered, and the Nest Aware subscription gives them even more features like rich notifications and facial recognition. While it’s cheaper to get Nest Aware from Google, you get extra benefits by signing up for an ADT monitoring subscription that includes Nest Aware – that’s the $44.99 plan we mentioned earlier.

One of the Nest Cams we tested alongside our ADT security system.

In addition to Nest Aware with 30-day video storage for all your Nest cameras, ADT will monitor your security system and make best use of your cameras through video verification. That’s similar to SimpliSafe minus Live Guard Protection. What ADT offers better than SimpliSafe is reliability through monitoring redundancy. ADT has 12 monitoring centers in the U.S. and Canada – the most we’ve seen from an alarm company. That means even though ADT is protecting millions of homes, you can rest assured that help will be available whenever you need it.

There are a few downsides though, like the three-year contract that’s required for most systems and the higher monthly fee. But if you’re looking for top-notch monitoring with cloud video storage, there are few options as comprehensive as ADT.

Nest Cams are one of our favorites for numerous reasons. You can learn more about all of their equipment in our comprehensive Nest Camera review, but the Cliffs Notes version is this: They’re well-designed, they’re versatile, and they have all the features most folks are looking for when it comes to modern security cameras. Here’s a breakdown of their suite of products and their prices:

Nest Camera price Breakdown

And if you’re talking about storage, they’re head and shoulders above the competition. There are two tiers of subscription service — Aware and Aware Plus. Both offer subscribers event history, intelligent alerts, and support for a much larger network of Google products if you’re looking into home automation. The standard subscription is $6 per month or $60 per year, while Nest Aware Plus will run you $12 per month or $120 per year, which, we’ve got to say, is pretty reasonable when you consider all that you’re getting.

Ring has been a staple in the home security industry for years. Since the advent of their widely popular video doorbell until today, they’ve enabled millions of homes to reap the benefits of video surveillance with a wide array of equipment, which you can read all about in our hands-on analysis of Ring’s security cameras.

To bolster those cameras, Ring offers a triple-tiered cloud subscription plan called Ring Protect. Customers can choose from Basic, Plus, and Pro levels, which cost $3.99, $10, and $20 per month, respectively. Each one will provide you with 180 days of video history as well as AI-driven alerts, rich notifications, and snapshot capture. Plus will add extended warranties on your equipment, and Pro throws 24/7 professional monitoring and back up storage options into the mix.

Arlo has some of the best basic, but powerful home security cameras on the market. And, Arlo has just added some new A.I. technology to their lineup as well and it’s called the Arlo Smart. This A.I. and computer vision technology filter will immediately send you an alert when it detects a person while ignoring motion from other objects such as swaying tree branches, etc. This new option also has a package detection and vehicle detect feature as well. The Arlo cameras come with 7-days of rolling video with cloud storage. However, they also have additional plans if you would like more advanced features and longer cloud storage options. Here’s what they look like, and what they cost:

Arlo Subscription Pricing Breakdown

Check out our review of Arlo cameras to learn all about what it’s like protecting your home with Arlo.

There are so many great things about the Zmodo cameras such as their ability to work well with voice assistants. They also have night vision, pan and tilt cameras, smart motion alerts with set detection fields, time-lapse videos, edit and share features, two-way audio, multiple-user support, a mobile app, and more.

There are two subscription tiers for Zmodo cloud cameras. Both will give you access to advanced features like smart motion detection and activity zones. If you want to save clips for seven days, it’ll be $4.99 per month. If you want to save them for 30 days, it’s $9.99 per month. But keep in mind, that’s the price per camera. If you’re outfitting your property with multiple pieces of equipment, the costs can add up quickly. Read our Zmodo testing and review for more information.

Wyze cloud storage, called Cam Plus, has three tiers and a pretty interesting pricing model. Their basic plan is free and offers — you guessed it, pretty basic services. Cam plus light adds smart person detection and will record up to 12 seconds of events. This is a name-your-price option, and you can even go with nothing. Cam Plus offers all of Wyze’s features including unlimited event length, smart detections, and zero delays between events. For this, you’ll pay $1.67 per month per camera, billed annually.

To dive deeper into Wyze pricing and plans, see our Wyze camera cost guide. And to learn about our full experience testing these security cameras hands-on, we recommend reading our in-depth Wyze camera review.