Best Motion Sensor Security Cameras

When you don't need 24/7 monitoring, Lorex's range of motion detection cameras provides the protection you desire.

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Lorex Image
Lorex
SecureScore™: 9.2/10
Known for their well-built, well-designed equipment, Lorex leads the industry in terms of motion-detection cameras. With a deep bench of security cameras suited, Lorex is a great option when you need to keep an eye on things.
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Google Nest Image
Google Nest
SecureScore™: 8.5/10
Google Nest makes some of the smartest security products, including high-tech cameras that outshine the competition in motion sensing. With a Nest Aware subscription, the Nest’s Cam IQ comes alive with artificial intelligence facial recognition and other advanced features.
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Ring Image
Ring
SecureScore™: 9.2/10
Famous for their video doorbells, Ring has expanded their security offerings over the years to include a full suite of Ring security cameras. Through a smart motion sensor and Ring’s Amazon-strong network, features like person/vehicle detection are now included in most Ring devices.
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  • Lorex Product Image
    Lorex
    SecureScore™: 9.2/10
    Known for their well-built, well-designed equipment, Lorex leads the industry in terms of motion-detection cameras. With a deep bench of security cameras suited, Lorex is a great option when you need to keep an eye on things.
    View Packages
  • Google Nest Product Image
    Google Nest
    SecureScore™: 8.5/10
    Google Nest makes some of the smartest security products, including high-tech cameras that outshine the competition in motion sensing. With a Nest Aware subscription, the Nest’s Cam IQ comes alive with artificial intelligence facial recognition and other advanced features.
    View on Amazon
  • Ring Product Image
    Ring
    SecureScore™: 9.2/10
    Famous for their video doorbells, Ring has expanded their security offerings over the years to include a full suite of Ring security cameras. Through a smart motion sensor and Ring’s Amazon-strong network, features like person/vehicle detection are now included in most Ring devices.
    View on Amazon

Editor’s Note: If you’re serious about securing your home, don’t just stop at getting a motion sensor camera. Instead, opt for a home security system AND a security camera for more robust protection. Find the best package deal on our best home security systems page.

Top 6 Motion Sensor Camera Systems in 2024

Lorex cameras

  • Lorex - Most Versatile Motion Detection Cameras
  • Google Nest - Best Motion Detection Cameras Overall
  • Ring - Best Motion Camera with Light
  • Arlo - Best Outdoor Motion Cameras
  • Blink - Most Affordable Motion Activated Cameras
  • Kuna - Best Motion Activated Hidden Camera

Virtually every home security camera comes with some type of built-in motion sensor. Turns out, it’s a drag pouring over hours of footage to find out what happened while you were away from home. Motion sensors allow cameras to activate only when they detect…well, motion. This also allows them to contact you when something happens, so you can check your camera feeds immediately rather than waiting until you get home to find out someone broke a window. So this isn’t just a list of cameras with motion sensors. That list would include pretty much all home security cameras.

Nope. These days you can do better than just a camera with a motion sensor. You want a camera smart enough to tell the difference between a person approaching your property and a leaf blowing by. It should also be able to tell the difference between a person and the neighbor’s dog. Otherwise, you’ll get alerts every time a squirrel scampers across your lawn. These days, you can get cameras with pet detection, package detection, and even facial recognition.

While you’re at it, you might as well get cameras that are, you know, great cameras. You want at least 1080p HD resolution, night vision, and two-way talk. And to round everything off, why not look for cameras with great prices as well?

There are dozens of cameras on the market, and finding the ones that tick all these boxes can be time-consuming. Luckily, you have us. We’ve done all the research and tested over 25 cameras to put together this list of the very best. After all, you don’t just want a camera with a motion sensor; you want the camera that’s right for you.

  • 1 Lorex - Most Versatile Motion Detection Cameras

    Lorex Product Image
    SecureScore™ 9.2
    Customer Service
    8.8
    Value
    8.9
    Equipment
    9.6
    Features & Technology
    9.7
    Ease Of Use
    8.9
    SecureScore™
    9.2

    Lorex knows home security cameras. It’s all they do. They don’t sell entry sensors, smoke detectors, or keypads. They don’t offer monitoring either. They just make home security cameras. No surprise, then, that they offer an enormous selection – bullet cameras, pan-and-tilt cameras, PoE cameras, indoor cameras, outdoor cameras. The list is seemingly endless. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the options. Lorex’s website does a great job, though, of simplifying the selection so you can be sure you’ll find exactly what you need.

    • Up to 4K resolution
    • Long-range color and Infrared night vision
    • Lots of equipment options
    • Free local recording with up to 2 TB internal storage space
    • Smooth app experience
    • Strong reputation in security camera manufacturing

    • Overwhelming amount of options
    • No professional monitoring for cameras
    • Occasional false alarms
    • Wired cameras can be tedious to install

    Lorex has been providing DIY security solutions for over 30 years. One thing that makes them a leader is their innovation; they are constantly coming out with new products to meet the changing demands of consumers. For example, at the time of this writing, Lorex was launching a 1080p Wired Video Doorbell, a 2K Wired Floodlight Security Camera, and a 2K Battery Video Doorbell.

    When it comes to detecting and capturing what’s happening on your property, Lorex has a few options available. Here’s the breakdown:

    Types of Motion Detection Available with Lorex Cameras

    Type of Detection How it Works
    Standard motion detection These systems pick up any type of movement, whether that’s a person, an animal, a vehicle, or an object. Using the Lorex app, the sensitivity can be customized, and specific motion zones can be set up.
    PIR motion detection PIR, or passive infrared motion detection, will trigger when it detects a heat signature. People, animals, and vehicles will set them off.
    Advanced motion detection Using AI, advanced motion detection will only trigger when it detects a person or a vehicle. This helps cut down on unwanted, unnecessary motion alerts and recording.
    Smart Motion Detection Smart Motion Detection will differentiate between people and vehicles, and you can set up separate alerts for both.
    Smart Motion Detection Plus Like the former, but add facial recognition. With Smart Motion Detection Plus, you can set your camera to only record if a face is detected — meaning someone is walking toward the camera — rather than, say, a person walking their dog past your home.

    Now it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the smarter your motion detection gets, the more you’re going to have to pay — more on that in our guide to Lorex’s prices and products. That said, whatever your need or budget, Lorex likely has a camera that’ll work. And if prices still don’t suit you, check out the Lorex Clearance Outlet on their website. They offer big discounts on Certified Open Box and Last Chance clearance products.

    Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or PoE
    Power Wired, battery, or PoE
    Field of View Up to 180°
    Resolution Up to 4K
    Storage Free local, optional cloud
    Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home
  • 2 Google Nest - Best Motion Detection Cameras Overall

    Google Nest Product Image
    SecureScore™ 8.5
    Customer Service
    8.9
    Value
    7.5
    Equipment
    8.7
    Features & Technology
    8.5
    Ease Of Use
    9.0
    SecureScore™
    8.5

    Nest doesn’t offer the selection Lorex does, but it offers some of the most advanced cameras on the market. Integrated AI can tell the difference between swaying curtains, a frisky feline, and a package delivery person, so you only get alerts for moments that matter. Plus, with facial recognition software built-in, you’ll not only know there’s an actual person at the door, but you’ll know exactly who it is.

    • Plenty of features
    • Simple set up and installation
    • Great UI in app
    • Exceptional design
    • Long battery life

    • Somewhat pricey
    • No color night vision
    • Resolution just average

    In contrast to Lorex’s huge lineup of product offerings, Google Nest only sells three cameras — the wired indoor Nest Cam, the battery-powered indoor/outdoor Nest Cam, and the wired Nest Cam with Floodlight. But you know what they say: Quality over quantity. And in the case of Google Nest, it’s definitely the former rather than the latter.

    Google Nest Cams don’t just come with person detection. After all, that’s becoming standard on the market. No, Google Nest Cams take AI further by including facial recognition. What’s the difference? Well, person detection can differentiate between your mailman and, say, a squirrel. Facial recognition can differentiate between the mailman who delivers during the week and the one who delivers on Saturday. The last time we went out of town, we connected our Nest Cam to our front door locks, and it let our Aunt Linda in to water the plants. Try doing that with person detection.

    Nest Cams’ facial recognition feature alerts you to anyone it doesn’t recognize, so that when it encounters someone unfamiliar – a burglar, potentially – you’ll know right away via the Nest app in your smartphone. It does require a separate subscription to Nest Aware, but it’s certainly worth the extra few bucks per month to really harness this camera’s potential.

    Be advised: you don’t get something for nothing. Nest Cam’s prices can be a bit steep. The basic indoor cam costs $99, not unreasonable, but about double the cost of a comparable camera from Ring. And the Nest Cam Indoor/ Outdoor model is $179.99. If you need a lot of cameras to protect your home, those kinds of prices could make Nest cost-prohibitive.

    Check out our Google Nest Cam review to get the full scoop on our live Nest tests.

    Connectivity Wi-fi
    Power Wired
    Field of View Up to 130°
    Resolution 1080p
    Storage Cloud
    Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home
  • 3 Ring - Best Motion Camera with Light

    Ring Product Image
    SecureScore™ 9.2
    Customer Service
    8.0
    Value
    9.3
    Equipment
    9.9
    Features & Technology
    9.3
    Ease Of Use
    9.5
    SecureScore™
    9.2

    Ring offers whole home security systems including the option for professional monitoring. The company began life, though, as a security camera company, and it makes some great ones. All ring cameras feature motion detection and most include AI that can cut down on false alerts. Plus, the company is always innovating. Recent additions to its product line include the Ring Spotlight Cam and the Floodlight Cam. Outdoor illumination enhances AI capabilities at night and, as a bonus, can startle would-be home invaders away from doors and windows.

    Pro Tip: If you’re looking to nail down the differences between the two, we put the Ring Floodlight and Spotlight cams up against each other, head to head.

    • Easy DIY installation with minimal wiring
    • At least 1080p HD video resolution on all models
    • Designed for indoor and outdoor use
    • Choose how you want to power your cameras (battery, wired, plugged in, solar)
    • Enhanced audio for clearer two-way talk
    • Built-in motion-activated lights on some models

    • No 2K or 4K camera options
    • Some models cost at least $200 per camera
    • History of privacy issues and hacking (now resolved)
    • Design aesthetics could be improved

    Ring cameras don’t include facial recognition like Nest cameras do. They do come with People Only Mode, though, which can cut down on false alerts. That’s especially important if you’re self-monitoring your system. Checking your cameras only to find the neighbor’s dog grinning up at you from the porch gets old pretty fast. In addition, lighting options mean you get a crystal clear image even at night.

    For keeping tabs on packages, Ring’s motion-sensing capabilities go even further into features like motion zones and schedules, so you can zero in on the alerts you need. And here’s the cherry on top: You can turn on advanced motion detection, which increases the accuracy of your alerts and even automatically trims recordings so you won’t be stuck sifting through empty footage. See our full Ring Cam analysis to learn more.

    Connectivity Wi-fi, ethernet
    Power Wired, battery, PoE
    Field of View Up to 140°
    Resolution Up to 1080p
    Storage Cloud
    Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home
  • 4 Arlo - Best Outdoor Motion Cameras

    Arlo Product Image
    SecureScore™ 8.0
    Customer Service
    8.0
    Value
    7.1
    Equipment
    7.8
    Features & Technology
    9.0
    Ease Of Use
    8.9
    SecureScore™
    8.0

    Even the best home security cameras can let you down if they can’t stand up to the weather. That’s not a problem with Arlo cameras, as we can attest. While testing out an Arlo system, we endured not one but two torrential rainstorms. No problem. We got regular alerts and crystal-clear video footage. Plus, thanks to a generous 160-degree viewing angle, we only needed one Arlo camera to cover our entire front yard. Add an Arlo Smart plan and in addition to real-time alerts, you get 30 days of cloud storage so you can go back and review footage.

    • Detailed 2K resolution
    • AI-friven detections
    • Wi-Fi connectivity
    • Long battery life
    • Great app experience

    • Expensive
    • Requires a subscription to access all features
    • Mounting hardware a little flimsy

    Barring some occasional playback failures and lags, Arlo cameras perform pretty smoothly, and much of that is due to the quality of the motion sensor. We recently reviewed the Arlo Pro 4, one of the company’s mid-range cameras, and were immediately impressed by both the image quality — 2K resolution is really something else — and its ability to capture and record anything important that crossed the frame. We used it to alert the police to a speed demon plaguing our neighborhood.

    Best of all, Arlo managed to package this high-resolution technology and all of its motion sensor technology into a camera that’s wire-free – no communication wires and no power cords. They’re stylish as well. Yeah, we know – security is more important than style. If you can get both, though, why wouldn’t you? You can learn more in our full rundown of Arlo’s equipment costs and monitoring.

    Connectivity Wi-fi, ethernet
    Power Wired, battery, PoE
    Field of View Up to 180°
    Resolution Up to 2160p
    Storage Cloud
    Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home
  • Blink Product Image
    SecureScore™ 7.6
    Customer Service
    7.5
    Value
    9.0
    Equipment
    7.5
    Features & Technology
    6.5
    Ease Of Use
    7.5
    SecureScore™
    7.6

    Blink usually gets pegged as an “entry-level” home security system. Nothing wrong with that–the industry definitely needs systems like that. The thing is, Blink offers security cameras that are more powerful than you might expect. We found they had outstanding video quality and powerful motion sensors. Plus, Blink’s cameras are wire-free. That means you can put them anywhere. Home security products that are both feature-rich and low-maintenance make us very happy.

    While far from flawless, Blink’s motion detection handled nicely when I reviewed the Blink system not too long ago. Like so many of these cameras, their default setting is super sensitive, and Blink makes it easy to adjust that slider down and avoid those pesky unwanted alerts.

    • Fully Wireless Cameras
    • Easy DIY Installation
    • Lightweight, Minimalist Design
    • 1080p HD Video Resolution
    • Two-Way Talk
    • Infrared Night Vision
    • Low-Cost Cloud Storage
    • Local Video Storage
    • Smart Home Integration

    • Lacks Advanced Motion Features
    • App Setup Can Be Glitchy
    • Relies on Wi-Fi Connection
    • No Continuous Recording
    • Requires Separate Hub to Connect

    Here’s something we haven’t talked about in terms of motion sensor technology: ease-of-use. There’s a sweet spot when it comes to the user experience with a security camera. You want lots of control over your devices. The more adjustments you can make, the better you can set your camera to do what you want, and the better your security will be. You don’t want the controls to be so confusing, though, that you can’t master them. Blink hits that sweet spot. There are plenty of tweaks you can make, giving you flexibility in fine-tuning your security, but they’re packaged in an intuitive mobile app.

    Best of all, Blink is eminently affordable. In fact, no camera in Blink’s suite is more than $140. Of course, you get what you pay for, and these cameras don’t have extras like fine-tuned motion alerts or color night vision. Still Blink cameras offer great basic security without breaking the bank. Here’s the breakdown:

    Blink Camera Regular Price
    Blink Outdoor 3 $99.99
    Blink Outdoor 4 $119.99
    Blink Mini $34.99
    Blink Mini Pan/Tilt $59.99
    Blink Floodlight $139.98
    Blink Wired Floodlight $99.99

    Pro Tip: Blink recently released a new version of their outdoor camera. For more information, check out our review that’ll be coming soon.

    Connectivity Wi-fi
    Power Battery
    Field of View Up to 143°
    Resolution Up to 1080p
    Storage Cloud
    Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa
  • 6 Kuna - Best Motion Activated Hidden Camera

    Kuna Product Image
    SecureScore™ 7.3
    Customer Service
    6.0
    Value
    8.5
    Equipment
    8.0
    Features & Technology
    7.5
    Ease Of Use
    6.5
    SecureScore™
    7.3

    Kuna does things differently from the rest of the industry. The company only sells cameras combined with outdoor light fixtures. Lenses are located in subtle spots that can be missed by the average home invader, or by the average home guest. That means you don’t have to sacrifice your decor for security and you can catch would-be thieves unawares. Some homeowners like the idea that anyone who happens by knows without a doubt that their property is protected, though. If you like things more surreptitious, Kuna is perfect. Plus, you get a choice of a high-tech floodlight or an old-fashioned Dickensian lantern. Both contain sensors that can detect motion up to 70 feet away.

    • Attractive Light Fixtures
    • Good for “Hidden” Installation
    • Easy DIY installation
    • Basic Features Are Free
    • Affordable Monthly Plans
    • Artificial Intelligence Features
    • 60-day Money-Back Guarantee
    • Founded by Caltech Ph.D.s
    • Attractive Modern and Traditional Designs

    • High Up-front Cost for Equipment
    • Limited Camera Choices
    • Limited Smart Home Functionality
    • Kuna AI Only Available With Subscription
    • Mixed User Reviews
    • Products Not Widely Available

    Like many of the best security camera companies, Kuna offers cameras with AI that can differentiate between people, pets, vehicles, and packages. And Kuna promises that its AI is built to grow and develop. It is supposed to learn over time so that eventually, it may be able to tell the difference between various people within your home and recognize burglars by the actions they take. Yet, you don’t have to reinvest in new equipment to get new advantages as they are released. Your current cameras are supposed to evolve to be better and better. That makes for a solid investment, and it’s a promise you won’t get from many companies.

    Since light-camera combos are Kuna’s bread and butter, it was nice being able to control the Kuna camera using the mobile companion app. The moment I received a motion-activated alert on my phone, I could react directly from my phone’s lock screen. A nice touch, and a speedy way to monitor my space while I’m on the go. See our full Kuna camera live testing guide to learn the ins and outs and to see if this camera makes sense for you.

    Would we like to see Kuna offer straightforward home security cameras alongside their lighting options? Of course. This is too good a company not to offer more products. At a minimum, we’d like to see more options when it comes to their light fixture models. Even so, this is a company that found a unique niche and they occupy it well.

    Connectivity Wi-fi
    Power Wired, battery
    Field of View Up to 155°
    Resolution Up to 1080p
    Storage Cloud
    Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home

Features of Motion Sensing Security Camera Systems

Motion Detection

Since it’s really the backbone of any security camera, you’re going to want a camera with effective motion detection. The most common motion sensor we see in cameras is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, which detects heat (infrared energy) that humans and animals release from their bodies.

Night Vision

You can’t have truly effective motion detection without decent night vision in today’s security cameras. Have a look at what I discovered when I installed a Ring Floodlight Camera in my backyard:

A family of deer travels across our property.

A family of deer travels across our property.

Not every camera out there has color night vision, though, so you might not get crisp images like this in every motion sensor camera. Arlo’s cameras have full color night vision, too, but you do get what you pay for with those, and the price is not necessarily cheap.

App Control

Every security camera comes with an app these days – as an iPhone user, I’ve found that they’re by and large easy to use across most brands. The best apps I’ve used present the camera’s motion detection features in an intuitive, logical way, so when I check on what time my kids’ school bus arrives, it takes me just a swipe or two to locate the footage.

FYI: We’ve identified the highest-rated home security cameras and ranked them on performance, features, pricing, ease of installation, and more. Check out our top-rated security cameras to find the perfect match.

High Resolution

The majority of security cameras, under the most ideal conditions, will record video at 1080p HD resolution. You’ll see it most often when your Wi-Fi signal is running at full strength.

But getting the best motion detection from your cameras doesn’t necessarily require a high video resolution, so remember that a super or ultra HD resolution (2K or 4K) camera like the Arlo Ultra or Arlo Pro 3 might not detect motion as quickly or as efficiently as, say, a 1080p Blink Outdoor cam.

Field of View

Another important component of motion-sensing cameras is the viewing angle, or field of view. This, in layman’s terms, is the angle between the two horizontal edges of the camera’s display.

The smaller the view, the less motion you’re going to capture from your camera. This is a crucial thing to consider in cameras, as not all viewing angles are the same. Ring’s 110-degree Indoor cam, for example, won’t get you the same viewing possibilities as the E1 Outdoor, one of Reolink’s cameras. With PTZ action, you can stretch out that view to a whopping 350 degrees.

Smart Home Integration

With smart home automation features, security cameras are now functioning less as standalone devices and more like components in a larger smart home setup. For the most part, security cameras today are compatible with at least two smart home platforms. Usually, that’s Amazon Alexa and OK Google. But many other cameras, including Zmodo’s super affordable cameras and Swann’s NVR-based systems, are compatible with Z-Wave, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT, and other smart home ecosystems, too.

FYI: Our comprehensive Home Automation Guide has lots more information on integrating cameras into your smart home.

Final Thoughts on the Best Motion Sensor Security Cameras

So what have we learned? First, while all motion sensors work the same way in principle, when you put them into security cameras, there’s sometimes a huge difference in quality. The technology you pack in there with the sensor translates what the sensor sees and what it does with that information can be impressive or just ho hum.

What Arlo or Nest Cameras can do is levels above the competition. When you add in factors like camera placement, storage options, and video quality it can get complicated sorting out who’s the best. We’re confident, though, that your camera is somewhere on this list.

Written By
Jaime Fraze
Security Camera Expert

Jaime Fraze has 16 years of writing and editing experience, with seven years spent writing about emerging technologies. As our home security camera expert, she has hand-tested and reviewed every major security camera brand and has written more than 300 articles on the topic. Previously, Jaime has contributed to award-winning media outlets such as the Rocky Mount Telegram and the Daytona Beach News-Journal. As a homeowner and mother of two, Jaime is constantly looking for ways to keep her home and family safe. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English/Journalism from the University of Delaware.