Best Security Cameras With No Subscription in 2026

Just a disclaimer, we still highly recommend getting a monitoring subscription for ADT. When we reviewed ADT, we found that that’s the best way to enjoy all its benefits. But if you’re looking to avoid monthly fees right now, might as well choose security cameras from a home security system that can sufficiently secure your home without monitoring. ADT made our list of the best self-monitored security systems for a reason.

So, how is it like using ADT security cameras without paying a subscription? We’d say pretty good. Our Nest Cam (battery) positioned facing the front yard still alerts us to any potential intruders. Person detection is still active, which means we’re cutting down on false alerts by setting the camera to alert us only when there’s a person – not a vehicle or animal. Although we miss facial recognition, which is hidden behind a paywall, the other ADT equipment we installed helps us stay on top of things. When we get app alerts from our ADT sensors, we use the same ADT+ app to access our live camera footage and check on things.

We still had access to a three-hour event history without a monitoring subscription from ADT.

Naturally, that means we have to check our phones immediately when we get alerts to catch potential intruders on the spot. But the Nest Cams from ADT do offer free event video in the cloud for up to three hours. That’s nothing compared to the 30-day video history you get with a subscription, but it’s still enough leeway for when you’re too busy to check the ADT+ app during alarms.

Another reason we picked Lorex is that it has superior-quality security cameras. It topped our list of the best 4K cameras because it has not one or two, but nearly a dozen 4K options. It also offers some of the best power-over-Ethernet (PoE) cameras, which is what we recommend because they’re easier to install than typical Lorex cameras. You only need one cable to power a camera and connect it to its DVR.

We’ve tested multiple Lorex cameras over the years and have always been impressed by their reliability. They might not all have the most advanced features, but they catch anything and everything that happens in their field of view.

Having security cameras can help deter and prevent office crimes.

We have to warn you, though, that just like with ADT, buying Lorex cameras requires a significant investment. Not that Lorex cameras are expensive – they’re actually more affordable than most on the market – but you will typically need a system with four or more cameras to cover your home. Lorex packages that include a DVR starts at around $300, but can range up to $1,500 depending on the camera quality and features.

Like Lorex, Wyze offers local storage. The Wyze Cam we tested included a microSD slot. We used a 32-GB card, but you can use one as large as 256 GB. Keep in mind that these devices don’t record continuously like Lorex cameras. You’ll only get motion events.

What we really like about Wyze is that we were able to configure the detection to capture everything we want to and ignore the events we don’t want recorded. We set that up using activity zones for each camera. We simply highlighted the areas we want each camera to monitor. That’s it. If the movement occurs outside the highlighted grids, Wyze will ignore it and won’t record. If it occurs within the highlighted grids, we get an alert and Wyze records the event.

We noticed some lag when streaming live video, even when we’re on the same network. It’s only a couple of seconds, but it was still noticeable. The audio quality is not as crisp as Lorex or ADT cameras either. We consider this an essential feature, so you can deter criminals. It will get the job done, but it’s subpar compared to other brands.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

I have two-way communication on the front and back outside cameras and two inside cameras [of my house]. I was inside with the family when I received a motion alert on my phone. A shady-looking individual was walking between my cars. I saw him trying to figure out a way into one of my vehicles. Instead of physically confronting the person and putting my family at risk, I used the two-way communication option to tell the person, ‘I am looking right at you’ and ‘get off my property.’ The suspect then ran away.

We have a mixed experience with Zmodo. On one hand, we think their cameras work as intended. They have good video quality, most have two-way audio now, and thanks to their DVR, they can record videos without a subscription. They are actually like Lorex because they can record continuously.

Our Zmodo indoor camera we got for less than $50.

That said, Zmodo cameras aren’t as smooth to use as Lorex – or other brands on this list, for that matter. Live streams are laggy and alerts aren’t customizable. We also found that some camera models still don’t have two-way audio, which is a surprise to see in this day and age. And speaking of surprises, we were also shocked to see that Zmodo still offers 720p cameras. That would have been fine 10 years ago, but not today. 720p is simply not clear enough to capture important details.

We like that Zmodo cameras can continuously record without a subscription. We still don’t recommend it over ADT, Lorex, or Wyze, but it’s a solid alternative if your budget is tight and this type of feature is a non-negotiable.

Funny name aside, Zmodo offers high-quality cameras at an affordable price point. And with no monthly subscription, you’ll end up saving even more when you go with this manufacturer.