Best Outdoor Security Cameras of 2025

ntegrating Nest Cams into our ADT security system was easy. All we had to do was sync our Google and ADT accounts. This way, we don’t have to use two apps to monitor our system. You don’t lose any Nest features like Familiar Faces or personalized notifications. You’ll just use the ADT+ app to access them instead of the Nest app. The first thing we did was turn off animal and package notifications. We also set up an Activity Zone so our outdoor cameras ignore street traffic.

The last thing we did was set up ADT’s Trusted Neighbor feature. We registered our neighbors who bring in parcels when we’re not home and our brother who feeds our pets when we’re on vacation. When they appear in our cameras’ view, our ADT system sends them a phone notification. Once they respond, our security system disarms and the smart lock unlocks. You can also set it up to only activate at certain times. For example, for dog walkers or cleaners who come weekly.

You’ll need an ADT professional monitoring plan to access these features. Plans start at $39.99 per month and include cellular backup, text alerts, and smart home integration. You’ll also get 30 days of cloud video storage. The pricing is more expensive than Ring and Arlo, but we think ADT offers more advanced security features and professional monitoring.

We unboxed the Nest Cam with floodlight ourselves, but we needed an electrician to connect to our internal wiring.

Lorex cameras aren’t the easiest to purchase and set up. For one thing, there’s a seemingly endless number of models to choose from, and no sales agent to sort through them all for you. Customer service isn’t exactly robust. You have to call during daytime hours, for instance, and even then it can take some time to get answers. Sure, that helps Lorex offer lower prices, but we definitely felt like we were on our own when it came to making decisions. And for a company that requires DIY installation, the instructions are pretty tricky to follow.

Once we had everything set up, we found the equipment to be powerful and user-friendly. We purchased a four-camera system of Lorex’s 3MP IP cameras with a motorized varifocal lens, adjustable field of view, and night vision. It came with an 8-channel DVR that held a full TB of videos. Images were crystal clear, and because this particular camera plugged into an outlet, we were able to film continuously with no monthly charges. In the end, we don’t mind a few setup hassles if it means we get well-built, high-performance cameras for an affordable price.

All Ring outdoor cameras come with night vision and two-way talk. Like ADT and Lorex cameras, they work well with both Alexa and Google Home. Some models include 3D motion detection, and you can add extras like motion-triggered floodlights and high-decibel sirens. Yet for all these many features, Ring cameras are surprisingly easy to use. The Ring app makes navigating your entire system a snap. Ring helped pioneer DIY home security, and they’re careful to ensure customers have the tools they need to self-monitor if they choose.

Our router is located at the back of our house, but Ring’s signal strength ensured our front porch cameras had a strong connection. And we were able to install those cameras exactly where they would do the most good. With a variety of power options – plug-in, battery, and even solar – we didn’t have to worry about whether or not we were near an outlet.

As for pricing, the Stick Up Camera is the lowest-cost option. Operating on batteries, it is regularly $99.99. The Spotlight Cam Plus, available in battery, wired, plug-in, or solar power, is priced at $169.99 to $229.99. The Spotlight Camera Pro, also available with four power options, costs $229.99 to $249.99. Self-monitoring is free, or you can add video storage for $10 a month. We recommend a plan with professional monitoring, though, which starts at $20 a month.

Here’s a complete rundown of Ring’s outdoor offerings and their prices:

Stick Up Camera Pricing Breakdown

Floodlight Camera Pricing Breakdown

Spotlight Camera Pricing Breakdown

Arlo does a nice job differentiating its various camera models so it’s easy to pick the one that’s right for your home. At the top end, Arlo features the Ultra 2 ($300), which includes 4K resolution, person detection, and a built-in spotlight. If you’re looking for a camera you can put anywhere, we recommend the Arlo Go ($250). It’s weatherproof, completely wire-free, and operates on long-lasting batteries so you don’t need a power outlet. For that matter, you don’t even need a Wi-Fi signal. The Go makes use of an LTE connection.

We reviewed the Arlo Pro 4, the company’s more middle-of-the-road outdoor camera. At $200, it’s $100 cheaper than the Ultra 2. You don’t get quite the level of resolution, but 2K HDR is well above the industry standard of 1080p HD and offers remarkable clarity. It also captures a full 160-degree field of view. With an additional 12x digital zoom, we switched easily between wide views of our yard and closeups of the labels on our packages. We had those views rain or shine. All of Arlo’s outdoor cameras are sturdy and well-designed to withstand the elements. In fact, ours even withstood a vicious snowstorm back in January.

And while Arlo cameras can be a little pricey, we saved money long-term on cloud storage fees. Some models, like the Go, feature on-board recording. Connect others to USB drives for easy video storage and review. Plus Arlo is relatively unique in providing customers seven days of free cloud storage for up to five separate cameras. Whichever option you choose, you can self-monitor for free and still have clips to show the police if you need them. For a more complete look at all these cameras can do, check out our hands-on Arlo camera analysis.

Beyond the basics we mentioned earlier, Nest Cams include unique high-tech features like sound detection so you receive alerts even if your camera can’t see what’s happening. Built-in two-way audio lets you talk to whoever might be passing through your yard, so you seem like you’re home even when you’re not. Person detection eliminates false alerts, which ultimately keeps you safer.

The Nest app is as sophisticated as the ADT+ app. The Nest system sends intelligent alerts any time it picks up activity. Intelligent means you know what the alert is about without having to pull up footage. We know when the mail arrives every day, because we get a notice that says “mailman.”

The app can also be set to provide thumbnail images of everything it captures, so you can catch up on anything you missed during the big meeting. And with Nest Aware enabled, you can create and share video clips with neighbors or the police. We used the time-lapse feature to let the couple across the street know how much time their cat spends on our front porch.

Nest makes several useful pieces of smart home equipment in addition to cameras. This makes it easy to connect various devices for added convenience. We synced our outdoor camera with our Nest thermostat. Instead of resetting our thermostat and turning our cameras to active mode, we did both with the press of one button. OK, so it’s not exactly a revolution in home comfort, but one step is always going to be better in two. In fact, we have our eye on a smart door lock that works with Nest. With that, we could activate everything with the turn of a key.

See our full Google Nest Cam analysis to really understand what it’s like to protect your home with this popular camera system.

Blink offers a choice of two outdoor camera models. Here’s a quick comparison:

Blink’s Outdoor Cameras

*with the purchase of a $3-per-month Blink subscription

We found both remarkably easy to install. It helps that they are battery-powered. Our house is over 100 years old and doesn’t have outdoor outlets, so we couldn’t string up a bunch of power cords even if we wanted to. In addition, though, battery-power meant we could place both of these cameras high. Not only could we see more of our yards, but we were sure no one could tamper with them.

Battery power is an awesome convenience, but we cannot stress enough that these are not cheap, flimsy cameras. For example, in addition to battery power, Blink cameras offer complete integration with both Google Home and Amazon Alexa. Arming and disarming them was as simple as giving a voice command. That’s nice when you’re arms are full of grocery bags. Want to know more about these cameras’ pros and cons, head over to our complete Blink Camera review for all the details.

As much as any other home security company on this list, Wyze understands just how vital outdoor cameras can be. The Wyze website even takes the time to explain why outward-facing cameras are so important. As we point out above, they’re your first line of defense. Protect your perimeter and you and your family are going to be safer.

To help ensure your safety, Wyze cameras also include some pretty sophisticated AI technology and a well-designed app. The technology can distinguish between different kinds of movement so you don’t have to worry about getting alerts every time a leaf falls from a tree. Basically, cameras know when they’re looking at a person. Then, when they send an alert to your mobile device, they tag that alert as Critical. Even if you’ve set your phone to Do Not Disturb, Critical alerts get through.

We’re pretty deep sleepers, and once we’re settled into a good dream, we don’t like waking up. So we signed up for Noonlight, Wyze’s 24/7 monitoring service. That way, the monitoring center would call 911 if we didn’t respond. Noonlight is optional. You can self-monitor with a recording plan for $2.99 per camera per month or $9.99 per month for an unlimited number of cameras. We always recommend professional monitoring, though, and signing up for Noonlight gives you access to tons of smart home integrations.

Zmodo offers several outdoor security cameras — all very affordable compared to similar outdoor cameras. You get 12 hours of free cloud storage. There are no fees or hidden charges. The picture quality is pretty great on the cameras. The software supports multiple cameras. Therefore, consider Zmodo if you want an affordable outdoor surveillance camera. You can customize your outdoor security camera setup to best suit your needs. There are also several cloud storage plans to choose from and start at just $4.99 a month. We recently tested Zmodo cameras in our home. You’ll be surprised by what we found.