Lorex Security Cameras

Lorex does cameras, plain and simple. Established in 1991, Lorex Technology1 is one of the mainstays of the security marketplace, with a massive selection of reasonably priced, tough-as-nails surveillance equipment that caters to specific needs for homes and businesses. We’ve tested Lorex ourselves, but today we’re going to look at their packages, plans, and pricing.

While it can be daunting initially to sort through all of Lorex’s products and packages, the cameras are essentially grouped into four categories: Digital IP cameras, MPX/Wireless cameras, Wire-Free cameras, and Wi-Fi cameras. And within those categories, we found equipment with a dizzying variety of features and tech – from PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras to ultra HD 4K models for top-of-the-industry video quality.

Lorex Packaging

Clearly, there’s lots of great info to unpack here. To get started, here’s a quick list of key features we found in many Lorex cameras:

• HD video quality (4K in some models)
• Long-range color night vision
• Lots of equipment and bundling options
• Smooth app experience
• No contracts or monthly fees
• Long history in the home security industry
• Smart home compatibility
• Smart motion detection

Lorex Camera Equipment Options

Getting to know Lorex’s product selection2 can be interesting, as the brand is continuously adding new cameras to their lineup and expanding the features within them. This is compounded by some inconsistencies in the brand’s pricing; you might find three or four different prices for the same camera, depending on where it’s sold (so go for the cheapest option!).

But above all that, in our experience with Lorex cameras, we still found Lorex’s equipment prices to be quite reasonable. For starters, their line of smart Wi-Fi 1080p cameras, including an indoor model for less than $50 and a rugged outdoor model for less than $130, both align well with mid-range pricing for cameras in that category.

Let’s dig into those two cameras for a moment, followed by a broader, category-by-category pricing breakdown of Lorex cameras.

Lorex Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera

Lorex Outdoor Camera Installed

Lorex is long known for making rugged, weatherproof outdoor systems like the ones you might be accustomed to seeing outside of retail stores or on traffic lights. But for single-family homeowners like us, this style doesn’t blend quite as well with our home’s decor. Lorex appears to have answered this quandary with the Smart Outdoor Wi-Fi security camera, which holds up against the toughest of elements but looks a bit sleeker and cleaner than Lorex’s earlier bullet-style models, and more discreet than, say, an outdoor Wi-Fi camera from Ezviz.

And, it has the added bonus of active deterrence lighting, similar to what we’ve seen in some of Ring’s cameras, like their Floodlight Cam (we reviewed the Ring Floodlight Cam here). The LED is triggered by motion and instantly illuminates any scene (and any suspicious characters in it). That, combined with smart motion technology that distinguishes movement detected by either people or vehicles, both work to ensure your Lorex camera won’t miss crucial moments of activity, and neither will you.

And in a late-breaking discovery, we noted that this camera is also Lorex’s first Wi-Fi security camera with color night vision, adding yet another level of detail when you need it most.

Lorex Outdoor Camera Night Vision

One word of warning: This camera runs on Wi-Fi, but it still requires a power cord to work. This could affect your installation, but just remember that with plug-in cameras, you won’t have to climb up and replace or recharge batteries. What’s more, the camera includes a 32G micro SD card3 for local storage.

Note that prices range from $130 to $150 for a standalone Lorex Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera, which is impressive when you consider everything it offers.

Lorex Indoor Wi-Fi Camera

Lorex Indoor Camera

Like its outdoor sibling, we learned that our Lorex indoor cam includes person detection, which is not entirely common in even the industry’s top-rated indoor cameras. In our experience, detection of specific objects, like animals, people, or vehicles, is typically reserved for outdoor models.

So right away, we knew the tech on this camera was going to be top-notch. With lightweight construction and an attractive teardrop style (or hockey puck, if you’re feeling sporty), this device complemented our living room decor quite well, and it allowed for easy relocation thanks to its simple plug-and-play setup.

And speaking of simple, Lorex Indoor also has a magnetic mounting option. If you’ve got a suitable metal surface, you can bend the base 180 degrees for easy, hassle-free vertical placement and you’ll get a strong, secure setup without drilling a single hole. The only caveat to this is that you still need to have it plugged in, so again, this might limit your placement choices.

For all of this convenience and flexibility, we think pricing for Lorex Indoor is surprisingly low. It retails for $49.99, but more often than not, we’ve seen it at discounted prices of up to 20% off retail. (We’ll explore Lorex’s deals and discounts in more detail in a few.)

Lorex Pricing Breakdown

Lorex Video Storage Options

There’s a no-strings-attached philosophy that runs through Lorex, and we found it as soon as we brought our cameras home and set them up. Beyond upfront costs for the equipment – most of which is quite reasonable – we didn’t have to spend a penny more on subscriptions, monitoring, or any other monthly fees to use the cameras every day. For folks who are trying to limit monthly expenses – and who isn’t? – we can say that Lorex has much to offer.

We took note of the brand’s somewhat unconventional business model when we reviewed Lorex cameras hands-on. Unlike a great number of security brands we’ve interacted with, Lorex does not have cloud storage options, professional monitoring,4 or monthly subscriptions.

You’ll need some type of local storage if you want to do your own monitoring. Many of Lorex’s camera kits include a NVR or DVR with a hard drive that provides a large amount of storage space, so you can store, save, download, and share video history. Not only does this save you on monthly fees, it also tends to keep your home Wi-Fi connection stable, so your cameras won’t slow down your network. But it does come at a price: DVRs and NVRs can cost hundreds of dollars.

Lorex: A Look at Features and Tech

Lorex Indoor Camera and Box

Though features and tech vary among the many Lorex cameras and systems, they all do one thing quite well — deliver clear high-definition video, from 1080p all the way up to 4K.5

Rounding this out, however, are a number of key features that you’ll want to be aware of before you buy a Lorex camera. Check out our chart below:

Snapshot of Lorex Features and Tech

Mobile Alerts	Using any one of Lorex’s three mobile apps, you’ll be notified when one of your cameras is triggered, allowing you to open up the app and view a clip of the motion within a few seconds.
Person Detection	Lorex’s smart Wi-Fi cameras can distinguish human motion from other types of motion like cars, and you’ll be notified via mobile alerts right away. With this feature, you’ll have up-to-the-second insight into what’s going on around your property.
Surveillance Cameras	Lorex became a big player in the security industry with the success of their surveillance camera systems, ranging from the most basic to highly technical surveillance cameras used commonly by businesses.
DIY Installation	Since Lorex cameras and other components are wireless, they are also easy to install. Each Lorex camera comes with a self-installation kit that makes the process even easier.
Smart Home Options	Lorex communicates with most smart home technology, including Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. By linking accounts with those devices, you can pull up one or more of your camera displays using voice commands.
Two-Way Talk	Lorex offers two-way talk with most of their equipment, so you can remotely communicate with visitors, wanted and unwanted. Two-way talk has been touted as an effective crime deterrent.

Deals and Discounts on Lorex Cameras

Lorex frequently has markdowns of their cameras, capped off by a yearly Black Friday sale where you might find cameras up to 50% off MSRP (but not guaranteed!). That said, throughout the year, we’ve found great savings on several of Lorex’s multi-camera packages and systems.

For folks who might be buying security cameras for the first time, Lorex’s 4-camera, 8-channel NVR systems have served as a great starter package. And at a rolling sale price of $249.99, you might consider making that leap. We recommend keeping a lookout for percentage-off and dollar-off discounts all year long. Also look for camera package deals and bundle promotions offered by Lorex.

Final Thoughts: Is Lorex the Camera for You?

We’ve been ranking Lorex’s cameras consistently high in both equipment and features for a while now, but more recently, we paid close attention to how this brand stacks up when it comes to value. Beyond upfront costs for the equipment, we didn’t have to worry about monthly subscription fees, which is always a bonus. So we definitely think Lorex is a safe bet for the budget-conscious buyers out there.

Lorex Cameras

What’s noteworthy for us about Lorex’s no-strings-attached, set-it-and-forget-it model is that it’s somewhat rare. In an industry dominated by subscription models and service agreements, we appreciate that with Lorex, your financial responsibility ends when you buy the equipment.

And about that equipment … as large as Lorex is, the equipment selection can be a bit intimidating. We really like Lorex cameras, and we left the experience with very few complaints. But to really determine whether Lorex cameras are right for you, we’d encourage you to consider what your indoor security needs are.

Do you need a nanny cam? Are you looking for something discreet, that blends in with your decor and can be placed on a surface? Or perhaps an additional set of eyes to watch over the younger members of the household – and occasionally the four-legged ones, too? To help you here, we’ve created a guide on How to Choose a Home Security System.

We’ll leave you with one word of advice: If you really just want to buy quality security cameras without any further financial responsibility, Lorex is likely the brand for you.

Frequently Asked Questions