Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

We tested over 30 wireless security cameras to find the best features, video quality, and cloud storage.

Best overall

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.5

  • Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

  • Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

    Save $5

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Best outdoor camera

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

  • Save $44

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Best smart detection

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

  • Save $50

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Best indoor camera

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

  • Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

By John Carlsen

Senior Staff Writer, Security & Smart Home

December 20, 2022

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Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

  • How we reviewed


Compare the best wireless security cameras

Product

Best for

Rating

Price

Cloud storage price

Video resolution

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.5

$149.99Starts at $4.99/mo.1440p (2K) Indoor/outdoor wire-free View on Amazon

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$45.98Starts at $1.99/mo.1080p Indoor/outdoor wiredView on Amazon

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$199.99Starts at $2.99/mo.1440p (2K) Indoor/outdoor wire-freeView on Amazon

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$179.99Starts at $6.00/mo.1080pIndoor/outdoor wire-freeView on Google Store

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$42.99Starts at $2.99/mo.1920p (2K)Indoor
wiredView on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

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Best wireless security camera reviews

Best overall

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Reolink Argus 3 Pro
with Solar Panel

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.5

$149.99

View on Amazon

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We love the Reolink Argus 3 Pro with Solar Panel because it performs on nearly the same level as the Arlo Pro 4 for 75% of the price, making it an easy choice to top our rankings as the best home security camera. While Reolink's cloud storage isn't as good as the options from Arlo and Ring, its microSD card slot gives it a local storage advantage. You don't need a paid subscription to save videos from your Reolink camera.

It doesn't hurt that it's also an affordable solar security camera. The included Reolink solar panel retails for around $35, which is almost half the price of solar panels for Arlo and Ring cameras.

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Wyze Cam v3

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$34.98

View on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Wyze Cam v3 builds on the foundation of Wyze's original sleeper hit by introducing outdoor capabilities, a built-in siren, improved night vision, and a higher frame rate for smoother video. While the v3 saw a small price bump shortly after release, $35 is still a steal for a wireless camera this good.

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Wyze Cam Pan v2

The Wyze Cam Pan v2 scans an entire room in three seconds using the automatic Pan Scan setting. This little Wi-Fi camera's motion tracking is also cool—if a kid or dog runs through the room, the camera follows all the action. (No more arguments about who broke the lamp.)

Learn more about Wyze cameras

  • Wyze Security Cameras Review
  • Wyze Cam Pan Review
  • Wyze Cam Outdoor Review
  • Wyze Doorbell Review
  • Wyze Home Monitoring Review

3. Arlo Pro 4: Best outdoor camera for smart homes

Best outdoor camera

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Arlo Pro 4

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$199.99

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Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Arlo Pro 4 offers compatibility with more smart home platforms than any other entry on our list. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. Although it's no longer our top pick, it's still one of our all-time favorites.

We love that it's 100% wire-free—it doesn't need a power cord and still manages to outperform the competition. Its Wi-Fi connection and battery make it easy to install anywhere a ladder can reach.

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$179.99

View on Google Store

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

The Google Nest Cam (Battery)† is awesome for image, video, and sound quality, producing some of our testing's best recordings. Plus, it fixes one of our biggest complaints about the Nest Cam IQ by opening up most of its smart alerts to users without a Nest Aware subscription.

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$42.99

View on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 makes a big splash as the best indoor camera for most folks. This comes down to excellent 2K video quality and a low price, which means you can buy multiple security cameras for the house. Its smart home integrations are a nice bonus too.

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$179.99Starts at $6.00/mo.960pOutdoor
wire-free View on Google Store

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.1

$249.99Starts at $2.99/mo.1080p Outdoor
wire-freeView on Amazon

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4

$99.99Starts at $3.99/mo.1080p Indoor/outdoor
wire-free View on Amazon

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Blink IndoorBest battery life

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

3.75

$79.99Starts at $3.00/mo. 1080p Indoor
wire-free View on Amazon

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

3.5

$49.99
(2-pack)Starts at $4.99/mo.1080p Indoor
wired View on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

6. Nest Doorbell (Battery): Best video doorbell

Best video doorbell

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Nest Doorbell (Battery)

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.25

$179.99

View on Google Store

Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

The Nest Doorbell (Battery) brings the same smart motion detection and cloud storage we love about the Nest Cam to your front door. Even though its video resolution is on the lower end, the Nest Doorbell proves that using your pixels effectively can make all the difference. It somehow achieves some of the best-looking video quality in a doorbell camera.

A built-in battery means you can install the Nest Doorbell anywhere, but we like that it supports existing doorbell wires, so you don't need to bring it inside to recharge. The battery lasts up to six months on a charge with regular usage, though this drops depending on the weather and how often it records video.

At around $180, the Nest Doorbell (Battery) costs almost twice as much as the Ring Video Doorbell. Still, we think its smart detection, affordable cloud storage, and attractive design are worth the price.

Read our full Nest Doorbell review for more testing insights.

Learn more about doorbell cameras

  • Best Video Doorbell Cameras
  • YouTube: Best Battery Doorbell Cameras

7. Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight: Best floodlight camera

Best floodlight camera

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4.1

$249.99

View on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight is a solid floodlight camera that makes the most of Arlo's signature style of easy installation and excellent outdoor cameras.

It turns up the brightness compared to a typical security camera and lights a huge area of your yard. This improves color video quality at night and provides a visual deterrent to would-be intruders. Plus, it's nice to have an app-controlled floodlight when you need more light on the patio.

We love that the Arlo floodlight uses a rechargeable battery, which means it's way easier to install than wired floodlight cameras from Eufy, Ring, and Wyze. If you use the floodlight often, you can drain the battery quickly, but at least Arlo sells an optional power cable. While the cable adds $50 to your price tag, it also unlocks a maximum brightness of 3,000 lumens compared to the 2,000 lumens on battery-only mode.

Learn more in our full comparison of the best floodlight cameras.

8. Ring Stick Up Cam Battery: Best for Alexa

Best for Alexa

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Ring Stick Up Cam Battery

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

4

$99.99

View on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is completely wire-free, so you have a ton of flexibility in where you put it. And it costs around $100, making it a fairly affordable security camera you can use both indoors and outdoors. It's an ideal wireless camera for an Alexa smart home, though we'd like it better if it supported Google Assistant and HomeKit like Arlo does.

If you need a wireless outdoor camera on a budget, the Stick Up Cam Battery is a great bet. Ring also has one of the most competitive cloud storage plans on the market, Ring Protect Basic costs just $4 a month for 180 days of storage.

We've seen reports of short battery life on Ring products (some say it lasts about a month), and recharging the Stick Up Cam is tedious since you need to remove the battery each time. There's a wired option—Stick Up Cam Plug-In—but you lose the flexibility of anywhere installation.

You can get a solar panel accessory so you don't need to remove the battery as often, but it'll cost you extra.

Read our full Ring Stick Up Cam review to learn more about this great little camera.

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Blink Indoor

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

3.75

$79.99

View on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Blink is an Amazon-owned brand focusing on budget cameras. The Blink Indoor is an attractive little camera you can buy for about $80. Thanks to an indoor-only design, this makes it cheaper than most other surveillance cameras for home security.

It has a long battery life of up to two years—much longer than the competition. It achieves this by recording short clips and turning off Wi-Fi when the camera is inactive. Connecting to Alexa and Fire TV devices is easy, and you can even see a live view on Alexa smart displays like the Echo Show.

The Blink Indoor has optional local storage if you connect a USB drive to the included Sync Module. There's also a paid cloud subscription (about $3 a month) to save videos, but it stores only about two hours of footage, which is tiny compared to most brands. Still, the Blink Indoor is a good option if you want an affordable wire-free indoor security camera to use with Alexa.

Check out our Blink cameras review for more information.

Blink Mini

If you don't mind wires, the Blink Mini is a cheaper option for around $35. But you need to buy a Sync Module separately if you want local storage.

Learn more about Blink cameras

  • Blink vs. Arlo Security Cameras
  • Blink vs. Ring Security Cameras
  • Blink Storage Plans
  • YouTube: We Test, Install, and Review the Blink Video Doorbell

10. YI 1080p Home Camera: Best ultra-budget camera

Best ultra-budget camera

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

YI 1080p Home Camera

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

3.5

$49.99

(2-pack)

View on Amazon

Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you want to spend as little money as possible on a security camera (that's at least still pretty good), then you'll love the YI 1080p Indoor Security Camera (about $50 for two-pack). It even makes for an affordable Wi-Fi nanny cam in a pinch with YI's baby crying detection. This sends a notification to your phone when your little one sounds off that they need some TLC.

Unlimited free cloud storage is another great feature. You can also share app access with up to five people. But watch out if you're an Android user—there are several reported issues with the Android app.

Check out our full YI Home Camera review to learn more.

Learn more about YI cameras

  • YI Cameras Review (Including Kami)
  • YouTube: Kami Doorbell Review

Final word

There are so many wireless home security cameras to choose from—we barely scratched the surface of what kinds of cameras are out there. Still, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro is a standout option with 100% wire-free operation, local storage, included solar panel, and impressive video quality.

It's not a perfect home security camera, especially since it lacks the motion zones you can find on most competitors, but it's a refreshing change from cloud-centric brands like Arlo and Ring.

See our list of frequently asked questions below for more information about residential security cameras. If you're looking for a wireless camera that works with a security system, you can start with recommendations from our best home security systems.

Haven’t found what you’re looking for?

  • Best Home Security Cameras
  • Best Cheap Security Cameras under $50
  • Best Outdoor Security Cameras
  • Best Solar-Powered Security Cameras
  • ​​Best Multi-Camera Security Systems
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How much should I spend on a home security camera?

The sweet spot for a mid-range security camera is around $100, give or take $50. You'll find plenty of wired, wireless, indoor, outdoor, and pan-and-tilt options from reputable brands without sacrificing quality or features. In general, you can expect better features and stronger customer support with more expensive cameras.

If you're looking for cheap security cameras, stick to brand names you recognize between $25 and $50. Keep in mind that most budget cameras require a power cord. Aside from the occasional sale by a well-known brand, don't buy any security cameras under $25.

On the upper end of the spectrum, we recommend keeping your cost under $200 per camera unless you need specialized features like a floodlight, 4K video quality, LTE cellular connection, or security monitoring. Ultimately, it's your call how much you want to invest in security.

Learn more in our guide to Security Camera Cost & Installation Fees.

Is it better to have wired or wireless security cameras?

In general, we recommend wired cameras for indoor settings and wireless cameras for outdoors.

An abundance of electrical outlets indoors makes a perfect habitat for wired security cameras. While you won't have as much placement flexibility as with a wire-free camera, the installation process is just as easy in most cases. Plus, wired cameras are usually more affordable, so you can have excellent indoor coverage while focusing the bulk of your budget on outdoor cameras.

Wireless security cameras are a natural choice outdoors because you can achieve perfect placement, especially when using a solar panel charger. You'll need to keep on top of the battery life, but it's a small price to pay for quick installation.

In some cases, it might make sense to use a wired camera outdoors. A wired outdoor camera may take more effort to install but is easier to maintain. We recommend wired power for video doorbells and floodlight cameras. It's especially useful for charging batteries in wireless models.

Likewise, using a wireless camera indoors is a good way to keep recording during a power outage. Most wireless cameras support a power cord, so charging the battery is effortless. You can also install the camera where a power cord won't reach.

Learn more in our guide to Wired vs. Wireless Security Cameras.

Expand All

Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Photo credit: John Carlsen, SafeWise

We looked at price, image quality, reliability, ease of setup, smart features, night vision, and customer satisfaction to find the best wireless security cameras.

We tested most of these camera models in our homes and have experience using all of the brands in our lineup. We also read expert reviews, researched industry standards and camera specs, and consulted thousands of customer reviews to supplement our testing.

  • 300+ hours of research and testing
  • 35 in-home tests
  • 50+ products considered for our top 10
  • 150+ products evaluated

Battery-powered cameras that fall entirely into the wire-free category, like Reolink and Arlo, got extra credit when it came to ranking the best home security cameras this year. But we couldn't dismiss high-quality Wi-Fi cameras from Wyze and Eufy just because of a compulsory power cord.

Find out more about how we rank and review products in our full methodology.

Camera brands not in our review

We cover a lot of security cameras on SafeWise, so it's impossible to talk about everything in a single article. Here's where you can find our reviews of other popular security camera brands:

  • ​​Abode Cameras Review
  • Amcrest Security Camera Review
  • Canary Home Security Review
  • Deep Sentinel Home Security Review
  • EZViz Cameras Reviewed
  • Lorex Cameras Review
  • Kuna App and Camera Review

  • Samsung Wisenet Camera Review
  • SimpliSafe Cameras
  • Swann Security Cameras
  • Wansview Camera Review
  • Zmodo Camera Reviews
  • ZOSI Camera and DVR System Review


Disclaimers

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

†Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

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Best outdoor security camera with two way audio

Written by

John Carlsen

John is a technology journalist specializing in smart home devices, security cameras, and home security systems. He has over nine years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife before joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2020. John holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism emphasis from Utah Valley University. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, photography, cooking, and starting countless DIY projects he has yet to complete.

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Do security cameras have two

Two-way voice communication Many outdoor and indoor cameras are equipped with two-way audio – in fact, all CPI Home Security Cameras have this feature.

What is 2

Wired cameras or WiFi security cameras with two-way audio (also known as 2-way intercom cameras) typically have built-in microphones and speakers so that you can listen and talk to your family in real-time. So you don't need to purchase the external microphone or speaker to enable the 2-way audio function.

What security cameras can you talk through?

Top-Rated Wired & Wireless Security Cameras with Audio.
Top-Rated Indoor Security Camera with Audio – Reolink E1 Pro. ... .
High Quality Wireless Security Camera with Two-Way Audio – Reolink Argus 2. ... .
Best Value Outdoor Security Camera with Audio – Reolink RLC-410..

Do Lorex cameras have 2

Two-Way Talk With a built-in speaker and mic, each camera allows you to hear and talk directly to anyone on your property using the Lorex Cloud app on any smartphone or tablet.