The Best Wireless Security Cameras of 2025
Our top pick, Ring, not only watches over your house but also connects to smart home devices throughout your home.
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Last Updated on Mar 05, 2025
- Solar-powered version available
- Connects wirelessly to smart home devices like thermostats and door locks
- Works even if the power goes out
- With local video storage means no monthly subscription costs
- Multiple wireless models available
- With no wires to worry about, place cameras anywhere
- Can install almost anywhere with Wi-Fi signal
- Advanced person detection with optional facial recognition
- Excellent video quality with HDR
You know you don’t have to have wired security cameras, right? We’ve tested wired and wireless security cameras over six months from top-tier brands. Not only are they easier to install, but wireless cameras are just as reliable as their wired counterparts.
Our tests found that the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus is the best security camera to guard your home. You should also consider cameras from Lorex, Google Nest, and Arlo if you’re looking for specific features like color night vision or high-definition video quality. Let’s dive into each one to see how they compare.
>> Check Out: Best Battery-powered Security Cameras
Best Wireless Security Cameras
- Ring Spotlight Cam Plus - Best Outdoor Wireless Camera
- Lorex - Best for Night Vision
- Nest Cam (battery) - Best for Versatility, Ease of Use
- Arlo Pro 5S 2K - Best for Video
- Ring Stick Up Cam Battery - Best Wireless Camera with Alexa
The Best Wireless Home Security Cameras of 2025
| System |
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus
|
Lorex
|
Nest Cam (battery)
|
Arlo Pro 5S 2K
|
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| Ratings | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Prices | $169.99 | $39.99 - $249.99 | $179.99 | $179.99 | $99.99 |
| Indoor/ Outdoor | Both | Both | Both | Both | Both |
| Video quality | 1080p HD | 1080p HD - 4K HDR | 1080p HDR | 2K | 1080p HD |
| Field of view in degrees | 140 | 114 - 180 depending on model | 130 | 160 | 130 |
| Night Vision | Color and infrared | Color and Infrared depending on model | Infrared | Color and infrared | Color and infrared |
| Two-way Audio? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Local Storage | No | 16 - 32 GB micro-SD card depending on model | No | Flash drive inserted into the Arlo SmartHub | No |
| Cloud Storage | Paid options for 180 days | 2 days free | 3 hours (event history) | Paid options for 30 days | Paid options for 180 days |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit | Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Artificial Intelligence | Person detection | Person detection | Person detection | Optional package and person detection | No |
| Extras | Spotlight, siren, activity zones | Monitoring zones, Smart deterrence | Monitoring zones | Siren, spotlight | Privacy zones, can disable motion recording, alerts and audio. |
| Read Review | Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Review | Lorex Review | Nest Cam (battery) Review | Arlo Pro 5S 2K Review | Ring Stick Up Cam Battery Review |
A Detailed List of the Best Wireless Cameras
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1. Ring Spotlight Cam Plus - Best Outdoor Wireless Camera
View on Amazon Links to Amazon.com
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Siren and spotlight
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Color and infrared night vision
- Works in temperatures from -5 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Don’t Like
- No local storage
- No artificial intelligence
- No free cloud storage
- No person detection
The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro met our expectations for audio and video quality Security by Lights, Camera, and (Motion-Detected) Action
A Ring Spotlight Cam Battery can deter would-be burglars with two things: its presence as a security camera and a motion-activated spotlight. Add in a PIR motion sensor that can reliably detect human interlopers, and you’ve got a comprehensive security device in your arsenal. Here’s how the Spotlight Cam works:
- The PIR motion sensor detects movement.
- It turns on the spotlight, which is bright enough to potentially scare away intruders.
- The camera also wakes up and starts recording a short clip, provided that you’re on a Ring Protect cloud subscription plan.
- Simultaneously, the Spotlight Cam Battery sends an alert to your smartphone.
- With the camera and lights turned on, you can stream footage and see what’s going on.
On top of that, the spotlight serves a secondary purpose. Rather than trying to figure out what’s happening by watching black-and-white video like it’s an old, black-and-white movie, the spotlight allows you to see the action in full color.
>> Also check out: Best Security Cameras for Businesses
Solar Option
The Ring Spotlight Cam Battery is convenient because you don’t need to wire it up or plug it in, but it comes with inconveniences too. For example, we found that the battery life is only about three to six months, depending on usage. That means we had to charge the battery more often than we’d like. For cameras designed to be put high up on an exterior wall, it’s too much maintenance.
Enter the Ring solar panels. They come in two sizes and can be connected to the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery. At night, the camera can draw power from its battery. During the day, the solar panel recharges the battery, extending its charge life. You can get the small solar panel for just $39.99. Check out Ring’s pricing to learn more.
Swappable Battery Packs
Ring caters to people like us who forget to charge the battery for video doorbells and cameras. You can buy swappable battery packs to keep one on standby at all times. While the solar panel is the better option in our opinion, a spare battery comes in handy during those cold, dark winters.
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery Accessories Price Charging Station $29.99 Quick Release Battery Pack $34.99 Small Solar Panel $39.99 Solar Panel $59.99 Charging Station + 2 Battery Packs $99.97 Pro Tip: We recommend adding the solar panel so it’ll extend the life of your battery and reduce your carbon footprint. It’s a win-win for you and a much-needed win for the environment.
Lastly, Ring cameras come with extra protection if they’re ever stolen. Ring’s Lifetime Theft Protection means the company will replace your device if it’s active on your account. Arlo offers a similar program, but you’ll need an active subscription to qualify for replacements.
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2. Lorex - Best for Night Vision
View Packages Links to LorexProduct Specs
Resolution Up to 4K HD Field of View Up to 180° Power Wired, battery, PoE Connectivity Wi-Fi, ethernet Video Storage Cloud, Local Smart Platform Compatibility Alexa and Google Home
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Plenty of options
- Up to 4K HD resolution
- No monthly fees required
- Rugged hardware
What We Don’t Like
- Security camera options can be confusing
- Not the most “stylish” in terms of design
- Not all models support cloud backup
- Not all models support smart home integrations with Alexa or Google Assistant
We were blown away by the Lorex 4k Dual Lens Camera High-Quality Equipment
Looking a bit like droids from the latest Star Wars show, Lorex’s wireless cameras stand out more for their functionality. These cameras flex capabilities normally available only to wired cameras, such as 4K resolution and a 100-foot night vision. The Lorex 4K Dual Lens Camera also has a Wi-Fi range up to 150 feet away from your router – if your router is Wi-Fi 6 compatible.
FYI: Lorex also offers some of the best business-grade security cameras that have an even better night vision range of up to 250 feet.
To take advantage of Lorex’s impressive hardware though, we recommend mixing together wired and wireless cameras. You can do that with the Fusion DVRs and NVRs. More on that later.
>>Related: The Best Outdoor Security Cameras
No Monthly Fees
The option to have a fully functional, self-contained security system without monthly fees is a big reason we rated Lorex for having our top wireless camera. Rather than like compulsory cloud storage and associated subscription fees offered by others, Lorex has local storage on its devices, in addition to selling DVR and NVR recorders. If you would rather store video in the cloud, Lorex does offer the option to store up to 30 days’ worth of video, charging for $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year for a single camera and $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for multiple cameras.
For our recent assessment, we purchased a Lorex DVR with a storage capacity of 1 TB. This unit was able to store about two weeks of 1080p video from four cameras. After we upgraded all of our HD cameras to 4K cameras, we were only able to store about 6 days of video. Fortunately, you can add more storage to the Lorex DVR. We cobbled together three 1-TB hard drives from a previous project for a grand total of 4 TB of video storage, which was enough to store about a month of 4K video.
Pro Tip: Local recording has downsides, too, like limited storage space and the risk of losing important footage when a fire or tampering occurs. For that, Lorex offers cloud backup to some of its wireless cameras. For $9.99 per month, Lorex will store event clips in the cloud for unlimited cameras stored in one location. Make sure you buy cameras compatible with cloud backup though, as not all Lorex cameras support it.
Wired and Wireless Combined
In the past, wired and wireless cameras were put into individual silos, and combining these devices into a single system meant finding workarounds. Hybrid systems are becoming increasingly common and our Fusion system from Lorex connected both wired and wireless devices to our storage units. Our DVR could connect up to 16 cameras, with eight wireless and eight hardwired cameras.
One of the major downsides of our system was the cost. The Fusion line of video storage units from Lorex have prices that start at $300. We paid $520 for our unit. That’s a lot of money up front, but it avoids monthly fees and ends up being a better deal compared to subscription plans after about a couple of years.
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3. Nest Cam (battery) - Best for Versatility
View on Amazon Links to Amazon.com
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Simple setup
- Advanced AI detection with person detection
- Nest Aware Plus subscription offers continuous recording
- Extensive Google Assistant integration
What We Don’t Like
- Camera costs $179.99; Nest Aware starts at $8 per month
- No local storage
- Lack of optical zoom
Our wireless Nest Cam (battery) installed outdoors Great Video and Audio Quality
Although we rated the Arlo Pro the best for video quality, the Nest Cam (battery) isn’t far behind. It features 1080p HDR video quality for both day and night vision, with a 130-degree field of vision. That’s actually true for all Nest Cam models.
The Nest Cam also features crystal clear audio with digital noise cancelling. It is a bit of an expensive camera compared to others, but that investment really shows up in the superior video and audio quality.
FYI: The video quality of live streams depends on your internet connection. If the video is pixelated, it’s because the Nest Cam is adjusting for slower speeds. The good news is that recordings are always 1080p HD.
Free Cloud Storage
The Nest Cam offers free storage for the past three hours of recorded events. For example, if an event happened at 3 pm, you’ll have until 6 pm to review it in your cloud recordings. While you’re there, you can view individual videos and download clips.
Pro Tip: You can get 30 or 60 days of video history by signing up for the Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus plans respectively. The Plus subscription also includes a 10-day continuous recording, but only if the Nest Cam (battery) is plugged in.
Leveraging Google AI Technology
The Nest Cam uses AI to distinguish between people, packages, animals, and vehicles in its field of view. We tested it by switching alerts for vehicles and animals. This small change significantly reduced our notifications.
With our Nest Aware subscription, we also got access to Familiar Faces. The Nest Cam scanned our footage to identify regular visitors like friends and family. When they popped by, we got a personalized notification letting us know they were at the door.
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4. Arlo Pro 5S 2K - Best for Video
View on Amazon Links to Amazon.com
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- High-quality video
- Color and infrared night vision
- Smart platform integrations
- Works indoors and outdoors
What We Don’t Like
- No free person detection
- Relatively short battery life
- Needs Arlo hub
- No free cloud storage
We really like the automation capabilities on our Arlo Pro camera 2K HDR Video
Arlo offers a wide range of wireless cameras, from the simple and affordable Arlo Essential line to the pricey but high-tech Arlo Ultras. Between those two product lines is the Arlo Pro lineup, headlined by the Arlo Pro 5S. We like the Arlo Pro in particular because it records in high-definition 2560p resolution. That’s twice the resolution of the Arlo Essential cameras, but not as bandwidth-hungry as the 4K Arlo Ultra cameras. It’s the perfect middle ground.
We also noticed in our review that it uses HDR or high-dynamic range. If you’re an iPhone user, you know how much difference HDR makes in outdoor settings. HDR is a camera feature that balances light and dark areas within a frame, which comes handy for identifying smaller details like license plate numbers.
Night Vision Options
Due to the camera’s spotlight, our night vision was in color, although when we wanted to be less conspicuous, we opted to turn the spotlight off and depend on the infrared LED sensors. Either way, we could see clearly at night, whether it was in full color to greet our friends or in black and white to give directions to the takeout delivery men.
Pro Tip: While we appreciate a spotlight, they can also make cameras very conspicuous, which may not be the best for home’s security. We recommend only using the spotlight when you’re speaking to visiting friends and family rather than having it on all the time.
Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Watch
There were a bunch of ways to control the Arlo Pro 4 aside from using the Arlo app. If we were feeling particularly lazy, we did voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant, pretty common integrations when it comes to smart security cameras. However, Arlo took it a step further than most. It also worked with our Apple Watch, so whenever the Arlo Pro 4 detected motion, we got alerted and could even speak through the camera right from our wrist. And during our three month trial of Arlo Smart Home, we made it so we only got alerts when the camera detected people or packages, making for less checking of our Apple Watch throughout the day.
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5. Ring Stick Up Cam Battery - Best Wireless Camera with Alexa
View on Amazon Links to Amazon.com
Pros and Cons
What We Like
- Affordable price
- Privacy features
- Video quality
- Two-way audio with noise cancellation
What We Don’t Like
- 110-degree field of view
- Storage
- No person detection
- Ring’s history of security breaches
Our Ring Stick Up Cam Pro delivered a lot of value for the price. Smart Platform Integrations
Yup, it’s Ring again; this time, we’re looking at the Ring Stick Up Cam, a budget indoor/outdoor option with simpler features compared to the Spotlight Cam from earlier.
It’s worth noting that the Ring Stick Up Cam works best indoors. With an IP X5 rating, it’s not as weatherproof as the Spotlight Cam. If you plan on using it outside, we recommend mounting it on a porch or covered back deck instead of the side of a house.
As with the Spotlight Cam, the Stick Up Cam works great with Alexa, which isn’t surprising given that. Amazon owns Ring. We enjoyed pairing our Ring cameras with our Echo Show, but you can also loop in a Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. With the integration, the Ring Stick Up Cam sent live feeds straight to our devices. We even used two-way talk to greet our guests.
Privacy
There were a string of incidents a few years back involving Ring cameras getting hacked, so it’s nice to know that the very cameras we use to monitor our home now come with useful privacy features.
For one, the Stick Up Cam has privacy zones. On the one set up at our balcony, we blocked out windows from the camera’s detection zone so that when we’re at home walking around in our pajamas, we wouldn’t trigger the camera’s motion sensors.
Two-Way Audio with Noise Cancellation
Two-way audio is a feature we’ve come to expect from smart security cameras, but Ring takes it a step further with noise cancellation. When we used the Stick Up Cam Battery outside, we noticed that when talking to our visitors, we couldn’t hear the background traffic noise as much, making for more distinct and easy to understand audio. In New York City, there’s always something going on in the background, so we loved that the Stick Up Cam Battery had that in mind when it came to audio.
Wireless Camera Methodology
When it comes to reviewing wireless cameras, we like to combine technical specifications along with our experience installing and testing the cameras to judge it in terms of its video, audio, night vision, storage, smart platform integrations, convenience, and overall value.
We prefer cameras with 1080p HD video, the ability to zoom in optically, fields of view of 120 degrees or wider, two-way audio, infrared night vision, free cloud and local storage, person detection, integrations with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, simple installation and a low price. We also look at each camera’s app to make sure that it’s user-friendly and has high ratings from either the Apple or the Google Play stores, depending on what kind of mobile device you have.
For wireless cameras, in particular, we’re looking for long battery lives and easy installation especially. Most battery-powered cameras can last anywhere from three to six months without needing a recharge or replacement, although we’ve also tested out options that worked for one to two years. Some companies offer solar panels with the cameras, which allow them to be charged continuously. If you’re using the camera outdoors, there’s no reason not to use the solar panel, as you’ll never have to take the camera down to recharge or replace its battery, but if not, we recommend getting a second battery pack so the camera can stay on all the time.
If it’s an outdoor camera, we want it to be completely dust-tight and able to handle water jets at the very least. It should also have a temperature range that works for your climate. You should always look at the camera’s IP rating to determine whether it will work for your outdoor conditions.
| IP Ratings | Solids | Liquids |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Not Protected | None |
| 1 | A large body surface like the back of a hand, but no intentional contact with a body part | Dripping water falling vertically |
| 2 | Fingers or similar objects | Dripping water falling from 15 degree tilt |
| 3 | Tools, thick wires, etc. | Spraying water |
| 4 | Most wires, screws, etc. | Splashing water |
| 5 | Dust protected | Water jets 6.3mm & below |
| 6 | Dust tight | Powerful water jets 12.5mm & below |
| 7 | N/A | Immersion up to 1m |
| 8 | N/A | Immersion over 1m |
In addition to that, we prefer cameras with artificial intelligence, which usually comes in the form of person detection or, with more advanced devices, facial recognition. Person detection means that we didn’t just get notified whenever the camera detected motion. Rather, we got notified only when it detected a person, which made for fewer but more important notifications. Cameras like the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor also have the option for facial recognition, which meant that we could name our friends and family in the Nest app. However, note that this camera is plug-in, and none of the wireless cameras on this list have person detection or facial recognition.
Finally, for someone looking for additional security, we appreciate companies that offer 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup, especially useful for someone with a larger home security system. Professional monitoring can cost anywhere from $10 to $60 a month and usually encompasses the cost of cellular backup, which keeps the system connected to the app and monitoring center in case of a power outage. To explore our favorite tried and tested options, check out our list of each best home security system of 2025.
FAQs about Wireless Security Cameras
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What is the best wireless outdoor security camera?
All of the cameras on our Best Wireless Cameras list can be used outdoors
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Do you need WiFi for wireless security cameras?
For all intents and purposes, you need Wi-FI to properly use wireless security cameras. You can’t live stream without it, and some wireless cameras require Wi-Fi to store video in the cloud.
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Is there a wireless security camera system?
There are many wireless security camera systems to choose from. For example, Ring also offers packages for the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery and the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery.
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How do wireless security cameras get power?
Wireless security cameras either get power through a battery or a solar panel.
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How long do wireless security camera batteries last?
Wireless security cameras’ batteries can last anywhere from three months up to a year. While the make and model of a camera play a role, the biggest factor is how often the camera switches on and starts streaming/recording video..