Best Cheap Security Cameras of 2022

Want a security camera? Great, so do we. Since cameras are so friggin’ expensive (looking at you, Nest and Arlo), we’ve rounded up the best options for $100 and under. Enjoy!

When choosing an expensive camera, be sure not to sacrifice function to save a few bucks. Don’t just look at the price; also look at hardware quality, software quality (features), and storage capabilities.

• Video quality
• Night vision
• Motion detection
• Two-way audio
• Weatherproofing
• App
• Power source
• Storage type
• Video recording type

These are the basic features. Some cameras, even inexpensive ones, have extra features like sirens, lights, or sound detection. We recommend looking for cameras with these extras when possible as they can really make your life easier.

• Best Indoor Security Cameras
• Best Outdoor Security Cameras
• Best Weatherproof Outdoor Cameras

It pans, it tilts, it zooms, and it doesn’t break the bank. The Wyze Cam Pan is crazy affordable and a great indoor security camera.

Most cameras have two-way audio, night vision, and motion detection. Wyze Cam Pan has all that plus panning, tilting, zooming, and person and sound detection.

The Wyze Cam Pan also has a multiple-account feature. You can give more than one person digital access to the camera and its settings. Both you and your partner or roommate can control the camera.

Best of all, this camera is pretty much dirt cheap. You can get two cameras and two annual subscription plans at just over $100.

This camera requires a subscription to access your person detection. If you use the local storage, you’ll forego that feature.

View on Amazon | Read Full Wyze Cam Pan Review

The Hoop Security Camera is the cheapest indoor security camera we recommend. But don’t let the low, low price make you think Hoop is skimping. Hoop actually offers a few features you don’t get with Wyze.

Hoop offers security features we don’t usually see in lower-priced cameras. It has geofencing (so it knows when you’re at home and when you’re away), and it can let you know when your smoke or carbon monoxide alarms go off. And with two-way audio, push notifications, sound and motion sensors, and smart speaker compatibility, it’ll integrate nicely into your home security plan.

With Hoop, you can set voice reminders from the camera to keep you on task throughout the day. You can even remotely send a text message to the camera. The camera will “read” your message out loud to your kids or spouse at home.

Hoop says this camera comes with five days of free cloud storage, which is good, but it doesn’t explain how much it costs to get more.

When we reached out to customer support, we got this response: “As of now, we have to roll out our new subscription plan. However, you are more than welcome to sign up for our newsletter to receive information on the new subscription model when it becomes available.” Interpret that as you will.

You can always fall back on local SD card storage, but that’s just not as convenient.

The Hoop camera is also a lot more expensive than the other two cameras on the list. While its features are cool, they may not be worth it if you’re trying to get the best deal.

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The YI Dome has some of the same features as the Wyze Cam Pan and Hoop Security Camera. It has pan, tilt, and zoom, and it detects motion and sound too. Specifically, the YI Dome is sensitive to babies crying, making it a good potential baby monitor.

This camera also takes the cake in safety features with its facial recognition. That’s an unusual but beneficial addition to an indoor camera. If an unwelcome strangers slips into your home, you’ll know.

Though the camera is cheap, the subscription plan adds up. Bizarrely, the plan costs more than the camera itself.

Also, unlike the Wyze, the YI doesn’t have person detection or multiple-account access.

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With Blink Outdoor, you won’t miss anything. This camera is a little basic, but it’s a reliable option from a well-known brand, making it our top choice for a cheap outdoor camera. It also has a stupendous cloud storage plan.

The smart home world knows Blink by name. Its cameras aren’t flashy by any means, but they get the job done.

The Blink outdoor meets all the raw requirements for an outdoor smart home camera. Plus it has batteries, which is the Holy Grail for outdoor gadgets. Without those juice boxes to provide power, you’d have to plug or wire the camera right into the side of your house.

Blink’s subscription plans are better than average in both storage lengths and prices. An annual lump sum for an unlimited number of cameras with 60 days’ storage is an astounding deal!

And with the Plus plan, you also get an extended warranty and 10% off other Blink products (so you truly can buy an unlimited number of cameras).

The ZOSI C190 is unbelievably cheap; we don’t see how a decent outdoor camera could go for less money. But despite the price, ZOSI has a lot of useful extras.

ZOSI’s got the works: color night vision, person detection, a light, and a siren. Some of the most expensive cameras on the market don’t even have these features, which makes ZOSI’s price incredibly impressive. Seriously, some cuts of meat cost more than this camera.

The biggest con to this outdoor security camera is its lack of cloud storage. You can’t get cloud even if you’re willing to pay for it. You’ll need an SD card to use the local storage instead.

Also, ZOSI isn’t compatible with, well, anything. It’s not possible to integrate this guy into your smart home.

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The Argus 2 is optimal for outdoor security. It has everything you need to notice, view, and scare off intruders.

This security camera has starlight night vision, zoom capabilities, and a siren to go along with its motion detection and two-way audio. And it’s easy to keep charged with a choice of batteries or solar power.

This Reolink camera comes with seven days of free storage, which is nice. And while the paid plan structure is similar to YI’s, overall it’s a better deal. You get more storage time for more cameras for the same price.

We wish this camera had lights to round out its outdoor security features. (Its successor, the Argus 3, does, but that camera is more expensive.)

The Reolink Argus 2 also doesn’t come with a power source. You need to buy a cable and/or a solar panel yourself to keep it going. That adds a little $ to the overall price.

​View Camera | Read Full Reolink Argus 2 Review

Time to summarize our cheap security cam picks. All six of the cameras we’ve talked about are $100 or less, and each has its unique features.

• With its many features and low price, Wyze Cam Pan is the best value for an indoor camera.
• This YI Dome Camera with baby cry detection is the lowest-cost indoor camera we’d recommend for our readers.
• Hoop Security Camera’s sound detection and geofence features make this camera’s indoor safety features better than average.
• Blink Outdoor has only basic features, but Blink offers an unlimited camera plan that makes it a good value.
• The super-cheap ZOSI C19 camera comes with lots of extras.
• The Reolink Argus 2 camera has features uniquely suited to outdoor security.

If you’re still curious about other options, check out our review of the YI Home Camera 2. Or, if you don’t need to stick with a super-cheap camera, take a look at our Blink and Blink XT2, Arlo, and Nest Cam reviews.

We also have reviews of entire camera brands, like Arlo and Vivint.

We looked at curated lists of the top cameras, then created a matrix to compare them to each other. The features we used for comparison included the following:

1. Price
2. Warranty
3. Night vision
4. Quality
5. Field of view
6. Motion detection
7. Sound detection
8. Person detection
9. Zoom
10. Two-way audio
11. Light
12. Siren
13. Mechanical pan/tilt
14. Notifications
15. Facial recognition
16. Power source
17. Compatibility
18. Storage

Buying a camera or camera system is no joke. You want the best bang for your buck.

When choosing the right security camera for you, we suggest looking at the following:

• Video quality
• Night vision
• Motion detection
• Two-way audio
• Weatherproofing
• App
• Power source (batteries or wired)
• Storage type (cloud storage or physical storage)
• Video recording type (continuous recording or motion-activated recording)

Most of the security cameras in this review are wired and use motion-activated recording. All of them are smart cameras that use apps to connect to your phone.

When trying to save money, it’s natural to look for the most affordable options. However, that can be dangerous when it comes to security cameras.

Ensure the camera quality is high before you purchase. Some companies might cut corners on the build to reduce costs, which can be especially devastating for an outdoor camera. You should also look at the warranty and the company’s reputation for customer service.

The camera software is also important. The software needs to work efficiently and reliably and be secure against hackers. You don’t want someone to tap into your connection and case out your home with your own security camera.

Finally, look at the storage options. Local storage is one option, but you’ll lose all your footage if a thief decides to take the camera. Cloud storage sends the video to a place where it can’t be stolen, but as you know, it often comes with a subscription cost.

The YI Dome Camera is the cheapest security camera with facial recognition that we’ve reviewed.

Other, more expensive cameras with facial recognition include any Blue by ADT camera and the Nest Cam IQ cameras.

Home security doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are multiple cameras listed above that we would personally purchase, but what works for us may not be the right choice for you.

Think about your home and the area you want to monitor. Is it brightly illuminated at all times? Then you may not need a camera with awesome night vision. Do you need to watch a wide area with a single camera? Then one with a large field of view may be the better choice.

If price is your number-one concern, you probably shouldn’t go with a full security system. Even if you choose a system with no monthly subscriptions, you usually have to shell out megabucks for a basic setup. That usually doesn’t even include a camera.

But if safety is your primary worry, then by all means, go for a full system. It’s more comprehensive security than cameras alone. Ring has some stellar cameras, and Blue by ADT came out with a nice selection too.

For some people, a single camera is sufficient. But if you have a large property or many doors and windows, one smart security camera may not be enough. In that case, you might want to look into investing in a full security camera system.

If you’re looking for NVR or POE, try the Reolink 4MP PoE IP camera.

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• Best Indoor Security Cameras
• Best Outdoor Security Cameras
• Best Weatherproof Outdoor Cameras
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