Need to keep an eye on an empty house or watch over a sleeping baby? We did the research on the Best Smart Home Cameras so you don’t have to!
Whether you’re looking to ramp up security or keep tabs on a mischievous pet, a smart home camera is a great solution. With lots of different options out there, we’re here to show you which cameras have the best features for every budget. Our list of the top 5 Best Smart Home Cameras for 2021 is sure to make your research a lot easier.
Integrating these cameras to your smart home network is seamless with your phone or devices like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. You can then get motion or sound alerts, speak through a 2-way microphone, and save footage on an SD card or to the cloud.
In this review, we’ll be comparing 5 highly rated Smart Home Cameras. Today’s list includes:
- Arlo Pro 3
- Canary View Indoor Security Camera
- Wyze Cam Pan
- Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor WiFi Camera
- YI Smart Dome Security Camera
In order to show you the best smart home cameras, we took a look at these factors.
Camera Resolution – It can be really difficult to make sense of recordings when they’re low quality. Opting for a higher resolution camera is a worthy investment in your home security.
Audio – Some cameras offer 2-way audio that allows the person in front of the camera to communicate with the owner of the camera from their phone. This is a great feature if you have a babysitter or nanny and adds extra security in the event of a break-in.
Field of View – Depending on where you want to place your camera, you may be limited on how much of the room you can see. Some cameras focus on smaller areas where others offer 360° rotation and panning.
Wired vs Wireless – With wireless cameras, you have the freedom to place them anywhere. While corded cameras may seem inconvenient, having a steady power supply means you never have to worry about a dead battery. This really depends on where you want to install your camera and how easily you can run a wire.
Let’s dive into our list of the top 5 Best Smart Home Cameras for 2021!
Arlo Pro 3
Our first pick is the Arlo Pro 3. This camera sets itself apart from others because it is completely wireless. With no wiring, installation is quick and easy and you can put the camera pretty much anywhere. The body is fully weather-resistant so you have the freedom to use it inside and outdoors.
On just one battery charge, the Arlo Pro 3 can run for 6 months! It’s compatible with all smart home devices from Google Assistant to Apple HomeKit and records video in crisp 2K resolution. You can also zoom in to your footage and see nicely detailed shots of your recordings.
This smart home camera has excellent infrared night vision with a built-in spotlight that allows you to see nighttime footage in color instead of black and white. There is a 160° diagonal field of view so you’ll be able to see the whole area from different angles.
The Arlo Pro 3 also has 2-way audio so you can communicate through the camera. You also don’t need to worry about receiving notifications for a dog walking by or a tree branch because of its powerful detection that differentiates between humans and other moving objects. Using WiFi, recordings are then stored to the cloud for 30 days with an annual subscription fee.
With all of these amazing features, there is an expensive price tag to match. In addition to the price of the camera, you will also need to separately purchase an Arlo SmartHub. This is great if you have other Arlo devices, but can get costly if it’s your only one.
Canary View Indoor Security Camera
Next up is the Canary View Indoor Security Camera. This smart home camera pairs sleek design with amazing security features. With the Canary app, you can use one-touch emergency services dialing and activate a siren on the camera. Because of the Canary Indoor Security Camera’s devotion to safety, certain insurance companies even offer discounts for installing these.
This high-tech device allows you mask out areas from the camera’s view so you won’t get false alerts. In unmasked areas, smart detection technology alerts you only when it is necessary. The Canary View also features a privacy mode that allows you to turn off the cameras when you’re home or during the night to eliminate unnecessary recording. The camera records in 1080p, has a 147° field of view, and is compatible with your smart home devices without the need for a central hub.
Night vision mode clearly displays up to 20 feet and Canary offers free cloud storage that stores clips for 24 hours. The main drawback with this camera is that the 2-way audio feature is only available with the subscription service.
Wyze Cam Pan
Next, the Wyze Cam Pan is an excellent budget pick. This smart home camera has a built-in panning feature where you can set up automatic scans of 4 areas of your house. The infrared night vision allows you see up to 30 feet in the dark, which is an impressive range. The camera features built-in 2-way audio so you can communicate in front of the camera or from your phone.
A highlight of this Wyze camera is the free cloud storage that stores clips for 14 days or the option to use an SD card. If you want to save full-length clips, the annual subscription is only $15! The Wyze Cam Pan also features a true full 360° range that can scan a room in 3 seconds. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and records in 1080p. With its long list of features, this camera is comparable to other far more expensive models for a fraction of the price.
The only complaint among testers was the initial setup. Some users had trouble connecting the camera to their home wifi network, so the setup can require more attention than other cameras.
Keep scrolling for our comparison chart of the Best Smart Home Cameras for 2021!
Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor WiFi Camera
Our next smart home camera is the Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor WiFi Camera. This model has a high-resolution 4-megapixel camera with 16x digital zoom that allows you to get a clear picture of important details in your recordings. It also does excellent low light recording with night vision up to 32 feet. You can choose to save your clips to the cloud or onto your own SD card.
With smart motion detection, you’ll receive only the alerts that you need. The Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor WiFi Camera has a 360° horizontal rotation & 90° vertical rotation so your area will be completely canvased. The 2-way audio allows you to communicate from anywhere in the world and have a conversation with someone in front of the camera. For added security, you can connect the camera directly with an ethernet cable so you don’t need to worry about WiFi security risks.
The only critique that users had with this camera is when you’re watching it stream live. The live streaming of security footage can lag, which can be problematic in certain situations.
YI Smart Dome Security Camera
And finally, the YI Smart Dome Security Camera. This smart home camera is versatile because it can be placed on a table or you can use the included mounting plate. You’ll only be alerted when it’s important because it can differentiate between moving objects, humans, and pets. You can also fine-tune and customize your settings and motion alerts with the iOS and Android app.
YI offers free cloud storage for 24 hours or you can use an SD card. A really smart feature is that the camera will create time lapses by compressing long videos into shorter clips so you won’t need hefty storage. The YI Smart Dome has a noise filter for crisp and clear 2-way audio so communication is a breeze. The camera’s night vision capabilities allow you to see up to 10 feet in pitch darkness and actually performs better in low light than newer YI dome cameras.
This smart home camera has a 345° horizontal rotation and 115° vertical rotation and records in 1080p. It also features an auto-cruise mode that will pan and scan larger locations like your backyard. The main drawback is with the Android app. You need to be sure to manually adjust permission upon installation to reduce risks of security threats.
Here’s a recap of our Top 5 Best Smart Home Cameras for 2021:
| Camera Resolution | Smart Home Device Compatibility | Rotation | Wireless Communication | Power Source | Critiques | |
| Arlo Pro 3 | 2K | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings | 160° diagonal field of view | WiFi | Battery | Expensive; requires an Arlo SmartHub purchased separately |
| Canary View Indoor Security Camera | 1080p | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | 147° | WiFi | Power Cord | 2-way audio is only available with subscription service |
| Wyze Cam Pan | 1080p | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | 360° horizontal rotation & 93° vertical rotation | WiFi | Power Cord | Connecting to WiFi network has issues |
| Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Indoor WiFi Camera | 2K | Amazon Alexa | 360° horizontal rotation & 90° vertical rotation | WiFi or Ethernet | Power Cord | Live streaming of security footage can lag |
| YI Smart Dome Security Camera | 1080p | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | 345° horizontal rotation & 115° vertical rotation | WiFi | Power Cord | Android app requires special attention to permissions |
