Best wireless security cameras 2022: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice

 The best wireless security cameras will let you know all is well at home when you’re out, whether you want to make sure it's secure or just see how the cat is coping without you. 

They can also detect motion in your home and record footage of an intruder, with more advanced cameras include facial recognition and two-way audio.

While the best security cameras can record in high resolution and are simple to use, bottom-of-the-heap models suffer from poor-quality video, sub-standard app interfaces and cheap build quality. See below for the key things to look for when buying a smart home security camera.

Just want to see reviews of high-quality wireless security cameras? to discover which models we recommend, visit our wireless security camera reviews.

Best outdoor security cameras

Pricing, recommendations and test scores correct at July 2022

Best indoor security cameras

Pricing, recommendations and test scores correct at July 2022

What to consider when buying a wireless security camera

Indoor vs outdoor cameras

While some cameras can be used both inside and outside your home, the majority are designated for use as either indoor or outdoor models. 

If a camera is to be used outside then it has to be weatherproofed to surive the elements and usually must be mounted on a wall or external surface. 

Some outdoor cameras also double up as security lights or even alarm systems. 

You'll generally pay a bit more for an outdoor camera, with most Best Buys cost over £100. By contrast, you can pick up a high quality Best Buy indoor camera for around £50. 

Below, see the best indoor and outdoor cameras to buy right now. 

How much do I need to spend on a good wireless security camera?

There are a wide range of wireless security cameras available, and fortunately you can find great models at low prices. We've tested a number of Best Buy wireless security cameras that cost less than £50.

However, be wary at the cheap end of the market, especially if you're shopping at online marketplaces like Amazon Marketplace, eBay, AliExpress and Wish.com. Our investigations have frequently found security issues with cheap cameras from little known or unknown brands. Read more in our guide to wireless security cameras and hacking.  

Wired vs. wireless vs. wire-free

Wireless security cameras aren’t necessarily wire-free, the term ‘wireless’ meaning they connect wirelessly to your existing wi-fi network. 

Most wireless security cameras are plugged into the mains, with a few of these offering some back-up battery time in case of power failures.

However, there are battery-powered, wire-free security cameras, which are easier to position as they doesn’t need to be near a power source. But bear in mind this does mean you’ll have to charge the battery or pay for new ones if they’re disposable.

Types of footage storage (cloud vs. internal) 

One of the key decisions you’ll need to make is whether you’d prefer a camera with cloud-based or internal storage.

• Cloud-based online storage allows you to store your recordings remotely online and easily access them over the web from any device. Online storage also means you won’t have to worry about losing an SD card, and you’ll still have footage even if your device is stolen. On the other hand, there are some privacy concerns about cloud-based storage, as your data will be transmitted and held online. Most wireless security cameras use a cloud-based storage system, but the level of free storage varies and some offer none at all. Check out how much free storage is on offer, as extra cloud storage can cost as much as £9.99 a month.
• Internal storage is available with some cameras, and your footage will be stored on an SD card rather than in the cloud. This means you’ll be able to cut costs, as you won’t need any subscription plan to save your data to the cloud. You can buy SD cards with plenty of storage capacity, so you can record a reasonable amount before changing or clearing the card. Although your recorded footage won’t leave the device, and so your data isn’t being transmitted and stored online, if someone burgles your home and steals the device, they will have access to your recordings.

Compatibility with other smart products 

As well as connecting your wireless security cameras to your devices to manage and view footage, some wireless security cameras also are compatible with other smart home devices such as light bulbs, pet food dispensers, doorbells and even other smart home security systems. See our smart home security systems guide to find out how else you can protect your home.

As more household items become internet-connected – such as fridges and thermostats – a smart home hub provides a centralised way to control them all. These hubs allow you to turn multiple gadgets on or off with a swipe of your finger via a mobile app or even with your voice. For example, Nest and Arlo cameras are compatible with Amazon Alexa.

Features to look for in a wireless security camera 

Night vision

A good wireless security camera will seamlessly switch between day and night modes, and should be able to pick out the same level of detail even in low light. For night vision, most devices use either LED lights or infrared, or a combination of the two.

High-quality video recording 

This is the most important aspect of the security camera, especially if you want to identify someone. All wireless security cameras support at least 720p resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels), and some record in 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). A higher resolution will generally mean higher-quality footage, although 720p is usually clear enough to make out faces.

Ideally you want the best video resolution possible – no less than Full-HD (1080p) – so the images are clearer and easier to see.

Audio recording/two-way audio

If you want to hear what’s going on in your house – whether it’s a knock at the door or the dog barking while you’re out – look for a wireless security camera with one-way audio recording. If you would like to be able to communicate with the people or animals in your home, for example, to tell your children to get on with their homework or the dog to get off the sofa, two-way audio is what you need.

Motion detection 

Wireless security cameras with this feature will trigger recording when motion is detected. Some will send an alert to the app on your phone or via email. One handy feature to look out for is the ability to set up a schedule so that motion alerts are enabled only when you know you'll be out of your home.

User-friendly app 

Most wireless security camera apps will be compatible with both iOS and Android, but check that the app will work with the version you have. A simple-to-use interface will make it easier to live-stream footage or view recordings. Before buying your wireless security camera, check whether all app features, such as setting a schedule or sharing footage, come as standard, or if you will need to pay extra to unlock the full functionality.

Which brands make wireless security cameras?

As home smart security becomes more popular, there are more and more brands on the market. Some of the most popular are Nest, Arlo and Hive as well as brands such as Motorola, Netamo and Logitech.

• Nest specialises in smart connected home products. As well as making a variety of indoor and outdoor security cameras, it also manufactures the Nest Doorbell range, as well as thermostats and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.  
• Ring, owned by Amazon, is now a major player in the security camera space with a wide range of different models for indoor or outdoor use. Alongside cameras, Ring also makes smart doorbells and smart alarm systems. You generally need to sign up to a Ring subscription plan to get the most out of its products, though. 
• Blink is another Amazon smart home company. It makes a range of indoor and outdoor cameras for your home, including some cheap models. Just like Ring, a subscription plan is required for things like video storage. 
• Arlo, previously part of Netgear, is now a standalone company which manufactures many connected home products, including multiple wireless indoor and wireless outdoor security cameras.
• Hive produces a range of connected products, including indoor and outdoor wireless security cameras. It also produces its own smart home hub, the Hive Hub, which allows you to connect and manage all Hive smart products in one place.
• Netamo creates connected products for the home. It has multiple security products on offer, including smart indoor and outdoor wireless security cameras, as well as others like smart doorbells, indoor sirens, sensors and smoke alarms.
• As well as offering a variety of computing accessories, Logitech also makes the Circle 2 home security camera, which works with a range of smart hubs including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant.

Wireless security cameras that are hard to hack

As with any internet-connected device, data privacy and security are of the utmost importance. While the camera may record first-class-quality video, the camera isn’t fit for purpose if it has weak security setting, making it vulnerable to being hacked. 

So how can you stop hackers and other nefarious users from finding your camera(s) on the internet and watching you?

Although there aren’t any wireless security cameras which are ‘unhackable’ per se, you can follow these simple steps to greatly reduce the risk of someone accessing your footage and device.

• Update your camera’s firmware Most wireless security cameras feature firmware that can be upgraded by you. If a vulnerability or attack vector has been identified by the manufacturer, often it will release a firmware update to remedy the issue. You can update the camera’s firmware via the admin settings and it’s worth periodically checking the camera manufacturer’s website to see if there are any applicable updates.
• Rename the default login details Your camera’s default admin and password details can be easily found online. Taking the simple step of changing your login details will help keep a novice hacker at bay.
• Password-protect your cameras Some wireless security cameras don’t have password protection enabled by default. After the initial setup, go back to the admin settings and create a strong password, and change it periodically.
• Use wireless encryption You should only join your camera to wireless networks that support WPA2 encryption. This means that communications between your router and camera are encrypted so people can’t view what your camera sees via the internet.

Which security camera brands offer the best software and security support?

As well as providing security for your home from burglars and intruders, a wireless camera should also provide digital security against hacking attacks. 

That's why we ask all brands of cameras that we review how long they will support the device with updates. While a few brands do give clear information on this, sadly many do not. We will continue to press all companies to be more transparent. 

• Amazon's Ring has said that it will support all security cameras with updates 'until at least four years' after the device is last available to buy on the Ring website.
• Another Amazon brand, Blink, has said that it will do the same with all Blink branded cameras. 
• Google's Nest has said that it will support for 'at least five years after launch'.
• Similarly, Eufy told us that it will support its products for five years with updates, but we have been unable to clarify if this is from launch, or when the last camera is sold.
  
• Yale said that its cameras will receive software and security updates for a minimum of two years after the product is removed from sale.

We contacted a range of other brands, including Hive, Arlo, TP-Link and Ezviz but were unable to get any definitive answers in terms of support lengths for their cameras. 

If a camera you own falls out of update support, there's an increased risk to using it. Although it's unlikely to immediately get hacked, the risk does go up with out of support products. For more information, read our guide to smart devices and security.

Is it legal to record video at your home?

While data protection laws do not apply if your camera only covers your private property, they do come into force if it captures footage outside the boundary, for example the street or neighbouring properties.

Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), anyone captured on footage from your camera has the right to ask for a copy, have it erased or request for them not to be filmed in the future.

Therefore, it's important to consider where your camera is placed, how wide the angle is and what is included in the view. 

If you are recording parts of your neighbour's garden, or a shared passageway, either shift the camera view, or alert your neighbour that you have a camera recording there. 

As long as you use your camera in a responsible way that protects the privacy of others, you should be fine.