The 4 Best Outdoor Security Cameras of 2024

An outdoor security camera can keep tabs on pets, package deliveries, and people who may be helping themselves to both of those things. They can alert you to guests, and they can even capture video of a raccoon relishing the year’s first snowfall or the occasional runaway FedEx truck.

However, after reviewing literally hundreds of security cameras over the past eight years—more than 240 at last count—I have yet to find the one magical unicorn that’s the perfect outdoor sentry. Some are hard to install, some need frequent charging, some miss motion, and others require a paid subscription to be most effective.

We recommend the TP-Link Tapo Wire-Free Magnetic Security Camera, which has a long battery life, is easy to operate, and accurately distinguishes between people, pets, and vehicles.

If you prefer a permanent fixture that can light up the night (or at least your driveway), opt for the Eufy Floodlight Camera E340. It combines two pan-and-tilt HD cameras with two dimmable LED lights. But it needs to be hardwired, so it’s best for those with an existing outdoor-lighting setup.

Battery and wired security cameras

Our pick

This cord-free camera offers excellent battery life, the option to store recordings locally or in the cloud, and the best array of customizations for the money.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The TP-Link Tapo Wire-Free Magnetic Security Camera is the least expensive camera on our list. And it offers the option of free local video storage, via a microSD card, or a paid cloud subscription that can provide 30 days of storage for $3.50 a month (or $35 a year for one camera). This camera can distinguish between motion, people, vehicles, and pets. To limit the volume of nuisance recordings, you can create Activity Zones that tell the camera what it should and shouldn’t record (for example, you could have one zone triggered by vehicles and animals and another zone that records only people).

This TP-Link model also has notably strong battery life of up to 300 days, depending on use. It’s an excellent choice if you need a battery-powered camera. But if you’re able to use a power cord, the Google Nest has more features and is a better performer overall.

Also great

This camera offers long battery life, a clear 2K image, HomeKit support, and three options for storing video.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home

Although it’s not quite as smart as our top pick, the Eufy S221 EufyCam has the best rechargeable battery we’ve seen on a cordless outdoor security camera. (The company claims the battery can last a year; we experienced usage from four to 12 months, so your results will depend on where you place your cameras and how often they’re triggered.) Free perks include the ability to record 2K video and save it in the included base station, as well as the ability to differentiate between humans and other moving things. To have your video sent to and stored in the cloud, you can opt for a paid subscription to either Eufy Cloud Storage ($3 per month) or Apple HomeKit Secure Video (free with iCloud plans that start at $1 per month); note that both services reduce video resolution from the original 2K to 1080p.

Also great

This camera sends video to the cloud, and it can be set to record 24/7 or just motion-triggered events. Face detection can even identify people.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) is reliable for identifying types of motion (person, animal, or vehicle), and it accurately restricts alerts and monitoring using Activity Zones. When activity is detected, it records clips up to 5 minutes. If motion continues, it will create a new clip, without missing a beat. It includes free cloud storage, but it’s limited to a three-hour history. Adding a Nest Aware subscription (starting at $8 per month) increases the storage, and it includes Familiar Face alerts, which can identify specific people by name (as long as the camera gets a good look at them).

The hook is that we recommend the Nest only when it’s used with the weatherproof cord. When I went cordless with the Nest, the battery conked out after just 10 days of regular use and typical activity; that could be fine if you need to install it in a location only temporarily, but it isn’t useful for everyday use in a permanent location. Nest’s 24/7 recording also uses up a lot of energy, which is why we recommend using the camera with the power cord, rather than relying on the short-lived battery.

Outdoor floodlight cameras

Our pick

This hardwired floodlight includes two cameras, and it has bright, dimmable lighting. It can store video internally for free or to the cloud with a subscription.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home (light only)

The Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 is the only floodlight camera we tested that has two cameras: one with a 2K telephoto lens and one with a 3K wide-angle camera. It can survey a larger area because both cameras pan and tilt 360 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically. I’ve had my share of issues with pan-and-tilt cameras, but the E340 moves fluidly and is able to follow motion well, capturing clear images day and night—both with and without color night vision. Video is stored internally on a removable microSD card (up to 128 GB), to the HomeBase S380 hub (sold separately), or in the cloud, if you opt for a subscription that starts at $3 per month. (Note that cloud recordings are downgraded to 1080p/2K.) If you are the type who doesn’t want to rely on motion detection alone, and you prefer a camera that records everything 24/7, that’s an option when using a microSD card. Two integrated LED panels can be set to blast 2,000 lumens of brightness when motion is detected, or you can dim them or turn them on and off directly, using the Eufy app or using voice commands to a smart speaker.