Best Indoor Security Camera: Altec Lansing vs Arlo vs Blink vs Wyze vs Nest Cam vs Ring Stick Up Cam vs Canary Flex & More

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Indoor cameras are versatile for many uses, including home security, baby monitors, and pet cams. These multi-use security cameras are easy to relocate, and many have two-way voice so you can communicate with those at home while you’re away.

This is still an evolving category, and some indoor cameras have more features than others. Some companies lack in customer support, and some have poor camera performance. We suggest reading all of the indoor security camera reviews in this article before making a purchase.

While we’re confident our top three picks are the best overall options for the average consumer, each camera is unique, so you may have a specific need that is better met by a camera we’ve reviewed in the unranked section below our winners.

Article Overview

What Should I Consider Before Buying?

Ring stick camera on table (caption: Best Indoor Security Cameras)Will you use your camera for security purposes, to monitor your baby, or to keep an eye on your pet? Find out which camera is best for your particular needs by familiarizing yourself with the features below.

What Is The Range Of View?

Pan and tilt technology allows a camera to pan left and right and tilt up and down, expanding the camera’s field of view. This feature is effective for widening your coverage area, which can help keep an eye on your pet or follow an intruder around. If you’re using it for a baby monitor, this may not be as important since your child will most likely be in a stationary place like a crib.

Does It Have Motion-Detected Recording?

You probably don’t care to see your home when nothing’s going on. However, if the camera detects motion, it means a person or pet has entered the field view, and an event may be occurring, whether it’s your cat going for her afternoon stroll or an intruder checking out your big screen TV. Many cameras automatically begin recording when they detect motion so you can keep tabs on any event.

Do You Need Video Storage?

Storage is important if you want to save footage to share with other family members (like your child’s first step) or with authorities (like an intruder raiding your home).

How Important Is Audio?

Baby sleeping: Best Baby Monitor ReviewsIf you’re using your security camera as a baby monitor (check out our dedicated baby monitor reviews), you’ll probably want audio or you won’t hear your little one fussing. Suppose you’re using it as a wireless security camera system or watching a pet. In that case, you may be less concerned about audio, although it’s always a nice feature.

Two-way audio is beneficial if you’re using the camera as a pet cam. If Fido is rambunctious, you can chime in and calm him down.Lorex camera at night (caption: Best Wired Home Security Cameras)

Is It Wireless Or Hardwired?

Are you installing the camera in a location without a power source? Then, you might consider a wireless camera. If it’s close to a plug, then a wired camera might be a better option (so you don’t have to recharge it).

Best Indoor Security Cameras

We chose the best indoor cameras based on price, performance, features, customer reviews, and ease of use.

Arlo Ultra 2 Review

Arlo Ultra 2#1
View on Amazon

Arlo Ultra 2 is our number one pick because it’s wireless, has a wide 180° view, 12x zoom, 1080p to 4K resolution (depending on your settings), offers seven days of free cloud storage, and more. You can actually use the camera inside or outside since it has weatherproofing. It also features a built-in spotlight to help ward off any unwanted visitors.

With a paid Arlo Smart subscription plan, you can pick a plan to record only when it senses motion, so there are no unnecessary recordings (or continuous recording if you need footage beyond your motion detection recordings).

Arlo offers indoor-only cameras (Q and Q Plus), but they must be plugged in, and they cost nearly the same as the Ultra 2, so we opted to include the Ultra 2 in this article. To use Arlo cameras, a base station is required, which you connect to your WiFi router.

Pros

Cons

  • Wireless
  • Can use inside or outside
  • Motion-activated recording
  • Store footage from up to seven days in the cloud for free
  • 4K, clear footage
  • Sturdy equipment
  • Base station has a siren
  • Two-way audio and records sound
  • Easy to install
  • Three-second look back to view activity before the camera was triggered
  • Activity zones
  • Integrated spotlight
  • Noise cancellation
  • Auto-zoom and tracking
  • User-friendly app (Android | iOS)
  • Six-month rechargeable battery life
  • Object detection: knows the difference between people, packages, vehicles, animals
  • One-year warranty
  • Requires a base station
  • More expensive than the competition

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • Two cameras and base station: $599.99
  • Color night vision
  • 4K HD
  • 12x digital zoom
  • Field of view: 180°
  • Weatherproof
  • Operating temperature: -4° to 113°F (-20° to 45°C)

Read Our In-Depth Arlo Review

Easy Installation

The video below shows how easy it is to install the Arlo Ultra 2.

Ring Stick Up Cam Battery HD Review

Ring Stick Up Cam#2

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Ring’s Stick Up Cam is our number two pick because it’s wireless, has a rechargeable battery, activity zones, 1080p resolution, and more. You can also use it inside or outside.

Everything is controlled through the Ring app, which is user-friendly, easy to install, connects to Amazon Alexa, and doesn’t require a base station. You can use Ring’s cameras on their own or in conjunction with Ring Alarm’s security system.

If you plan on using the Ring Stick Up Cam outdoors, you also have a solar power option, eliminating the need to recharge the battery. However, there’s a wire that connects the solar panel to the camera.

Pros

Cons

  • Wireless
  • Can be used inside or outside
  • Motion notifications
  • Zoom
  • Two-way audio
  • Noise cancellation
  • Activity zones
  • Quality, sturdy equipment
  • Rechargeable battery with solar option
  • No base station required
  • Easy to install
  • User-friendly app (Android | iOS)
  • Works with Amazon Alexa
  • One-year warranty
  • No pan or remote tilt
  • Monthly fee for recording

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $99.99
  • Night vision
  • 1080p HD resolution
  • Field of View: 110° horizontal, 57° vertical
  • Operating temperature: -5°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C)

Monitoring Plan

Ring monitoring offers three options. If you want video recording, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee.

Free Basic Plus
Price Free $3/month or $30/year $10/month or $100/year
Coverage One doorbell or camera All devices at one address
Ring & Motion Alerts Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark
Live Video On Demand Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark
Warranty One year One year Extended
Video Recording Checkmark Checkmark
Review, Share & Save Videos Checkmark Checkmark
Professional Monitoring Checkmark

Read Our In-Depth Ring Camera Review

Amcrest ProHD Review

Amcrest IP2M-841#3

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The Amcrest ProHD rounds out our top three because it has a lot of positive reviews online, is extremely affordable, and easy to use. It has an excellent reputation and performs well, which keeps its users happy.

Like our top two picks, it has an app to alert you of any activity picked up by the camera. You can also opt to save footage to a microSD card to avoid any recurring fees.

This camera is one of the least expensive cameras that we review. The downside is that it does require a nearby outlet and isn’t wireless like our top two picks.

Pros

Cons

  • Motion detection activated
  • Syncs with home router
  • One-year warranty
  • Two-way audio
  • Option to save footage to the cloud or ability to record and save locally using microSD card
  • Tons of rave reviews
  • Less expensive than many competitors
  • Must be plugged into wall outlet

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $47.99
  • Night vision up to 32 feet
  • 1080p HD
  • Field of view: 90°
  • Remote pan/tilt

Comparison Table

Below is a quick comparison of the cameras reviewed in this article. All cameras can be used indoors and have motion detection.

Price Wireless Rechargeable Battery Audio Activated Recording Free Cloud Storage Activity Zones 1080p Pan/Tilt Zoom Field Of View
1st: Arlo Ultra $599.99 for two cameras & base station Checkmark Checkmark 7 Days Checkmark Checkmark
4K & 2K option too
12x 180°
2nd: Ring Stick Up Battery HD Cam $99.99 Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 130°
3rd: Amcrest Pro HD $47.99 4 Hours Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 90°
Altec Lansing $75.28 Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 360°
Blink XT2 $79.99 Checkmark Up To 1 Year Checkmark Checkmark 110°
Canary Flex $199.00 Checkmark Checkmark 24 Hours Checkmark 116°
D-Link Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 170° pan, 120° tilt
Foscam R4S $69.99 Checkmark 7 Days Checkmark 2K 4MP Checkmark 6x 350°
Nest Cam IQ $299.99 Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 8x 130°
Reolink Argus 2 Check Amazon for availability Checkmark Checkmark Checkmark 130°
Samsung SmartCam $129.99 Checkmark Local Only Checkmark 4x 130°
Wyze v2 Checkmark 14 Days Checkmark Checkmark 8x 110°
Zmodo Sight 180 C Check Amazon for availability 7 Days Checkmark Checkmark 180°

10 More Indoor Security Camera Brands Reviewed

There are other options for indoor security cameras besides the top three we’ve chosen. Depending on your unique needs, you may find a good fit. Below are some other cameras we’ve reviewed (in alphabetical order).

Altec Lansing | Blink | Canary Flex | D-Link | Foscam | Nest Cam | Reolink Argus | Samsung | Wyze | Zmodo

Altec Lansing Voice Activated Smart Security System Review

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More and more cameras offer full functionality and therefore market themselves as security systems. But at the end of the day this is a camera and one speaker with built-in Google Assistant. At first glance, this looks like a deal at an affordable price since you’re getting two devices. However, many customers complain that the camera doesn’t connect to WiFi easily, which is a big problem for a WiFi security camera.

However, this camera is feature-rich with motion and sound detection, digital pan, tilt, zoom, and two-way audio. So if you want an affordable security camera with a smart speaker as well, this may be a nice fit for you.

Pros

Cons

  • Speaker recharges in about four hours
  • Motion-activated recording
  • Two-way audio
  • Camera has 360º field of view
  • One-year warranty
  • Issues with the camera connecting to WiFi and staying connected
  • Cannot purchase additional cameras separately (must buy it bundled with the speaker)
  • The camera must be plugged into an outlet
  • Must purchase an SD card separately (32GB max)

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $75.28
  • Cloud service available through Danale
  • Digital pan, tilt, zoom
  • 1080p HD
  • Field of view: 360°

Read Our In-Depth Review of Altec Lansing

Blink Indoor Review

Blink indoor cameraView on Amazon

You can connect up to 10 Blink cameras on one account, so you’ll be able to monitor a significant portion of your home. Blink has outdoor cameras that you can use for the exterior of your home too. Unfortunately, there are no pan, tilt, or zoom capabilities, so your view angle is stagnant at 110°.

Pros

Cons

  • Wireless
  • No DVR needed
  • Batteries last two years
  • Infrared night vision
  • One-year warranty
  • Two-way audio
  • Up to one year of cloud storage
  • Activity zones
  • Lag time with streaming live view
  • Requires a hub
  • No pan, tilt, or zoom

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $79.99
  • Basic Cloud Storage: $3/month or $30/year for 60 days rolling for one camera
  • Plus Cloud Storage: $10/month or $100/year for 60 days rolling for unlimited cameras
  • 1080p HD
  • Field of view: 110°
  • Operating temperature: 32° to 95°F

Read Our In-Depth Review of Blink

Canary Flex Review

Canary FlexView on Amazon

Canary Flex is one of the most versatile weatherproof, HD security cameras on the market. You can use it inside or out, wire-free, or plugged in, and upright or mounted on a wall.

Canary offers a cool 360° magnetic swivel base that you can fix on a flat surface or easily mount on a wall, and you can rotate it in any direction you want. Canary Flex has a great picture quality day and night.

Pros

Cons

  • Can use inside or out, wired or wireless
  • Motion detection and excellent night vision
  • Powerful rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts months before recharging
  • Real-time notifications
  • One-year warranty (two years for members)
  • Easy to set up via mobile app (Android | iOS) and to mount
  • No remote pan, tilt, or zoom
  • No local storage capabilities and must pay for membership for cloud storage (you get 24 hours free)
  • Several customers report having frequent offline episodes, especially if using wirelessly

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $199.00
  • $9.99/month for video history
  • Night vision up to 25 feet
  • 1080p HD
  • Field of view: 116°
  • Operating temperature: -4° to 113°F (-20° to 45°C)

Read Our In-Depth Review Of Canary

D-Link DCS-8525LH-US Review

D-Link DCS-8525LH-USView on Amazon

D-Link has many cameras available with different features. Here we review D-Link’s DCS-8525LH-US camera, one of their indoor camera models. This camera didn’t make our top three because D-Link consistently comes out with newer versions replacing outdated versions that aren’t up to par with the competition.

Pros

Cons

  • Motion detection activated
  • View video remotely on iOS or Android through the mydlink app or mydlink.com
  • Syncs with home router
  • One-year limited warranty
  • Saves footage to cloud or microSD card
  • Two-way audio
  • Pan, tilt, zoom
  • Must be plugged into wall outlet for power

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • 1080p HD
  • 4x digital zoom
  • Field of view: 170° pan, 120° tilt

Foscam R4S Review

Foscam R2View on Amazon

Foscam has multiple cameras available. The Foscam R4S 4MP IP WiFi Security IP Camera gives you some impressive features, including high-resolution 4MP/2K resolution at a surprisingly low price point.

You can store footage locally on an SD card or several other storage solutions. Too many customers complain of unreliable connections and poor tech support to include this camera in our top three.

Pros

Cons

  • Motion detection with real-time alerts to mobile apps (Android | iOS)
  • Excellent night vision
  • Pan and tilt camera
  • Two-year warranty
  • Storage available via built-in SD card reader, FTP, NVRs, NAS, or optional paid cloud storage
  • Two-way audio
  • Easy plug and play set up
  • Many users complain about unreliable connection, having to reset often
  • Not the best tech support reviews

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $69.99
  • 1080p HD
  • 8x zoom
  • 300° pan, 100° tilt
  • Night vision up to 26 feet
  • Field of view: 110°

Read Our In-Depth Foscam Review

Nest Cam IQ Review

Nest Cam IQ cameraView at Best Buy

Nest Cam IQ (owned by Google) is one of the most popular indoor cams on the market. It’s easy to install — all you have to do is plug the camera in and download the Nest app to your Android or iPhone.

The camera updates over the WiFi network, so you don’t have to worry about updating it yourself. It can be mounted on a tripod, wall, ceiling, or stand on its own.

Pros

Cons

  • Two-way audio
  • Two-year warranty
  • Activity zones
  • Motion sensor activated
  • Get real-time alerts
  • Syncs with Alexa and other Nest smart home products
  • Easy to install
  • Person alerts
  • Pan/tilt function
  • Outdoor model available (read our outdoor Nest camera review)
  • Must be plugged into a power source
  • Must pay an additional fee for cloud storage (but it comes with a free trial) 

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $299.99
  • Nest Aware: $6/month or $60/year for 30-day event video history (optional)
  • Nest Aware Plus: $12/month or $120/year for 60-day event video history + 10-day 24/7 video history (optional)
  • Night vision
  • 1080p HD
  • 8x zoom
  • Field of view: 130° diagonal

Read Our In-Depth Review Of Nest Cam

Reolink Argus 2 Review

Reolink ArgusView on Amazon

The Reolink Argus 2 was very close to making our top three because of its low price point and features offered. However, there were a few things that kept it from making the list.

We like that the Argus 2 can be used inside and outside. It’s solar-powered and also has a rechargeable battery. Additionally, it includes the mounting hardware and a silicone sleeve, so there are no additional purchases needed to use this camera. The Argus 2 has color night vision available depending on the lighting situation, making night mode even more clear than its competitors.

The biggest downside is that this camera isn’t commonly purchased, and it has more negative reviews than our top picks. Customers complain about various things, including the setup process, motion detection, poor customer support, unreliable performance, and more.

With these types of complaints, we can’t warrant it being in our top three. If Reolink could standardize its performance better, there’s a chance it will make our top three in the future.

Pros

Cons

  • Solar-powered
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Two-way audio
  • Wireless
  • No base station needed
  • Cannot withstand extreme winters if used outside
  • Various customer complaints: frustrating setup, poor motion detection, bad customer support, unreliable, etc.
  • No pan, tilt, or zoom

Tech Specs & Pricing

Read Our In-Depth Reolink Review

Samsung SmartThings GP-U999COVLBDA Review

Samsung GP-U999COVLBDAView on Amazon

Samsung’s SmartThings GP-U999COVLBDA camera has many of the features consumers want in their security camera. The image quality is good, but users still find issues with tech support, the device, software, and app.

Pros

Cons

  • Two-way audio
  • Motion detection
  • One-year warranty
  • HD image quality
  • Must be plugged into an electric outlet
  • Must pay an extra fee for cloud recording
  • No pan/tilt
  • Doesn’t sync with SmartThings hub

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • 1080p HD
  • Night vision
  • Field of view: 145°

Wyze Cam v3

View on Amazon

The Wyze Cam v3 is an affordable starter camera if you’re looking for a basic way to monitor activity indoors. It has HD picture quality, night-vision, and two-way audio (which is standard with most security cameras).

You can adjust the sensitivity settings, set a schedule for when it records, and set rules for when an action happens. Wyze Cam can also detect and alert you of smoke alarm sounds, works with Alexa or Google Assistant, has a timelapse option, and doesn’t require any tools to mount.

Pros

Cons

  • Two-way talk capability
  • Motion and audio detection (and smoke and C02 alarm alerts)
  • 24/7 continues recording with 32GB MicroSD card
  • IFTTT compatible (connect apps and devices)
  • One-year warranty
  • FHD 1920x1080p image quality
  • For indoor and outdoor use
  • Must be plugged into an electric outlet
  • No pan/tilt

Tech Specs & Pricing

  • $25.98
  • FHD 1920x1080p
  • Color night vision up to 30 feet
  • 8x zoom
  • Viewing angle: 130º diagonal
  • 80db waterproof speaker
  • Built-in siren
  • IP65 weather resistant

Zmodo Sight 180 C Review

Zmodo Sight 180 CamView on Amazon

The Zmodo Sight 180 C is an affordable option for indoor surveillance. Motion detection alerts are sent to your smartphone, and you can customize your alert schedules with home/away/sleep modes, motion detection zones, and more. Unfortunately, there are more complaints about these cameras than our top three, so it didn’t rank.

Pros

Cons

  • Two-way audio
  • Three-year warranty
  • Activity zones
  • Motion sensor activated
  • Get real-time alerts
  • Easy to install
  • Must purchase cloud recording for audio recording
  • Some users complain about dropped connections
  • A few complaints about the motion detection not working well
  • Complaints of inconsistent performance

Price

What Else Do I Need To Keep My Home Secure?

An indoor camera isn’t the only thing you’ll need to keep your home secure, so be sure to check out our reviews of outdoor security cameras, night vision cameras, and DIY security system reviews to learn more.

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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