Take a sigh of relief by choosing the right indoor home security camera!
Not many years ago, home security systems were so expensive and difficult to set up that most people had to simply rely on their door and window locks, and pray that intruders would instead pick another target. Today, prices have dropped so much, and technology has become so pervasive and straightforward that we have no excuses to install cameras that protect us and our homes.
Moreover, there are other reasons to place cameras in our homes that just prevent intrusions. With indoor cameras, we can check on our kids, our elders, or our pets activities from wherever we are. We can keep an eye on people we leave alone working in the house. We can check if we left the lights on or a window open, and we can even talk with anyone who’s in the house while we are away.
Buying peace of mind
The traditional home security systems, with audible alarms and motion or break-in detection, are well known to criminals. They know how to deactivate them or even provoke the owners to deactivate the alarms themselves by causing repeated false alarms.
An indoor home security camera is an excellent complement to those traditional alarm systems. Whenever an alarm fires, you can check the live video feed to see what is happening at home, and take the necessary actions. But even if you don’t have a security system, a single indoor home security camera can do most of the work and prevent unwanted things from happening.
The difference between an indoor and an outdoor camera is that the latter is exposed to varying climatic conditions, and has to be made of more durable materials, to avoid tampering. In contrast, indoor cameras tend to be smaller and more lightweight and also cheaper. In general, they are also less intrusive.
Desirable features of an indoor home security camera
A single-camera can function as a complete home security system if it has all the necessary features. The price range for this kind of device goes from less than $ 50 to over $ 300. Obviously, only the higher-priced cameras will offer everything you might need in terms of home security. But you can look for a compromise between price and features, and find a model that meets your expectations and is also affordable.
The main features you should look for in an indoor home security camera include the following:
Cloud storage: The video footage captured by a camera must be stored somewhere, in case you need to review it or, eventually, use it as a proof of some crime. Cloud storage is the best option for this matter because the video files take up a lot of space, and a local drive or memory card could fill up very quickly. Most of the good security cameras offer big cloud storage for free.
Mobile and web access: While you are out, you’ll want to see what’s going on in your house by watching the video of your cam on your mobile device, on a web page, or both.
Power source: Some cameras use batteries; others use a power cord. Each option has its pros and cons: batteries need replacement or recharging, while power cords need to be at a short distance from a power outlet.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi is great when your home internet connection is up. But in case a storm strikes and the power goes off, the camera will need another option to connect to the internet. Cellular connectivity is a rare feature, but a necessary one if you are looking for a failsafe security system.
Night vision: This is a must-have feature for security cameras because even if you leave the lights on in your house, a burglar can simply turn them off and leave you blind in case your camera can’t see in the dark.
There are many other features to take into account, like motion detection, face recognition, AI, audio, and a big etcetera. Although it is not a large quantity of money you will be spending on a camera, you should check all the features and make thorough comparisons, so you won’t regret having chosen a particular model after buying and installing it.
Here are our picks in the field of indoor home security cameras:
Logitech Circle
It is hard to think of something Logitech Circle 2 does not offer. For less than $ 200, the Logitech Circle is capable of storing 10 to 60-second videos in your own private, free cloud, with a total of up to 24 hours of video. It is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
It uses a rechargeable battery and saves energy by operating in low power mode until it wakes up when it detects motion. If you want to pay for additional features, you can get face recognition, custom day briefs, more days of video storage, and other interesting goodies.
eufyCam
eufyCam 2 cost about $ 300 –it offers the advantage of being autonomous. It doesn’t depend on cloud storage, since it comes with a 16 GB microSD card capable of storing the recordings of a full year, considering 10 segments of 30-second footage per day.
It also doesn’t depend on power cords or recharging batteries: its battery lasts for 365 days or three years in standby mode.
Wyze Cam V2
For less than $ 20, Wyze Cam V2 is one of the lowest-priced home security cameras you will find. It’s the best option if you want to start with something simple and you don’t need any sophisticated features.
But it covers most of the bases: night vision, free cloud storage, motion detection, voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant, etc. It offers a 1080p live stream you can watch using your mobile device. You can share access to the cam, so all family members can see its live stream and the recordings.
D-Link
For about $60, this camera offers full HD 1080p video resolution and high visibility. You will get a detailed live and recorded video. It can detect sound or motion in up to 16 feet of total darkness, and automatically push alert notifications to keep you informed 24/7. 2-way audio lets you talk to people at home or tell your dog to get off the couch.
It gives you the option of free or paid cloud storage or record to a MicroSD card, which can be viewed on the mydlink app. The app can also be used to view remotely, record, set scheduled recording, and pinch to zoom up to 10x. An exciting feature is a 3-second look back: you will always be able to see what triggered a record.
Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor
With a price between $ 150 and $ 200, Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor camera stands out for its easy setup, its sharp video with top-notch night vision, and its cool integration features. It is compatible with smart-home products from Google, such as the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Protect smoke alarm. The Nest Cam lets you talk and listen through it, operating much like a two-way baby monitor. Don’t expect high-quality audio, though, but it is good enough to say “hi” to your kids when they arrive from school or even to spook an intruder with crazy shouting.
Ring
Ring Indoor Cam can be used as a companion for a doorbell product or as a standalone device.
For about $ 60, the Indoor Cam 2 offers a small form-factor, motion detection, two-way audio, Alexa compatibility, and live view through the Ring app. It has no batteries, though, so you’ll need to plug it into a power outlet. For a $ 3 monthly fee, you can add the Ring Protect Basic Plan and record videos for 60 days.
Yi Dome
For about $40, Yi Dome Camera is packed with features. It has a high-definition 1080p wide-angle glass lens, which in combination with a 345° horizontal and 115° vertical rotation angle, gives full coverage of the camera surroundings. It also has advanced night vision, with 8 infrared LED beads that extend the viewing distance to 3 meters. The company offers an optional 24/7 emergency response service for $ 4.99 a month.
The camera’s motion alerts can instantly involve Noonlight’s Certified Emergency Dispatchers, who can coordinate actions with medical emergency agencies, police, and fire departments to handle any situation. It can be integrated with YI Home products and YI Cloud to configure a complete and effective smart-home system.
Arlo Pro 3
The less than $ 500, Arlo Pro 3 stands out for being 100% wire-free. But it requires an Arlo SmartHub or base station that sells separately. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and includes 3 months of Arlo smart service, with 30-day cloud recordings. It offers a 2K video with HDR that lets you zoom in on objects and see clearer details and colors.
It even offers color night vision, a rare feature in this type of camera. If you need to light up the night and ward off unwanted guests, an integrated spotlight will do the job.
Amazon Cloud Cam
For about $ 120, the Amazon Cloud Cam features almost everything you might need to keep your home safe: two-way audio, night vision, 1080p Full HD, and a 30-day free trial of any Cloud Cam subscription. Its motion detection and computer vision technology provide customizable notifications, so you will only get important alerts.
It works with Amazon Key, an in-home and in-car delivery service that allows authorized shippers to gain access to an Amazon Prime customer’s home, post office box, or car trunk during specified times, with the purpose of preventing packages from being stolen.
Canary
This one is not just an indoor camera. For less than $100, Canary offers a complete home security system. Besides the full HD 1080p camera, the device has an air quality monitor that also senses temperature and humidity and a built-in alarm that reaches sound levels of 90 decibels –a perfect siren to scare off intruders. The camera offers a 147° view, enough to give you a full panorama of your home when you are not there.
It works with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. It’s the only drawback is that you have to pay extra for many of the features Canary offers with its system.
How much for good peace of mind?
We’ve seen that some of the indoor home security cameras are in the $ 200 price range. But if you can resign a couple of features, you can slash that price to less than $ 30, so even if your budget is constrained, there’s no reason for not getting at least one of the cheaper models. It will undoubtedly better than not knowing at all what happens at home when you are not there.
