Article updated on September 23, 2024 at 11:44 PM PDT
Security is key, especially when it comes to keeping your home and everyone and everything in it secure. So check out our picks for the best indoor security cameras, tested by our very own CNET experts. solar surveillance cameras
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
Keeping your home secure is one of a homeowner's highest priorities. To do that, many turn to indoor security cameras. Outdoor security cameras are just as vital, but indoor security cameras are great for watching important items in your home, keeping an eye on your pets, or wanting to know you can check in at any time while traveling. Ultimately, the best thing about them is the ease they bring to mind.
At CNET, we've spent over 150 hours testing cameras and decided the Google Nest Cam is the best indoor security camera. It can store 3 hours' worth of footage for free, has night vision so you can even check in during the night, and can be connected to your Google Home or Alexa.
Now, if you feel the Nest’s versatile cam is a little pricey or isn't the type of camera you're looking for, then don’t worry. We’ve included many other picks, from powerful 4K options to tiny cams that don't require you to drill into your walls, which are brilliant for renters without flexible contracts. From budget to high-end picks, we’ve got a little for everyone looking for home security systems to keep watch over their loved ones.
Alongside tips on choosing the best indoor security cams (while keeping privacy laws in mind), you can also find answers to questions that may be bugging you, a guide on how we test these cams and other key info below. If you want to upgrade your security camera options, you may want to stop by our guides on the best home security cameras without subscriptions, the best wireless cams and how you can save by using an old smartphone as a security device.
The easily adjustable Nest Cam second-generation model works hard to make itself at home, bringing it to the top of our picks. Available in a variety of colors with support for shelf or wall mounting, the camera is easy to set up in any spot you have in mind, as long as you’re near enough to an outlet for this wired model. The healthy 135-degree field of view also lets us cover enough space to easily capture all the important spots in a room, while the night vision is top-notch for darker conditions.
The reason we gave the Nest Cam our top spot came down to Google’s unique contributions to smart home security. The company’s AI detection is unparalleled, able to spot people, animals or vehicles, and with a subscription, it’s good enough to learn the difference between familiar and unfamiliar faces. Then there’s video storage: Nest users get 3 free hours of cloud storage, a deal that’s almost impossible to find elsewhere, and you can expand it with the Nest Aware Subscription. Google’s AES 125-bit encryption and low-vulnerability track record also help inspire confidence.
If you want a security camera that puts the “smart” in your smart home like none other, the Nest Cam is an easy choice. At $100 the price is higher than many of our picks, but we believe the plethora of features you get in return is worthwhile.
Eufy's pan/tilt/zoom indoor cam has one of the best designs we've seen, but the app proved annoying.
A cam that can pan, tilt and zoom is perfect for open-floor plans in your home and navigating tricky areas where you want to manage multiple angles. We’ve got more than one camera with this design on our list, but our favorite model is the Eufy S350. Its dual-cam zoom function complements the PTZ features, while the extra-high 4K resolution lens helps you examine every detail.
Those PTZ features are particularly helpful when paired with AI tracking, which automatically follows pets and people around the room when it detects movement. We also found the S350’s night vision was excellent with two infrared LEDs. For those concerned with privacy or ongoing fees, Eufy falls firmly on the local storage side with a microSD card slot (not included). We also appreciate that Eufy took steps in 2024 to add end-to-end encryption to its web portal and other changes following a security vulnerability issue, although we are keeping an eye on their security performance.
Keep in mind this camera is wired, so you can’t put it just anywhere, but thanks to all that panning, tilting and zooming, your placement concerns will be a distant memory after installation.
Eufy's pan/tilt/zoom indoor cam has one of the best designs we've seen, but the app proved annoying.
Tapo's pan/tilt cam is amazing for the price.
We like a lot of TP-Link devices here at CNET, including its routers and smart plugs, so we were eager to try out the Tapo C210. The term “budget camera” makes it sound like you’re giving up features to save on price, but it’s seriously impressive just how little is lost with this now under-$30 indoor camera from TP-Link. It offers a hefty 2K resolution (more than enough for indoor viewing), plus very solid pan/tilt capabilities with motion detection and tracking for 360-degree coverage of a room. Add in the two-way audio and night vision, and it’s the best security camera deal we’ve found so far.
The Tapo cam supports notifications for sound alerts as well as person detection, so you can use it for tasks like baby monitoring. For more security-focused jobs, it has a built-in siren for intruders. Alexa and Google Home support round the cam off nicely as a jack-of-all-trades that’s still a steal.
You even have options when it comes to video storage: The C210 has an on-board microSD card and an option for Tapo Care at $3.50 per month that includes 30 day-long cloud storage and rich notifications.
Tapo's pan/tilt cam is amazing for the price.
Ring's battery cam is on the higher-end but offers a versatile, weather resistance option to watch kids wherever they are.
Indoor cameras work well with wired models because there’s usually an outlet near the shelf or table where you want to place a camera. In some cases, there may not be any nearby outlets, or you may want to move the camera to the deck, patio, sunroom or playroom for an afternoon, then move it back. The battery-powered Ring Stick Up Pro is the answer here. We like it most indoors, but it’s weather-resistant enough that if you leave it outside overnight in the rain by accident (or for a couple of weeks), you don’t have anything to worry about.
The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro also comes with a bevy of important features including night vision, two-way audio and a siren. The motion detection includes customizable privacy zones, although there’s no sound detection on this model. It does have unique extras like Bird's Eye zones for tracking if you really want to dive into settings. Since it’s a Ring product, full Alexa support is included, like the ability to watch through an Echo Show. Ring also has its foibles, notably the need for a Ring Protect plan to enable video recording, so plan for subscription costs for this model.
Ring's battery cam is on the higher-end but offers a versatile, weather resistance option to watch kids wherever they are.
Blink's Mini 2 cam stays small but adds outdoor compatibility and more.
With roommates can come a concern about keeping your room private, spotting theft or finding out who’s leaving all the dirty dishes. You may want a compact, simple cam that can watch over a small space without interfering too much with your budget. The Blink Mini 2, available at $40, is a nice answer for rental situations, dorms and similar spaces. It's pricier than the Blink Mini, but we've seen deals for as low as $20 and you get a lot more versatility in the same size.
The 1080p resolution is plenty to keep a watch on a room, and this cam includes handy features from larger models like motion detection and app alerts to show when someone enters your room. Setup couldn’t be easier, especially if you use Alexa voice commands. That also means you can make sure anyone knows you’re shutting the cam down for privacy with a command like, “Alexa turn off the Blink cam.” If you want to ask what someone’s doing in your room, the two-way audio will let you do it in real-time. The sore point is the lack of video storage without an extra hub or subscription, but you may be willing to accept this low-cost solution without that capability.
Please note: Tell your roommates you're getting a security camera if you buy one, and if you want to set it up in a more public spot, make sure everyone agrees on when, where and why. Even your roommates are protected by the law, which gives an expectation of privacy, especially when they’re in their own bedrooms, the bathroom or other private areas.
hidden spy camera wifi Blink's Mini 2 cam stays small but adds outdoor compatibility and more.