By Tati Taylor 16 days ago, Security Cameras
What are the best cheap outdoor security camera systems?
If you want to protect your house when you’re not there, it’s a good idea to install an outdoor security camera system. With a camera, not a single stranger will get away from wandering around your house.
By watching your cameras remotely, you can prevent burglaries or other crimes. Today’s outdoor security cameras provide plenty of useful features to keep your house safe from criminals.
In this review, you will find some wireless cameras as well as different cameras for both indoor and outdoor use and learn about the features they offer.
I’ve tested a lot of outdoor cameras, from cheap options to very secure ones, as well as nighttime and weatherproof cameras. Check this list and find the best outdoor security camera system for your house.
Type: indoor/outdoor | Sensor size: Built-in PIR sensor | Resolution: 2560p | Lens: No lens | Viewfinder: No viewfinder | Screen type: No screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ Supports 2K resolution
⊕ Completely wireless
⊕ For indoor and outdoor use
⊕ Offers smart home integration
⊖ Expensive
⊖ 2 cameras for the base station needed
This is one of the best security cameras that supports 2K resolution and has a 160-degree viewing angle. It’s weatherproof and has a color night vision feature.
Thanks to the in-built LED spotlight, you can manually activate it or trigger a response to the motion. Also, this camera has an in-built siren to warn you about a danger. You can trigger it remotely.
Thanks to 2K resolution, it can capture more detail than 1080p cameras. As it has an infrared night vision feature and an inbuilt spotlight, it provides you with a sharp video both in the daytime and nighttime.
Using a tutorial in the Arlo app, you can set it up easily. Also, it has a magnetic wall mount, so you can place it anywhere you want.
Type: Outdoor | Sensor size: Built-in PIR sensor | Resolution: 1080P HD | Lens: No lens | Viewfinder: No viewfinder | Screen type: No screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ Small but robust
⊕ Has 8 cameras in the set
⊕ 1 TB hard drive
⊕ Customizable recording software
⊖ Doesn’t have a detailed manual
This is the best outdoor security camera system as it’s weatherproof and works well in extreme temperatures from -40°F to 140 °F. It can also be submerged in the water for 30 minutes.
It comes with a free mobile app and a PC client so that you can watch it live, play recordings and adjust your camera parameters remotely.
The recording software is very customizable. You can set it differently depending on the time of the day or put it on a holiday schedule.
Thanks to the enhanced PIR technology, the number of false alerts you get is reduced by up to 90%. When the sensor spots any suspicious activity, it triggers white light straight away to let the stranger know he’s being recorded.
You will receive email alerts with snapshots and APP alarm pushes immediately.
Type: Outdoor/Indoor | Sensor size: Built-in PIR sensor | Resolution: 1080p HD | Lens: No lens | Viewfinder: No viewfinder | Screen type: No screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ Inexpensive
⊕ Compact and discreet
⊕ Convenient app
⊕ Offers free cloud storage
⊕ Durable battery
⊖ You can’t manage it from a PC
⊖ Delayed motion detector
The Blink XT2 is a good security camera system that has all the needed features. It’s wireless and weatherproof. Also, it can be used both indoors and outdoors, provides HD image quality, supports two-way audio and comes with a simple-to-use app.
This camera system is modular, which means it contains many single cameras and one sync module. First of all, you will need to download the Blink app and create an account. After that, you can plug in the sync module and start setting it up.
The Blink XT2 also offers motion-activated recording and adjustable activity zones. You will receive instant alerts right after it detects suspicious activity. You can also use the Blink Home Monitor app to watch your camera live from your tablet or phone.
Type: Outdoor/Indoor | Sensor size: Built-in PIR sensor | Resolution: 1080p HD | Lens: No lens | Viewfinder: No viewfinder | Screen type: No screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ 1080p video quality
⊕ Inexpensive
⊕ Simple to set up
⊖ It’s easy to pull the power cord out
This is another good model among the home security cameras presented in this list. With this camera, you can watch videos live remotely from your smartphone whenever and wherever you want.
When this camera detects suspicious motion, it sends you a snapshot alert through email or iPhone/Android app. The motion detection technology uses smart algorithms that reduce false alarms to the minimum and warn you only about something important.
This wireless camera is IP66-rated and can work at temperatures from -4°F to 122°F. Also, it’s dust- and waterproof, which means it will function properly even in the most severe weather conditions. Besides, this camera offers up to 15m Night Vision.
Type: Outdoor | Sensor size: Built-in PIR sensor | Resolution: 1080p HD | Lens: No lens | Viewfinder: No viewfinder | Screen type: No screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ 8 cameras
⊕ Clear and sharp image
⊕ Simple to set up
⊖ Not wireless
⊖ Cumbersome interface
This home security camera system boasts 8 PCS 1080P HD 2.0 Megapixels with IR cut 100ft Night Vision. This camera has an in-built IR-cut filter, which guarantees realistic colors under all lighting conditions, whether it’s day or night.
Also, Video Surveillance DVR comes with an HDMI and a VGA port for multi-video output. You can watch video live on an HD TV or a computer screen.
This camera system also can be controlled remotely through an iOS or Android app.
Type: Outdoor | Sensor size: Built-in PIR sensor | Resolution: 1080P HD | Lens: No lens | Viewfinder: No viewfinder | Screen type: No screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ For indoor and outdoor use
⊕ Wi-Fi connection when sending images
⊕ Amazing design
⊖ You can’t move the antenna
If you need a qualitative home camera system that provides a good quality of the image, is easy to set up, reliable and has nice features, then the HeimVision HM241 is what you need.
As for installing, it’s easier than in any other similar camera. There are four IP66 waterproof wireless cameras, which can be installed both indoors and outdoors.
You can connect up to eight cameras to the HM241, and four cameras are already in the box. Also, this camera system performs 24/7 recording so that your house is always protected.
It detects motion straight away. Thanks to the alerts, you will know what’s going on there and will be able to watch a video from your smartphone, tablet or PC.
Type: Outdoor/Indoor | Sensor size: Built-in PIR sensor | Resolution: 1080p HD | Lens: No lens | Viewfinder: No viewfinder | Screen type: No screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 30fps
⊕ Simple to set up
⊕ High-quality build
⊕ User-friendly app
⊖ Doesn’t have a detailed manual
The Swann SWDVK-445804WL-US is a 1080p Full HD outdoor security camera system. Each camera comes with a bright LED light that switches on when the camera detects heat and motion. It instantly reacts to any suspicious activity.
This camera system also works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice controllers. You can watch a video through the Google Assistant and Chromecast, Google Home Hub or Alexa devices with a screen like Echo Spot, Echo Show or 4K Fire TV.
Thanks to the Sensor Warning Lights up to 32ft (10m), you will have color video even at night.
Also, this camera boasts 1TB HDD that can store footage for many months before starting recording over older footage. Also, you can easily export videos to a USB stick or download them through a network without any fees.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Arlo Pro 3
Our choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
ANNKE 8
8 Full Cameras |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
Blink XT2
Universal |
CHECK PRICE → |
When selecting a camera, get the one that has infrared night vision instead of color night vision through a bright white light. Infrared light is less visible, so it’s an important feature to pay attention to if you want to find the best outdoor security camera system. Also, try the night vision feature of your camera before purchasing.
I prefer cameras with both speakers and microphones, which provide two-way audio. In this way, you can speak to a person next to the camera. This security feature is helpful for calling your children or scaring intruders.
A lot of modern outdoor security cameras allow you to watch the live video right from your phone. If you need to check it from time to time during the day or when you’re away for a long time, this feature is very beneficial. Remember to select a camera, which is compatible with your device. Usually, you have to pay for remote access, mobile alerts or cloud-based features monthly or yearly.
It’s essential to figure out what type of storage a security camera provides. Select a model with cloud storage to save videos online. Also, learn if there are limitations on cloud storage. Besides, you need to find out how long your recordings will be stored online.
A high-quality outdoor security camera sends alerts on your smartphone or tablet when it detects motion. The faster alerts are, the better. However, it frequently depends on the network more than on the camera.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the most popular places for criminals to break into the house are the front door, back door and windows on the first floor. About 81% of burglars get inside through the first floor, so make sure to install your cameras in the most convenient places for burglars to enter your house.
You can hide them in a birdhouse or bird feeder. Also, you can hide it under thick leaves of a tree. If you want to put it in a particular place, you can buy a fake rock or a garden gnome and make a hole there for the lens.
Security cameras that have a motion sensor calculating changes in pixels can detect movement and record through a window.
It can take you from 4 hours to 1.5 days, depending on how many cameras you are going to install and how big your house is. A standard 4-camera system for one floor takes about 4-6 hours to install. For a typical office, it will take approximately the same amount of time.
