Security cameras can be very useful, but you must choose carefully. You might not be as concerned about potential hacks as you would be with indoor security cameras, but no one wants strangers tuning into their backyard. Follow these tips to get the peace of mind you crave without infringing on anyone’s privacy.

Choose your brand carefully: There are countless outdoor security cameras on the market at temptingly low prices. But unknown brands represent a real privacy risk. Some of the top security camera manufacturers—including Ring, Wyze, and Eufy—have been breached, but it was public scrutiny that forced them to make improvements. Any system is potentially hackable, but lesser-known brands are less likely to be called out and often disappear or change names when they are.

Consider security: A strong password is good, but biometric support is much more convenient and secure. We prefer security cameras with mobile apps that support fingerprint or face unlock. Two-factor authentication (2FA) ensures that someone with your username and password cannot log in to your camera. Usually, it requires a code from an SMS, email, or an authenticator app, adding an extra layer of security. It's becoming an industry standard, but it's still something you need to manually activate. We do not recommend any cameras here that don’t at least offer 2FA as an option.

Keep it updated: It’s vital to regularly check for software updates, not just for your security cameras and apps but also for your router and other internet-connected devices. Ideally, your chosen security camera has an automatic update option.

Crystal clear footage day or night, speedy load times for the live feed, and a smart notification system make the Arlo Pro 4 our favorite outdoor security camera. It connects directly to Wi-Fi, has a wide 160-degree field of view, and records at up to 2K resolution with HDR. (Your feed won't look blown out when there's a light source in the frame.) There’s also a choice of color night vision or spotlight, which uses the integrated light to illuminate the scene. Two-way audio is clear and relatively lag-free, and there’s a built-in siren. Over months of testing, it has proven to be a consistent and reliable performer. Arlo claims up to six months of battery life, but this depends entirely on how busy it is; mine needed a charge after less than three months.

It has an easy-to-use app, and the camera filters motion alerts by people, animals, vehicles, and packages. The notification system is swift and accurate, offering animated previews and screenshots with highlighted subjects that are easy to read even on a smartwatch screen. The catch? You need an Arlo Secure plan ($3 per month for a single camera) to make the most of these features, and it also gets you 30 days of cloud video history. 

Supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.

★ Another alternative: If you want the best picture quality possible, the Arlo Ultra 2 ($250) is a 4K camera that offers everything the Pro 4 does but boasts a wider 180-degree field of view and a higher resolution. While 4K footage is incredibly crisp and HDR ensures a balanced picture, you must subscribe to an Arlo Secure plan to unlock this camera’s full potential, and 4K streams require a lot of bandwidth (you need fast internet service and a good router).

If you don’t want monthly fees, go for this EufyCam system, which includes two cameras. It records video wirelessly to a HomeBase hub that has 16 GB of storage. The hub connects to your router via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi and doubles up as a Wi-Fi repeater, which can be handy if you want to install cameras farther away from your router. The video footage is mostly crisp and clear at up to 2K resolution, and there’s a fairly wide 140-degree field of view. You also get two-way audio and a siren to discourage theft. Long battery life is one of the selling points here, with Eufy claiming the cameras can go a full year between charges. (Mine are on 88 and 87 percent after two months.)

Eufy’s mobile app is straightforward, and you get features like human detection included with the purchase price. It also boasts solid encryption, 2FA, and fingerprint unlock like the Arlo. The live feed is quick to load, as are recorded videos when you’re at home, but out of the house, loading times are significantly longer. I don't like that notifications don't tell you what triggered the motion sensor. Other downsides include limited smart-home capabilities (you can only call up a live feed), no HDR, and a tendency for night vision to blow out in bright areas. The activity zone—a specific area you highlight in the camera's frame to detect motion—is limited to a single rectangle; the Arlo Pro 4 lets you draw multiple zones and tailor the shape.

Supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.