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You can avoid monthly fees—and boost privacy—with cameras that store video locally
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Wireless security cameras have never been more affordable, with many highly rated models from our tests costing $100 or less. But that doesn’t factor in the recurring cost of cloud storage for the video captured by those cameras, which can easily cost as much as the camera itself for every year you subscribe.
When you consider rising inflation, fatigue from the sheer number of subscription services offered to consumers, and concerns over how camera makers can share your video footage without your consent, it makes sense that you might prefer a security camera without a subscription. Instead of storing footage in the cloud, these cameras store video locally, usually on either a microSD card or their internal memory. This frees you from paying a monthly fee and gives you more control over your recordings. But that doesn’t mean these cameras don’t offer an optional subscription if you ever feel so inclined to store your footage in the cloud for extra protection.
The main downside to cameras that forgo a subscription is that many of them may lack intelligent object recognition of people, animals, vehicles, packages, and faces. That’s because the object recognition often happens on the company’s servers, rather than the camera itself. Many security camera manufacturers have been using these AI-driven features to entice consumers into paying for a subscription. But there are still plenty of security cameras without a subscription that will offer at least one of these intelligent features (usually person detection) for no extra charge.
Below, you’ll find the six best wireless security cameras without a subscription from our ratings. The list, which is in alphabetical (not rank) order, includes cameras from Blue by ADT, Eufy, and Lorex. Our list highlights which smart alerts each of these cameras provide, as well as whether they offer an optional subscription should you decide to store your video remotely. We also reveal how each camera fared in our tests for data privacy (how manufacturers collect, use and share your data, including how transparent they are about this) and data security (whether the camera employs security measures such as encryption to protect your data from outsiders). For more options, check out our complete wireless home security camera ratings of over 50 models.
Blue by ADT Indoor Camera
Smart alerts for: Faces only
Optional storage subscription: Yes
CR’s take: The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera is one of the company’s first DIY cameras—and one of the top performers in our ratings. It offers superb response time for alerts, great video quality, and strong data security, but only a middle-of-the-road Good rating for data privacy. This camera features an SD card slot for local video storage (card sold separately), as well as a rolling 24 hours of free cloud video storage, which the camera uses by default (unless you use an SD card). Other features include facial recognition, monitoring zones, battery backup for power outages, smoke and carbon monoxide siren detection, and voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant.
Eufy Cam 2C Pro T8861 (2 Cam Kit)
Smart alerts for: People and faces
Optional storage subscription: Yes
CR’s take: The Eufy Cam 2C Pro is a bit unusual in that Eufy at minimum makes you buy a two-camera kit, making it better suited to shoppers looking for a multi-camera system. In our tests, it performs well across the board, with an Excellent rating for its array of smart features. Its only flaw is its middling data privacy, but that’s a common issue for the majority of cameras in our ratings. The Eufy Cam 2C Pro packs a ton of features, including person detection, facial recognition, a built-in spotlight, monitoring zones, a siren, two-way audio, 16 gigabytes of memory for local video storage (there’s no SD card slot for expandable storage), and voice and app control via Amazon Alexa, Apple Home/Siri, and Google Home/Assistant.
Eufy Solo Cam S40
Smart alerts for: People only
Optional storage subscription: Yes
CR’s take: The Eufy SoloCam S40 is the first security camera CR has tested with a built-in solar panel to recharge its battery. In our tests, it offers superb video quality and data security, and it receives a Very Good rating for its response time. The camera doesn’t offer great data privacy, though, which is common among these devices. It features monitoring zones; person alerts; voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant; a built-in siren; color night vision (thanks to its built-in spotlight); and 8 gigabytes of memory to store footage locally.
Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24
Smart alerts for: People, pets, crying babies
Optional storage subscription: Yes
CR’s take: The Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 is one of the best and most reasonably priced models in our ratings. It receives high marks in our tests for video quality, data security, smart features, and response time. The only test it doesn’t perform that well in is data privacy, but it still receives a middle-of-the-road Good rating for that test. It features a microSD card slot for local storage (card sold separately), person detection, pet detection, crying detection (if you choose to use it as a baby monitor), optional 24/7 continuous recording, and voice and app control via Amazon Alexa, Apple Home/Siri, and Google Home/Assistant.
Lorex 2K Pan-Tilt WiFi W462AQC-E
Smart alerts for: People only
Optional storage subscription: No
CR’s take: The Lorex 2K Pan-Tilt WiFi W462AQC-E is a CR Best Buy pick, thanks to its winning combination of solid performance and a relatively low price. It scores well in just about every test, with an Excellent rating for video quality. Its only weak spot is its middling data privacy, but that’s common among most of the top-rated security cameras in our ratings. This Lorex camera comes with a 16-gigabyte microSD card for local video storage and features motorized pan-and-tilt so you can remotely move the camera to change its view (handy for large rooms or open floor plans); person detection, monitoring zones, and voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant.
Lorex Smart Indoor / Outdoor WiFi W282CAD-E
Smart alerts for: People and vehicles
Optional storage subscription: No
CR’s take: The Lorex Smart Indoor/Outdoor WiFi W282CAD-E is the most affordable outdoor security camera on this list, as well as an all-around great performer in our lab tests. It receives high marks for video quality and data security, as well as a Very Good rating for response time. It offers middling data privacy in our tests, but that’s common for this product category. This camera comes with a 32-gigabyte microSD card for local video storage and features two-way audio, monitoring zones, person detection, vehicle detection, a siren to scare off intruders, and voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant.
Daniel Wroclawski
I’m obsessed with smart home tech and channel my obsession into new stories for Consumer Reports. When I’m not writing about products, I spend time either outside hiking and skiing or up in the air in small airplanes. For my latest obsessions, follow me on Facebook and Twitter (@danwroc).
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