Ever have the urge to see what your kids (or pets) are doing at home when you’re at work? Or perhaps you want to see who just rang the doorbell as you got into the tub? These four home security cameras, each reviewed in depth by CNET, can help you do just that.
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Amazon Cloud Cam
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/amazon-cloud-cam/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The $120 Amazon Cloud Cam’s crisp 1080p HD live feed, prompt motion notifications and free 24-hour clip storage set a new value standard for indoor home security cameras.
The bad: Only Amazon Cloud subscribers can set motion zones and receive person alerts. Continuous recording is not available (even for subscribers), and there’s no local microSD card storage.
The cost: $119.99
The bottom line: Amazon’s Cloud Cam is affordable, reliable and easy to use, but it’s the free storage that ultimately makes it more appealing than Nest security cameras and many other home security competitors.
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Nest Hello
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/nest-hello/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: Nest’s $229 Hello video doorbell looks great and works consistently well. Its optional facial recognition feature and advanced integrations with the Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Google Home speakers set this smart buzzer above the rest.
The bad: A seemingly unnecessary “chime connector” accessory comes with your purchase and is a required part of the installation for “power management” purposes whether you have a manual or a digital doorbell chime. There’s no free video clip storage.
The cost: $229.00 to $229.99
The bottom line: The Nest Hello is the smartest video doorbell available today, and a really solid choice for anyone — but it’s especially appealing if you’re sold on a broader Google/Nest smart home.
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Ring Spotlight Cam
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/ring-spotlight-cam/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: Ring’s $199 Spotlight Cam (£199/AU$329) installs in minutes and its integrated LEDs provide reliable security lighting for your yard.
The bad: You have to pay for Ring’s Protect cloud storage service to access saved video clips.
The cost: $185.49 to $199.00
The bottom line: The Ring Spotlight Cam’s easy setup and solid performance make it a favorite among today’s outdoor cameras with built-in lights.
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Netgear Arlo Pro
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/netgear-arlo-pro/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: Netgear’s $250 Arlo Pro provides indoor and outdoor security monitoring in a single camera. You get seven days of free event-based cloud storage, and its rechargeable battery is supposed to last for up to six months.
The bad: The Arlo Pro costs more than its competition, and it was difficult to see what was happening in night-vision mode. Some customers won’t want to deal with a hub accessory during installation.
The cost: $196.96 to $249.99
The bottom line: The Arlo Pro is an even smarter DIY cam than Netgear’s first-gen Arlo, but competitors are closing in fast with innovative designs and updated apps.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Associate Editor Megan Wollerton and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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