Many of the best security camera manufacturers like Arlo and Ring require you to sign up for a subscription to use all the features of the camera. Their logic is simple — instead of spending money only once on their products, they have a regular revenue stream from their customers. It traps you into sticking to a single brand of hardware over time and leaves you at their mercy when they decide to raise the subscription price.

That's why I started branching into new products from Eufy, Tapo, and Wyze. Even better, the latest models have advanced AI detection, color night vision, and motion-sensing automation capabilities reserved for premium cameras to keep their prices low, because these companies support local storage, and basic features like recording and viewing events on demand are behind the monthly fee. We offer only a small part. Some picks such as the Tapo and Wyze models feature weatherproof construction to withstand water and dust to double as outdoor security cameras.

Below are three of the best subscription-free security cameras I've tested.

Wy35Wyze Cam v4 is the best security camera for most people because of its features for a price. Its sharp 2K resolution captures important identifying details such as the text of a shirt, box, or tattoo. You can use the included stand to place the wyze cam on a flat surface or easily stick it to the magnetic surface to get the ideal angle. This also makes it easy to quickly move it between rooms or into your yard as it is perfectly weatherproof to work outside. However, it must be connected to an outlet to work.

In terms of image quality, this camera punches above its weight class to create colorful images comparable to professional units from Arlo and Ring Triple Price. Its interface is painfully simple and I occasionally have to wait a few seconds for a live feed to load, but this camera is consistently great plus it comes equipped with sirens and bright spotlights for color night vision. 1. One of the most underrated features is the built-in smart smoke & CO alarm that can send push notifications if it detects a standard T3 or T4 sound.

If you need the highest quality images and plan to use the camera only indoors, the Eufy S350 is a serious step up from the Wyze Cam above. Eufy's indoor-only camera boasts sharper 4K resolution and uses AI to track moving subjects. The motorized head can then physically swivel 360 degrees along the base so the ideal placement is in the center of a large open living space. 

This AI also provides smart detection for free to identify events in notifications and app timelines. You can filter by animal, person, or package. Wyze not only charges for this feature, but also has a 5-minute cool-down period between notifications. Eufy's camera doesn't have color night vision, but the sharp infrared mode makes it easy to outline text and shapes, so in fact the specific Ibe

Tapo's C120 shares the wyze Cam's magnetic base and outdoor features, as well as eufy's free AI smart detection (pets, people, vehicles) mentioned above. It will be. It has a sharp 2K image, but I find that the colors are a bit oversaturated and sometimes the facial features can be a bit smoother compared to Wyze Cam. That said, it's a better pet or baby camera for the detection of the sounds of screaming, barking, meow and breaking glass. Plus Tapo has yet to experience the security breaches that both Eufy and Wyze have experienced in the past.

Excellent for smart home routines, and connects well with TP-Link Kasa or Tapo vacuum cleaners, smart plugs and lights. It can be as deep as customizing the sound to play when a motion trigger occurs. It also supports RTSP functionality, making it easy to integrate your camera's live feed into more advanced smart home platforms such as the Home Assistant ecosystem.