Best Home Security Systems with Outdoor Cameras 2023

Most home security systems include sensors to detect unwanted entries, a loud siren, and the ability to communicate with a remote monitoring team. But, many consumers want outdoor security cameras that provide that extra layer of protection.

SimpliSafe places first on our Best Home Security Systems With Outdoor Cameras of 2023 rating. Following closely behind are Vivint Smart Home and Frontpoint, which both tie for second. The two other companies on the list are Link Interactive and Cove.

Read below for more information on the pros and cons of home security cameras, how much they typically cost, and what to expect from a security camera consultation.

Exterior home security cameras let you track package deliveries and speak to a visitor before answering your door. If you notice a suspicious vehicle or person, you can zoom in the camera to capture the license plate or an individual’s face. In addition, camera sirens and lights could discourage criminal activity resulting in expensive property damage and loss.

However, you must place brackets on your house, posts, or fence using screws in order to install an outside camera. Many cameras also require a nearby electrical outlet, and exterior cameras aren’t cheap, as some cost more than $200 each. Plus, internet-connected devices run the risk of cyber hacking.

Save money by deterring crime. Property damage and theft can be costly from repairing broken landscape fixtures to replacing holiday decorations and lights. According to the FBI, individuals whose homes were burglarized in 2019 faced an estimated $3 billion in total property losses. On average, each incident of burglary that year resulted in $2,661 worth of property losses. Most outdoor cameras with professional monitoring let you focus on certain spaces, such as your vehicle, mailbox, porch, and yard decor. If someone enters these areas or stays too long, the system can trigger loud sirens and flashing lights to send a warning automatically, depending on your home security system’s capabilities. Likewise, if you’re watching the video in real-time, you can call out to let an intruder know they’re on camera.

You know who’s at your door before answering it. If you hear a knock at your door, there’s no reason to pause the TV and race to answer it. Instead, view your outdoor camera from the security system’s mobile app. Use the two-way audio function to say “hi” to a friend or family member or ask a stranger what they need. Many home security cameras include a background-noise reduction feature, so you should be able to hear the audio even if you live on a busy street. And if someone knocks on your door while you’re out, you can speak to them remotely through a built-in microphone and speaker to make them think someone is home.

Zoom in to get important details. With proper positioning, your outdoor camera can capture more than your porch during the day or night. In the evening, Vivint’s camera shows objects as far away as 55 feet, whereas the Frontpoint camera’s range is 49 feet. But what if you need a closer view? Certain cameras, like those from SimpliSafe or Vivint, have a digital zoom function. It gives you a close-up look at the person or object in the camera’s view, allowing you to capture a license plate number or view someone lurking in your driveway. And you can monitor your footage to see if the same car or person shows up again.

Outdoor security cameras require installation. Unlike peel-and-stick sensors for windows and doors inside the home, many outdoor cameras require installation with screws. You’ll need to find a location within 10 feet or so of an outlet and manage the cord length by clipping it to your home or fencing. Most brackets need two or more screws, putting permanent holes in your siding. You’ll want to get the placement right the first time so you minimize the number of holes. Brick and concrete homes may require different hardware that works on these types of exteriors. In addition, renters may want to replace their existing doorbell with a doorbell camera rather than an outdoor camera to avoid having to install a camera bracket.

Cameras could be hacked. Cybercriminals can gain access to your video feeds or devices. These cyber incidents may occur due to inadequate security measures, such as users reusing passwords or having unsecured Wi-Fi. Hackers also can find vulnerabilities in software or steal unencrypted data as it travels from your camera over the internet to the company’s server and back to your mobile app. After some Ring Alarm customers’ accounts were hacked, the company noted that reusing the same usernames and passwords for multiple devices makes it possible for “bad actors to gain access to many accounts.”

Cameras and add-on features can get expensive. Most home security systems offer product bundles, including doorbell cameras and sensors. However, an outdoor camera is an add-on device. Depending on the vendor in our ratings, one outdoor camera can cost $139.99 to $240.00 or more. In some cases, you’ll also have to purchase a memory card to save your recordings, or a solar panel for battery charging if you don’t have an electrical outlet available. Additionally, you’ll incur a monthly service fee for professional monitoring, which may include video analytics and other features. Some home security systems include video monitoring on the base plan, while others only offer it on the highest-tier packages.

Some research shows that a security camera system can be effective in deterring theft. The Urban Institute reported that public surveillance cameras can reduce crime and aid prosecutions in areas where the cameras are concentrated and monitored sufficiently. Another study by the Campbell Collaboration, an international research network, determined that surveillance cameras had a “modest impact” on crime in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Sweden and that the effect was greater in areas where there were more cameras.

However, home security systems, especially home security cameras, won’t prevent someone from breaking in if they really want to. Additionally, if there is a break in there’s no guarantee when the police will respond after a professional monitoring system notifies them of the intruder. When deciding if you should purchase a home security system, keep in mind the limitations. Our guide to Best Security Cameras can help you find a system geared best to your needs and budget.

Although indoor and outdoor security cameras can be useful in apprehending criminals, particularly burglary and robbery after the fact, they aren’t infallible. “They’re useful if you understand what their purpose is – to tell you a story after something has happened,” says Michael Silva, owner of Silva Consultants, a security consulting and design firm. However, the images might not be of sufficient quality to identify the perpetrator, and even if they are, there’s no guarantee that resource-strapped police departments will follow up. Nonetheless, security cameras can assist in identifying possible suspects of a home robbery or kidnapping, even if the images are subpar to individual perpetrator identification. Overall, however, security cameras may do more to deter crime than prevent it.

Privacy is another consideration when installing both indoor and outdoor security cameras. It’s technically possible for a home security company to view camera footage without the customer’s permission, but Doug Huey, co-owner of Executive Security Consultants, notes that this would be extremely bad for business if the alarm company got caught and he has never heard of it happening.

It’s more likely that a third party could hack into your home Wi-Fi system to which your cameras are connected. The hacker probably wouldn’t be anywhere nearby and thus wouldn’t pose an actual physical security threat. However, they would be able to monitor your activities, which presents obvious concerns about privacy and safety. To avoid hacks, use strong passwords consisting of long strings of random uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols, preferably created by a password generator like 1Password. Don’t reuse passwords that you’ve used previously. A good password manager can make this easier. Finally, always enable two-factor authentication so that you get a text or email alert when someone tries to log into one of your accounts, and do not use cameras from companies that don’t offer two-factor authentication.

Here are some steps to follow if you want to install outdoor security cameras.

Outdoor home surveillance cameras vary widely in price depending on features and connectivity options. For example, cameras with higher resolution and Ethernet connectivity tend to cost more than lower-resolution cameras that only connect to your home security system over Wi-Fi. Overall, the prices of outdoor security cameras offered by the companies in our Best Home Security Systems of 2023 list range from about $50 to more than $200, and doorbell cameras range from $99 to about $350.

Purchasing a home security system may also save you money on your homeowners insurance. Many of the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies of 2023 provide discounts on your insurance rates for installing a home security system or security cameras on your property. According to Scott Holeman, Director of Media Relations at the Insurance Information Institute, many homeowners see discounts of 5% to 20% on their home insurance premiums after installing an alarm system.

The five cheapest home security systems with outdoor cameras, taken from our Best Home Security Systems of 2023 rating, are listed below. Prices are based on the 12-month cost of ownership (see our methodology for more details).

Before you purchase and install home security cameras, you have to determine how many you need and where you’re going to put them. Outdoor security cameras are typically used near entry doors, off-street windows, driveways, outdoor stairways, and porches, so a diagram of your home showing these areas will be helpful. You also should walk around your property and make sure each potential camera location has an unobstructed view and a good mounting point, along with a place to run wiring if the camera is hard-wired.

In general, home security cameras that come with DIY systems can be installed by simply mounting them to a flat surface or attaching them to a wall with adhesive or screws. After that, it’s just a matter of connecting your cameras to your home Wi-Fi network, just like any other internet-enabled device. If your cameras are hard-wired, you will need basic electrical skills to install them yourself. A DIY system comes with specific, easy-to-follow installation instructions, so see these for details about your particular system.

However, if you’re not comfortable with electronics or drilling into an exterior wall, you might want to have your security cameras installed by a home security company technician as part of a professionally installed home security system. The work will be included in your overall installation fee, which is usually $100 or more. On the plus side, you can rest assured that your cameras will be properly integrated with the rest of your security system and work correctly. If you already have a home security system without cameras and want to add them (or add more), a local professional installer can do the job. Prices for this work will vary depending on your location as well as the type and location of the cameras.