Best Home Security Cameras Without a Subscription

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 the 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 about how camera makers can share your video footage without your consent, it makes sense that you might prefer a security camera that doesn’t require 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 these cameras offer an optional subscription if you feel 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 from CR’s ratings that don’t require a subscription. The list, which is in alphabetical (not rank) order, includes cameras from Eufy, Lorex, and TP-Link. It 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 for more than 50 models. And consult our comprehensive home security camera buying guide before you go shopping.

Eufy Solo Cam S40

Smart alerts: People onlyOptional storage subscription: YesCR’s take: The Eufy SoloCam S40 is the first security camera CR tested with a built-in solar panel to recharge its battery. In our tests, it offers superb video quality and receives very good ratings for its response time and data security. 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: People, pets, crying babiesOptional storage subscription: YesCR’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 data security, smart features, and response time, and it nabs our highest score for video quality. The only test it doesn’t perform that well in is data privacy, but it still receives a middle-of-the-road rating for that assessment. 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: People onlyOptional storage subscription: NoCR’s take: The Lorex 2K Pan-Tilt WiFi W462AQC-E is a great deal thanks to its winning combination of solid performance and a relatively low price. It scores well on just about every test, with an exemplary 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.

TP-Link Kasa Smart Pan & Tilt KC410S 24/7

Smart alerts: People onlyOptional storage subscription: YesCR’s take: The wireless TP-Link Kasa KC410S security camera offers outstanding video quality and response time, CR’s tests have found. This low-priced camera also earns a strong rating for data security and a midrange rating for data privacy. It features voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, a built-in siren, monitoring zones, and person alerts. Footage can be stored locally on a 256-gigabyte microSD card (sold separately) or 30-day cloud storage for $3 per month (or $30 per year).

TP-Link Kasa Spot KC401

Smart alerts: People onlyOptional storage subscription: YesCR’s take: The well-priced TP-Link Kasa Spot KC401 boasts top-notch video quality, with a 130-degree field of view. CR’s tests also found this wireless camera has near top-level ratings for data security and response time but receives a weak score for data privacy. This model features monitoring zones, person alerts, voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, a built-in siren, and night vision. Videos can be stored locally on a microSD card (not included) or 30-day cloud storage for $3 per month (or $30 per year).

TP-Link Tapo C310 2K Outdoor

Smart alerts: People onlyOptional storage subscription: NoCR’s take: If you’re searching for a security camera with quick response time and stellar video quality, give the TP-Link Tapo C310 2K Outdoor a close look. This indoor/outdoor camera captures video with higher quality than most of the wireless security cameras CR has tested. In addition to voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home/Assistant, this model features a built-in siren, monitoring zones, night vision, and person alerts. Its data privacy rating is lackluster, but it has strong data security. Videos can be stored locally on a 256-gigabyte microSD card (sold separately).

Daniel Wroclawski

Dan Wroclawski is a home and appliances writer at Consumer Reports, covering products ranging from refrigerators and coffee makers to cutting-edge smart home devices. Before joining CR in 2017, he was an editor at USA Today’s Reviewed, and launched the site’s smart home section. In his spare time, you can find him tinkering with one of the over 70 connected devices in his house. Follow Dan on Facebook and Twitter @danwroc.