Best Home Security Systems with Outdoor Cameras of 2021

The core components of a home security system include sensors to detect an unwanted entry, a loud siren, and the means to communicate with a remote monitoring team. Cameras are generally not included in basic security packages. However, security experts say that cameras can play a vital supporting role in home security. Perhaps more importantly, many consumers want security cameras, particularly outdoor cameras that provide an extra layer of security at entry points.

If you're in the market for an outdoor security camera system, you've come to the right place. The information below will explain the pros and cons of home security cameras, how much they cost, and what to expect from a security camera consultation.

What Are the Best Home Security Systems With Outdoor Cameras?

To find the best home security camera system for you, we present our Best Home Security Systems With Outdoor Cameras of 2021. They are:

#1 Frontpoint
#2 Vivint Smart Home
#3 Link Interactive
#3 Ring Alarm
#5 Blue By ADT
#5 Xfinity Home

The Best Home Security Systems With Outdoor Cameras in Detail

Security cameras are becoming increasingly popular, and most home security companies offer them. However, not all of the companies in our Best Home Security Companies of 2021 offer outdoor security cameras, and those that do have different storage plans and prices.

To help you choose, here are the Best Home Security Systems With Outdoor Cameras of 2021:

Frontpoint: Frontpoint's $167.50 outdoor camera features a night vision range of 40 feet, so you'll be able to see intruders and visitors in the dark. The company's $169.99 doorbell camera provides a live feed day and night, as well as the option to hear and speak to visitors with two-way audio. It also sends alerts if there is activity around the door, even if no one presses the doorbell. All cameras are Wi-Fi-enabled and motion- and alarm-activated. Read More»

Vivint: Vivint's $249 doorbell camera has features like visitor detection, which activates when it senses people but not passing cars. You can see who’s at the door via the control panel or mobile app and have a two-way conversation. The $299 Vivint outdoor camera has motion detection and roughly 55-foot night vision range. Read More»

Check out our top Vivint coupons here.

Link Interactive (tied for third): Link Interactive offers a robust home security system with the option to expand into home automation for a low monthly fee and no required upfront costs or contracts. You can choose to pay upfront for your equipment or spread the cost over one to three years. Completely DIY, the system is entirely wireless and professionally monitored over a cellular connection. Read More»

Ring Alarm (tied for third): Ring offers a variety of outdoor cameras, including the Stick Up Cam ($99.99-$148.99, depending on whether it's powered by a battery, home electrical wiring, or solar); the $199.99 Stick Up Cam Elite; and the Spotlight Cam ($199-$249, depending on how it's powered). All cameras feature motion detection and two-way audio, and the more expensive Spotlight Cams include extras like noise cancellation for the integrated microphone. Ring offers five doorbells with built-in cameras. Prices and features vary, from the basic Wi-Fi-connected Video Doorbell at $99 to the Video Doorbell elite at $349.99, which requires professional installation or advanced DIY skills. Read More»

Check out our top Ring Alarm discount codes here.

Blue by ADT (tied for fifth): ADT is the largest and best known professionally installed home security provider in the U.S. Its new DIY Blue by ADT system is controllable from a smartphone app and comes with the company's well-regarded 24/7 professional monitoring. Blue by ADT starter packs are available on ADT's website and through a growing number of retailers, including Amazon. These starter systems begin at $179 and can be supplemented by additional Blue by ADT sensors and cameras, and by compatible gear such as smart lights and smart locks from other smart home equipment makers. Read More»

Check out the top Blue By ADT promo codes here.

Xfinity (tied for fifth): Xfinity's $120 indoor/outdoor security camera has live HD video and night vision. As with most home security companies, you also can add video recording for a monthly fee. The company does not offer a doorbell camera. Read More»

Check out our top Xfinity Home promo codes here.

Read more about Best Home Security Systems of 2021.

Should I Get a Home Security Alarm System With Outdoor Cameras?

Home security cameras, whether indoors or outdoors, carry their own set of pros and cons. For example, while they can deter crime, they also present privacy risks. The information below will help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages to determine whether you want surveillance cameras as part of your security camera system.

Why Should I Use Cameras in a Home Security System?

Cameras don’t prevent crimes but can deter them. “Cameras don’t stop crimes, and neither do alarm systems,” says Jordan Frankel, founder of Global Security Experts, which conducts home security inspections and invents products to prevent home invasions. In other words, experienced, determined criminals can find a way to defeat most alarm systems. For example, most intruders wear masks or hoodies to escape recognition. Nonetheless, the presence of a security camera, in addition to yard signs, could be helpful. “Some potential intruders will see a camera on the front of the house and move to an easier target,” Frankel says. “They look for the path of least resistance.”

Cameras let you see who’s at your door or on your property, even when you’re away from home. Several outdoor and doorbell cameras have motion detectors, lights, night vision, and two-way communications. When this real-time detection combines with notifications to your smartphone or control panel, you will very quickly know that somebody has entered your property, thus receiving the early warning that security experts advocate. Frankel suggests placing these detection devices at the perimeter of your property or driveway. “I'm a firm believer that the more time you have, the better,” he says.

Jeffrey Zwirn, president of IDS Research and Development, which has conducted security surveys of thousands of residential, commercial and industrial properties, agrees. “If somebody walks into the motion detector, the camera can send a video clip to you,” he says. “By having two-way audio, you can prevent an event. You can say, ‘What are you doing here?’” This early awareness is available whether you’re at home or far away.

When an alarm is triggered, images can be sent to the monitoring service – or provided to the police after the fact. If your home alarm is activated due to a potential break-in, the monitoring company will quickly call you and the people on your contact list to determine if there’s an actual emergency or just a false alarm. In the meantime, if the security system is integrated with cameras, the monitoring company can immediately access a live feed of your home to see and hear what’s happening or view new clips to look for a smashed window or smoke-filled room.

This remote view of your home can reduce the time it takes to notify the proper authorities. Some jurisdictions give priority to alarms that have first been visually verified. According to sources such as Security Today, an industry publication, more than 30% of police departments in the U.S. will not respond to an alarm without a confirmed visual verification. And when it comes time for the police and insurance company to investigate what happened, there will be a visual record. “In a worst-case scenario, if somebody breaks into your house, you have it on camera,” says Lee Walters, a former FBI security specialist. “Cameras provide great evidence to law enforcement. A lot of crimes have been solved by what shows up on a video camera.”

Drawbacks to Home Security Cameras

Security cameras can deter criminals and provide peace of mind to residents. But there are a few drawbacks to consider.

Any assurance you have about privacy diminishes as soon as you install a camera inside or outside your home. Equipment designed to capture and store video doesn’t necessarily discriminate between possible intruders and personal activities. The best systems allow you to configure when the cameras start and stop, but they aren't foolproof. Moreover, home security companies may be able to view camera feeds and recorded footage, and cameras connected to the internet can be hacked (although following proper security protocols, such as enabling two-factor authentication, drastically reduces the chance of this).

Cameras also add cost. The advertised base package of security equipment and the expected monthly fees seldom include the cost of cameras and media storage. A full-featured camera is typically at least a couple hundred dollars, not including installation. Local or cloud storage of video can cost between $5 and $30 a month.

In addition, too many cameras can send the wrong message. Zwirn recommends “a good blend of the right cameras in the right locations.” But he warns against loading up your house with lots of cameras because it “looks like you have something to steal.”

Some experts do not see cameras as essential to home security. There are low-tech alternatives like door peepholes and inexpensive motion-triggered floodlights. Chris McGoey, who has developed effective security plans for homes and business properties for nearly five decades, says, “Examining what's happened while you're away is a nice feature, but it’s more in the realm of gadgets.”

How to Choose an Outdoor Security Camera System

To choose an outdoor security camera system, follow these steps:

1. Choose what type(s) to purchase. If you only want to see who's at the front door, you would be best served by a doorbell camera. An option offered by many home security companies, doorbell cameras often have built-in motion sensors and start recording when someone comes to the door, so you always have a record of who visited. Plus, they use your existing doorbell wiring for power.

The problem with a video doorbell is that its field of view is limited to the area directly in front of the door. For a wider surveillance area, you'll need a regular outdoor surveillance camera. These are usually wireless for easy DIY installation, although some are wired. Security cameras specifically designed for the outdoors are weatherproof, so rain and snow won't be an issue. By the same token, don't install an indoor camera outside unless it's meant for either location.

2. Look at video storage plans. Home security systems with cameras include plans for storing video footage, usually in the cloud but sometimes also on memory cards. Some security camera systems come with a certain amount of free cloud storage, allowing you to pay for more if you wish. Storing video allows you to view footage of a visitor or intruder if you miss an alert and don't see them live, plus you often can download video clips to give to the police if there's a break-in. To save storage space, most cameras only record video when they sense motion.

3. Think about privacy concerns. A security camera system doesn't just allow you to monitor your home; the home security company sometimes can as well, and hackers have been known to hijack both indoor and outdoor security cameras connected to the internet. Both of these scenarios present obvious safety and privacy concerns, so before buying home security cameras, ask the company about its security protocols and make sure you're comfortable with the risk.

For more information, see How to Buy a Home Security System.

How Much Do Outdoor Home Surveillance Cameras Cost?

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 2021 list range from $99-$399, and doorbell cameras range from $99-$499.

Cheapest Home Security Systems With Outdoor Cameras

The five cheapest home security systems with outdoor cameras, taken from our Best Home Security Systems of 2021, are listed below. Prices are based on the 12-month cost of ownership (see our methodology for more details).

#1 Ring Alarm: $235
#2 Abode: $301
#3 Blue By ADT: $379
#4 SimpliSafe: $409
#5 Cove: $493

For more information, see our Cheapest Home Security Systems.

Home Security Camera Installation

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 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.

Do Home Security Cameras Prevent Theft?

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, realize that a home security system won't prevent someone from breaking in if they really want to. And if there is a break-in there's no guarantee when, or even if, the police will respond after a professional monitoring center notifies them of the intruder. Many police departments have more work than they can handle and have become somewhat inured to home security systems because these systems often generate false alarms.

Do Home Security Cameras Help Catch Criminals?

Although indoor and outdoor security cameras can be useful in apprehending criminals 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. “They’re not going to do a CSI on your footage," he says. "It’s not a magic bullet." Silva says there is value in video doorbells, which are relatively inexpensive and allow you to see who’s at the door without opening it.

Do Home Security Cameras Compromise Privacy?

Privacy is another consideration when installing both indoor and outdoor security cameras. First, 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, which specializes in home security systems, notes that in practice this would be extremely bad for business if the 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. Finally, enable two-factor authentication so that you get a text or email alert when someone tries to log into one of your accounts.

Learn More

For more information about home security systems, see the following guides:

The Best Home Security Systems of 2021

Other Home Security Products to Consider

In addition to our rating of the Best Self-Monitored Home Security Systems, consider our ratings of the Best Home Security Cameras.

How U.S. News Evaluated Home Security Systems

We explain what matters most to home and apartment owners, experts and professional reviewers when it comes to Home Security Systems. Then we provide an unbiased evaluation of Home Security Systems. Our goal is to empower consumers with the information and tools they need to make informed decisions. More information about our 360 Reviews methodology for evaluating Home Security Systems is here.