Having a security camera can help considerably if you’re wondering if anything happens around your property at night, from helping to deter intruders to simply keeping an eye on the nocturnal wildlife.
There are a lot of Wi-Fi-enabled security cameras out there, and some of them are weatherproof so they can be used outdoors.
They tend to have something in common, though: their manufacturers charge a monthly subscription for the use of their cloud infrastructure, where they store the files produced by your camera when it detects movement or is otherwise activated, and sometimes for advanced detection features too.
Luckily, some don’t charge a monthly fee, instead storing their footage on local storage - such as an SD card - or having a free account that gives you everything you need to use the camera, with the premium features merely nice to have, rather than essential.
Not having to pay a monthly subscription means you’re only paying for the camera once, and while many offer only cut-down versions of their services for free, the majority of cameras are perfectly usable without shelling out a fee every month for functions you may not use. The cameras on this list cover a spectrum of uses, from those that are easy to stick up and are completely wireless, to ones that will require a little more installation know-how - but with models from Arlo, Eufy, Swann and more, there’s bound to be something here to fit your needs.
Do outdoor security systems require Wi-Fi?
If you're not willing to zap your home's Wi-Fi, there are other ways to link up and record your home security cameras. You could try using local storage, like a hard-drive or SD card. Some cameras work via celluar data while others can be plugged into an Ethernet port and record footage that way.
Where can (and can't) you install a security camera?
Cameras should be pointed at your property and stay within your boundaries. If this isn't possible, apply blur or blackout filters to protect your neighbours' privacy. You can find government guidance on domestic CCTV here.
What are the laws around privacy and security cameras?
There are lots of laws around data protection, but regarding home cameras you don't need permission as long as it’s within the boundaries of your property. If you're installing it on your drive or garden, make sure the angle of view doesn't go farther than your perimeter. However, if you want to keep an eye on an outside garage, shed, allotment or any public space, you should have a good reason for doing so and let people know that you're recording by displaying a clear sign.
Best outdoor security cameras at a glance
If you’ve got a garden path that needs monitoring, want to know who’s walking up your driveway, or want to see whether it’s a badger or a fox digging up your lawn, here are some of the best outdoor security cameras that will work without a subscription.Shop now
Arlo Pro 3 (with Smart Hub)
Best for: a complete system
This group of four cameras plus a hub forms the basis of a comprehensive CCTV system for your home. The cameras are weather resistant, with an IP65 rating that will see them shrug off the rain and keep dust and sand out.
The cameras contain a rechargeable battery that can be refilled using a magnetic charger, and last about six months between charges. They communicate with the Arlo hub by Wi-Fi, so will need to be installed within range of your router, and low enough to connect the charger, but thanks to the hub, you can operate them without a subscription, adding USB storage to store video files. You miss out on car, pet, person and package detection by foregoing the monthly sub, but they’re otherwise perfectly functional.
They integrate with the Alexa smart assistant and can display pictures on an Echo device that has a screen. You also get two-way voice communication via your mobile, a 160 field of view, and night vision.
Buy now £567.02, Amazon
Eufy Security SoloCam E40
Best for: solo security
Another camera with IP65 weather resistance, but this one is completely standalone, and doesn’t need a hub to store its videos thanks to 8GB of onboard storage, which is encrypted so only you can access it.
You get night vision and motion detection too, and the 2K video resolution means you’ll see plenty of detail in the video files when you play them back. An onboard AI system provides person detection, filtering out false alarms, there’s integration with Alexa and Google Assistant, and as this is a slightly older model, it’s often available for a bargain price.
Buy now £77.63, Amazon
Blink Outdoor
Best for: not having to charge often
Blink’s Outdoor camera stands out through its use of ordinary AA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable cell, and for squeezing up to two years of use out of them.
The brand does have a subscription cloud storage service you can use, but you don’t have to pay up. Yet you can still add the Sync Module 2 to your network to store clips on a USB drive.
The camera offers motion detection with custom motion zones, 1080p video with IR night vision, a phone app and Alexa integration, plus IP65 ingress protection so it won’t mind being caught in the rain.
Buy now £61.99, Amazon
Reolink 4K PoE Security Camera
Best for: not having to charge at all
This 4K camera from Reolink doesn’t require batteries or Wi-Fi. Instead, it uses PoE, or power over Ethernet, which supplies power and network connectivity via an Ethernet cable and a special power injector you’ll need to buy separately.
While this may take a little more time and effort to install than a wireless camera, it’s worth it for the additional stability it offers, and the extra power means it can use a set of spotlights to provide colour video footage at night and at a higher resolution than other cameras. There’s a 5x optical zoom too, and footage can be saved on a Micro SD card.
Buy now £71.39, Amazon
Eufy Security S220 SoloCam Solar
Best for: solar charging
There are a lot of cameras out there that get their power from a separate solar panel, charging up during the day and then running from an internal battery at night. What we like about the Eufy Solocam Solar, however, is that the solar panel is integrated into the top of the unit itself, meaning you don’t need to find a place for the panel and spend time screwing it to a wall.
It does mean that you’ll want to install the camera somewhere the sun can reach, making it less ideal for shady places, but with its IP67 ingress protection rating, it’s more than prepared to fight off the British weather, so can be placed in an exposed location to soak up the sunshine.
Features include two-way voice chat, security zones for person detection, a 135-degree field of view, Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, and a 2K resolution with IR night vision. Clips are saved to 8GB of on-device storage, meaning no subscription to a cloud service is needed, and can be viewed through the Eufy app.
Buy now £49.99, Amazon
Swann WiFi Series 1080p Floodlight Security System
Best for: deterring intruders
Large and rather noticeable, if you’re looking for something with a deterrent effect as well as video recording, then this is the one to get. Its bright lights and siren are joined by 1080p video recording with IR to record in darkness when the lights aren’t on.
Having the 2,500-lumen floodlights unfortunately means this camera will need to be connected to the mains somehow, but it still has wireless network connectivity and a phone app to pipe its footage to.
Without a subscription, the video files can be stored on a Micro SD card for eight days, or in the cloud for two days. There’s Alexa and Google Assistant integration too.
Buy now £104.99, Amazon
Eufy Security S100 Wired Wall Cam Light
Best for: constant illumination
This unusual camera from Eufy is designed to replace an existing wall light, adding a smart camera to monitor an area you want to be illuminated at night. As such, it requires a wired power connection but connects to your Wi-Fi for data transfer. It’s IP65 weatherproof, so won’t mind being out in the rain.
It can illuminate a space up to 30ft in size with its 1,200 lumen lights, and can automatically turn on and off at sunset and sunrise. You get 2K footage, IR motion detection, and the ability to store footage on 4GB of internal storage for up to 25 days without a subscription. Add the Homebase 3 hub to your system, and you can store even more.
Additional security features include a 105dB siren, two-way voice communication, and person detection with two customisable activity zones to reduce false alerts.
Buy now £79.00, Amazon
Ring Outdoor Camera Plug-In (Stick Up Cam)
Best for: real-time motion detection
Install your own outdoor security system with Ring’s ever-popular Outdoor Plug-in Stick Up Camera - a wireless outdoor camera that can be mounted wherever you please. Monitor and converse with guests as they arrive via the Ring app, which offers real-time motion detection to map people outside your home. Turn on notifications to see when motion is detected by the camera, helping you feel at ease when out of the house.
The outdoor camera is weather-resistant, meaning it can be used throughout winter and further features a battery-less design. Powered using a standard electrical socket, you’ll never have to worry about the juice running low.
There is a subscription for Ring Protect that costs £3.49 a month but this is in order to store video footage and watch it back. You can use it for free to monitor in real time.
Buy now £49.99, Amazon
