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Wyze vs Blink vs Ring vs Netvue vs Ezviz and others: It’s an epic melee between the world’s best budget wifi security cameras for under $50, under $100, and under $200. And we’re here to bring you a ringside seat!
While you may find a few of these in Consumer Reports, we provide more options. We’ve included our picks for both indoor and outdoor cameras as well as a few picks for video doorbells & alarms.
Here’s our list of the 11 best budget wifi security cameras, video doorbells, and alarms you can find in 2019:
Indoor Security Cameras:
- Best Budget Cam Under $50: Wyze Cam v2
- Runner Up Under $50: EZVIZ Indoor Security Camera
- Best All-Around Under $100: Blink Indoor
- Best Baby Monitor Under $100: Netvue WiFi Camera
- Runner Up Under $100: EZVIZ Dome Camera
- Best Five-Piece Security System for Under $200: Ring Alarm
Outdoor Security Cameras:
- Best Video Doorbell Under $50: EKEN Video Doorbell 2
- Runner Up Doorbell Under $100: Ring Video Doorbell 2
- Best Outdoor [Single] Under $200: xmartO Hybrid Wireless Security Camera
- Best Multi-Camera System for Under $1000: Zmodo
Affordable Indoor / Outdoor Security Cameras
Call them what you like: nanny cams, pet cams, or wireless home security cameras.
Whatever you want to call them, the adoption of indoor and outdoor security cameras by homeowners is a growing trend [Source: Statistica].
These neat surveillance devices for both inside and out help to prevent theft, help police catch thieves, let you watch the kids or elderly family members and check up on your pets. Heck, they will even help you save money on homeowners insurance.
Best of all?
The prices on these systems have fallen dramatically in recent months. Basic cameras that let you monitor your home using your smartphone are now within reach of virtually any budget.
Options abound on Amazon, so much so that it can be very confusing as to what to buy.
That’s where we come in.
In this article, we’ll break down the best cheap home security cameras from Wyze, Blink, Netvue, Ring, and others. And we’ll organize them by price starting with some very inexpensive but highly-rated and hugely popular products.
Take a Bite Out of Crime
Remember McGruff, that crime-fighting dog from the 80s? He warned you to lock your door in order to help “take a bite out of crime.”
[Sorry about the poor video quality; this is best we could find on our friend McGruff.]Sadly, criminals and thieves have gotten much more sophisticated these days, and it will take more than lights and locked doors to stop them.
Did you know that there are 1.4 million home burglaries each year and that police solve only 13% of them due to lack of witnesses or physical evidence?
Don’t become another statistic. Get the facts with this humungous Burglary Statistics Infographic [courtesy: SafeAtLast], and then get a security camera to help deter theft and catch thieves in the act!
Indoor Security Camera Price Comparison Table
Wyze vs Blink vs Ring vs Netvue vs Ezviz
Here’s a table listing all of the best budget wifi cams (Wyze vs Blink vs Ring vs Netvue vs Ezviz and others). All of these are featured in this review along with their price. Prices are updated daily as of the date and time at the bottom of the table. You can click on the product image or SEE IT button to see the item on Amazon and the latest pricing.
Indoor Security Cameras: Wyze vs Blink vs Ring vs Netvue vs Ezviz
Best General Purpose Under $50: Wyze Cam v2
Value for Price
When you weigh the pros and cons of Wyze vs Blink, Ring, Netvue, Ezviz, the Wyze Cam v2 from Wyze Labs offers tremendous value at a very affordable price. In fact, this is probably the best overall value of the best budget security cameras for under $50 and even under $100 and $200. What’s more, it delivers the full set of features you would expect from a higher end camera. These include 1080p high def streaming, night vision, and two-way audio. And it works with Alexa to boot!
If you’re interested in seeing it in action, check out this helpful video from Smart Home Solver. [Nice job Reed.]
This is our pick of the best budget home security cameras and it really is an amazing deal. I bought one for my sister this past Christmas and it literally took me less than 10 minutes to set it up. Besides, at this price what do you have to lose!
Runner Up Under $50: EZVIZ Indoor Security Camera
Features and Value for Price
The EZVIZ Indoor Security Camera offers wireless IP surveillance with night vision, motion alerts, plus two-way audio and 135° wide-angle view. Footage can be stored in the Cloud and it also works with Alexa. Customers who own this camera on Amazon give it high marks.
Best Baby Monitor Under $100: Netvue WiFi Camera
Features and Value for Price
The Netvue WiFi Camera offers all of the same features of the Wyze Cam, plus it’s compatible with the Amazon Echo Show and has motion detection and internal storage. It makes an awesome baby monitor. This one of the best cheap home security cameras you can buy in 2019 bar none.
Best All-Around Under $100: Blink Indoor
Features and Value for Price
The Blink Indoor Home Security Camera also has motion detection and HD video. The battery last longer than many security cameras we have tested [2-years]. It also includes storage of video footage to the Cloud. You can see Blink’s ad below:
Certified Refurbished or Blink Indoor Add-On Camera
If you’re willing to go the Certified Refurbished route you can save big on a refurbished indoor security camera (subject to availability). You can also get an Add On Blink Security Camera to make for a pretty cool video intercom setup. Absolutely, this one of our favorite best cheap home security cameras.
Runner Up Under $100: EZVIZ Dome Camera
Features and Value for Price
The EVIZ Dome Camera has all of the benefits of the Indoor Security Camera with great pan, tilt, and zoom capabilities as well as night vision and smart tracking.One-Touch Privacy Shutter: A privacy shutter allows you to turn on/off the lens whenever you need privacy.
Outdoor Security Cameras
Quick Comparison Table: xmarto vs Dericam vs Zmodo
Here’s a table listing all the best budget outdoor security cameras featured here (xmarto vs Dericam vs Zmodo). Prices were last updated as of the date and time at the bottom of the table. You can click on the product image to see the item on Amazon and the latest pricing.
Best Outdoor [Single] for Under $250: xmartO Hybrid Wireless Security Camera
Features and Value for Price
The xmartO Hybrid Wireless Security camera system is expandable and offers exceptional pan, tilt and zoom capabilities. It includes a 1TB with 8CH 1080p NVR, built-in audio, and 2X 960p fixed-angle view.
Best Outdoor for Under $200: Dericam Outdoor Wireless Security Camera
Features and Value for Price
Next on our list of best cheap home security cameras is the Dericam Outdoor Wireless Security Camera. This outdoor home security camera features 4X optical zoom, auto-focus,1.3-megapixel display, and a pre-installed 32GB memory card.
Best Business System for Under $1000: Zmodo Surveillance System [Ideal for Businesses]
Features and Value for Price
Ideal for business or for those serious about outside security, the Zmodo Surveillance System features a 32 channel 1080p HDMI NVR surveillance system, a weatherproof sPoE security camera w/repeater, plus 24/7 recording & remote monitoring capabilities. While this is more expensive that the other items here, it is very inexpensive full perimeter coverage video surveillance system.
Alarms and Doorbells
Quick Comparison Table: Ring Alarm vs Eken vs Ring Video Doorbell
Here’s a table listing all the best budget outdoor security cameras featured here (Ring Alarm vs Eken vs Ring Video Doorbell). All of these are featured in this review along with their price. Prices were last updated as of the date and time at the bottom of the table. You can click on the product image to see the item on Amazon and the latest pricing.
Best Five-Piece Alarm for Under $200: Ring Alarm
Features and Value for Price
Ring Alarm is a professional-grade, eight-piece home security system at a super price. The alarm can be purchased with or without Ring’s optional 24/7 monitoring.
Remember this song from Blondie?
Man, she still sounds good. Oh alright, back to the deals!
Best Video Doorbell for Around $50: EKEN Video Doorbell 2
Features and Value for Price
Next on our list of indoor/outdoor home security cameras not in Consumer Reports is the EKEN Video Doorbell. This awesome doorbell makes it easy to see who’s at your front [or back or side] door. It includes a high-definition WiFi camera, plus real-time video, two-way audio, wide-angle lens, and night vision. You can run the doorbell off of a battery if you don’t have wiring at your door.
Thanks to Poc Network for this helpful unboxing video.
Moreover, it’s motion detection app will notify you when someone comes to visit.
Here’s another video interview of Grace with Eken that gives some additional details.
Best Video Doorbell for Around $100: Ring Video Doorbell 2
Value for Price
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 lets you check-in on your property at anytime with live-view on-demand video. It lets you see, hear and speak to visitors outside your home from your phone, tablet, or PC. The doorbell will send alerts as soon as motion is detected or when visitors press the doorbell. And it works with Alexa to send announcements to Echo devices when your doorbell is pressed or motion is detected, allowing you to hear and speak to visitors with two-way talk. Set up is easy and it works with or without existing doorbell wires. Ding dong.
Wyze vs Blink vs Ring vs Netvue vs Ezviz – What Do You Think?
So which is your favorite security camera out of Wyze vs Blink vs Ring vs Netvue vs Ezviz?
What do you think is the best budget security cam for under $50 / $100 /$200?
It’s amazing how much the prices have dropped so dramatically on these cameras the past year.
Do you plan to purchase an indoor or outdoor camera? How about a video doorbell or alarm?
Please leave a comment below and let us know. We would love to hear from you.
Giant Burglary Statistics Infographic
Here’s the HUGE Burglary Statistics Infographic that we mentioned above.
Our thanks to our friends over at SafeAtLast.co for letting us display it here.
Budget Security Cameras Can Help Take a Bite Out of Crime
Related Posts
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About the Author
Tim Brennan, Technical Writer & Blogger
Tim Brennan [a.k.a. "Tec Timmy"] is a senior technical writer with over 20 years of experience writing for companies and organizations in and around Greater Boston, including GE and MIT. In addition to actively writing for this smart home blog, Tim is also a regular contributor over at UniversalRemoteReviews.com. Tim holds a BA in Journalism from Northeastern University. Brennan is a father to two sons, an active blogger, a Star Wars nut, and loves a good taco🌮. There is a strong chance he is developing a crush on Amazon Alexa. You can learn more about Tim here.
Comments
Kudos to the writer for creating such a good comparison list. But I think Sensor Camera and Video
Door Bell by Hogar Control could be a wonderful addition to this list. While I have seen the others in
action, I chose Hogar Controls Sensor Camera and Video door bell for my home.
I first experienced its features when I stayed at my aunt’s place for a couple of days. Firstly, when I
reached my aunt’s home, she was at work and had forgotten that I was about to visit. She got a push
notification that I was at her door. And suddenly I could hear her out of nowhere. All thanks to two-
way audio of Hogar’s Video Door Bell. I told her I was about to stay for a few days. She unlocked the
door using her Hogar app.
And while staying with my aunt, I was blown away with Hogar’s Video door bell, sensor camera, and
its phenomenal app. So, I had to get them for my home. And I got them.
Hello Jessi, Sorry for my delay in response. We will take a look for sure!
It’s hard to come by knowledgeable people about this topic,
but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Glad you found it useful!
These infographics explain everything. Thanks for sharing this article.