In the age of state surveillance, with big tech trampling our data privacy rights and gouging us for every penny, there are plenty of reasons to keep your security camera footage local. Whether you want to save money or ensure your video doesn’t end up in the hands of persons (or AI) unknown, subscription-free security cameras are the way to go.
The good news is that locally recording security cameras are better than ever. I’ve been testing security cameras for a decade, and the gap between the best cloud-connected and local cameras is closing. You don’t necessarily have to give up the best features to shirk that subscription anymore. Even AI detection smarts can now be found in local systems.
I will recommend the best subscription-free security cameras I have tested so far, but I also plan to test more hard-wired systems and local recording options in the months to come. You may also be interested in how to secure your video doorbell.
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Best Subscription-Free Security Camera Brands
Rather than just listing cameras, I’m highlighting three manufacturers to consider. I will single out a few specific cameras I like, but most brands have a wide selection of options to suit different scenarios and budgets, so I’ll discuss a few alternatives beyond my main picks.
Eufy
With a very wide range of reliable security cameras, Eufy (a sub-brand of Anker) is my top pick for most folks. They are easy to set up, suitable for all budgets, and support different local storage options. After some controversy in the past over data breaches and claims about local storage, Eufy improved its security protocols.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Photograph: Simon Hill
Photograph: Simon Hill
Eufy
EufyCam S4
If you want the most versatile and feature-packed local security camera system, this might be it. These triple-lens cameras combine a 4K fixed main lens that has a 130-degree field of view, with dual 2K lenses that pan through 360 degrees and tilt through 70 degrees. You can zoom in on subjects or license plates more than 150 feet away. These cameras will reliably track subjects and return to fixed preset positions, and you don’t have to worry about missing anything in the usual view because of the fixed lens. There’s also a hefty, quick swap 10,000-mAh battery and a solar panel that you can screw on top or run a short distance away to better capture the sun (mine stayed charged in a dismal Scottish winter).
Features include onboard AI for reasonably accurate human, pet, and vehicle detection, configurable activity zones, and detection sensitivity controls. Each camera has 32 GB of built-in storage (expandable to 256 GB via microSD). Pair these cameras with Eufy’s HomeBase S380, and you get 16 GB of storage (expandable to 16 TB with hard drives) and local facial recognition. No AI is perfect for detection, and Eufy’s AI doesn’t quite match Google Nest’s leading cloud-based Gemini AI for accuracy, but it’s the best local option. Other weaknesses include the frame rate (capped at 15 fps), which can lead to blurry footage with fast-moving subjects, basic sound quality for two-way audio, and occasionally slow-loading feeds, especially when connecting away from home.
Photograph: Simon Hill
The Eufy S4 Max ($1,500) is a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) wired version of this camera. The kit includes four cameras, long cables, and an NVR with 2 TB of storage (expandable to 16 TB and 16 channels). It gives you all the benefits of the wireless version, but doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi and doesn't need the solar panel, though you must run Ethernet cables to each camera.
If you’re fine with fixed cameras, I also like the EufyCam S3 Pro ($550) in a 2-cam kit with the Homebase. The Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 ($220) tops my best floodlight security cameras, and I have the dual-lens Eufy Indoor Cam S350 ($140) in my best indoor security cameras. These are some of the pricier Eufy cameras, but I have also tested and liked the Eufy C35 2-Cam Kit ($200) and the Eufy Indoor Cam E220 ($55).
TP-Link Tapo
The Tapo line from TP-Link is my budget-conscious pick, because these are some of the best quality local-recording cameras you can get without spending much. But TP-Link faces a potential US ban because of claims about its networking gear (routers), though such a ban would likely not include its Tapo cameras. Tapo cameras also lack proper end-to-end encryption.
Photograph: Simon Hill
TP-Link
Tapo Wire-Free MagCam (Battery)
This camera offers value, and I love the magnetic mount for easy adjustment and removal when you need to charge. It supports video at up to 2K and 30 frames per second, has a 150-degree field of view, and records locally on a microSD card (up to 512 GB). It connects directly to Wi-Fi and the feed generally loads within a few seconds in the Tapo app, where you’ll also find configurable privacy zones and activity zones. Detection is solid, and it can mostly tell the difference between people, pets, and vehicles. If you don’t want to worry about charging it every couple of months, snag a solar panel. There’s also a two-cam kit that comes with a small indoor hub with a microSD card slot.
On the downside, it lacks HDR, so direct bright sunshine can make it tricky to see bright areas clearly (it will be fine in a shady spot). It’s annoying that the rich notifications with snapshots and the video filtering require a subscription, but you don’t need them. If you want higher-res video, the Tapo MagCam 4K Solar ($150) boosts the resolution to 4K and comes with a solar panel, though its frame rate is limited to 15.
Photograph: Simon Hill
TP-Link
Tapo C120
If you're looking for a pan-and-tilt outdoor camera, consider the Tapo C660 ($160) or the HybridCam Duo C246D ($70). If you can run a power cable, I like the Tapo C325WB ($59). If you want an indoor camera, the TP-Link Tapo C120 is my top pick, though the even cheaper C110 is also good. For a panning camera to cover a wider area, I like the Tapo C225 ($44), or maybe the C216 ($36).
Aqara
One of the big selling points for Aqara’s devices is the support for Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video. Aqara also makes a ton of smart home sensors and gadgets, and some of its cameras boast features and connectivity that can help your smart home perform better. On the downside, Aqara’s app is confusing and buggy, though you can largely bypass it if you use Apple’s HSV or Home Assistant.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Aqara
Camera Hub G5 Pro
While up to 2K at 20 frames per second and a 133-degree field of view doesn’t sound great, this camera has a big image sensor, so it produces rich video and has impressive color night vision. The basics are solid, with AI detection that can divide subjects into people, vehicles, animals, and packages with few mistakes.
The real reason to consider it is that the camera doubles as a Matter controller and Thread border router. If you’re sick of your robot mower or outdoor smart lighting struggling to stay connected or they’re not as responsive to commands as you’d like, this camera can help. It can also work as a Zigbee hub for Aqara devices, and it continues to work, even when your Wi-Fi goes down. There are Wi-Fi and PoE versions of this camera. Support for Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) makes it easy to use with a third-party client on your NAS or with Home Assistant.
On the downside, Aqara’s app is sprawling and rough around the edges. It will likely take some tinkering to get it set up the way you want, and features like event filtering, SMS or email notifications, and video sharing require a subscription. If you do want to use HSV, you also need a HomeKit hub, such as a HomePod Mini or Apple TV, and an iCloud storage plan. But none of this is essential.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Aqara
Camera Hub G3
For indoors, the pan and tilt Camera Hub G3 is worth a look, and if you just want something basic, the Aqara Camera G100 ($40) is very affordable.
Other Manufacturers
I have excluded brands that require cloud connections, such as Google’s Nest (cloud-only) and Arlo (local option for backup only). I also decided not to include brands that only offer certain important features with subscriptions, such as Amazon’s Blink and Wyze. Other brands like Reolink, Ezviz, Lorex, Swann, Imilab, Baseus, Annke, and Safemo didn’t make the cut for several reasons, including video quality or performance that failed to match our picks above, quirky or buggy apps, and failure to alert for every event.
Where is My Security Camera Footage Stored?
Recording locally can mean many things. Here are some of your options. It can also be a good idea to record to at least two locations, so you have a backup if one should fail.
Network Video Recorder (NVR): These boxes can record and store video from multiple cameras. If your NVR has 12 channels, then you can connect 12 cameras. If you have power over Ethernet (PoE) cameras, they will connect to your NVR using a single Ethernet cable that delivers video and power. Some NVRs can also connect to wireless cameras. They usually come with built-in expandable storage. You can also usually hook up a monitor to show live camera feeds and a mouse to navigate around. Older analog cameras tend to link to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) instead.
Local Hub: Manufacturers like Eufy and TP-Link offer smart hubs that link wirelessly to their security cameras and offer expandable storage. Sometimes these local hubs allow for more local AI processing (Eufy’s hub enables facial recognition). They can also sometimes extend the wireless signal and stability for cameras. These hubs often need to be plugged directly into your router via Ethernet cable.
MicroSD Card: Plugging a microSD card into a camera is a quick and simple way to record locally, but if an intruder steals the camera, your footage is gone with it. Occasionally, camera manufacturers offer indoor hubs that are expandable via a MicroSD card.
Network Attached Storage (NAS): If you have a NAS server, you can likely configure it to store your security camera video. These devices contain hard drives and are expandable, offering a potentially enormous amount of storage.
The best USB flash drives and external hard drives can be used to expand or offload footage from some of the above.
Cloud vs. Local
I have a guide on Cloud vs. Local security camera footage that covers the basic pros and cons in more depth, but to sum up briefly:
Cloud storage means your video is backed up online, so an intruder can’t get to it, it is usually quicker to access or stream when you are away from home, and it doesn’t require any additional storage hardware. On the downside, you pay a monthly fee, the video doesn’t get uploaded if your Wi-Fi fails or is scrambled, and you are trusting the service provider, who may share it or use it in ways you’d prefer they didn’t (data breaches are also common).
Local storage is a one-off cost, it’s not reliant on Wi-Fi, and it’s much harder for anyone other than you to access the footage. But, there’s a risk someone steals the physical hardware your footage is stored on, or the hardware fails, and it can be slower to access and stream video when you are away from home.
For maximum security, even with a local system, you might consider a cloud backup. You can reduce the risk of your footage being exposed by picking a cloud service that is end-to-end encrypted, such as Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video.
Protecting Your Privacy
Access to your security camera feeds and recorded videos should be end-to-end encrypted, and you should always use two-factor authentication to protect account access. With end-to-end encryption, only your authorized devices can decrypt your videos. With 2FA, you will be sent a passcode to a trusted number, email, or device when you try to log in on a new device, so your login and password alone are not enough to gain access. Sadly, these features are not always turned on by default.
- Eufy cameras offer end-to-end encryption, but you must opt in by tapping the menu top left in the app and choosing Settings, Security, Video Encryption, Advanced Encryption. You can make sure 2FA is toggled on by tapping your name at the top of the menu and Two-factor authentication.
- TP-Link Tapo cameras lack end-to-end encryption, but you can set up 2FA for your account by tapping on the Me tab, View account, Login Security. To encrypt footage on microSD cards, go to your device settings and choose Storage & Recording, Local Storage, and tap SD Card Encryption.
- Aqara offers end-to-end encryption on your locally stored video by default. For 2FA, tap Profile at the bottom right, Settings, Accounts and Security, and make sure Two-Factor Authentication is toggled on.
For folks with serious concerns about connecting their security cameras to the internet, it may be worth considering setting up a dedicated VLAN with no internet access. But this will prevent many of the camera’s features (such as event notifications) from working, and you’ll need a VPN to safely tunnel in and check feeds or footage when you are away from home.
A Word on Hardware Security and China
While many security cameras can be hacked, some folks have specific concerns about hardware manufactured in China. There are persistent rumors about the Chinese government insisting on backdoors being installed in Chinese-manufactured hardware, but little proof. Devices from Chinese manufacturers have certainly been involved in data breaches, but that’s true of devices from US manufacturers, too. Some claim concern over national security, others say trade war posturing, but they’re not mutually exclusive.
It’s surprisingly tricky to find subscription-free security cameras aimed at the general public that are not manufactured in China or packed with components that are. I plan to test more subscription-free security cameras in the coming months, including devices from IC Realtime. But most of the companies I have identified so far that don’t manufacture in China are very expensive, focused on business customers, or both. I will keep looking, but if there are any brands you think WIRED should test, please post a comment and suggest them.
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