Despite its low price and compact design, the Wyze Cam v3 doesn't compromise in terms of image quality or leave out any critical features. After three generations of refinement, it's actually one of the top performers in its price range. Installation, setup, and control are as simple as can be, which is somewhat of a hallmark of Wyze smart devices. And while it's perfect for indoors, it's durable enough to withstand the elements, making it especially versatile for something so cheap. And unlike other bargain-basement security cameras, it sends notifications with impressive quickness when it detects something moving.

If you're looking for constant coverage of deep areas such as a long hallway, it's hard to beat the Reolink E1 Zoom. It's one of few options with optical zoom capabilities that can magnify video up to 3X without losing image quality. The downside is that it does not support automatic zoom based on motion detection, which would have put it in the running for an editor's choice award. Otherwise, it's a dependable camera with a high-resolution output. In fact, its 2560 by 1920 sensor is awfully clear for something that costs $100 and is frequently discounted. And to keep things safe at night, it offers some of the best night vision performance you'll find.

The TP-Link Tapo C100 is evidence of just how small and efficient electronics can be these days. It looks every bit as good as its 1080p resolution would have you expect, but costs barely anything and is remarkably compact. The app is particularly easy to use, and you can store videos on the cloud or a microSD card in addition to streaming them locally via screen sharing with a TV or PC. The two-way audio configuration makes it perfect for use as a baby monitor or pet camera, and the black-and-white night vision works at ranges of up to 30 feet.

If you're invested in the Ring ecosystem, the Ring Stick Up Camera is one of the most convenient models you can choose. Just stick it on a wall or ceiling, turn it on, open the Ring app, and the setup is practically finished. The battery-powered model is definitely the better choice, as it can be a huge pain to run new wiring indoors or out. While the Ring app is renowned for being powerful and easy to use, there's also a desktop app that lets you monitor the camera from any PC. Its image quality is better than you might expect from a 1080p sensor, with no major compression issues.

It works especially well with Ring devices; however, being an Amazon company, Ring's devices don't play nicely with Google or HomeKit smart home configurations. And, like other Ring cameras, you won't get the best performance or recording from it unless you purchase the subscription. Luckily, that's not super expensive.

If you demand premium image quality and don't want to mess around with a complicated and extensive base station, the Arlo Pro 4 is worth a look. A 1440p sensor and combination spotlight and infrared night vision provide impeccable image quality night and day, and the customizable motion detection zones work as well as any others on the market. It's small enough to be hardly noticeable once installed, and its wide field of view keeps you from missing out on any action. Notably, it doesn't require any base station or adapter to connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network, although you might have to adjust a dual-band network a little during the initial setup. The only real negative about the Pro 4 is that it's nowhere near cheap, but top-of-the-line image quality does tend to come at a price.

As the successor to a wildly popular indoor security camera, the Wyze Cam Pan v2, unsurprisingly, is once again one of the best choices for many users. As usual among Wyze products, the app is powerful and user-friendly, quickly implementing commands and issuing notifications. It offers cloud storage for just a few dollars per month, or you can do it locally using a microSD card. In addition to great support for Alexa and Google Assistant, you can use IFTTT programming to further integrate within your existing smart home setup. When it comes to discerning motion detection, Wyze has done a great job implementing algorithms that serve you only the alerts you need. All told, very few features are missing from the Cam Pan v2, and its reasonable price makes it a good choice for just about anyone.

The Kasa KC400 is an entry-level indoor security that's often used as a baby monitor due to its 24/7 recording capabilities and passable (but not perfect) night vision. At $40 (and often found on sale), there aren't many that are less expensive or as small. It's quite the straightforward device, using wired power and allowing up to 256 GB of video storage via a microSD card slot. You can set four custom motion detection zones and program the camera to activate other smart devices in case it picks something up. The app is relatively user-friendly, although it's slow when delivering live notifications. Despite its lack of most advanced features, the KC400 is a good choice for keeping track of what's going on in an individual room in your house.

Blink cameras are known for how simple and easy they are to set up, configure, and keep track of, but they don't always have the widest feature sets. The Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera is a little different. As the name implies, it can pan and tilt, giving you a clear view of the widest rooms, day or night. It uses the same dependable app Blink is known for and integrates with Alexa and products from other Amazon brands like Ring. In that light, we wouldn't advise adding a Blink camera to a Google-heavy household.

Xiaomi and its subsidiaries make great and reasonably priced electronics, and that holds true with the Aqara G3. It's meant for those who already have some expertise in smart home design, which is reinforced by its inclusion of a Zigbee 3.0 hub. So if you already have plenty of smart devices centered around the low-interference Zigbee protocol, the G3 is an easy choice.

Aside from its great connectivity, it also boasts 340-degree views thanks to mechanical panning. Its resolution is better than average, and it's one of the rare cameras that lets you output to a PC via a wired USB connection. It doesn't directly support integration with other brands of smart home devices, but savvy users can get around that thanks to in-depth IFTTT applet support. The setup process and app are best navigated by those with some tech experience. Beginners, by comparison, will find this one unnecessarily complicated.

Ecobee makes some excellent smart devices with novel features, including the SmartCamera. Like the Ecobee SmartThermostat, it sports an integrated Alexa smart speaker, so you can control your compatible devices without having to buy an additional smart speaker. Also, a premium 170-degree field of view means you won't miss what's happening anywhere in the room, and a high-contrast infrared sensor ensures you'll be able to see everything at night. Setup is also relatively simple, with a Bluetooth radio designed to aid in connecting the device to your home Wi-Fi.

With all that said, avoid it if you don't plan on using Alexa or if you are already invested in other subscription-based security solutions. It locks several helpful features behind the subscription wall, and most people don't want to rack up tons of monthly bills to keep their house safe with a DIY security setup.