Whether you’re concerned about home intruders or just need to spy on your dog, these cameras can stream a live video feed straight to your smartphone.

The best of the best

Arlo Pro 2

The rechargeable indoor-outdoor Arlo Pro 2 home security camera has a lot of features that make it stand out from other systems. First, it comes with free seven-day motion-based cloud storage. It’s also easy to set up and use — and the app is straightforward.

Besides the basic features like night vision, two-way audio, motion detection and alerts, it has a lot of extra security features, such as a built-in siren and arm/disarm modes. At $480, a two-pack of these plus the required base station isn’t cheap, but the Arlo Pro 2 is a solid product that works well and can go pretty much anywhere.

Best indoor security cam

Wyze Cam Pan

The $30 Wyze Cam Pan isn’t just a great budget security camera, it’s a great camera. Period.

It features HD live streaming, motion alerts, a decent app and, best of all, 14 days of free motion-based cloud storage. This Wyze camera also features a built-in microSD card if you want to go the local storage route. 

It works with Alexa voice commands, too, and features motion detection zones and the ability to listen for and alert you to special frequencies, like smoke alarms. 

Best doorbell camera

Nest Hello

The $229 Nest Hello doorbell features HD live streaming, motion alerts and person alerts. Person detection won’t tell you who’s at the door, but it will tell you it saw a person. If you pay for the Nest Aware cloud subscription service (subscription fees start at $5 per month for that option), you also get access to saved video recordings and facial recognition.

With facial recognition, you can create a database of friends and family members and get custom alerts telling you who’s there.

Best Alexa doorbell camera

Ring Door View Cam

The $199 Ring Door View Cam is a solid smart video doorbell. Like other Ring cameras, it features HD live streaming, motion alerts and replaces existing peepholes. Pay $3 per month for access to saved video clips so you can review them at a later date. 

It also works with Alexa. With this camera and a compatible Alexa smart display, you can pull up your live feed and even talk to who’s there, straight from your Echo display. 

Two Ring patent applications suggest that the Amazon home security company is considering adding facial recognition to its cameras in the future. The patents address the possibility of the face-scanning tech running your image through a law enforcement database to ID individuals considered “suspicious.” 

Select US police departments offer Ring products to local residents at a discount, sometimes in exchange for sharing footage with law enforcement.

Best Google-Assistant cam

Nest Cam IQ Indoor

The $299 Nest Cam IQ Indoor camera has a lot of the same smarts and features as the Nest Hello speaker. It features HD live streaming, motion alerts, person alerts and access to the Nest Aware service option. Starting at $5 per month, a Nest Aware subscription offers advanced features like facial recognition. Create a database of friends and family and get alerts telling you “Molly” or “Andrew” is at the door.

But this model also features a built-in Google Assistant speaker. So just like the Google Home and other Google-Assistant-enabled smart speakers and displays, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor responds to the wake phrase,

View full article: The best home security cameras of 2019