Best Indoor Home Security Camera - Buying Guide

That just leaves security cameras inside your home, and here’s a basic breakdown of the major home security camera systems.

It’s best to choose a camera that you can monitor. If it’s an outdoor camera that you won’t be able to monitor inside your home, it won’t offer the level of security you’ll need.

Here’s a home security camera buying guide for the typical home. Click to expand.

How Many Cameras Do I Need?

Indoor home security cameras usually capture motion, so you’ll need at least one camera for each room you want to monitor. At a minimum, you’ll need at least two cameras outside the home (if you want to monitor outside the home), and more cameras will allow you to monitor more than one room at a time (if you don’t have enough cameras outside to cover all the areas that may need it).

Not all cameras fit a single room though. Outdoor cameras will usually fit at least two or three rooms (some outdoor cameras can actually fit four rooms). Indoor cameras usually have multiple cameras and can work with multiple indoor cameras for more coverage. Indoor cameras will typically have a limited motion detection range that won’t cover all the areas that you need them to. Some indoor cameras will also have several zoom features that allow you to zoom in to areas that may not be as bright as the other parts of your home.

Accessory Cameras

Accessory cameras add additional features to your home security system. These are used to add additional security, but they’re not included in the price of your home security system. In most cases, you’ll be able to add an accessory camera at a discounted price from the manufacturer of the home security camera you already have.

Accessory Cameras

Accessory cameras will generally be part of a home security system that you buy for your own home. You’ll need to check with the manufacturer of your current home security camera system to find out if it will be compatible with the accessory camera you buy.

Accessory cameras can include items like doorbell cameras, security cameras that sit on your windows, or security cameras that sit outside your home (if your home security camera system is aimed at the exterior).

Accessory cameras are often less expensive, but there are some important limitations. Accessories will typically only work within a certain range of the home security camera system. There may also be limits on how high the camera can be mounted or how long it can monitor a certain area.

Accessory cameras that sit outside the home can generally work on existing indoor security cameras. The most common way to set up the cameras on your home security system is to add them to an indoor camera unit.

Accessory cameras can also be added to outdoor security cameras. In most cases, these cameras will connect to your existing indoor cameras (again checking to see if the home security system is compatible) for additional coverage.

Accessory Cameras for Home Security Systems

Accessory cameras are often just as expensive as a home security system. They typically cost $60 or more, although some models will cost a lot more.

Accessory cameras can range in price from $25 for a small camera that connects to your existing indoor security camera (less than a minute of video, no zoom, and an indoor range of 30 feet) all the way up to $120 for a top of the line security camera system that offers a range of multiple cameras, multiple video recording options, and multiple monitoring options.

Accessory cameras are not designed for active home security systems. You won’t need to add an accessory camera when you’re leaving your home. However, if you have an active security system (like a security system that comes with cameras or doors) you’ll probably need an accessory camera to monitor your home (or nearby areas) if you have an intruder in your home.