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Article updated on February 29, 2024 at 12:00 PM PST

Best Indoor Security Cameras for 2024

Keep watch over your room, hallway or open floor plan with the best indoor security cameras for every living situation, including options for pets, renters and more.

Our Experts

Written by 
Tyler Lacoma
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
Tyler Lacoma Editor / Home Security
For more than 10 years Tyler has used his experience in smart home tech to craft how-to guides, explainers, and recommendations for technology of all kinds. From using his home in beautiful Bend, OR as a testing zone for the latest security products to digging into the nuts and bolts of the best data privacy guidelines, Tyler has experience in all aspects of protecting your home and belongings. With a BA in Writing from George Fox and certification in Technical Writing from Oregon State University, he's ready to get you the details you need to make the best decisions for your home. On off hours, you can find Tyler exploring the Cascade trails, finding the latest brew in town with some friends, or trying a new recipe in the kitchen!
Expertise Smart home, smart security, home tech, energy savings, A/V
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Our Picks

$100 at Walmart
Best overall indoor security camera
Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired)
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$110 at Amazon
Best pan/tilt indoor camera
Eufy Indoor Cam S350
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$25 at Amazon
Best budget indoor security camera
TP-Link Tapo C210
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$70 at Target
Best portable indoor security camera
Ring Stick Up Cam (2nd-gen)
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$30 at Best Buy
Best indoor security camera when you have roommates
Blink Mini
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$40 at B&H Photo-Video
Best indoor security camera with local storage
Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Indoor Camera
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$99 at Amazon
Best indoor security camera for pets
Furbo 360 Dog Camera (subscription version)
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What's the best indoor security camera for 2024?

The second-generation Google Nest Cam is best in class if you need an all-purpose indoor security cam that’s equipped and ready to monitor anywhere inside your home. This wired cam provides a bunch of features like HD video, digital zoom, night vision and more -- all of this while also delivering valuable extras like two-way audio and several color options to match your walls. Smart home fans will appreciate full compatibility with the Google Home ecosystem plus Alexa support, while buyers trying to avoid subscriptions will love the three hours of free video cloud storage.

While versatile, Google’s Nest Cam is expensive for an indoor cam. With over 100 hours of testing home security cameras from the highest-rated brands, we’re ready to recommend several other indoor security camera models. Our list includes cams perfect for savings, the best cams if you’re living with roommates, models for keeping an eye on your pets and kids, and premium security cam options if you don't mind spending more to monitor a larger space. And since we're looking primarily at single-camera solutions for this list, all these cams are DIY and easy to install with minimal effort -- although you may also want to check out the best home security systems for bigger projects.

We’re also going over tips on how to choose the best indoor security cams (while respecting privacy laws), common FAQs, how we test these cams and other key info below. If you really want to upgrade your security camera options, you may want to stop by our guides on the best outdoor home security cams, the best wireless cams and how you can save by using an old smartphone as a security device.

Best indoor security cameras

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Showing 11 of 11 Results
$100 at Walmart

Best overall indoor security camera

Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired)

The easily adjustable Nest Cam second-generation model works hard to make itself at home, bringing it to the top of our picks. Available in a variety of colors with support for shelf or wall mounting, the camera is easy to set up in any spot you have in mind -- as long as you’re near enough to an outlet for this wired model. The healthy 135-degree field of view also let us cover enough space to easily capture all the important spots in a room, while the night vision is top notch for darker conditions.

But the big reasons we gave the Nest Cam our top spot come down to Google’s unique contributions to smart home security. The company’s AI detection is unparalleled, able to spot people, animals or vehicles, and with a subscription it’s good enough to learn the difference between familiar and unfamiliar faces. Then there’s video storage: Nest users get 3 free hours of cloud storage, a deal that’s almost impossible to find elsewhere, and you can expand it with the Nest Aware Subscription. Google’s AES 125-bit encryption and low-vulnerability track record also help inspire confidence.

If you want a security camera that puts the “smart” in your smart home like none other, the Nest Cam is an easy choice. At $100 the price is higher than many of our picks, but we believe the plethora of features you get in return is worthwhile.

$110 at Amazon

Best pan/tilt indoor camera

Eufy Indoor Cam S350

A cam that can pan, tilt and zoom, or PTZ, is perfect for open-floor plans in your home and navigating tricky areas where you want to manage multiple angles. We’ve got more than one camera with this design on our list, but our favorite model is the Eufy S350. Its 8x hybrid zoom and dual-cam design complements the PTZ features, while the extra-high 4K resolution helps you examine every detail.

Those PTZ features are particularly helpful when paired with AI tracking, which automatically follows pets and people around the room when it detects movement. We also found the S350’s night vision was excellent with two infrared LEDs. And for those concerned with privacy or ongoing fees, Eufy falls firmly on the local storage side with a microSD card slot (not included). We also appreciate that Eufy took steps in 2024 to add end-to-end encryption to its web portal and other changes following a security vulnerability issue, although we are keeping an eye on their security performance.

Keep in mind this camera is wired, so you can’t put it just anywhere, but thanks to all that panning, tilting and zooming, your placement concerns will be a distant memory after installation.

$25 at Amazon

Best budget indoor security camera

TP-Link Tapo C210

We like a lot of TP-Link devices here at CNET, including its routers and smart plugs, so we were eager to try out the Tapo C210. The term “budget camera” makes it sound like you’re giving up features to save on price, but it’s seriously impressive just how little is lost with this now under-$30 indoor camera from TP-Link. It offers a hefty 2K resolution (more than enough for indoor viewing), plus very solid pan/tilt capabilities with motion detection and tracking for 360-degree coverage of a room. Add in the two-way audio and night vision, and it’s the best security cam deal we’ve found so far.

The Tapo cam supports notifications for sound alerts as well as person detection, so you can use it for tasks like baby monitoring -- and for more security-focused jobs, it has a built-in siren for intruders. Alexa and Google Home support round the cam off nicely as a jack-of-all-trades that’s still a steal.

You even have options when it comes to video storage: The C210 has an on-board microSD card and an option for Tapo Care at $3.50 per month that includes 30 day-long cloud storage and rich notifications.  

$70 at Target

Best portable indoor security camera

Ring Stick Up Cam (2nd-gen)

Indoor cameras work well with wired models because there’s usually an outlet near the shelf or table where you want to place a cam. However, in some cases, there may not be any nearby outlets, or you may want to move the camera to the deck, patio, sunroom or playroom for an afternoon, then move it back. The battery-powered Ring Stick Up Cam (rated for 1,000 activations before recharging) is the answer here. While we like it most indoors, it’s weather-resistant enough that if you leave it outside overnight in the rain by accident, you don’t have anything to worry about.

The Ring Stick Up Cam also comes with a bevy of important features including night vision, two-way audio and a siren. The motion detection includes customizable privacy zones, although there’s no sound detection on this model. Since it’s a Ring product, full Alexa support is included, like the ability to watch through an Echo Show. However, Ring also has its foibles, notably the need for a Ring Protect plan to enable video recording, so plan for subscription costs for this model.

$30 at Best Buy

Best indoor security camera when you have roommates

Blink Mini

With roommates can come a concern about keeping your room private, spotting theft or finding out who’s leaving all the dirty dishes. You may want a compact, simple cam that can watch over a small space without interfering too much with your budget. The Blink Mini, available at $30, is a nice answer for rental situations, dorms and similar spaces.

The 1080p resolution is plenty to keep a watch on a room, and this cam includes handy features from larger models like motion detection and app alerts to show when someone enters your room. Setup couldn’t be easier, especially if you use Alexa voice commands. That also means you can make sure anyone knows you’re shutting the cam down for privacy with a command like, “Alexa turn off the Blink cam.” And if you want to ask what someone’s doing in your room, the two-way audio will let you do it in real time. The sore point is the lack of video storage without an extra hub or subscription, but you may be willing to accept this low-cost solution without that capability.

Please note: Tell your roommates you're getting a security cam if you buy one, and if you want to set it up in a more public spot, make sure everyone agrees on when, where and why. Even your roommates are protected by the law, which gives an expectation of privacy, especially when they’re in their own bedrooms, the bathroom or other private areas.

$40 at B&H Photo-Video

Best indoor security camera with local storage

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Indoor Camera

Local storage-only cameras offer hard drives to load and manage video footage -- it’s a little more complicated than whisking away video into the cloud but also helps protect your privacy in case of data breaches. And while you usually have to clear the drive manually, you never have to worry about subscription fees. This Lorex cam is one of your best choices for the local storage route, with a 16GB microSD card (replaceable) included with the cost (a Fusion hub is also an alternative).

We like the 2K resolution for adding extra detail to this cam and are glad to see motion detection with person recognition at no additional cost. The cam has essentials like night vision (infrared) and two-way audio, plus compatibility with both Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants. There’s not a lot of extra bells and whistles otherwise, but as a no-nonsense cam with a higher resolution and everything you need right on the device, it’s an excellent choice.

$99 at Amazon

Best indoor security camera for pets

Furbo 360 Dog Camera (subscription version)

Many cams with accurate motion detection can catch pets walking around, but if you want a truly pet-focused indoor camera, this Furbo model lets you do so much more. In addition to the 360-degree rotating capabilities (it’s designed to be place in a convenient spot on the floor), it comes with motion and sound detection, pet tracking, and the ability to toss out a pre-loaded treat for a little bit of fun. You can also zoom in to take a close look at pet activities, and there’s two-way audio to see if your pet wants to talk.

We chose the subscription version, which costs $7 per month but adds very important features for pet lovers, including cloud video storage, history and even a “vomit alert.” Technically, there’s both a dog and cat version of the pet cam, but the biggest difference is that the cat version has an added toy on a wire: Other features should be largely the same.

Fair warning: Pets can react in many different ways to pet cams. Some are terrified, some love them, and some will frequently attack the talking camera, so mileage may vary -- a lot. If it’s your first time with a pet cam, we suggest trying a test like putting your smartphone or smart speaker beside your pet and using FaceTime or a similar capability to call and talk to them. Watch how they interact for an idea of how they’ll do with a pet cam.

Other indoor security cams we've tested

CNET has tested every major home security camera since the market exploded in 2011 with the first DropCam. Here are links to some recent cameras we've tested among the others listed above. We've also included a few early impressions of cameras I'm still reviewing.

GE Cync Smart Indoor Security Camera: The GE Cync isn't a bad camera, and makes a very viable alternative to a low-cost camera that still has all the important features like motion detection, two-way audio, voice assistant compatibility, and more. But it didn't quite make our list since the TP-Link Tapo cam can do more while costing less, and the Blink Mini is a more compact, easy-to-manage option.

Blurams Dome Lite 2: What We like most about this camera, other than the $50 price (though it can be found on sale), is that the notifications come with a timestamp to inform me exactly when the motion was detected -- most cameras will alert in real time, but not display when the event occurred. We also appreciate the timestamp function and see how it could be used to identify when and how often a child is moving during the night. It also features full 360-degree panning, but you'll have to swipe and swipe the camera feed to get there. 

Netatmo Smart Indoor CameraThis smart indoor camera, formerly called the Welcome, sports 1080p HD streaming, a 130-degree field of view, night vision and local storage via a microSD slot. It's a good bit more expensive than some of the other indoor home security cameras on our list at $200, but the Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera has the unique feature of Apple HomeKit Secure Video compatibility.

Wansview Q5: A good camera with decent video quality (1080p), better than average pan range (320 degrees), and a low cost (currently $30 on Amazon). We also like the mounting bracket that came with the camera. Instead of a semipermanent mount with drywall anchors and screws, the Wansview Q5 comes with an adjustable clamp that will easily attach to a shelf, counter or railing without putting holes in your wall.

When we discover new indoor cameras from Amazon, Google and other top tech and security companies, we'll get our hands on them for testing as they become available and update this article accordingly.

Indoor security camera comparison chart

Indoor Cams: Google Nest Cam (2nd-gen)Eufy Indoor Cam S350TP-Link Kasa C210Ring Stick Up Cam (2nd-gen)Blink MiniLorex 2K Security CameraFurbo 360 Dog Camera (Subscription Version)
Price $100.00$130$25$100$35$50.00$90.00
Resolution 1080p/HD4K2K1080p/HD1080p/HD2K1080p/HD
Field of view 135-degree with 6x digital zoom360-degree pan/tilt/zoom360-degree pan/tilt115-degree110-degree125-degree360-degree rotating with 4x digital zoom
Power source WiredWiredWiredBatteryWiredWiredWired
Motion detection Yes with intelligent alertsYes with pet/human recognitionMotion and sound detectionYes, with privacy zonesYesYes with person detectionYes with sound detection
Night Vision Yes, with HDR en32-foot night vision30-foot night visionColor night visionInfrared night vision32-foot night visionLow light vision
Audio Two-way audioTwo-way audioTwo-way audioTwo-way audioTwo-way audioTwo-way audioTwo-way audio
Storage options 3-hour free cloud storage, more with subscriptionLocal storage with HomeBase hubSubscription requiredSubscription or Sync Module hubIncluded 16Gb cardSubscription required
Voice assistant Alexa, Google HomeAlexa, Google HomeAlexa, Google HomeAlexaAlexaAlexa, Google AssistantN/A
Review score 8.4N/AN/A8/10 (earlier model)7.2/10N/AN/A
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How we test indoor security cameras

Hands-on testing in a real-world environment, or as close as we can get to it, is the best way to uncover what these products can and can't do -- and that's what we strive to accomplish. Basic testing includes analyzing setup, testing with compatible voice assistants, and plenty of live view analysis to see how the detail is on a phone, how zoom works, and how to enable important features like two-way audio -- along with testing the clarity of speakers. Then we break out the dance moves and test motion detection, video storage (and speedy deletion), and how accurate alert functions are.

When reviewing cameras, we pay special attention to price and general performance along with special features and smart home compatibility to determine which cameras are best for certain applications. If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras, video doorbells and other devices.

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Factors to consider when picking an indoor home security camera

Field of view

Look for views that match the unique needs of your space and where you plan on placing the camera. Most high-quality indoor cameras have around a 130-degree field of view (and some of our picks go beyond that), but you don’t need to break out a protractor -- that’s plenty of coverage to get a great view of a room when placed in a corner or centered against a far wall. But for the best coverage or covering multiple angles from a central location, you’ll want a PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) camera instead.

Affordability

One advantage of smart indoor cameras is that they’re significantly less expensive than hardy outdoor versions while still offering many of the same features. If you want to save money, take a look at picks from well-known brands for $30 and below. We have a few examples on our list. Generally, don’t pay over $100 for an indoor cam unless you’re getting a lot of extra benefits and features for it.

Night vision

Indoor security cams are less likely to have their own lights or other sources of illumination nearby save dim nightlights. If you really want an eye inside your home at night when lights are off, excellent night vision is necessary. Look for multiple infrared LEDs if you can find them, with color night if it’s available.

Motion detection

Motion detection turns on the camera only when it detects movement, especially movement by humans, so it’s a necessary feature to save on video storage and battery life. Detection pairs well with alerts for your phone while away from home, but you’ll want smart alerts that can recognize people or specific situations like alarms, pets barking, etc.

Smart home compatibility

Indoor cameras work particularly well with voice commands like, “Turn off camera,” or “Show me living room camera view.” Good cams work with both Google Home/Assistant and Alexa, but they’re harder to find, and Apple Home models are even tougher to locate.

Matter (the smart home standard) compatibility is also important, and you can read more about that in our guides, but it currently doesn’t apply to security cams because the protocol hasn’t expanded to video footage yet. Wait for a future update for this part. However, if you do already have a home security system from a brand like Abode, ADT or Frontpoint, you should look for an indoor cam that’s compatible with that app or control panel.

Extra features

Depending on your security needs, you may want to look for features likes two-way audio to hold conversations with a nanny/housekeeper (or say high to a pet). Others like features such as intelligent tracking, lots of zoom options and a built-in siren. We won’t say these are always necessary, but if you find them valuable then our picks above include extras like these.

Video storage

Video storage is somewhat more useful outside the home where catching porch pirates, potential burglars and funny animal videos is important. However, many people also want video recording inside their homes, especially if they’re worried about break-ins or general malfeasance (or once again, capturing cute pet videos).

Cloud storage backs videos up automatically into a cloud service, and with rare exceptions like Google Nest, you’ll need to pay a subscription fee for the ability. Local storage uploads videos to a hub or a microSD card (usually separate purchases), and you may have to connect them to a computer for additional management when they get full, but ongoing fees aren’t required.

Privacy and security

Watch for brands that have good privacy records or brands that take necessary steps to secure their networks and remove vulnerabilities immediately. You don’t want a data breach putting your privacy at risk, or worse bugs like the video caching issue that let Wyze users accidentally see out of other people’s cameras. We’ll work to keep you up to date on the latest privacy issues and what you should know when purchasing security devices like these.

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Indoor security camera FAQs

Is there a security camera with no monthly fee?

Most indoor security cameras are of the DIY variety, meaning you can buy and install the camera and view the live camera feed without any upfront or ongoing fees, other than the initial purchase price. Where you're likely to encounter fees is with cloud storage. 

Companies usually charge a monthly fee to use up that server space, around $3 to $5 per month with annual discounts. Very few offer free cloud storage, but you can still find it on Google Nest. Local storage on a hard drive in your home is still free, but you'll need a compatible device. That means finding a cam that has a microSD card slot or a cam that's compatible with a security hub you can purchase and put in a secure spot. Some cameras give you a choice between subscriptions, local storage or both.

But there's a final caveat: Some security cams pack so many important features like video storage, person identification and more behind their subscriptions that a monthly fee really is required to get full use of the camera, making it more or less mandatory. We break down the details further in our picks.

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How can I hide my indoor camera?

We don't recommend hiding cameras for surveillance purposes like recording an unsuspecting babysitter. But if you'd like to make your camera blend in better with your home decor, consider hiding it among artificial plants, on bookshelves or in glass-covered cabinets. Tiny cams like the Blink Mini are more likely to fit in small spaces.

However, you'll want to avoid breaking any laws. Privacy laws can vary by state, but the running metric is "a reasonable expectation of privacy," which means when people assume they can do private things in an area, they can't be legally recorded. So could you legally record a nanny in the living room? Probably, but it's a good idea to let them know you have security cameras in the first place. Could you record them legally in the bathroom? Absolutely not. A little common sense goes a long way.

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Are indoor security cameras worth the cost?

Indoor security cameras are a great addition to any DIY home security setup and cost as little as $30 up to $100 (or more) with no ongoing monthly fees. If you have children or pets you want to keep an eye on, or want to ensure no unexpected visitors are lurking in your home while you're away, indoor security cameras are an effective, inexpensive way to do just that. In short, the peace of mind that comes with owning an indoor home security camera can be well worth the initial cost.

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Can I use an indoor security camera outside or through a window?

This common request has several different answers, all important, so we’ll break it down.

Don't use an indoor security camera outside unless it’s rated for outside weather. Some security cams are “indoor/outdoor” models that can handle some rain and lower temperatures, but most indoor cams aren’t rated for outdoor use and will fail. We wouldn’t recommend using any of our current indoor picks outdoors.

You can certainly position an indoor security camera so that it looks through a window, and many people do this. However, glare can be an issue, and the camera won’t work at night to view outdoor spaces, which is usually when you most want an outdoor camera. We’d recommend spending a little bit more and getting an affordable outdoor cam when possible.

It's illegal to position an indoor camera so that it overlooks someone else’s yard or looks into their windows. That violates the expectation of privacy rule we mentioned above, among other problems.

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