CNET reviews: Best indoor security cameras

Sure, outdoor security cameras are great, but what about what’s going on inside your home? The best indoor security cameras help you monitor pets, kids and your home while you’re away. Whether you’re ensuring your dog stays off the couch or checking in on the babysitter, these cameras have you covered

WHAT Google Nest Cam

THE COST $99.99

AVAILABLE FROM store.google.com

The easily adjustable Google Nest Cam second-generation model comes in a variety of colors with support for shelf or wall mounting. The camera is easy to set up and the healthy 135-degree field of view covers enough space to easily capture all the important spots in a room, while the night vision is top-notch for darker conditions.

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. Nest users get three 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.

WHAT Eufy Indoor Cam S350

THE COST $129.99

AVAILABLE FROM eufy.com

The Eufy can pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) open-floor plans in your home and navigate tricky areas where you want to manage multiple angles. Its dual-cam zoom function complements the PTZ features, while the extra-high 4K resolution lens 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. The S350’s night vision was excellent with two infrared LEDs. For those concerned with privacy or ongoing fees, Eufy falls firmly on the local storage side with a microSD card slot (not included). Keep in mind this camera is wired, so you can’t put it just anywhere.

WHAT TP-Link Tapo C210

THE COST $19.99

AVAILABLE FROM tapo.com

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 indoor camera from TP-Link. It offers a hefty 2K resolution (more than enough for indoor viewing), plus 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 camera deal you'll find.

The Tapo cam supports notifications for sound alerts as well as person detection, so you can use it for tasks like baby monitoring. It also has a built-in siren for intruders and Alexa and Google Home support. The C210 has an onboard microSD card and an option for Tapo Care at $3.50 per month that includes 30-day cloud storage and rich notifications.