Best security cameras with local storage | Android Central

No need to depend on the cloud for your security footage with these cameras.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

At a glance1. Best overall2. Best value3. Most storage4. Easiest setup5. Best pan and tilt6. Best with Alexa indoors7. Best with Alexa outdoorsHow to choose

With our lives becoming more connected, including devices in and around our homes, we look for better ways to secure our property. One of those ways is by keeping an eye on everything with some of the best security cameras with local storage. By skipping (or augmenting) the cloud, your data and recordings can stay as secure as your home is. To ensure you only consider the top choices available, we've put together a helpful list to save you time and get you what you need.

My favorite out of the bunch is the Arlo Pro 5. It offers local storage with a hub, superb imagery, and great integration with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, even if you'll need to subscribe to get advanced AI object recognition. It's one of the best smart home devices you can have today.

Nick grew up in a telecom-savvy household and has been reviewing phones since 2011. Whether it's waxing poetic about Nokia's glory days or flipping open the latest foldable phones, he knows what makes a good device and can help you understand which one to pick.

Best overall

Best overall

Complete with a 160-degree view and the ability to record video in 2K HDR, the Arlo Pro 5 is the best choice for most, as long as you're okay with the steep price tag.

Read more below.

Best value

Best value

The TP-Link Tapo C120 offers an incredible set of features like 2K video recording, IP66 weather-proofing, IR mode, two-way audio, and lots more, for under $40.

Read more below.

Most storage

Most storage

The Kasa Outdoor Cam has up to 256GB of local microSD storage, plus two-way audio, color night vision, and an LED spotlight built right into the camera.

Read more below.

Easiest setup

Easiest setup

If you just need something simple, the GE CYNC Indoor Smart Camera comes with all of the essential features plus offers fast and easy setup.

Read more below.

Best pan and tilt

Best pan and tilt

The Reolink Argus PT boasts a 360-degree swivel base alongside a solar panel to keep it charged and up to 128GB of onboard microSD storage.

Read more below.

Best with Alexa indoors

Best with Alexa indoors

The Blink Indoor camera integrates seamlessly into your Alexa smart home ecosystem, plus you get a ridiculously long-lasting battery, two-way audio, and motion detection.

Read more below.

Load the next product ↓

Best with Alexa outdoors

Best with Alexa outdoors

The Blink Outdoor 4 cam comes with all of the features found in the Indoor model, plus it's built to withstand the elements all year round.

Read more below.

Our expert review:

The Arlo Pro 5 might be one of the more expensive security camera systems available, but it comes packed with many great features. It also goes by the name Arlo Pro 5S 2K, and both are the exact same camera.

Arlo's most recent upgrades to its hubs mean you can finally view locally stored footage via the app with Direct Storage. You'll need to make sure you have an Arlo SmartHub (model VMB5000 or VMB4540) to enable the feature. The downside here is that, since they're not connected to the cloud, you won't have thumbnails for each video so looking through your library isn't as ideal as cloud-stored videos.

As far as quality is concerned, not only can you view and record in 2K HDR, you can even view and record in color during the day or night. The cameras also feature an integrated spotlight and sport a 160-degree field of view.

Setup also could not be easier. There are no wires to mess with, and the cameras attach magnetically to their mounts. You also recharge the battery with a magnetic cable (similar to some smartwatches), and each charge lasts up to six months. The most impressive of all the Arlo Pro 5's features is that you can store up to a whopping 2TB of footage through the external hub. That's a lot of squirrel footage to go through!

Our expert review:

TP-Link makes some of the best Wi-Fi routers as well as great home security cameras, and the Tapo C120 is easily one of the most value for money products. Backed by hugely positive reviews from customers, the C120 offers ton of features while costing under $40. The most important thing is local storage, which is up to 512GB with a microSD card. The compact size also makes it easy to install it either indoors or outdoors. It has a magnetic base which means you can simply place it on any metal surface like a beam or the side of the fridge, giving you much more flexibility.

The TP-Link Tapo C120 has long feature list which includes a 4MP 2K resolution camera with an IR mode for night vision. The latter can be viewed in full color thanks to the camera's Starlight sensor and dual spotlights. The security camera is also IP66 rated for dust and water resistance, which means you can install it out in the rain with no worry. There's full-duplex two-way audio communication too so you can converse with the person at the door through the app, from the comfort of your couch.

TP-Link also offers Smart AI detection for recognizing people, cars, and pets, for no additional charge. The Tapo C120 also works as a baby monitor, alerting you when it detects a baby crying.

Our expert review:

Kasa makes some of the best smart home devices at excellent prices and great quality. This affordable security camera comes packed with a ton of great features, including IP65 weatherproofing, crisp 2K image resolution, color night vision, two-way audio, and up to 256GB microSD card capacity for a ton of on-device, local storage.

The Kasa Outdoor Security Camera camera offers a pretty robust experience, with the ability to set up alerts and view live and on-demand video. The camera also has an integrated LED spotlight that you can trigger manually or set to turn on when a person or motion is detected. This has proven a wonderful feature and it's why I love using it on my patio.

While you can put up to a 256GB microSD card in the device, you can check out the company's cloud service with a 30-day trial of Kasa Care, should you wish to try out that option before committing to a subscription plan.

The loud motion detection alarm can scare away intruders, but you can also carry on a conversation with visitors thanks to its two-way audio capability. To avoid too many notifications, you can set custom activity zones so you won't be bothered by false notifications from trees swaying in the breeze.

Our expert review:

Some cameras are built with loads of AI features and require fine-tuning just to get started. Then there's the GE Cync Smart Indoor Security Camera, which offers fast and easy setup with only the essential features.

Don't mistake simplicity for bad. I've been using this camera on my indoor porch to keep an eye on things, and it has been great. Sure, I wish I could put a larger microSD card than 32GB in it, but it hasn't been an issue yet. It is nice that if you want cloud storage, GE's Cam Cync offers a 30-day trial to see if you like it.

The 1080p camera produces fine images and has built-in two-way audio so that you can communicate with whoever may be on the other side of that lens through the Cync app. I don't use the built-in privacy slider in my particular use case. But the slider can cover the camera lens and disable the microphone for those who may want to use it in a nursery or a room where you don't want constant surveillance. Note that this camera only works on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi spectrum.

Our expert review:

This device sits somewhere in the middle of the others in terms of price but has a few features that are not common with the other cameras on this list.

For starters, the camera is on a 360-degree swivel base, so you really can get a complete view of your front or backyard, and it can tilt up or down. It has a siren to alert you to the presence of an intruder and scare them away. Best of all, you can put in a 128GB microSD card to keep your footage in-house on top of the free seven days of cloud storage. It also has IP65 weatherproofing and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. If you don't have an Amazon Echo Show or Nest Hub, fret not. All of the camera's excellent features can be accessed via the Reolink app, including zooming in to get a closer look.

The 2K resolution camera means you'll get crystal clear images, so there will be no squinting to figure out what is on the video. Even in the dark, you'll be able to see up to 33 feet away. Add in smart features like person and vehicle detection, and your camera will keep an eye on your property from all angles.

The battery-powered camera has long battery life, but add the included solar panel and you can stretch the time between charges even further. I found that during testing, one of the downsides is installation. Finding the right height to capture the area you want covered can be tricky, as the tilt feature only goes 140° vertically. But once you have that sorted, this is a great security camera.

Our expert review:

If you're someone heavily invested in the Amazon smart home ecosystem and its Alexa smart voice assistant and you're looking for the best Ring camera alternatives, the good news is you still have quality choices. Another Amazon security camera brand also works great with Alexa and is not Ring — and that brand is Blink.

Blink was mainly known for its popular Blink XT2 camera, but that device was primarily used for outdoor purposes. Now, Blink introduced a couple of purpose-built indoor cameras, like the Blink Indoor. There's nothing particularly exciting about this camera, but it gets all the basics right. You get a battery-powered wireless device that works for up to two years without having to replace its two AA lithium batteries (which come included). What's more, you can carry on two-way conversations and monitor the feed through your Blink or Alexa apps or on your connected Fire TV or Echo Show devices.

A cloud subscription plan is available, but the real bonus here is that you can store your videos locally thanks to the included Blink Sync Module. Plus, it is super easy and convenient to place or mount the camera just about anywhere inside your home.

Our expert review:

Everything you need to know about the Blink Outdoor 4 camera can be learned from reading about its indoor sibling in the section above. Well, everything except for two crucial details. First, you get all of the advanced camera features, app support, and Alexa integration, as well as the extended battery life and easy installation that you do with the Indoor Camera.

What sets this device apart is that it's custom-built for outdoor use, where the temperature variations are more extreme and where it has to face the elements, whether it's sunshine, heat, cold, or precipitation. It also offers a wider field of view so you can see more of what's going on. Blink also released a new Floodlight accessory that we tested in our review. So, while the camera itself doesn't offer any kind of additional lighting if you need it, you can pick up the Floodlight for added lighting.

Because this device can withstand the outdoor elements, it is only natural to be priced slightly higher than the Indoor Camera. On top of the higher price tag, you'll also need to pay for a Blink subscription to access the new Person Detection feature.

Setting up a home security system yourself can be a daunting task, but you can streamline the process if you do it step by step. Here are some of the things you should keep in mind before buying a security camera.

Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

While the list of the best wireless security cameras continues to expand, the options that can store video locally seems to be dwindling. The Arlo Pro 5 is the best security camera with local storage because the company offers an excellent product upfront, even if more advanced motion detection still requires a subscription. Assembly is simple, the camera is durable, and the battery lasts forever. Win, win, and win!

If Arlo is a little too pricey for you or doesn't quite meet your needs, then there are several less expensive alternatives with varied feature sets and the ability to add an excellent microSD card to store your footage locally. Whatever device you go with, you'll have peace of mind knowing that your data is safe in your hands.

As a note, we've removed Wyze cameras because of significant security issues. While these flaws have been fixed, the company's deceptive practices over a period of three years have caused us to lose trust in its products. Additionally, we stopped recommending Eufy's cameras as of December 1, 2022, because of security issues. However, the company has updated its privacy policy and is clearer about what videos are encrypted and what are not.

Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android

Best NAS for home 2024

Reolink's Argus 4 Pro is the only local storage security camera I trust, and it's at an all-time low right now

Amazon's leaked next-gen Kindle Paperwhite might not surprise you