Many burglaries and attempted break-ins happen at night, under the cover of darkness. Installing night vision security cameras inside and outside the house is likely the best way to protect you and your family from things like that and help you sleep soundly at night. Most people decide to install a home security system with night-vision only after a burglary has occurred. But if you truly want to practice burglary deterrence, you need to take steps before a burglary takes place.
Night vision CCTV security cameras have built-in IR illuminators which enable them to make the best use of the very low light levels available and pick up images that an ordinary security camera may not, so you can see clearly what is going on outside or inside your home when the sun goes down. However, since there are so many home security cameras with night vision available on the market, they come in a variety of styles, prices, and specifications; choosing the best night vision security camera for your home is not easy. Some models are highly functional at a very cheap price but provide low-quality, unidentifiable images in poor light or nothing at all in pitch dark.
Below are our reviews on some of the best night vision security camera systems on the market, both wired and wireless, indoor and outdoor.
Best Outdoor Night Vision Security Camera Reviews
| REOLINK Argus 2 | Reolink RLC-423WS | Netgear Arlo Pro | Amcrest 4MP UltraHD Bullet | EZVIZ FULL HD 1080p | Lorex LNB8921BW | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet Cable | Ethernet Cable | Ethernet Cable |
| Night Vision | Starlight | Infrared | Infrared | Infrared | Infrared | Infrared |
| IR Night Vision Range | 33ft | 190ft | 25ft | 98ft | 100ft | 200ft |
| Resolution | 2MP (1080P)/15fps | 5MP/20fps | 1MP (720P)/24fps | 4MP/30fps | 2MP/30fps | 8M/15fps, 4MP/30fps |
| Field of View (Degrees) | 130 | 33-98 | 130 | 118 | 107.5 | 112 |
| Day/Night Mode | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto |
| Motion Sensor | ||||||
| Two-Way Audio | ||||||
| Notifications | Email, Push | Email, Push | Email, Push, Text, Call | Push | Push | |
| Storage | Cloud, Micro SD card | Micro SD card, Hard Drive | Cloud, External Hard Drive | Cloud, Micro SD card, Hard Drive, Computer | Hard Drive | Hard Drive |
| Free Cloud Video Storage | 10 GB/15 days of motion-triggered recording | 7 days of cloud recordings | 4 hours of cloud recordings |
#1. REOLINK Argus 2 Outdoor Security Camera Review – Best Night Vision Security Camera Overall
After many hours of researching, testing, and reading buyer’s reviews on Amazon, we’ve decided that the REOLINK Argus 2 Wireless Security Camera is the best night vision outdoor security camera for most people. Featured with starlight night vision technology with 2Mb CMOS Image Sensor, the Reolink Argus 2 could provide you high resolution, improved-noise videos in very low light conditions up to 33 feet without the extra lighting infrastructure.
More than that, this small wireless surveillance camera is also designed for motion detection day and night which offers you crystal clear video evidence of theft and vandalism once the motion is detected. Plus with the trendy wire-free technology you can place it anywhere you want, like leave it on the table, install it on the ceiling or under the eaves in 5 minutes.
Here are video samples from the starlight camera Reolink Argus 2 for your reference.
Daytime Video Sample:
Night Vision Video Sample:
Color Night Vision Video Sample:
Not only is the Reolink Argus 2 one of the best home security cameras with an impressive night vision, it has plenty of advanced security features that are very helpful for protecting your home from burglary. The camera captures videos at 1080P resolution and it has a 130-degree field of view, two-way audio, and motion detection. You will receive instant app push notifications, email alerts and sound alarms (siren) when motion events are detected. This indoor/outdoor security camera also keeps the IP65 ingress protection rating, meaning neither harmful dust nor projected jets of water can get in and damage the camera.
The Argus 2 records video locally to a microSD card (up to 64GB), but it also works with Reolink Cloud. Reolink Cloud can record videos every time motion is detected. You can also set up a custom recording schedule for your needs. Reolink Cloud Free Beta Plan offers 10GB of free cloud storage for 15 days (up to 5 cameras).
Reolink Argus 2 comes with a rechargeable battery. Reolink claims you’ll get the same four to six months of power per charge, although the actual battery life will depend on your usage – the camera will push a notification to your mobile device when the battery is low. As a solar-powered security camera, you can use a solar panel to charge the Argus 2’s battery.
Final Thoughts
The Reolink Argus 2 is our pick for the best night vision wireless security cameras with an easy setup and an affordable price. It is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a wireless indoor/outdoor home surveillance camera that provides sharp day and night video quality and doesn’t require any wiring cables.
#2. Reolink RLC-423WS Wireless Security Camera Review – Best High-Resolution Night Vision Security Camera
If you’re looking for an outdoor night vision security camera that can provide you with incredibly clear videos in dark, the Reolink RLC-423WS Wireless Security Camera could be your best bet. This excellent night vision WiFi security camera has a remarkable 5MP (3072×1728) of resolution, hardly misses anything in its line of sight, and also allows you to see up to 190ft away at night, even in low light conditions.
This Reolink RLC-423WS offers 4x optical zoom with autofocus with wide viewing angle (33°~98°). It lets you zoom in to see more details of far-away objects without getting closer, or zoom out to get a wider and larger view.
With pan function, the camera can rotate 360° endless horizontally at high speed. The tilt rotation at 90° makes a reliable home and business monitoring and surveillance without vertical limitations.
The motion detection feature of this night vision security camera is reliable and the image quality is astonishingly good; even in low light conditions, faces are clearly visible. The frame rate is 30 fps, so the camera won’t miss any crucial moment in the recording. When any potential danger detected, the camera will send you real-time email alerts and push notifications to your mobile device. The recorded videos will be stored in the built-in 32GB Micro SD card by default. The camera is also compatible with Reolink POE NVR for round-the-clock monitoring and recording for your home & business security and surveillance.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we think the Reolink RLC-423WS surveillance Wi-Fi camera is one of the best night vision security cameras you can buy at this time. Its night vision is more than excellent. A remarkable 5MP of resolution with exceptional 190ft night vision range, and 4 times zooming capacity make it a perfect option for those who need long-range night vision in a very dark area.
#3. Netgear Arlo Pro Wireless Security Camera System Review – Best Night Vision Security Camera with Free Cloud Storage
If you’re looking for a completely wireless surveillance camera system designed for both indoor and outdoor use without having to run network cables, and has night vision range limited to 25ft, the Netgear Arlo Pro Wireless Smart Security Camera is the best choice. This camera wasn’t the best night vision security camera in our test when it comes to video quality and image resolution but for the subjects in 25ft range it provided sharp video with excellent contrast and detail.
Not only is the Arlo Pro one of the best night vision security cameras money can buy, it’s one of the most popular, if not most popular, home surveillance camera systems in the US, and for good reasons.
The camera delivers 720P video and has a 130-degree wide-angle lens with very high-quality video. The eight night vision infrared LED (the Netgear’s Arlo Pro 2 only has six of infrared LEDs) can record video in an almost lightless area, however extremely low light can produce a little fading in the edges of the video.
The camera also has a speaker and microphone array for two-way communication and sound detection, as well as a motion detector. There are four predefined motion-detection modes that can be selected in the Arlo app: Armed, Disarmed, Schedule, and Geofencing. You can add as many custom Modes as you wish, but you can have only one active Mode per camera at a time.
The Arlo Pro is a smart security camera. It works perfectly with dozens of other smart home devices via IFTTT, and can be integrated into a SmartThings home automation system. It also works with Alexa voice commands to display video on an Echo Show or Fire TV device, Apple HomeKit and Google Home support are missing. The camera doesn’t have a SD card slot for local storage, but an external hard drive can be attached via USB to the base station. However, that is for archiving old clips. To take advantage of alerts and the library of videos, you’ll need to use to a cloud-storage plan.
Netgear has a generous free cloud storage program that is included in your purchase of the Arlo Pro: seven days (rolling) of triggered events for up to 5 cameras with limited support for three months. For most users, the seven-day program should be all that’s necessary. If the seven-day free plan just doesn’t provide enough peace of mind, you can purchase a 30-day Premiere or 60-day Elite plan for $9.99 and $14.99 per month, respectively.
Final Thoughts
The Netgear Arlo Pro is one of the best wireless home security surveillance camera systems on the market and is also one of the best night vision security cameras we’ve tested so far. It produces excellent day and night video and very high-quality audio, and has a highly functional, convenient, intelligent and easy-to-understand user interface.
#4. Amcrest 4MP UltraHD WiFi Outdoor POE Bullet Security Camera Review
Cutting-edge night vision technology of the Amcrest 4MP UltraHD WiFi Outdoor POE Bullet Security Camera allows you to get a crystal clear picture even when it’s extremely dark. 30 infrared night vision LEDs plus the built-in Sony IMX322 progressive scanning image sensor and Ambarella chipset allow the camera to capture video in 4MP (2688x1520p) at 30 frames per second (fps). The 30fps frame rate is more than enough to record any crucial moment that might happen in front of the camera at night. The Amcrest 4MP UltraHD is also the latest model in the Amcrest’s IP wireless camera collection.
Beyond impressive night vision, the Amcrest 4MP UltraHD features smart motion alerts which will send you instant alerts to your phone whenever motion is detected. You’re able to schedule recording and modify your motion detection settings. You can also create distinct motion detection zones to completely customize control over what you’re monitoring. This is an effective way to ensure that you only record what you need when it’s important. Each zone includes its own sensitivity and threshold meters so you can fine-tune it exactly to your liking.
This night vision security WiFi camera is compatible with Amazon Alexa devices. Instantly display your camera’s footage on Amazon Echo Show using the Amcrest Cloud app. Amcrest Cloud offers optional cloud recording with free live viewing and 4 hours of free video storage, additional 7/15/30-day storage plans are available starting at $6 per month. In addition to Amcrest Cloud, the Amcrest 4MP UltraHD security camera can also record to an FTP server, onto your local computer, MicroSD Card or to any Amcrest NVR.
Final Thoughts
Impressive 4MP/30fps night vision up to 98ft, enhanced digital zoom, a wide 118º viewing angle, smart motion alerts, email alerts and snapshots, advanced recording options, and simple setup process make the Amcrest 4MP UltraHD security camera one of the best night vision security camera systems on the market today.
#5. EZVIZ FULL HD Wired Kit Review – Best Night Vision Security Camera with DVR
If you’re looking for a complete wired security camera system to install around your home that works perfectly whether day or night and has a reasonable price, consider the EZVIZ FULL HD 1080p Outdoor Surveillance System. This outdoor surveillance system provides exceptionally clear HD 1080P video at night and every single camera has a 107.5-degree field of view. When it’s dark, the cameras automatically switch to night vision mode and up to 100 ft. ambient light or 65 ft. in total darkness.
This EZVIZ outdoor night vision surveillance system run on the adaptable EZVIZ platform, which adds new features and functionality as they become available. The cameras connect to existing BNC coaxial cables so you can quickly add cameras to your system and upgrade to the latest security features with only one-click.
EZVIZ security cameras have almost all the standard security features available in other best night vision security cameras. They are smart home capable and work with smart devices using IFTTT. They have customizable motion detection which allows you to choose the places you want the camera to watch for movement. If anything moves, cameras will send push notifications immediately to your smartphone. You can easily set notification schedules as you wish to keep an eye on your home and quickly find the times when movement was detected and recorded. All video is recorded and saved to a hard drive and protected with multilayer security and end-to-end video encryption.
This wired kit also allows you to view live video and control your security system 24/7 from a smartphone or tablet with the EZVIZ app. You can also share links with friends and family so they can view your video, too.
Final Thoughts
The EZVIZ FULL HD 1080p Outdoor Surveillance System is our pick for the best night vision security camera wired kit. We were absolutely impressed with this system after seeing the ease of installation, excellent video quality, and ease of access anywhere with the app. And on top of all this, it has an affordable price. You won’t be disappointed with this product.
#6. Lorex LNB8921BW Security Camera Review – Best Long-Range Night Vision Camera with Color
Turn darkness into an ally with this all-black 4K resolution security camera. Belonging to Lorex’s new line of Nocturnal IP security cameras, this Lorex LNB8921BW Security Camera offers 4K resolution recording, long-range color night vision, extreme weather capabilities, a heavy-duty metal exterior, and much more. Whether you are looking for a new security camera, or are simply thinking of upgrading your current IP security system, this bullet surveillance camera is ideal to help you protect both the things and the people that matter most.
The Lorex LNB8921BW is integrated with the most cutting-edge night vision technologies that make it be one of the best night vision security cameras on the market. It comes with high powered infrared LEDs that can capture high-quality video in complete darkness. With the addition of external, ambient lights, the night vision range for this camera can reach up to 200ft.
The Sony Exmor R image sensor at the core of this night vision camera uses back illuminated pixel technology for exceptional low light performance. The sensor also shields the video from excessive feedback and video noise by passing the signal through an analog noise reduction program before converting the video signal to digital. Afterward, a secondary digital noise reduction filter is applied, allowing the image to remain crystal clear.
The camera also uses HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology to ensure that you capture the most important details, regardless of lighting conditions. Dynamic range is measured as the difference between the brightest point and the darkest point of the video. HDR technology uses this difference to automatically adjust the picture’s brightness, resulting in optimized, highly-detailed security video.
This Lorex night vision security camera is capable of recording a 4K at 15fps or 2k at 30 fps. Recording at 30 FPS will provide you with exceptionally smooth on-screen movement and provide you with more frames to choose from when cycling through footage. Unfortunately, this security camera misses some advanced security features such as motion detection, sound detection, two-way audio, and smart home capable.
Final Thoughts
Overall, although this surveillance camera misses some advanced security features such as motion detection, sound detection, two-way audio, and smart home capable; it’s still one of the best night vision security cameras we’ve found.
Best Indoor Night Vision Security Cameras Reviews
| Netgear Arlo Q | Nest Cam Indoor | TP-Link KC120 Kasa Cam | Reolink C1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet Cable |
| Night Vision | Infrared | Infrared | Infrared | Infrared |
| IR Night Vision Range | 25ft | 20ft | 25ft | 40ft |
| Resolution | 1080P/30fps | 1080P/30fps | 1080P/30fps | 1440P/25fps |
| Field of View (Degrees) | 130 | 130 | 130 | 105 |
| Day/Night Mode | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto |
| Motion Sensor | ||||
| Two-Way Audio | ||||
| Notifications | Email, Push | Push | Push | Email, Push |
| Storage | Cloud | Cloud | Cloud | Micro SD card, Hard Drive |
| Free Cloud Video Storage | 7 days of cloud recordings | 2 days of free video history + 1-month free trial |
#1. Netgear Arlo Q Indoor Security Camera Review
Netgear Arlo Q is our pick for the best indoor night vision security camera for most people. At night, this security camera produced crisp and bright footage, with excellent contrast. We can say that the overall video quality was better than any other indoor night vision security camera we’ve tested. The range of the IR is very impressive too and is easily enough to fill a room or cover the majority of the width of a small house’s garden.
The Arlo Q security camera has everything you need to protect your home from inside. The camera has a 130-degree viewing angle — many other indoor security cameras only offer a 120-degree angle. It also has 1080p video, which records very clear and accurate color images. If you want to zoom in on anything that happens, the Arlo Q offers 8x digital zoom.
Like the other Arlo surveillance cameras you control with the app, you get a wide range of modes to choose between, from geofencing, which turns the camera on and off based on whether you’re in your house or not, to regular time-based schedules. You can also tell the camera to detect either motion or sound or both as well as customize its sensitivity or activity zone to those things. The camera also features two-way audio. The built-in mic and speaker allow you to check in on any person or pet that happen to be home while you’re away.
The Arlo Q comes with gorgeous seven days of free cloud storage for all your triggered video and audio events, for up to 5 cameras. Those videos are easy to download directly from the app, too, if you want to save them on another device. And if you want the option of continuous 24/7 video recording, you can upgrade to CVR (Continuous Video Recording) to keep 24/7 recordings in the cloud.
Final Thoughts
The Netgear Arlo Q is one of the best night vision security cameras for indoor use we’ve tested so far. It’s reliable, produces sharp, clear images during the day and at night, and it’s free seven-day cloud storage remains one the better values you’ll find.
#2. Nest Cam Indoor Review
The Nest Cam Indoor is a dual-band Wi-Fi surveillance camera that offers crisp 1080p video at 30 frames per second, top-notch night vision, motion and sound detection, and integration with other Nest devices. The camera’s 3-megapixel lens, which is ringed by eight infrared LED lights, captures sharp, and well-defined night vision video – which was more impressive than we would expect. You can activate night-vision mode manually to capture low-light areas; it will also turn on automatically when the lights go out.
The camera has a 130-degree field of view – one of the widest available — and its 8x zoom allow for maximum flexibility in surveying your palace. You can place the camera in a corner to view the entire room. The camera also has built-in motion and sound sensors that will trigger video recordings and push notifications, and a microphone and speaker for two-way audio communications with your mobile device.
The Nest Cam Indoor comes with some standout features like Activity Zones, Timelapse, and Nest integration through the Nest app. Activity Zones allows you to select a specific area to focus on within the Nest Cam’s view. Timelapse gathers footage triggered by motion throughout the day, so you can review the footage later. Nest integration lets you connect the Nest Cam Indoor with other Nest products through the Nest app.
Final Thoughts
Easy setup, excellent 1080p video quality, impressive night vision, and the ability to work with other smart-home products, the Nest Cam Indoor is one of the best indoor night vision security cameras on the market. But keep in mind that you will need to pay for an expensive subscription because most of the advanced features are available only with a Nest Aware subscription.
#3. TP-Link KC120 Kasa Cam Indoor Security Camera Review
The TP-Link Kasa Cam KC-120 gets a lot of things right, from a simple setup procedure to solid performance. We particularly liked the quality of images it picked up at night: rich colors, balanced lighting and sharp. In complete darkness, our testing room appeared brightly illuminated and details are visible. The 130-degree wide angle lens was also amazing and can capture a good area of the room.
Like other best night vision security cameras, Kasa Cam KC120 includes all of the standard security features, like two-way audio, motion alerts, and motion and audio-triggered recording. It also allows users to set the active area of the frame to monitor for motion. which helps prevent false positives. The camera works with Echo Show/Echo Spot/Fire TV and Chromecast so you can watch or stop live video streams with a simple voice command.
This indoor night vision security camera is wired and designed for indoor use only, but can be powered over USB. It has no onboard storage, neither internal nor removable. Instead, as is increasingly common with smart home cameras, all footage is saved to the cloud. We always appreciate the option of onboard storage, but TP-Link’s cloud plans are decent:
You get two days of free video history and a 1-month free trial to access 30 days of your video history; two weeks costs just $5 per month or $50 per year; and 30 days costs $10 per month or $100 per year. Additional cameras can be added to any plan at half of those prices.
Final Thoughts
The TP-Link Kasa Cam KC-120 is one of the best night vision security cameras for indoor use we’ve tested. This shouldn’t be too surprising, because TP-Link also makes some of the best networking gear on the market. Crystal clear image quality, easy-to-use app, robust security features, and low price – this is a great indoor security solution.
#4. Reolink C1 Pro 1440p Indoor Smart Home WiFi Security Camera Review
Reolink C1 Pro 1440p indoor wifi security camera produces excellent day/night videos in resolution of 1440P (2560×1440) – which is much clearer and sharper than 1080p and 720p. The camera has 8 pieces of infrared LED lights that allow you to see up to 40 feet in the dark. Additionally, the camera comes with a wide rotating angle — 355° horizontally and 105° vertically. So you see every part of your home with easy pan and tilt control.
This Reolink C1 Pro indoor night vision security camera features two-way audio as well as motion detection. You will get alerts via emails and app push to your smartphone when a danger is detected. You can choose specific motion detecting zones to monitor any area you want, and set up motion detection sensitivity to reduce false alarms.
The C1 Pro is unique among the best indoor night vision security cameras we’ve reviewed in that it stores recorded video locally to Micro SD card (can be up to 64GB), sparing you the ongoing costs of a cloud subscription. Of course, this also means all an intruder has to do is take the card or the camera to eliminate any evidence of their crime. You can also save recorded videos to a Reolink wireless NVR. Reolink NVR is a perfect solution for those who have a surveillance system with multiple IP cameras.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a completely indoor wireless security camera to cover a large room, the Reolink C1 Pro is for you. Image quality is excellent, with accurate colors, crisp detail, and no image bending. Night vision is clear and sharp with strong contrast. The pan-and-tilt was responsive and smooth. Best of all, its price is unbeatable. Overall, despite lack of cloud recording, it is still one of the best night vision security cameras for the money you can buy.
