If you’ve ever tried to install a wired security camera outside, you probably know how much of a pain it can be — and how tacky that power cord can end up looking. Luckily, wireless cameras are more common than ever, and many of them are even weather-proof. That means you can install a security camera on a fence or put a hidden camera in a tree — basically, you can install a camera pretty much anywhere your Wi-Fi network reaches — to scale up your home security system, augment the peace of mind you get from your indoor camera and video doorbell and keep an eye on your house by deterring intruders.

There are plenty of options out there if you want to ramp up your home security camera system. All of the cameras on the market have different security features, from a motion sensor to color night vision to a backup battery. You can also get a smart security camera that connects to your existing smart home setup. Some of the higher-end models even have things like two way audio and facial recognition. This just means that you really have to do a deep dive to find the outdoor camera (or cameras) that works best with your home and existing set up.

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But who has time to sift through all of the options? I made time. I’ve picked a handful of models I especially like, taking into account things like video quality, field of view, video storage, whether it offers a mobile app with recording options, if it connects to your existing smart home setup and its battery life. Keep reading if you’re looking for the best wireless camera to meet your home security needs.

Read more: The best video doorbells

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Tyler Lizenby/CNET

The Arlo Pro 3 home security camera can handle the elements well and will last for a few months on a single charge, depending on usage. Basically, it’s absolutely perfect for outdoor security.

In addition to its convenient rechargeable battery, the Pro 3 has a lot of standout features: a built-in siren; arm/disarm modes; and person, animal, vehicle and package motion detection alerts (with an optional Arlo Smart subscription plan). The device also allows for two-way communication and has both color and black and white night vision for a crystal clear view of what’s going on in your yard. And the video quality is top-notch.

Read our review.

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Chris Monroe/CNET

Wyze’s wireless outdoor camera is a great gadget for people trying home monitoring for the first time. Wyze’s devices are quick and easy to set up, and surprisingly affordable. The $47 Wyze Outdoor Cam is a great budget pick, offering 1080p resolution and two weeks of free cloud storage — a pretty fantastic deal for people hoping to avoid costly monthly subscription fees.

Read our review.

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Chris Monroe/CNET

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Logitech

The Logitech Circle 2 comes in two versions — the $180 wired model and the $200 battery-powered model. I reviewed the wired model, but spent time testing both. 

The battery-powered Circle 2 is a solid camera. Like the Pro 3 and the Blink XT2, the Circle 2 connects to your wireless network and is weather resistant. It has 1080p HD live streaming for crystal clear picture, night vision, two-way talk and a time-lapse feature. It’s supposed to last between one to three months on one charge. It also offers free 24 hour cloud storage, storing 10 to 60 second motion based videos. Push notifications are sent via app to your phone when the camera detects movement.

It also works with a variety of accessories — the $30 plug mount, a $40 window mount and a $20 magnetic mount. If you use either the plug or window mount with your Circle 2 battery-powered camera, it will work with Siri (via Apple HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video), as well as its standard support for Amazon Alexa.

Annoyingly, the battery-powered Circle 2 does not support Apple HomeKit without either the plug or window mount accessories.

Read our Logitech Circle 2 (wired model) review.

More guides for making your home safe and secure

  • Top 6 cheap home security devices
  • The smart home security systems with the best privacy
  • The best smart garage door controllers
  • The best Apple HomeKit devices
  • The best smart locks
  • The best DIY home security systems
  • The best indoor security cameras
  • Best portable projectors with battery power: BenQ, Anker, LG and more

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