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Buying guide · Security cameras

The best security cameras

This guide is for anyone who wants to keep an eye on their front door, driveway, backyard or living room from their phone. For most homes the TP-Link Tapo C325WB is the pick, because it gives sharp colour video day and night, free person and vehicle alerts, and free local storage for a low price. If you want the best picture and no wires at all, the eufyCam S3 Pro costs much more but is excellent.

Checked 18 October 2026 4 picks 8 expert sources Prices for your country
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Best overallTP-Link Tapo C325WBabout A$170 · 8.6/10 Best for no power pointTP-Link Tapo C420S2 (two-camera kit)about A$230 for two cameras · 7.7/10 Best for indoorseufy Indoor Cam S350about A$280 · 8.0/10 Best premiumeufyCam S3 Pro (two-camera kit with HomeBase)about A$1,300 for two cameras · 8.5/10

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What matters most to you?

Choose what matters most and we'll point you to the right pick.

8.0
Our scoreweighted, out of 10
Best for indoors

eufy Indoor Cam S350

eufy
about A$280approximate street price

Tom's Guide calls it the best subscription-free indoor camera, and Trusted Reviews praised its excellent 4K picture and smooth automatic tracking.

Best forWatching a whole room, pets or a front entry from inside, without paying for a cloud plan.
Skip it ifOutdoor use, and anyone who wants colour night vision.

What we like

  • Sharp 4K main camera plus a 3x zoom camera
  • Pans and tilts to follow people and pets
  • Free AI alerts and local storage

Watch out for

  • Black-and-white night vision only
  • Picture quality drops when both lenses are shown at once
Resolution
4K wide camera plus 2K telephoto (3x zoom)
Pan / tilt
360 / 75 degrees
Power
USB-C, plug-in
Local storage
microSD up to 128 GB or eufy HomeBase
Wi-Fi
Dual-band Wi-Fi 6
Video quality9.0
Night vision6.5
Smart alerts8.5
Storage and running costs8.5
Ease of setup8.5
Value7.0
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Based on: Tom's Guide, Trusted Reviews, Tom's Guide

8.5
Our scoreweighted, out of 10
Best premium

eufyCam S3 Pro (two-camera kit with HomeBase)

eufy
about A$1,300 for two camerasapproximate street price

Tom's Guide gave it an Editor's Choice as the best 4K camera without a subscription, and Mighty Gadget scored it 95%, calling it the best battery camera it has used.

Best forPeople who want top-quality, wire-free outdoor cameras with free face recognition and lots of local storage.
Skip it ifAnyone on a budget, since the kit costs several times more than our top pick.

What we like

  • Sharp 4K video and strong colour night vision
  • Built-in solar panel keeps the battery topped up
  • Free AI alerts and facial recognition, stored at home

Watch out for

  • Very expensive, especially in Australia
  • Wi-Fi only, with no mobile data backup
Resolution
4K (3840 x 2160)
Field of view
135 degrees
Power
Battery with built-in solar panel
Local storage
HomeBase 3, 16 GB, expandable to 16 TB
Works with
Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit
Video quality9.5
Night vision9.5
Smart alerts9.0
Storage and running costs9.5
Ease of setup8.5
Value5.5
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Based on: Tom's Guide, Mighty Gadget

Side by side

Every pick scored on the same criteria. Tap a row to jump to it.

ProductAwardVideo qualityNight visionSmart alertsStorage and running costsEase of setupValueOverallPrice
TP-Link Tapo C325WBBest overall9.09.08.08.57.09.08.6about A$170
TP-Link Tapo C420S2 (two-camera kit)Best for no power point7.57.57.57.59.07.57.7about A$230 for two cameras
eufy Indoor Cam S350Best for indoors9.06.58.58.58.57.08.0about A$280
eufyCam S3 Pro (two-camera kit with HomeBase)Best premium9.59.59.09.58.55.58.5about A$1,300 for two cameras

How we chose

A good security camera needs clear video in daylight and at night, alerts that tell a person from a passing car, and a fair way to store clips without paying a big monthly fee. We compared lab results from Consumer Reports (video quality, response time, data security and privacy) with hands-on testing from Tom's Guide, Tech Advisor, Trusted Reviews, Mighty Gadget and Digital Citizen. We only picked cameras that at least two testers rated highly, and we gave extra weight to free local storage, since cloud plans add up over time. All four picks are sold in Australia, though prices here are often higher than overseas.

Video quality25%
Night vision15%
Smart alerts15%
Storage and running costs15%
Ease of setup10%
Value20%

Bars show how much each criterion counts towards the overall score. Scores are out of 10, built from the testing listed below.

Questions people ask

Do I need a subscription for a security camera?

Not always. All four picks here can save video to a memory card or base station at home for free. A cloud plan, usually a few dollars a month per camera, keeps a copy of your clips online in case the camera is stolen or damaged.

Is it legal to have a security camera at home in Australia?

Yes, but point your cameras at your own property and avoid filming into a neighbour's yard or windows. Recording private conversations with audio can break state surveillance laws, which differ between states, so it is safest to turn off audio recording for cameras that face shared areas.

Do I need an electrician to install a security camera?

Not for battery cameras or ones that plug into a power point with an adapter. A floodlight camera or any camera wired straight into your home's 240 V wiring must be installed by a licensed electrician in Australia.

Are battery or wired security cameras better?

Wired cameras never need charging and can record more often at high quality. Battery cameras are easier to place anywhere, but they need charging every few weeks or months, and recording more often drains them faster. A solar panel can help in sunny spots.

Are cheap security cameras safe to use?

Big brands with regular software updates are the safer choice. Testers such as Which? have found security problems in many cheap, unknown-brand cameras sold online. Use a strong password, turn on two-step login if offered, and keep the app and camera updated.

Sources

  1. Consumer Reports: 15 Best Home Security Cameras of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed (2026-01)
  2. Mighty Gadget: EufyCam S3 Pro Review vs EufyCam S300 (EufyCam 3C) (2026-03)
  3. Tom's Guide: Best home security cameras in 2026: Top wireless, indoor and outdoor models (2026-06)
  4. Tech Advisor: Tapo C325WB review (2023-06)
  5. Tom's Guide: EufyCam S3 Pro review: AI and unmatched color night vision make this the best 4K security camera without a subscription (2024-11)
  6. Trusted Reviews: Eufy Security Indoor Cam S350 Review
  7. Tom's Guide: Eufy Cam S350 review: The best 4K indoor security camera without a subscription (2024-04)
  8. Digital Citizen: TP-Link Tapo C420S2 review: Capable and reasonably-priced! (2025-10)

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