Outdoor security cameras are essential to your home, business, or property. They monitor and protect front doors, pool areas, and backyards.
You can buy a basic model just for monitoring or invest in a more advanced model that provides monitoring and recording capabilities. Many popular security brands now offer the best security cameras without subscription fees that use local or cloud storage.
Look below carefully to know which outdoor security cameras don’t have a monthly subscription plan.
Top best Outdoor Security Cameras without subscription in 2024
1. Arlo Pro 3
- Great HD video quality with 2K HDR
- Comes with weather resistant design
- 160° of complete field view
- It works with Google and Alexa Assistant
The Arlo Pro 3 is the best outdoor security camera compatible with all three intelligent home assistants: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Homekit. The best part is the Arlo Pro 3 camera system comes without a subscription.
Whether new to the brilliant home scene, Arlo Pro 3 has it all. With the Arlo Pro 3, you don’t have to pay for cloud storage. This means you can always access all the video recordings you capture with your Arlo Pro3.
If you’re a HomeKit user, it’s essential to remember that all notifications related to any activity your camera captures will be sent via the HomeKit app instead of the Arlo app for the other two home assistants.
You also get colour night vision goggles with integrated spotlights on top. This is great, but not as good as you’d see on a Floodlight camera.
It also has a 160 viewing angle, a built-in siren, 2K video with HDR, and a USB port to connect hardware devices for additional storage. This USB port can support up to 3TB of data storage.
Speaking of charging ports, they come with a magnetic charging port, which is excellent for convenience and efficiency.
This model has many features not commonly available with other cameras, such as geofencing that can activate specific components based on data collected via RFID, WiFi, cellular data, and GPS.
You can also set an activity area, which is an area within the camera that you can designate as a viewing area. Arlo can currently create up to 3 active sites.
Another feature of the Arlo Pro3 is auto zoom and tracking that automatically zooms in on people, cross-checks them with a database, and saves them for future use.
Arlo Pro 3 is the best full subscription-free security camera with a 160 field of view, a built-in siren, 2K video with HDR, and a USB port supporting up to 3TB of storage.
2. Reolink Argus 2
For the sweaty individual who wants extra home protection but has to plug in cables, the battery-powered Reolink Argus 2 is a DIY security camera.
Reolink software is easy to set up, provides access to your smartphone’s live video feed and weatherproof enclosure, and adds several new features, including Sony’s Starlight CMOS sensor for excellent night vision.
Rechargeable battery pack and solar power options. An additional solar panel can provide 24/7 electricity to the camera battery.
The picture quality, simple operation, and weatherproof construction made the Reolink Argus home security camera impressive.
It also works with Amazon Alexa, Echo Spot, Echo Show, and Google Assistant. Motion-triggered recording can be saved to a micro SD card over 64GB.
3. Blink Outdoor
- Wireless HD security camera
- Has a longer battery life
- Comes with two AA lithium batteries
- Supports Alexa-enabled devices
- Has two Blink Outdoor cameras with one Sync Modul
The Blink outdoor wireless security camera runs on AA lithium batteries, is IP67 weatherproof, is compatible with Amazon Alexa, and has multiple storage options.
Recorded videos can be saved to the cloud or downloaded to a thumb drive for local storage. With a viewing angle of 110 and picture quality of 1080p Full HD, it can be viewed in limited areas and is pretty good considering the low price.
It can also withstand harsh climates ranging from -4°C to 140°C. One of the more noticeable drawbacks is the slight delay between the streaming video and the live event.
Also, if you need to watch recorded videos or access cloud storage, you can’t help but choose a subscription. The in-app instructions are relatively simple and easy to understand, and you can set up your camera immediately.
4. Google Nest IQ outdoor camera
- 130 degree view your home in 1080P HD
- Weatherproof camera cable and adapter
- You can control it with your smartphone
- Surveillance camera has a night vision
The Google Nest IQ outdoor camera is a versatile subscription-free security camera with 16GB of onboard storage, with the option to download videos from a database and save them to local storage connected over a network.
You can use the four mounting brackets included in the box to mount it magnetically or like a tripod. No products were found. It stands at a relatively high price point compared to other competing products. This is not in vain.
Although the camera quality is only 1080p, the outdoor security camera boasts premium features such as noise and echo suppression, geofencing and scheduling, a 4K 8mp sensor, 12x digital zoom with HDR, and three microphones.
Recorded videos or taking photos can be magnified up to 4x, and thanks to the 4K sensors, you can still see the image. You can watch 3 hours of audio and video recordings for free.
After the trial period, you can continue to receive personalized updates as it is built into the app, so no subscription is required.
This model connects to WiFi via a 2.4GHz or 5GHz network, whichever is more feasible. One of the downsides, I think, is the design. Bulky plugs and USB-C cables (up to 25 feet long) made certain house parts uncomfortable.
Also, this device is currently only compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. So, if you’re using Apple HomeKit, you’ll need to use a bridge to enable communication between your Google Nest IQ outdoor camera and your home assistant.
It also has a continuous recording function, which can decrypt sequential events when necessary for added security.
5. Wyze cam outdoor
- Record night vivid color in environments up to 25x darker than traditional cameras
- Comes with IP65 of weather resistance
- Comes with up to 6 months battery life on a single charge
- Compatible with Wyze Cam Outdoor v1 base stat
The Wyze Cam Outdoor is a weatherproof surveillance camera with professional features at a much lower price than most other versions. It’s wireless, quick to use, and delivers crystal-clear 1080p recording.
The Wyze Cam Outdoor is the company’s first camera designed for outdoor use. You can store your saved content in the cloud for free or locally using one of the two microSD card slots, but you must provide your files.
It offers features such as Alexa and Google voice command support, the ability to communicate with other intelligent devices, and a mobile mode that allows you to carry the camera without an internet connection.
Recordings are automatically saved to the cloud for free for 14 days, and no subscription is required. Motion detection uses passive infrared (PIR) to detect body temperature, reducing false alarms from waving branches.
Connect up to 4 cameras to a single base station and view all video streams in the Wyze app.
6. Amiccom Z5
Another excellent security outdoor camera that doesn’t require a subscription or monthly contract has almost everything you need to make this camera more intelligent and more capable.
Save all surveillance footage recorded 24/7 from your outdoor camera to the cloud or use a Micro SD card (up to 256GB).
Motion detection uses passive infrared (PIR) to detect body temperature, reducing false alarms from waving branches.
Overall, the performance of this camera is excellent. Talking about the price, it’s a budget outdoor security camera.
7. Amcrest 4K Outdoor POE IP Camera
- Has an ultra HD 4K quality with 3840x2160 resolution
- Comes with IP67 of heavy duty metal weatherproof
- Night vision capability of up to 98 feet
- Get one year of US Warra
With the Amcrest 4K UltraHD PoE camera, you can continue to use the content you want, no matter where you are.
View, capture, and play HD video using the free Amcrest View Pro smartphone app and Amcrest Surveillance Pro for Windows PC and Apple MAC.
A quick mobile setup process lets you view the camera’s live video stream instantly. 4K (8MP / 3840×2160) resolution with low light capability utilizing the latest Sony Starvis image sensor and Ambarella S3LM chipset.
Works with Amcrest Cloud remote video storage, MicroSD card, Amcrest NVR, Synology and QNAP NAS, FTP, Pale Moon, Sea Monkey browsers, IE, Safari, Firefox 49.0, and Chrome with Amcrest Web View Extension.
Motion detection uses passive infrared (PIR) to detect body temperature, reducing false alarms from waving branches.
What are the advantages of outdoor security cameras without a subscription?
1. Budget
One of the main advantages is the lower cost compared to traditional surveillance equipment installations. This is because there are no additional costs for recording storage and maintenance.
2. No time limit
There is no limit to the number of recording hours set. This means you can watch as many videos as you need whenever you need them. Also, you don’t have to worry about data usage charges.
3. Full control
Finally, you have complete control over your surveillance system. You can view and edit the footage to better monitor and protect your assets from intruders and other threats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I save camera recordings without a monthly subscription?
You can save video recordings from security cameras without a monthly subscription. Some security cameras without a subscription plan use local storage to store their recordings.
No subscription service is used, so you can easily save recorded videos to your computer or network drive. If you choose a security camera that uses cloud storage, you can store your recordings, but you will have to pay a monthly fee.
The recorded video may not be available when needed. However, you can access the recorded video using a local storage device anytime.
Can security cameras be installed without the Internet?
Not all cameras can be installed without the Internet. Another primary option is to use a data connection through a base station, such as a telephone, but this can be expensive. Nevertheless, most home security cameras are now designed to connect to WiFi for app access. Our Defend choice is one of the few home-friendly systems requiring no internet or data connection.
Which Arlo cameras do not require a subscription?
Technically, you don’t need a subscription to use Arlo cameras. However, you lose the ability to store videos online, and Arlo’s SD card is designed as a backup rather than primary storage. You can choose Arlo Pro 3; our top recommended outdoor security camera that doesn’t need a subscription.
Do Wyze cameras work without a subscription?
Yes, all you need is an SD card that can be inserted into the camera. The Wyze cam is one of the cheapest home security camera options.
Will I lose other features if I don’t subscribe?
It depends on the brand. Sometimes you lose specific AI capabilities, some types of notifications, integration with other intelligent devices, emergency response options, and more.
It depends on the plan. However, video storage is a significant concern as it is essential for legal reasons and general usability. You don’t want to get caught up in live streaming.
Can security cameras work without WiFi?
Yes, those cameras that work wired, over PoE, or support local storage can work without WiFi.
