Smart Cameras

Discover the Best Smart Cameras for Your Smart Home.

Smart cameras have evolved from simple recording devices into intelligent guardians that offer peace of mind, whether you are at home or halfway across the world. Modern security cameras do much more than just record your front yard. They can distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles, send instant notifications, and even actively deter intruders with spotlights and sirens.

This Best Buy Guide highlights smart camera brands that work well with Homey, so you can easily view your feeds and integrate them into your Flows.

Choosing the Right Smart Camera

Smart cameras differ in many ways, so it is important to choose one that fits your specific needs and environment. Here are a few key factors to keep in mind.

Video Quality

Consider the importance of high-resolution sensors combined with a wide field of view to capture crisp details across a larger area of your home.

Night Vision

Consider the added value of infrared sensors or integrated spotlights, which enable the camera to record clear footage even in complete darkness or low-light conditions.

Power Source

Consider the flexibility of battery- or solar-powered models versus the continuous recording reliability of wired cameras, which do not require recharging.

Smart Features

Consider the added benefit of advanced artificial intelligence in distinguishing between people, animals, and vehicles, alongside the camera’s ability to identify objects correctly.

Price

Premium cameras typically offer better video quality and features, but many budget-friendly options still provide reliable home security.

Brand	Protocol	Live Stream	Motion Events	Storage	Price
Nest	Wi-Fi			Cloud	From €99.99
Netatmo	Wi-Fi			Local / Cloud	From €129.99
Reolink	Wi-Fi			Local / Cloud	From €34.99
Ring	Wi-Fi			Local1 / Cloud	From €49.99
SwitchBot	Wi-Fi			Local / Cloud	From €29.99
TP-Link	Wi-Fi			Local / Cloud	From €29.99
UniFi Protect	Wi-Fi			Local / Cloud2	From €129.99

Google Nest offers a polished, user-friendly ecosystem of smart cameras that leverage artificial intelligence for advanced detection. Their lineup includes battery-powered options for indoor and outdoor use, as well as wired floodlight cameras and video doorbells.

Nest cameras excel at distinguishing between people, animals, packages, and vehicles, providing highly relevant alerts and notifications. The hardware’s clean aesthetic blends into modern homes thanks to its minimalist, unobtrusive design.

For example, the latest Nest Cam (battery) processes video locally to detect important events without needing a constant internet connection. It offers a clear view day or night and can recognize familiar faces if you subscribe to Nest Aware. This ensures you know exactly who is at your door or in your backyard without opening the app.

Integrating Google Nest with Homey allows you to leverage these intelligent detection features as powerful automation triggers. You can create Flows that turn on your porch lights when a family member is detected or send a notification to your phone when the doorbell is pressed. Uniquely, these cameras can even detect specific sounds, such as smoke alarms or breaking glass, which you can use to trigger critical safety automations in Homey.

Netatmo distinguishes itself in the smart camera market by focusing on elegant design and a strict no-subscription business model. The ecosystem prioritizes privacy and local processing by storing footage on an encrypted microSD card or your own private server.

The lineup is compact and focused on the essentials for home security. For added privacy, the Smart Indoor Camera uses facial recognition to pause recording when familiar faces appear. For outdoor areas, the Smart Outdoor Camera combines security and lighting with an integrated floodlight that can replace existing fixtures and activates only when needed.

Netatmo cameras give you full control over your recordings, with options to automatically back up footage to your personal cloud or a private FTP server. This ensures you receive relevant alerts without the common paywalls found in competitor products.

Integrating Netatmo with Homey unlocks a layer of automation based on specific identities and events. For example, start a Flow when your indoor camera recognizes a familiar face or activate your sprinklers when the outdoor camera spots an animal. Homey can also send you rich notifications to your phone whenever someone rings the doorbell.

Reolink stands out in the crowded home security market by offering an extensive, versatile product lineup. Their range includes everything from simple battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras and 4G-enabled models for remote locations, to professional-grade Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems with continuous recording.

The brand is a favorite among budget-conscious users because it packs premium features like 4K resolution, optical zoom, and color night vision into devices that cost significantly less than competitors. For instance, the renowned dual-lens Duo series stitches two video feeds into a single 180-degree panoramic view without any distortions.

The hardware processes all smart detection features (including people, vehicles, and pets) fully locally on the camera. Reolink operates on a subscription-free model, with no monthly subscription fees.

Integrating Reolink with Homey means you are focusing on local control and detection speed. You can add your cameras to Homey to view high-quality live streams directly on your dashboard or use the smart detection events to trigger automations. For example, let Homey turn on your driveway lights when a vehicle is detected, while ignoring people or stray animals.

Ring is arguably the most recognized name in home security and offers a comprehensive ecosystem of devices that are easy to install and use. Their product line ranges from the iconic video doorbells to versatile Stick Up Cams and powerful Floodlight Cams that illuminate your entire yard. They are particularly known for their reliable battery technology, which allows you to place security cameras almost anywhere without worrying about wiring.

For example, the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro uses radar sensors for 3D Motion Detection to provide precise security alerts. This technology sets precise distance thresholds so the system only notifies you when someone steps onto your property, not the sidewalk. The camera combines this accuracy with bright LED spotlights and a loud siren to actively deter intruders the moment they appear.

The brand excels at capturing crucial moments before they happen with its advanced Pre-Roll technology. This feature records a few seconds of video before a motion event so you can see exactly what led up to an incident. However, it’s important to note that Ring relies heavily on a cloud subscription model called Ring Protect for saving and sharing video recordings.

Integrating Ring with Homey brings all these sensors together into a unified smart home system. You can create Flows that automatically turn on your hallway lights when the camera detects a person or flash the living room lights when someone is lingering in the garden. Homey can also remotely activate the camera’s floodlight or siren on supported models, allowing you to create some clever automations.

SwitchBot is best known for its innovative retrofitting devices that turn “dumb” appliances into smart ones. The company recently expanded its portfolio with a capable lineup of home security cameras. Their approach focuses on practical solutions, such as powering outdoor cameras without wiring. This ecosystem particularly attracts renters who want to build a smart home without drilling holes or replacing expensive hardware.

For instance, the SwitchBot Outdoor Spotlight Cam offers versatile, battery-powered protection that withstands the elements and keeps your property safe. It features two bright LED spotlights that activate upon motion to deter intruders and enable color night vision. This camera also works with a dedicated solar panel. This accessory keeps the battery charged indefinitely with just a few hours of sunlight per day.

For the interior, the SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam monitors large spaces by rotating 360 degrees horizontally. It uses advanced algorithms to track people or pets automatically and ensures you never miss an important moment. When you’re home, the camera physically rotates its lens into the casing to provide a verified privacy mode. This physical barrier ensures the device records no video while you are in the room.

Adding SwitchBot cameras to Homey allows for integration with your entire smart home. You can create Flows that automatically trigger a SwitchBot Bot or close the curtains when motion is detected. It’s worth noting that some advanced AI detection features, such as Pet and Vehicle recognition, require a SwitchBot Cloud subscription.

TP-Link has transitioned from a networking company into a major smart home player through its Tapo and Kasa brands. It offers a comprehensive range of affordable security devices, including indoor pan-tilt cameras and wire-free outdoor battery models. TP-Link offers high-end features, such as ColorPro night vision, which captures full-color images in near darkness without a spotlight.

Unlike many competitors, TP-Link processes most AI detection locally on the camera itself rather than in the cloud. This ensures features like person or pet identification remain free without a monthly fee. Furthermore, you can store high-definition footage on a large-capacity microSD card. This local storage option allows you to avoid cloud subscription costs entirely.

Integrating TP-Link cameras with Homey adds flexible local control, making them a natural fit for budget-friendly setups. For example, Homey can turn on the lights when a vehicle enters the driveway. It can also send a push notification if a pet appears on the front porch.

UniFi Protect bridges the gap between consumer smart home gear and professional enterprise security. Unlike standalone Wi-Fi cameras, this system requires a dedicated console, such as a Dream Machine or Cloud Key. This hardware records footage 24/7 locally to a hard drive. This architecture ensures unmatched speed and responsiveness while keeping your video data completely private and free from cloud subscription fees.

UniFi’s extensive camera lineup primarily uses Power over Ethernet (PoE). A single cable handles both data and power, ensuring rock-solid reliability. Options range from the compact G5 Flex and discreet domes to the heavy-duty G6 Pro, which delivers incredible image quality.

Integrating UniFi Protect with Homey enables fast, low-latency automations driven by rich camera events. Flows can react to triggers like face detection or license plate recognition. You can also receive notifications for meaningful activity, such as a package delivery. Homey can interact directly with supported hardware as well. This includes adjusting PTZ positions or enabling patrol mode for automatic camera movement.