Best Security Cameras That Store Locally Android Central 2020

As our connected lifestyles and smart homes continue to merge, we are finding new ways to secure our houses and belongings. One of the best devices for keeping tabs on our stuff is a smart security camera, and they're certainly are tons to chose from. In light of recent data breaches and privacy scandals, many are looking for options that feature on-device storage solutions (a.k.a. don't use the cloud), so we've put together a list of the best security cameras with local storage for your reference. My favorite out of the bunch is the eufy Cam 2. It has all of the features I want, with none of the added expenses (subscriptions).

Source: Eufy

Eufy makes a line of quality smart home products like this Indoor/Outdoor camera, but one of the things we like best about its products is the one-time fee model they espouse. You don't have to purchase an ongoing cloud storage subscription to access or store your videos, and this device even comes with a 16GB EMMC digital storage, which is enough to store up to a year's worth of recordings. Eufy also promises that USB storage expansion will be coming soon to the product line. While all files are stored locally, you can use smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant to connect it to the rest of your smart home system. Unlike some other cameras on this list, you can view your recordings through the app, safely and securely. This particular bundle comes with two cameras and a base station. The camera films in 1080p with night vision and has an IP67 weatherproof rating, which should protect it from most weather events. The camera's 140-degree field of view isn't the best on this list, but it's still comprehensive. Best of all? A single charge will last up to a full year, so no fiddling about with charging the batteries every few months. Pros: No monthly subscriptions

16GB of on-device EMMC storage built-in

Works indoors and outdoors

Year-long battery life

Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Cons: Storage capacity could be better

A bit on the pricey side

Field of view isn't the best

Best Value Security Camera with Local Storage: Wyze Cam Pan

Source: Android Central

This little device from Wyze is a true utility camera. Not only can you record and live stream in full 1080p HD (including night vision), but you can use Alexa or Google Assistant to control the camera from wherever you are. Perhaps most impressive of all is the granularity of control that this indoor camera affords users. You can pan, tilt, and zoom through the app, and attached to its base, and it can rotate a full 360-degrees to see the entire room. All of these granular controls are available directly in the Wyze app, which makes you feel like a security guard at a high-end Las Vegas casino. That's right; you can follow your cat all around the house directly from your phone! Yes, Wyze has come under fire due to a major data leak, but if you opt-out of its cloud service in favor of the onboard storage option (of up to 32GB), then you should have no worries. Note that this device is not compatible with 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, but it should still record and stream adequately for most needs. Pros: 360-degree view with rotating base

Can pan, tilt, and zoom

Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

Superb value

HIgher storage than the top pick Cons: Recent data leaks are concerning

Expandable storage limited to 32GB

Doesn't work on 5GHz networks

Best Value Security Camera with Local Storage Wyze Cam Pan Versatile value camera This camera can pan up to 360 degrees and even tilt up and down to make sure you see everything that's going on. $38 at Amazon

$38 at Walmart

Largest Overall Capacity Security Camera with Local Storage: Arlo Pro 3

Source: Arlo

The Arlo Pro 3 might be one of the more expensive security camera systems available, but it comes packed with a lot of great features. For starters, the base-level configuration comes with two cameras and a base station that enables the Arlo cameras to communicate with each other wirelessly. You can back up data your data locally on a microSD card via a USB drive that can be connected to the base station. The downside to all of that local storage is that you can't view recordings through the otherwise good Arlo app; instead, you'll have to connect it to your computer If you want to be able to view recordings in the app, you'll have to subscribe to Arlo's cloud storage plan. Not only can you view and record in 2K HDR, but you can even view and record in color regardless if it's day or night. The cameras also feature an integrated spotlight and sport a 160-degree field of view. Setup also could not be easier. There are no wires to mess with, and the cameras attach magnetically to their mounts. You also recharge the battery with a magnetic cable (like the one for some smartwatches), and each charge lasts up to six months. Most impressive of all the Arlo Pro 3's features is that you can store up to a whopping 2TB of footage through the external hub. That's a lot of squirrel footage to go through! Pros: Can store up to 2TB via the hub

Color night vision

Record in up to 2K HDR

Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Cons: One of the more expensive systems

Local storage can't be viewed through the app

Biggest microSD Capacity Security Camera with Local Storage: AHOME A1 Outdoor Security Camera

Source: Ahome

This brand might not be as well-known as some of the others higher up on this list, but don't take that as a sign of its quality. This affordable security camera comes packed with a ton of great features, including IP66 weatherproofing, 1080p imaging, night vision, two-way audio, and up to 128GB microSD card capacity for a ton of on-device, local storage. The AHOME A1 camera offers a pretty standard app experience, with the ability to set up alerts and view live, on-demand video. While you can put up to a 128GB microSD card in the device, AHOME offers a 30-day trial of their cloud service, should you wish to try out that option before committing to a subscription plan. The loud motion detection alarm can scare away any intruder, but you can also carry a conversation with visitors thanks to its two-way audio capability. Pros: FHD image and night vision

128GB capacity for local storage

Two-way audio

IP 66 weatherproofing

Great value Cons: No AI or machine-learning human detection

No battery-powered option

Biggest microSD Capacity Security Camera with Local Storage AHOME A1 Outdoor Security Camera Cheap curbside coverage This camera has high-end features at a low-end price, including tons of on-device storage capacity and IP66 weatherproofing. $30 at Amazon

Most Imposing Security Camera with Local Storage: Foscam Outdoor Security Camera

Source: Foscam

Some cameras are innocuous, and some just mean business. This Outdoor Security Camera from Foscam definitely looks the part of a menacing security guard, which might be just the deterrent you're looking for at your home. It has one of the better IP ratings we've seen on a security camera with IP66, and it can see up to 66 feet ahead at night with its night vision and IR lights. On the downside, its 112-degree field of view isn't the best we've come across, and it doesn't have a battery-powered option. The 4-megapixel camera can record up to 1080p, and it has built-in, two-way audio so that you can communicate with whoever may be on the other side of that lens through Foscam's app. As with all of these providers, Foscam offers cloud storage solutions, but you don't have to take advantage of that if you don't want to. This camera can accept up to a 128GB microSD card so that you can store all of your files locally for added peace of mind. Note that this camera only works on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi spectrum. Pros: Military-grade appearance

128GB capacity for local storage

Human detection

Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Cons: No battery-powered option

Doesn't support 5GHz spectrum

A relatively short field of view

Most Imposing Security Camera with Local Storage Foscam Outdoor Security Camera This camera means business Not only does this camera look tough, but it IS also tough with IP66 weatherproofing and infrared lights. $80 at Amazon

Most Futuristic Security Camera with Local Storage: EZVIZ Outdoor Security Camera

Source: EZVIZ