The Top 5 Best Budget Security Camera Systems + Buying Guide

Disclosure: Links marked with * are Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases if you decide to make a purchase through these links – at no cost for you!

---

Crime has risen sharply in recent years. Houses and apartments are repeatedly broken in to. 

With a security camera system, you can protect your own four walls effectively and safely against burglary. Many camera systems are even available at a low price and still offer the highest possible security. 

Most security camera systems offer several cameras and an included recorder. With the new smart cameras with cloud storage or onboard storage capacity, the range of products increased dramatically. So if we talk about a camera system, oftentimes these stand-alone smart cameras can offer even more than a complete system with a recorder.

Here are our recommendations for security camera systems for a small budget:

Image	Name	Link
*	ZOSI CCTV Camera	Check Price*
*	Wyze Cam Pan	Check Price*
*	Hive View	Check Price*
*	Arlo Go	Check Price*
*	YI Dome Camera	Check Price*

Below you will find all the important information you need to buy security camera systems with a small budget.

The 5 Best Security Camera Systems for Small Money

ZOSI CCTV Camera

This smart camera system from ZOSI* has an extremely good price-performance ratio, as the price includes several cameras and a recorder.

The cameras have all the important features needed for a security camera and thanks to the networking they are a very effective security system for complete plots of land or houses.

Due to its weather resistance, it is suitable for outdoor use and due to the infrared night vision also during the night. Thanks to smart motion detection, nothing escapes the camera.

The recorded videos are stored on the recorder, but you can access them from anywhere with your smartphone and see how your home is doing.

This camera system is available in different versions. You can select the number of cameras as well as the video resolution. You have the choice between 720p and 1080p HD resolution.

The camera system also has a feature that allows you to hide selected areas on the camera. This means that persons or activities in these areas are not recorded. So you can follow the requirements of data protection, for example, if you have the neighbor’s property on your picture. 

Pros & Cons: ZOSI CCTV Camera

Wyze Cam Pan

The Wyze Cam Pan* delivers smart security for little money. This smart security camera for indoor use automatically detects movements and tracks them with a 360° angle of view.

It does all this in 1080p HD video resolution so you can see all the details. Despite its low price, the camera is packed with features like night vision, a 2-way audio system and compatibility with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home.

With the Wyze app, you can access the camera’s live stream from anywhere. It will also notify you when it detects movement or noise.

The storage options for this security camera are also ideal. You can either save the videos on a built-in Micro SD card or via the free cloud service that stores your videos for 14 days. With the micro SD card, you have the advantage that you always have all your videos with you and nobody can access them. Of course, the cloud service can always access it but safe is safe. The practical thing about the cloud service is that you don’t have to worry about anything except downloading important videos if you need or want to share them.

Pros & Cons: Wyze Cam Pan

Hive View

The Hive View Smart Home Security Camera* is not only a security camera for your home, it looks good in any room.

Besides the stylish exterior, this camera also offers a number of important features that a security camera for indoor use needs.

The outstanding feature of this camera is that you can completely remove the head and continue shooting with it. This will last as long as the built-in battery lasts, so for about one hour. This feature makes the camera mobile and replaces e.g. a baby cam because you can simply place the head at the bed of your child while you are busy in the kitchen. So you always have a view of your child via the smartphone app.

Of course, the camera also offers 1080p HD resolution and a 2-way audio system so you can talk to someone in front of the camera from a distance.

This camera not only has a normal motion detector but can also distinguish the movements of people. So you can set the camera to only let you know when it sees a person. This way you avoid false alarms from falling leaves, your pet or similar.

The camera can also monitor your home at night. And even in the dark, the camera has excellent resolution, so you can still see all the details with the 8x digital zoom. 

The Hive View belongs to the Hive Ecosystem. This is a system of various smart home devices from Hive that you can use to network and automate your entire home. For example, you could connect the light to the camera and have it turn on automatically when someone comes home. 

Pros & Cons: Hive View

Arlo Go

The Arlo Go Security Camera* is remarkable in one respect because it is completely wireless and location-independent. It connects via an LTE signal and not via WiFI.

This allows you to use it wherever there is a signal. 

But this also means that you need a SIM card to install it. Once you have inserted a SIM card into the camera, all you need to do is synchronize it with the Arlo app and you’re done. You can use the camera anywhere and access it from anywhere.

With free cloud storage, you can have your recorded data stored directly in the cloud or save it to a micro SD card directly on the device. The free cloud storage is really great, as most other vendors charge a monthly fee for it.

Most security cameras presented here take pictures with 1080p HD. The Arlo Go only records in 720p HD. This is a compromise between high resolution and mobile data transmission. 1080p HD videos are much larger than videos in 720p HD. In most cases, this resolution is also absolutely sufficient.

Of course, the Arlo Go also has motion sensors and geofencing. Geofencing means that she notices when you come home and when you leave. For example, you could tell her that it only activates when you are not at home.

Pros & Cons: Arlo Go

YI Dome Camera

The popular YT Dome Camera* is a real price-performance wonder.

For its very small price, it has extremely many features that otherwise only high-end products provide. 

It is amazing what kind of camera technology fits into such small devices. This camera has a 360° angle of view because it can pan, while still delivering ultra-sharp videos in 1080p HD video quality.

To store these large videos, you can choose between a cloud storage function or an integrated micro SD card. The cloud solution is even free and is always preferable to local storage unless you are recording extremely sensitive data.

With 8 infrared sensors, the camera can also record pin-sharp videos at night. It also has a 2-way audio system that allows you to talk to someone in the same room with the camera using the high-quality speakers and microphone.

Since this camera can rotate 360°, it only makes sense that it can be set to scan and monitor different zones one after the other. Of course, you can adjust these picture zones so that the camera doesn’t look stupid against a wall.

Thanks to its smart motion sensor, this IP camera can reliably detect movements and tracks them independently. You can set the camera to send you a 10-second clip immediately after. 

Pros & Cons: YI Dome Camera

Wireless security camera systems for the small budget

Wireless security camera systems are among the Ferraris among security systems. There are good reasons for that. They work reliably and secure houses and apartments efficiently against uninvited guests. They are also affordable for the average consumer. 

Even good systems from well-known manufacturers can be bought for as little as 150 euros. All systems are complete systems. They are equipped with the following accessories:

• Cameras
• Monitoring screen
• Recorder
• App

Equipment of the security camera systems

There are big differences in the equipment. In principle, only complete camera systems include all necessary accessories. If, for example, only a security camera with accessories is offered, it is rarely a camera system. 

Most of the time the offer only includes one or more cameras that you can connect to your computer or laptop. Accessories are then only connecting cables or the computer software. Therefore, when buying, always pay attention to which accessories are actually included in the price.

The security camera

One of the best security camera systems is first and foremost a fully functional camera. It is the heart of the whole system. 

Even security camera systems at a low price almost always have cameras with HD or Full HD resolution. You can recognize the resolution by the following criteria:

• HD resolution from 720 pixels
• Full HD resolution from 1080 pixels
• Ultra-HD resolution from 2160 pixels (4K)

With an HD resolution of 720 pixels or more, at least 25 frames per second should be achieved. A lens with a focal length of 2.8 mm and a horizontal angle of view of at least 110° provides a good basis. 

With this basis you can be sure that the images are sharp and that people can be recognized.

Security camera systems with night vision and motion detection

It is not always easy to understand the functional specifications. In order to find the best security camera system, you need to pay attention to two criteria:

• Motion detection
• Night vision

Not all security camera systems have enough capacity to stay in recording mode around the clock. Therefore, many camera systems are equipped with motion detection. 

It only starts recording when there is movement around the object to be monitored. You can imagine it like this: For example, did you point the camera at your garden. Then a still image appears on your monitor. Nothing is being recorded. 

Related article: Do security cameras record video all the time?

If there is now a movement, i.e. if a stranger approaches, the camera starts recording. You should check the recording on your security camera system regularly. 

Since the camera reacts to any kind of movement, it is possible that it will also record cats or small animals. Some camera systems react so sensitively to a movement that they start recording even in storms or windy weather. 

This happens, for example, when leaves fly around. But always remember that many burglars spy on the objects first. So watch out for people who are loitering.

Most burglars come in the early evening, at nightfall or at night. It is therefore important that your camera is equipped with a night vision mode. Even with security camera systems for small money is usually a night vision recording integrated into the camera. 

With good cameras, this switches on automatically at nightfall. Normally, night visibility is up to 25 meters. Cameras with a range of up to 60 meters are ideal. You will also find these cameras in the low price segment.

Related article: How far can a security camera see at night? +Table

WiFi security camera systems and wireless cameras

Today you can lower your blinds with your smartphone even when you are many miles away. 

Related article: How to make blinds & roller blinds smart? Guide + List

With the smartphone, you can explore routes of planes flying over you. So why not also operate a security camera system with the smartphone?

This has of course long been possible and also offers some advantages. 

The biggest advantage is that you do not have to lay any cables. Because that can be quite costly. In many cases, you will even have to call in a craftsman. 

This work is completely unnecessary. All you have to do is place the cameras in the desired positions, establish a connection and replace the batteries every few years.

Not only pay attention to the price

There are a lot of cheap security camera systems that are of good quality despite their low price, work perfectly and are suitable for securing and monitoring objects. 

But there are big differences between the models and manufacturers. Therefore, you should not be lured by low prices alone. Some systems fail during testing or have malfunctions that make safe monitoring impossible. 

Basically, you should keep your hands off inferior products that were made in Asia. These are mostly inferior goods. Some security camera systems resemble the test winners, but unfortunately only on the outside. 

These are often fakes. So it can happen that you cause a short-circuit when starting up. In the worst case, the device could also cause a fire.

Security camera systems by category

The above models are consistently recommended to be suitable for reliable building and site monitoring. But on the market you can also find systems that are assigned to different areas:

• Camouflaged or non-visible security camera systems*
• Security camera systems with motion detectors*
• Security camera systems with memory functions*
• Wireless or WiFi security camera systems*

Camouflaged or non-visible security camera systems

You only know camouflaged security cameras* from spy thrillers or James Bond films. But in recent years they have also established themselves on the market. 

For example, there are motion detectors that are equipped with a camera. Smoke detectors, clocks and outdoor temperature indicators can now also have a camera. 

Among the absolute exotics are, besides the camera integrated in the pen, also book dummies and water bottles with a built-in camera. 

The latter will probably not fit your expectations. Cameras in motion detectors, on the other hand, are frequently used. One of the popular models is the Floodlight camera from Ring*. 

It is camouflaged as a lamp with a motion detector and at first glance looks like outdoor lighting. It is available in black and white and can therefore also be used as front door lighting. 

There are also smoke detector cameras*. These can be used wherever the installation of a smoke detector is commonplace. This enables unnoticed monitoring.

It has a powerful camera with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p and a motion detector. The camera dummy has its own system. The recordings are stored on an SD card and can later be viewed on a laptop or computer.

Security camera systems with motion detectors

Security cameras with motion detectors* are among the most widely used camera systems. They only start recording when motion is detected. 

This has the advantage that data is saved. In some cases you can also adjust the motion sensitivity of the camera. Thus the camera only registers stronger movements, such as those of people or animals. 

The camera does not respond when leaves are flying around. There are a variety of security camera systems with motion detectors. All of them are very good in use and mostly recommendable. 

Security camera systems with memory functions

Also common are security camera systems with memory function*. This memory function can be performed in different ways:

• Storage directly on the recorder
• Storage on a memory card (camera or recorder)
• Storage on a Cloud
• Storage on smartphone, laptop or computer

Basically, it does not matter where the data is stored. First and foremost, you have to decide which system fits better to your personal ideas. Storing directly on the recorder has the advantage that you don’t need any other devices. 

However, the capacity is small. So you have to delete the data regularly. There are also security camera systems with automatic deletion. Here you can set the deletion times yourself or the data will be deleted automatically when the capacity is reached.

Some cameras are equipped with a card slot. Alternatively, it may be located on the recorder. Here you must pay attention to the memory card capacity. You need a card with a high storage capacity. Memory cards are less recommended if you are using a camera without a motion sensor. 

This records permanently and with many systems the capacity is then exhausted after a short time. Also, keep in mind that many cameras have a high resolution. This also allows the systems to be utilized faster. 

Ideal are systems that forward the recording data directly to a cloud. Here you have unlimited possibilities and can store a large amount of data. However, you have to make sure that your WiFi connection is working properly. 

Some security camera systems forward the data directly to a computer, laptop or smartphone. The device used must therefore have sufficient storage capacity. In addition, you should regularly delete the records, otherwise extremely high data accumulates.

Radio or WiFi security camera systems

Wireless or WiFi security camera systems* belong to the classic types of security cameras. They work via radio or WiFi and therefore wireless. This has the great advantage that you do not have to lay any cables for installation. 

When installing from a camera, the laying of cables is certainly no problem. But it looks different if you want to monitor a building all around or a large area and have to install several cameras. 

This is especially true if the property is large. Here the installation of a wireless or WiFi security camera system is extremely advantageous.

Indoor or Outdoor

There are security camera systems for outdoor and indoor use. Make sure you choose the right system when buying. Otherwise you can get a nasty surprise. 

Camera systems for indoor use are not weatherproof. They break when they are exposed to moisture and dampness. In addition, some cameras are set to a certain zoom, which cannot be adjusted. 

If this does not match the monitored area, blurred images may occur. But there can also be problems with the recorders. Some can only receive signals at close range and are therefore suitable for indoor use. For example, you cannot transmit data through thick outer walls.

Security camera systems for different areas

Generally, security camera systems are used to monitor buildings and properties. They serve primarily for safety. However, there are also other areas of use:

• Security camera systems for the animal area
• Monitoring camera systems for the observation of processes
• security camera systems for the observation of children and sick people

Security camera systems for the animal area

Animal observations are incredibly interesting and are no longer carried out by researchers or hunters alone. The observation by private individuals has increased considerably in recent years. 

In these areas, security cameras for animals are popular:

• Wildlife watching
• Observation of pets
• Surveillance of stable animals
• Observation of koi and fish ponds

Wildlife Watching

When observing wildlife, you can use any type of security camera system. You just have to make sure that the system is equipped with a motion detector. So the photo trap can snap shut. In addition, the security camera systems must be suitable for outdoor use.

Observation of Pets

Would you like to know what your dog does when you are not at home? A camera system for indoor use is suitable for this purpose. Here you can choose between a continuous recording or a camera with a motion detector. There is nothing to stop the continuous recording, as the monitoring period is manageable. So you only need a small amount of data.

Related article: The 5 best indoor cameras for pets – [Guide]

Surveillance of Stable Animals

The observation of stable animals is mostly used by farmers or animal breeders. These cameras observe what happens in the barn and do not react to movement. They monitor permanently. Almost all common security camera systems are also suitable for this purpose. Only when monitoring pigs you have to make sure that the camera is compatible with red light. Many pigsties are equipped with red light heat lamps.

Observation of Koi and Fish Ponds

The observation of koi and fish ponds has become more and more popular. Some love their fish so much that they even let the images be permanently transferred to their smartphone or laptop. For this form of surveillance, only underwater security camera systems are suitable. So you need an underwater camera* for use.

Monitoring Camera Systems for the Observation of Processes

In many cases, security cameras are also used for monitoring. This can be the case, for example, when monitoring processes. 

You know this process from factories, for example. The assembly line processes are controlled here by security cameras. If the process comes to a standstill, you can see this in a flash on the screen of the security camera system and intervene. 

These systems are also used, for example, at airports for luggage transport. Sometimes the monitoring of processes may also be required by law. This can be the case, for example, with casinos or banks.

Security Camera Systems for the Observation of Children and Sick People

Standard security cameras are sufficient for monitoring patients or children. These are ideally equipped with a motion detector. 

You can use this type of system, for example, if you have to leave your child unattended for a short time. 

Security camera systems have also proven their worth in the monitoring of people in need of care. All systems are also available in the lower price segment and ensure flawless application.

Conclusion

Security camera systems are used in many areas today. You do not have to resort to expensive systems right away. The market offers a variety of systems for a small budget. The quality is as high as expensive equipment. 

In many cases, the only difference is the use of the camera. Systems with a high camera resolution are often considerably more expensive. A further price increase results from the resolution of night vision devices and the range of the cameras. 

But even here, security camera systems in the lower price range are sufficient in any case. Even the night vision images of the inexpensive camera systems are absolutely sufficient.

Related article: The Best Security Cameras with Face Detection

---

Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.