Home Security
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There is nothing more important than the safety of your family. Here you can find the perfect solutions maintain a carefree environment with the best and newest systems that technology has to offer.
In this expert guide, we’ll break down the various types of security cameras, from basic indoor and outdoor models to more specialized options like thermal imaging cameras.
Here are the top-rated security cameras for 2025 divided into subcategories:
| Category | Types | Top Rated Product |
| Placement | Indoor | Blink Mini Compact Plug-in Security Camera |
| Outdoor | Ring Stick Up Outdoor Camera | |
| Doorbell | Ring Video Doorbell Wired Camera | |
| Shape | Dome | Amcrest 5MP POE Camera |
| Bullet | ANNKE 1080p Security Camera | |
| Fisheye | Vortex FE912-H Fisheye Camera | |
| Turret | Amcrest 5MP Turret POE Camera | |
| Wiring Setup | Wired | ANNKE 3K Lite Security Camera System |
| Wireless | Vision Well Security Cameras Wireless Outdoor | |
| Connectivity | Analog | Cumcitin Analog CCTV Camera |
| IP | Wansview Security IP Camera | |
| Special Features | PTZ | Avigilon H5A IR PTZ Camera |
| Thermal imaging | Flir Elara™ FB-Series ID |
CCTV Camera Types by Placement
Indoor
Indoor cameras are installed inside buildings or rooms to capture video footage all day long. They’re mostly used in offices and homes, retail stores, etc.
Depending on their shape and recording method, they can sometimes record audio.
Top Rated Product
| Blink Mini Compact Plug-in Security Camera | 1080P HD resolution Motion detection and two-way audio Easy installation with the plug-in design Compatible with Alexa |
Outdoor
Outdoor cameras are designed to withstand different weather conditions, including hot temperatures, wind, and rain. They often have a high IP rating to indicate high resilience to outdoor conditions.
Top Rated Product
| Ring Stick Up Outdoor Camera | Battery-powered Live view is available through the Ring app Can be wall-mounted or placed on a flat surface |
Video Doorbell
Doorbell cameras are commonly used in houses because they double as cameras and doorbells. They often connect to mobile applications, allowing homeowners to see who’s at the door without moving. On top of that, a lot of them are motion-sensitive, recording footage when detecting movement.
Top Rated Product
| Ring Video Doorbell Wired Camera | Two-way audio Compatible with Alexa Motion detection 1080P HD video resolution |
CCTV Camera Types by Shape
Dome
You’re probably familiar with dome cameras because you see them in elevators, retail stores, and other settings.
These cameras are deceptive because you never know where they’re looking, making them a common choice for public places.
Despite that, these cameras have fixed viewing angles and can’t be repositioned without reinstallation. That’s why they’re not suitable as crime deterrents.
Top Rated Product
| Amcrest 5MP POE Camera | Super wide 132-degree viewing angle POE for easy installation Can pan and tilt manually Weatherproof for outdoor installation |
Bullet
The most common type of security cameras, bullet cameras use both fixed and varifocal lenses. They’re often used for large open areas because they have a long-range capability. Though they can be panned and tilted, you have to do it manually, so they often have fixed viewing angles.
Bullets are easier to install than domes, but their viewing angle is visible to all people, so they can easily be avoided or tampered with. They also may produce blindspots if they’re installed in tight locations.
Top Rated Product
| ANNKE 1080p Security Camera | Supports AHD/TVI/CVI/CVBS video output IP66 weatherproof rating for outdoor installation 100ft clear night vision |
Fisheye
Fisheyes have wide-angle views panning more than 180 degrees, which makes them capable of capturing hemispherical images. Their lenses create distortion near the edges of the footage frame, resembling how a fish sees, which explains the naming.
Despite the distorted visions, fisheyes are common choices for large spaces because they cover ultra-wide angles, making them ideal for parking spaces and similar places.
Top Rated Product
| Vortex FE912-H Fisheye Camera | 12 MP image resolution Only for indoor use Day/night vision with IR cut filter |
Turret
Turret cameras are strikingly similar to domes, but they have a socket mount and a three-axis ball that allow you to rotate them without removal. These cameras are ideal for discreet surveillance because they don’t look like typical cameras, and some models have hard casings to protect against vandalism.
Top Rated Product
| Amcrest 5MP Turret POE Camera | IP67 weatherproof for outdoor installation Motion sensor and night vision Day/night vision with built-in IR LEDs |
CCTV Camera Types by Wiring Setup
Wired
Wired CCTV cameras are physically connected to the monitoring system through wires, commonly coaxial and Ethernet cables.
Most modern cameras that use wired connections rely on the Power over Ethernet technology, which means the camera receives both power and data through a single cable. On top of that, most of them are IP cameras, which means they connect to a network, allowing you to access them remotely.
Top Rated Product
| ANNKE 3K Lite Security Camera System | Outdoor system with human/vehicle detection IP66 weatherproof rating Smart playback feature |
Wireless
Wireless cameras are less hassling to install because they don’t need physical wiring. Instead, they connect to the recording and monitoring systems through WiFi or Bluetooth.
These cameras are often powered by batteries or power adapters, and they’re easy to install anywhere since they don’t need cables.
The drawback to wireless cameras is that they need an active network connection all the time to work, and they’re prone to interference from other wireless devices.
Top Rated Product
| Vision Well Security Cameras Wireless Outdoor | Battery-powered Night vision and 2-way audio Siren alarm and motion detection Cloud/SD storage |
CCTV Camera Types by Connectivity
Analog
Analog cameras use the old-school way of recording, sending video signals through a cable to a DVR, which then stores the footage. They require a wired setup and can’t connect to the internet directly. On top of that, their video quality is lower, but they’re cheaper than IP cameras upfront.
Top Rated Product
| Cumcitin Analog CCTV Camera | Outdoor dome camera with varifocal lens Vandalism-proof and IP66 weather-proof Day and night vision |
IP
Contrary to analog cameras, IP cameras transmit their footage data through the internet or a local network. They record their video data on an NVR, a local storage device, or a cloud server, and their videos are in higher resolution than analog cameras.
These cameras can be either wired or wireless, and they’re more expensive upfront but are easier to install.
Top Rated Product
| Wansview Security IP Camera | Local recording and night vision Works with 2.4G WiFi Smart pan/tilt feature 360-degree coverage |
CCTV Camera Types by Special Features
PTZ
Pan-tilt-zoom cameras are a common choice for businesses because they can be remotely controlled to pan, tilt, and zoom. This gives the user high control over the camera’s field of view and allows them to monitor unfolding events in real-time.
These cameras are also cost-efficient because they can give 360-degree coverage without the need for more cameras.
The catch? PTZ cameras aren’t at the top of the list when it comes to wide-angle coverage. The only way to get wide viewing angles is by manually adjusting them.
Top Rated Product
| Avigilon H5A IR PTZ Camera | IR illumination range of 300 meters 360-degree views with up to 40x zoom Highly weatherproof against rain, snow, corrosion, and windblown dust |
Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging cameras detect heat, or infrared radiation, instead of visible light. In other words, they can record footage in complete darkness or under heavy rain without a hitch. They can also see through smoke and fog, but the detected objects will appear as silhouettes of different colors.
Because they’re more expensive than regular cameras, thermal-imaging cameras are a common choice only for extreme security needs. They’re often used for detecting intruders in industrial sites and warehouses.
Top Rated Product
| Flir Elara™ FB-Series ID | Human/vehicle detection Plug-and-play integration IP66 weatherproof Dynamic Detail Enhancement (DDE) available |