Sometimes, handling subscriptions can seem tricky, especially when it feels like the costs are always going up!
Manufacturers typically charge subscriptions so you can get benefits such as extended cloud storage, premium features (higher resolution, advanced object detection, activity zones, monitoring, person alerts, etc.), and extended warranties.
Our article is broken down into fully wireless, Wi-Fi and PoE cameras which we explain below.
Ring, Blink, Arlo, Nest, Wyze, and Canary all have monthly subscriptions in some shape or form. In some cases, the subscription is optional, while in other cases, you need to subscribe to access the full features of the security camera.
For this article, we have selected manufacturers that either do not have monthly subscriptions or if they do, they are only for optional cloud storage and do not impact the features of the cameras.
Generally speaking, for wire-free/Wi-Fi cameras, an SD card is utilized. For PoE cameras, you can hook them up to a Network Video Recorder to store the footage or use a memory card. All cameras have the facility to live stream to your phone.
Fully Wireless/Wire-Free Security Cameras Without Monthly Subscription Fees
We’ll start with security cameras that function without the need for any cables. These cameras are ideal for use in outdoor spaces that are not well connected, like your garden, backyard, or even your fence.
You can also use them on your front door to avoid the hassle of running wires along moving joints or hinges.
These cameras also make installation easy because you will only have to mount the camera. There is no need for running wires to reach your chosen spot.
Despite being small and compact, this front door security camera comes equipped with many necessary capabilities for use as the first line of defense in your home.
- 1080p Full HD resolution with wide 140° diagonal field of view
- Up to 60 ft night vision
- Two-way audio that allows you to communicate with guests at the door
It’s battery-powered to ensure that you don’t have to worry about running wires to get power to the camera. However, if you want to avoid the hassle of periodically having to recharge the batteries, you have the option of buying a power adapter or solar panel for the camera.
It comes with a 1080p Full HD resolution and a wide 140° diagonal field of view to ensure that you get a clear view of a large space in front of your door. Night vision is also available for up to 60 ft in front of the camera. You also get a warning siren and LED warning lights that can be very effective in deterring unwanted guests.
Finally, the camera comes with a mic and speaker you can use to communicate with guests at the door. For most of these smart features, you will need to have installed the Lorex Cirrus smartphone app.
The Reolink Argus Pro is a compact and portable weather-proof security camera that can be mounted on many outdoor surfaces. To access the smart features mentioned below, you will need to download and install the Reolink smartphone app.
- Full 1080p resolution at 15 FPS with a 130° viewing angle
- Two-way audio for communication with whoever is at your door
- Up to 33 ft night vision
This camera comes with a built-in speaker and microphone that allows you to remotely have a conversatIon with guests outside your door. You can use it to give instructions to the delivery guy or send away uninvited guests.
Another great feature that comes with this camera is the PIR motion sensor that detects motion and can be used to send notifications to your phone, start recording, or even sound the alarm.
Siren
This alarm is played through the siren that makes a 75 dB sound to ensure that your warning is heard loud and clear.
Finally, you can link the camera to an Amazon Alexa device or the Google Assistant, and you’ll be able to give voice commands.
The best part? You only need to connect to the internet and you’ll be able to access all these smart features with no subscriptions!
This is another smart security camera that is great for monitoring outdoor spaces.
- Full 1080p HD resolution with 130° viewing angle
- No battery changes thanks to the included solar panel
- Two way audio for communication with people in front of the camera
Unlike the two cameras mentioned above, this one comes with a solar panel that will ensure the rechargeable batteries stay fully charged all the time so that there are no downtimes or interruptions.
It also records at a 1080p Full HD resolution and night vision for up to 55 ft. Besides this resolution, it comes equipped with a PIR motion sensor that will send alerts to your phone if you have the Cloudedge smartphone app installed.
For added convenience, the camera also comes with a built-in speaker and microphone that enables you to hear what’s happening around the camera and to talk back to people in front of the camera.
Wi-Fi Security Cameras Requiring a Power Supply (Without Monthly Subscription Fees)
Let’s now take a look at a few security cameras that need to be connected to a power supply. These cameras still connect to the internet through a Wi-Fi network, but they need a wired power outlet.
This means that you might have to do a little wiring from the power outlet to the camera when doing installation. Although this is not as easy to deal with as it is in fully wireless cameras, these cameras are still relatively easy to install as there is no need for PoE or Coaxial cables.
This camera is ideal for users looking for high-resolution security footage. With a maximum output resolution of 3840×2160 at a frame rate of 25 FPS, this camera has what it takes to produce very clear and detailed videos.
- 4K UHD resolution
- Knows the difference between people and vehicles
- Multiple recording options
Power is delivered via an Ethernet cable that’s also used to connect to an external storage device and for connecting the camera to the internet. With an internet connection, you will be able to enjoy features like real-time alerts for people or vehicles passing in front of the camera.
When it comes to recording options, you can configure the camera to record 24/7 at specific times of the day, or whenever the motion sensor picks up something. This camera also records audio to give you a full representation of what’s happening on the ground.
For a simpler setup, the camera also comes with a microSD card slot that can be used to store footage on a microSD card if you don’t have a Network Video Recorder (NVR).
This is a simple wired security camera that delivers good and clear 1080p video recordings at 30 FPS around the clock.
- Full HD 1080p resolution
- Night vision up to 98 ft
- Audio range of 16 ft with noise cancellation
The videos can be recorded on a microSD card placed in the slot on the camera or they can be sent to an external storage device over a Wi-Fi network or the available Ethernet port.
Night vision is impressive with a range of up to 98 ft thanks to powerful infrared LED lights.
This camera will also record audio from a radius of 16 ft from the camera. It comes with a built-in noise cancellation mic that ensures the camera records clear audio.
This is a smart wired security camera that enables you to have top-of-the-range smart security features without worrying about changing batteries.
- Two-way audio for communicating with people in front of the camera
- Color night vision up to 50 ft
- Smart motion detection that identities people and vehicles
For starters, the camera has an in-built mic and speaker that you can use for two-way audio transmission. In addition to this, you also get a smart deterrence siren and an LED warning light you can configure to be triggered by the motion sensor or remotely from the Lorex Home app.
This smartphone app will give you security alerts when notable events happen while allowing you to see what is happening at home whenever and wherever you may be.
For storage, this camera comes with a 32GB microSD, but you can get more storage space by purchasing a higher capacity card. The camera supports cards with up to 256GB of storage space.
This is the camera to go for if you are looking for the widest field of view. Its ability to rotate 355° horizontally coupled with its 110° horizontal tilting will give you a very wide field of view.
- Monitor a larger area with 355° horizontal and 110° vertical rotation range
- Motion detection with body tracking to get only relevant alerts
- Two-way audio for improved convenience and security
Motion tracking is enhanced with body tracking to ensure that you no longer get irrelevant alerts.
When it comes to picture quality, this camera records 1080p Full HD and comes with 12 infrared LED lights that give you a crisp image in dark settings.
The two-way audio feature puts a built-in mic and speaker at your disposal so you can have a conversation with whoever is in front of the camera.
The videos can be recorded locally on a microSD card but you have the option to subscribe for cloud service for more storage space.
PoE Security Cameras Without Monthly Subscription Fees
Let’s finish with a special group of cameras known as PoE cameras. These cameras get their power from a single Ethernet cable that connects the camera to a storage device while also connecting it to the internet. Here, you might have to run the cable over a longer distance because all the cameras will probably be getting their signals from a single central location.
This is a great option if you are looking for a camera with 4K resolution and audio recording. At 250 ft, night vision is impressive thanks to powerful infrared blasters.
- 4K UHD resolution with up to 250 ft night vision
- 4x optical zoom lens
- Simple camera installation with PoE
It comes with PoE, meaning that a single Ethernet cable is used to deliver power, internet access, and connection to a Network Video Recorder. This makes installation quick and easy.
You also get listen-in audio and a 4x optical zoom lens that makes it easy to collect evidence should you need to get a closer look at a recording.
The 4k camera also allows you to adjust the motion sensitivity for specific zones to avoid unnecessary motion alerts.
This is the camera to go for if you are looking for high resolution and a wide adjustable field of view. The camera can rotate 360° horizontally and tilt 75° vertically to give you a full view of its surroundings.
- Wider field of view with 360° horizontal pivoting and 75° vertical pivoting
- Quick and easy installation with PoE
- Up to 100 ft night vision
Security is also not going to be compromised in dark areas thanks to an impressive night vision range of 100 ft.
Finally, its Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology allows you to use one Ethernet cable for delivering power, connecting to the internet, and linking to external storage devices.
The Reolink PTZ PoE camera is a great choice if you are looking for a single camera to cover a large area. It can follow the action by tilting 90° and rotating 360° to show you everything that is happening in its surrounding.
- Impressive 190 ft night vision range
- Great flexibility with 90° tilt, 360° rotation, and 4x optical zoom
- Control notifications with different motion sensitivity for different zones
For night recording, this camera comes with 6 infrared LED blasters that deliver an impressive 190 ft night vision range.
The camera also comes with a motion sensor you can use to adjust the motion sensitivity for different zones to ensure that you only get necessary motion alerts.
Considerations When Choosing a Security Camera Without Monthly Subscription Fees
Storage of Footage
You need to know how the recorded footage will be stored. Some cameras will have microSD card slots, while others will have the option of connecting to a Network Video Recorder.
Others will even come with a cloud storage service, but this usually comes as a subscription that will require you to make monthly payments.
Live Streaming of Footage
This is an important feature because it will show you what is happening at home regardless of whether you are at home or elsewhere.
It’s a good feature to have if you want to be able to see what is happening in front of the camera from time to time.
Two-Way Audio
Two-way audio is effective in those times when you don’t want to go to the door. It enables you to hear and talk back to whoever is at the door.
This feature can also be used to scare away burglars or to send away solicitors and other unwanted guests without having to be physically present at the door.
Advanced Features (Person/Object Detection, Activity Zones, etc.)
In addition to detecting motion, some cameras will go a step further and establish whether the motion was from a person passing, or an object such as a vehicle.
Others will even try to identify the person causing the motion to ensure that you don’t get an alert when a known family member passes close to the camera.
When you combine this with specific activity zones, you can configure the apps to only give very specific alerts that are worthy of your attention.
Resolution, FPS, and Night Vision
Last but not least, you should get a camera that produces clear footage that can help you enhance your security.
To achieve this, look at the maximum possible resolution of the captured videos, the frame rate, and whether or not the camera can record in the dark.
Best Outdoor Security Camera Without Subscription – The Verdict!
We hope this article helped you find the best outdoor security camera for your home while avoiding any annoying recurring monthly subscription fees.
This subscription usually comes with cloud storage so you will have to find a storage alternative like a microSD card or NVR.
Despite being small and compact, this front door security camera comes equipped with many necessary capabilities for use as the first line of defense in your home.
- 1080p Full HD resolution with wide 140° diagonal field of view
- Up to 60 ft night vision
- Two-way audio that allows you to communicate with guests at the door