Add Instant Home Security and Save Yourself Time With the Best Security Camera Light Bulbs Starting at $10

Property surveillance is more DIY than ever these days, and if you want to invest in some residential or commercial security but are working with a limited budget, a solid alternative to traditional indoor/outdoor security cameras are light bulb security cameras. 

Designed to be screwed into most standard light bulb sockets, security camera light bulbs usually don’t require a power source of any kind (save for the socket you’re threading into) but have many of the same convenient and customizable features of much higher-priced surveillance gear. Not to mention that installing a regular indoor/outdoor cam isn’t the easiest job in the world. 

For starters, if you’re not working with a battery-powered model, you’ll be responsible for getting the camera wired up to your home’s existing electrical supply, and that’s not always as simple as plugging it into an AC outlet. And if there’s no wiring to speak of, that means you’ll need to hire an electrician to run some.

What’s great about many of these light bulb cameras is that they’re generally affordable. Given how they blend the functions of a security camera into the form of a light bulb, we thought they’d be more pricey. But that’s far from the truth, as the vast majority are under $50.

Read More: The Best Smart Bulbs

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The Symynelec Light Bulb Security Camera was the best security camera light bulb we’ve tested because of its quiet operation, local storage option for saving video clips, motion tracking, and easy controls.

If screwing in a light bulb is all that it takes, we would gladly take this over mounting a wired outdoor security camera any day of the week. Sure, there are battery powered solutions that make it a bit easier, but then you have to deal with recharging those batteries at some point. That’s already way more management than most folks would be interested in, or even have the time for. 

We also dig the fact that you’ll be able to choose between three different colors (and they’re all the same price): Black, White, and Black/White. And yeah, there’s no 5GHz support, but you’ll see that’s a missing capability of pretty much every light bulb security cam. 

Read More: The Best Motion Sensors

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Our own SPY tech editor John Velasco installed this LaView Bulb Security Camera inside his home, using it as a replacement for a Google Nest Cam (indoor) that had been his camera of choice for quite some time. 

After weeks of testing, we’re pleased to say that we found the dome light fixture to be perfect for capturing anyone coming in and out of the back door. One thing that caught us off guard though was that the dome fixture was a bit deeper than we expected, only exposing the tip of the light bulb camera. 

That’s why it’s a good thing that these security camera light bulbs can pan and tilt. That way, you can get just the right angle. Combining this with the motion tracking abilities of the camera, it did a decent job of keeping subjects centered in the frame. Plus, we had it set to automatically detect motion and follow it.

Read More: The Best Smart Plugs

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Really, you can install these cameras just about anywhere, but many of them come with adapters that allow you to plug them directly into a wall socket outlet for even more convenience. Take for instance the OwLUCK Indoor Light Socket Security Camera, which we were able to turn into a tabletop-friendly indoor security camera thanks to the included adapter.

Functionally, it nearly matches the feature set of the popular Eufy Solo IndoorCam P24 that we here at SPY have religiously used the last couple of years. But instead, the OwLUCK Indoor Light Socket Security Camera has the convenience of being installed in more places. We’re also super-pleased with the ability to customize your nighttime viewing (choose between infrared, full color, or intelligent mode). 

Read More: The Best Home Security Cameras

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This light bulb camera from XVIM is equipped to give you and yours total peace of mind, come day or night. With its detailed 3MP lens and excellent motion capabilities (355-degrees horizontal and 90-degrees vertical), you’ll be able to cover a wide field of view without the need for multiple cameras. There’s even built-in motion tracking, which when triggered, will send you an alert through the HoMeYe Pro app.

In terms of storage, we’re big fans of the fact that you’ll have access to both local backup (via MicroSD), as well as cloud storage through XVIM. There’s even an infrared night mode for keeping tabs on your property during the overnight, but do keep in mind that this XVIM camera isn’t weatherproof, so either keep it indoors or make sure the device is in some kind of enclosure. 

Read More: The Best Outdoor Cameras

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A number of the light bulb security cameras on our list are capable of full-on panoramic vantages, but many models start to lack when it comes to vertical tilt. Why exactly, we’re not so sure, but that’s where this Jennov camera bulb is able to step in. Not only will you get the typical 355-degree panning of other bulb cameras, but you’ll also get up to 120 degrees of vertical tilt, too. Whether there’s trouble up high or down low, the Jennov is going to catch it!

Now let’s talk resolution (another big Jennov accolade): Instead of your traditional 1080p live feed and recordings, the Jennov is capable of 2K UHD. Sure, it’s not quite full 4K, but with a pixel count sitting in the Goldilocks zone between typical HD and full-on UHD, you’re going to get some great-looking visuals. We’re also going to commend the Jennov developers for incorporating two-way chat, motion detection, a warning siren, and the ability to store footage locally (up to 128GB microSD) or in the Jennov cloud. 

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When you’re working with light bulb security cameras, it can be tough to find models that deliver a high-quality nighttime image, but that’s where this Galayou Light Bulb Security Camera rises above the rest.

In addition to six built-in infrared lenses, the Galayou also rocks six LED floodlights, effectively illuminating and colorizing dark environs up to 33 feet. And when paired with the 355-degree horizontal rotation and 65-degree vertical tilt, you’ll be able to zero in on any and all prowlers amongst the shadows.

We’re also fans of the fact that you can link the Galayou up to certain Alexa and Google Assistant devices, and that you’ll be able to record footage 24/7 to either a local storage MicroSD or to Galayou’s cloud service. Just remember that this isn’t a weatherproof camera, so if you’re not mounting indoors, make sure the bulb is going to be protected by some kind of casing. 

Read More: The Best Security Cameras That Don’t Require a Subscription in 2023

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We’ve already stressed how security camera light bulbs are affordable on any budget, but if you’re really strapped for cash, then take a peek at the Anberx 2K Light Bulb Security Camera.

At under $10, you won’t have to spend a fortune on one — or several if you intend to cover your home. While its image quality isn’t particularly as outstanding as some other light bulb security cameras, we do like that you’re still getting the core features. From its AI-assisted motion tracking to two-way communication, there’s good value with this option from Anberx.

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Things You Should Know About Light Bulb Security Cameras

Not all of them are technically weather resistant, so you’ll need to pay attention to their water Ingress Protection rating. That’s why we recommend installing them in light sockets covered in glass or some other protective fixture over them, which will help them to stay dry and protected from the elements.

Secondly, the software used by these security camera light bulbs are antiquated looking — giving off Windows Millennium vibes with their file manager look and feel. Despite the dated feel, we at least found them functional for all the basics such as controlling the camera and making adjustments.

And lastly, many of them don’t require a subscription service in order to work. That’s a relief and one less thing you’ll have to worry about paying because the vast majority offer microSD cards to save footage locally.

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How We Chose the Best Light Bulb Security Cameras

When vetting and testing many of the light bulb security cams in this roundup, there were certainly no shortage of products to choose from. If you’ve got a few bucks to spare, you can buy one of these screw-in cams for around $30 or less, with many developers offering similar features and specifications. But we’re not here to give two thumbs-up to everyone: We’re here to shine a light on only the best light bulb security cameras on the market. 

Here’s just a few of the important criteria we focused on when choosing and demoing these products. 

Image quality

An excellent camera is nothing without an excellent lens and image sensor. That’s why you’ll notice that pretty much every entry on our list has at least 1080p HD capabilities, with many models offering twice or nearly four times that resolution. Oh, the many pixels!

Furthermore, pretty much every camera on our list has some kind of special feature for nighttime viewing, whether that’s infrared viewing for light-starved environments or built-in spotlights for full-color midnight views. And while cutting-edge HDR is something you won’t find (along with 5GHz connectivity in most cases), that doesn’t mean you won’t get a stunning picture.

Camera movement and motion tracking

Great stationary cameras are a dime a dozen in this modern age, but what’s harder to come by are security cameras with top-notch movement and motion-tracking capabilities. 

Sure, a quick search will reveal that even most light bulb cams can complete an entire 360-degree rotation, but it’s the tilting up and down where many brands simply don’t deliver. Not us though: Pretty much every entry on our list has impressive horizontal and vertical movements, in addition to next-level motion tracking that locks onto the action and keeps it in focus (unless you customize the feature to ignore certain subjects). 

Storage capabilities

It’s one thing to have the ability to store surveillance recordings to a local storage device, but having multiple backup options is always nice. This is especially convenient in the rare (but possible) situation that your light bulb cam’s MicroSD card happens to get corrupted. 

Many of the light bulb security cameras on our list allow for both local storage and video backup to the company’s cloud server (which is typically configurable through the companion app). And what’s nice about the latter option is that many of these camera companies use powerful encryption tech to safeguard the A-to-B between your light bulb cam and the server.

Price and reliability

No one wants to spend an arm and a leg for anything, and why should we? That being said, in the world of light bulb security cameras, there’s often a significant world of difference between the $10 impossible-to-spell-or-pronounce Joe Schmoe option and a $35 model from a known brand with a trustworthy timeline and product lineup.

That’s not to say that we didn’t shed light on some lesser-known bulb-cam companies, or slightly more expensive offerings, but we did our best to keep the spotlight on the established titans of lighting and surveillance tech, where fair pricing goes hand-in-hand with quality design and performance.