The Best No Wi-Fi Security Cameras for Keeping an Eye on Your RV or Vacation Home

The Best No Wi-Fi Security Cameras for Keeping an Eye on Your RV or Vacation Home

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Almost every modern security camera is designed with an internet connection in mind. The wireless connectivity makes it easy to connect and view the feed from anywhere, allowing you to stay in the know on what’s happening in your house even if from the other side of the globe. But a wireless connection isn’t possible in every situation; in fact, there are times when you specifically need a no Wi-Fi security camera.

Imagine if you have a vacation home, or you live in an RV and travel frequently — in both situations, internet access isn’t guaranteed, but you would still want to keep an eye on your home. There are, however, security cameras specifically designed to work without Wi-Fi.

Wyze Cam Outdoor Review

BEST OVERALL

Wyze Cam Outdoor

Best For: Great for the home, on vacation, and even a trail camera.


Key Specs:
  • Works independently without the need of Wi-Fi
  • 1080p video recording with color night vision
  • IP65 water-resistant construction

Why We Chose It: Travel Mode lets you continuously record video locally to a microSD card, without the need of Wi-Fi or internet connectivity

Read More: The Best Home Security Cameras of 2023

Whether you need coverage indoors or out, the Wyze Cam Outdoor has you covered with its utility. This compact-sized security camera features a water-resistant construction and local storage courtesy of its microSD card slot. These two features are exactly what we look for in any no Wi-Fi security camera.

While it operates normally as your standard security camera, there’s a travel mode you can turn on when there’s no Wi-Fi. In this mode, you can set it to continuously record footage or whenever motion is detected. There’s even the option to capture time-lapse video as well in this offline mode.

Pros

  • Compact size
  • Continuous recording with microSD card
  • Travel mode perfect for vacations

Cons

  • Speaker is weak
Google Nest Cam Battery Review

RUNNER-UP

Google Nest Cam (Battery)

Best For: Emergency situations when there are power and internet outages.


Key Specs:
  • Up to 3 hours of free video event history
  • 1080p video recording with HDR
  • Records up to 1 hour, during a Wi-Fi or power outage

Why We Chose It: We love how it can intelligently identify subjects, including animals and vehicles. Plus, it comes with up to three hours of video event history.

Review: Google Nest Cam Is Our Pick for the #1 Security Camera of 2023

Most of today’s security cameras require internet connectivity and power to properly function. But what happens when the lights and internet go out?

With the Google Nest Cam Battery, there are no worries whatsoever because it’ll continue to reliably watch out for threats and record video. Even when internet outages take down your home’s Wi-Fi network, the Google Nest Cam Battery leverages its on-board machine learning to continue offering peace of mind security. We were impressed ourselves when we cut our home Wi-Fi router and found the Nest Cam Battery still working properly.

Pros

  • Advanced detection
  • Works through power and internet outages
  • Intuitive user interface

Cons

  • Feels really dense
Arlo Go 2 Review

MOST UTILITY

Arlo Go 2

Best For: Vacationers that need a camera for security and to watch over their possessions.


Key Specs:
  • Connects via Wi-Fi or cellular
  • 1080p video recording
  • Local Recording via microSD card slot

Why We Chose It: It makes for a great at home security camera because it works on Wi-Fi, but can connect to cellular when Wi-Fi goes down. You can also make it a Wi-Fi only security camera, so you’re not paying for cellular data.

Review: Arlo Go 2 Works at Home, On Vacation and Anywhere You Need Security

We love cameras that offer a ton of utility. The Arlo Go 2 proved to us that it has plenty of it, offering users the option of using it indoors or out — as well as the ability to connect via Wi-Fi or cellular. When you’re at home, it’ll connect to your Wi-Fi network to provide the same level of intelligent detection that Arlo’s security cameras are known for.

If that’s not enough, you can pack it up and take it on the go for vacations, weekend getaways, or just about any occasion you’re going to be away from home. That’s because you can pop in a SIM card and rely on cellular data coverage to keep it working. And yes, we loved that we were able to continuously save video clips to a micrSD card.

Pros

  • Ability to choose LTE or Wi-Fi
  • Swappable battery
  • Local storage option with microSD card

Cons

  • Pricey cost
Eufy Starlight 4G Review

BEST NIGHT VISION

Eufy Starlight 4G

Best For: Places where you’re not close to any kind of Wi-Fi network. Vacations homes or remote places where regular, Wi-Fi internet isn’t easily accessible.


Key Specs:
  • 4G LTE connection with up to 3 months of battery
  • 2K video recording with starlight night vision
  • IP67 weatherproof rating

Why We Chose It: With its crisp 2K video recording and superb night vision performance, the Eufy Starlight 4G is accessible anytime, thanks to its 4G LTE connection.

The Eufy Starlight 4G security camera works anywhere you have 4G LTE connection, which offers constant access to the device no matter what. We love that it stores all events internally, with up to three months of battery life.

During our testing, we were actually most impressed by its video quality performance, especially the starlight night vision footage it captured. You’ll also be astounded by the clarity, even when there’s minimal ambient light around. So yeah, this security camera doesn’t technically doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi to transmit video.

Pros

  • Impressive night vision performance
  • Crisp video quality

Cons

  • Requires LTE connection to work
Reolink 4G LTE

BEST FOR SETTING AND FORGETTING

Reolink 4G LTE Security Camera

Best For: Backyards, parking areas, and garages, where the Wi-Fi connection is weak around the home.


Key Specs:
  • Offers Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity
  • 2K video recording
  • Up to 6 months of battery life, charges with the solar panel

Why We Chose It: Not only does it work with cellular connectivity, but it comes included with a solar panel to supply it with all the power it needs. 

If you only visit a location once per year, you don’t want to make trips just to swap out or charge a battery. The Reolink 4G LTE’s included solar panel means you can set up the camera and forget about it. It also has 2K resolution and up to 33 feet of night vision.

You can record videos to a microSD card (up to 128 GB) and upload it to the Reolink Cloud if you have an internet connection. Two-way talk, smart detection, and 16x digital zoom are other features that help keep your home safe from anywhere.

Pros

  • Comes with solar panel with continued power
  • Long range night vision
  • LTE connection for instant access

Cons

  • Lackluster speaker
JouSecu Wireless Security Camera System

BEST VALUE

JouSecu Wireless Security Camera System

Best For: Homeowners looking to cover all corners of their home with a camera. Budget shoppers that don’t want to spend a whole lot on an NVR system.


Key Specs:

  • Cameras communicate and store clips on NVR router
  • 1080p video recording
  • 4-piece NVR security camera system

Why We Chose It: You’re getting incredible value because this NVR security camera system comes with four cameras that record at 1080p resolution.

Read More: The Best Security Cameras with Privacy Shutters for Smarter Home Security in 2023

The standout feature of the JouSecu Wireless Security Camera System is its price. For just $180, you get four cameras and a DVR recording system. This is ideal for vacation homes where you want to keep an eye on both the front and back doors. Each camera features up to 65 feet of night vision and is IP66 rated.

The system can distinguish between people and vehicles, and you can watch it remotely without an internet connection. The downside is that these cameras require a constant power source to maintain continuous recording.

Pros

  • Simultaneous recording
  • Easy to set up
  • Up to 300-feet range

Cons

  • Menu system is a bit confusing
Defender-PhoenixM2

CONTENDER

Defender PhoenixM2 Security Camera

Best For: RVs, trailers, and other large towing units that you need to keep eyes on. It’s a portable security system that can travel wherever you go.


Key Specs:
  • No monthly fees since clips can be saved to a microSD card
  • VGA (640 x 480) video recording
  • 450-feet range between cameras and LCD display

Why We Chose It: You’ll get a live feed from the cameras through the included 7-inch monitor, which uses its own proprietary wireless connection.

The Defender PhoenixM2 system includes two security cameras and a seven-inch LCD monitor. This is ideal for RVs, as you can hook one camera up to watch your door and another to watch the opposite side of the vehicle. It’s designed to be plug-and-play; all you have to do is hook it up.

With 40 feet of night vision and 8 GB of local storage (and the option to expand up to 128 GB), the Defender PhoenixM2 is a great choice for people on the road. The only downside is that it doesn’t have any remote viewing and requires a constant power supply.

Pros

  • Convenient screen for instant access to cameras
  • Clips saved directly to microSD card on screen
  • Decent night vision range

Cons

  • Video resolution is below average
Muayb Mini Camera

BEST FOR TIGHT SPACES

Muayb Mini Camera

Best For: Tight spaces that don’t have a lot of room. Perfect for keeping a watch on your valuables stored in a safe or drawer.


Key Specs:
  • Motion detection activated
  • 1080p video recording
  • 60 to 90 minutes of battery life

Why We Chose It: The diminutive size of this camera lets you store it in places other cameras couldn’t fit. Plus, it can be set to record whenever motion is detected.

There are times when you need to hide a security camera, for example, if you suspect an employee might be stealing. The Muayb Mini wireless security camera is often under $25, but can record up to 21 hours of footage with a 128GB SD card. The battery life is limited — only 90 minutes at most — due to its small size, but it can be set up to only record when it detects motion.

If the memory card fills while recording, the camera will delete the oldest footage first to ensure you don’t miss a second.

Pros

  • Ridiculously small size
  • Loop recording to a microSD card
  • Decent motion detection

Cons

  • Very narrow field of view
Amcrest Camera

BEST INDOOR/OUTDOOR

Amcrest 5MP POE Camera

Best For: Covering large areas. Places that don’t have an existing Wi-Fi network for connectivity. Commercial buildings.


Key Specs:
  • Locally record video to a microSD card
  • UltraHD (2,592 x 1,944) video recording
  • IP67 weatherproof rating

Why We Chose It: There’s no worry about poor Wi-Fi coverage because this camera is a power-over-ethernet device. You simply connect it to an ethernet port, which is how it’s powered and transmits video. 

The Amcrest Surveillance Camera is an impressive piece of technology. It’s a power-over-ethernet device, which means you don’t need to run a power cable to it, only an ethernet cord. It has a 103-degree viewing angle and a high resolution for clear recordings. It can also record audio, but doesn’t support two-way talk.

It features a lot of different recording options, from up to 256 GB of local storage all the way to NVRs, Blue Iris and more. The IP67 shell means it can be placed indoors or out. Perhaps the most impressive part is the lifetime support Amcrest promises to any customer.

Pros

  • Weather resistant design
  • Extra long range night vision performance
  • Wide viewing angle

Cons

  • Bulky size
Vikeri trail camera

BEST FOR WILDLIFE

Vikeri Trail Camera

Best For: Hunters, campers, and cross-country adventure. Pretty much any place spent in the great outdoors.


Key Specs:
  • Clips are stored to a microSD card
  • 1520p video recording
  • IP66 weatherproof rating

Why We Chose It: If you’ve ever wanted to capture wild animals in the great outdoors, this inconspicuous trail camera is perfect at that.

Most of the time, we think of security cameras as a way to guard against humans — but maybe you just want to catch the pesky raccoons terrorizing your trash cans. The Vikeri Trail Camera is a great option for that. It’s camouflaged and blends in with the brush, but delivers high-resolution images.

It’s IP66 rated to withstand whatever nature throws at it, and the 120-degree field of view means you’ll catch any motion. The camera can take both video and photos, and lasts for 180 days on a single charge. Talk about longevity, it’s exactly what you want to find with a no Wi-Fi security camera.

Pros

  • 4K video recording
  • Rugged design
  • Superb quality in daylight

Cons

  • Detection is a little too sensitive

SPY No Wi-Fi Security Cameras Reviews: About Our Testing Process

We test a lot of home security cameras. In fact, we’ve spent countless days and months testing out over 20+ home security cameras in the last year. With so much time getting acquainted with them, we can instantly tell you all the features they have to offer when it comes to providing peace of mind security.

Obviously, we love to share about our subjective experiences using them in an everyday setting at home, but for this particular roundup, we also assessed each camera according to the following criteria:

  • Local storage: The best no Wi-Fi security cameras need to store footage locally somehow.
  • Field of view: The maximum coverage area that the camera can see. Wider is better.
  • Video quality: How well does the footage look when previewed?
  • Offline mode: Can they continue operating if there’s no Wi-Fi?
  • Cellular connectivity: Local storage is great, but having cellular connectivity is even better.
  • Privacy: Are there any features that specifically relate to privacy in the home?
  • Setup/Installation: You shouldn’t need to be a rocket scientist to set them up.
  • Intelligent detection: Can it detect movement based on people, animals or vehicles?
Best No Wi-Fi Home Security Cameras Review Roundup, Best No Wi-Fi Security Cameras

After rating more than 20 home security cameras according to the above criteria, we compared the results and selected only the ten best models for this review. You’ll be surprised that there are fewer options around. That’s because most of today’s home security cameras work with Wi-Fi connectivity. This exclusive list has options that allow them to work without Wi-Fi, such as those that save clips internally or to a microSD card and those with a cellular connection.

As new security cameras are released, we’ll regularly update this article to ensure it’s always up to date.

Keep scrolling to see some photos taken during our testing process.

Click here to read more about how we test and review products.

Editor’s Note: Patrick Hearn also contributed to this article.

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