Best Security Cameras for Apple Home (HomeKit Secure Video)
If your home runs on iPhone, HomePod and Apple TV, a camera that supports HomeKit Secure Video lets you watch, record and get alerts right in Apple's Home app, with recordings end-to-end encrypted in iCloud. This guide explains what HomeKit Secure Video needs, which compromises to expect, and four cameras whose makers say they support it.
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Quick picks
- Best outdoor camera: Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro (Wi-Fi), with color night vision, local AI and a built-in Thread and Zigbee hub.
- Best floodlight camera: Eve Outdoor Cam, built exclusively for HomeKit Secure Video, with no Eve account or Eve cloud.
- Best indoor camera and smart home hub: Aqara Camera Hub G3, a pan/tilt camera with a Zigbee hub and infrared remote control built in.
- Best budget indoor pan/tilt: eufy Indoor Cam E220, also featured in our indoor and pet cameras guide.
How we chose
Every pick is a camera whose manufacturer names HomeKit Secure Video support on its own product or support pages, checked on October 23, 2026, and that is currently listed on Amazon. We compared maker specifications for video, night vision, power, network, local storage and what changes in HomeKit Secure Video mode. Requirements for HomeKit Secure Video come from Apple's support documentation. We have not tested these cameras in person.
What HomeKit Secure Video needs (from Apple)
- An iCloud+ plan: Apple says the 50 GB plan supports one camera, the 200 GB plan up to five cameras, and the 2 TB, 6 TB and 12 TB plans an unlimited number. Recordings do not count against your iCloud storage. If you already pay for iCloud+ for photos or backups, you may not need anything extra for one camera.
- A home hub: a HomePod, HomePod mini or Apple TV set up as a home hub. Apple says video is analyzed and encrypted on the home hub before it is uploaded to iCloud.
- An iPhone or iPad: you add cameras in the Home app on iPhone or iPad. You can then view recordings on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV.
- Enough hubs for your cameras: Apple notes that if you have more cameras than your home hubs can analyze at once, some clips are still recorded but not analyzed for specific motion.
What you get: a 10-day history in the Home app, end-to-end encryption, people, animal, vehicle and package detection by the home hub, activity zones, and face recognition for people tagged in Photos. Apple's own HomeKit Secure Video overview has the latest details.
Trade-offs to expect
- Event recording, not 24/7: HomeKit Secure Video saves clips when activity meets your recording rules. For continuous recording you need a camera's own local storage or RTSP option.
- Some features switch off: pan/tilt control, two-way audio or the maker's own AI can be unavailable in the Home app, depending on the camera. You can often still use the maker's app for those.
- Resolution can drop: several cameras record at 1080p in HomeKit Secure Video mode even if they are 2K or higher in their own app.
- Your Wi-Fi upload matters: clips are uploaded to iCloud, so a weak connection to the camera or slow upload can cause gaps. Our Wi-Fi dead zones guide can help.
If you would rather avoid an iCloud+ plan entirely, see our security cameras without a subscription and local vs cloud storage guides.
Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro (Wi-Fi): best outdoor camera
Who it is for
Apple Home users who want an outdoor camera with color night vision and on-device AI, and who could use a Thread border router and Zigbee hub at the same time.
Key specs from Aqara
- HomeKit Secure Video support, with end-to-end encryption for footage sent to Apple and Aqara clouds.
- Video: 2688 × 1520 (4 MP) with a 1/1.8-inch sensor, f/1.0 aperture and 133° diagonal field of view; color night vision with a 3000K spotlight.
- On-device AI for faces, vehicles, people, animals, packages, lingering and lens obstruction.
- Storage: 8 GB encrypted eMMC; SMB NAS support and RTSP streaming to local video software.
- Built-in Zigbee and Thread hub that can bridge Aqara devices to Matter.
- Power: USB-C 5V 2A (Wi-Fi version); dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi with WPA3; IP65; rated for -22°F to 122°F.
Keep in mind
It needs a nearby power source rather than a battery, and the Amazon listing notes it has no infrared light, relying on the spotlight and sensor for night vision. The Amazon listing says 24/7 recording is supported only via RTSP to your own local devices. A PoE version is sold separately; the link below is the Wi-Fi version.
View the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro (Wi-Fi) on Amazon (affiliate link) →
We have not independently tested this product. Availability, specifications and the maker's subscription terms can change; confirm the details on the product listing and the manufacturer's site.
Eve Outdoor Cam: best floodlight camera
Who it is for
Privacy-focused Apple households replacing an existing outdoor light fixture who want a camera that works only through Apple Home.
Key specs from Eve
- Built exclusively for HomeKit Secure Video; no Eve cloud, account or registration.
- Video: 1080p at 24 fps, 157° field of view, infrared night vision.
- Dimmable floodlight with light boost; infrared motion sensor covering 100°, up to 26 ft at an 8.2 ft mounting height.
- Two-way audio, IP55, three-axis angle adjustment.
- Requirements: HomePod or Apple TV (4th generation or later) as a home hub, a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, and a 50 GB iCloud+ plan or higher.
Keep in mind
It is hardwired to mains power and requires both a neutral wire and a ground connection, so check your outdoor fixture box and consider an electrician. Video is 1080p, Eve lists no local card storage, and because it is built exclusively for HomeKit Secure Video, it is a fit only if you use Apple Home.
View the Eve Outdoor Cam on Amazon (affiliate link) →
We have not independently tested this product. Availability, specifications and the maker's subscription terms can change; confirm the details on the product listing and the manufacturer's site.
Aqara Camera Hub G3: best indoor camera and smart home hub
Who it is for
Apple Home users who want an indoor pan/tilt camera that also acts as a hub for Aqara sensors and can control infrared devices such as a TV or air conditioner.
Key specs from Aqara
- Supports HomeKit Secure Video, Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
- Video: 2K (2304 × 1296) native resolution with a 110° wide-angle lens and pan/tilt for up to 360° viewing, plus auto cruising and face and pet tracking.
- Local AI for face, gesture and pet recognition.
- Built-in Zigbee 3.0 hub for up to 128 Aqara devices and a built-in infrared controller for local automations.
- Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi with WPA3 and encrypted data streams.
Keep in mind
Aqara says that in HomeKit Secure Video mode the camera records in 1080p and pan/tilt controls are not available in Apple Home, so you will use the Aqara app to move the camera. It is an indoor camera only.
View the Aqara Camera Hub G3 on Amazon (affiliate link) →
We have not independently tested this product. Availability, specifications and the maker's subscription terms can change; confirm the details on the product listing and the manufacturer's site.
eufy Indoor Cam E220: best budget indoor pan/tilt
Who it is for
Anyone who wants an affordable indoor camera that can record to iCloud through HomeKit Secure Video while keeping a microSD option in the eufy app.
Key specs from eufy
- HomeKit Secure Video support, documented on eufy's support site, plus Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Video: 2K (2304 × 1296) in the eufy app; 360° pan and 96° tilt with motion tracking.
- Storage options: microSD card (not included) in the eufy app; optional eufy cloud and NAS outside HomeKit Secure Video mode.
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; no eufy hub required.
Keep in mind
eufy says that with HomeKit Secure Video enabled, video is set to 1080p, eufy's own AI and sound detection are disabled, cloud and NAS storage are disabled, and pan/tilt control is not available in the Home app. eufy's support article lists a 200 GB iCloud plan as a requirement, while Apple currently says the 50 GB plan supports one camera. For more on this camera, see our indoor and pet cameras guide.
View the eufy Indoor Cam E220 on Amazon (affiliate link) →
We have not independently tested this product. Availability, specifications and the maker's subscription terms can change; confirm the details on the product listing and the manufacturer's site.
Setup checklist
- Set up a HomePod, HomePod mini or Apple TV as a home hub first, and update it.
- Check your iCloud+ plan covers the number of cameras you want to record.
- Install the maker's app, update the camera's firmware, then add it to the Home app with the HomeKit setup code.
- In the Home app, choose when to record and notify (for example, only people when you are away) and set activity zones.
- Place cameras within strong Wi-Fi range; test a recording before relying on it.
- Use the maker's app for features that are not available in Apple Home, such as pan/tilt or local recording.
- Not sure whether your other gear works with Apple Home? Try our smart home compatibility checker or read Matter vs. Thread explained.
Before you install any camera, follow our guide on how to secure your security camera: 2FA, updates, network separation and safe sharing.
Deciding how to power your camera? Compare battery vs wired security cameras.
Want every side of the house recorded 24/7 on a local hard drive? Our guide to PoE camera and NVR kits explains how wired camera systems work.
Mounting a camera soon? Our guide to where to place outdoor cameras and fix weak Wi-Fi at the mount spot covers height, angles and signal testing.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for HomeKit Secure Video?
According to Apple, you need a HomeKit Secure Video compatible camera, an iCloud+ plan, and a home hub (HomePod, HomePod mini or Apple TV) set up in the Home app. You add the camera with an iPhone or iPad.
How many cameras does each iCloud+ plan support?
Apple says the 50 GB iCloud+ plan supports one HomeKit Secure Video camera, the 200 GB plan up to five, and the 2 TB and larger plans an unlimited number. Camera recordings do not count against your iCloud storage.
How long does HomeKit Secure Video keep recordings?
Apple says you can view the last 10 days of activity in the Home app. To keep a clip longer, save it from the Home app before it expires.
Does HomeKit Secure Video record 24/7?
No. It records activity that meets the recording options you choose, such as any motion or only people, animals, vehicles or packages. If you need continuous recording, look for a camera that also supports local recording, for example Aqara says the G5 Pro supports 24/7 recording via RTSP to your own local devices.
Is a camera that works with Apple Home the same as HomeKit Secure Video?
No. Many cameras can show a live view in the Home app through HomeKit, but only cameras that specifically support HomeKit Secure Video can record encrypted clips to iCloud with home hub analysis. Check the maker's page for HomeKit Secure Video by name.
Why is my camera's video lower resolution in Apple Home?
Some cameras switch to 1080p in HomeKit Secure Video mode. Aqara says the Camera Hub G3 records in 1080p in that mode, and eufy says the Indoor Cam E220 is set to 1080p. The maker's own app may still offer the higher native resolution.