You can never compromise on your family’s safety so having the best PoE security camera systems protecting your home is an integral part of modern society. Security camera systems have evolved tremendously over the last decade or so with many syncing straight to your smartphone. They give you live video access to your front door 24/7 and many outdoor security cameras can give additional views from across your property. All this adds up to a much safer home with each system having its perks and features designed to ward off intruders. But which one works the best? Never fear as we have done all the necessary research to let you know which are the best PoE security camera systems on the market today.

Reolink PoE Security Camera System
Our Pick
Benefits
- Excellent video quality
- Weatherproofed
- Generous storage space
- Quick installation
Drawbacks
- No fast-forward playback option
- Instructions are very basic

GW Security Smart AI NVR Security System
Premium Pick
Benefits
- Lots of cameras
- Facial recognition software
- Preload trusted faces
- Night vision mode
Drawbacks
- Primary access through computers
- Expensive
Secure PoE security camera systems for outdoor surveillance
How to choose a PoE smart camera?
What makes a good PoE security camera system?
When searching for the best PoE security camera systems, there are a lot of things you need to take into consideration. Whilst having shiny UHD footage might seem like an instant winner, it is often the subtle features that prove to be more effective in terms of overall home security. Most of these may seem obvious but can make a big difference including:
2-way Audio
Almost all good IP camera systems will have some sort of audio features allowing you to hear what is happening in the vicinity of the camera. However, many will naturally be a 1-way system allowing to hear but not interact with any visitors. Having 2-way audio means you can engage in full conversations with a visitor even if you are not at home. It means that if someone is leaving a package or close friends drop by unexpectedly, you can interact with them and find out a reason for visiting rather than just hearing their thoughts. It also acts as an excellent security deterrent as answering an alert when it is triggered may trick suspicious individuals that you are at and make them think twice about accessing your property.
Weatherproofing
Like any system left to be outdoors, PoE camera systems need to be fully weatherproofed if they are going to be 100% effective. With many outdoor systems being left exposed to the elements, the metal casings will need to be fully resistant to various conditions to last a long time. The inner wirings need to be protected from rain, snow, or moisture so it doesn’t cut out the power to that feed or interrupt recordings. Alongside that, it needs to be proofed from UV rays and the sun too to prevent the shell from cracking and risk damage after only a few months of use. As long as the system has a good rating of at least IP66 or higher, you can rest assured that it will withstand the best mother nature can throw at it.
Night Vision Modes
Having a home security device that works well in the day is one thing but having it work at night is another thing altogether. It means that having dedicated night vision modes are imperative to ensure that you can see any actions that occur at night. Night vision modes are much more effective in low light conditions and can cut throw the darkness and pick up any details missed by modes set to natural daylight. Whilst the distance may not be as fully covered as the day mode might be, many of the best security camera systems around can still provide at least 50ft of coverage adequately covering the area that it watches.
Conclusion
Overall, any of the systems listed would be an excellent PoE home security system to have installed at home. Due to its 4K feeds, excellent range, and ease of use, we believe that Reolink’s system is our favourite available today although both the GW Security and SANNCE systems are also worth investing in. Either way, any of these would adequately protect your home and show why they are the best PoE security camera systems available today.
FAQ
Very. Most PoE security camera systems will come with 4-6 cameras for you to install originally but the hub itself can usually accommodate at least or 2 or 3 spare slots. As long as these devices are also of the PoE variety and from the same brand, they can fit seamlessly into your existing system.
Not really. Both Super HD and 4K UHD feeds offer excellent clarity that can pick up all the major details in an area without much trouble. The main difference will be in the storage size of recorded files as Super HD recordings will need much less space than a UHD feed. It means that you need to take into consideration the overall storage that you have before deciding whether upgrading to higher quality feeds is necessary.
Having mobile alerts is much better to have for your home security system as many will work directly with the app on the smartphone. Any alerts primed for your mobile will notify you instantly should anything come up. Meanwhile, email alerts will go straight to your email only meaning that you need to have some sort of way to access it or get new alerts to ensure you see any new notifications.