Swann Security Cameras

We researched customer reviews and more to find the gems in Swann’s massive catalog of security cameras.
Best all-around
Swann 8 Channel 4 Camera Security System
8-Channel
4 out of 5 stars
4
  • pro
    Loaded with features
  • pro
    2 TB hard drive
  • pro
    Color night vision
Best nanny cam
Gen 2 Pan & Tilt
4 out of 5 stars
3.95
  • pro
    Remotely adjustable
  • pro
    32 GB storage
  • con
    No color night vision
Best field of view
Tracker
4 out of 5 stars
3.95
  • pro
    Wide view
  • pro
    32 GB storage
  • con
    No color night vision
Most versatile
Swann Indoor Outdoor Camera
Indoor/Outdoor
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9
  • pro
    Spotlight
  • pro
    Cloud storage
  • con
    No color night vision
Best to scare intruders
Enforcer
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.85
  • pro
    Flashing lights
  • pro
    Cloud storage
  • pro
    Color night vision

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

Swann is one of the pioneers of DIY home security cameras. It has almost an overwhelming selection of cameras, from indoor to outdoor, in a variety of sizes, with just about any feature you can think of.

What really impressed us about Swann security cameras is its more advanced features, like 2 TB of video storage, heat-sensor motion detection, and even flashing lights that mimic a police car.

The big drawback of Swann security cameras is its more complex installation. Swann also lacks professional monitoring.



Compare Swann security cameras

Product
Best for
Price
Image resolution
Field of view
Two-way talk
Night vision
Learn more
Best all-around 4K Ultra HD93°
Icon Yes  LightYes
Color
Best nanny cam 1080pYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Black and white
Best field of view 1080p180°
Icon Yes  LightYes
Black and white
Most versatile 1080p90°
Icon No  LightNo
Black and white
Best to scare intruders 1080p90°
Icon No  LightNo
Color

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Installation

Swann cameras tend to take a little longer to install because most of them need to be wired to your electrical system and connected to a NVR (network video recorder) or a DVR (digital video recorder) system. While the process is more involved than installing a Nest Cam or setting up an Arlo security camera, it isn’t overly complicated. The wired cameras will need professional installation as well.

Notepad
NVR vs. DVR

The difference comes down to connection. NVR uses Wi-Fi or Ethernet cables to connect to the cameras. DVR uses coaxial cables.

Learn more about NVR vs. DVR.

Storage

NVR and DVR systems store footage locally, so you don’t need to pay video storage fees, and you don’t need to worry about anyone hacking your footage. To view footage, you can either use the app or you can connect the NVR box directly to your TV or laptop with an Ethernet cable or VGA cable. You can’t do this with many popular security cameras like Ring or Wyze cameras.

If you would rather have cloud storage, the Swann cloud subscription plans give you up to 60-day rolling storage for a competitive monthly fee. Many Swann cameras also let you upload your footage to your Dropbox account.

Bell
Beware when shopping

Some cameras come with NVR or DVR storage units, and some need to be purchased separately, or you’ll need to set up a cloud storage subscription.

Storage plans

Extra Security Plan
Complete Security Plan
Price$4.99/month, $49.90/year$14.99/month, $149.90/year
Cameras covered1Up to 10

True Detect thermal-sensing motion detection

Our favorite feature found on most of the cameras is the True Detect thermal-sensing motion detection. Yep, this camera goes full-on spy mode by detecting body heat and motion to trigger recordings and push notifications to your phone. We love it because it reduces false alarms. No more tumbling leaves or bugs setting off your security camera.

Swann security camera reviews

No matter what you’re looking for in a home security camera, Swann has some impressive options with features that are hard to find elsewhere.

Swann Ultra HD 8-Channel, 4-Camera System: Best All-around

This camera has just about everything you could want from a security camera. The Swann Ultra HD 8-Channel System is chock full of features, including these:

  • 4 cameras
  • 4K video resolution
  • Person detection
  • Two-way audio
  • True Detect thermal-sensing motion detection
  • Weatherproofing for outdoor use
  • Color night vision
  • 2 TB local storage
  • Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility

It also comes loaded with some fancy features that most other cameras on the market miss out on.

pro
Pros
pro 4K video resolution
pro Color night vision
pro Advanced detection features
con
Cons
con Expensive

Other than the super clear 4K video resolution, our favorite standout feature is the line-crossing detection. Using the app, you can draw a line on the monitoring map somewhere in your yard and then get a notification when something crosses the line.

Say the neighbor kids keep sneaking into your yard to pick your roses. You can draw a line on the monitoring map around your rose bushes. When the would-be rose napper crosses the line, you’ll be alerted.

Plus, this system comes with four cameras, which is ideal for monitoring multiple areas around your home.

We liked the Swan Full HD so much it made our list of best multi-camera security systems.

Swann Gen 2 Pan and Tilt: Best nanny cam

Best nanny cam

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Swann Gen 2 Pan and Tilt makes a good nanny cam because it’s small but still has a lot of great features:

  • 1080p video resolution
  • Two-way audio
  • Night vision

What makes it stand out when compared to other indoor cameras on the market? You can control where the camera looks. Using the app, you can make the camera pan right, left, up, or down. There’s no way someone will be able to sneak around in your house without getting caught.

pro
Pros
pro 32 GB
pro Pan-and-tilt feature
con
Cons
con Corded

Swann Tracker Camera: Best field of view

Best field of view
Swann Tracker
4 out of 5 stars
3.95
$79.99

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

You may have noticed that many Swann cameras have a very narrow field of view, but the Swann Tracker Camera covers a whopping 180°. That’s one of the largest we’ve seen. What this means for you is the Tracker can cover more area without additional cameras.

We also like that this indoor security camera zooms in and tracks whatever sets off its motion sensor.

Other features include these:

  • 1080p video resolution
  • Two-way audio
  • Night vision
  • Siren
pro
Pros
pro Wide field of view
pro Siren
con
Cons
con Corded

Swann Indoor/Outdoor Camera: Most versatile

Most versatile
Swann Indoor Outdoor Camera

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Swann Indoor/Outdoor Camera is the security company’s most versatile camera. It can be used indoors or outdoors, and it has a spotlight to scare away intruders or to shed light on a pathway or porch. Plus, it’s small, so it can be put just about anywhere.

The Indoor/Outdoor Camera also has these features:

  • 1080p video resolution
  • Night vision
  • True Detect thermal-sensing motion detection

Like the Enforcer, this camera doesn’t have two-way talk. If you want a spotlight camera with two-way talk and similar features, we would recommend the Arlo Pro 4.

pro
Pros
pro Spotlight function
pro Versatile indoor/outdoor capabilities
con
Cons
con No two-way talk

Swann Enforcer Camera: Best to scare intruders

Best to scare intruders
Swann Enforcer
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.85
$79.99

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Swann Enforcer Camera’s standout feature is its red and blue flashing warning lights that mimic police car lights. Very intimidating, even if you’re not committing a crime. If these lights don’t scare away intruders, we don’t know what will.

Along with the flashing lights, this camera also has a powerful spotlight. We love cameras with spotlights because they are an easy way to add safety lighting to a walkway or driveway.

The Enforcer doesn’t have two-way talk. For some, that may be a good thing. For example, if you’re concerned about your security camera getting hacked and a stranger potentially listening to your conversations, then the Enforcer can be a good choice. While this type of hacking is super rare, no-audio options are always nice.

It also features these capabilities:

  • 1080p video resolution
  • Color night vision
  • True Detect thermal-sensing motion detection
pro
Pros
pro Flashing lights
pro Spotlight
con
Cons
con No two-way talk

Swann customer service

Swann’s customer service offers several options to help you through problems. The tech support line is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (PST). You can also send an email to customer support using their contact form on the support page or use the live chat feature on their website.

If you’d like to try to troubleshoot a problem yourself, Swann also offers a knowledge base and community page where you can find answers.

Swann camera warranties

All Swann products come with a 12-month warranty. The warranty covers any defective and faulty equipment.

Final word

Swann cameras offer features that are hard to find anywhere else. The heat-sensing motion detection is great for lowering the amount of false alarms sent to your phone. We also like the Enforcer’s flashing red and blue lights to intimidate intruders. And we thought of so many uses for the line-crossing detection.

We also like that you have full control over how you save and store your security videos. You can save them locally, in the cloud, or both.

Out of Swann's massive selection of cameras, we recommend these picks:

Swann camera FAQ

Yes, cameras can be added to a cloud subscription.

The wireless cameras do need Wi-Fi. The other cameras use an Ethernet cable or coaxial.

No, they aren’t. Make sure to contact Swann customer service to find out which cameras are compatible before making a purchase.

Individual Swann cameras are typically between $50 to $200. Remember, though, that you may need to purchase a local storage device to go with it.

Yes, Swann offers an assortment of IP cameras.

How we reviewed Swann security cameras

When choosing the Swann cameras to feature in this article, we researched reviews online (Amazon user reviews, Swann website customer reviews, and expert reviews), and used our own experiences with these cameras. We considered several factors:

  • What does this camera have that you don’t see from other cameras on the market?
  • What makes this camera stand out from Swann’s large selection of cameras?
  • How well does this camera function?
  • What do users have to say about this camera?
  • How will this camera make our reader’s lives better?

You can learn more about how we research and review products on our methodology page.

Related articles on SafeWise

Disclaimers

* Amazon.com list price as of post date. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina Bradford
Alina is a safety and security expert that has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. Her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Her activities aren’t nearly as dangerous today. Her hobbies include fixing up her 100-year-old house, doing artsy stuff, and going to the lake with her family.

Recent Articles

woman adjusting thermostat in bright home
The Best Home Security Systems of 2024
After thousands of hours of tests and research, we picked Vivint and SimpliSafe as the...
Man and woman couple wife husband set up surveillance security camera
Best Apartment Security Systems
These renter-friendly apartment security systems help keep you safe and require less commitment than your...
diy-security-system-on-ipad
Best DIY Home Security Systems of 2024
SimpliSafe is the best DIY home security system because it's cost-efficient, effective, and easy to...
happy older women sitting together
Best Medical Alert Necklaces
If you find yourself in an emergency, a medical alert necklace can contact trained professionals...