AlfredCam vs Wyze Cam v4: Which Cheap Security Camera Wins?

The Wyze Cam v4 wins this matchup, scoring 8.1 out of 10 on our five criteria against 6.5 for the AlfredCam Plus 2. The Wyze costs $44.98 and has the only independent lab review of the two. The AlfredCam Plus 2 costs $39.99, includes a 32 GB card and is a fair buy if you want 5 GHz Wi-Fi and plan to skip the paid tier.

Both are wired 2.5K indoor/outdoor cameras with a spotlight. The picks come from published specs, certification databases and named third-party measurements, not from our own lab; see how we score. AlfredCamera is an affiliate partner of this site. That did not change the scores, and where evidence for the Alfred is thin, we say so.

How do the two cameras compare side by side?

On paper they are close, and the gaps are in storage, Wi-Fi and what the subscription unlocks. Prices were read on Oct 23, 2026.

Which camera has better video and night vision?

The Wyze Cam v4 has better evidence behind it. TechGearLab scored its video quality 8.0 out of 10 and called the night footage crisp, but it also measured the built-in lights at 25 lumens from one foot, well under the 72 lumens Wyze lists (TechGearLab Wyze Cam v4 review). The Alfred lists the same 2.5K resolution, infrared night vision and a spotlight, but we found no independent measurement of its picture or light output. Treat its video score as a brand claim.

Which one sends better alerts?

On the free tier they are tied: both give you basic motion alerts and live view. Person, vehicle, pet and package detection need a plan on either camera. Wyze’s plan table lists those detections, full-length event clips with no cooldown, and 14 days of cloud history under Cam Plus. Alfred’s Premium Standard adds person, vehicle, pet and sound detection and 14 days of cloud events, and the free plan caps clips at 30 seconds and active cameras at 2. TechGearLab reports the Wyze notified it whenever a person approached from up to 50 feet. Nobody has published that kind of test for the Alfred.

Can you skip the subscription and use local storage?

Yes on both, with different trade-offs. The Alfred ships with a 32 GB card and loops recording with no fee, but free users can only watch that footage by pulling the card and using a computer, per Alfred’s help center. The Wyze needs a card you buy yourself, which we did not price, and Wyze’s page lists 24/7 local recording on the card as a base feature. Owners disagree about playback: one Best Buy reviewer says the app needs a subscription to view footage, another says the card footage is viewable in the app. Check this before you buy, because it is the main thing a plan pays for.

Who has the better privacy record?

Neither is clean, and the Wyze has a documented incident. In February 2024, around 13,000 Wyze customers briefly saw thumbnails from strangers’ cameras after a service outage, and 1,504 of them tapped a thumbnail, which in some cases opened the event video, according to CBS News, citing Wyze’s own email. The Alfred has no comparable public incident that we found and no independent security audit either. Its iOS app privacy label lists location, identifiers and usage data among data types that may be used for tracking. We scored Wyze 5.0 and Alfred 5.5, and the gap is small.

What does each camera cost over three years?

The scored total is the camera plus electricity: the Wyze costs $67.32 over three years and the Alfred costs $73.50. Both record to a microSD card with no plan, per each brand’s page, so neither plan is a required cost. The Wyze math is $44.98 for the camera and $22.34 of electricity, before a card that Wyze sells separately. The Alfred math is $39.99 and $33.51 of electricity, with a 32 GB card in the box. Electricity uses each adapter’s rating (5 W and 7.5 W) as a ceiling, running 24 hours a day at $0.17 per kWh. If you add the optional plan, Wyze Cam Plus is $29.99 a year ($89.97 over three years) and Alfred Premium Standard is $35.88 a year ($107.64), which would make the totals $157.29 and $181.14.

Choose Wyze Cam v4 if / Choose AlfredCam Plus 2 if

Choose the Wyze Cam v4 if you want the camera with a lab review behind it, the cheaper plan and an easy way to add more Wyze devices later. Accept the 2.4 GHz-only Wi-Fi, the card you must buy and the 2024 incident.

Choose the AlfredCam Plus 2 if your router makes 2.4 GHz unreliable, you want a card in the box and you will either pay $35.88 a year or copy footage from the card by hand. Read our AlfredCam Plus 2 review first. For other options see best security cameras and best cheap security cameras, or reuse an old phone for free.

FAQ

Is the Wyze Cam v4 recalled?

No. The CPSC SaferProducts database lists a June 2026 recall of the Wyze Solar Cam Pan, a different camera. It returned no recall for the Cam v4 or the AlfredCam on Oct 23, 2026.

Does the Wyze Cam v4 work on 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

Wyze’s own page says it supports 2.4 GHz only. TechGearLab’s review says dual-band, so we follow the brand’s page. The Alfred supports both bands.

How much do the plans cost?

Wyze Cam Plus is $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year per camera. Alfred Premium Standard is $2.99 a month billed annually, or $35.88 a year.

Do I need a plan to use either camera?

No. Live view, motion alerts and local card recording work without one on both. Smart detection and cloud history need a plan.