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TP-Link Cameras Review: Tapo vs. Kasa 2025
For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to create unbiased, human reviews. Learn how we test and review.
With 9 years in journalism, John focuses on smart home tech, previously writing for ASecureLife and serving as Smart Home Editor at Top Ten Reviews.
TP-Link is a mainstay among companies selling networking gear like routers, but it's not the first name you think of when security cameras come up. In fact, TP-Link's been selling security cameras from its two consumer smart home brands, Kasa and Tapo, since 2017. And while these cameras have been on our radar for some time, we've never had a chance to test them.
Now we're kicking ourselves for sleeping on excellent budget-friendly security camera brands that stand up surprisingly well against competitors like Wyze, Eufy, Ring, and Reolink. Each of the Kasa and Tapo cameras we tested brings something unique to the table, which makes them worth considering for your smart home. Our favorite is the Tapo C325WB, which produces the best color night vision we've ever seen.
Read on to learn more about the strengths of TP-Link's cameras and how they compare to rivals.
TP-Link cameras in this review
- : Best overall
- : Best pan-tilt camera
- : Best for budgets
- : Best doorbell
- : Best wire-free option
What to expect with TP-Link security cameras
Each of TP-Link's camera brands has different strengths. Kasa targets beginners with generally more straightforward controls, while Tapo offers more customization options for more advanced users. While Kasa has been available in the U.S. for nearly a decade, Tapo mainly focused on international customers until 2022.
Similarities
Robust performance
The video quality—in daytime and nighttime environments—from the TP-Link cameras we tested is consistently excellent across Kasa and Tapo models. While we noticed occasional lag and motion blur, neither detracted too much from the overall video quality.
We love Tapo's option to change the video playback speed from 1/16x to 16x—making it easier to review footage. The slower speeds are ideal for getting a frame-by-frame replay to capture still images and details. The fast speeds help you blast through recordings for highlights and can even simulate a time-lapse effect when using the manual recording function.
When viewing live video with Tapo, you can put up to 32 cameras into a group and watch them in groups of four. You can also switch to another camera by tapping on its feed. This is great for quickly checking all your cameras since you don't need to jump in and out of menus in the app.
Affordable cameras
All of TP-Link's cameras cost $120 or less, excluding multi-camera packs, with many of the cheapest models available for less than similar options from Wyze and Blink. Considering TP-Link's excellent video quality, you're not compromising to save a few bucks.
Video storage
TP-Link cameras have two video storage options:
- Local storage: Inserting a microSD card means the camera can save recordings without a subscription. This method is available with the Kasa Smart Doorbell, which is rare as most doorbell cameras lack a microSD card slot or even local storage. The maximum storage capacity varies depending on the camera model, but they all support 128GB cards at the very least. At the top of the list is the Tapo C325WB, which supports cards up to 512GB, giving it a larger storage capacity than most other brands we've tested.
- Cloud storage: Tapo Care and Kasa Care are the cloud storage plans, with prices starting at $3.49/month and $3/month, respectively. Both plans offer 30 days of video storage, enhanced notifications, and easier video downloads than local storage alone. (You can use cloud and local storage simultaneously.)
Compare TP-Link cloud storage plans
Under normal circumstances, we'd create a huge table to explore every cloud storage plan's features, but the only thing that changes with each plan is the number of cameras it supports.
Info current as of publish date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Privacy Mode
Every Tapo camera supports Privacy Mode (or turns the camera off in the Kasa app's case), which disables the video and audio streams from within the mobile app. However, this mode keeps the Wi-Fi connection running so you can review security footage, adjust settings, and reactivate the camera quickly. It's extremely helpful for folks wanting an assurance that the camera won't record without an authorized account—and for reviewers testing multiple security cameras simultaneously.
The Tapo camera models we tested support Privacy Zones, which black out certain areas of the video frame. This is great for places where a camera might intrude on a neighbor's home or property. This feature wasn't available on the Kasa KD110 video doorbell.
Smart home compatibility
Kasa and Tapo cameras are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but their functionality is limited. Regardless of your platform, you can only watch live feeds on a compatible smart display like an Echo Show or Nest Hub—you can't access them from the Alexa or Google Home apps. You can automate the cameras to various degrees depending on which app you use, with Alexa offering better tools for creating routines and shortcuts.
When we linked Kasa to Google Home for this test, we were hopeful when an option to view the live feed appeared in the Google Home app, but it never worked.
Smart home equipment
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
Kasa and Tapo sell various smart home devices:
- Smart plugs and outlets
- Smart light bulbs and LED strips
- Smart light switches
Quick note: Tapo also sells robot vacuums and security sensors, but Kasa doesn't.
You can control each brand's products in their respective app, with each offering settings for automating your smart camera and lighting. During our tests, we set up an automation that flashed Tapo smart lights in different colors when the C325WB spots specific types of motion. This level of automation is impressive compared to Alexa, which only watches for people.
We need to clarify that Tapo and Kasa are independent brands. Yes, you can log into either mobile app with a single TP-Link account, but the equipment is only cross-compatible if you're using a third-party smart home platform like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, which have their limitations. Check out our FAQ for help deciding whether Kasa or Tapo is right for you.
Differences
Mobile app
Although the TP-Link Tapo and Kasa apps offer similar features like video viewing, two-way audio, and home automation with other products, they only work for their brands. This means swapping between apps if you choose to go with both brands.
Night vision options
Most TP-Link cameras use standard infrared night vision with the occasional spotlight. The Tapo C325WB comes with ColorPro night vision, which doesn't use infrared as far as we can tell. Instead, it uses a larger sensor and a wider aperture than any other security camera we've tested, resulting in the best color night vision on the market.
Resolution
All of the cameras we tested have a 2K video resolution. Unfortunately, most brands treat 2K as an umbrella term for any resolution higher than 1080p but lower than 4K (2160p). Here's a quick overview of the available resolutions:
- 1520p on the Tapo C325WB
- 1440p on the Tapo C420S2
- 1296p on the Tapo C210, Tapo C110, and Kasa KD110
Field of view
The Kasa Smart Doorbell has the widest field of view—160º—among the tested cameras, which is suitable for outdoor settings. However, all of the Tapo cameras in our tests come in under 130º, with the C325WB and C110 coming in at 127º, meaning they'll work for most settings. (TP-Link doesn't provide a field of view for the C110, but it's the same as the C325WB based on side-by-side observations.)
The Tapo C420S2's 113º field of view is respectable but narrower than we'd like for an outdoor security camera. Bringing up the rear is the Tapo C210, which we'd estimate as having a 106º field of view—another camera where TP-Link doesn't provide a specification. At least the C210 comes with pan-and-tilt motors so you can view 360º around the camera, preventing the narrow field of view from becoming too detrimental.
Frame rate
The best security cameras have frame rates of 15 frames per second (FPS) or higher, and all of TP-Link's cameras fit this description. Still, we like that the Tapo C420S2 and C325WB's frame rates go up to 20 FPS, making for smoother video playback overall. This is the same FPS Wyze offers on many cameras but more than Eufy's cameras.
Downloading clips from local storage
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
TP-Link took a page out of Wyze's book, making local storage somewhat tricky when saving clips. While TP-Link's video history organizes clips into motion events, there's no one-touch option to download them to your phone. Instead, you must manually hit the record button while reviewing the footage in real-time on the Tapo C420S2, C110, and Kasa KD110 video doorbell. As you can imagine, this is tedious for long clips with a ton of action.
Fortunately, the process is a little smoother on the Tapo C325WB and C210, where you can set where a recording begins and ends—though it defaults to the length of the selected motion event. In either case, downloading clips requires more effort than you would encounter with a Tapo Care or Kasa Care cloud storage plan.
Where the downloaded clips end up also varies by brand. Tapo saves photos and videos to an in-app folder where you can watch and manage them. Kasa saves pictures and videos directly to your phone's internal storage. You can view them using a photos app or file manager—making it a lot less intuitive than Tapo.
Power source
TP-Link only sells one camera model that runs on batteries: the Tapo C420S2. All other Kasa and Tapo camera models require a wired power source. Most competitors offer various wire-free security cameras, making them easier to install in more places.
Support documentation
The quality of the documentation for these cameras varies by model. Some cameras, like the Tapo C325WB and C420S2, include extensive datasheets with detailed specifications that helped our comparison and testing. Others, like Tapo C110, lack basic metrics like frame rate and field of view. While testing performance matters more than specs, they're still essential comparison points for determining how a product measures up to rivals.
This inconsistency of available data also extends to customer support tools. Kasa sends customers to TP-Link's support page to search for answers, while Tapo hosts some information on the product page and in a support center. A quick search of the model number will show relevant FAQs, videos, and manuals, but navigation could be better.
Network video storage
Tapo security cameras, but not Kasa cameras, support ONVIF and Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), which allow you to link them to network-attached storage (NAS) or a third-party NVR to save video recordings. While it requires more equipment and some computer skills, these features unlock local cloud storage without a subscription fee.
1. Tapo C325WB: Best overall TP-link camera
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The night vision on the Tapo C325WB is mesmerizing—we've never seen color night vision this good outside of a well-lit area or without a spotlight. When we first learned about the camera, we assumed it used the built-in spotlights for "color night vision" as many other brands do—we were wrong. Instead, the C325WB's ColorPro night vision works without the spotlight in all but the darkest environments.
ColorPro is so effective because the C325WB boasts a massive light sensor (f/1.0 aperture) compared to other cameras we've tested. Most security cameras don't share the aperture sizes of their cameras, but the C325WB is much wider than the few examples we found. This feature explains TP-Link's boldness in skipping infrared night vision—a staple of security cameras.
The excellent video performance carries over to daytime as well. Thanks to the 1520p 2K video resolution, everything looks crisp—the highest available resolution from TP-Link. Additionally, TP-Link includes an HDR option to help balance out exposure levels during the day. Still, it recommends turning HDR off at night for best results, which we confirmed during our tests. Sadly, there's no automatic way to turn off the HDR at night; you must toggle it manually in the Tapo app.
As TP-Link's newest camera, the Tapo C325WB comes with this lineup's advanced smart motion detection. In addition to detecting people, pets, and vehicles, it has a line-crossing detection option. You draw a line in the frame and can tell the camera to look for subjects crossing it in one direction or both—similar to the activity zones you can create for each camera on this list. It's especially convenient for spotting when your dog escapes the yard.
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
While the installation process for the C325WB doesn't involve much more than a ladder, drill, and screwdriver, it can be inconvenient for some folks. You must install the camera close enough to a power outlet for the cord to reach—no more than a few feet.
Overall, the Tapo C325WB is a new favorite among outdoor cameras, especially when using color night vision. While it lacks the portability of similarly priced wireless cameras like the Reolink Argus 3 Pro, it's just as easy to use once installed.
2. Tapo C210: Best pan-tilt camera
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The Tapo C210 pan-and-tilt security camera is a solid entry into the budget crowd, selling for less than similar models from Wyze, Reolink, and Eufy. Although it lacks the Wyze Cam Pan v3's weatherproofing, the C210 offers similar video performance. We like the crisp video quality during the day, though it loses clarity when using infrared night vision.
Out of the box, the camera uses smart motion detection to spot people and listen for babies crying, features requiring a Wyze subscription. That said, there's no option to watch for pets, only a generic motion alert. Similarly, it lacks smart motion detection for vehicles and packages, but these features aren't beneficial for an indoor camera.
We like that the Tapo C210 includes motion tracking for keeping a subject in frame while recording, and it's very good at centering the view on hand movements. However, it's easy to walk past without it following if you're too close to the camera (usually a few feet). Fortunately, you can mount it high on a wall or ceiling to increase effectiveness. We encountered similar issues with other pan-and-tilt cameras, but it's worth noting so you can plan for wall mounting during installation.
3. Tapo C110: Best for budgets
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The Tapo C110 is the most affordable 2K home security camera we've reviewed, costing around $13 less than the Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24. It aced our daytime video tests and got almost as close with nighttime video quality, losing a few points for motion blur on moving subjects. This indoor security camera includes baby-crying detection like the C210, making it a slightly more affordable option for a baby monitor.
Outside the nursery, this camera is a solid choice for most rooms in your home with a relatively wide field of view. It can see most of our home office from the center of a wall and is even better when installed in a corner. Unfortunately, we don't have an exact number from TP-Link, but the field of view is close to 127º based on side-by-side observations with the C325WB.
Among budget 2K cameras, we think the Tapo C110 is a close second to Eufy—with slightly better nighttime video performance, a better warranty, and double the microSD card capacity. That said, Eufy earns crucial wins in a few key areas like video resolution (1920p versus the C110's 1296p), easier local video storage management, more customer resources, and smart home compatibility—specifically support for Apple Home.
4. Kasa KD110: Best doorbell
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The most exciting feature of the Kasa Smart Doorbell is the microSD slot, something common in security cameras but practically nonexistent in video doorbells. It also supports up to 128GB, more than most folks need for a doorbell camera. Still, we love having flexible local storage options, and this checks the box neatly.
Regarding video quality, the Kasa Smart Doorbell provides a clear picture for subjects close to the camera—about 3 to 10 feet—but struggles to deliver consistent results at a distance. Despite this limitation, it's more than acceptable for video doorbells, which work best at a close distance anyway.
We like the 160º field of view's expansive coverage, the widest on this list, but the 16:9 aspect ratio in landscape orientation isn't ideal for video doorbells. For example, most of our top doorbell picks use ratios closer to square and have a portrait orientation to show packages on your porch just below the doorbell. It's not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind.
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
Although Kasa Smart Doorbell requires existing doorbell wiring, it doesn't control a mechanical chime like similar wired doorbells from Ring and Arlo. This can be disappointing for people looking to reuse an old chime, but it's also a great way to bypass a nonfunctional chime. Fortunately, TP-Link includes a wireless chime that plugs into an outlet inside your home for anyone to hear when a visitor arrives.
5. Tapo C420S2: Best wire-free option
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As of this review, the Tapo C420S2 is TP-Link's only battery-powered security camera. While it's an excellent camera, it's clear that TP-Link is still finding its footing in the category. The daytime video quality is on par with other Tapo cameras we tested. And although it showed some motion blur in recordings, its sensitivity was slightly lower than the C325WB. When we returned for nighttime testing, the video quality was better than every other TP-Link camera besides the C325WB. While it lacks the ColorPro tech of the C325WB, the C420S2's starlight sensor was incredibly well-optimized to show vivid colors.
Many other brands use starlight night vision—Wyze, Eufy, and Reolink—but the colors are more muted than what we saw on the Tapo C420S2. We may be looking at these other brands through a cynical lens, and they are more vibrant than we remember, but we can't confirm without a side-by-side comparison. But for now, let's say that the C420S2 has excellent color night vision—second only to the Tapo C325WB.
This security camera boasts a bright spotlight to further aid in nighttime video recording, providing excellent illumination up to 30 feet away on the highest brightness—though you'll see the best results in the 10- to 20-foot range. It also has a skill the C325WB lacks: infrared night vision. This black-and-white mode is great for low-light scenarios where you don't want a bright spotlight, but it doesn't offer as much detail on moving subjects.
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
As for drawbacks, this camera joins the Tapo C110 and Kasa KD110 in lacking an easy way to save recordings from local storage in a mobile app. Its 113º field of view is narrower than most other wireless outdoor security cameras like the Arlo Pro 4, Nest Cam (Battery), and Reolink Argus 3 Pro. Lastly, it has half the warranty coverage of other TP-Link cameras—just one year.
Overall, the Tapo C420S2 is one of the more affordable 2K wireless security camera options, costing around $100 a camera, and is cheaper than similar models from Arlo and Reolink. Still, some folks may opt for less-expensive 1080p wireless cameras from Wyze, Ring, and Blink.
We tested the Tapo C420S2 for this review because Tapo sent it to us. For a single-camera starter kit, consider the Tapo C420S1 (about $110). You can also expand your system with a Tapo C420 Add-On Camera for around $75. Each hub—included in the starter kits—supports up to four cameras.
Other TP-Link cameras we considered
The remaining Tapo and most Kasa cameras that didn't make our top five are older models you can still buy. They may have lower specs and fewer features, but they are often much cheaper for building a surveillance system to watch your entire home.
- Tapo C310 and Tapo C320WS: These are the predecessors of the C325WB, with lower video resolutions, frame rates, storage capacities, and no ColorPro night vision. Still, they're excellent spotlight camera alternatives to the C325WB for less than $40—making them perfect for bulking up your fleet of outdoor Tapo cameras on a smaller budget.
- Tapo C100 and Tapo C200: These older 1080p versions of the C110 and C210 regularly sell for around $25 or less on Amazon. We recommend spending a few extra dollars on the C110 or C210.
- Kasa Spot: You can get the 1080p Kasa EC60 and two 1440p 2K models (KC400 and KC401). These can be great options for folks with Kasa gear at home, especially since the 2K 1440p models boast a higher resolution than the Tapo C110's 1296p.
- The Kasa Spot EC60 has a 113º field of view and supports microSD cards up to 64GB.
- The 2K models are identical in every way, at least when looking at their specifications. However, you can buy the KC400 on Amazon, while the KC401 is available only from Target and Best Buy.
- Kasa Spot Pan Tilt: Four Kasa Spot Pan Tilt variants exist, with two 1080p models (EC70 and EC71) and two 1440p 2K models (KC410S and KC411S). These 2K Kasa cameras offer better resolution than the Tapo C210 but lack the network storage option.
- Kasa Cam Outdoor: The Kasa KC420S is equivalent to the Tapo C420S2 in terms of performance, except that there's a power cord instead of a battery. Although it's a good option for Kasa users, we ultimately prefer Tapo's outdoor cameras.
Final word on Tapo and Kasa cameras
Tapo and Kasa help TP-Link stand out among budget security camera manufacturers as a top contender, without falling too far behind Wyze and Eufy. We love the innovative ColorPro night vision, smart home automation, and excellent video quality. Unfortunately, we don't like TP-Link's confusing two-brand approach, especially since Tapo and Kasa aren't cross-compatible. That said, it's hard to ignore great cameras at low prices.
Tapo C325WB: Best color night vision among cameras for sale today.
Tapo C210: Affordable 2K pan-and-tilt home security camera with useful motion tracking.
Tapo C110: Cheapest 2K security camera we've tested, but it holds up well against budget rivals like Eufy and Wyze.
Kasa KD110: One of the most affordable video doorbells you can buy, and it comes with a handy digital chime.
Tapo C420S2: Wireless outdoor camera with excellent nighttime video quality that's easy to install where you need it.
FAQ
What is the difference between Tapo and Kasa security cameras?
Over the past few weeks of testing and juggling both apps from these TP-Link brands, we can confidently say that you'll be happier sticking with one brand.
- Choose Tapo if you want better security camera controls and a more diverse selection of smart home devices like security sensors and robot vacuums—two device types absent from Kasa's lineup.
- Choose Kasa if you want a massive selection of smart plugs, smart outlets, smart light switches, and smart lighting options. Kasa's integrations with third-party smart home platforms like Alexa and Google feel much more developed than Tapo's. Kasa has better integration with Samsung SmartThings, one of our favorite ways to manage smart home gear.
We'd like to say that each brand targets customers with different budgets in the same way that Amazon's Blink and Ring cameras do, but there's only the slightest price difference in Kasa's favor.
We're still determining TP-Link's endgame for having two nearly identical smart home brands. Previously, we would have said that Tapo catered to European customers, but it's hard to say now that we have both brands in the U.S. Plus, Kasa isn’t struggling—it's consistently a top seller on Amazon. Tapo's starting to catch up in the same categories as well.
There's no way to say how long TP-Link can run both brands separately, but having cross-compatibility between them would undoubtedly smooth things out for everyone.
Do Tapo cameras record all the time?
All TP-Link cameras, including Tapo and Kasa, support 24/7 recording on a microSD card. In a camera's settings, you can toggle between Continuous Recording, Detection Recording, and Don't Record in the Recording Schedule menu.
Kasa's latest products include a microSD card slot to record video without a subscription. You must buy the memory card separately and the maximum storage depends on your chosen model. Most of Kasa's features work without a subscription, including the mobile app, smart motion detection, and basic notifications, but you'll pay a monthly fee for cloud storage and rich notifications.
While Kasa doesn't limit the number of devices you can add to the mobile app, it caps the number of cameras you can add to a Kasa Care Premium subscription at 10. Beyond that, Kasa recommends a second Kasa account or switching to Kasa Care Plus for every camera. Neither of these solutions is ideal, considering rivals like Wyze and Ring offer plans supporting unlimited cameras.
How we reviewed TP-Link cameras
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
TP-Link sent us five cameras to test for this review, and we put them through various tests over the past couple of months, with our core testing taking place in the last two weeks of this period. Aside from providing the cameras and information, TP-Link had no input into our scoring or testing practices.
We set up the two indoor cameras, the Tapo C110 and C210, in a home office to capture footage and evaluate video performance. For the three outdoor cameras—Tapo C325WB, Tapo C420S2, and Kasa KD110—we took them outside to see how they handled daytime and nighttime recording. We mounted the Tapo C325WB and Kasa KD110 on our testing box, which we use to test various smart home products.
Our camera tester triggered recordings at multiple distances while moving and standing still to get an idea of the overall video performance of TP-Link's cameras. This test also helped us rate the sensitivity and accuracy of each camera's smart motion detection features. We also dug into all of the features we could find to see what's the most useful and compare these cameras to other brands we've tested.
Image: John Carlsen, SafeWise
In addition to our physical testing, we evaluated each camera's online reviews, specifications, product pages, and customer support resources. We use the methodology on our wireless cameras review for our star ratings. You can learn more about how we test, rate, and review products of every kind in our full methodology.
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