Best Indoor Cameras for SmartThings and Home Automation
What I personally recommend if you want your cameras and smart home devices working together
When I first started building my smart home with SmartThings, I quickly realized that not every indoor security camera plays nicely with the system. I wanted cameras that could not only show a live view — but also trigger automations, send alerts to SmartThings, and be controlled alongside my other smart devices.
After lots of trial and error (and some frustration), I’ve found a handful of indoor cameras that work perfectly with SmartThings and home automation setups. If you’re looking for the easiest cameras to integrate — these are the ones I personally recommend.
Table of Contents
1. Samsung SmartThings Indoor Camera
If you want native integration, this is the obvious choice — Samsung’s own camera is designed to work seamlessly with SmartThings.
- Why it works: No third-party apps or complex workarounds — it shows live feed directly in SmartThings. You can use it in automations (motion triggers, presence detection) and view video from anywhere.
- Video quality: 1080p HD with night vision
- Two-way audio: Yes
- SmartThings features: Full compatibility
- Why I love it: If your smart home runs on SmartThings, this is the easiest “set and forget” indoor cam. No tech headaches.
2. GE Cync Indoor Camera
I wasn’t sure about this one at first — but it turns out, GE Cync products are officially SmartThings-compatible and super easy to set up.
- Why it works: Full live view and motion triggers in SmartThings. Works well with Alexa too.
- Video quality: 1080p HD with night vision
- Privacy shutter: Yes (physical lens cover!)
- Why I like it: For people worried about privacy, this camera’s shutter gives peace of mind. It’s also budget-friendly and works well in rental spaces.
3. Aeotec Cam 360
If you want a camera with pan-and-tilt control that integrates with SmartThings, this is a top choice.
- Why it works: Fully integrates into SmartThings app — pan, tilt, and zoom all controllable inside the platform.
- Video quality: 1080p with 360° viewing
- Why I like it: For big open spaces or areas where motion moves around a lot (kids’ rooms, garages), this gives full coverage.
4. TP-Link Tapo C225 (Community Support)
This one takes a little extra work — but for the price, it’s an amazing option. Many SmartThings users (including me) have connected it using community-developed Edge drivers.
- Why it works: Live view and motion triggers in SmartThings with Edge driver installed.
- Video quality: 2K super HD
- Why I like it: The image quality is excellent. Once connected, it works beautifully in SmartThings routines.
5. Reolink Indoor Cameras (ONVIF)
If you like ONVIF cameras for local video and advanced automation, Reolink indoor cams can integrate via ONVIF Edge drivers.
- Why it works: Live stream and motion events work in SmartThings with ONVIF integration.
- Why I use it: Reolink gives you more control over storage (local NAS or SD) while still letting you use SmartThings automations.
Why Use Indoor Cams with SmartThings?
✅ Full home automation — trigger lights, alarms, scenes with motion
✅ Central control — view video inside your SmartThings app
✅ Smarter notifications — only get alerts when home is set to “away”
✅ No juggling apps — everything in one interface
How I Automate My Cams
Here’s how I use my indoor cams with SmartThings:
- When I leave home → Cameras auto-arm and start recording
- If motion is detected → Living room lights turn on
- If I come home → Cameras go to privacy mode
- If the garage door opens unexpectedly → Phone alert + lights flash
Final Thoughts
If you’re building your smart home around SmartThings, choosing the right camera matters. You want something that integrates smoothly — without extra apps or constant troubleshooting.
Based on my personal experience, these are the best indoor cams for home automation in 2025:
✅ Samsung SmartThings Cam — best native choice
✅ GE Cync Indoor Cam — best for privacy
✅ Aeotec Cam 360 — best for large spaces
✅ TP-Link Tapo C225 — best value (with community support)
✅ Reolink Indoor Cams — best for ONVIF and advanced setups
One thing I really appreciate with SmartThings + camera integration is that I can finally create “presence-based automations.” For example, when I leave home, my cameras arm automatically — no need to remember to toggle them on.
Another bonus? Using motion detection to trigger lights. I have my GE Cync cam in the hallway — if motion is detected after 10 p.m., my hallway light turns on at 30% brightness. Perfect for middle-of-the-night bathroom trips without blinding myself.
Privacy mode is another huge reason I switched to SmartThings cameras. When I’m home, I don’t want cameras recording unnecessarily — so I’ve automated mine to disable recording and close physical shutters when SmartThings detects I’m home.
If you have smart locks connected to SmartThings, pairing them with indoor cams is powerful. I get an alert + camera snapshot when the front door is unlocked between certain hours — great for keeping tabs on kids or service workers.
One thing that surprised me — older IP cameras often don’t work well with SmartThings unless they’re ONVIF compliant. That’s why I prefer newer cams like Reolink’s indoor lineup — they connect faster and give better automation control.
For people using voice assistants, SmartThings cameras make it easy to pull video onto smart displays. I can say, “Alexa, show me the front room” — and my Samsung SmartThings cam pops right up on my Echo Show or Google Nest Hub.
If you want cloud-free storage, Reolink ONVIF cams or TP-Link Tapo cams let you save to NAS or SD card — but still give motion alerts and triggers through SmartThings. This gives you more control over your video and no extra cloud fees.
When choosing cameras for SmartThings, I always look for ones that allow “motion zones.” Without that, you’ll get constant alerts from pets or ceiling fans. GE Cync and Reolink both offer great zone setup.
If you’re building a multi-floor smart home, pan-tilt cams like Aeotec Cam 360 give you flexibility — I can adjust the camera from my phone without having to remount it or physically move it.
One thing that sold me on using GE Cync cams — they also work beautifully with Cync lights and switches, giving even tighter integration in SmartThings. I can trigger lights based on camera motion — all from one ecosystem.
Another trick I use: for guest mode, I set up SmartThings routines to temporarily disable indoor cams when guests stay over — that way, they have privacy, and I don’t need to manually turn cams off and on.
Finally — keep in mind that Samsung is actively updating SmartThings to support even more cameras and better automation features. It’s a great time to start adding compatible indoor cams, knowing the system is only going to get smarter.