eufy vs Reolink: which should you buy for a UK home?
Choose Reolink if you want a wired system that records around the clock, plenty of choice and good value. Choose eufy if you want mostly wireless cameras that are quick to fit, with polished smart features and storage kept in one box at home. Both work without a monthly fee.
This is a researched comparison, based on the two brands’ current ranges, manufacturer information and published testing, plus my own view as a security professional. Where I have used a product hands-on, the individual review says so.
The short answer
| Reolink | eufy | |
|---|---|---|
| Best at | Wired (PoE) systems, continuous recording | Wireless and solar cameras, smart alerts |
| Monthly fee needed? | No, cloud is optional | No, cloud is optional |
| Where footage is kept | microSD card, recorder (NVR) or network storage | On the camera, or a central HomeBase at home |
| Typical price | Often cheaper for similar specs | Usually a little more |
| Best for | Owners who want a fixed, reliable system | DIY fitting, renters, hard-to-cable spots |
Wired or wireless: the biggest difference
Reolink is strongest at wired systems. Its kits combine PoE cameras with a recorder that sits indoors, and the cameras can record all the time rather than just when they detect movement. It also makes battery and Wi-Fi cameras, but wired is where it stands out.
eufy is strongest at wireless. Its battery and solar cameras are quick to put up and work well in places cables cannot reach. eufy also sells wired PoE kits, but most people buy it for the wireless range.
If you are not sure which suits you, read our guide: Wired or wireless CCTV: which is better?
Storage and monthly fees
Neither brand forces you into a subscription.
- Reolink records to a microSD card in the camera, to a Reolink recorder (NVR), or to network storage. An optional cloud plan is available if you want an off-site copy.
- eufy records to storage built into many of its cameras, or to its HomeBase, a small hub that keeps footage from all your cameras in one place. HomeBase 3 can be expanded to around 16TB. An optional cloud plan is also available.
Both approaches keep your footage at home by default. The one thing to protect is the recorder or hub itself. Put it somewhere a burglar will not find it.
Smart features and the app
eufy generally has the more polished app and smart alerts. Features such as person, vehicle and pet detection run on the device or the HomeBase, and some systems can recognise familiar faces so you get fewer pointless alerts.
Reolink also offers person, vehicle and animal detection on many models, and its app is perfectly capable. It appeals to people who like more control: many Reolink cameras support RTSP, which lets them work with other recording software and home automation systems such as Home Assistant.
If you use Apple Home, check HomeKit support model by model before buying. eufy offers it on a number of its cameras.
Picture quality
Both brands sell cameras from 2K up to 4K, and both make dual-lens models that cover a wide area. At similar prices, picture quality is close. In practice, where you mount the camera makes far more difference than which brand you choose. See our guide to where CCTV cameras should go.
Privacy and security
This is worth knowing about. In late 2022, security researchers found that some eufy cameras uploaded notification thumbnails to the cloud even when owners expected everything to stay local, and that live streams could be viewed without proper encryption in certain circumstances. Anker, eufy’s parent company, later admitted its cameras were not end-to-end encrypted in every case, made changes, and updated the app to explain when thumbnails are sent to the cloud.
That does not make eufy unsafe to buy today, but it is a fair reminder for any brand:
- choose text-only notifications if you do not want image previews leaving your home
- keep the app and camera firmware up to date
- use a strong, unique password and turn on two-step login
- keep your recorder or hub indoors and hidden
The same advice applies to Reolink and every other brand.
Which should you choose?
Choose Reolink if you:
- own your home and want a wired system that records continuously
- want good value across four or more cameras
- like the option of using your cameras with other software
Choose eufy if you:
- want to fit cameras yourself quickly, without running cables
- need solar or battery cameras for a shed, garage or long garden
- want polished smart alerts and all your footage in one hub
Or mix them by use: a wired Reolink system for the house works well alongside a battery camera for an outbuilding. Just remember that two brands means two apps.
My view
For a home you own and want properly covered, I lean towards a wired system, and Reolink’s wired kits are hard to beat on value. For quick, flexible or rented setups, eufy’s wireless cameras are excellent and easier to live with. Whichever you pick, the placement and the basics, such as lighting, locks and a hidden recorder, matter more than the logo on the camera.
Rather have it fitted? We install wired and wireless systems across Worcestershire and the West Midlands. Get a quote.