Customer Ratings & Reviews

#1 internet connection for the game to get your phones

They work great but they go offline all the time and don’t record while offline.

I've only had it a week so I'm still getting used to the ins and outs of the system. So far, it lives up expectations

The system of four 4k wired cameras seems to me a very convenient kit considering that they can be placed around a house or the front and the back with a wide viewing area, the unboxing is very easy and everything comes in the box neatly packaged and separated to make the installation clean and easy, step by step. Once you have installed the cameras and their respective cables, what takes more time is the configuration of the NVR, you have to consider that it has to be connected by ethernet cable to the modem. The mobile app requires an account and verification, with everything configured according to the installation and configuration guide, I could verify the image of the cameras that in my opinion, despite being 4k cameras the color representation and clarity leaves a little to be desired, I don't mean that they are bad but the quality is not the highest, just do their job well. On the other hand the night mode has a very good quality and the field of view is still wide. The image quality is decent, however when playing in real time from the phone, it doesn't seem quite high definition, even if I select play in high quality. The menus of the app are a little unintuitive and somewhat confusing. The app crashes on some occasions and sometimes does not send all the motion detection notifications, I think the app needs to be improved a bit which in my opinion is one of the things that makes the purchase attractive, i.e. being away from home and check in real time and receive notifications of events is very convenient. The app notifies you when it detects movement so you can quickly access the playback mode in real time and see what happens, there is only a small delay but nothing to worry about. In summary I find it a solid product with everything you need to easily install everything and have 24/7 surveillance at home, the quality of the cameras, NVR and cables is good, the app meets the basic functions but can be improved. In my experience, because the image quality does not seem to be top quality, I would recommend this product with a reasonable discount and hope that Swan improve their app.

The app is not very good. When viewing cameras video is choppy and hard to view.

Playback is very slow and had to hire another company to finish install

It took me a while to set this up because I’ve never had a security system with cameras before. That means I had to run all the wires myself to get this set up. If you are going to do that, this system is a pretty good choice since all the cameras are PoE which means that the power comes through the ethernet cables and you don’t have to get power to the cameras. Not having to figure out how to get power to a corner of your eaves makes it possible to do this yourself. I don’t have to call an electrician to get an outlet installed near the cameras and just have to drill a hole in the right places to push an ethernet cable through. It still was a bit complex based on where I wanted the cameras and where I wanted the unit that records everything, but I got it done eventually. I did need to go buy a big spool of cable and make my own connectors at the end of the cables because I wanted to run the wires farther than the included cables would reach, but pretty much any electrician could help you if you wanted and there are a lot of other handymen and other people who know how to do it. Swann also has a network of people they can refer, but I’ve never used them to know if they’re any good. Once the wires are in the right place its not too bad to drill and mount the cameras and plugging in and setting up the actual system is really easy and only took a few minutes. Even better is that there are not free trials that you have to pay for afterward, you just get to run the system and have everything without any extra costs. It even can take 4 more cameras if I wanted to ever add those later. The pictures are all really clear, but on the small screen I have to view I’m not sure I could tell the difference between 4k or 720. On my phone I could see everything easily, but again when you’re sending 4k over an internet connection its going to convert it to a smaller resolution and you aren’t going to be able to tell its 4k. I do have some peace of mind though knowing that if I download the file and take it to the police or something if I really need to, the file is probably good enough that they could get license plate numbers or even a good image of a suspect’s face. I also like the sensitivity to motion and heat to get a lot of good images at night. Our video doorbell only records when it senses motion and pretty much never does so is only useful if someone actually rings the bell. These are great and took lots of videos of our dog running in the backyard at night. I’ve been playing with the images at night and its interesting because I can’t tell if I like the color night images or the more old school IR images better. Overall, this is a great DIY security system without any monthly fees. Set up can be complicated depending on your home’s situation, but adding any security system after your home was built is going to have that anyway.

I appreciate the details that other reviewers have left with regard to what a NVR (network video recorder) system is compared to a DVR (digital video recorder) system. Other reviewers also offer details on the high quality output of the cameras with which I agree. I am a reviewer who will focus on what it's like to be "an average guy", not a super tech savvy consumer, who was looking for a security system. I'm a guy with some wireless cameras tucked here and there that I can access from an application on my phone, but was looking for something with better resolution and night vision. What I discovered after opening the box: 1. You need the high definition HDMI compatible TV and the NVR console in close proximity to the router. If the high definition TV or HDMI compatible monitor is in another room or on a different floor, you're not going to be able to do it without moving it. 2. Being inexperienced at this installation process, I found the instructions a little bit confusing. I ended up finding a You Tube video to walk me through the set up process which was actually not too bad and I got it set up without a problem, at least initially. 3. I downloaded the application and signed up and no matter how hard I tried, I could not get "authenticated" even after using the QR code and double and triple checking the password. So far, I've not gotten it to authenticate the account through the app so I can't comment on how that works. 4. The camera cords were so tightly bound with plastic that I found it remarkably hard to get them out and ended up using scissors to help and promptly put a small slice in one of the cords. Use caution and patience when trying to free those cords from very tight plastic strips. 5. The pros of the camera are it's high quality images, heat sensitivity and sound capabilities. It comes at a cost: the cords. Since I am a user of wireless cameras, the thought of having to fish wires behind walls was super daunting and the thought of having "ugly wires" visible was just as bad. As other reviewers have noted, there's a card in the box giving a web site to access an appointment for a professional installer (for an additional fee) and my gut feeling is that I am going to rely on someone else's skill to do the job right. I think that this system is perfect or near perfect for someone who wants a high quality ultra HD NVR system (with good storage and no subscription fees!) who is comfortable with either fishing wires through walls or having them visible (or paying a professional to do it). If that is not you, then setting up this system may well not be worth it even for the benefits. You may be better served by a wireless system that may not provide all the bells and whistles, but is a whole lot easier to set up and use.

This NVR is an excellent system to have where it supports up to 8 cameras and has 4 included. For me setup was much easier with an NVR because I didn't need to run power or have power separately located near each camera and being in an older home this is a huge plus. Also being an NVR, you connect to existing computer networks to use existing wiring which is what I did for the garage and back yard where the runs were longer than the 60ft included Cat5e cable. Note that when doing so like I did, you'll need to have a Power Over Ethernet switch or adapter to supply/inject power on the cable that goes to the camera or they won't work! Once everything is ran and connected, configuration is very simple where you set passwords and the ability to see the cameras and recordings remotely. In addition the setup walks you through setting the system up to be able to work with Google/Alexa, which I did on mine so you can see cameras on the google system which is a cool feature, especially if you have a camera pointed at the front door/driveway and want to see someone pull in. I really like that the NVR has enough USB Ports to plug in the mouse and a thumb drive to save video to but even more so it lets you save video to the cloud. The best part about that is there are no fees for the storage unless you want to store lots on the cloud. For the video quality, the picture is sharp and clear and from my drive way you can see details of any car that pulls up including the plate number. Swanns camera mounts make mounting them under the eaves easy so you get the best view of nearly any spot around your home. The only thing I wish it had were longer runs on the Cat5 cable or included an assortment of lengths to accommodate a typical home. You could get away with the cable included if your home is smaller and the NVR is more centrally located. In my case two were able to be ran without any additional cabling and the other two required more than what was included. So I'd definitely plan ahead to purchase more cable that has ends already or do your on (which is what I'd recommend). Would be cool to see a security camera company innovate this so you can customize installation without having to get extra stuff to make it work. Outside of that, this system is great, it's easy to setup and use. The integration with Google/Alexa is amazing with the right Google Home display and you can easily view any of your cameras with that screen or watch them on your TV. I'd definitely recommend this system!

First off Im going to give away my conclusion on this system…I LOVE it! I have had many video security systems over the years both wired and wireless, and while wireless may seem more convenient, in actual use I have found that wired is the way to go for me. The Swann System comes with 4 cameras with the ability to add 4 more for a total of 8 camera capability. This system is easier to set up as the power and data are all transmitted via the Power over Ethernet cable, so there is no need to run both power and video to each camera which is a time saver and makes things much easier. I do all installs like this myself but you can choose to utilize the Swann Professional Install Service for an additional fee which is a nice option for those not comfortable with doing an install like this themselves. The included Network Video Recorder (NVR) has a 1TB Hard Drive which Swann Claims will retain up to 6 months of video, so the capacity is more than enough for most users. Setup of cameras and the NVR (after running the ethernet cables) is pretty easy and just plug and play. The 4K cameras are great for all types of weather conditions and are heat and motion sensing so you won’t miss any activity within the cameras range. The video quality is also top notch as it should be. Two-way communication is also possible to speak to whomever is at the camera and I found the sound was great to communicate back and forth. With the companion Swann Security App you can remotely monitor things. As I opened this review with, I think this is a great system and one worthy of consideration.

Cameras came with cheap cat5e cables. Also one of the camera keeps saying video loss. For nearly $600.00, they are not worth it.

Should be zero stars. What good is a camera if it can't detect and record a quality image??? The lights only come on if you turn them on not when motion detected so that is useless as well. Certainly do not buy them from Best Buy because by the time you get to install them, set them up and figure them out they are no longer returnable.

This is not my first Swann security system I have tested. I will say right off the get go that I am very impressed with what they are offering here! If you are coming from anything less than a 4K Ultra HD resolution on previous security cameras, than the footage the Swann cameras produce is going to astonish you. I have one on my front porch looking out towards a busy cross street, and I can now pick up license plate numbers in the frames of the videos I have captured! Of particular interest is the development of the color night footage Swann has built into these particular cameras. Being able to distinguish certain shades or colors in your security footage could be the difference between getting an ID on a suspicious individual or not. They say this color imaging is good out to 32’ and that seems to be accurate from what I have seen in my experiments. I prefer this system to previous Swann security systems I have owned because I very much dislike having to run hardwires all over the place. This wireless system make cleanup a lot easier for the average user and is less intimidating than hardwired. They each require an AC plug in for power, but this is much easier to accommodate for most people. With 8 channels too, you can add 4 more cameras in the future for complete property coverage! Just make sure your wifi coverage is strong enough to cover these cameras for good, strong signals. I would recommend a mesh wifi system if your home requires it. Overall, Swann has many offerings, but consider this one if you prefer the convenience and ease of set up of wifi/wireless versus hardwire. Thanks for reading and hope this helps!

About 5 years ago, as we were shopping for home security systems, we decided against the ADT-type services & went with a wireless system (not Swann) that we installed ourselves. Eventually, we added higher quality cameras from the same manufacturer. Unfortunately, after their free trial expired, the new cameras didn’t allow us to view captured video unless we subscribed to their monthly paid service, thus rendering the new cameras useless except for live viewing. This was frustrating because it defeated the primary reason we had invested in a personal security system in the 1st place, which was to avoid monthly fees. Lesson learned. Enter the new Swann NVR (Network Video Recorder) security system. With its onsite 1 TB Hard Drive storage capability, we can store & review up to 6 months of recordings for FREE! This puts us in full control of our own security system WITHOUT the fees. Setup was a little more involved than the fully wireless system we had previously, but all the instructions, cables, & hardware were included in the box. Swann also has a YouTube channel with some helpful video tutorials. Right off the bat, we noticed the improved image quality. The day before we switched from our old 1080p HD cameras to the Swann 4K UHD system paired with PoE (Power over Ethernet) digital IP (internet protocol) cameras, we had a visitor at our front door while we were away. He then left & came back a couple of hours later. But unlike most solicitors, he didn’t leave a flyer or business card on either visit, & I wasn’t able to make out the name of his business on the front of his company shirt. A few days, after we’d installed the new Swann system, the same solicitor returned. This time, I was able to clearly read the name & logo of the lawn maintenance company on the front of his shirt. Mystery solved! The 2-way audio of the Swann system is loud & clear. Our old system had a delay, & it distorted my voice when I talked to visitors, effectively rendering that feature useless. But the Swann cameras possess microphones with audio clarity comparable to that of popular doorbell cameras. Being able to communicate clearly with visitors when you’re unable or unwilling to come to the door is a big plus. The App provides all the basic features you’d want: video replay, live viewing, settings changes, etc. It also works with Hey Google & Alexa. Overall, this is a quality system at a surprisingly good price. Best of all, it requires no monthly fees or subscriptions.

Other than some wireless indoor cameras I’ve had for a few years, this is the first real security system I’ve ever had. Set up was easy and straight forward . For us, the 60 foot cables it comes with are long enough for our house but they do offer 100 and 200 foot cables on their website. These cables are great, they power the cameras and carry the audio and video. All in one cable. Really cool!! For the time being, we are only using this indoors but will be mounting 2 of the cameras outdoors for more security when we get completely moved in and set up in our new home. This will be fantastic when we go away for the weekend. Using it to keep an eye on our cats and yard will carry a lot of peace of mind. With the 2 way audio, we’ll even be able to converse with the kitties or anyone else that comes within sight of the camera. The app was a simple download and needed to properly set up the system. You do need a TV or monitor for the HDMI connection to be able to view the videos. Really cool that you can see all the cameras at the same time on your screen. And add up to 4 more for a total of 8. The 4K quality on the connected monitor is outstanding but keep in mind, using the phone can only get you 1080P but it still looks crisp and clear. It even includes a mouse to be able to change and adjust your settings once you have it all up and running. The siren is quite loud and should scare off any intruder that happens to set it off. The spotlights are really bright, especially indoors but once we have the outside done, it will add even more peace of mind. Can’t wait to see the first time a raccoon lights himself up in the back yard. Comes with a 1TB hardrive that will probably fill up sooner than later but it is upgradeable to a 6TB down the road. I love how you can add on to the system as necessity requires. You won’t be locked in to it until it becomes obsolete to your needs. Overall this is a great system, affordable and it does everything you would expect out of a nice home security system. It will take a while to learn all the ins and outs of it as it does quite a bit we haven’t even accessed yet. Really looking forward to having this as a permanent part of our home. Thank you Swann

This is an upgrade to a wireless DVR system that I own. This is the first time I actually had to run wires, all of the other camera systems I has in the past were wireless. So be prepared to spend time drilling bigger holes and running cable through the house. Not these are ethernet cables so they also provide power. For my previous systems I had to run a cable for power. Once the ethernet cables are run everything else is pretty much plug and play. The instructions could be a bit more detailed, but then it wouldn't be considered a quick setup. After configuring everything, the video quality during the day was crisp and clear. I also like being able to set specific areas to trigger the recording. This eliminates a lot of false alarms. I am still in the process of trying out the different settings for the night vision to determine which one I like better. With my previous cameras I always used the spotlight LEDs, so I think I will be using them here also. I like being able to connect my drop box account so I do not need to pay for any subscriptions. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is the app. App is ok, but I had issues with playback on my mobile. On the NVR playback was smooth. If I need to save any videos I will have to save via USB on the NVR.

This is a great kit. I was surprised and very happy to find that the camera’s are powered over ethernet. It is a really nice feature for installation since you only have to worry about 1 wire. I tested the equipment out on a temporary installation and I have to say the camera’s look good! The camera’s also have a siren and speaker so you can address people through the camera. The speaker works well and the voice coming through is clear and easy to understand. The DVR is clean looking and mixes in well with the other electronics on my desk. I have the DVR connected through HDMI to a 4k television and I have to say that the video quality is really good. All in all, everything you need is in the box including high quality security stickers warning of video surveillance 24 hour surveillance. I will be testing more and updating my review after the permanent installation is complete. Based on what I’ve experienced, I think this is a great system, pretty easy to install and filled with all the features that you would expect from a high end camera system. I plan to buy more camera’s to add to the system in the future. I will also be recommending this to my friends.

This system is very clear and has great day and night clarity from other systems I have used. The system can save videos on a large hard drive or you can store it up in the cloud. The system is very easy to use but the one limitation is the system is wired but searching online I found tips on how to install a wired system. The app works great and the cameras are very easy to view and use the options. You also can purchase other compatible cameras with this system. This system is currently setup on a secondary building but I may purchase another system for my home. The night vision is fairly clear within 10-15 feet. The spot light feature does light up the area. I haven't used all the features yet but I do plan on using very soon. I would purchase another Swann system. The main system is very small and can be mounted to be inconspicuous. I like the face recognition and also the heat detection I feel works really well. What is really nice feature is this uses the POE power over internet so you do not need to run two cords to the cameras which is a great feature.

Great Swann System if you everything to be hard wired and have a need for video storage to be saved locally (helps avoid fees). I have had other similar Swann systems (previous generations) and I have installed/used other brands including NVR and wireless setups. Swann is defiantly improving its systems and offer a great product. The best thing about this system is it being an NVR system. If you are running these cameras outside of your home / business or even inside where you don't have access to outlets for each camera NVR is for you. You only need one ethernet cable running to each camera to provide power and send/receive info back and forth. Four 60 foot ethernet cables are provided however since they are ethernet you can get longer cables if needed which is an awesome perk. 60 foot was fine for me now but knowing that I can move the camera(s) in father locations if need and only having to find a simple ethernet cable is awesome. The four included cameras are really good. Once you go 4k you never go back. Swann always packs a punch with their cameras now. They include so many features that outpace the competition. Features on each individual camera include heat/motion detection and alerts (true detect), colored night vision, spot lights, 2 way audio (you cant talk back through each camera!), siren, weatherproof. Each camera even has face and vehicle recognition so you can get alerts sent to your app for when family is home or for other needs. The DVR box has a 1TB hard drive which I think is the minimum you need for a security recording device. The only thing I dont like about the box is that its not equipped with wifi you must plug it into a router or modem. While I do want the hard connection having wifi equipped for back up or if I need to move the box away from a modem would be helpful. The box is setup to support 8 cameras so you can add 4 cameras if need in the future. This is the only device that needs a power adapter (at the hub!). You can also view your cameras using the app and they also pair with google and alexa! Even pair it to dropbox! Things you will need: A monitor (however a mouse to operate swanns program and a hdmi cable are included). The knowledge to run the ethernet cables behind walls, ceilings, etc. The knowledge of how to mount the cameras. FYI Swann does include paperwork on where to contact professional installation which you will have to pay for.

Best system for the price, easy to install, hardest part was installing wiring. After cameras are great