Best HomeKit Secure Video Cameras for Europe (2026)
Eve, Aqara, Netatmo, INSTAR or eufy? We compare the indoor and outdoor cameras that really work in the Apple Home app through HomeKit Secure Video, explain what you need to record (a home hub and an iCloud+ plan), and clear up why Matter cameras don't show up in Apple Home yet.
A security camera is the smart home device that sees the most private moments of your life, so where the video goes matters as much as how sharp it is. For Apple users in Europe, HomeKit Secure Video is the most private way to do it: your HomePod or Apple TV analyses the video at home, and recordings are stored end-to-end encrypted in your iCloud, not on a camera maker's server. This guide covers the cameras in our catalog that really work in the Apple Home app, and it's honest about what each one needs to record.
How we chose
We started from every camera in our catalog that is sold in European Amazon stores and says it works with Apple Home. Then we narrowed it down:
- HomeKit Secure Video. Every pick records to iCloud through HomeKit Secure Video, so you get live view, recordings, motion alerts and person, animal, vehicle and package detection in the Home app. No Homebridge or workarounds.
- Not counting on Matter. Matter added cameras in late 2025, but the Apple Home app doesn't support Matter cameras yet. Every camera here works with Apple Home through HomeKit today.
- Honest about hubs and plans. HomeKit Secure Video always needs a home hub and an iCloud+ plan. We say what each camera needs on top of that, such as mains wiring or a network cable.
- Privacy and local options. We favour cameras that keep video local or end-to-end encrypted, and makers with European roots like Eve, Netatmo and INSTAR.
- Availability. Cameras you can buy in several EU countries, so the same advice works in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain.
Prices change too often to be useful in an article, so we leave those to the product boxes, which show a current price where one is available.
Our top pick indoors: Eve Cam
Eve, from Munich, built the Eve Cam for one job: being the most private camera you can put in an Apple home. It works only with HomeKit Secure Video, so there's no Eve account and no Eve cloud. Live video is never sent to a cloud server, and when it records, the clip goes end-to-end encrypted into your iCloud.
It's a compact indoor camera with Full HD video, a wide 150° field of view, night vision, and a microphone and speaker for talking through it. Wi-Fi works on both 2.4 and 5 GHz. In the Home app you can set it to stream, record or switch off depending on whether anyone is home, and you get Apple's person, animal, vehicle and package detection.
What it needs: a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub, and an iCloud+ plan to record. Without iCloud+, you can still watch live and get notifications. It's indoor-only and has no local storage or app of its own, so it's the right pick if you want Apple Home and nothing else.
Our top pick outdoors: Aqara Camera G5 Pro
The G5 Pro is the most capable outdoor camera here. It has a 4 MP sensor with a bright f/1.0 lens for colour night vision, a built-in spotlight, a PIR motion sensor and an IP65 rating for walls and driveways. It also records locally to built-in storage, so you have a copy even if your internet goes down.
For Apple Home it supports HomeKit Secure Video. Keep in mind that HomeKit Secure Video records in up to 1080p, so the full 4 MP image is only available in the Aqara app and local recordings. As a bonus, Aqara says the G5 Pro also works as a Zigbee hub and Thread border router, which is handy if you add Aqara sensors outdoors or in a garage.
There are two versions. This one connects over 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi and is powered by USB-C. If you can run a network cable, the PoE version (Aqara Camera G5 Pro PoE) takes power and data over one cable, which is more reliable for a camera far from your router. What it needs: a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub and an iCloud+ plan for HomeKit Secure Video recordings.
Best value: Aqara Camera G100
The G100 is the easiest way to try HomeKit Secure Video without spending much. It's a small 2K camera with a 140° field of view, a spotlight and infrared night vision, two-way audio and an IP65 rating, so you can use it inside or on a covered porch or balcony.
It's wired, not battery-powered: it runs on USB-C power and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Besides HomeKit Secure Video, it records to a microSD card and supports NAS storage, and it also works with Alexa and Google Home. It isn't a Matter device, which doesn't matter for Apple Home because it joins through HomeKit. What it needs: a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub and an iCloud+ plan to record in the Home app.
Best floodlight: Eve Outdoor Cam
The Eve Outdoor Cam replaces an existing outdoor wall light with a camera and a dimmable motion floodlight in one. Like the Eve Cam, it's HomeKit Secure Video only, with no Eve cloud. It records in Full HD with a 157° field of view, has infrared night vision and two-way audio, and is rated IP55.
This one needs more planning than the others. It's hardwired to mains power, so it needs a wall light connection with neutral and earth wires, and in most countries that's a job for an electrician. It only uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so check the signal where you mount it. And as always, it needs a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub and iCloud+ to record. If you already have a light by your front door or garden, it's the neatest result you can get.
Best wired outdoor camera: INSTAR IN-9808 4K
INSTAR is a German maker of network cameras, and the IN-9808 4K is aimed at people who want a proper wired camera that still works in Apple Home. It connects over LAN, Wi-Fi or PoE, has a PIR sensor, infrared night vision, an on-board AI for person, vehicle and animal detection and an IP66 rating.
INSTAR added HomeKit Secure Video support in a firmware update. It's also very open: RTSP, ONVIF and MQTT let you use it with a NAS, a video recorder or Home Assistant at the same time, and it can record locally to a memory card, a NAS or FTP. INSTAR's optional cloud is hosted on German servers. Update the firmware before you add it to the Home app, and expect a more technical setup than with Eve or Aqara. In Apple Home it needs a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub and iCloud+, like every camera here.
Best for local storage: Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera
The French company Netatmo has sold this indoor camera (originally called Welcome) for years, and it's still one of the best choices if you don't want any subscription. It records Full HD video to a microSD card in the camera, with optional backup to your own Dropbox or FTP server, and the Netatmo app is free. It's known for recognising familiar faces and telling you who has come home.
It supports HomeKit Secure Video, so you can use it in the Home app with a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub and iCloud+ for recordings, while keeping Netatmo's local recording as a backup. Make sure you buy the right model: Netatmo's newer Smart Indoor Camera Advance doesn't support HomeKit Secure Video.
Best pan and tilt: eufy Indoor Cam E30
If you want one camera to cover a whole room, the E30 pans and tilts for 360° coverage and records in 4K in the eufy app, with AI detection and local storage. It supports HomeKit Secure Video and can be added straight to the Home app.
Two things to know. In Apple Home the video is limited to 1080p, as with every HomeKit Secure Video camera. And eufy says you can't use HomeKit and its HomeBase 3 with the camera at the same time, so choose one or the other. For Apple Home you need a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub and iCloud+ to record.
Also worth a look: Aqara Camera Hub G3
The G3 is an older but still interesting pan-and-tilt indoor camera from Aqara. It records in 2K, supports HomeKit Secure Video, and adds face and hand gesture detection in the Aqara app. It's also a Zigbee hub for Aqara sensors, so it can replace a separate hub if you're starting an Aqara setup. As with the others, it needs a HomePod or Apple TV as home hub and iCloud+ to record in the Home app.
What to know before you buy
HomeKit Secure Video needs a home hub and iCloud+
Every camera here needs a home hub, which is a HomePod (including HomePod mini) or an Apple TV, to analyse video and send notifications. To record, you also need an iCloud+ plan. The 50 GB plan covers one camera, 200 GB covers up to five and 2 TB or more covers an unlimited number. Recordings are kept for 10 days and don't count towards your iCloud storage. Without iCloud+, you can still watch live and get notifications, but nothing is recorded.
Matter cameras don't work in Apple Home yet
Matter 1.5 added cameras in November 2025, and some new cameras now advertise Matter. But Apple's list of supported Matter accessories doesn't include cameras yet, so for now a camera only works properly in the Home app through HomeKit. That's why every pick in this guide uses HomeKit Secure Video. If a camera mentions Matter but not HomeKit, it won't show up as a camera in Apple Home today.
4K cameras record in 1080p in Apple Home
HomeKit Secure Video records in up to 1080p. A 4K camera like the INSTAR IN-9808 or eufy E30 still has a sharper image in its own app and in local recordings, but the clips in your iCloud will be Full HD.
Wi-Fi, PoE or mains power
Most indoor cameras just plug into a USB adapter and connect over Wi-Fi. Outdoors, think about power and signal first. A PoE camera such as the INSTAR or the G5 Pro PoE gets power and data over one network cable, which is the most reliable choice. Floodlight cameras like the Eve Outdoor Cam are wired to mains power and usually need an electrician. Battery cameras that support HomeKit Secure Video on their own are rare, so every pick here runs on a cable.
Privacy and the law in Europe
HomeKit Secure Video is end-to-end encrypted, so neither Apple nor the camera maker can view your recordings. If your camera can see a public street or a neighbour's property, GDPR and national rules may apply, and in several countries filming public space is restricted. Point outdoor cameras at your own property and use privacy zones where the app offers them.
Side by side
| Product | Brand | HomeKit / Matter | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eve Cam (Apple Home) - Smart Indoor Camera
|
Eve | HomeKit Camera Indoor camera Apple HomeKit Secure Video | €101.97 |
Aqara G5 Pro Outdoor Surveillance Camera
|
Aqara | HomeKit Zigbee Matter Camera | €169.99 |
|
Aqara G100 2K Home Kit Secure Video Surveillance Camera
|
Aqara | HomeKit Camera Indoor camera Wifi | €35.99 |
|
Eve Outdoor Cam - Smart Surveillance Camera
|
Eve | HomeKit Camera Outdoor camera Apple HomeKit Secure Video | Check the price on Amazon |
|
INSTAR IN-9808 4K Outdoor Surveillance Camera
|
INSTAR | HomeKit Camera Wifi Outdoor camera | €265.00 |
|
Netatmo Smart Indoor Security Camera
|
Netatmo | HomeKit Camera Indoor camera Wifi | €209.91 |
eufy Anker eufy Indoor Camera E30
|
eufy | HomeKit Camera Indoor camera Wifi | €69.99 |
Aqara 2K Surveillance Camera Hub G3
|
Aqara | HomeKit Camera Indoor camera 2.4 GHz | €86.99 |
Our verdict
For indoors, the Eve Cam is the most private, most Apple-like camera you can buy: no account, no extra cloud, just HomeKit Secure Video. Outdoors, the Aqara G5 Pro gives you the best image, local storage and a Zigbee and Thread hub in one, and the PoE version is our choice if you can run a cable. On a budget, the Aqara G100 does the essentials for much less. Choose the Eve Outdoor Cam to replace an outdoor light, the INSTAR IN-9808 if you want a German-made wired camera that also works with a NAS, and the Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera if you want local recording with no subscription. Whichever you choose, budget for a HomePod or Apple TV and an iCloud+ plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a HomePod or Apple TV for HomeKit Secure Video?
Yes. HomeKit Secure Video needs a home hub, which is a HomePod (including HomePod mini) or an Apple TV. The hub analyses the video at home to detect people, animals, vehicles and packages, and sends you notifications. Without a home hub, HomeKit Secure Video doesn't work.
Which iCloud+ plan do I need for my cameras?
The 50 GB iCloud+ plan supports one HomeKit Secure Video camera, the 200 GB plan up to five cameras, and the 2 TB plan or higher an unlimited number. Recordings are kept for 10 days and don't use your iCloud storage. Without iCloud+, you can still watch live video and get notifications, but the camera won't record.
Do Matter cameras work with Apple Home?
Not yet. Matter added support for cameras in November 2025, but the Apple Home app doesn't support Matter cameras so far. Cameras work in Apple Home through HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video, which is why every camera in this guide uses HomeKit.
Can a 4K camera record in 4K in Apple Home?
No. HomeKit Secure Video records in up to 1080p, so a 4K camera like the INSTAR IN-9808 or eufy Indoor Cam E30 is limited to Full HD in the Home app. You still get the full resolution in the manufacturer's app and in local recordings.
Can I record locally instead of in iCloud?
With some cameras, yes. The Netatmo Smart Indoor Camera records to a microSD card, the Aqara G100 to a microSD card or NAS, the Aqara G5 Pro to built-in storage, and the INSTAR IN-9808 to a memory card, NAS or FTP, all in addition to HomeKit Secure Video. The Eve Cam and Eve Outdoor Cam only record through HomeKit Secure Video in iCloud.
Is HomeKit Secure Video private?
It's one of the most private options. Your home hub analyses the video locally, and recordings are end-to-end encrypted in your iCloud, so neither Apple nor the camera maker can view them. In Europe, also make sure outdoor cameras only film your own property, as GDPR and national rules may apply to public spaces.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links.