No matter what, the best security camera system will give you peace of mind. Though not the perfect protection, it can serve as an excellent deterrent from burglars and intruders. Protecting your family and property is essential, no question about that. That’s why you’re here to compare Reolink vs. Swann cameras, is that right?
Well, you are on the right page. Let’s delve into that.
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Introducing Reolink
Reolink is one of the most popular home security cameras specializing in camera systems. The company feature first-class indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras for home and office use. Theirs are a collection of cameras that are easy to install, designed to be plug and play, and pre-configured. With Reolink, your security camera has everything you look for in terms of convenience.
Introducing Swann
When it comes to security cameras, Swann knows a thing or two. After all, it has been a provider of not only security cameras, but also digital video recorder systems, sensors, and other home security accessories. With more than 30 years of experience under its belt, you can trust it when it comes to protecting homes and business premises.
In this post, we will see which one between these two is a better option for you.
Reolink vs. Swann Cameras – A Comparison
Reolink and Swann have almost the same products and technical vision. That makes it challenging to pick between brands when looking for the security camera you need. It will be easier if you can get a better understanding of the two. Let’s do that by taking a closer look at the details of their security technology.
Quality
In terms of quality, both Reolink and Swann develop quality products. Their security cameras are all up to industry standards. If you are comparing years of experience, Swann has been producing home security products for around three decades. Meanwhile, Reolink has been in the industry for at least a decade. In that case, you can trust that Swann definitely knows what monitoring their customers need.
Both Reolink and Swann’s expertise is in home security, but Reolink also offers office cameras. Swann is especially adept at developing Do-It-Yourself security devices. Their products include home surveillance equipment, wireless and IP cameras, doorbells, CCTV recording cameras and systems, alarms, and the SwannOne home automation solution. The overall quality of their cameras is excellent, but it is not on par with professional ones. It’s because their focus is developing accessible security camera systems.
There are numerous cameras you can purchase under Reolink. The two most prominent are Argus 2 and Argus Eco, which both run on Wi-Fi, wireless, and work indoors or outdoors. The home security camera the company offers are well-rounded, versatile, and comes with several decent features. Although the company is young, it has excellent options for fully-featured smart home and office camera solutions.
Features
Comparing Reolink vs. Swann cameras through feature, you’ll see that Reolink does not quite offer features that hardcore techies will like. Among the notable features of Reolink cameras are wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi connection, and IP65 weatherproof casing. There’s also the 130-degree viewing angle, PIR motion sensor, and night vision.
Their cameras also have a two-way audio system. Their smart home cameras also offer a full 1080p HD resolution. Along with that, there are the 2T2R MIMO antennas for a consistently strong signal, supported by 2.4/5GHz dual-band connection. Reolink’s RLK series promise 1080p to 1440p HD resolution.
They also have the Reolink 4K NVR security cameras. On the other hand, Swann features 720p and 1080p HD video along with 2K and 4K. Both Reolink and Swann have night vision, but Swann’s is powerful and up to 100ft or 30m. Their HD night cameras are also similar to Night Owl, plus 1TB storage, and supports external hard drive.
Swann has a bit of edge compared to Reolink, but both are moving along with the latest technologies. With that, your choice of a camera, in terms of features, has more to do with what you need. On that note, it is best to look into the products they offer and check each of their features to see what suits your requirements.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, Reolink and Swann tie – both brands focus on DIY security systems. Because of that, most of their security systems do not need professional assistance in terms of setup and installation. Reolink especially believes in the benefits of a DIY installation.
For that reason, you can generally install their camera systems even without technical skills. But because it is a DIY system, you will be the one to handle the monitoring of the camera feed. But that means you don’t have to worry about monthly fees and contracts. You can monitor your home yourself thanks to the accompanying Smartphone app.
While most Swann cameras are DIY, they also have hardwired models. These are more complicated to install, especially for beginners. If you haven’t done any DIY work on home security systems, it is best to hire an expert. Or, you can opt for the models that are easier to install.
Professional Monitoring
Professional monitoring can be useful in some ways. Having a team of people from a security technologies company to monitor your surveillance system means you can relax a bit. Even when you go on a vacation, there will be someone to respond to the alarm at your home. If someone breaks into your house, they can alert the authorities on your behalf.
Sadly, both Reolink and Swann don’t offer professional monitoring. What they provide is equipment, so that means you will be the one to deal if an intrusion happens. Because of this, you might want to look at other companies if you need 24/7 professional monitoring. The benefit of not having this feature, though, is you can save from unnecessary expenses.
There is, on the other hand, the option for cloud storage. With Swann, you can choose the basic local storage of 7 days. It allows you to safeguard hundreds of video clips for that duration. There is also the other plan with ongoing support. If you want that one, you will need to upgrade to the ExtraSafe cloud storage plan.
With Reolink, you can also have a cloud storage plan. It allows you to save your videos for over seven days. If you choose to have this feature, you need to pay monthly fees. The plans include a Basic, Standard Premier, and Business plan. They each have excellent benefits for keeping your security videos.
- Basic Plan
- $0/month
- 7 days of video
- For a single camera
- 1 GB cloud storage
- Standard Plan
- $3.49/month
- 30-day cloud storage
- For 5 cameras
- 10GB cloud storage
- Premier Plan
- $6.99/month
- 30-day cloud video history
- For 10 cameras
- 40GB cloud storage
- Business Plan
- $10.49/month
- 60-day cloud video history
- For 30 cameras
- 100GB cloud storage
Remote Access
Both Reolink and Swann have excellent remote access enabled by an in-house mobile app. As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection and have the app installed on your phone, you can stream the recordings of the camera anywhere you are. Reolink boasts of seamless communication and full Smartphone support.
Reolink cameras will contact you for several reasons – low battery, senses burglar, etc. It will send you notifications to keep you informed of what is happening at your home or office. You can also stream the live footage either from the NVR on your phone or a desktop PC.
Swann’s SAFE app is also mostly the same. It will let you receive motion-based alerts, which you can open on your phone to stream live footage. Since their cameras mostly have two-way talk, you can also speak to visitors directly via the cam. The main difference between the two is the features you can access on the app.
Customer Support
Swann offers a few ways of reaching their service team if you encounter problems during installation or everyday use. As you know, it is best to speak with a real human when you have issues regarding technical matters. Thankfully, Swann has 24/7 phone support. You can contact them at 1-800-627-2799 if you are in the U.S. or Canada.
Besides live support, you can also contact an agent through the live chat on their website. Their email support is available, as well. Swann’s customer support was good – the staff was professional and friendly – but it wasn’t great. The long wait times are one of the things consumers often complain about, among other narratives.
As for Reolink, they also have excellent customer service. Their website is highly informative, even with technical information. The FAQ is detailed with lots of solutions to problems you may encounter. You can contact their customer support number (818) 697 – 9822, but they encourage submitting a ticket when contacting their helpdesk.
If you want, you can check this comparison of Reolink 4K NVR vs. Swann 4K NVR security cameras to know more about both brands.
Conclusion
In comparing Reolink vs. Swann cameras, you can see that there is not much difference between the two. The difference is mainly on the features they offer. Still, you can rest assured that both brands offer the standard home security benefits. Whether to choose one over the other, it’s best to start by thinking about what you need.
References:
- Swann Security Camera Review, Travis Goodreau, Andrew Garcia, Safehome.org, June 4, 2020
- Reolink Review, Travis Goodreau, James Fraze, Safehome.org, September 4, 2020
