Illustrative image, not evidence of a product test.
Eufy vs Reolink (2026) — Best No-Subscription Cameras
Short answer: choose Reolink if you want wired PoE cameras, a hardware NVR, or an officially documented local path into Home Assistant, Synology or Blue Iris. Choose Eufy if you want wire-free battery or solar cameras and an app-first, single-vendor system. Both record locally without a subscription, and both sell optional cloud plans.
This is a research-based comparison built from manufacturer documentation, not a HomeTechTested image-quality, battery-life or detection test. Protocol support, hubs and storage differ per model, not per brand, so most of this page is a per-model matrix. For a three-way view that includes Wyze, see Reolink vs Eufy vs Wyze.
Four things that decide it
- Does the camera need a bridge? The eufyCam S330 works only with a HomeBase, and Eufy’s support FAQ says HomeBase 3 connects to your router by Ethernet. SoloCam S340 and Indoor Cam S350 do not need one. Reolink PoE and plug-in Wi-Fi cameras are standalone; Reolink battery cameras need a Home Hub or NVR before they expose RTSP or ONVIF.
- Which protocols does your exact model expose? Reolink’s protocol support table lists CGI/RTSP/ONVIF as standalone on RLC-series PoE and plug-in cameras, but only through a Home Hub or NVR on battery models and a few others (E1, E320/E321). Eufy’s eufyCam 3 FAQ states it has no plans for ONVIF.
- Local device or account device? Home Assistant’s Reolink documentation warns that newer Reolink devices can be set up as cloud-account devices, which do not allow the local login the integration needs. Add them as local devices.
- Recording mode. Eufy’s FAQ says the eufyCam 3 system does not support 24/7 recording. Reolink lists 24/7 recording on its wired RLC models.
Platform comparison (decision criteria)
| Criterion | Eufy | Reolink |
|---|---|---|
| Hub or bridge | eufyCam S330 requires HomeBase S380. SoloCam S340 and Indoor Cam S350 work without one | PoE and plug-in cameras are standalone. Battery cameras need Home Hub or NVR for RTSP/ONVIF/Home Assistant |
| Local storage | HomeBase S380: 16 GB built in, SATA drive up to 16 TB. S340: 8 GB on camera. S350: microSD up to 128 GB | microSD 256 GB or 512 GB by model, NVR, or Home Hub (two microSD slots, up to 1 TB each) |
| Third-party recording | RTSP/NAS menu on eufyCam; the storage table lists no NAS option for SoloCam S340 | RTSP and ONVIF on PoE and plug-in models; NVRs list ONVIF |
| ONVIF | Eufy states no plans for eufyCam 3/3C | Yes on the models in Reolink’s table above |
| Home Assistant | No official integration; community projects only | Core integration, “Platinum” quality scale, authorised by Reolink |
| Voice / HomeKit | S330: Alexa and Google Assistant, not HomeKit. HomeKit only on specific models (see below) | Google Assistant and/or Alexa, model-dependent. No HomeKit listed on the product pages reviewed |
| AI detection | Eufy describes S340 AI as on-device and positions HomeBase 3 as the local AI hub | Person/vehicle/pet detection listed in on-camera specs |
| Optional cloud (US) | Basic $3.99/mo or $39.99/yr for 1 device; Plus $13.99/mo or $139.99/yr for all devices; 30-day history | Selected countries only; check the app. Reolink lists a Standard plan at $6.99/mo for up to 5 cameras on its compatible list |
| Warranty (US) | Security camera and HomeBase: 12 months per Eufy’s policy page | 2-year limited warranty on the product pages checked |
Eufy models: storage, protocols, ecosystem
| Model | Power | Local storage | NAS / RTSP | Voice / HomeKit | US price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eufyCam S330 (eufyCam 3) | Battery with integrated solar panel; Eufy lists “365 days basic” battery life | Via HomeBase S380 (see below) | RTSP/NAS listed for eufyCam; no ONVIF | Alexa, Google; not HomeKit | $219.99 add-on; $549.99 2-cam kit (check contents); HomeBase S380 $199.99 alone |
| SoloCam S340 | Battery; Eufy lists 3 months standalone (300 s of recording per day) plus a removable 2.2 W solar panel | 8 GB built in | Storage table: no NAS, no cloud backup | Alexa, Google | $219.99 |
| Indoor Cam S350 | USB-C plug-in, no battery | microSD up to 128 GB, HomeBase, or cloud | Not confirmed for this model | Eufy says no HomeKit or Google Home | $139.99 |
| Video Doorbell E340 | Spec page lists doorbell wiring or an adapter; Eufy also sells battery packs, so confirm your SKU | Spec page lists 8 GB on the doorbell | Not listed | HomeKit: no | Check current price |
*US eufy.com listings, 22 Oct 2026. The pages do not separate list from sale prices, so treat these as a snapshot.
HomeBase S380 storage. Eufy says the built-in 16 GB holds about 2 months for one camera or 1 month for two (30 motion events a day at 60 seconds each) and that system data uses about 20% of it. It accepts a 5 V 2.5-inch SATA drive up to 16 TB; 12 V drives are not supported.
HomeKit. Eufy’s HomeKit page lists eufyCam S3 Pro, Indoor Cam E30, Indoor Cam 2K, Indoor Cam Pan & Tilt 2K, and eufyCam 2/2 Pro/2C/2C Pro on HomeBase 2. It does not list the S330, S340, S350 or E340.
Reolink models: storage, protocols, ecosystem
| Model | Power | Local storage | RTSP / ONVIF | Home Assistant | US price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RLC-810A (4K) | PoE | microSD up to 512 GB, NVR | RTSP/RTMP in spec; ONVIF per Reolink’s RLC-series table | Tested, direct | From $84.99 |
| RLC-823A (4K PTZ, 5× zoom) | PoE (802.3at) | microSD up to 256 GB, NVR | RTSP/RTMP in spec; ONVIF per table | Tested, direct | Check current price |
| Argus 4 Pro | 5,000 mAh battery; solar panel supported | microSD up to 512 GB, Home Hub | RTSP only via Home Hub, per Reolink’s FAQ | Via Home Hub/NVR | $179.99 with solar panel |
| E1 Zoom (indoor) | Plug-in Wi-Fi | microSD up to 512 GB | ONVIF and RTSP in spec | Tested, direct | $93.49 |
| Video Doorbell PoE | PoE | microSD up to 256 GB, NVR | ONVIF and RTSP in spec | Tested, direct | $119.99 |
| RLN8-410 NVR | 8 PoE ports, expandable to 12 channels on some hardware versions | Up to 16 TB | ONVIF listed | Tested | $314.99 with 2 TB drive |
| Home Hub | Mains | Two microSD slots, up to 1 TB each; up to 8 cameras | RTSP/RTMP | Tested | $134.99 |
*Default variant on the US reolink.com page, 22 Oct 2026; sale pricing is not distinguishable. The RLN16-410 (16 PoE ports, same 16 TB maximum) is the larger NVR.
Battery vs wired
- Wired (PoE). One cable carries power and data, and Reolink’s PoE models are the ones Reolink lists as standalone for RTSP/ONVIF. The cost is running Ethernet. Eufy’s FAQ says the eufyCam 3 system does not support PoE; Eufy’s warranty page does list a separate PoE camera and NVR line, which this page does not evaluate.
- Battery or solar. Easier to place, but battery life depends on settings and recording volume; the figures above are manufacturer ratings, not our measurements. Reolink’s Argus 4 Pro needs a Home Hub or NVR to reach third-party software, and Home Assistant warns that streaming a battery camera constantly keeps it awake and drains the battery.
- Wi-Fi band. Eufy lists the SoloCam S340 as 2.4 GHz only.
Home Assistant, ONVIF and NAS
Reolink. Home Assistant’s documentation describes the integration as officially authorised by Reolink, with local push updates, and says devices keep working with internet access blocked. RLC-810A, RLC-823A, E1 Zoom, the PoE doorbell and the RLN8-410/RLN16-410 are listed as tested for direct connection. Battery models such as the Argus 4 Pro work through a Home Hub or NVR, and only specific NVR hardware versions are listed for that. Documented limits: no two-way audio or text-to-speech through the integration, and 4K H.265 streams may not play in every browser. Reolink documents RTSP use with VLC, Blue Iris, Synology Surveillance Station and QNAP. Our Reolink Home Assistant setup guide covers configuration.
Eufy. There is no official Home Assistant integration; Eufy’s (undated) eufyCam 3 FAQ states no plans for Home Assistant or ONVIF. The community route has been unstable: the hassio-eufy-security-ws repository was archived on 12 Sep 2026 with a deprecation notice, and the HACS integration’s README says it will not be updated and points to a new alpha implementation. The replacement was not assessed. For recording, Eufy’s NAS/RTSP guide lists a forced 1080p H.264 stream, up to 4 concurrent clients, event-mode streams only while an event is active, and playback inside the NAS application rather than the Eufy app. Eufy verifies Synology; other brands are left to you.
What still needs the internet or an account
- Eufy: setup and remote access go through the eufy Security app, and Eufy’s FAQ says remote playback needs your phone and system to have internet access. Push notifications with thumbnails require thumbnail images to be stored temporarily in the cloud, per Eufy’s S330 footnote. Cloud Backup is optional.
- Reolink: the app is the normal setup path; a local-device login (not an account device) is needed for Home Assistant. Once set up, Home Assistant says the integration and Reolink app keep working with internet access blocked. Reolink Cloud is optional and limited to selected countries.
- Privacy history: in late 2022 researchers reported that Eufy notification thumbnails were stored on cloud servers despite “no clouds” marketing. Ars Technica reported that Eufy acknowledged using cloud servers for thumbnails, said no user data had been exposed, and disabled viewing livestreams when not logged in to its portal. Neither brand’s wider vulnerability history was reviewed here; check each vendor’s firmware update record before relying on remote access.
Who should choose which
Eufy suits renters and wire-free installs, people who want a bundled hub and one app, and Alexa or Google voice control. Budget for the HomeBase: the S330 is not usable without it.
Reolink suits permanent PoE installs, multi-camera NVR recording, NAS or Blue Iris users, and Home Assistant users who want a documented integration. Expect to run cable and to set up the NVR or Home Hub yourself.
Both brands together is workable: they use separate apps, and Home Assistant is one way to unify them. For related guides see the video doorbell guide, security systems without monthly fees, NVR systems, the smart home ecosystem guide and the 5-year cost comparison.
FAQ
Do Eufy cameras work without any cloud?
Recording does not need a subscription: Eufy says footage is saved to HomeBase storage and Cloud Backup is optional. Remote access and thumbnail notifications still involve Eufy’s services, as above. Reolink PoE cameras can be used purely on a local network, with the app or Home Assistant.
Can I mix Eufy and Reolink cameras?
Yes, with separate apps. Home Assistant is one way to bring both into a dashboard, though the Eufy side depends on community software.
How much storage do I need?
It depends on resolution, bitrate and recording mode. As a reference point, Reolink’s RLC-810A page lists about 97 hours of recording on a 256 GB card. Eufy’s HomeBase estimate is above. Size an NVR drive from your own camera bitrates.
Are local-storage cameras less secure than cloud cameras?
They shift the risk rather than remove it. Local recordings avoid a vendor cloud, but a stolen NVR or HomeBase takes the footage with it, and remote access still depends on vendor firmware and accounts.
How this was researched
Checked on 22 Oct 2026 against Eufy and Reolink product pages, support articles and policy pages, Home Assistant’s Reolink documentation, and Ars Technica for the 2022 Eufy episode. Prices are US store listings and not a recommendation; regional features, cloud availability and warranty differ in the UK and EU. See how we compare products.