Reolink security cameras
Hacker ApprovedThe most recommended of 4 security cameras
People recommend Reolink cameras for good video quality, PoE power, and local-only operation without a subscription. Common caveat: some models need the phone app and still ping the cloud.
People recommend Reolink cameras for good video quality, PoE power, and local-only operation without a subscription. Common caveat: some models need the phone app and still ping the cloud.
20 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 14
- criticize it
- 6
- approval share
- 70%
Recommended in 5 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 14 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 2.3 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 5 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Works with RTSP and open NVR software
“I've had some great success with Reolink. Decent video quality and the software is made with RTSP/RTMP support in mind”
Comment from 27 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: CheapSecurity – Lightweight, Self-Hosted CCTV for Linux SBCs” “They cost less, perform better, support open standards for video streaming”
Comment from 19 Mar 2026 in “Remove your ring camera with a claw hammer” “PoE Reolinks with Zoneminder on a atom based mini PC.”
Comment from 17 Apr 2026 in “Ask HN: What's your favorite security cam system?” - Comment from 13 Feb 2026 in “Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash”
Quick setup without networking expertise
“I never had to use a "network savvy person" to have people connect to their TP-Link or Reolink cameras at home.”
Comment from 13 Feb 2026 in “Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash” “it was still trivial to get working. Highly recommend it for everyone who wants a decent alternative.”
Comment from 13 Feb 2026 in “Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash” “Reolink cams, old desktop, and an hour of setup.”
Comment from 26 Jul 2026 in “My security camera shipped a GitHub admin token in its login page” Runs locally with no subscription
“The completely offline version has no privacy concerns, no cloud sync, no subscription.”
Comment from 14 Apr 2026 in “Ask HN: What's your favorite security cam system?” “don't give them access to the internet, you can run a local ntp server for time sync”
Comment from 21 Jul 2026 in “Motion Sensors and Home Security Gadgets Without Cameras” “I have a bunch now completely isolated from the internet and linked through HomeKit.”
Comment from 13 Feb 2026 in “Ring cancels its partnership with Flock Safety after surveillance backlash” Good video quality and PoE power
“I've had some great success with Reolink. Decent video quality and the software is made with RTSP/RTMP support in mind”
Comment from 27 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: CheapSecurity – Lightweight, Self-Hosted CCTV for Linux SBCs” “They cost less, perform better, support open standards for video streaming”
Comment from 19 Mar 2026 in “Remove your ring camera with a claw hammer” “am very satisfied (PoE, so no additional power supply issues)”
Comment from 19 Mar 2026 in “Remove your ring camera with a claw hammer”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Setup relies on phone app
“you can only install their web cameras via their phone app and only with the GPS turned on”
Comment from 3 Dec 2025 in “South Korea police say 120k home cameras hacked for 'sexploitation' footage” “I had to set up a phone app for two of them that didn't have an Ethernet connector.”
Comment from 7 Jun 2026 in “Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation” “Even some Reolink cameras can't be setup on their own.”
Comment from 7 Jun 2026 in “Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation” - Comment from 2 Jun 2026 in “A 10 year old Xeon is all you need (for 26B-A4B MTP Drafters without GPU)”
Other security cameras people recommend
The three most recommended other security cameras, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reolink security camerasThis page | 14 | 6 | 70% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Ring security cameras | 11 | 97 | 10% | 7 | — | — |
| Ubiquiti UniFi cameras | 8 | 3 | 73% | 4 | — | — |
| TP-Link Tapo C200 | 8 | 12 | 40% | 3 | — | — |
What people said
21 of the 22 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“I've had some great success with Reolink. Decent video quality and the software is made with RTSP/RTMP support in mind”
“Reolink cams, old desktop, and an hour of setup.”
“Between poor uptime, frequent need for power cycling, and inconsistent stream quality”
“don't give them access to the internet, you can run a local ntp server for time sync”
“if you buy a Reolink on Amazon expecting it to be able to recognise a face from 20 yards away, you'll be disappointed”
“I have rather a lot of Reolinks”
“I had to set up a phone app for two of them that didn't have an Ethernet connector.”
“Reolink has always been like that, but at least they aren't a random no-name brand that could disappear at any minute.”
“Even some Reolink cameras can't be setup on their own.”
“to get off of the Reolink app”
“PoE Reolinks with Zoneminder on a atom based mini PC.”
“The completely offline version has no privacy concerns, no cloud sync, no subscription.”
“With my Reolink system, I can watch them "play" (fight &/or sleep) on my deck.”
“They cost less, perform better, support open standards for video streaming”
“am very satisfied (PoE, so no additional power supply issues)”
“it was still trivial to get working. Highly recommend it for everyone who wants a decent alternative.”
“I never had to use a "network savvy person" to have people connect to their TP-Link or Reolink cameras at home.”
“I have a bunch now completely isolated from the internet and linked through HomeKit.”
“Reolink with Frigate NVR.”
“they still ping the cloud even if you choose not to use their cloud storage”
“you can only install their web cameras via their phone app and only with the GPS turned on”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.