Quick Answer: Choose Tapo if you want the cheapest possible cameras with zero extra hardware — the Tapo C100 runs about $20-25, per TP-Link, and every model is fully self-contained. Choose eufy if you’re building a multi-camera system: the HomeBase 3 hub pools storage across every camera, expands to 16TB, and runs on-device AI face recognition for free, according to eufy. Both record locally with no mandatory monthly fee — optional cloud backup runs about $3.49/month per camera (Tapo’s TapoCare) or $2.99/month per camera (eufy’s cloud plan).
Tapo and eufy both built their reputations on the same pitch: skip the subscription Ring and Arlo require, and keep your footage on your own hardware. Where they split is architecture. Tapo keeps every camera independent — cheap, simple, one microSD card each. eufy offers that same standalone option (SoloCam) but also a hub-based tier (eufyCam) that turns a pile of separate cameras into one coordinated system with shared storage and free local AI. Here’s how the two actually compare.
Tapo vs eufy: at a glance
| Factor | Tapo | eufy |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest camera | ~$20-25 (C100, 1080p) | ~$42.99 (Indoor Cam 2K) |
| Flagship camera | ~$119.99 (C425 MagCam) | ~$220 add-on / ~$550 2-cam kit (eufyCam S3 Pro) |
| Max resolution | 2K QHD | 4K (eufyCam S3 Pro, Indoor Cam S350) |
| Storage architecture | Per-camera microSD only, up to 512GB | Standalone (SoloCam) or hub-pooled up to 16TB (eufyCam + HomeBase) |
| Local AI detection | Basic on-device human/motion detection | On-device AI face recognition (with HomeBase), no fee |
| Monthly fee | None required; TapoCare ~$3.49/mo optional | None required; cloud plan ~$2.99/mo optional |
| Apple HomeKit | Yes (C225, ~$34.99) | Yes (S3 Pro, Indoor Cam S350 — higher tier) |
| Privacy track record | No major publicized incident | 2022 cloud-thumbnail disclosure issue (since fixed/encrypted) |
Tapo vs eufy by the numbers
- $20-25 vs $42.99: per TP-Link, Tapo’s cheapest camera (the C100) undercuts eufy’s cheapest standalone model (the Indoor Cam 2K) by roughly half — Tapo is the clear starting-price winner.
- Up to 512GB vs up to 16TB: each Tapo camera caps out at a 512GB microSD card per TP-Link, while a eufy HomeBase 3 pools storage across every connected camera up to 16TB according to eufy — a 30x-plus ceiling if you’re running more than one or two cameras.
- $3.49/mo vs $2.99/mo: TapoCare cloud backup runs about $3.49/month per camera per TP-Link, while eufy’s cloud plan runs about $2.99/month per camera (or $9.99/month for up to 10 cameras) per eufy — both optional, and eufy’s is slightly cheaper per camera at scale.
Price: Tapo wins on entry cost
If the goal is the cheapest working camera today, Tapo takes it. Per TP-Link, the Tapo C100 lists around $20-25, and the wired Tapo C120 runs about $39.99 — both undercut eufy’s cheapest model, the eufy Indoor Cam 2K, at roughly $42.99. Even eufy’s budget wire-free pick, the eufy SoloCam S40, lands around $100 — more than double Tapo’s cheapest wire-free option. Stack the flagships and the gap holds: the Tapo C425 MagCam runs about $119.99, versus roughly $220 as an add-on (or ~$550 for a 2-camera kit with HomeBase) for the eufyCam S3 Pro.
Building out a system on either brand? A free 30-day Prime trial covers fast free shipping on both Tapo and eufy hardware, which helps if you’re ordering more than one camera at a time.
Winner: Tapo.
Storage architecture: eufy wins for multi-camera systems
This is where the two brands genuinely diverge. Every Tapo camera is an island: it records to its own microSD card, up to 512GB, with no way to pool footage or AI across multiple units. eufy offers that same simplicity with its SoloCam line, but also a second tier: eufyCam models connect to a HomeBase 3 hub that centralizes storage for every camera on the system, expands up to 16TB, and runs on-device AI face recognition across the whole property — all without a subscription, according to eufy. For one camera watching a front door, Tapo’s per-camera microSD is plenty. For a property with four or five cameras where you want one place to review footage and AI that recognizes recurring faces without a monthly fee, eufy’s hub architecture does something Tapo’s standalone design simply can’t.
Winner: eufy.
Smart home fit: HomeKit on both, cheaper on Tapo
Both brands support Apple HomeKit, just at different price points. According to TP-Link, the Tapo C225 indoor pan/tilt camera supports HomeKit directly for about $34.99 — no hub required. According to eufy, HomeKit Secure Video support lives on the eufyCam S3 Pro and Indoor Cam S350, both higher up eufy’s lineup and typically paired with a HomeBase for full functionality. If the goal is the cheapest possible camera that shows up in Apple Home, Tapo’s C225 is the more affordable path; if you already want a HomeBase-based eufy system, HomeKit comes along with the premium models you’d likely buy anyway.
Winner: Tapo (cheaper route); tie in capability.
Privacy track record: a real but resolved ding for eufy
Worth knowing before you buy: in late 2022, security researchers found that eufy cameras were uploading notification thumbnails to the cloud even when users had selected local-only storage, without clearly disclosing that behavior. Anker, eufy’s parent company, responded that the thumbnails were server-side encrypted and auto-deleted, apologized for the unclear disclosure, and updated its app and documentation. Tapo has no comparable publicized incident. It’s not a reason to rule eufy out — the issue was addressed and eufy’s core local-storage promise hasn’t been repeated since — but it’s a legitimate factor if cloud-adjacent trust is part of your decision.
Winner: Tapo (track record); eufy (unaffected core functionality since the fix).
Which should you buy?
- Choose Tapo if you want the cheapest possible cameras, a fully self-contained setup with no hub to buy, or an affordable route into Apple HomeKit. Start with the Tapo C100 at ~$20-25.
- Choose eufy if you’re building a multi-camera system and want centralized storage plus free on-device AI face recognition. The eufyCam S3 Pro with a HomeBase 3 is the flagship pick; the SoloCam S340 is the hub-free middle ground.
- Mix both if you want cheap Tapo cameras covering low-stakes indoor spots and a eufy HomeBase system anchoring the perimeter — both record locally with no required subscription, so running two apps is the only real overhead.
The bottom line
Tapo wins on price and simplicity: a ~$20-25 entry camera and zero extra hardware to buy. eufy wins on scale: a HomeBase that pools storage up to 16TB and runs free on-device AI face recognition across every camera on the system. Both skip the mandatory subscription entirely, which is the real reason either belongs on a shortlist next to Ring or Arlo. Still comparing no-fee budget brands? Our Tapo vs Wyze and eufy vs Wyze breakdowns add a third contender. Set on Tapo? Our best Tapo camera roundup ranks the full lineup. Leaning eufy? Our best eufy camera roundup picks the right model for every spot.