Which Cellular Trail Camera Is Best?

Cellular trail cameras send photos and videos to your smartphone or email, allowing nearly real-time access to scouting information and eliminating the disturbance caused by having to manually check cameras. By studying photos and videos, hunters can get a good idea of what animals are on the landscape and better determine the location of game, including patterning specific animals as they move between bedding and feeding areas. Additionally, cellular trail cameras are incredible tools for monitoring remote properties and keeping an eye on food plots. Initially, cellular trail cameras were prohibitively expensive, but now numerous models are available for under $150.

Top-Rated Cellular Trail Cameras Ranked by Score

1. GardePro X66 Pro – Score: 79/100. A 4G LTE cellular trail camera designed for remote photo and video monitoring through the GardePro mobile app. It uses a pre-installed cellular SIM card and works through the GardePro data plan system. The camera supports AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
2. Tactacam Reveal X-Pro 3.0 Ultra – Score: 74/100. The most advanced model in the Reveal 3.0 series. All three Reveal 3.0 models share similar core features, but the Ultra adds additional functions beyond the Pro and X versions.
3. GardePro X60 Pro Max – Score: 74/100. A 4G cellular trail camera capable of capturing 48MP still images and 1296p or 1080p HD video with sound. It has a 0.1-second trigger speed and a 90-ft detection range. The camera comes equipped with 36 no-glow 940nm infrared LEDs for nighttime illumination up to 100ft.
4. Camojojo Trace – Score: 71/100. Features 3K resolution photos and 1080p video with sound, a 0.2s trigger speed, 44 low-glow infrared LEDs for night vision, and an 80° detecting range.
5. Browning Defender Pro Scout Max Extreme HD – Score: 68/100. Equipped with dual carrier technology, offering pre-installed AT&T and Verizon SIM cards. Provides 22MP image resolution and supports 1080p video recording with sound. Features Radiant6 night illumination technology and GPS-tagged image functionality.
6. Browning Defender Vision Pro Live – Score: 67/100. A cellular trail camera that captures still images and video while providing live streaming via the Strike Force Wireless app. Operates on nationwide 4G LTE networks with included AT&T and Verizon SIM cards and supports both scheduled and on-demand uploads.
7. Tactacam Reveal X-Pro – Score: 66/100. A versatile tool for remote scouting and wildlife observation, especially well-suited for use in areas with limited access. Features a maximum resolution of up to 16MP for capturing still images.
8. Stealth Cam Spectre 4K Dual-Core Cellular – Score: 65/100. Captures still images up to 40 megapixels and records 4K video with audio. Uses dual image sensors, one optimized for daylight and one for nighttime operation. The manufacturer lists the camera with a 940nm no-glo LED array.

Key Feature Comparison of Popular Models

Tactacam Reveal (Price: $200)

Cell network LTE; up to 4K photo definition; flash range up to 96 feet; low-glow or no-glow flash settings; 16 GB of internal storage; SD card slot for optional additional storage; powered by 12 AA batteries; live video; on-demand photos; GPS. Pros: reliable, excellent customer service, good photo detail, customizable flash settings, no SD card required, innovative accessories available.

Moultrie Mobile (Price: $99)

Integrates with onX; 2-year warranty; 40 MP images; 1080p video; 100-foot advertised detection range; 0.5-second advertised trigger speed; low-glow flash; integrated GPS; connects to Moultrie feeders; allows you to select which types of pictures are sent. Pros: cameras are super affordable, powerful app with lots of features, user-friendly system.

Spartan (Price: $330; plans from $16 to $33 per month)

Live streaming up to 30 FPS; multi-carrier transmissions; 96-degree field of view; infrared flash; anti-theft GPS; uses micro SD cards; uses 12 AA batteries; 2-year warranty. Pros: triggered at all distances during the day and out to 60 feet at night, live function works with just a slight delay, easy to use and set up.

Wildgame Orbit 360 (Price: $150)

On-demand live video and photo; 6 capture zones; instant capture settings updates; internal storage; GPS enabled; 40 MP images; 1440p video; 100-foot advertised detection range; 0.4-second advertised trigger speed; low-glow flash. Pros: 360-degree capture zone, lots of customization options, ideal for when deer could come from any direction.

Spypoint Flex (Price: $120)

Free cell plan; 40 megapixels; 1080p video with sound; 0.3-second advertised trigger speed; two-year warranty; customizable flash (low glow or no glow); photo and video capture. Pros: free cell plan, good app with automatic species filters. In field testing, the Spypoint Flex was placed in an area with the least cell coverage in the test; with the ability to automatically choose the strongest cellular network, it still consistently sent photos. It also had almost no false triggers — almost every photo taken had an animal in it.

Cellular Plan Pricing by Brand

• Tactacam: Cheapest plan $5/month (250 photos per camera; $5 per additional cam). Most expensive plan $13/month (unlimited photos; $12 per additional cam).
• Spypoint: Cheapest plan $0 (100 photos per month; one camera per plan). Most expensive plan $15/month (unlimited photos; one camera per plan).
• Stealth Cam: Cheapest plan $5/month (600 photos per month; one camera per plan). Most expensive plan $20/month (unlimited photos and video; discounts for additional cameras).
• Moultrie Mobile: Cheapest plan $10/month (1,000 images and 10 videos each month). Most expensive plan $35/month (unlimited images and 50 videos; additional cameras are $8 per month).
• Reconyx: Cheapest plan $5/month (200 photos per month, per camera). Most expensive plan $20/month (unlimited images; one camera per plan).
• Spartan: Cheapest plan $16/month (up to 3 cams and 500 MB of data, approx 1,500 lo-res photos). Most expensive plan $33/month (up to 10 cameras and 2GB of data, 6,000 low-res photos).
• Bushnell: Cheapest plan $10/month (250 MB per month, approx 2,000 lo-res photos). Most expensive plan $20/month (1 GB per month, per camera).

Battery Life and Camera Settings

Battery life in a cellular trail camera depends on the type of batteries, the activity in the area, and the setting of the camera. For max battery life, go with lithium, select a lower megapixel image, and opt for more delay time between photos — video kills batteries more quickly. In an area with average deer activity, a cell camera will easily last an entire season or longer. Solar panels are also worth the investment with cellular cameras; one user reported 100% battery retention for 5 months with a solar panel attached.

Stealth Cam users have reported running cameras from August to January on the same set of batteries by setting two uploads per day at 8 AM and 8 PM and configuring the camera to take pictures at a fairly large interval to avoid rapid-fire triggering. With a Moultrie Edge, one user put a camera up in November and only replaced batteries the following season — the camera still had 30% battery remaining at that point.

Additional Cameras Worth Considering

The Stealth Cam Fusion Max 3.0 (cellular) is available at $119.95, with a 2-pack available at $199.95. The Stealth Cam Deceptor Max 3.0 (cellular) is priced at $119.99, with a 2-pack available at $229.95. The Stealth Cam Deceptor No-Glo has the best flash range of any no-glow camera in field testing. With the fastest trigger speeds and detection in backyard testing, the Deceptor No-Glo and Fusion-X Pro cameras captured animals the instant they stepped in front of the sensor.

The GardePro X50 cellular is a 4G LTE trail camera that operates on AT&T and T-mobile cellular networks and comes with a pre-installed SIM card. It can be remotely controlled and managed through the GardePro mobile app. The Browning Defender Ridgeline Pro boasts a 22-megapixel image resolution, cellular connectivity with pre-installed SIM cards for Verizon and AT&T, and night vision capability covering a 100-foot range with adjustable IR flash. The Cuddeback Link system allows you to have up to 24 cameras on a single data plan — the setup is more complicated, but cost savings are significant. With the addition of a solar panel, most trail cams can stay in the field nearly indefinitely.