A siren is one of the most effective deterrents a security camera setup can have. When motion triggers an alarm, most intruders leave immediately rather than waste time figuring out the source. Many cameras include a built-in siren — but plenty of popular models do not, and adding one after the fact is simpler than most people expect. This guide covers which cameras already have sirens built in, and two practical methods for adding one to any camera that does not.
Cameras That Already Have a Built-In Siren
Before adding external hardware, it is worth checking whether a camera upgrade might be the better path. Several current cameras include a siren as a standard feature (link to our review is included):
- Wyze Cam Floodlight Pro — 100dB siren, motion-triggered or manual
- Wyze Battery Cam Pro — built-in siren and spotlight, triggered via Wyze app rules
- eufy Floodlight Camera E340 — integrated siren, no subscription required
- eufy SoloCam S340 — built-in siren triggered by motion detection
- Arlo Pro 6 — integrated siren, activated manually or via automation
- Ring Stick Up Cam — built-in siren, controllable via Ring app
For buyers who have not yet purchased a camera, any of the above deliver siren capability without additional hardware or setup. If the camera is already owned and does not have a siren, the two methods below add one cleanly.
Method 1: Smart Plug and a Standalone Siren
The most flexible approach combines a Kasa Smart Plug with a standalone plug-in siren or strobe light. The smart plug connects to your home Wi-Fi, the siren plugs into the smart plug, and the camera’s motion detection triggers the plug to turn on via an automation rule. When motion is detected, the siren activates. When the event ends, the plug turns off and the siren resets.
The Kasa Smart Plug works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which means the automation can be set up through either platform’s app without any complex integration service. The basic flow in either app is: “When [camera] detects motion, turn on [smart plug].” Both platforms support this natively with no subscription required.
This method works with virtually any security camera that sends motion alerts — Nest Cam, Tapo, Wyze, Blink, and others. The siren itself is independent hardware that can be any plug-in alarm rated for your application. A plug-in siren in the 100-110dB range is loud enough to be audible from outside the home and disorienting enough to deter most intruders.
Manual control: The Kasa app also lets you turn the smart plug on and off manually from your phone — useful for testing the setup or triggering the alarm deliberately when you see something suspicious on live view.
Method 2: Dedicated Wi-Fi Siren
A dedicated Wi-Fi smart siren connects directly to your home network without a hub and integrates with Alexa or Google Home for automation. These devices are purpose-built for security applications — they typically offer multiple alarm tones, adjustable volume, and a strobe light option. Setup and automation follow the same pattern as the smart plug method: link the siren to your voice assistant platform and create a routine that triggers it when the camera detects motion.
The advantage of a dedicated siren over the smart plug approach is simplicity — one device instead of two, and purpose-built audio output designed to be heard clearly outdoors. The Kasa plug approach has the advantage of flexibility — you can swap the siren for any other plug-in device without changing the setup.
Automating the Trigger
The automation step is the same regardless of which method you choose. The three most common paths:
Amazon Alexa Routines — open the Alexa app, create a Routine, set the trigger to a motion alert from your camera (if it is Alexa-compatible), and set the action to turn on the smart plug or siren. Free, no subscription required.
Google Home Automations — same approach via the Google Home app for cameras that work with Google Assistant. Nest Cam, Wyze, and several other brands support Google Home integration natively.
Camera app rules — some camera apps including Wyze and Tapo have built-in rules engines that can trigger smart home devices directly without going through a voice assistant platform. Check your camera’s app under Rules or Automation for this option — it is often the most reliable path since it stays within a single ecosystem.
Bottom Line
Adding a siren to any camera takes two pieces: a smart plug or dedicated Wi-Fi siren, and an automation rule in Alexa, Google Home, or the camera’s own app. The Kasa Smart Plug paired with a standalone siren is the most flexible approach and works with virtually any camera brand. For buyers who have not yet purchased a camera, several current models from Wyze, eufy, Arlo, and Ring include a siren built in — eliminating the need for any additional hardware.
This guide is part of our How-To Guides.
