Best Nanny Cams of 2022

Through hands-on testing and consulting practiced reviews, we discovered the best nanny cam options to keep your fiddling one safe.

Reolink E1 Zoom

Reolink E1 Zoom

4.5 out of 5 stars

4.45

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Excellent night vision

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Pan-and-tilt

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Cloud + 128 GB storage

Arlo Pro 4

Arlo Pro 4

4.2 out of 5 stars

iv.15

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Fantabulous nighttime vision

  • Icon Cons  Light

    No pan-and-tilt

  • Icon Cons  Light

    Local storage sold separately

EZVIZ C6CN Indoor Pan/Tilt Wifi Security Camera

EZViz C6CN

4 out of 5 stars

3.95

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Expert dark vision

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Pan-and-tilt

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Deject + 256 GB storage

Whether you're keeping an eye on the kids or their caretakers, nanny cams are a cracking home security tool.

For your all-time option, nosotros think the Reolink E1 Zoom takes the prize with its quality picture, low price, and like shooting fish in a barrel app. It has impressive pan/tilt/zoom features thanks to its swiveling base of operations and moving photographic camera eye. Merely a few other cameras stood out for features like bombardment power and local storage chapters.

Cheque out the nanny cam laws in the FAQ section to make sure y'all know what is allowed in your land.

Compare the best nanny cameras

*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read total disclaimer.

Reviews: All-time nanny cams

i. Reolink E1 Zoom: All-time overall

The Reolink E1 Zoom is ane of our favorite indoor security cameras, and in that location's no reason it can't double as a nanny cam. You lot'll love its abrupt image quality when checking on the kids day and nighttime.

Pro Heading

Pros

Pro Bullet Compatible with Amazon and Google

Pro Bullet Adjustable resolution, frame rate, and bitrate

Pro Bullet Free cloud storage

Pro Bullet Dual-band Wi-Fi

Pro Bullet two-year warranty

Con Heading

Cons

Con Bullet Wired merely

Nosotros chose this model out of the Reolink camera line-up thank you to its pan-and-tilt capabilities, which come in handy when your kids finish up playing or napping in a random corner of the room.

Entry-level cloud storage is gratuitous, only the E1 Zoom supports microSD cards up to 128 GB if y'all'd rather shop footage locally.

Get the full scoop in our Reolink cameras review.

2. Arlo Pro 4: All-time wire-free option

Compared to other nanny cam options, the Arlo Pro four is admittedly expensive. Simply you get exceptional paradigm quality and an all-purpose home security camera with options galore.

You'll beloved the Arlo Pro iv'due south 12x zoom when you're not certain what your child is upwardly to. This is also one of our favorite wireless cameras, so you lot don't have to worry almost creating a possible playroom take a chance by leaving its cord plugged in.

Pro Heading

Pros

Pro Bullet Compatible with iv+ smart home hubs

Pro Bullet Adjustable resolution

Pro Bullet Wired, battery, and solar options

Pro Bullet 12x zoom

Con Heading

Cons

Con Bullet No pan-and-tilt

Con Bullet Local storage requires base of operations station

If you want to keep an eye on your kids when they're playing in the backyard, buy the Arlo Pro four'southward solar panel accessory and easily convert this weatherproof camera into an outdoor nanny cam.

This smart camera works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple tree Homekit, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT for coordinated notifications and routines. And while it's not a pan-and-tilt camera, its 160° field of view is large enough to capture activity zones in most rooms.

Yous'll demand to purchase the Arlo SmartHub Base Station if you want to save footage to a USB drive. Otherwise, you're stuck with deject storage.

Learn more in our full Arlo Pro 4 review.

3. Wyze Cam Pan v2: Best for budgets

Despite a sub-$fifty price tag, the Wyze Cam Pan v2 isn't the cheapest nanny camera on our list. But we chose information technology equally our "best for budgets" selection thanks to its gratis cloud storage.

It has polish pan, tilt, and zoom action, so you can easily look effectually the room to see your kids and their nanny.

Pro Heading

Pros

Pro Bullet Works with Alexa and Google

Pro Bullet Simple installation

Pro Bullet 360° field of view

Pro Bullet 8x zoom

Pro Bullet Free deject storage

Con Heading

Cons

Con Bullet No adjustable video settings

Con Bullet Not wire-free

Setup is piece of cake with Wyze besides. Simply plug in the photographic camera and download the Wyze app onto your smart device. Connecting is a snap, but there are step-by-step videos if y'all need help along the fashion.

From the app, you lot can scout past videos, adjust settings, and utilise the 2-mode audio to talk to anyone on the other side. Once you lot've gear up the camera to your preferences, you're skillful to go.

Read our full Wyze Cam Pan review for more than details .

four. EZViz C6CN: Best local storage

As a 1080p pan-and-tilt camera with 8x zoom, the EZViz C6CN rivals the Wyze Cam Pan in both functionality and price.

The C6CN excels when it comes to local storage, supporting microSD cards up to 256 GB—more than whatever other nanny camera on our list. It likewise has an ethernet port for a more reliable internet connection.

Pro Heading

Pros

Pro Bullet Pan-and-tilt with 8x zoom

Pro Bullet Ethernet port

Pro Bullet 256 GB local storage

Pro Bullet Adjustable frame rate and bitrate

Pro Bullet Works with Amazon, Google, IFTTT

Con Heading

Cons

Con Bullet Pricey cloud storage

Con Bullet No battery option

To accept advantage of those options, you'll need to purchase an ethernet cablevision and/or microSD carte separately.

Learn more than about the C6CN in our total EZViz cameras review.

5. Yi Home Camera 3: Best audio detection

The Yi Home Camera 3 has a unique feature that makes information technology well-suited every bit a nanny cam: audio detection. If your baby'due south crying, this camera sends an warning.

Pro Heading

Pros

Pro Bullet Works with Amazon and Google

Pro Bullet Detects crying

Pro Bullet 4x zoom

Pro Bullet Local storage upward to 64 GB

Con Heading

Cons

Con Bullet No adjustable video options

Con Bullet No pan-and-tilt

Con Bullet Cloud storage for just vii days

Because it has a longer functional life than almost baby monitors, the Yi Home Photographic camera iii is a smashing investment. Use it as a nanny cam anywhere in the home, or put it to use as a general home security camera. Its congenital-in glass-intermission sensor will let you know if someone'due south breaking in.

When we tested this budget photographic camera hands-on, nosotros were surprised its night vision was on par with many others, including the Wyze Cam Pan. It supports microSD cards upwards to 64 GB, so the paid deject storage plan is optional.

Learn more than in our full Yi Domicile Camera 3 review.

More brands we considered

Glimmer Indoor and Blink Mini: All-time for hiding

None of the Blink cameras made it to our peak v due to average night vision, no pan-and-tilt or zoom capabilities, and limited smart home compatibility. But they're tiny and easy to hide. The Blink Indoor is bombardment-powered and the pill-bottle-sized Blink Mini needs to stay plugged in.

Larn more in our full Blink cameras review.

Google Nest Indoor Cam: Best 2-mode advice

The Google Nest Indoor Cam is a nice photographic camera—nosotros don't give out four stars willy-nilly. But other cameras deliver a better combination of nanny-cam features at a lower price, then it didn't make it to our meridian five.

That said, the Google Nest Indoor Cam has a clear film and two-style advice to produce smooth video in the mobile app.

It'due south also minor plenty to fit on most shelves, tables, nooks, and crannies, making information technology piece of cake to hide from anyone who might tamper with it. Yous can even find cute silicone covers for it.

Learn more most the unabridged family of Google Nest Cameras for indoors and out.

Final word

We like the Reolink E1 Zoom all-time for its 360° field of view, affordable price point, and pan/tilt/zoom prowess. Whether yous're checking in on your child'south safety or ensuring they ate their veggies while you're out, this nanny cam keep tabs on your kiddo and their caretaker.

Our other favorites are close contenders:

  • The Arlo Pro 4 camera's wire-free design makes information technology easy to move from room to room.
  • The Wyze Cam Pan boasts costless deject storage and an affordable upfront price.
  • The EZViz C6CN offers the all-time local storage chapters and an incredible up-front price.
  • The YI Home Photographic camera 3 includes crying detection and other audio alerts.

Nanny camera FAQ

Different rules apply to hidden and exposed nanny cams. Subconscious nanny cams tin exist cleverly disguised in devices like alarm clocks and film frames to monitor your nanny without their consent.

Information technology'southward legal in all 50 states to tape video-only footage in your home from a subconscious camera equally long every bit it isn't set up up in a private space. 1 That said, at that place are xi states that require "two-political party consent" for video and audio footage in public or private spaces. 2

  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Montana
  • New Hampshire
  • Pennsylvania
  • Washington
  • Hawaii


Fifty-fifty if you don't alive in one of these states, we recommend getting consent from your nanny earlier recording audio, video, or both. Their consent tin can also aid yous avoid prosecution and loss of evidence.
3

In other words, without their permission, y'all could be sued, and your footage won't be admissible in court.

Flick resolution is merely a pixel count on your camera. Numbers like 1080p refer to the vertical lines of pixels lined up across your photographic camera's view. More often than not, the more pixels create a sharper moving picture, but this tin can change based on how closely yous zoom or the size of the screen yous lookout a video on.

Near smartphones screens are 1080p and up, so information technology'south all-time to find a nanny cam with a similar resolution for a clear moving picture.

Information technology varies from camera to camera, but nigh nanny cams employ a separate SD memory bill of fare or send videos to a deject that yous can admission online. Both can be uploaded and shared to different devices.

Bombardment-powered nanny cams can hide nearly anywhere. Spots like potted plants, bookshelves, stuffed animals, kitchen cabinets, and out in the open can all give you a good view of your abode and anyone inside.

Nanny cameras powered past cables are more than restricted because they need to stay plugged in to work. Cables tin can also give away your hiding spot if they aren't concealed properly.

All l states allow silent video recording within your own habitation. But we still think it'due south best to tell your nanny that you're recording. If they consent to be filmed and recorded, you tin use audio in add-on to your video. Yous don't take to tell them where you've subconscious the camera, but if y'all want sound, almost states require their permission.

How we reviewed the best nanny cams

To find the best nanny cameras, nosotros narrowed down the features that are important for checking on the children:

  • 2-way audio
  • Pan-and-tilt or a wide field of view
  • Excellent zoom capabilities and quality
  • Superior video quality
  • Excellent night vision
  • Local storage capacity
  • Affordable cloud storage

We didn't want to limit ourselves to cameras specifically marketed as infant monitors or nanny cams. Nosotros chose the best contenders from our years of testing and reviewing home security cameras.

Nosotros tested the Reolink E1 Zoom, Arlo Pro four, Wyze Cam Pan, Yi Dwelling house Camera iii, Nest Cam, and Blink Indoor in-business firm. For the virtually authentic experience, we prepare each camera and proceeded with our twenty-four hours every bit usual. When we got alerts from each camera, nosotros used the apps to check the footage, speak through the cameras, and share footage.

We selected the EZViz C6CN  based on top user reviews and product specs that fit our standards for quality nanny cams. Learn more than about how we test and research by reading our full methodology .

Related articles on SafeWise

Sources

  1. Upcounsel, " Video Surveillance Laws by State: Everything You Need to Know ," Published June 2020. Accessed December xx, 2021.
  2. Digital Media Law Projection, " Recording Phone Calls and Conversations ," Accessed December xx, 2021.
  3. United States Section of Justice, " 1050. Scope of xviii UsC. § 2511 Prohibitions ," Published January 2020. Accessed December 20, 2021.

Disclaimers

*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the engagement/fourth dimension indicated and are discipline to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the fourth dimension of purchase will utilize to the purchase of this production. SafeWise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Sure content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided "as is" and is subject area to change or removal at whatsoever time.

†Google, Google Nest, Google Banana, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

Cathy Habas

Written by

Cathy Habas

With over seven years of experience every bit a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and power to understand aid Cathy offering insightful, friendly communication. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident near a purchase, projection, or topic. Cathy earned her Available of Arts caste in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She has contributed to sites similar Safety.com, Reviews.com, Crouch, and Thumbtack. Cathy's pride and joy is her Appaloosa "Chacos." She as well likes to crochet while watching stand up-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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