Best Nanny Cameras for 2023
Updated by Alexia on
Whether you're babysiting the kids or their caretaker, a nanny camera is a great home security tool.
Nanny cams, also known as indoor security cameras with motion detection, can help keep your home safe while also allowing you to check in on kids and pets. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products to help you choose the right camera for your home.
For many families who hire a nanny or a babysitter, a nanny camera is essential. Nearly all nanny cams turn on when motion is detected, giving you the ability to watch in real time or record for later.
Check out the nanny cam laws in the FAQ section to make sure you know what is allowed in your state.
The top 5 nanny cameras recommend
- Reolink E1 Zoom: Best value
- Arlo Pro 4: Best zoom
- Wyze Cam Pan v2: Best price
- EZViz C6CN: Best internet connection
- Yi Home Camera 3: Best audio detection
Compare the best nanny cameras
| Product | Best for | Price* | Cloud storage | Video resolution | Zoom | Learn more | Read review |
 |
Best value | $99.99 | $0.00–$25.00/mo. | 1920p | 3x | View on Amazon |
Read review |
 |
Best zoom | $129.99 | $2.99–$14.99/mo. | 1440p | 12x | View on Amazon |
Read review |
 |
Best price | $49.98 | $0.00–$1.99/mo. | 1080p | 8x | View on Amazon |
Read review |
 |
Best internet connection | $69.99 | $5.99–$8.99/mo. | 1080p | 8x | View on Amazon |
Read review |
 |
Best audio detection | $24.99 | $3.33–$12.50/mo. | 1080p | 4x | View on Amazon |
Read review |
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Best nanny cameras reviews
1. Reolink E1 Zoom: Best overall
Reolink E1 Zoom-
Excellent night vision
Pan-and-tilt
Cloud + 128 GB storage
 Pros |
 Cons |
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Compatible with Amazon and Google Adjustable resolution, frame rate, and bitrate Free cloud + 128 GB storage Crisp video quality 2-year warranty Dual-band Wi-Fi Continuous recording |
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The Reolink E1 Zoom is also a decent indoor camera. Also doubles as a nanny cam. The dual-band Wi-Fi camera captures video in 2560 x 1920 resolution at 20 fps using a 1/2.7" CMOS sensor. Keep an eye on your kids, day or night.
The camera can also pan 355 degrees and tilt 50 degrees, giving you greater room coverage than many fixed-angle cameras. It will come in handy when your kids end up playing in any corner of the room.
One of Reolink's strengths is the flexibility it offers for storing secure video. Clips where motion is detected are automatically saved to a local microSD card (although you'll need to provide one). You can use local storage with a Reolink Cloud subscription for off-site backup. Reolink offers buyers a free plan that stores up to 1GB of clips for seven days before overwriting them with new footage.
Learn more in our Reolink E1 Zoom review.
2. Arlo Pro 4: Best zoom
Arlo Pro 4-
Excellent night vision
No pan-and-tilt
Local storage sold separately
|
Pros |
Cons |
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Compatible with 4+ smart home hubs Adjustable resolution Wired, battery, and solar options 12x zoom |
No pan-and-tilt Local storage requires base station (and sold separately)
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Compared to other nanny camera options in our previous best home security camera reviews, the Arlo Pro 4 was admittedly expensive. But you can get HD image quality and a variety of options from a versatile home security camera.
You'll love the 12x zoom on the Arlo Pro 4 when you're not sure if your child puts a marble glass in their mouth like candy. It's also one of our favorite wireless cameras, so you don't have to worry about posing a safety hazard by plugging it in with a cord.
If you want to keep an eye on your kids while they play in the backyard, buy the Arlo Pro 4 Solar Panel Accessory to easily convert this weatherproof camera into an outdoor nanny cam. If your home is relatively large, I suggest that you still buy multiple cameras, because moving around is still a troublesome thing.
The Arlo Pro 4 is one of the strongest cameras in terms of smart home compatibility. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Homekit, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT. Although there is no gimbal function, the 160° field of view is enough to capture most The active area of the room.
If you want to save footage to a USB drive, you'll need to purchase an Arlo SmartHub Base Station. Otherwise, you will not be able to use cloud storage.
Learn more in our full Arlo Pro 4 review.
3. Wyze Cam Pan v2: Best price
Wyze Cam Pan v2-
Good night vision
Pan-and tilt
Cloud + 32 GB storage
|
Pros |
Cons |
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Works with Alexa and Google Simple installation 360° field of view 8x zoom Free cloud storage 32 GB local storage 1080p HD |
No adjustable video settings Not wire-free
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Wyze cameras have always been known for their low prices but good performance, and while they're around $50, they're not the cheapest nanny cams on our review list. Since its cloud storage is free, we chose it as our "best price" pick.
It features smooth pan, tilt and zoom motion so you can easily look around the room and see your child.
In the app, you can watch past videos, adjust settings, and talk to anyone on the other side using two-way audio.
Read our full Wyze Cam Pan v2 review for more details.
4. EZViz C6CN: Best internet connection
EZViz C6CN-
Good night vision
Pan-and-tilt
Cloud + 32 GB storage
|
Pros |
Cons |
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Pan-and-tilt with 8x zoom Ethernet port 256 GB local storage Adjustable frame rate and bitrate Works with Amazon, Google, IFTTT |
Pricey cloud storage No battery option
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The most notable feature of EZViz C6CN is that it can physically pan 340 degrees and pitch 120 degrees. With a 1080p camera, the video quality is very good. Comparable to Wyze Cam Pan both in features and price.
The C6CN offers a variety of storage options for captured video: you can save clips locally to a microSD card (up to 256GB, but you'll need to supply the card), more than any other nanny camera on our list. The camera also has an Ethernet port should you wish to connect the camera to a router. You will need to purchase an Ethernet cable and/or microSD card separately.
Learn more in our full EZViz C6CN review.
5. Yi Home Camera 3: Best audio detection
EZViz C6CN-
Good night vision
No pan-and-tilt
Cloud + 32 GB storage
|
Pros |
Cons |
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Easy installation Detects crying 4x zoom Local storage up to 64 GB |
No Battery Backup No pan-and-tilt Monthly Subscription Fees |
The Yi Home Camera 3 can be used as a nanny camera or as a home camera. When your baby is crying, its audio detection function detects that the camera will sound an alarm later.
When we tested this budget camera for ourselves, we were surprised to find that its night vision was on par with many other cameras, including the Wyze Cam Pan. It supports microSD cards up to 64 GB, and the Yi also includes six months of cloud storage, after which a subscription option is available.
Learn more in our full Yi Home Camera 3 review.
What to consider before buying a nanny camera?
If you're also considering choosing a nanny cam to monitor both the baby and the caregiver, you should probably be wondering these questions: What exactly is a nanny cam? Are nanny hidden cameras legal? How to choose the best nanny cam? continue reading.
While there are plenty of hidden nanny cams on the market, we looked at more conspicuous options. Nanny cams, hidden or not, record video in your home. However, if you install a camera in a private area to monitor your sitter, such as the bathroom or the sitter's bedroom, you are breaking video surveillance laws. And what about a nanny cam with audio? Recording laws vary by state. Some states have one-person consent rules, meaning that at least one person in the recording must have known in advance when the recording took place. Do you know the nanny cam laws in your state? We have collected them in our FAQ.
Before you get a nanny cam, you should hire a nanny you can trust to babysit your kids. Nanny cameras make a lot of sense if you have reason to suspect something is wrong, but you generally don't need to use them if you have a trusted childcare provider. That's why we think it's best to disclose your surveillance system with your nanny or any home caretaker. This helps build a relationship of trust and make better use of the camera itself.
What features to consider when buying a nanny cam?
- hd. Gives you more detail and clarity. Considering your storage space and practical needs, 720p and 1080p resolution should be enough.
- audio. Nanny cams with audio allow you to talk to your child and sitter for better monitoring. Regarding legal issues, please be aware of the recording laws when recording is required.
- wireless. Wireless security cameras for baby monitoring allow you to watch live video, while other nanny cameras just record video for you to watch later.
- iPhone/iPad/Android compatible. With remote monitoring, you can view live feeds of your kids and caregivers from your mobile device while you work.
- Motion activated. You can't always keep an eye on your PC or smartphone to keep track of everything your nanny does. Motion activation is a great feature that sends you alerts when there's motion in front of it.
- recording. Most nanny cams allow recording video on an SD card, but the downside is that the SD card fills up quickly. For reliable 24/7 recording, using a nanny camera with NVR is a better choice.
- perspective. Depending on how big your room is, you can opt for a wide-angle nanny camera so you can see all areas of the room. So make sure the camera has a gimbal function.
- power supply. There are two main types of power sources for nanny cameras: battery-powered cameras and AC-powered cameras. Battery-powered nanny cams run on a rechargeable battery pack, while AC-powered units draw power directly from an outlet. When the battery dies within a few hours, the camera will stop working. If you have easy access to a power source, an AC-powered nanny camera is a better choice for constant monitoring and recording.
Final word
We like the performance of the Reolink E1 Zoom best because of its 360° field of view, affordable price, and pan, tilt, zoom capabilities that can almost meet the babysitting function of a nanny cam.
Meanwhile our other favorites are strong contenders for nanny cams:
- The wireless design of the Arlo Pro 4 camera makes it easy to move from your baby's playroom to your back garden for surveillance.
- Wyze Cam Pan v2 has free cloud storage and an affordable price.
- EZViz C6CN stands out for its large local storage capacity.
- YI Home Camera 3 has a good price advantage and audio detection camera alarm function.
Nanny camera FAQ
A nanny cam can provide the reassurance and peace of mind you want when it comes to caring for your children. Cameras are placed indoors rather than doors or outdoor areas to capture motion events.
High end nanny cams cost around $100-300. They offer the best stealth option for those who want to make sure their spy cameras are hidden.
These cameras are easy to place in inconspicuous places like tissue boxes and smoke detectors. However, if you use it as a family babysitter, you can choose a mid-range price among the "high-end" prices.
Different rules apply to hidden and exposed nanny cams. Hidden nanny cams can be cleverly disguised in devices like alarm clocks and photo frames to monitor your nanny without their consent.
In all 50 states, it's legal to record video-only footage in your home with a hidden camera, as long as it's not set up in a private space. That said, several states require "consent" for video and audio clips in public or private spaces.
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
- Hawaii
Even if you don't live in one of these states, we recommend that you get your nanny's permission before recording audio, video, or both. Their consent can also help you avoid prosecution and loss of evidence.
In other words, without their permission, you could be sued and your footage won't be accepted in court.
Learn more in our guide to security camera laws, rights and rules.
A battery-operated nanny cam can be hidden almost anywhere. Bookshelves, plush toys, kitchen cabinets and more will give you a clear view of your home and anyone inside.
Wired nanny cameras are easily exposed because they need to be plugged in at all times.
All 50 states allow silent video recording in your own home. But we still think it's best to tell your nanny that you're recording. You can use audio in addition to video if they agree to film and record.
You don't have to tell them where you stashed your camera, but most states do require their permission if you want audio. Learn more in our guide to security camera laws, rights and rules.
We do not recommend cameras like the Ring Stick Up Cam and Ring Indoor Cam as they have had some safety issues in the past. Although there is increased security behind the Ring, we still want the nursery to be an extremely protected place.
Disclaimers
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