While it can be difficult to monitor children, having a home camera can help you know what they are doing when you are away. There are currently so many home surveillance cameras available, with basically any type of camera capable of functioning as a nanny cam. However, only the best nanny cameras can be relied upon to look after your kids, which is why we have this list of the top 5 best nanny cameras to help you out.
If these cameras don’t fit in well with your specific needs, a detailed buyer’s guide, which we have provided at the end of our list, is also there to help you know what to look for when buying a nanny cam. Based on our analysis, we recommend the TENVIS Security Camera because of it's wide field of view that allow you to catch whats happening in the entire room.
Quick Summary: Top 5 - Nanny Cams
Our professional editors pick and rate these products specifically for each category and recommend the best product we can. We may receive a commission from affiliated links.
Best Overall: TENVIS Security Camera
"Get notified for every potential danger with this smart nanny camera"
"Get notified for every potential danger with this smart nanny camera"
Best Storage: Syeh Security Camera
"Stay alerted with smart motion detection and two way audio with this nanny cam"
"Stay alerted with smart motion detection and two way audio with this nanny cam"
Best for Night Use: TETHYS Wireless Security Camera
"Simple setup for simple recording with two way audio and 360 degree view"
"Simple setup for simple recording with two way audio and 360 degree view"
Best for Budget: Faleemi Wireless Camera
"Catch every movement with high quality, even at night with the help of IR LEDs"
"Catch every movement with high quality, even at night with the help of IR LEDs"
Top 3 Quick Comparison
Product | Photo | Head rotation | Audio | Pros | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |
| 355°horizontal 120°vertical | Yes | Phone Control | |
Runner Up |
| 360° Panoramic view | Yes | Hidden Indicator Light | |
Also Great |
| 350° Rotation 100° Tilt | Yes | Reliable Night Vision Mode |
Our Reviews
The Tenvis Security Camera is a wireless nanny camera with night vision, and two-way audio, which can be connected to your phone via WiFi. The main function of this camera is to monitor your home so you won’t need to worry about burglars at night. It also allows you to monitor your children or pets through your smartphone. The camera can be connected directly through a downloadable app, which is compatible with both Android and iOS.
One of the features of the camera lens is that it can rotate 120-degrees vertically and 355-degrees horizontally by using the app on your phone as the control system. It also comes with a sensitive motion detection system that will trigger an alarm if it detects movement from any burglar or stranger outside your home. The motion detection also works for monitoring your kids.
The camera quality is also quite good, with the camera capturing clear video and images. The camera resolution is set at 720p HD video quality, but is able to show off minor details in the shot. The Tenvis Security Camera provides 360 degree full-coverage protection. It can actually be installed in different ways: standing or mounted on the wall or ceiling. Another feature available on this device is the automatic night vision mode which claims clear videos even up to 32 ft in distance. While the night vision on this camera is quite impressive, it becomes less clear at the 20ft mark. However, some images and silhouettes are still visible at more than 30ft distance.
The two-way audio feature also allows you to speak from your smartphone to the Tenvis Security Camera. While the speaker volume is quite low, people on the other end are still able to hear you well.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
“Great camera with good price and nice features”
The Syeh Security Camera comes with in-app cloud storage where you can save the videos and pictures taken with the camera. This feature also allows easy playback when there is a certain video that you want to see. Aside from the online storage, local storage on an SD card is also an option. The home camera also has two-way audio features.
Despite a bit of delay, the speakers on the camera are loud and clear.
Recording videos and capturing images with the 720p camera, the camera itself is a reliable monitoring device that records good quality images that present good levels of brightness and contrast. The motion sensors, which are integrated into the camera are very sensitive and are able to capture even the slightest of movements from your baby, pets, or other people in your home.
This nanny camera can be connected to your phone through an app. Setting this up is quite easy, with the app QR code provided with the package. The app is compatible with both iOS and Android. The MIPC View App allows users to control the camera, view live video feed, use the 2-way audio communication, and set up motion detection alarms. Controlling the camera is also quite fun because of the wide viewing angles. The camera head can tilt 100 degrees, and pan 350-degrees as well.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
“Easy and Great Picture Quality”
This Wireless IP Security Camera can work 24/7 to provide full protection for your family since the camera has to be setup and directly wired to a power source. A few of the main advantages of the camera is that you can monitor your home with the use of your smartphone. This nanny camera can be connected to the MIPC App, which is a secure and easy to use phone app that allows users to control camera movement, store recorded videos and images, and use 2-way audio communication. Connecting to the app is quite simple; you can download it from either Google Playstore or the App store. The app also provides free cloud storage. However, a microSD card slot on the device can support up to 128gb of memory.
The night vision capabilities of the camera are quite impressive, capturing videos just as clearly as it does in the day. The motion sensors also work especially well at night. The Lefun Wireless IP Security Camera has a broad angle view that covers 350-degrees horizontally and a 100-degree vertical rotation range. You can zoom the video feed in and out, and control camera movement through your phone when you have the app installed.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
“Great affordable wireless camera. The picture is very clear (720p) and the motion detection works perfectly, even in the dark.”
This Wireless IP Camera from 4SDOT records at 1080p High Quality Video Resolution, with image captures that are clear even when the camera is moving throughout your house. The quality is good enough that it is easy to recognise faces. The camera is able to cover a full 360 degrees, and also provides a 3D panorama view which actually gives really good home coverage. When used at night, the night vision is still clear but is limited when compared to other nanny cameras.
The major feature of this camera is the full rotation, which can be controlled with the phone app. Other things that you can do with the app include recording and saving videos and images, as well as communicating with the people in the room. The camera supports a 2-way audio system that allows you to hear what is going on and then use your phone to communicate to the other end. The speakers on the other end are not that strong and work best if you put the camera inside a small room. Outdoor placement is not advisable for this type of camera.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews:
“Only took 15 minutes to set. Best cameras I’ve owned for this price!!”
The Faleemi Wireless Camera is an indoor security video surveillance camera with high quality video resolution that records up to 25fps. Setting up this nanny camera is rather simple. The camera can be synced up to a mobile app via WiFi connection. Since the device has to be plugged into a power outlet, it can function 24/7. The videos and images recorded, which are actually quite clear, can be saved directly into the app-included cloud storage or into the inserted memory card. You can actually save tons of images since the camera can support up to 128gb of memory.
Other features include the night vision mode and high sensitivity motion detection. The app also allows you to set up alarms for when motion is detected. Sharing the videos is made easy with the app as well. (1)
Controls for moving the device are set in the mobile app. It allows for horizontal and vertical orientation changes. The camera angles, however, are quite limited. It has a light sensor at the top, and below that is the HD camera lens.he built-in microphone is located just above the lens. It has a status LED that indicates the battery condition. It also has a reset button just in case you want to reset everything and delete old videos.
Pros
Cons
Product Reviews
“Perfect product and app!”
Our Top Pick:
The Tenvis Security Camera is the best overall nanny camera from this lineup. While all the others come close, this specific brand covers all the needed features which make it a highly effective nanny cam, offers a clean and sleek design, and also provides really good value for money. While many of the features that the Tenvis Security camera has to offer can be found in the other cameras on our list, the Tenvis just does it better. It has great camera resolution, clear night vision mode, and a reliable 2-way audio system.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Nanny Cam
With all the things we try to keep up with in life, it can be difficult finding enough time to constantly check up on the kids. Even when you don’t have any kids, you might have pets or a need to monitor your home in fear of burglars or other strangers. While some people are able to hire nannies or some extra help around the house, this still does not completely eradicate the paranoia that comes with the need to know what is happening at home.
Which is where the right nanny camera can come in. It can be difficult putting your trust in a nanny, especially when you have young toddlers or an infant at home. Thus, having a nanny camera allows you to constantly keep your eyes and ears open. And when it’s night time and the actual nanny has left, the nanny camera is still able to function 24/7, recording every movement and, if you want it to, alerting you when something starts to happen.
Without a doubt, nanny cameras are useful devices to have at home; which is why you can find so many nanny cams becoming available. With more options, it can become more and more difficult to pick out the best one. We’ve already given you our own list of the best nanny cameras, but if you still aren’t satisfied, you can still find the right nanny camera to fit your specific needs.
Most nanny cameras offer many of the same features. However, there are also a few that definitely stand out. Whichever type of nanny cam you need, you definitely have to look into some of these specifications.
Before you do choose the ideal nanny cam for your children, it’s best to know what are the main features and functions of that cam. Does it provide a live feed of your kid? Does it simply record everything? Can it be connected to your phone while you’re at work? Does it alert you whenever motion is detected?
Design
Obviously, the design of your nanny cam should also be taken into consideration. There are some nanny cameras that offer a more discreet design that basically turns it into a hidden camera. On the other hand, other designs can have better aesthetics that can fit in well with the room. There are also differences in terms of size and the materials used for the camera. Colors can also be another factor to consider. Most nanny cameras are available in white or black variations but if you are looking for something more bright, there are also a few that have more options.
A few questions that you can likely ask yourself when considering the design of the camera include:
- Do you want a security camera that’s placed at a corner of a room while silently observing your children?
- Are you looking for a friendly-looking camera that you want your children to interact with?
Price
With so many options available, there is actually a wide range of prices for nanny cameras. You’ll be able to find devices in our list that range from $50 to $300. While there are some cameras that have a relatively low price, you also need to take into account the fact that the cost of a gadget will likely affect the cost. Things such as video quality, durability, and connectivity features are ultimately dependent on the actual cost of a product.
Luckily, there are a few nanny cameras that offer great value and provides many of the necessary features at an affordable cost. While the cost of a product can affect its quality, it is also best to look at the actual specifications and reviews and not just compare items based on price.
Viewing and Recording Options
High-quality cameras often provide a wider array of viewing and recording options. When picking out a nanny camera, a feature that you should definitely look for is app connectivity. While most nanny cameras offer this, it is still an important feature that you need to check because this is what allows users to view live videos, record, and ultimately have access to the camera. Some home surveillance cameras only save recorded videos into an inserted memory card but while this still allows you to view what happened, you will not have that immediate access and real time surveillance functionality that you need. (2)
Multiple User Viewing
An added feature that can be very useful is when the apps are able to provide multiple viewer access. This means that you can share the camera video feed with other members of the family. Whether you want to share recorded videos or you also want other people, like your parents, or your partner, to be able to check on your home on their own devices, multiple user access is a handy feature that can be very useful for a nanny camera.
Video or Image Storage
While most app-connected nanny cameras have cloud storage or direct phone video storage, there can be certain limits to the number of videos and images on there. One of the downsides with direct app storage is that connection problems can disrupt video recording. Most nanny cameras also have backup storage in the form of a memory card inserted into the device.
Depending on what you specifically need, relying on either memory card storage alone, or cloud storage alone, or on both storage options could be ideal.
Camera Movement
Cameras are designed to give you a good visual of what’s happening around your children. It’s best to get a camera that can give you a wide view. It’s also best to be mindful of blind spots that your children might go to. While these can be addressed with proper camera placement, having a camera with a rotating head will allow you to cover all bases.
While nanny cameras can still be used for other types of home surveillance, the main functionalities discussed are ideally for the purpose of picking out an ideal nanny camera which you can use to monitor your children. Whether you have a nanny or not, a nanny camera can still be a useful tool that will efficiently let you know what your kids are up to.
References
(1) - Night Vision - https://www.howtogeek.com/291282/how-do-night-vision-cameras-and-goggles-work/
(2) - Live feed video - https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/thenow/what-is-live-video/1/
(2) - Live feed video - https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/thenow/what-is-live-video/1/
