The nanny cam has come a long way as smaller cameras and recording devices benefit from nanotechnology and innovations in silicon chip design and manufacturing. As technology does more in smaller packages, spy cameras can reach the public at affordable prices. Consumers can use these cameras to keep watch over babies and toddlers, elderly family members, and even beloved pets. Don’t let perceived high cost and setup challenges dissuade you from taking advantage of this affordable technology. The uses for the best nanny cam models are many, and the best nanny cams are usually under $100.
| Preview | Product | |
|---|---|---|
| How to Choose A Hidden Nanny Camera - Buyers Guide | View on Amazon |
- Brickhouse Security CAM-MICRO Camscura Micro 720P HD Hidden Camera
- HawkCam Pro Home Security Camera Wireless, Nanny Cam
- Black Motion Detection Spy Clothes Hook Hidden Camera
- IP Camera, UOKOO 720P WiFi Security Camera Internet Surveillance Camera
- Nest Security Camera, Keep an Eye on What Matters to You, from Anywhere
- Arlo – Add-on Camera with Motion Detection
- Amcrest
ProHD 1080P WiFi Camera 2MP (1920TVL) Indoor Pan - Blink Indoor Home Security Camera System with Motion Detection
- D-Link DCS-5222L HD Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera
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A small camera with a nice range of features in an affordable package. Hides well, and includes motion, sound and vibration detection.
Features
The Brickhouse is an affordable camera with a good range of basic features: it records 10 hours continuously and you can get a couple of more hours by adjusting the settings; it has high quality 1280-pixel video that it stores on an SD card, and it activates by motion, noise, or vibration.
Pros
- High-quality video
- Easy to hide
- Affordable
- Easy to use
Cons
- Recording time somewhat limited
- The small size makes adjustments more difficult
- No live feed
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
Where to Buy
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Marketed as easy to use, with five-minute setup simplicity even a chimp could master, the HawkCam is an aggressive eye in the sky that will convey live recording, a feature many many dog owners and security enthusiasts treasure.
Features
The Hawk has a wide-angle lens that is quick and easy to mount and set up in the home. Multiple cameras can be used and easily set up with a live feed to your phone, tablet, or computer. This camera will give live-action feedback. Wireless, motion-advanced and affordable—this security beacon will please most buyers.
Pros
- Can set up multiple cameras
- Live feed
- Great for pets, elderly, security
- Quick and easy setup
- No monthly subscription
Cons
- More camera than most people need
- Advertisers SMS but doesn’t deliver
- Set-up time optimistic
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$$.
Where to Buy
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Super simple, easy to mount, and will get you into the nanny cam groove with a minor investment.
Features
The name says it all: it attaches with a clothing pin to almost any area. This means mounting is simple and it can be placed almost anywhere. This affordable little recorder handles video. The mountain device looks just like a clothes hanger, so tell family NOT to hand anything as that will obscure the camera’s eye.
Pros
- Simple mounting
- Hidden camera
- Easy to use
- Very Affordable
Cons
- Hard to control lights
- Films a small area
- No live feed
- No Cloud or other compatibility
- No WiFi
- No Audio
- Third-party sellers only
Price
This product can be found only on Amazon for around $$ but can only be purchased through third-party sellers.
Where to Buy
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This little Nanny cam sits on the table or counter and works great for pet monitoring and home security. For an affordable camera without spy specs, the IP does the job with decent quality video and two-way audio for a surprisingly affordable price.
Features
With 355-degree horizontal views and a 120-degree vertical view, this camera gets a good range of view in your home. It has its own base and can be set up on any flat surface. the IP UOKOO comes with a 64GB TF card and has HD quality filming at 720p. Compatible with Android or iOS. Remote access, motion activation, and two-way talk allow for a lot of interactivity.
Pros
- Pan tilt
- Night vision
- Two-way talk
- High-quality video
- Multi-platform compatible
- Live feed
- Affordable
Cons
- Made for sitting on a surface
- Can’t hide it
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
Where to Buy
Nest Security Camera, Keep an Eye on What Matters to You, from Anywhere
- 24/7 live stream video in full 1080p HD over Wi-Fi. Check in from anywhere at anytime. Send clips to family or friends...
- Night vision featuring 8 high-power infrared LEDs provide light for clear video in the darkest conditions.
- Mobile alerts and notifications let you know as soon as your camera spots activity. Take action or save the event for...
Sleek looking eye in the sky and interactive, the Nest covers a lot of bases for a moderate investment.
Features
A versatile camera that looks like modernized security came, the Nest can be set up to stand on its base or can be mounted on a wall. Small enough to keep it unobtrusive, it has 2-way speakers, live feed and multi-platform capability.
Pros
- High-quality video
- Stands or mounts to the wall
- Saves film on Cloud
- Plugs in easily
- Cool looking art addition to home
- Night vision
- Motion-activated
Cons
- Not small enough to hide
- Expensive
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$$.
Where to Buy
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This mini camera is weather-resistant, wireless, uses batteries, and is easily wall-mounted or set on a dresser, desk, or patio table.
Features
The wide-angle lens is motion-activated, and the Arlo can be used indoors or out. Doesn’t hide completely but can be made to blend in, and the WiFi is easily set up. This camera can be hacked, and leaving it outdoors is risky.
Pros
- Cute
- Great lens view
- Indoor/outdoor capability
- SD card easy to use
- Magnetic mounts
Cons
- The basic model lacks audio
- Thief magnet
- Doesn’t record 24/7
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
Where to Buy
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The Amcrest won’t miss anything with its wide-angle lens and high-quality filming. Pricey but for best nanny cam video quality we recommend Amcrest.
Features
As in its name, the 1080p beats out most of the best nanny cam products available. This little camera is also completely spy-proof and can be hidden anywhere. It has 24/7 recording and video can be uploaded to numerous storage platforms.
Pros
- 24/7 video
- Secure storage options
- Pans and tilts
- High-quality video
- Easy to hide
- Highly interactive uploads
- Small
- Affordable
Cons
- Indoors only
- Expensive
- No audio
- Best for sitting rather than mounting
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
Where to Buy
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With strong battery life and WiFi capability, the Blink does the basics at an affordable price. Motion detection will upload to the Cloud and even save a brief video clip when necessary.
Features
This motion-activated camera is great for pet monitoring or security. For indoor use only, the Blink is durable and the batteries will last for an amazing two-years, so maintenance is a great feature. Multiple cameras can be set up easily and will interact with Alexa, Android or iOS platforms.
Pros
- Free Cloud storage
- Motion-activated
- Decent video quality
- Notification alerts
- Small
Cons
- No longer integrates with Samsung Smart Things
- Choppy antennae signal
- The instant-on feature is faulty
- Indoor use only
- Blink servers, not 100% activated
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
Where to Buy
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A camera that moves around to capture video and sits easily on any surface, with USB and audio capability with built-in mic. An interactive cam, the D-Link has 32GB capacity for storage and 720p video quality.
Features
This small white camera looks like a mini-robot and pans and tilts to get a 340 degree horizontal and 120-degree vertical view. The Link does as it says and hooks up with Windows, Android, iPhone and uses a mdLink app for more features. A two-way mic makes communicating with pets possible, and the Link has triggers and alerts to view clips live.
Pros
- Two-way audio
- Easy to set up
- HD quality video
- Pans and tilts, good perspective
- App available
- Compatible with most platforms
Cons
- The clunky design doesn’t blend
- Poor customer service experiences
- Somewhat expensive
Price
This product can be found on Amazon for around $$.
Where to Buy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An56kQMknoA
The Verdict
Before you buy a nanny cam or dashcam, do the research. These mighty little cameras have the potential for wide-pan views, compatibility with Cloud for storage and apps for expanded features, and two-way audio. What features do you need, and what level of video quality are you looking for? Some customers want an easy-to-use device that hides, while others want indoor and outdoor security cameras in multiple rooms. Decide before you buy. An all-around starter cam we recommend is The Nest. It’s a little pricier and not a spycam, but its live stream, versatile placement, and cool look captured our attention.
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Growing up with Law and Order and CSI shows taught Isabelle Landau one thing: if people back then had high-quality home security systems, those series would have been way shorter. In our modern world, technology helps us keep burglars away easily, and this is what Izzy studies and writes about: alarm systems, home security, protection systems, and more.
Last update on 2025-12-02 at 22:56 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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