The Best Nanny Cams of 2020

Best Overall
Arlo Q
Price*: 
$149.99
Pro Bullet Audio and motion detection
Con Bullet Limited placement options
Best Hidden Nanny Cam
Monja Pro
Price*: 
$79.99
Pro Bullet Local storage option
Con Bullet No smart home compatibility
Best Budget Nanny Cam
Blink Indoor
Price*: 
$79.99
Pro Bullet Battery power for more placement options
Con Bullet No continuous recording
*Amazon.com price as of 12/11/2019 at 2:34 p.m. (MT).
Looking for the latest? We’ve checked this page to make sure everything is up to date. The Phylink is no longer available, so we replaced it with the Monja Pro. Along with the Monja Pro, we still think the Arlo Q and the Blink Indoor Camera are the best nanny cams out there.

Overview
The Arlo Q is our favorite nanny cam because it’s affordable, easy to use, and full of features that make it easy to check on your kids while you’re away.

But it’s not your only option. Keep reading to learn more about why we picked the Arlo Q, and find out which cameras make good alternatives.

The best nanny cameras


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*Amazon.com price as of 12/11/2019 at 2:34 p.m. (MT).

1. Arlo Q: Best overall nanny cam

Arlo Q
Price*: 
$149.99
    Dimensions
    4.5 x 6 x 4.9 in.
    Resolution
    1080p HD
    Field of view
    130°
    Power
    AC
    Night vision
    Up to 25 feet
    Storage
    Cloud storage
    *Amazon.com price as of 12/11/2019 at 2:34 p.m. (MT).

    Pros and cons of the Arlo Q

    Pros
    • Pro BulletAudio and motion detection
    • Pro BulletHigh-resolution images
    • Pro BulletTwo-way audio and push-to-talk button
    • Pro BulletSeven days of free storage
    • Pro BulletInfrared night vision
    Cons
    • Con BulletPower cord—limited placement options

    Why the Arlo Q is our top choice

    Many people equate nanny cameras with hidden cameras, but our top pick sits out in plain sight.

    Why?

    Because while hidden cameras have their uses, regular indoor security cameras almost always have higher-quality designs and more features that will help parents keep kids safe. (Don’t worry—if your heart is set on stealth, we’ll recommend a hidden camera option below.)

    The Arlo Q is small enough that it won’t be an eyesore, but not so small it will go unseen.

    Features and flaws

    The Arlo Q took the top spot by offering more smart home syncing and better optics than the other options on our list. It’s compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT pairings. It also has 1080p video, a 130° field of view (basically, how much of an area that you can see in the camera’s recordings), and infrared night vision, so you’ll always have a clear view of what’s happening in your home.

    Worried about what’s happening when you aren’t watching? The Arlo Q has motion sensors and audio sensors to alert you if your kids get too close to the power tools or cleaning supplies.

    These abilities help you keep an eye on your kids whether they’re home alone, with a nanny, or playing in another part of the house while you take a well-deserved rest.

    Communication

    The Arlo Q’s two-way audio makes communication simple, whether you just want to say hi on your lunch break or warn your kids to stay out of the cookie jar.

    It also includes a push-to-talk button so your child can get in touch with you even if they don’t have a phone.

    Low cost

    At $149, the Arlo Q costs $50 to $100 less than comparable cameras from brands like Nest. And while your family deserves the best, kids are expensive enough, so affordability is a huge bonus.

    Most companies make you pay a monthly fee for video storage, but Arlo gives you seven days of free storage. (Nest, by comparison, deletes clips after three hours.)

    Arlo still offers a subscription service if you want it. And since it costs less than most competitor services, it’s a good deal if you need extra storage—handy if your camera catches the kids or cat doing something hilarious that you need to rewatch.

    >>Curious about other Arlo cameras? Check out our Arlo review.

    ASecureLife's recommendation: Get the Arlo Q camera if you want high-quality images, motion alerts, generous storage, and two-way communication at an affordable cost. We love that you can drop in and talk to your kids to tell them dinner is ready or to tell them goodnight if you’re still stuck at work at bedtime.

    >>View on Amazon


    2. Monja Pro: Best hidden nanny cam

    Monja Pro
    Price*: 
    $79.99
      Dimensions
      5.9 x 2.8 x 7.1 in.
      Resolution
      1080p HD
      Field of view
      160°
      Power
      Battery, AC
      Storage
      MicroSD card slot (card not included)
      *Amazon.com price as of 12/11/2019 at 2:34 p.m. (MT).

      Pros and cons of the Monja Pro

      Pros
      • Pro BulletLocal storage option
      • Pro BulletBetter video quality than most hidden cameras
      • Pro BulletBattery and AC power
      Cons
      • Con BulletNo smart home compatibility
      • Con BulletUnreliable mobile app

      Why we like the Monja Pro

      The Monja Pro looks like a boring clock at first glance. This alone is enough for someone to dismiss it as an innocuous home appliance instead of a hidden nanny camera in a clever disguise.

      The wide-angle lens on this camera helps keep tabs on your home since it has fewer blind spots and captures more of what’s going on in a room than cameras with narrower fields of view. This nanny cam has a built-in Wi-Fi connection and a mobile app called HDMiniCam so you can stream real-time video to your smartphone. The mobile app has poor reviews on Android and iOS.

      In light of a poor mobile app, it’s good that the Monja Pro works just fine with a microSD card, though it doesn’t come with one. The unit runs off either an AC power supply or an internal battery. The battery lasts long enough to record around six hours of video, which should be good enough for most people.

      >>Interested in hidden cameras? Check out our recommendations.

      ASecureLife's recommendation: If discretion is more important than chatting with your kids over the camera, then the small Monja Pro is a great option that delivers high-quality images.

      >>View on Amazon


      3. Blink Indoor Camera: Best budget nanny cam

      Blink Indoor Camera
      Price*: 
      $79.99
        Dimensions
        2.8 x 2.8 x 1.2 in.
        Weight
        3.3 oz. (with batteries)
        Resolution
        720p HD
        Field of view
        110°
        Operating temperature
        32°F to 95°F
        *Amazon.com price as of 12/11/2019 at 2:34 p.m. (MT).

        Pros and cons of the Blink Indoor Camera

        Pros
        • Pro BulletBattery power for more placement options
        • Pro BulletLow cost (even lower if you buy a set)
        • Pro BulletSmall size that blends in easily
        • Pro BulletNo subscription fees
        • Pro BulletFree cloud storage (two hours of clips)
        Cons
        • Con BulletHub required
        • Con BulletNo continuous recording
        • Con BulletNo infrared night vision

        Why we like the Blink Indoor Camera

        The Blink indoor camera isn’t as capable as the Arlo Q or as stealthy as the Monja Pro, but it’s a great deal—making it particularly appealing if you want to stash nanny cams throughout your house instead of in just one room.

        Blink cameras are small and battery powered, so you can place them almost anywhere. And you can usually get them at a discounted price if you buy them in a pack.

        The Blink Indoor works with Alexa and a mobile app, so you’ll have easy control and access even when you’re not in the room. That makes it so you can do things like make sure teens get home safely from school (and that their friends don’t come back with them).

        >>Want to learn more about Blink cameras? Check out our full review.

        ASecureLife's recommendation: Choose the Blink Indoor if you need more than one camera or don’t want to spend a lot to check in on your kids while you’re out.

        >>View on Amazon


        Legal and ethical considerations

        If you decide to place a nanny cam in your home, be sure to look up the laws in your state. There may be restrictions about what you can and cannot record without consent.

        We strongly recommend telling any caregivers about nanny cameras in your home, both for your own legal protection and to build trust with the people taking care of your family.

        Nanny cameras we ruled out

        We ruled out most hidden nanny cameras because they don’t usually have enough features to let you interact with your kids while you’re away from home—which is a skill we find important in an effective nanny cam.

        We also ruled out Nest’s excellent indoor cam because it just doesn’t have enough of an edge to justify its higher cost when compared to the Arlo Q.


        Our recommendation

        The Arlo Q is our top pick because it’s an affordable, easy-to-use nanny camera with two-way communication that helps you stay in touch with your family, whether you’re in another room or stuck late at the office.

        Arlo Q
        Price*: 
        $149.99
          *Amazon.com price as of 12/11/2019 at 2:34 p.m. (MT).