Article updated on February 26, 2025 at 5:23 AM PST
A reliable nanny cam can offer peace of mind when you can’t be there. These are the best models according to CNET’s experts.
What is the best nanny cam overall?CNET recommends the Arlo Essential Indoor Cam (second gen) as the best nanny cam for most families. After spending over 100 hours testing various models, CNET’s experts found the Arlo Essential delivers everything parents and caregivers need: crisp 2K resolution, two-way audio for quick check-ins and night vision for peace of mind after bedtime. Plus, it’s budget-friendly — but it does require a subscription plan for certain features.
If the Arlo isn’t your perfect fit, there are plenty of other options. Whether you’re looking for something affordable, a model with local storage, or a portable solution, there’s a camera to meet your needs. Options like TP-Link’s budget-friendly pick, Lorex’s local storage solution or Ring’s portable model offer flexibility for different households.
While nanny cams are perfect for keeping an eye on toddlers, they’re just as useful for checking in on pets or elderly relatives. Explore the full list of top-rated cameras below. And if you’re interested in broader home security options, don’t miss CNET’s guides to the best indoor, cheap and outdoor security cameras.
Best nanny cams of 2025Arlo’s top-end Pro 5S cam has hit the top of other home camera lists, but for this focus, we’re choosing the Essential Indoor Cam’s latest model. It’s much more affordable and is focused on indoor monitoring with several key benefits for nanny cam purposes. The 2K resolution and zooming functions are excellent for capturing details, especially if you’re watching over a large space like a living room/dining room area.
We found the night vision on this camera to be high quality and had no problems communicating over the two-way audio. Plus, we like Arlo’s direct smart home support, which includes Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. Arlo typically benefits a lot from a subscription plan (starting at $8 per month) to store video in the cloud, detect alarm sounds and a few other extras. We’re not rating video storage as a must-have for these picks because nanny cams benefit more from live viewing and communication, so you can consider this cam a subscription-free option if you want to save.
We love the C210 for its incredible affordability combined with nearly every feature an indoor security camera needs, including night vision, two-way audio and built-in audio detection (useful for hearing babies cry, dogs bark, etc.) along with motion detection, at no extra charge. Also, pan/tilt features are excellent for following movement around a large room and making sure you don’t miss any happenings.
This cam also provides a choice between signing up for a subscription plan to get video storage or buying a microSD card for local storage. Again, storage isn’t quite as important on nanny cams where live views are a focus, but it’s excellent to see the choice.
Note that if you don’t want or need a pan/tilt cam, there’s also the Tapo C120, which costs a bit more but swaps pan/tilt features for a much better 2K resolution and better objection detection, a worthwhile trade for some homes.
Lorex brings several quality features to the table with an ideal nanny cam option for those who want a bit more than our pan/tilt Tapo option. The 2K resolution remains an excellent choice for better detail, while the night vision reaches far enough for the average living or bedroom. Plus, the pan/tilt features combine well with the person detection so you always have a good idea of what’s going on. Two-way audio and Alexa/Google Assistant support also round off this cam nicely.
One of our favorite things about Lorex cams is that they’re strictly subscription-free and don’t rely on cloud storage (which can raise privacy concerns for some parents). A 16GB microSD card is included with the purchase, but you can upgrade that as you see fit. There’s also a privacy feature that covers the cam lens entirely, which some nanny cam users may prefer to guarantee privacy.
Your kids don’t stay in the same place (or sometimes even the same dimension), but you have the option to spend more and get a high-end battery camera that you can position anywhere. The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro is one of our favorite picks for this job, with a reliable battery and shelf-mounting design that lets you take it from a child’s bedroom to the living or gaming room to the patio — and anywhere else they may go. It’s weather resistant enough to spend a night in the rain too, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting it outside, and if you ever find a permanent spot then you can also mount the cam.
That versatility is backed up by great color night vision, two-way audio and an especially broad 155-degree field of view for capturing every detail. The “bird’s eye” option allows you to see visual tracking for movement over time, while the two-way audio is some of the best around with its noise cancellation.
We do wish that the resolution was higher than HD, and you are limited to Alexa (part of being an Amazon brand), but this is an excellent higher-end option for keeping an eye on loved ones no matter where they’re spending their time. Just keep an eye on battery life notifications so you know when to recharge.
Two-way audio is a practical feature for any nanny cam, but if you prefer more interaction with kids (or pets, or grandmas), then you should consider a smart display alternative instead. This Echo Show 5 allows you to video chat at a moment’s notice and drop in quickly to say goodnight, wave goodbye, or check on a temper tantrum. You can use the Alexa app from your phone or another Echo device to make contact at any time, and if you have a compatible security camera you can look at live views from the Echo Show whenever you want.
The downside is that the video chat cam is very limited compared to a home security camera. In return, you have a full screen that you can use to watch shows or clips, speakers that can connect to your favorite music services and a touchscreen that enables anything from games to finding a perfect recipe video. Alexa is there to ask for help on homework or other details (with some built-in mutes and privacy shutters, too). The kid’s version comes with a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+ with its library of kid-friendly content and parental controls, usually $5 a month.
Best nanny cams compared Arlo Essential Indoor Cam (2nd-gen)TP-Link Tapo Pan/Tilt C210Lorex 2K Indoor Pan/Tilt CameraRing Stick Up Cam Pro BatteryEcho Show 5 (3rd-gen) Kids Edition Price $80$20$70$90$100Field of view 130-degree360-degree with pan/tilt360-degree with pan/tilt130-degree110-degreePower source WiredWiredWiredBatteryWiredMotion detection Yes object detection with subscriptionYes, with audio detectionYes with person detectionYes with bird’s eye viewLimitedNight Vision YesInfrared night vision32-foot night visionColor night visionYesAudio Two-way audio with noise cancellingTwo-way audioTwo-way audioTwo-way audioTwo-way audioStorage options Cloud storage via subscription onlyCloud storage with subscription, local storage with microSDLocal storage via included microSD cardCloud storage via subscriptionN/AVoice assistant Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThingsAmazon Alexa, Google Home/AssistantAmazon Alexa, Google Home/AssistantAmazon AlexaAmazon AlexaReview score N/AN/A8.6N/A8 Eufy Dual Camera S350: Eufy’s dual-cam option is a powerful indoor security câmera and we particularly liked the powerful zoom features. That being said, it’s slightly expensive for many family budgets, considering there are other pan, tilt and zoom options available for less.
Wyze Indoor Cam v3: Wyze’s indoor cam is affordable and good at what it does, but Wyze has had some problems with security flaws the last few years and we’re still hesitant to recommend its cameras for the time being.
Blink Mini: The Blink Mini is cheap and includes plenty of affordable features, plus you can put it anywhere — in fact, it’s a little too small to be an ideal nanny cam, which we prefer to be more noticeable for the sake of others’ privacy. Buying an additional pan/tilt mount does solve this problem, but bumps up the cost.
Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor Cam: Google’s Nest cam does many things well, but it’s a little pricey for what you get and the mounting option isn’t nearly as useful as a shelf-positioned camera watching the kiddos.
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An Echo Show 5 can fill many spots when parents are away from home…if you manage the privacy features accordingly.
AmazonField of viewA good nanny cam needs to view an entire room easily. Look for a wider field of view, something approaching 130 degrees or more if possible. Or you can choose a pan/tilt camera, which can rotate on command to view a much larger space.
Motion detection and recognitionMotion detection sends you alerts when the sensors recognize significant motion in the field of view. That’s important if you want to spot restless kids or toddlers who really shouldn’t be up and about at certain times. Object recognition helps recognize humans and avoid triggering for pets and other potential triggers.
PriceWe leaned toward more affordable cameras for these picks. While security cams over $100 can be packed with features and a high resolution, families are often looking for something simpler and more affordable for a nanny cam. For those with higher budgets, we also have some higher-end picks that offer more versatile or extra capabilities.
Audio capabilitiesWhether you want to talk to a babysitter, check up on grandma or remind a child to stay in bed, two-way audio is a very important feature for nanny cams. All of our picks have it.
Video storageWithout video storage, you’re stuck with only a live view. That’s a viable choice for nanny cams, especially if you want to avoid subscription fees, but many parents want the ability to store videos for later viewing, sharing or downloading. If you like that feature, look for a camera that offers a subscription within your budget for cloud storage, or a local storage option where you can keep video on a hard drive.
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Hands-on testing is core to our evaluations of any home security products. In short, when it comes to security cameras, we pay special attention to resolution, night vision and latency, extra features, general performance and overall value. We evaluate all of these elements in a real home environment over a week. If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.
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Our Experts
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.
Tyler Lacoma Editor / Home Security
For more than 10 years Tyler has used his experience in smart home tech to craft how-to guides, explainers, and recommendations for technology of all kinds. From using his home in beautiful Bend, OR as a testing zone for the latest security products to digging into the nuts and bolts of the best data privacy guidelines, Tyler has experience in all aspects of protecting your home and belongings. With a BA in Writing from George Fox and certification in Technical Writing from Oregon State University, he’s ready to get you the details you need to make the best decisions for your home. On off hours, you can find Tyler exploring the Cascade trails, finding the latest brew in town with some friends, or trying a new recipe in the kitchen!
Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V
