Our Experts Written by Tyler Lacoma 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. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider Field of view Does the cam have a wide enough angle to view the entire room where your child (etc.) will be? Motion detection Does the cam recognize motion? Can it ignore pets and focus on human motion for effective alerts? Price Is the price reasonable for parents thinking about their current budget? Audio capabilities Does the cam have two-way audio for talking to kids or sitters? Does the audio have noise cancellation or other features? Video storage Do you want video storage or only live views? Do you want cloud storage for videos or local storage only for privacy? How much are you willing to pay for either? Table of Contents Our Picks Best overall nanny cam Arlo Essential Indoor Cam (2nd-gen) View details $50 at Best Buy View details Best budget nanny cam TP-Link Tapo Pan/Tilt Cam C210 View details $20 at Amazon View details Best nanny cam for local storage Lorex 2K Indoor Pan/Tilt Camera View details $50 at Lorex View details Best portable nanny cam Ring Stick Up Cam Pro Battery View details $220 at Walmart View details Best smart display nanny cam Amazon Echo Show 5 Kids Edition (3rd-gen) View details $75 at Amazon View details Table of Contents What is the best nanny cam overall?If you thought the newborn stage was hard, just wait till you have a toddler on your hands! Once they start walking, toddlers can really move fast, and they're impossible to keep an eye on every second of the day. Thankfully, a nanny cam is helpful for keeping an eye on what your toddler is up to, no matter where you are in the house.But nanny cams aren't just for little kids either. They're also great for keeping an eye on pets or even older relatives who might need the extra security of you keeping an eye on them. The Arlo Essential Indoor Cam (2nd-gen), the latest model of the camera, is our top choice when looking at cameras like this. After dedicating over 100 hours to the evaluation of nanny cameras, we found this option was just what families are looking for when it comes to cameras. Not only is it an affordable option, but it includes a healthy 2K resolution and offers two-way audio that so many buyers look for in nanny cams. It even has night-vision capabilities so you can check up on your kid when they're asleep. Best Presidents Day Sales Don't miss our coverage of the Best Presidents Day deals, curated by CNET Deals experts. See now That said, if the Arlo cam isn't speaking to you -- after all, you may not want to have to pay for a plan and the device -- then there are several other options for you to consider. We've found cams for every budget and need. You can choose from an affordable model by TP-Link, a local storage option from Lorex or a portable version from Ring. Take a look at the whole list, and stop by our guides on the best indoor cameras, the best cheap security cameras and the best outdoor security cameras for even more fully researched, ready-to-buy picks. Best nanny cams of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 Pros 2K resolution Zoom function Good smart home support Two-way audio Night vision Cons Some nice features locked behind subscription Resolution 2KNight Vision YesAudio Two-way audioSmart Home Support Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant, Samsung SmartThings Full Review Read full review Arlos top-end Pro 5S cam has hit the top of other home camera lists, but for this focus, were choosing the Essential Indoor Cams latest model. Its 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 youre 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 Arlos 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. Were 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.