The Best Video Baby Monitors for Peace of Mind in the Next Room, or Miles Away

Best Overall

VAVA Video Baby Monitor

View On Walmart $186 View On Target $162 View On Babylist.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup / Use
  4.8/5
• Range
  5/5
• Night Vision
  5/5

Parents can keep a close eye on their baby with the VAVA 720p Video Baby Monitor’s 5-inch HD video screen and zoom-in capabilities, and its clarity and ease of use earned it the top spot on this list. 

Once you plug in the camera and turn on the monitor, you have to be sure to place it on a perfectly positioned dresser or table because it does not have a stand—the lack of which had us docking it down to a 4.8 out of 5 for ease of use/setup. But after that bit of placement, you’re ready to go. This monitor earned a 5 for range, since the image went up to 100 feet through thick lab walls, making  it easy to watch your little one snooze. The sound did get a little spotty at that 100 foot range, which is something to keep in mind. 

Testing Notes: “The video was clear in full light. The camera was easy to move with the monitor control. The only issue is that because it has to sit on a dresser, the placement has to be very precise to get the right angle.”

The monitor itself is a very self-explanatory device, with separate buttons for zooming in and moving the camera around. The camera can move 108 degrees vertically and 270 degrees horizontally. A two-way talk system allows you to soothe your little one when they begin to stir. If you need to sneak a peek at your baby in the middle of the night, VAVA Video Baby Monitor automatically switches to night mode to ensure you see your little one clearly in a dark room, earning it a 5 rating for the dark test. Other things we love about VAVA are the fact that it offers several volume levels and light levels, and there are noise indicator lights, so you never miss a sound. You can also connect up to four cameras to one monitor.

^{Key Specs:
Type of Connection: Wireless 2.4GHz | Listed Open-Space Range: 900 feet | Power Source: Camera: 5V/1.2A micro-USB cable; monitor: 4500mAh lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery with USB-C cord | Dimensions: 4.84 H x 7.51W x 8.46 D inches | App Required: No}

Best Overall Runner-up

eufy Security SpaceView Video Baby Monitor

View On Amazon $118 View On Walmart $170 View On Target $170

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup / Use
  5/5
• Range
  4.5/5
• Night Vision
  4.9/5

We appreciate how easy it is to set up the SpaceView, since like many parents, we don’t have time to read pages of directions. The monitor earned a 5 for ease of use/setup because it was beyond simple. Another feature we love is that it can pan 330-degrees from side to side and 110 degrees from floor to ceiling, letting us watch babies that tend to move around a lot. 

Eufy states that the monitor has a range of 460 to 1,000 feet (in an open space). In the lab, the range was around 100 feet through an industrial wall. One thing we weren’t so fond of was that the audio stalled when panning the room, earning it a 4.9 rating for video/audio quality. But a high point is that the image appears super clear in the dark, which is why we gave it a 4.9 mark in the night-vision test. 

Other notable features we know parents will love are an instant alert feature that notifies you when the baby cries and a built-in microphone and speakers that let you speak to your little one when they wake up. Additional helpful features include a 5-inch screen, a temperature monitor, a white noise and lullaby feature, and an optional wide-angle lens you can attach for when kids become more mobile. It can also be mounted on various spaces such as the wall or placed on a dresser.

^{Key Specs:
Type of Connection: Wireless (FHSS connection) | Listed Open-Space Range: 1,000 feet | Power Source: Rechargeable 2900mAh battery | Dimensions: ‎4.15 x 3.2 x 3.2 inches | App Required: No}

Best Wi-Fi

Nanit Pro Camera

View On Amazon $243 View On Nanit.com

The Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor has several helpful features to track a baby’s sleep, breathing, and growth, all while giving parents live video of their child (with a lag time of approximately 5 seconds). This camera requires an app, which must be downloaded on an iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, or Echo Show device. It also requires patience, since it takes some time to set up properly, given it must be mounted on the wall or a stand (which costs $80 more), which is why we gave it a 4 for ease of setup and use. But when the camera and app are ready, you can check in on your baby from basically anywhere with cell or internet service. We were able to walk a block away from the testing location and still hear and see the “baby” clearly. (And just FYI, it was a 9-year-old, and there was someone else at home watching him.)

That clear, consistent video and audio earned a 5 rating, as did the night-vision test, though people buy this monitor for more than just that. The “Smart” part of the name is all about other data, such as the way it gives you updates on the last time someone was at the baby’s side checking on them and when there was a sound coming from the crib. Really curious parents can also watch time-lapse videos the next day to see all the ways their kid slept. To track the baby’s breathing, the Nanit Pro requires a breathing band (included with the monitor) placed around their midsection. The pattern printed on the band allows the camera to see the baby’s chest move—or stop moving. You can also purchase special Nanit sheets separately, and the camera will measure the baby’s growth, using their relative positioning to the sheet pattern.

Testing Notes: “The Nanit app comes with so many features: You can take pictures, see a time-lapse video of your baby the next day, and see data on when they were asleep and awake through the night or at nighttime. There's also tips on getting baby to sleep, as well as a community of other parents and caregivers you can reach through the app.”

To take full advantage of this monitor’s features like sleep tracking, image and video saving, breath monitoring, and access for more than one user, you must subscribe to the Nanit Insights service. One year of the Basic plan ($5/month) is included with your purchase, but you can upgrade to Premium (starting at $4.17/month) or Ultimate (starting at $20.83/month) levels for extras. Another possible detraction is the fact that this, like other smart monitors, requires the use of your mobile device, which means draining your battery and decreasing your ability to multitask while watching the baby, although you can still listen in on background sound when the phone is locked or using other apps.

^{Key Specs:
Type of Connection: Wi-Fi and cellular (with 256-Bit AES encryption) | Listed Open-Space Range: Unlimited with cell service | Power Source: USB power cord | Dimensions: 4.2 x 3.3 x 8 inches | App Required: Yes}

Best Budget

Wyze Cam v3

View On Amazon $26 View On Walmart $28 View On Wyze.com

Wyze Cam V3 is perfect for parents who want a camera with a long range without the high price of a smart monitor. This very small camera does require an app, so keep that in mind if you prefer to keep your phone and baby video monitor separate from each other. Setup was pretty quick, since the camera can be placed anywhere, but we ran into some bumps due to a firmware update that took about 15 minutes, followed by another unexplained update. We gave it a 4.5 for ease of use and setup for delay, because every second counts when you have a baby. The camera is light enough that you can mount it on the wall with just a nail or push-pin. And since it’s an indoor-outdoor camera, you can also use it for monitoring wildlife or intruders outside your home when your kid outgrows the need for a baby monitor.

We gave the device a 5 for its dark test because we appreciated that the night vision mode appears in color, which is a huge plus for anyone creeped out by those glowing-eyed green views of their baby in typical night mode. 

“The only downside is that you have to have your phone unlocked and the app open to hear anything,” our tester said. But you can still receive notifications when your phone is locked, which is helpful. You may want to use a separate iPad or old phone to watch the camera, freeing up your regular phone for other purposes.

Testing Notes: “The camera is one of the clearest we tested, with 1080p definition. It's a little camera that is easy to move around, too, so you can optimize the angle with your placement. The sound both ways is very clear too.”

Another thing to consider is the added fees. To get an unlimited video recording, you must subscribe to the Wyze Cam Plus service for $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year, which also includes 14-day storage for videos. You could also purchase a micro-SD card to store videos without the monthly fee.

^{Key Specs:
Type of Connection: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Cellular data  | Listed Open-Space Range: Unlimited | Power Source: USB power adapter | Dimensions: 2.51 x 2.24 x 3.93 inches | App Required: Yes}

Best Features

Miku Pro Contact-Free Breathing and Sleep Tracker

View On Amazon $395 View On Mikucare.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup / Use
  4.9/5
• Range
  5/5
• Night Vision
  5/5

This HD video baby monitor has all the features to put parents at ease and offers an extended range via Wi-Fi and cell data, which means you can go far but still keep an eye on your little one, and you can stay in touch at home even when the internet is down. Once it's set up (which is super easy, but may take some time to connect to the app), Miku Pro lets you check in on your little one from work, another room in the house, or while out with friends, by simply signing onto the app and checking the live video. (While there’s still a responsible adult in the house also.)

The video was a bit crackly at times during at-home testing, which is why we gave it a 4.5 rating for video/audio quality. This monitor delivered clear images in night vision mode, however, earning it a 5. In addition, a two-way talk function allows you to soothe your baby from afar if they need to hear your voice, and it has the option to play lullabies and sleep sounds. Additional notable features include room temperature and humidity monitoring, sound control, and light sensors. Among the “smart” offerings, sleep tracking allows you to understand your baby’s sleeping patterns, theoretically leading to a better night’s rest for everyone in the home.

Testing Notes: “The Miku Pro really has everything a parent or caregiver would need in a monitor. It is sleek and attractive and just works seamlessly. It is super easy to set up in a way that I'd expect modern technology to be.”

Parents can also use the Miku Pro to see their baby’s respirations per minute in real time, so you can monitor their breathing without needing to sneak into their room. Unlike with the Nanit, there’s no wearable element required for that feature, nor is there a subscription service required for any of this. The downside is that does all come at a significantly higher cost up front.

^{Key Specs:
Type of Connection: Wi-Fi and cellular (256-bit encryption) | Listed Open-Space Range: Unlimited | Power Source: USB-C power adapter | Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.6 x 5.25 inches | App Required: Yes}

Best With Two Cameras

moonybaby Baby Monitor

View On Amazon $135

For parents who need two watch kids in two rooms at once, who want multiple angles of one kiddo, or who don’t want to move a camera around from one room to another, the Moonbaby is a great deal. Although the video and audio can get spotty at long range, the short-range quality is consistently clear. This device also offers a talk-back feature so caregivers can talk to the baby when the little one needs a calming voice to help lull them back to sleep. 

We gave this monitor a 3 for its range, since the video dropped out at about 150 feet through industrial walls, and the audio was spotty at that distance. But if you need to check in on your little one at night, the image in the dark is clear, which is why we gave it a 5 for the dark test. Additional features that parents may appreciate are temperature monitoring and preloaded lullabies. Another plus: The setup is quick, easy, and takes less than 5 minutes. 

^{Key Specs:
Type of Connection: 2.4Ghz wireless | Listed Open-Space Range: 1,000 feet | Power Source: Rechargeable lithium ion battery | Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 3.5 inches | App Required: No}

Best for Travel

Hubble Connected Nursery Pal

View On Amazon $176

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup / Use
  5/5
• Range
  4/5
• Night Vision
  5/5

The Hubble is unusual among video monitors because it offers both a 5-inch wireless touchscreen monitor system and a Wi-Fi phone app to pair with the camera. When we tested it with the provided monitor in the lab, we found the setup impressively quick, taking under 2 minutes, and immediately gave it a 5 out of 5 rating in that attribute. This would be a good option for families that travel and don’t have time for fussy setup over and over.

The monitor looks like an old iPhone. When your baby is awake, you can put it in “Baby Mode” to play videos and educational games. The Hubble Connected Nursery Pal also offers an app for phones and tablets, so you can monitor the baby from afar and receive motion, temperature, and sound alerts. The app also stores video recordings, tracks your baby’s sleep, and includes the same entertainment content as the monitor in Baby Mode. An 18-month basic subscription to the app is included with purchase, but there’s also a Premium option, starting at $49.99 a year.

The range with the monitor was similar to the other non-Wi-Fi devices, reaching about 100 feet through industrial doors. Beyond that, the video stopped working, but the audio remained. Within that 100-foot range, the picture and sound were quite clear. Not to mention the camera delivers very clear images even in the dark, which is why we gave it a 5 for night vision. 

Testing Notes: “This baby monitor is great for a parent who just wants something super simple and doesn't want to use an app on their phone all the time."

The camera can sit on a table or be mounted in various positions with an included “grip” mount to give you optimal views of your baby in their crib. Additionally, with the touchscreen, the camera is easy to pan, tilt, and zoom 4x to provide clear views of your baby.

^{Key Specs:
Type of Connection: Wireless, encrypted Wi-Fi, Cellular | Listed Open-Space Range: 1,000 feet | Power Source: USB-C, rechargeable lithium ion batteries | Dimensions: 10.24 x 8.43 x 5.04 inches | App Required: No}