The Best Pet Camera Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Ever miss your pet when you’re at work? Can’t leave the house without wondering what your fur babies are up to and whether they’re safe? You might want to consider investing in a pet camera.
Fortunately, there are plenty of cameras on the market that let you monitor the inside of your home—and any pets within view—from your phone. We’ve rounded up the best pet cameras we’ve tested, as well as some traditional security cameras that work as pet monitors. We also have a few pointers to keep in mind while shopping for the perfect camera for you and your furry friend.
Furbo 360 Dog Camera
Best Pet Camera Overall
Bottom Line:
The Furbo 360 Dog Camera allows you to see your pet and dispense treats remotely, improving upon the original with color night vision and the ability to pan from side to side for 360-degree views.
PROS
- 360-degree views with silent panning
- Automatic dog tracking
- Color night vision
- Quieter, more adjustable treat tosser
- Free barking alerts
- Works with Amazon Alexa
- Attractive design
CONS
- Doesn’t tilt vertically
- No local storage option
- Some features require a subscription
- Lacks Google Assistant support
Petcube Bites 2 Lite
Best Affordable Treat-Tossing Camera
Bottom Line:
The Petcube Bites 2 Lite camera lets you see, hear, talk to, and give treats to your pet from wherever you are, for less money than the competition.
PROS
- Reliably dispenses treats
- Good night vision
- Two-way audio
- Wall-mountable design
- Works with Amazon Alexa
CONS
- Occasional delay connecting to app
- Easily tipped over when placed on a table or shelf
- Video history, smart alert features require a subscription
Petcube Bites 2
Plays Music While You’re Away
Bottom Line:
The Petcube Bites 2 is a pricey Wi-Fi camera that lets you keep an eye on your pets and even toss them treats remotely.
PROS
- Easy to set up
- Reliably dispenses treats
- Two-way audio
- Works as a smart speaker with Amazon Alexa
CONS
- Camera isn’t particularly sharp
- Requires subscription plan to track activities for more than four hours or capture 30-second video clips
- Expensive
- No laser
Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt P24
Sharpest View of Your Pet for the Price
Bottom Line:
The Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt P24 is an affordable indoor home security camera that delivers vivid high-resolution video and is packed with features typically found on pricier models.
PROS
- Affordable
- Sharp 2K video
- Automatic motion tracking
- Sound and motion detection
- Local and cloud storage
- Works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant
CONS
- Doesn’t support IFTTT
- Some features not available in HomeKit
Wyze Cam V3
Best for Penny-Pinching Pet Parents
Bottom Line:
The inexpensive Wyze Cam V3 is an indoor/outdoor home security camera that packs a ton of features into its tiny frame including color night vision, intelligent motion detection, voice control, a built-in siren, and local video storage.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Works indoors and outside
- Color night vision
- Local storage and free cloud storage
- Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT support
- Motion, person, and sound detection
- Built-in siren
CONS
- Doesn’t support HomeKit
- Some features require a subscription
SimCam 1S AI Home Security Camera
Pan Around the Room to Search for Fido
Bottom Line:
The SimCam 1S is a moderately priced security camera that offers a wealth of features including face recognition, mechanical panning, smart alerts, local storage, and interoperability with other smart devices.
PROS
- Sharp 1080p image.
- Mechanical panning.
- Intelligent alerts.
- Facial recognition.
- Supports IFTTT and voice commands.
- Local video storage.
- Dual-band Wi-Fi.
- SD card included.
CONS
- Sluggish panning response.
- Lacks Apple HomeKit support.
Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera
Reliable Pet Alerts
Bottom Line:
The relatively affordable Arlo Essential Indoor is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart home security camera that delivers sharp 1080p video and works with lots of other smart devices.
PROS
- More affordable than Arlo Pro models
- Intelligent alerts
- Sharp 1080p video
- Works with numerous third-party devices
- Voice control
CONS
- Many features require paid subscription
- Hub required for HomeKit support
Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24
Offers a Unique Pet Command Feature
Bottom Line:
The Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 is an affordable home security camera that offers lots of features for the price including sharp 2K video, voice control, and intelligent motion alerts.
PROS
- Sharp 2K video
- Local and cloud storage
- Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant support
- Intelligent motion detection
CONS
- Doesn’t support IFTTT
- Some features not available in HomeKit
Buying Guide: The Best Pet Cameras for 2022
Pet Cameras vs. Home Security Cameras
If you want a camera primarily to keep tabs on your pet, a general-purpose indoor home security camera might serve you just fine—and save you some money. We’ve included some on this list, all of which offer intelligent alerts that differentiate between animals and people.
All of the cameras we’ve selected also offer night vision, so you can see your pet in the dark, and two-way audio, so you can listen for and respond to barks, howls, and meows.
Capture from Furbo 360
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
Pet-specific cameras take things a step further. They let you not just see, hear, and talk to your animals, but remotely play with them and toss treats. And beyond just alerting you when your cat or dog is moving around, pet-specific cameras can tell you when they’re making noise. The Furbo even alerts you when your dog is looking directly at the camera (which it calls a selfie), has been barking for over one minute, or is crying or howling. It also notifies you when it detects a person, or if your smoke or carbon monoxide alarm goes off. That makes it useful as both a home security camera and a dog nanny.
The Best Pet Cameras for Tossing Treats
One of the hallmark features of Furbo and Petcube Bites models is their ability to toss treats on command. When setting up the Furbo, for instance, its companion app walks you through the process of properly introducing the device to your dog to foster a positive association. Treats don’t typically motivate my dog, but he still got the hang of it right away and eats all the treats I toss out using the camera.
Furbo 360 treat receptacle
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
To get your pet’s attention, the Furbo makes a barking sound when it’s about to dispense a treat. Furbo recommends using this feature as a distraction when your dog is anxious, pacing, licking, or barking. You can also use it as a reward when it stops any of those behaviors.
The Best Pet Cameras With Built-In Toys
Some pet-specific cameras feature interactive toys so you can play with your feline or pooch from your phone. The Petcube Play 2(Opens in a new window), which we haven’t yet reviewed, features a built-in laser pointer that’s perfect for cats.
Petcube Play laser
(Credit: Will Greenwald)
The cameras let you tap and drag your finger over the video feed to shine a laser on nearly anything in the frame. It lags a moment or two behind the video, so you can’t be particularly precise, but it’s still a welcome diversion for bored pets (and owners).
Virtual Vet Visits
As pet parents, we often worry about our furry friends, but not every issue requires a trip to the vet. The Petcube Cam(Opens in a new window) offers a tele-vet feature that can help you determine if an in-person visit is necessary. If you capture any concerning activity on camera, you can chat live with a licensed veterinarian via its companion app, as well as share photos and videos of your pet. You get one free consultation with the camera, after which you need to pay a $4.99-per-month subscription.
Petcube Cam live vet chat
(Credit: Petcube)
How Much Should You Spend on a Pet Camera?
As you can see from our picks, many of the top-rated pet-specific and general-purpose indoor home security cameras are in the $200 range, but prices vary. If you have a large home, you may want to spring for a system with multiple cameras.
Petcube Bites 2 Lite
(Credit: Angela Moscaritolo)
Keep in mind that some devices in this category require an additional fee to store video recordings in the cloud. We break down any extra fees in our reviews, so it’s worth taking a look at each one to find out which camera best fits your budget.
Recommended by Our Editors
The good news is that prices are coming down. If you’re not looking to make a big investment, you can get a quality general-purpose home security camera like the WyzeCam V3 for around $20, or a pet-specific one like the Petcube Cam for $50.
More Tech for Your Pampered Pooch
Once you find the right camera, consider investing in a pet tracker or GPS collar for additional peace of mind. We’ve rounded up our favorite wearable trackers and collars, which can monitor your pet’s location and activity to help make sure it’s safe and healthy.
And to help you stay on top of shedding, be sure to check out our list of the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
Finally, if you’re the proud owner of a mutt, but you’re curious to know just what its background is, check out the best dog DNA kits we’ve tested.
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