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Best Hidden Cameras

Updated February 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Alpha Tech Wireless Hidden WiFi Camera
Alpha Tech
Wireless Hidden WiFi Camera
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

Appears to be a standard phone charger and works as a real charger, too.

Pros

Conceals a camera and is also a functioning charger. Extremely easy to use—just plug it in and start recording. Features WiFi connectivity and is compatible with an app that's user-friendly and works with iOS and Android.

Cons

Occasional issues connecting to WiFi and with malfunctioning motion detection have been reported. Instructions aren't clear.

Best Bang for the Buck
FUVISION Nanny Camera Mini Video Recorder
FUVISION
Nanny Camera Mini Video Recorder
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Most Compact
Bottom Line

This option comes at a decent price and has a lot of nice features for such a small package.

Pros

Small and discreet. Can be worn as a body camera and has a sturdy clip to keep it in place. Easy to use and hide; produces HD video with clear picture quality. Works fairly well in low-light situations.

Cons

Motion sensor is quite sensitive, possibly resulting in unnecessary recordings.

AREBI Wireless Hidden WiFi Camera
AREBI
Wireless Hidden WiFi Camera
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Quick Installation
Bottom Line

An easy-to-use option that can be attached with its built-in magnet.

Pros

Has WiFi connectivity, rechargeable battery, and motion sensor. Can live stream or record video. Stores images through the app or on an SD card. Works fairly well in low-light situations. Owners love the wide-angle images it produces. Mid-range price.

Cons

Rare reports of batteries that don't hold charge. May have difficulty pairing with some iPhones.

Sirgawain Hidden Spy Camera Pen
Sirgawain
Hidden Spy Camera Pen
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Quality Footage
Bottom Line

This hidden camera features excellent video and audio quality for such a small item.

Pros

Impressive 1080p Full HD video. 128GB of storage. Rechargeable battery. Films for 70 minutes per charge. Includes 5 ink cartridges. Easy to conceal. Inconspicuous design.

Cons

Its one-button operation may take some getting used to.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Models
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60
Consumers
Consulted
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Researched
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Buying guide for Best hidden cameras

There was a point when security systems were cost prohibitive. Now, whether you want to keep an eye on packages being delivered to your front porch or you just want to see what kind of critters scamper around your yard at night, you can. Technology has advanced and drastically dropped in price, putting hidden cameras in a range that anyone can afford.

What features are most desirable in a hidden camera? Do you need any special knowledge to get your camera up and running on your home WiFi network? Where should you position one to get the most out of it?

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Hidden cameras aren’t just for your home and property. Current technology is sophisticated enough to allow these devices to be worn.

Key considerations

How you plan on using your hidden camera will determine the one that is right for you. So, before you begin your quest for the best, you'll need to answer the following three questions.

What will you use your hidden camera for?

Knowing the particulars of how you intend on using your hidden camera is the easiest way to figure out which features you need and which you don't. For instance, if your camera will never be exposed to the elements, you don't need it to be waterproof.

Where will your hidden camera be located?

Knowing where the camera will be positioned is key to helping you decide what is the best camouflage. For instance, if the camera will be outside, you don't want one hidden in a smoke detector.

How do you want to view the video taken by the hidden camera?

There's a big difference between getting a stand-alone camera that records directly to an SD card and a WiFi camera that you can watch in real time on your phone no matter where you happen to be.

Hidden camera features

Now that you've clearly defined your needs, here is a list of features you’ll want to consider. Not all hidden cameras are the same, so pick the features that are most desirable to you and keep them in mind when shopping.

Audio

For space considerations and legal reasons, most hidden cameras do not feature audio recording. You might need to look a little harder to find a hidden camera with an audio feature.

Detectability

No hidden camera is completely undetectable. However, the best models have a hidden lens that isn't easily noticeable and no LED lights that turn on to signal when recording mode has been activated.

Camouflage

A camera that’s disguised as another object is easy to hide in plain sight, allowing you to get an unobstructed view of whatever you want to monitor.

Ease of use

For the average user, the best hidden camera is a plug-and-play device that requires no experience to set up and use.

Loop recording

This feature records until the memory is full then cycles back to the beginning and starts overwriting the oldest data so the device is always recording.

Memory

If you have a stand-alone hidden camera, memory is crucial. You'll likely need something that can store at least several hours of footage to satisfy your needs.

Motion activation

A motion-activated hidden camera is desirable because it can extend battery life and recording time by going into standby mode until it detects movement. Additionally, a camera that sends push notifications when it detects motion is essential for alerting you of concerns in real time. The best motion-activated cameras allow you to fine-tune the amount of activity it takes to wake the camera up or send a notification.

Night vision

If your camera is equipped with night vision, it employs infrared technology to allow monitoring in the dark. Distance and picture clarity are the two features you want to look at when evaluating the quality of night vision in a hidden camera.

Picture quality

Monitoring an environment or situation is only advantageous if you can actually see what is happening.

Portability

Some hidden cameras, such as smoke detector cameras, require a more permanent installation. Others, like a USB charger, can be quickly and easily moved around from room to room depending on your needs at the time.

Power

If you have a preference for the type of power desired – rechargeable or plug-in – make sure the hidden camera that you’re considering meets those requirements.

Streaming

If you’d like to be able to check on your live feed in real time, you'll need a WiFi-ready hidden camera that can connect to your home network.

Wide-angle or rotating lens

The wider the area your lens can cover, the more likely you are to see what you need to see. You want a hidden camera with a wide-angle or rotating lens to give you the best viewing options.

Weatherproof

If your camera will be exposed to the elements, make sure it is specifically designed for outdoor use.

Hidden camera prices

Inexpensive

It’s possible to find entry-level mini cameras in the $10 to $20 range, but these will likely be lower resolution or wired devices. Between $20 and $50, you can find a wide variety of decent cameras, some with loop recording or night vision. These cameras may still look like cameras or they may be disguised as small functioning items such as a digital clock, USB charger, or smoke detector. Most all of the cameras in this range are WiFi devices.

Mid-range

From $50 to $80, you get all the bells and whistles, HD recording, push notifications, larger memory, and more.

Expensive

If you have a large budget, you can spend anywhere from $300 to over $1,000 for cameras hidden in devices like Bluetooth speakers or multi-camera surveillance systems.

10 tips for using a hidden camera

Unlike the movies, you can't just toss a hidden camera anywhere and expect to have satisfactory results. The following are a few tips that will help you get the most out of your hidden camera.

  • Be sure you have the right camera for your situation. Placing an indoor camera outside is not a wise strategy.

  • Know your camera. If your camera features loop recording, know how long the loop is so you don't accidentally overwrite important footage.

  • Choose wisely. A camera that blinks during night vision mode or has a red LED that turns on while recording will quickly reveal your hidden camera.

  • Invest in the best SD card. Getting a low-end SD card that fails when you need it most is one of the best ways to experience crushing disappointment.

  • Position your camera strategically. Focusing your camera on a narrow location where traffic must pass, such as a doorway or hallway, is best for capturing a clean shot of unwanted intruders.

  • Make sure the camera really is hidden. A hidden camera is only effective when others don’t know it is there.

  • Check your shot. Your hidden camera won't catch much if it's aimed at the floor.

  • Know your angle. If your hidden camera doesn't rotate, you're only going to get a pie slice of what's in front of the lens. Know how big that slice is to be sure you get a sizable portion of the room in your shot.

  • Consider the lighting. A bright light source behind or to the side of your subject could obscure or obliterate details.

  • Add ambient lighting if needed. Night vision may not be enough. If possible, give your night-vision mode a little help with some ambient lighting.
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A high-definition outdoor hidden camera can be great for capturing breathtaking wildlife footage.

FAQ

Q. Are hidden cameras legal?

A. Yes. You can place a hidden camera in your home, you can place a hidden camera outside your home to monitor your property, and you can even place a hidden camera in a public space. However, there are two ways that using a hidden camera in these locations would turn your actions into an illegal activity.

Q. What are those two ways?

A. The first involves privacy. You cannot place a hidden camera in any location where a person would otherwise expect privacy. Therefore, do not use hidden cameras in places like bedrooms or bathrooms. The second restriction explains why a feature is curiously missing from hidden cameras. You cannot have a hidden camera that records audio. Conversations are considered private, and, in most states, at least one party must be aware that the conversation is being recorded. For the other states, both parties involved in a conversation must be aware that it’s being recorded.

Q. What about at work? Can I use a hidden camera to monitor my employees' behavior?

A. The same policy applies at work. It’s perfectly legal to use a hidden camera to monitor your employees. As an employer, you are not obligated to inform your employees that they’re being monitored on a hidden camera. However, it isn’t legal to place that camera in a location where the employees are expecting privacy.