Best Hidden Cameras of 2021: Complete Reviews with Comparisons

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Hidden camera technology has come a long way in recent years. From USB chargers to light fittings, alarm clocks and even teddy bears, spy cameras can be hidden in just about anything. Keeping an eye on your home, children, or pets is now easier than ever thanks to these devices.If you’re thinking about buying a hidden camera or just want to know how they work, read on. We’ll take an in-depth look at some of the best hidden cameras on the market, break down all the components in our buyer’s guide, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

Best Hidden Cameras Reviews

Comparison Chart

41hoPt4562L. SL500
Pofeite Mini Spy Camera Hidden WiFi Small Wireless Video Camera with Full HD 1080P Audio Night Vision Motion Sensor Detection Support SD Card for iPhone Android Security Nanny Surveillance Cam
41q459gi92L. SL500
Hidden Spy Camera Wireless WiFi Hidden Camera 1080P Clock Hidden Cameras for Home Security Monitor Video Recorder Nanny Cam 140 Angle Night Vision Motion Detection
31dYU9KfSLS. SL500
Spy Camera Charger, Hidden Camera, Mini Camera, USB Charger, Hidden Nanny Camera, 1080P HD, Card Reader (Memory Card not Included)
41wlJWqU5uL. SL500
True 1080P Hidden Camera Clock Wireless Spy Cameras HD WiFi Secret Covert Nanny Cam Home Office Surveillance Security Cams Enhanced Night Vision 12/24 Hour Switch Motion Detection Alert
Hidden Spy Camera,1080P HD WiFi Mini Camera Portable Wireless Security Cameras Video Recorder IP Cameras Nanny Cam with DIY Interchangeable Lens/Motion Detection for Home Monitoring(New APP)

1. Pofeite Hidden Spy Camera

41hoPt4562L. SL500

Spy cameras come in many shapes and sizes, and if you’re looking for a multi-use product Pofeite’s Hidden Spy Camera might be for you. Weighing just 0.7oz (20g), the 0.87” (2.2cm) cube is one of the lightest and smallest hidden cameras on the market.

Product Highlights

Recording in high definition 1080p video, the 140-degree wide-angle lens captures over 12 million pixels, delivering crystal clear images. Night vision is possible thanks to six LED lights that are invisible to the eye.

This camera features three shooting modes for great flexibility. With the click of a button, you can switch from recording to snapshot or motion detection. Increase the security of your home by using the camera’s motion detection function when you’re away from the house.

Included with the camera are a body clip and base bracket, allowing you to wear the camera or install it on a surface. The built-in lithium battery has a life of around 60 minutes and is recharged easily with the included USB cable.

What’s to like about the Pofeite Hidden Spy Camera

The Pofeite Hidden Spy Camera is one of the smallest and lightest available. High definition recording and multiple shooting functions offer many different uses, while the included accessories ensure your camera is secure while in use.

What’s not to like about the Pofeite Hidden Spy Camera

As the battery life is limited to around 60 minutes, it will need to be recharged frequently if recording continuously. While a micro SD card is required for this camera to function, it’s not included in the box.

PROS

  • 1080p HD video recording
  • Ultra-lightweight and small design
  • Night vision LEDs

CONS

  • Short battery life
  • SD card not included
  • As it’s so small it can be difficult to change functions

2. Hosuku Hidden Spy Camera Clock

41q459gi92L. SL500

Smart technology or tech that connects to Wi-Fi for increased functionality is one of the fastest growing segments in homewares products. With the Hosuku Hidden Spy Camera Clock, you can view your home from your mobile device, day or night.

Night vision and advanced motion detection make monitoring your home easy, and the camera can even send push notifications to your phone when it’s activated.

Product Highlights

The clock design hides the camera behind specialty glass while also offering a functioning alarm clock. The 140-degree wide-angle lens captures high definition 1080p video which can be streamed directly to your phone thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity.

Add an SD card for continuous, looping recording, or watch live via the multifunctional app. While 1080p HD recording is generally preferred, this camera’s adjustable resolution can be lowered to 720p or 640p to help save memory card space. For night vision recording, 12 infrared LEDs activate to capture anything up to 5 meters from the device.

What’s to like about the Hosuku Hidden Spy Camera Clock

The smart design and Wi-Fi connectivity make this hidden camera stand out from some others. The adjustable resolution allows you to save space when recording, and the automatic activity alerts mean you can keep an eye on your home from wherever you are in the world.

What’s not to like about the Hosuku Hidden Spy Camera Clock

The included USB cable is quite short so you may need to move the unit depending on where you want to charge it. While the camera can record to an SD card, this is not included in the box.

PROS

  • View your home live via the free app
  • Adjustable resolution up to 1080p HD
  • Good night vision from 12 infrared LEDs

CONS

  • Short USB cable
  • SD card not included

3. Kcomotee USB Charger Spy Camera

31dYU9KfSLS. SL500

Almost all personal electronics require a USB charger to recharge the battery. With the Kcomotee USB Charger Spy Camera, you’ll not only get a spare charging point, but you’ll also be able to record what’s going on in your home.

Simply insert a micro SD card of up to 32GB into the unit, plug it into an outlet and start recording. With no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity to worry about, this plug-and-play device can be set up in seconds.

Product Highlights

Featuring advanced motion detection and recording in full HD 1080p, monitoring your home is made easy with this dual-use hidden camera. The unit produces no sounds or visual indicators, and with a concealed memory card slot, you can be sure the camera remains hidden.

Great for monitoring pets, nannies, or your home in general, the built-in battery will protect the SD card from corruption should something go wrong. And for additional peace of mind, it’s backed by a 1-year manufacturer’s guarantee.

What’s to like about the Kcomotee USB Charger Spy Camera

The plug-and-play design allows you to start recording in seconds. Automatic recording is possible thanks to the motion detection function, and while this is a great hidden camera, it’s also a fully functional USB charger.

What’s not to like about the Kcomotee USB Charger Spy Camera

To record any video, you need to purchase a micro SD card for this camera. While these are getting cheaper, it’s a required expense as it won’t work without it. The camera also only captures a 90-degree field of view and may get accidentally obstructed when a cable is plugged into the USB charger.

PROS

  • Dual-use USB charger and hidden camera
  • Very discreet
  • 1080p HD video recording
  • Automatic motion detection

CONS

  • Narrow 90-degree recording angle
  • SD card not included
  • The camera can become easily obstructed

4. Facamword Hidden Camera Alarm Clock

41wlJWqU5uL. SL500

There are many multifunctional hidden cameras on the market but few offer as much as the Facamword Hidden Camera Alarm Clock. While recording discreet video is any hidden camera’s main function, this unit is also a functional alarm clock, displaying the time, temperature, and date, all while recording HD video.

Product Highlights

This smart hidden camera alarm clock can be set up in a matter of minutes. Connect to your Wi-Fi to automatically set the date, time, and temperature. Download the free app for iOS or Android to access many settings and view live video. Combine with an SD card of up to 128GB to record video and play back later.

The perfect security addition to your home, Facamword’s Hidden Camera Alarm Clock can be placed virtually anywhere. The included rechargeable lithium battery can record for four hours continuously, or for 24/7 surveillance, simply connect the USB charger. For a complete security solution, enable the motion detection function. Push notifications are sent to your phone when the camera is activated.

The high-quality camera records in 1080p with a wide-angle, 115-degree lens. Infrared night vision is possible thanks to hidden LEDs, allowing you to record clear images even in dark rooms.

What’s to like about the Facamword Hidden Camera Alarm Clock

The Wi-Fi connectivity, live viewing, and long battery life are among the best aspects of this hidden camera. As it is also a functioning clock, the clear LED display gives a lot of information while the 4-hour battery life allows for extended use.

What’s not to like about the Facamword Hidden Camera Alarm Clock

Like many hidden cameras, if you want to record video you will need to purchase an SD card as this is not included with the product.

PROS

  • Long battery life
  • HD video recording
  • Motion activated
  • Infrared night vision

CONS

  • SD card not included

5. WBESEV WiFi Hidden Spy Camera

If you’re looking for a new concept in hidden cameras, WBESEV’s 1080p Wi-Fi Hidden Spy Camera might be your best choice. This camera comes with two interchangeable lenses, giving total flexibility while remaining completely unseen.

As a network camera, you’re able to record and view live video from virtually anywhere at any time. Combine multiple cameras and view up to four at a time via the free app on iOS and Android devices. Multiple users are also permitted so everyone in your home can access the video feed at any time.

Product Highlights

The WBESEV Hidden Spy Camera is perfect for indoor or outdoor use. Not only is this great as a home surveillance monitor, but it can also double as a dash cam, sports cam, baby monitor, meeting recorder, or pet monitor. Super clear images are captured with the 1080p lens, and to help keep the camera out of sight, an additional 6” (15cm) extended lens is also included.

When motion detection is enabled and activated, the camera will shoot three images or video and sends them to your phone. To record video, an SD card of up to 128GB is required, and the loop recording function ensures you’ll never run out of space.

What’s to like about the WBESEV WiFi Hidden Spy Camera

This is one of the few hidden cameras that include dual lenses, which can be great to ensure the camera remains hidden. As you can combine multiple cameras, you can also use this as a complete home surveillance system.

What’s not to like about the WBESEV WiFi Hidden Spy Camera

The included battery gives a limited 2-hour life which is fine for some applications but not ideal for home surveillance. While the app to control the camera is free, it can be temperamental and lose connection.

PROS

  • Dual lenses
  • 1080p HD video recording
  • Multiple units can be networked for whole home surveillance

CONS

  • Short battery life
  • SD card not included with the camera

Buyer’s Guide

When you’re wanting to buy a hidden camera there are a lot of things to consider. While most people are looking for added home security or a way to keep an eye on their kids or pets, there’s such a huge range of cameras available that it can be difficult to know where to start.

If you’re in the market for one of the best hidden cameras, this buyer’s guide will give you all the information you need to navigate through the options.

Types

Like most personal electronics, hidden cameras come in a huge variety of styles and offer many different functions. As hidden cameras are meant to go unseen, you can find them hiding in just about anything, including:

  • USB thumb drives and chargers
  • Tissue boxes
  • Electrical outlets
  • Smoke detectors
  • Alarm clocks
  • Soda cans
  • Books
  • Glasses
  • Lamps
  • Doorbell housings
  • Stuffed toys
  • Furniture

And on and on … the list is almost endless. Whatever the case, if you’re in the market for a hidden camera, look for a model that won’t stand out from its surroundings so it stays hidden.

Audio

While video recording is the main use for a hidden camera, many models are also able to record audio. As these cameras typically fit in the palm of your hand, the microphones used with them need to be very small, which can result in poor quality audio. To overcome lackluster audio, look to programs such as Audacity where you can tweak the levels.

There are many advantages to having a camera that can also record audio. For one, it gives you a complete picture of what’s happening in your home. This is especially useful for nanny cams or monitoring your pets. Some models also include 2-way audio so you can respond to whoever’s there.

Audio recording can be especially useful if you need to record conversations, but be aware that audio recording without consent from all parties is illegal in some countries and US states.

Resolution

Video resolution is one of the most important things to consider when buying a hidden camera. The resolution indicates the number of pixels that the camera can record. In other words, the higher the resolution, the more pixels the camera can capture, which will result in a clearer image.

Resolutions are typically stated as a number – 360p, 480p, 720p, or 1080p – and represent the total number of horizontal lines in a video. As these horizontal lines increase, so do the total number of pixels in each line. (That’s because the format remains the same, 4:3, 16:9 etc.)

So a video in 480p has 480 horizontal lines with each line being 852 pixels wide. For this reason, you may also see resolutions listed as 852×480, 1280×720 (for 720p), or 1920×1080 (for 1080p).

The resolution you should go for really depends on your needs, but with high-definition technology becoming cheaper all the time, there’s really no need to go below 720p (which is basic HD). Most hidden cameras come with full HD 1080p cameras and deliver very good picture quality.

Night Vision

Along with working out what resolution you’ll need, you should also consider where and when your camera will be recording. Will you need to record at night or in dark rooms? Thankfully, many hidden cameras come with some kind of night vision for low-light recording, but the quality of video can vary drastically between models.

Low light quality is often rated as a number of lux or lumens. This number represents the amount of light that falls on an object from one meter away. For example, a camera with a 2 lux rating is equal to the amount of light that falls on a one-square-meter surface from 2 candles. An 8 lux rating is the same amount of light from 8 candles one meter away, and so on.

While this number is listed on some models, it may be excluded from others. Many hidden cameras employ infrared LEDs to heighten low-light images but unfortunately, you may not be able to see the quality until you actually try the product. As with most electronics, the more expensive products will generally produce better quality low-light images.

Motion Sensor

Motion detection is a great home surveillance feature. When your home is empty, the camera remains dormant, but as soon as motion is detected, the camera starts recording or streaming video to your phone. This is especially useful for saving power. Many of the entry-level cameras have a limited battery life so motion detection can help prolong this.

But choosing a hidden camera with motion detection not only allows you to save battery life, it also will help save recording space as the camera is only recording when motion is detected. Most hidden cameras record to an SD card which can fill up very quickly with HD recordings. If set to record only when motion activated, the card will last longer while also saving you time looking through previously recorded video.

F.A.Q.

How to Find Hidden Cameras?

Finding hidden cameras can be a challenging task; they are designed to be hidden after all. If you need to be sure there’s no hidden camera in your home or hotel room, there are a few things that can help you find them.

The first step you can take is to carefully look around the room for anything that seems out of place. A small hole in a wall or a misplaced ornament could easily be hiding a camera. Look inside light fittings, smoke detectors, and around tables and chairs as all are excellent places for hidden devices.

When sweeping the room, listen carefully for any electronic or mechanical ‘clicks.’ As many hidden cameras are motion activated, this click can indicate that a camera has started recording. Once you’ve swept the room, turn out the lights and look for any red, green, or blue LED lights that may belong to a hidden camera.

If you’ve swept your room or home but are seriously worried about covert monitoring, the best thing to do is to buy an RF (radio frequency) detector. These units pick up radio waves being emitted from devices like hidden cameras and microphones so you can remove them.

How to Make a Hidden Camera?

Hidden cameras have dramatically dropped in price over the past few years, so there’s really no need to make one yourself. However, if you have some old computer equipment lying around and want to give it a go, making your own hidden camera is actually quite easy.

The first thing you’ll need is some kind of camera. An old or cheap webcam is the best way to go as it’s the easiest to modify into a hidden camera. Start by removing the plastic shell of the webcam so you’re left with the circuit board and USB cable. You should see the camera lens mounted to the circuit board which will now be much easier to hide without the plastic case.

Next, choose what you will be hiding your camera in. Get creative but ensure whatever you choose isn’t out-of-place when you install the camera. A tissue box, old electric pencil sharpener, or even a bag can hold a hidden camera. Whatever you use, ensure the camera has an unobstructed view by cutting a small hole just big enough for the camera lens.

Install the camera in its new case and ensure it fits and doesn’t look obvious. Superglue can help keep the camera in place, just be sure not to get any glue on the camera lens as this will be near impossible to remove. Make a space in the back of the hiding spot for the USB cable to come out. You may need to place the camera close to a computer if the cable isn’t too long or consider buying a USB extension cable and hide this out of sight.

Once connected, check the camera is working by viewing on the computer and make any final adjustments as required.

How to Set Up a Hidden Camera?

While the setup will differ between devices, there are a few things to keep in mind when setting up any hidden camera.

Ensure the battery is fully charged

This goes without saying but without power, the camera will not function. A full charge will ensure everything works correctly from the start.

Insert a memory card before use

Most hidden cameras record to an SD card, and many models won’t even function if this is not installed. Buy the largest memory card your camera supports to get the most amount of recording time possible.

Find the perfect spot

The camera should have a perfect line of sight to whatever it is monitoring. Check that the camera doesn’t look out of place in its new location and that power plugs can be reached if necessary.

Connect the camera to your network?

If your hidden camera is Wi-Fi-enabled, connect to the network and download any required apps. This will allow you to monitor the feed remotely.

Test the camera

The last step is to test the camera and make sure it’s functioning correctly. Make any adjustments as required and check again that your camera is well hidden.

Setting up a hidden camera is normally as simple as following the included instructions. As each camera has its own way of functioning, this is really the most effective way of setting up your new device.

How to Check a Hidden Camera?

Hidden cameras will need some adjustments from time to time so it’s important to maintain regular checks. Below is a list of things you should check over periodically to ensure your hidden camera continues working properly:

Line of sight

Ensure the camera is unobstructed by checking the video feed on a regular basis.

Battery life

If the camera runs on batteries, ensure these are charged as needed. Where possible, run the camera off mains power to avoid accidental dropouts.

Memory card

Many cameras employ loop recording and record over previously recorded video. To avoid losing any recordings, download the video to your computer regularly.

Mounts and cables (if any)

If mounted, check the camera is secure and not in danger of falling. Ensure all cables are connected and well hidden.

Regular maintenance will ensure the longevity of your camera and keep it working in perfect order.

What Do Hidden Cameras Look Like?

As we saw in the above buyer’s guide, hidden cameras can look like just about anything. If you have a look at the size of the camera lens on your phone you can see just how small these can be made. As cameras have become smaller and more powerful, they’ve also become much easier to hide.

Many hidden cameras appear like normal everyday objects, but the technology behind the camera is what makes them so powerful. If you’re not sure what type of hidden camera to get for your home, the most important thing is to ensure it doesn’t stand out.

Final Verdict

A hidden camera is a great security addition to your home, and with so many great products on the market, it’s easy to find one that perfectly suits your needs. Whether you want to keep an eye on your pets or watch over your house, the best hidden cameras can add an extra layer of security to your home.

Whatever your reasons for needing a hidden camera, it’s important to get one that’s right for you. Ensure the device fits in with its surrounds and isn’t out of place. If you’re wanting continuous monitoring look, for a camera that runs off mains power and ideally streams to your phone.

With the right device, you can easily and discreetly monitor your home.

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