Regardless of where we live, ensuring safety and security of our family is a top priority. While violent crime is declining steadily across the United States, the number of reported cases has risen in the past few years. Since 2015, US citizens have reported on average, 300,000 cases of robbery each year with residential homes being the 2nd most likely places to get robbed.
In such circumstances, keeping an eye on who approaches your home can help you avoid unwanted encounters with criminals. Historically, people have used peepholes to see through their door.
This simple invention has helped countless people avoid robberies and forced entries. However, nowadays, homeowners have replaced these door accessories with far more advanced tools, so they monitor their surroundings more effectively.
Peephole door cameras are home security devices that allow you to monitor suspicious activities outside your home. With features such as HD video recording and motion detection, these cameras ensure the safety of your family by notifying you about unwanted intruders even when you are not around.
That said, finding the camera you need can be difficult because of the countless options available in the market. To buy a camera that works best for your needs, you must inspect each option closely.
In this article, we will compare the most popular peephole cameras available online and discuss the range of features each of them offers. Hopefully, you will be able to find the best option for yourself after reading our guide.
9 Best Peephole Cameras in 2021
| Rank | Name | Key Features | Ratings | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | No products found. | > 1080p HD video > Voice control with Alexa > 2-Way talk > Advance motion detection > Rechargeable battery pack | 4.5 | $$ |
| #2 |  | > 2K HD video (2560p) > Connects to Alexa and Google Assistant > 2-Way Audio > Human detection > 180-Day battery life addon > No Monthly Fees | 4.5 | $$ |
| #3 |  | > HD video > Night vision > 120° Wide Angle Lens > 1 free 32GB SD Card | 4.1 | $ |
| #4 |  | > HD video > Night vision > 2-Way Audio > 160° Wide Angle Lens | 3.4 | $ |
| #5 |  | > HD video > Motion and knocking detection > Digital visitor log > Long battery life (180 days) | 2.9 | $$ |
| #6 |  | > HD video > 3.5" screen > Night vision > 120° Wide Angle Lens | 4.1 | $ |
| #7 |  | > HD video > Motion activated alerts > Built-in rechargeable battery > Works Alexa > 2-Way talk | 4.4 | $ |
| #8 |  | > HD video > 3.5" screen > 120° Wide Angle Lens | 3.5 | $ |
| #9 |  | > HD video > 3.5" screen > 150° Wide Angle Lens | 4 | $ |
#1. Ring Peephole Cam – Smart HD video, 2-way talk
No products found.Ring Peephole Cam is a smart doorbell supplemented with HD video. It will inform you know who is at the door instantly. Using the intelligent doorbell embedded in the system, you can send instant notifications to your phone whenever anyone knocks on your door.
Since the device uses advanced motion detection features, it can also start recording whenever movement outside triggers its sensor. Adding to its advanced features, the camera’s modern design makes it one of the best hidden front door cameras. After installation, the ring camera will start recording video in HD.
Even if you miss some important video, its unique feature will allow you to review it. At the same time, the option of connecting your device to Alexa makes the option especially appealing. When the device is connected with Alexa, controlling it remotely is far easier.
In our Ring peephole camera review, we discovered many new things about the product. For instance, you can command Alexa to turn on special features such as motion detection and even use eco-show to converse with the person at the door front. With durability in mind, the manufacturer has made the battery pack removable and chargeable at.
- Display is in HD
- Works as a doorbell
- Easy to install and setup
- Rechargeable battery
- Compatible with Alexa
- Provides instant notifications
- Voice control through Alexa
- Difficult to monitor activities left at the door because of the placement
- Motion detection is affected by storm doors
#2. Eufy Video Doorbell
Technically, Eufy video doorbell although isn’t a peephole camera. However, the variety of features it offers is more than what most peephole cameras have. Firstly, the device’s 2k high-resolution camera captures even the slightest of details during recording. It is a solid choice for anyone who wants to beef up security outside their home.
Using its sharp video quality supported by motion detecting features, the device does an excellent job of differentiating between objects and human motion. All the while, Eufy works in compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice commands, helping users control the device remotely.
Lastly, the Eufy Video Doorbell provides users with enough free storage to record 30 days of motion-activated recording. However, the device requires wiring to function, so installing it in your home will take more time than battery-powered door viewers. It also means that the camera won’t function when a blackout occurs, but in most cases, not having to replace or recharge batteries is a lot more convenient.
- HD 2k resolution
- Intelligent motion detection
- Compatible with Alexa and Google voice commands
- Local video storage
- Remote Voice command
- Requires wiring
#3. TFT LCD 3.5″ Screen Digital Peephole Security Camera
TFT LCD 3.5″ Screen Digital Peephole Security Camera is an excellent security tool for any home. It is programmed to take pictures of anyone who knocks at your door automatically and saves the image for future reference. Using HD color sense and a 120-degree lens, the camera can record clear images both during both night and day.
At the same time, the camera has a large display of 3.5″ TFT LCD Screen. To help the camera record videos in darkness, the camera includes 4 IR led lights, that turn on automatically when in darkness and enhance your home security.
Because of its intuitive design, the digital peephole camera for apartments is easy to install and fits neatly into existing peepholes. Therefore, you’ll never have to drill extra holes in your door. The camera also has four pieces of batteries to power the camera, allowing you to record without any monthly costs.
- Easy to install for doors with existing peepholes
- Led light turns on automatically at night
- Stores all the pictures taken in your absence
- Produces clear visible images
- Not compatible with modern features like Alexa
- Batteries not included
#4. Remo DoorCam
If you are looking for an excellent wireless front door camera in affordable range then the Remo DoorCam is one best peephole cameras out there. It all the standard necessary features needed for personal security.
This peephole camera for apartments has an attractive design. You can just hang the camera on the door to install it. Amazingly, the sleek design of this camera prevents it from damaging the door finishing, so you won’t violate any tenant regulations after you install it.
The package contains an adjustable bracket for quick self-installment so there is no need to get involved in messy wires. Using its Wi-Fi chipset and antenna, you can easily connect it to your Wi-Fi router.
Additionally, Remo DoorCam offers its user high-definition display to live-stream everything in detail. The wide-angled over the door viewer features a 160-degree field of view, which is the highest field of view in this list.
Although Remo DoorCam offers decent features such as motion sensors and 2-way communication, the quality of both these features is not up to par with other options. Some users report that the motion sensors falsely pick up object interferences, giving inaccurate alerts.
Despite its shortcomings, the full duplex audio communication with visitors is a neat feature to have. Lastly, the camera runs on 3-D batteries that can last up to 12 months.
- HD camera
- Wirefree
- Motion Sensors
- 2-way communication
- Hanging Brackets
- Affordable price
- Instant Live streaming
- Extremely easy installation
- Give a wide view of doorway front
- Motion sensor picks up object interference
#5. Brinno Front Door Peephole Security Camera
Brinno Front Door Peephole Security Camera is available in 3 special styles; namely, , SHC500K, SHC1000, and SHC500. Most customers who prefer this motion activated peephole camera compliment its easy installation.
The camera uses your doors existing peephole and takes only a few minutes to install. Since the device is placed inside your door, you don’t need to worry about it being stolen by someone outside.
In our Brinno peephole camera review, we discovered that the camera activates through a knock on the door, as well as the doorbell press. With its clear image quality and the ability to take clear pictures in dim light, you can ensure that nothing is missed while recording.
If you purchase this camera, you’ll benefit from a long-lasting battery that powers the camera for over 1,800 triggers. The motion activated door peephole camera is an ideal option for recording important events and preventing the camera from stuffing the storage with useless videos.
- Camera viewer can be setup horizontally or vertically
- Theft proof
- Long lasting battery
- Motion and knock detection
- Knocking and motion detection auto-recorded
- Discreetly view who is outside your door
- Large LCD screen
- Clear sharp images
- Quick and easy installation
- Image is compromised in backlit situations
- Changing batteries can be difficult
#6. Digitsea digital doorbell peephole door camera
Digitsea digital doorbell peephole door camera offers its users unique features such as automatic picture and video, LCD screen night vision, and wide-screen. Owners of this product report that the product is easy to use and configure, making it ideal for seniors. The camera uses 4 AA batteries that the initial package does not include, so you must buy them yourself.
Users report that the LCD screen is large enough to view recorded video from a distance. Although some users say that the night vision of the camera is not up to the mark, some people still regard it as the best digital peephole viewer in its price range.
Overall, this camera works really well for normal users. It gives them a clear wide view at all times of the day. While some units have malfunctioned night vision, this issue is not found in every device.
- 4 pcs infrared LEDs for clear night vision
- Automatically snaps and saves photos onto micro SD upon doorbell ring
- 4V Industrial HD color sensor
- Clear image
- 1 Year quality warranty
- Comes with various screw lengths for installing on doors with different thickness
- Clear picture day and night
- Easy installation
- No motion detection
- Can’t adjust view range
- Loadings screen every time you press the camera from the inside
#7. Ring Wi-Fi Enabled Door Bell
Ring Wi-Fi Enabled Door Bell is another decent option although it is more affordable than the variant discussed above. After buying this version, you’ll notice that the camera only has the basic features, so it’s more or less a standard peephole camera recorder.
This best peephole camera has a 720p camera recorder. The quality of the videos recorded is not very clear but can surely give you an idea of who is standing on your door. Further, the camera has a 110 degree vertical view so you easily see a distance of 15 feet from your door. What disappointed us was the night vision which is quiet hazy and has more of black than white. Nevertheless, it’s a good option for low price range.
Further, the device functions with its motion alert system. On detecting a motion or if anyone presses your door bell, it sends you notification on your phone/tablet/PC. If you want a video of the visitor, by a simpler press on your phone it can give you on-demand video and audio of the visitor. Like other best peephole camera recorders, this one also has a 2-way communication system which lets you talk and hear to the person standing outside your door.
Last but not the least, the device is Alexa compatible. Once it is connected, the Alexa illuminates and announces the alert. Moreover, you can also talk, see, and hear using Echo Show or Echo Spot.
- Works with Alexa
- 720p camera recorder
- Motion detectors
- 2-way communication
- Alexa compatible
- Easy to use
- Camera quality is decent
- Works with Alexa
- Instant on demand audio and video recording
- Night camera is not great
#8. Sonew Digital LCD 120 Degree Peephole Viewer
Digital LCD 120 Degree Peephole Viewer boasts a beautiful ultra-thin design. Its unique design helps it to remain hidden despite being installed inside peepholes and appear as simple peepholes. The device allows users to monitor the premises of your door 24/7.
The simple design allows both children and seniors to operate it easily. The camera works best under daylight. Overall, it is a good unit and provides decent camera quality, especially if you consider its low cost. If you don’t need night vision and are okay with buying rechargeable batteries yourself, then this camera is the dice for you.
- Simple installation
- Good picture quality
- Fast boot up time on LCD screen
- No night vision
- Not a rechargeable unit
#9. Digitharbor Digital Door Peephole Viewer
Digitharbor Digital Door Peephole Viewer has a number of different specs and features and allows users to start recording images once a visitor presses the doorbell.
It has a decent display size, measuring up to 3.5 inches. So, if you want to view the recorded pictures and videos, you can see them on a relatively large display. Considering that the device has an intuitive interface, using it will be a frictionless experience.
That said, Digitharbor Digital Door Peephole Viewer has a fair share of problems as well. First, the user has to press the doorbell to trigger the recording feature. The problem with this is that the doorbell key sits just under the camera itself.
Since users must put the camera in the spot usually occupied by the peephole to get the ideal view, the doorbell will be just under the camera, a place where people seldom expect a doorbell to be. This is why users of this camera report that fail to capture as much video as they want. Although you can trigger the camera to start recording on your own, it takes a short delay to start recording.
- Pictures and videos will be taken once doorbell is rung
- Display is easy to view
- User interface is intuitive and can be easily navigated
- Doorbell placement is not ideal
- Camera does not activate right away
Buying Guide: What to Look for When Buying a Peephole Camera
Buying a peephole camera for your home can be difficult unless you know which features matter most for you. Here we have listed down some of the most important factors to consider before buying a peephole camera.
Motion Detection
Motion detection is a key feature in digital door viewers as they allow you to monitor the activities in front of your door more precisely. Motion detection features activate the lens aperture.
Each camera has a specific set detection area that allows the camera to detect motion and capture images whenever something passes in front of it. This allows your camera to record videos only when it detects movement, saving you volumes of internet bandwidth and storage. This is it’s ideal to buy motion activated peephole cameras.
Memory and Video Capture
Not all peephole cameras can record videos, as they are just low-tech, digital versions of peepholes. They will enable you to see who’s behind the door without standing near it. Cameras that record videos use memory cards for storage. To continue recording, many of these cameras rewrite old videos to make room for new ones.
Image Quality
Whenever anyone discusses cameras, image quality is often the first thing that comes to mind. Cameras with higher image quality can detect finer details about a suspicious activity, giving you useful evidence, as a result. Because of the importance of image quality in peephole cameras, many of the products offer HD image quality. Based on your preference and budget, you can buy cameras with either 720p or 1080p HD peephole cameras.
Field of View
For security reasons, it’s important to use cameras with wide-angle features. This allows you to monitor as much space in front of your door as possible using your digital door viewer. Buying a wide-angle peephole door viewer gives you a better field of view, ranging from 150 degrees to 170 degrees.
Battery Life
The purpose of any digital door viewer is to protect you and your family. This is why it’s ideal for these cameras to work at all times of the day. However, in battery-powered cameras, this drains the battery very quickly. Therefore, when you are buying battery-powered digital door viewers, you should prefer rechargeable options that also have motion detection.
Installation
Peephole cameras are meant to replace existing peepholes in doors, so users can make most of advanced monitoring features. Despite that, installing them might take too much effort if you choose the wrong variant for your door.
There are two main ways of installing peepholes in doors. One category of peephole is mounted on where an existing peephole is already there. Although it seems simple to install, in reality, it’s far more complicated. Homeowners might have to remove the existing lens of the peephole to install the camera in its place.
In other cases, some devices replace your doorbell instead. You can install them without drilling, changing wires, & screws by sticking them next to (or on top of) your existing doorbell. This means you’ll have to constantly rely on external batteries for power, so if you want your camera to gain power through your supply, we will highly recommend connecting the camera to the wire.
Wireless
Nowadays, many peephole cameras are available in a wireless version. So if you want your camera to sync to your smartphone or computer, you should buy the wireless version. Most wireless peephole cameras will upload footage automatically using Wi-Fi signals and notify about suspicious activities even when you’re away. There are also Bluetooth peephole cameras available in the market that use Bluetooth signals to send notifications or recordings.
Warranty
Like most electronic products, peephole cameras can develop one or two problems in the initial phase. Therefore, it’s good to prefer a product whose responsibility the manufacturer is willing to take.
Looped Recording
Loop recording is a feature that allows you to maintain storage space by replacing the oldest recordings by the newest ones. This happens after a certain limit of storage has been filled. Digital door viewer cameras with looped recording feature record video far more efficiently. Without this feature, peephole cams can quickly chew up the entire storage easily and have no memory left to record important incidents.
Storage
The amount of storage space the camera has matters a lot for recording incidents effectively. Apart from the SD card, which you can insert in the camera to increase storage, you also need hard disk storage that enables you to store data of up to 256 GB. While pricing may be different during the purchasing process, you should consider the schedule to be your guiding factor.
User Interface
A traditional door viewer requires you to look through it to gain information you need. A digital door viewer should also be easy to use interface.
Night Vision
One disadvantage of traditional door viewers is that it’s difficult to see what’s on the other side of the door in darkness. This is why many door viewers are equipped with night vision capabilities so you can secure your home regardless of the time of day.
Mobile Integration
Sometimes, having a peephole camera is not enough for ensuring the security of your home. High-tech solutions provide you with a complete range of benefits and features, enabling you to get most of your digital door viewer. Some peephole cameras have various advanced that facilitate mobile integration and connect your phone to your security system.
- Two-way intercom feature
- Pre-recorded messages (in place of a doorbell)
- Cloud storage and integration
- Automatic text notifications
- Smart motion sensors
- Wireless connections
- Audio and video capture
These features are amazing to have, but buying a high-tech digital door viewer security solution will be more costly. However, buying such devices can help you keep an eye on suspicious activities when you are not at home.
Notifications
Having a mobile integrated solution is virtually useless if the device doesn’t send you notifications. Besides that, it prompts you whenever someone is at your door so you don’t just walk up to the door without knowing who’s outside. Some digital door viewers may inform homeowners about someone’s presence, using a bell while others will just send alerts directly to your mobile device.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What is the best front door camera?
Like many things, the best front door camera for you depends on your needs. You need to prioritize features according to your budget and consider the configuration of the apartment or house.
If your house has a well lit porch and audio features or two communication isn’t a problem for you then Brinno Front Door Peephole Security Camera might be a good option for you. You’ll benefit from a long-lasting battery in the wireless camera and enjoy decent quality images captured through a motion sensor.
Does Nest have a peephole camera?
Nest Hello is a video doorbell supported by Google. Although the device has advanced features similar to a peephole camera, it is technically not a peephole camera itself. Nest is mostly known for its smart thermostats, but this combined version of the Nest camera and doorbell gives users the best of both worlds.
The device offers 24/7 live streaming, supported by night vision and HDR imaging. The high-quality display of the device gives users clear view of what’s in front of their door in both bright and dim lighted settings. The camera will light up once anyone approaches the door even if they don’t ring the bell. After detecting people, the device will send you an alert on your mobile device.
How do you record a peephole?
Different versions of peephole cameras are available in the market and they differ in how they record videos. Some cameras don’t offer recording features at all and just provide users with live-streaming of what’s outside their door.
That said, best digital peephole cameras have more than one way of detecting someone’s arrival. Some cameras start recording once a person knocks on the door, while others record after someone pushes the doorbell. Advanced peephole cameras have powerful sensor that can detect motion without knocks on door or pressing doorbells.
How do I put a peephole in my front door?
You can create a peephole in your door by following the steps lined up below.
- First make sure you clearly measure where you want to drill and create a perfect circle for where you want the circular drill bit to go.
- Make sure you are using the right type of drill bit. It is important to make sure that your drill bit is designed to go through the material that your door is made out of whether that be metal wood or fiberglass or a different material.
- Carefully drill into the door while making sure to apply even pressure on the back of the drill
- Gently file away any burs or metal spikes that are left around the door so that your digital door viewer can easily slip into the hole and so the metal burs around the hole don’t become an eyesore on your main home entrance
How do you install a peephole camera door?
You don’t need separate doors for peephole camera and regular doors can be used. For people who already have a peephole, installing a peephole camera is fairly easy. They only have to slip in peephole camera into peephole slot in the door.
How does ring peephole camera work?
Ring peephole camera works with the help of its advanced motion detection features. Whenever the camera detects any movement outside, it triggers the sensors and the camera starts recording. Using the intelligent doorbell embedded in the system, you can send instant notifications to your phone whenever anyone knocks on your door.
Conclusion
When comparing the best peephole cameras, you have to see which features you value the most. If you know what kind of camera you need, it’s relatively easier to choose the best option for yourself.
Many cameras are fully loaded with advanced features, whereas others are “low-tech.” For you the best digital door viewer can be the one that fits your budget. However, it’s best to prefer options that offer the most features in the lowest price.
There are many video doorbells such as Eufy and Google Hello that can be used as DIY peephole cameras. Likewise, there are some keyhole cameras in market used for recording visitors.
In our video peephole camera reviews, we discovered that Ring Peephole Cam is the most feature-rich options with the former being the best choice.
Overall, when it comes to the best video doorbell camera, these are your top models.