We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping People Tested The 7 Best Pet Cameras of 2024, Tested and Reviewed The Eufy Pet Dog Camera came out on top By Madison Yauger Madison Yauger Madison Yauger is a shopping editor at PEOPLE.com with eight years of digital media and journalism experience. She has a penchant for lifestyle content with a focus on staples like cozy throw blankets, chic dog jackets, Away luggage, and the linen pants celebrities can’t stop wearing. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 1, 2024 05:32PM EDT In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Things to Consider How We Tested FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What is People Tested? PEOPLE / LETICIA ALMEIDA One of the hardest parts about being a pet owner is seeing their face in the door when you leave the house. Short of never leaving (tempting!), the cure to this heartbreak is being able to watch your pet from afar via a pet camera. Even celebrities like JoJo Fletcher and Brittany Snow have been seen using the popular Furbo to keep an eye on their beloved dogs while they’re away. “Pet cameras are an extremely valuable tool for monitoring your pet while you're away, or even just out of the room,” applied animal behaviorist Lillian Ciardelli, ACAAB, tells PEOPLE. Many of the latest models come with features so you can watch and speak to your dog throughout the day, throw dog treats, detect when they’re running around or barking, and so much more. “We use them often when working with pets who suffer from separation-related distress,” she says. “The voice and treat delivery features can be good for some dogs and contexts, but we don't recommend them for helping with separation training.” We picked 17 of the most popular pet cameras and tested them to see how well they would work for the average pet parent. Some setups proved simple while others caused minor challenges when connecting to apps. At the end of the day, we came away with our favorite easy-to-use pet cameras. Read on for the best pet cameras that PEOPLE Tested. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Eufy Dog Camera D605 at Amazon ($200) Jump to Review Best Budget: YI Technologies Dome Pet Camera at Amazon ($34) Jump to Review Best with Treat Dispenser: Furbo 360° Dog Camera at Amazon ($99) Jump to Review Best for Outdoors: Wyze Cam v3 at Amazon ($26) Jump to Review Best for Cats: Skymee Skymee Owl Robot at Amazon ($170) Jump to Review Best with 360 Views: Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt Camera at Amazon ($25) Jump to Review Best Multipurpose: Blurams Security Camera at Amazon ($22) Jump to Review Best Overall Eufy Dog Camera D605 Amazon View On Amazon $200 View On Eufy.com View On Newegg.com $200 Our Ratings Ease of Setup 5/5 Performance 5/5 Functionality 5/5 Design 4/5 Value 4/5 Pros Setup takes less than five minutes, including logging into the app. It has many extra features beyond the camera, including a treat dispenser and two-way audio. The 270-degree swivel lets you scan a whole room to find your pet. The Dog Diary doesn’t require a subscription. Cons It’s the second most expensive camera on our list. It cannot be mounted. The activity log doesn’t always store videos of your pet throughout the day. For a pet camera that lets you watch your pet from afar while talking to them, dispensing their favorite treats, and keeping track of their movements for a one-time price, look to the Eufy Pet Dog Camera. Connected using an app, this pet camera was a hit during testing. Setup involves a quick scan of a QR code and a few steps on your phone. The camera, which comes with night vision and motion detection, proved effective and functional during our tests. The video was beautifully clear in both day mode and night mode. All of the controls (voice, treat, and motion) were highly responsive to commands from the app. We appreciated the variety of features and noted how well each performed. The treat dispenser worked efficiently without spewing treats in every direction, and the night vision went on automatically after the testing lab lights were turned off. With a 270-degree rotation, this camera provides a wide range of vision. Our team also appreciated how responsive the app was with screenshots and video recordings from the camera. We also liked the design, especially the classic white shell and medium size. You can easily store it on the edge of a table or counter to keep eyes on your pet. The only downside we noted was the higher price and that the camera can’t be mounted, but despite its cost, it’s a good value. Considering all of the features, the Eufy camera more than earned our top spot among the best pet cameras. View: 270 degrees | Lens: 1080p wide angle | Treat Dispenser: Yes | Two-Way Audio: Yes | Dog Diary: Yes | Subscription: No | App: Yes | Special Features: Night vision, motion sensor How It's Held Up PEOPLE editor Madison Yauger has had the Eufy Pet Dog camera for over six months. “I bought the camera to keep eyes on my newly adopted puppy and have thoroughly appreciated all the features,” she says. “I like how it can swivel so you can scan a whole room if your dog is hiding in one corner or another, and the live stream keeps me at ease when I’m away — especially since it notifies you on your phone if your dog is moving or making noise.” She says the only con is that the activity log doesn’t always keep videos from throughout the day, which is frustrating if you want to go back and see what your pet was up to earlier. People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best Budget YI Technologies Dome Pet Camera Walmart View On Amazon $34 View On Walmart $47 Our Ratings Ease of Setup 5/5 Performance 4/5 Functionality 5/5 Design 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Pros The instructions make for an easy setup of the device and the app. It's a high-resolution video camera with HD and SD options. It offers a 360-degree view for full visibility. Cons There’s no treat dispenser. The camera cannot be mounted. This simple and compact camera is an affordable and well-designed device to watch your pets when you’re not home. The manual contained every instruction you need for an easy setup, and we found it easy to plug in the device and set up the app. For being a budget option, this camera exceeded our expectations. With features like 360-degree monitoring and night vision, this camera will have eyes on your pet all day. We liked that the camera had clear video quality as well as options like HD and SD. We also appreciated the microphone aspect and how it provided clear audio when speaking to your pet. The device is super compact and portable, and our team loved all the camera features. The camera’s affordability, high quality, and performance make it an impressive option. View: 360 degrees | Lens: 1080p wide angle | Treat Dispenser: No | Two-Way Audio: Yes | Dog Diary: No | Subscription: No | App: Yes | Special Features: Night vision, motion sensor People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best with Treat Dispenser Furbo 360° Dog Camera Amazon View On Amazon $99 View On Furbo.com Our Ratings Ease of Setup 5/5 Performance 5/5 Functionality 4/5 Design 4/5 Value 3/5 Pros This camera has a simple setup with an interactive app. The night vision is clear. It has bark detection and motion sensors for dogs and people. You can go back and look at the activity time log throughout the day. Cons The camera requires a subscription for Dog Diary. It cannot be mounted. It’s the most expensive camera on our list. As one of the most popular pet cameras, you might have heard of the Furbo. With a sophisticated design that blends into most spaces and features like motion- and bark-detection, night vision, treat dispensing, and two-way audio, this little camera has it all. It takes very little time to connect to the internet, and the process to set up an account is just as simple. The model we tested had a 160-degree view but has been replaced with a newer model with 360-degree mobility. We thought the video and audio quality were both great, including the night vision — and we appreciated the wide field of vision. The treat dispenser was a highlight, throwing two to four treats out with each swipe on the app, and there’s a guide to help you introduce this feature to your pet. Overall, the Furbo is probably one of the best-looking pet cameras we tried. However, our team noted that there’s no wall mounting support. If you opt for the standalone camera without the Dog Nanny Subscription, it costs a $210 flat fee, the most expensive price on our list. However, you can also buy a bundle package with the base camera for $79 (with coupon) and the Dog Nanny Subscription (which lets you access videos of your dog throughout the day) for an additional $6.99 a month. Given all of the features and stunning design, we believe this is a great pet camera if you’re willing to invest. View: 160 degrees | Lens: 1080p wide angle | Treat Dispenser: Yes | 2-way Audio: Yes | Dog Diary: Yes | Subscription: Yes | App: Yes | Special Features: Night vision, motion sensor, bark detection How It's Held Up Yauger’s family has had the Furbo camera for a little over two years. All of the features work as advertised, and the camera quality is fantastic. “Since I moved to New York and our family’s dog lives in Florida, I’ll check the Furbo every now and then to catch a glimpse of her and see what she’s up to,” says Yauger. Overall, it works really well, but it does go offline sometimes and has to be restarted. People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best for Outdoors Wyze Cam v3 Amazon View On Amazon $26 View On Walmart $29 View On Wyze.com Pros This camera can be mounted. It’s weather-resistant and can be used both indoors and outdoors. It can record 24/7 with sound and motion detection. Cons It doesn’t include extra features. The setup needed clearer instructions. While this security camera is basic in features, it offers resistance against inclement weather making it ideal as an outdoor pet camera. The setup is completely done within the app, so if you have a good Wi-Fi connection it shouldn’t take too long (though the instructions could have been clearer). Though limited in quantity, several features impressed our team during testing. We liked that it can record video and take photos that can be saved on your phone. The overall sound quality and other features like motion detection and night vision seemed to work well, too. Since this model is mountable, it’s very lightweight and compact and can be adjusted to view different angles. Our team liked the intuitive app and the small size of this camera, making it perfect for small apartments. It should be noted that if you do mount this camera outside, you’ll need to purchase the Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter (sold separately). View: Straightforward view | Lens: 1080p | Treat Dispenser: No | Two-Way Audio: Yes | Dog Diary: No | Subscription: No | App: Yes | Special Features: Color night vision, motion sensor, sound detection People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best for Cats Skymee Skymee Owl Robot Amazon View On Amazon $170 Our Ratings Ease of Setup 4/5 Performance 4/5 Functionality 4/5 Design 5/5 Value 5/5 Pros The pre-set mobile patterns are designed to entertain and interact with your pet. It offers multi-person access to the app for check-ins throughout the day. It has a long-lasting battery. Cons The cat stick is hard to attach. Its movement might scare anxious pets. If you move the camera using the remote, there’s a lag time with the video. Using a remote control app, you can move this little robot camera around your home to see what your pet is up to. The controller has pre-programmed movements to make the owl turn in different directions, move in a wavy line, and other playful maneuvers to entertain your pet. Compared to stationary cameras, this option can detect when your pet is near or even touching the camera. Our team appreciated the ease of setup — simply download the app, scan a QR code, and the device connects automatically. The performance of the rest of the features — two-way audio, motion detection, and treat dispenser — also proved efficient. If you have a cat at home, there’s an option of attaching a cat stick to the front of the camera for added entertainment. While the video quality is great, if you move the owl camera around with the remote control, there’s a bit of a lag with the video timing. Overall, this is a great pet camera that also entertains your companion, but as a word of caution — if your pet is anxious around devices, this might not be the right camera for them. We suggest seeing how they react to it while you’re home before leaving your pet alone. View: N/A | Lens: 1080p | Treat Dispenser: Yes | Two-Way Audio: Yes | Dog Diary: No | Subscription: No | App: Yes | Special Features: Night vision, motion sensor, touch sensor People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best with 360 Views Kasa Indoor Pan/Tilt Camera Amazon View On Amazon $25 View On Walmart $40 View On Staples $64 Our Ratings Ease of Setup 5/5 Performance 4/5 Functionality 5/5 Design 4/5 Value 4/5 Pros This camera has a straightforward setup and a quick connection to Wi-Fi. It includes extra features like night vision and two-way audio. It can be mounted or placed on a level surface. Cons There’s no treat dispenser. If you want a camera to keep tabs on your pet and your house, this Kasa security camera offers a superior view of things happening in your home. With 360-degree views, you can control this camera through an app on your phone to tilt or angle in any direction. We appreciated how quickly it connected to the Wi-Fi and its ease of setup. The design is sleek and compact, and the camera can either be set on a table or mounted. The extra features (such as night vision and two-way audio) performed well and the video quality held up to expectations. The night vision video quality was as clear as day, and the microphone has adjustable sensitivity so you can modify it based on how noisy the area is. Overall, our team thought this was a reliable and effective security camera. We liked the motion control feature on the app and how easy the camera was to move around. The camera has all the basic features at a good price. View: 360 degrees | Lens: 1080p | Treat Dispenser: No | Two-Way Audio: Yes | Dog Diary: No | Subscription: No | App: Yes | Special Features: Night vision, motion sensor, can connect to Alexa or Google devices People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Best Multipurpose Blurams Security Camera Amazon View On Amazon $22 View On Walmart $37 Our Ratings Ease of Setup 5/5 Performance 5/5 Functionality 4/5 Design 4/5 Value 5/5 Pros The camera's user-friendly setup took less than five minutes. You can view up to four cameras on the app with premium video quality. It can be mounted or placed on a surface. Cons There’s no treat dispenser. Our team collectively swooned over this simple and efficient security pet camera. It was quick and easy to set up after downloading the app. Scan the QR code and it connects to Wi-Fi in less than five minutes. The app is also user-friendly and lets you change various settings with ease. In terms of performance, all aspects of the camera met and exceeded expectations. We appreciated the clear quality of the video and audio features (we could even hear the sounds of dogs barking nearby). We could easily see the dog moving around as well as their surroundings when using the night vision feature. We expected a higher price considering all of the features that come with this pet camera. The notifications were almost instantaneous — it would be a good camera for security reasons as well as watching your pet. Plus, the detailed notes about movement and time-stamped log make it easy to access all that information later. In addition, this device can connect to your smart devices so you can turn the lights on remotely — and other security measures — if the camera detects movement. View: 360 degrees | Lens: 2k (2560p) | Treat Dispenser: No | Two-Way Audio: Yes | Dog Diary: No | Subscription: No | App: Yes | Special Features: Night vision, motion sensor People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida People / Leticia Almeida Things to Consider Before Buying a Pet Camera Function The type of camera you purchase will depend on your and your pet's needs. For instance, if you are primarily keeping an eye on your pet and house, then a security camera like the Wyze Cam V3 or Kasa Indoor Security Camera would be a good option because these cameras can function as a pet and a home security camera. However, if you want extra features (like the ability to talk with your pets and throw treats), you might want a more well-rounded camera like the Eufy Pet Dog Camera or Furbo Dog Camera. Treat Dispensing You might love the idea of being able to send your pet a little treat when you’re away, but this feature’s success depends on your dog. “The treat dispensers are hit or miss,” says Ciardelli, who works with many animals at Behave Atlanta LLC. “Some pets can enjoy a treat or two while their owners are gone. However, highly food-driven pets may try to dismantle the camera to get the treats out or obsess and stay glued to the spot where treats come from.” If your pet is already used to an automatic pet feeder, then this shouldn't be an issue. The other side of this coin is when the pet is afraid of digital devices, such as robot vacuum cleaners, so they run away when treats are dispensed. “If the pet is anxious about departures, it is unlikely to eat the treats anyway,” Ciardelli says. “Our goal is for pets to be relaxed while we are out of the house — not startled by a treat machine or vigilantly waiting for treats to be dispensed. The remote treat function can be a cool, creative training tool at other times (think dispensing treats to a dog behind a dog gate while the owner hosts a dinner party), it just shouldn't be relied on to help pets cope with being left alone.” Video Recording Not all pet cameras have video recording capabilities, but many of the options on our list do. This feature, whether as a dog diary recap or as security footage sent to the cloud, can be a fun way to keep track of the comings and goings of your pet. For instance, with a Furbo, you can use the dog diary feature when traveling to see a recap of what your dog is up to throughout the day, rather than watching the feed constantly. This type of feature can also make for a good complement to a dog GPS tracker. Some cameras have a specific feature like this that creates a summarized video of the day’s events, and others allow you to look through footage and save certain videos to an SD card or the cloud. The Furbo’s dog diary requires an additional subscription, but the other cameras on our list offer similar features at no additional cost. Price Pet cameras range a bit in terms of cost. The most budget-friendly option on our list is the YI Technologies Dome Pet Camera. That said, the Eufy Pet Dog Camera and Furbo Dog Camera will run you just shy of $200. Whatever your budget, there is a pet camera that will serve your needs without going above your monetary limit. PEOPLE / LETICIA ALMEIDA How We Tested Pet Cameras Taking 17 of the top-rated pet cameras (and a cute stuffed animal dog), we simulated watching our pet from afar to see how well each device worked. Our team considered the ease of setup, overall performance of the camera, functionality of each feature, design, and value to determine which products were the best. Ease of Setup: We used the included instructions to set up each camera, connect to Wi-Fi if applicable, and download the app to our phones.Performance: We tested the cameras by looking at the audio and video quality and checking features like night vision by turning the lights off. Our team simulated barking using a sound audio clip and examined how well the camera picked up the noise and if it followed the movement of the “dog” and people in the space. Functionality of Features: For cameras that have treat dispensers, we tried that feature 10 times per camera to see how the functionality was and tested each additional feature, like the mobility of the owl camera.Overall Value: After all testing, we considered the price and assigned a value to each pet camera, which led our team to choose our favorites included in this article. Frequently Asked Questions Should you talk to your dog through the camera? While two-way audio can be a fun way to engage with your pet, this voice feature is not ideal for all dogs. “The voice feature can be startling and potentially confusing/frustrating because the owner isn't physically there,” says Ciardelli. “It's possible that in an emergency, one could intentionally startle their pet or stop them from doing something they're not supposed to. However, we prefer pet owners use other tools to prevent situations like that rather than rely on catching their pet in the act and shouting at them over the camera. It's best to use the camera to see what the pet gets up to when the owners are gone, and then create a better setup next time before they leave.” Do pet cameras record all the time? Yes and no. Technically, they can record 24/7, but most pet cameras are activated by motion detection, meaning they won’t actively record unless you, someone else, or your pet are walking through the room. If you’re worried about privacy concerns, then you can always unplug the camera at certain times. And like all smart home devices, you want to make sure your Wi-Fi is secure to prevent potential hacks. For added security, make sure your Wi-Fi router has an encrypted password system, and consider measures like two-factor authentication and strong passwords that aren’t easily guessed. Where should you place a pet camera? This depends on the space you live in. Some cameras have mounting capabilities which could come in handy in a smaller apartment or a space that has blind spots from certain angles. “In terms of placement, place [the camera] where you have the best view of the areas your pet is likely to hang out (usually high up is best),” says Ciardelli. “The camera should be out of reach, especially if dispensing treats. Make sure the treats don't launch onto a counter or skid under a table, otherwise you might come home to some destruction.” Why Trust PEOPLE? Madison Yauger is an editor for PEOPLE who’s tested hundreds of lifestyle products across all categories. With a background in news and lifestyle journalism, she has a wide network of expert sources and a penchant for accuracy. For this story, she interviewed an animal behaviorist to learn how pet behavior might be affected by the use of a pet camera. She also researched the pet camera market and used testing insights from our PEOPLE Tested lab to determine which pet cameras deserved a spot on our list. We looked at extra features, compared the video and audio quality, and evaluated how well each pet camera worked. Meet Our Expert Lillian Ciardelli, ACAAB is an applied animal behaviorist at Behave Atlanta LLC based in Atlanta, Ga. What is People Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.