Best Peephole Cameras

Peephole cameras seem like a good alternative to video doorbells for renters, but none of the major security camera brands sells a dedicated peephole camera. The Ring Peephole Cam was a promising option for a few years, but Ring discontinued it over a year ago.

To be honest, there isn't a single peephole camera in Ring's absence that we wholeheartedly recommend. Still, we found four picks to give you an idea of your options. If you're looking for an alternative that's less likely to affect your security deposit, consider skipping a peephole camera in favor of a no-drill mount for a reputable video doorbell.

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The 1080p HD video resolution on the Remo+ looks better than any other peephole camera on our list. We love that you can save videos in the cloud for up to three days for free. You can create motion zones to tell your camera which parts of your porch or hallway to ignore. The DoorCam 3 now comes with AI Face detection designed to identify people and objects as an extra layer of security.

Even though Remo+'s features are a step above JeaTone's, we found plenty of reports of users struggling with bugs in the Remo+ mobile app. It scores lower on both app stores than the Tuya app powering JeaTone. It's nice that this camera is so fast to install because the three D-cell batteries won't last more than a couple of months before you need to swap them out.

Overall, the Remo+ DoorCam 3 is a good option for renters who otherwise can't use video doorbells. Unfortunately, even the best wireless peephole camera is far behind mainstream doorbell cameras like Ring and Arlo.

We like that the Brinno peephole camera includes the tools you need for installation, including a tightening tool that can also remove your existing peephole. Brinno's four AA batteries last up to 3,000 button presses, so you don't need to swap them often—and there's no waiting for a large built-in battery to recharge.

As lovely as Brinno is, its 480p resolution is much lower than most modern security cameras. This is passable when taking still images, but video clips use a time-lapse format that can make it harder to capture clear details.

There aren't any buttons or motion sensors on the outside of the peephole security camera, so it can't record automatically. Instead, you push a button inside your door to save an image or video. A few reviews say this camera isn't very durable, which isn't surprising.

Overall, the Brinno SHC500 is a good peephole camera for people who don't want a bulky unit outside their door. Still, Brinno's limited video options and lack of a mobile app make JeaTone the better choice overall.

While the 1 MP image quality is similar to 720p on paper, we noticed an overabundance of user reviews saying Digitharbor's photos don't always turn out. At least there's a button outside to ring a bell and automatically take a picture of your visitor. Digitharbor's built-in battery lasts up to six months on a charge, though recharging takes almost as long as with JeaTone—up to five hours.

The most unfortunate thing about Digitharbor is that it's a textbook generic product. There's no customer support website, and the user manual is simplistic at best. This means you'll need to rely on the return policy wherever you buy it. The low price and relatively long battery life are the main strengths Digitharbor offers.

Lockly Vision's doorbell functionality doesn't compare well with other video doorbells. The 720p video resolution is disappointing for a product that launched in 2021—when 1080p is standard on much cheaper cameras. But we like its two-way audio, so you don't need to open the door to talk to visitors.

Unfortunately, the doorbell button is small, and there's no motion sensor—the camera might miss guests who don't see the button. While the doorbell camera isn't as good as we'd like, the smart lock works well and is a nice way to assign guest access to family, friends, and your landlord. There are multiple ways to unlock the door: a keypad, fingerprint, physical key, and an eKey in the Lockly app.

Lockly Vision takes around 15 minutes to install since it replaces the existing deadbolt on your door—longer than other peephole cameras on our list. We like Lockly Vision as a smart lock, but it can't keep up with rival video doorbells.

One of the biggest barriers to installing a video doorbell as a renter is that you don't want to drill holes that lead to fees from your landlord. Don't settle for a peephole camera when you can use an actual video doorbell without any drilling. In no particular order, here are our picks for the best no-drill video doorbell mounts.

We think the best peephole camera is a video doorbell with a no-drill mount on or near your front door. No matter your budget or tech preferences, there's more choice among traditional video doorbells from Google Nest, Ring, Arlo, Eufy, and Blink. Plus, no-drill mounts are affordable add-ons that stay in place with adhesives or a simple clamp.

Head over to our video doorbell review to compare the top brands.

While peephole cameras seem like a compelling alternative to video doorbells for renters, most options on the market don't fulfill this promise. Ring is the only major company that has tried its hand with this category, but it no longer sells the Ring Peephole Camera.

The remaining peephole viewer camera options are outdated and can't compete with modern security cameras in any meaningful way beyond replacing an existing peephole. Even peephole cameras from 2021 have tech that's at least five years out of date: weak image quality, practically no video recording, no smart home compatibility, and rudimentary mobile apps (if any).

Ring discontinued the Ring Peephole Cam in April 2021 and hasn't announced any replacements in the year since then.

At SafeWise, we have over a decade of combined experience reviewing and testing security cameras, so we don't say this lightly: peephole cameras are an unimpressive group. While there's no shortage of peephole cams online, good quality is a coin flip for the vast majority of these generic brands.

As we highlighted in our hidden camera review, the biggest issue is that generic brands come from small-scale manufacturers with limited production runs and almost zero long-term support. That's why we expanded our lineup to products with similar goals of easy installation for renters: video doorbell door mounts and an over-the-door security camera.

By including no-drill doorbell mounts, renters can use excellent video doorbells like Ring, Arlo, and Google Nest. You don't need to settle for a product you don't recognize.

To build our rankings, we looked at each product's installation options, aesthetic appeal, and whether they deliver a good experience for renters. We held off on testing these products because there's not much demand for peephole cameras compared to more traditional security cameras and video doorbells. Instead, we base our conclusions on information collected from customer reviews and product listings.

Learn how we test and review products in our full methodology.

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