The best hidden camera detectors will put anyone worried about their personal security at ease. If there's a covert camera watching you, they'll let you know. Many will also locate nearby bugging devices and GPS trackers too. Our expert tips will help you identify the best for your needs and budget.
These days, spy cameras are easily available to the general public, and so whether you're staying in a hotel room or an unfamiliar AirBnB, hidden cameras can be a legitimate concern. Plus, just looking around the room isn't always good enough, because some cameras are now so tiny they can be hidden in places like smoke detectors and light bulbs.
A quick sweep with a hidden camera detector, though, is all you need to put your mind at rest and works using the same principles as professional counter-surveillance officers. Below we've listed the best on the market today, at a range of prices to suit every budget. If you'd like to know a bit more about how we chose these, and you should use them, check the FAQs at the bottom.
Best hidden camera detectors: our top picks
Best for traveling
Most of us just want to quickly check out a strange hotel room or AirBnB before settling in, and for that, the G6 Sport is an ideal traveling companion. It is compact, elegantly designed, and folds the crucial lens-finding and RF detection functions into a single device
Best overall
The K68 is a powerful hidden camera detector. Be warned, though, that it's known by a number of names. The Sherry model is easier to find in the USA, while the KMDHKK edition is easily found in the UK.
Best Small detector
You don't necessarily want to advertise that you're using a hidden camera detector. So if you're looking for something small and easy to hide, we recommend the Jepwco G4 Pro. This pen-sized bug-sweeper is as easy to use as it is discrete.
Best hidden camera detectors in 2023
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Most of us just want to quickly check out a strange hotel room or AirBnB before settling in, and for that, the G6 Sport is an ideal traveling companion. It is compact, elegantly designed, and folds the crucial lens-finding and RF detection functions into a single device.
As travelers, we liked the low weight – about the same as four pencils – and the fact it charges via USB-C, so you'll likely already have a charger in your bag. Not that you'll be charging too often with 30 hours of battery!
In terms of use, we liked that it can concentrate on the Wi-Fi frequencies or scan the whole band, and the adjustable sensitivity makes honing in on a suspicious device as easy as practical. As for finding lenses, we'd prefer a brighter light, but it is certainly up to the task. The big viewfinder is also easy to look through.
The K68 is a powerful hidden camera detector. Be warned, though, that it's known by a number of names. The Sherry model is easier to find in the USA, while the KMDHKK edition is easily found in the UK.
This hidden camera detector benefits from a built-in infrared detector, but the core function is the classing RF sweep. The simulated analog dial indicates the strength of the signal detected, and the dial at the top allows you to turn down sensitivity as you hone in on a suspect.
The ‘AI’ feature (right function button) is a pulse-based approach that makes it easier to do the scans but is still relying on the user's intelligence. Something appreciated by the hard of hearing – or when operating somewhere discretion is required – will be the vibrate option (instead of the piercing beep which, on this device, is only an option rather than something to tolerate). We also think it is handy that the magnetic probe can be detached if it’s not needed.
You don't necessarily want to advertise that you're using a hidden camera detector. So if you're looking for something small and easy to hide, we recommend the Jepwco G4 Pro. This pen-sized bug-sweeper is as easy to use as it is discrete.
This hidden camera detector makes a few good design decisions that are apparent the second you get it out of the box. First, it's rechargeable, via a standard USB socket at the bottom (though Jepwco still supplies a charging cord) and there's a pinprick LED to indicate charging next to it.
The detection is via a kind of ‘bar chart’ of six white LEDs, which appear inspired by Apple MacBooks of the mid-2010s. Having only two buttons is very elegant, although it does mean you need to remember to do a long press for on/off. Once on the lower button allows you to switch between Wi-Fi and full-band sensitivity, and the chosen mode is nicely displayed by a glowing word.
Similarly, the top button cycles sensitivity. The end also acts as a torch which may help spot hidden lenses. At 30g and in a nice box, this could make a good gift for someone who struggles to trust their environment.
Want to get technical, and see all the details of what your device is detecting? Then the Latnex SPA-6G Spectrum Analyzer will be just up your street.
With two SMA connectors and three antennas, the unit has good coverage for most communication bands, including Bluetooth, LTE, and GSM as well as Wi-Fi. But where it really scores over the cheaper options is by providing a genuine visual representation of the strength of individual frequencies.
Operating in max, hold, and averaging modes, the system is flexible, and firmware updates are provided via the USB socket. The same connection allows export to view on-screen spectrums 3D (via the program Waterfall), offering more resolution and potential interest to HAM radio enthusiasts.
That said, for a quick scan of a hotel room this might be too much on the RF, and too little when it comes to the more ‘low tech’ features, like a light to reflect from lenses, which we recommend buying separately.
With a magnetic and a radio frequency detector in the same device, and supplied with a lens highlighter tool in the package, this is a useful kit that will help you whether you’re checking out meeting rooms, looking for GPS devices under cars, or sweeping a hotel room for a hidden camera.
With a user-facing sensitivity dial, it's easy to hone in on the source of a radio signal, starting to up the sensitivity as you get nearer. When you plug in the magnet sensor you need to remember to switch over to magnet mode and then center the chart. But the diagrammatic design (and relentless beeper) makes remembering this easy enough.
There's a light on the end of a flexible probe, so looking under cars is easy and it's sensitive enough to spot a hard drive magnet. Some might have found having the hidden camera detector built in easier, but this way two people can work together for a quick sweep.
In a market dominated by low-cost products, a professional can struggle to get something with the full feature range they need. This device will detect all GSM, GSM(DCS), WCDMA or DECT 3G, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi signals and the additional pointer antenna is up to four times as sensitive as competing products in these last two categories.
That means you can scan for analog (traditional VHF/UHF bugs) and digital ones at the same time with no worries of missing anything. As a user, you can also choose to push up the sensitivity for either or both of the detection bands depending on your assignment, and with 16 segments the readout is more detailed than most.
There is also the chance of the correlation function producing feedback, where you’ve got an FM transmitter-style bug. This device isn’t a cheap option and may provide more than you need in the radio area while missing out on magnetic fields, so you should decide whether it’ll make your operations faster.
On a tight budget? This RF detector will help you find hidden cameras, bugs, GPS trackers, and wireless listening devices and offers excellent value. Its 10-LED indicator shows you increased signal strength when it gets near the signal source, and alerts you once you're very near.
It's small, lightweight, and good for taking on a journey. On the downside, this device is fairly basic, and it takes quite a while to do a full scan of a room. However, at this low price, you can't really complain too much about that.
FAQs
How do I find hidden cameras?
There are essentially two ways to find hidden cameras. One is to look for the lens, which can be very small, while the other – especially effective now – is to find a radio signal emitted from the device.
• Turn off the lights – the hidden camera detector will shine a light that will glint from the lens. A viewfinder makes it easier to spot, but darkness is very useful.
• Turn off devices you know about – many devices seek out unexpected radio frequency (RF) signals which might carry the picture, perhaps by Wi-Fi. This is also useful in spotting other live snooping tools, like GPS trackers (these are more traditional bug detectors). It's much harder to find a suspect device if you leave others on.
• Look for Infra-Red (IR) lights – many compact cameras designed for night vision have built-in IR lights which aren’t visible to the naked eye but are a reasonable indicator that a camera is nearby.
What do hidden cameras look like?
There are a lot of different hidden cameras out there, so what should you be looking for?
Lenses can be as small as the tip of a pen, but it's also easy to overlook devices like indoor security cameras because they're so innocuous. To look from the other side, we cover some in our best spy cameras guide. Don't forget some folk wear glasses with cameras built-in, too.
But not all hidden cameras are malicious; don't forget the joy of bird box cameras.
How accurate are hidden camera detectors?
How reliable are hidden camera detectors? Like photography, having the best device isn't always the key.
When you're sweeping for hidden lenses, usually with a red light, it is important to look everywhere for the suspect glint of light. If you see it, get closer and investigate.
RF detection only works if there is a signal to detect, and again it requires sweeping the detector by hand. You can make life easier by turning off any devices you know about already, like your phone.
Why is there a sensitivity adjustment on my hidden camera detector?
RF detectors have sensitivity adjustments. Their purpose is to help narrow down a search in a big room.
First, you begin at high sensitivity and sweep until the sensor alerts you to a suspect frequency. Then approach the location and turn down the sensitivity. Repeat this a few times and you'll be very near the suspicious device.
How did we select the hidden camera detectors?
Because, as we explained, there are different ways to find a hidden camera, we made sure we found examples that fit into each category.
The principle behind lens detection is very simple, with you simply needing to look through a viewfinder. Size, price, and (to a lesser extent) the brightness of built-in lights are key factors.
When looking at RF scanners, we were especially interested in the ability to find frequencies commonly given off by hidden cameras (e.g. 2.4GHz for most Wi-Fi devices).
After functionality, we considered portability, usability, and value. We also look at extra related features. A magnetometer, for example, is useful for finding hidden GPS devices tucked under your car, so might be handy if you're concerned about your privacy.
