The best spy cameras differ from normal home security cameras in that they're much more discreet. Many disguise themselves as other household objects like clocks, power strips or even car keys, giving you an unobtrusive means of monitoring what's happening in your home.
A good spy camera needs a wide field of view, so you can see as much of your surroundings as possible. It also needs decent resolution – I'd say at least Full HD, which all of the cameras on this list can shoot – and having extra functions like night vision and motion detection will certainly not go amiss.
"Spy camera" is a pretty broad term, and there's quite a bit of overlap with other types of cameras. So if none of the devices on this list seem suitable, also check out the best pet camera as well as our guides to action cameras, and home indoor security cameras, because many of these provide similar functionality to spy cameras.
With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones.
Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones.
He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook.
Top picks
Wearable spy camera glasses made as a collaboration between Ray-Ban and Meta, these give you an eyeline perspective thanks to dual 5MP cameras – and a recording light lessens the creep factor.
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Want something to mount to your wall? The spy clock is easy to fit quickly with no special tools, and gives you a camera for your home that's hidden in plain sight – it does the job.
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This app-controlled robot contains a 2K-recording camera, and can be set to patrol your home. It delivers impressive camera quality, even if the app control can be a little fiddly.
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If you want to mount a spy camera to a ceiling, a fake smoke detector is the way to do it. And I do mean 'fake' – bear in mind that this is not a substitute for a real smoke detector!
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If you want a camera you can leave plugged in without attracting attention, this Power Strip Camera is a clever choice. It also records in 3K resolution and offers a motion detection function.
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A clever little camera you can carry everywhere with you, this spy camera masquerading as a set of car keys can record for a good few hours before needing a charge – though there's no night vision.
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The best spy camera
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Best wearable
We couldn’t do a roundup of spy cameras without featuring at least one option that's secreted within the best camera glasses. While there are a lot of pocket money options from brands we’ve never heard of online, the look tends to be more Austin Powers than Tom Cruise. These glasses from Ray-Ban, though, are fashionably stylish as well as providing great functionality.
A tie-in between Ray-Ban and Meta, they feature dual 5MP cameras, offering a photo resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels, and video at 30fps, 1184 x 1184 pixels. The main appeal here is an eyeline point-of-view perspective when recording hands-free.
Obviously, outside of a James Bond movie, the creepy factor is high, and so Ray-Ban has included a colored light indicator on the front of the glasses, which lights up when camera recording is in use.
That said, most people still probably won't work out that you're filming them, so it's up to you where you feel that using these glasses is appropriate, and/or legal.
For more details, see our full Ray-Ban Stories review
Best for wall mounting
A pleasant-looking spy solution, this wall clock containing a spy camera won't look out of place in an office or kitchen. It's very easy to mount to a wall, requiring little more than a standard screw and plug – or, since it only weighs about 700g, a couple of good sturdy nails might do it.
The lens is well hidden, so it is unlikely to be discovered – and the clock works, so it has an everyday use, too. The video recording is motion activated, triggering an app on your phone, but also recording footage to an SD card. The built-in battery packs 2700mAh, and according to the manufacturers will manage about 4-6 hours of video – it even records while charging, so you could always hook up a cable if you wanted it to go indefinitely.
Best roaming spy camera
For a real Mission Impossible-style gadget, how about a robot camera on wheels?! The Enabot EBO Air 2 may look like a little remote-controlled toy to amuse kids or pets with, but it actually records 2K video and can capture snapshots. With night vision, it can keep an eye on your home even with the lights off, and a microphone and speakers enable two-way audio communication.
While it's not the most subtle spy camera in the world, with a chirpy voice that announces when it's running low on charge, it's perfectly conceivable that you could leave the EBO Air 2 somewhere unobtrusive, where it could keep an eye on things with its 137º field of view.
In testing for our review, Adam was impressed by the camera quality of the EBO Air 2. He found app control to be tricky, however, and the automated patrol mode was ineffective as the bot didn't seem to be able to effectively map its environment the way a Roomba does. However, it's still a unique proposition for this list, and its mobility gives it an edge over other spy cameras.
Read more: Enabot Ebo Air 2 review
Best ceiling-mounted
Putting a camera on the ceiling is a great way to get a broad view of a room in your home – but of course, a camera on the ceiling is going to be pretty visible. A clever solution could be this camera that's concealed inside the housing of a smoke detector – an object that nobody is going to look twice at if it's mounted on a ceiling!
Recording Full HD footage, the Smoke Detector Camera can connect to your devices via Wi-Fi for remote monitoring. It features a rechargeable battery that'll last a few hours, and though you can use it while charging, it's not really a form factor that lends itself to have a constant cable attached. It might be one to set when you have a few hours that you know you definitely want to monitor.
Also, an important thing to note is that it's not a functioning smoke detector! So you will need the real McCoy in your home as well as the camera.
Best for 24/7 coverage
An issue with many spy cameras, as we've seen, is that limited battery life limits how much you can record, but having a charging cable sticking out of your camera can give the game away. Solution – a spy camera concealed inside a device that nobody is going to think twice about seeing plugged in. Presenting: the Power Strip Camera!
Looking for all the world like a standard multiplug power strip (which, to be clear, it is), this clever device conceals a camera that's capable of capturing 3K video or 5MP stills. It records to a micro SD card, coming bundled with a 64GB one in some packages, and you have the choice of round-the-clock recording or motion-detection.
Of course, the fact that it's a power strip means you can only safely use it indoors. The camera connects via Wi-Fi, and bear in mind that even though it records to a card, it for some reason needs to be constantly connected in order to work.
Best portable spy camera
Many of the cameras we've dealt with so far are designed to be set up and left in a discreet spot in your home – but this Car Key Camera is a good one for taking on the move. Unobtrusive to observers, it packs in a camera that's capable of recording Full HD video, and the makers claim that on a full charge, it'll record for up to six hours thanks to its 1,000 mAh battery.
Like many spy cameras, it'll record while charging, though you'll presumably have to field awkward questions about why your car keys are plugged in. There is motion detection functionality – though no night vision – and the camera records to a standard micro SD card of up to 128GB.
FAQs
How can I find hidden spy cameras?
There are a number of ways to find hidden cameras. You can turn off the lights and shine a torch, looking for unexpected reflections from camera lenses. You can also use RF detectors to seek out cameras that transmit radio (like wi-fi). We have a guide to the best hidden camera detector – some are quite a small investment in feeling secure in a strange room.
What do we look for in spy cameras?
There are different reasons to want to 'spy,' and I have tried to cover all the bases here. If you're just looking to keep your home and family safe, it doesn't matter if people occasionally see the cameras. In fact you can make the argument that seeing the cameras is desirable, to serve as a deterrent.
I do also test the best security cameras, which you can find in another guide. There is a lot of overlap – resolution is useful for revealing detail (seeing license plates or what people are watching on TV). AI can help alert you if certain events – perhaps only an animal, person, or vehicle enters the frame.
We have also included some spy-movie style discreet devices which can be hidden in different ways. Hopefully this will bring out the detective and perhaps the James Bond in you, rather than anything else.
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Want to improve security in your home? Why not also check out our guide to the Best indoor security cameras, and don't forget your yard or garden security - the Best outdoor security cameras can help there.
Other useful security camera guides include The best doorbell camera and The best body cameras.
But if you're concerned someone may be spying on you, fight back with the Best hidden camera detector!
