Whether you want to monitor your home while vacationing or keep an eye on the kids while you’re cooking, a well-placed iPhone with a security camera app allows you to monitor any home environment. You can get the benefits of a security camera without fancy or expensive equipment. All you need is a pair of iOS devices and a security camera app.

Here’s a look at the six best security camera apps for iPhone.

Best Overall: Alfred Home Security Camera

Alfred is a top-rated security camera app that’s simple to use and packed with safety features. It has streaming video, motion detection, a two-way walkie-talkie, free cloud storage, and instant notifications.

  • Free cloud storage to save and store videos.

  • Use with voice assistants such as Google Assistant.

  • Must pay for a $3.99 a month subscription to remove ads.

Alfred requires two devices to work. To get started, download Alfred to a separate iPhone or iOS device and set this device as your security camera. Then, download and pair the app on your primary iPhone or iOS device, and you’re ready to start monitoring.

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Best Security and Smart Home Control: Presence

Presence, which runs through the parent company Care Daily, is another highly rated app compatible with iOS 8 and later. Like Alfred, the app requires two iPhones or iPads devices and allows you to monitor your home with live-streaming video, motion detection, and instant notifications.

  • Must pay for a premium version to increase encrypted cloud video storage and access priority customer support.

What makes this app different is it also lets you control a variety of compatible sensors that can be connected over Wi-Fi, turning your safe home into a smart home.

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Best All-Around Baby Monitor Cam: Cloud Baby Monitor

Cloud Baby Monitor is a popular baby monitor cam for iOS and Android devices. It works with Wi-Fi, cellular data, and Bluetooth. It features high-quality video and a sensitive audio baby monitor to detect soft sounds. In addition to its security features, it comes with soothing white noises, lullabies, and a night light to help lull your little one to sleep.

  • Features are specifically geared toward babies and parents.

  • Limited Apple Watch functionality at this time.

Best Home Security Subscription Service: Alarm.com

If you’re willing to pay more for a security system, Alarm.com bundles the best of video monitoring, energy management, home automation, and home access control into one plan. Alarm.com is compatible with iOS and Android.

  • Each system is easily customized to your home’s configuration.

  • Offers home access control, video monitoring, and energy management in one system.

  • Installation is more complex than other iPhone security camera apps.

This top-rated subscription-based security system requires a compatible system that you need to purchase and an interactive Alarm.com service plan. Once installed, Alarm.com allows you to monitor and control your home or business from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.

Best for Pet Safety: Dog Monitor VIGI

If you have fur babies, the Dog Monitor VIGI app makes it easy to monitor your pets and ensure they stay out of mischief when you’re away. You can watch and talk to your pet in real-time, receive noise and motion alert notifications, record videos, or snap photos of your pet’s funny antics.

  • Offers support for Apple Watch notifications.

  • A bit pricier to download than comparable apps.

Best for Facial Recognition: AtHome Camera

AtHome Camera surveillance app is a multi-platform app that works on iOS and Android devices, as well as PCs and smart TVs. What sets this app apart is its advanced night vision feature and facial recognition, which reduce false alarms. When it recognizes a human face, it sends a notification with animated images so you can see who’s there.

  • Facial recognition technology.

  • Enhanced night vision mode for clearer images.

  • Cloud storage services start at $5.99 a month and up.

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