brinno digital peephole viewer with lcd panel free sample

You want your family safe and property secure whether you are home or away. Let Brinno be your VIGILANT GUARDIAN watching over anyone approaching near the front door so you have a peace of mind.

Replace old-time peephole with modern clear widescreen camera that is wire-free, easy to install & long lasting in battery power. The hidden peephole camera secretly auto records images of all visitors when motion is detected. Keep a close eye on what matters most to you with Brinno SHC1000.

Brinno cares for your family. We designed a unique smart door cam that offers a high degree of safety, and makes it one of the most practical home security devices on the market.

The SHC1000W-S is our basic peephole model for the Brinno DUO Series. The kit includes a truly concealed peephole camera that is equipped with a knocking sensor to capture arriving visitors. Our patented peephole technology ensures that your camera remains truly concealed from the outside. Simple, safe and practical – the perfect security solution for your entire family.Motion PlusBasic

We designed the Brinno DUO as a SIMPLE, SAFE & PRACTICAL solution that takes care of not only tech-savvy adults when they are away from home, but also for the vulnerable tech-challenged mature adults and kids who are at home or don’t use smartphones.

Brinno DUO installs easily within minutes without the need of fancy tools. It’s also perfect for apartment dwellers that can’t alter their residence. Plus you can install it yourself with no need for scheduling or waiting for a professional.Previous

As home security products get more sophisticated (and expensive), peephole cameras provide a unique opportunity to increase the safety of your home using a security feature that you may already have. If your front door already has a peephole, upgrading it with a camera will be more cost-effective and easier to install than adding a video doorbell. It also makes for a discrete, undetectable home security camera location. And “smart peepholes” can provide many of the same features as a video doorbell. If you don’t want to turn your home into a smart house, you can find a simpler peephole camera that allows you to “look through” the peephole with a high-definition LCD screen, rather than leaning your head into the door and squinting through a fisheye lens.

A peephole camera is exactly what it sounds like. It is a home security device that allows you to view and/or record what is happening outside your front door. Rather than pressing your head against the door to see a distorted view, new smart peepholes include features like wide-view LCD displays and even app-integration.

Some digital door peepholes, like the Ring Peephole Cam and the Brinno Duo Front Door Peephole Camera, are essentially video doorbells {like the Ring, Blink, etc. — w/ links} that are installed in the peephole of a door. These are the most sophisticated products available, with features like motion-activated alerts, smartphone integration, video recording, and two-way audio.

Other digital door peepholes, like the digitharbor 3” LCD Screen Digital Door Camera and the Brinno Peephole Camera Home SHC500, are less sophisticated devices that mainly function to enhance and digitize a traditional peephole. In other words, the product is installed in a peephole, and rather than looking through the peephole you can view everything on an LCD screen. Although these lack some app-based features and are not “smart” devices, you still get some functionality that isn’t possible on a traditional peephole. For example, some of these devices offer night vision, the ability to save photos, and a wide-view field of vision.

The first thing to decide is whether you need a smart device or a simple video screen. If you want 2-way audio, a live video feed, and app integration, you will need a smart device. If you only want the ability to see clearly through a peephole, a simple video screen will be sufficient.

An important consideration is whether you want a discrete device that is hidden from guests. Brinno products install almost entirely on the inside of the door, and people on the outside of the door will not be able to tell that you have a peephole camera installed. In other words, everything will look like a regular peephole on the outside of the door. Although the Ring Peephole Camera provides features that other products lack, the device is noticeable and obvious to visitors.

Ring has best-in-class 1080P high definition with a 155 degree field of view. Brinno has only a 90 degree viewing angle, and also has a lower screen resolution at 480P. Digitharbor has a 120 degree viewing angle, and doesn’t specify the exact screen resolution, although they do claim to have one million pixels.

With 2-way audio, you can speak to and hear from guests, and answer the door remotely. If 2-way audio matters to you, I would strongly recommend the Ring. Ring has the most reliable app of any peephole camera, offers the best support, and has crisp audio with minimal lag time.

Depending on your privacy preferences, you may wish to choose a device with local storage (on an SD card) rather than cloud storage (on a server). If accessibility is more important than privacy, cloud storage may be preferable.

If you have a porch light or flood lights near your front door, this feature may be unnecessary. But if your front door is usually dark, it will be worth it to choose a product with a high-quality night vision feature. One of the most valuable times to have a peephole camera is when you hear a knock at the door in the middle of the night, and a product without night vision may be useless in this situation.

As mentioned above, Ring and Brinno have apps that allow for a sophisticated alert system. The other options, like the digitharbor 3” LCD Screen Digital Door Camera and the app-free Brinno (Peephole Camera Home SHC500), primarily function as digital screens. If you know how you wish to use your camera, it will be easy to decide which kind of product is best for you.

The biggest downside of the Ring Peephole Cam is the monthly subscription cost. At the time of publishing, a Ring Protect Plan costs $3/month for a single device, or $10/month for an entire household. The Brinno Duo Front Door Peephole Camera uses an SD card for storage, and can be utilized fully without a monthly subscription.

One big difference between peephole cameras and other home security cameras is that, due to being mounted on the door, hard-wired products are not feasible. Ring instead features a rechargeable battery pack. Brinno just uses 4 AA batteries. Digitharbor has a built-in 1200mAh lithium battery.

Some peephole cameras feature knocking sensors and/or doorbell sensors. Just as the name implies, these will record (or take a photo) whenever someone knocks on the door or rings the doorbell.

The most obvious benefit in installing a peephole camera is to increase the security of the entrance to your house. Having the ability to monitor activity at your front door is the first step in having a safe, smart home.

Another benefit of a smart peephole, rather than a video doorbell, is that a peephole camera is harder to steal. The majority of the peephole camera components are installed on the interior side of the door, so it cannot be easily stolen from the exterior. With video doorbells, the security factor drops to zero pretty quickly when a thief steals your device. However, because the peephole itself is visible to thiefs, it is still possible (and easy) to inactivate the device by simply covering the peephole.

Most users find that these products are easy to install, and often the installation can be completed in less than 15 minutes. With video doorbells, there is always a consideration of where to mount the device, and how to mount it properly. Smart peepholes eliminate the planning stage, because there is one and only one place to install it. Additionally, it can be installed without elaborate mounting brackets or causing any damage with screws.

Although prices are not unreasonable, we should also point out that peephole cameras are more expensive than the $10 old-school peephole that everyone is accustomed to.

Ring Peephole Cam. This is the most sophisticated digital door peephole available. For all intents and purposes, this product is just a video doorbell that is installed in the peephole of a door. It features 1080p high-definition and a 155 degree field of vision. Enhanced features like night vision and 2-way audio are also included. Installation is simple. Because it is mounted to the door, it has a knock detection feature that can notify you when someone knocks. The Ring can send alerts to your smartphone, and the app is easy to use and reliable.

The product also has some downsides. Although it can send alerts via Alexa, the device will not work with Google Assistant. A paid subscription is needed to utilize the app, so plan on spending $3/month or more to access all the features. As it is mounted to the door, the device has a rechargeable battery and cannot be hardwired. Many users complain of a short battery life. And although the software is impressive overall, the sensor cannot detect people versus other movement, so there are many false alarm notifications.

Brinno Duo Front Door Peephole Camera. This is the only real competitor for Ring. Although the software and app are better on the Ring, the Brinno Duo does have a few distinct advantages. First, the “concealed design” hides the fact that your home has a security camera. This also makes the device less likely to be stolen. Additionally, the Brinno Duo saves clips to an SD card, and no monthly payment is needed for a subscription. Like Ring, the device is easy to install and has good video quality.

Brinno Peephole Camera Home SHC500. This is essentially the app-free version of the Brinno Duo. This model lacks motion detection and smartphone notification, but is less expensive and simpler to use.

Digitharbor 3” LCD Screen Digital Door Camera. The digitharbor takes pictures rather than any video, and doesn’t have much storage space. But the display is clear, the battery is rated for a longer run-time, and the price is more affordable than competitors.

Digital door peepholes are an inexpensive way to increase the security of your home. These products can provide a high-definition view of your home’s entrance, rather than you having to blindly open the front door into the unknown. If you want a sophisticated, app-based product that is packed with features, there is a peephole camera for you. And if you prefer a simple video screen that doesn’t integrate with a smartphone, there are many options available.

Of course, the other option is to not look through the peephole (YIKES!) and play Russian Roulette by opening the door to a complete unknown.  Now that"s a situation I don"t even want to contemplate.

Is there a way to eliminate both of these scenarios, taking back the privacy and security of your door"s peephole forever?  Thankfully, there is!  Keep reading to learn more!

The Brinno PHV132512 Digital PeepHole Viewer is a large LCD panel which displays who or what is on the other side of your door quickly and easily.  With the simple touch of a button, it allows absolutely anyone, including children and the elderly, to discover who"s come to visit without darkening the peephole as you look, signifying that you are indeed home.

Most children are too short to look through the peephole directly, but with the Brinno Digital PeepHole Viewer, all that is necessary is to be tall enough to push the button below the screen.  This turns on the peephole viewer which allows shorter people to see who"s at the door with minimal effort.  It"s also great for the elderly who tend to have trouble seeing the small image displayed through a typical peephole.  With the Brinno Digital PeepHole Viewer, this image is magnified to a much larger size, making it easier for an elderly person to see.

Finally, traditional peepholes are very hard to use in low light conditions and typically display a poor image that"s hard to recognize.  With the Brinno Digital PeepHole Viewer, compensation is made for both low-light images and the "fish-eye" distortion seen with a regular peephole so that you can identify the visitor much easier.

There are so many advantages to using the Brinno Digital PeepHole Viewer that I would consider this particular item a household safety necessity.  If you"re concerned about the installation process, that"s just another way that the Brinno Digital PeepHole Viewer comes through.  Installation is a breeze as the video below illustrates:

One day, some neighbors of mine who had two children were actually tied up for several hours while they were robbed at gunpoint.  Come to find out, the parents were busy when someone knocked at the door.  One of their children, who was too short to see through the peephole, asked "Who is it?"

Of course, he turned out to be a hardened criminal and held the entire family at gunpoint while he robbed them.  This is a horrible scenario, but actually one that could happen at any time to almost anyone.  That"s why I"m happy that a product like the Brinno Digital PeepHole Viewer exists.  Preventing crimes of this nature just became a whole lot easier!

Disclosure: I received the PHV132512 Digital PeepHole Viewer from Brinno in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my own personal experiences with this item and is completely honest and objective.

Brinno Peephole camera uses original peephole lens solution through a simple setting to make image can display in a LCD screen. The concept catch original peephole lens image and convert to digitalize and display in LCD. The LCD monitor through a simple mechanical setting to locking with original peephole lens. The feature is easy installation and operation.

Door cam uses digital camera concept to apply in the door. The camera lens needs to set in front the door to catch image, it need to take off the original peephole lens. As the door thickness issue, normally use a wire to transport digital signal to back end (LCD display). As it is replacement the original peephole lens concept, it usually use the screw setting to lock camera lens, LCD display with door. Some design need to draw a big hole for put camera lens and LCD display

Brinno peephole viewer can use in the door that had peephole lens. Door cam need to replace the original lens. Since there is different door thickness, you have to make sure the thickness of your door before purchasing.

Brinno peephole Viewer design concept is using the original peephole lens to make improvement of the door security. It’s not to replace or change the shape of the door and there is still with Construction prevention. It has get approve byUL http://www.ul.com/global/chi-hant/pages/, the general information for door Construction proof. However the door cam is made of plastic as the sample which we present at your office. There will be problem with broken prevention issue.

Brinno peephole Viewer design concept is using the original peephole lens to make improvement of the door security. It’s not to replace or change the shape of the door and there is still with fire prevention. It has get approve byUL10 C , the general information for door fireproof. However the door cam is made of plastic as the sample which we present at your office. There will be problem with fire prevention issue.

Maintenance, if the peephole viewer is broken, the user still can use the original peephole lens to see who is outside, and it’s supplied by 2 AA batteries which is easy to get. The door cam use the camera module and wire to display on the LCD, it may cause damage when you take off the wire to replace the new battery. If the camera module is broken, what will happen if there is unexpected visitor, who is going to be your security guard?

Replace your outdated peephole with big screen peephole camera that is wire free & long lasting in battery power. Record clear sharp visitor images at doorstep & keep digital log files that can be replayed at a simple push of buttonConcealed Device - mounted inside of house

I suspect if you’re here looking for a peephole camera, what you really want is a video doorbell. But…you live somewhere that doesn’t allow you to install a regular video doorbell.

Alternatively, a peephole camera, which can be installed without having to make any permanent alterations to the building, can potentially fill the role of a video doorbell.

When I started searching for the best peephole camera, I expected to find products from all the usual suspects, e.g. Nest, Ring, Eufy, etc. However, I was surprised to find very little from established brands.

I found out that Ring sold the Ring peephole cam for a couple years, but as of April 2021, it has been discontinued. Beyond that one example, none of the peephole cameras I found are from major brands.

Furthermore, the products I did find all come with limited features or limited battery life. For that reason, I’m reluctant to wholeheartedly recommend any of these peephole cameras.

If a video doorbell is what you really want, the Brinno Duo SHC1000W does a decent imitation. It uses a motion sensor and a knock sensor to automatically capture and save photos of visitors that come to your front door. You can view your visitors directly from the screen mounted on the inside of the door. Or, you can use the app to view and talk to your visitors remotely.

However, it doesn’t record video, and the pictures it takes are only 480p resolution. Yet, the SHC1000W is listed at a price of nearly $200 – way more expensive than any if its peephole camera competitors.

I did a little research and I was surprised to see that Brinno is NOT one of the ‘dime-a-dozen’ pseudo-brands that constantly appear and disappear on Amazon. It’s actually a reputable company that has been making award winning time-lapse photography equipment for years. Along with Brinno’s decent reputation, the Brinno Duo comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a 1-year warranty.

Unlike some other peephole cameras and nearly all video doorbells, there is no “doorbell” button on the outside of the door. Instead of a doorbell, it has a unique “knock detection” feature. When a visitor knocks, the Brinno will sense the visitor, snap a series of photos, and send you a visitor notification. Also, you can optionally have the knock sensor trigger the inside monitor to turn on, so that you can see your visitor on the screen.

If you don’t want visitors to know you have a camera installed in your peephole, you have the option to install only the peephole camera and gowithout the black plastic knocker that is normally visible on the outside of the door. However, the knocker also includes the PIR motion sensor. So, if you choose to go with “stealth mode”, you will also have to go without the motion detection feature.

The peephole camera takes pictures but doesn’t record video. It will save a series of snapshots when triggered by either motion detection, knock detection, or a manual trigger via the app.

The images you capture will be in 480p resolution. This surprisingly low resolution reminds me of camera quality from 10+ years ago. However, Brinno claims that since most peephole cameras will be operating in low light conditions, using a higher resolution can actually degrade the image quality.

At a cost of nearly $200, the SHC1000W is more expensive than most full-featured video doorbells, and nearly double the price of its peephole camera competitors.

The SHC1000W is Brinno’s most expensive peephole camera. I’m not against paying a premium price if it gets me a premium product, but in this case it the product doesn’t seem very “premium”. The Brinno Duo doesn’t record video, and the pictures it takes are only 480p resolution. Furthermore, the onboard batteries are barely adequate, and consequently, the best way to power the unit is to run an unsightly cord from the door viewer to your nearest outlet.

NOTE: If you like the Brinno brand, but don’t want to pay for all the “smart” features, Brinno sells 3 other less expensive peephole camera models with more limited feature sets:

One more step up is the Brinno Duo SHC1000W which has all the features of the SHC1000 plus a WiFi connection which enables Live view and image playback on the app. The last model, the SHC1000W-S, is the same as the SHC1000W except it does not come with motion detection.

The JeaTone peephole camera gets close to having the ideal feature set for a peephole camera. It has a doorbell button, 2-way audio, 1080p video resolution, motion detection, night vision capabilities, remote notifications, and it’s listed at half the price of the Brinno.

However, just because it HAS all the nice features doesn’t mean they all work like they should. The Amazon reviews are filled with complaints of angry customers trying to get basic features to work. Even if you do get everything to work like it should, you still have to deal with a poor battery life, because the rechargeable internal battery is designed to last for only 30 days at best.

Poor documentation and support. If you have a problem with the product, don’t expect much help solving it. For this reason, I don’t recommend buying this product unless you are comfortable tinkering and troubleshooting products like this.

If monthly recharging doesn’t seem like a problem to you…and you’re okay with some tinkering and troubleshooting, then the JeaTone Peephole Viewer is probably the best value option for a WiFi connected peephole camera that you’ll find. But if you’re like me, and hate the idea of buying gadgets that require such frequent maintenance, you might think twice before committing to this peephole camera.

The Digitharbor door camera is a simpler and less costly option.There are a bunch of very similar door viewer models like this in the $40-$50 range. I chose the Digitharbor model because it has been around for a few years and has racked up a couple hundred decent reviews on Amazon.

The Digitharbor camera does not come with any WiFi connectivity, so there’s no app and no remote viewing. There’s no motion detection and there’s no knock detection.

The only way it does anything is if you press the button from the inside or your visitor presses the doorbell button on the outside. When either button is pressed, the inside LCD screen turns on to show the live view, and a snapshot image is saved. After a few seconds, the screen turns off and returns to standby mode.

Battery life on this camera is excellent, with user reports suggesting that it is able to last anywhere 6 months to even a year. Since it doesn’t have to maintain a WiFi connection and it isn’t constantly recording or scanning for motion, it uses very little power when in standby mode. Therefore, battery life should depend on how frequently it gets activated.

Although not a traditional peephole camera, the Remo+ DoorCam 2 has many of the features you’d want from a traditional WiFi peephole camera. But, instead of fitting into the peephole, it simply hangs on top of the door.

The Doorcam 2 is smarter than any of the competing peephole cameras. It comes with motion detection, instant motion alerts via the Remo+ app, clear 2-way audio, and it integrates with your smart home.

The DoorCam 2 can be powered with batteries (3 D-cell batteries which are included will last up to 4 months), or you can plug it in using a micro USB cable.

It’s expensive. At nearly $200, it’s at the same level as the Brinno Duo. However, the DoorCam price is a little more justified since it provides 1080p video, full night vision, and integration with smart home voice assistants.

This door camera doesn’t actually feature a screen on the inside unit like nearly every peephole camera. Instead, it requires you to download the Remo+ app in order for you to view what the camera sees. This doesn’t bother me too much since I don’t think I would use the door screen anyway. However, I know some people want a peephole camera specifically for the screen feature. Obviously, if that’s you, the Doorcam 2 is not what you’re looking for.

In some buildings, it may be against the rules to have a camera in the hallway. You might be able to get away with it if you have a concealed peephole camera. But, the Doorcam 2 is definitely not concealed. So, make sure to check with your building manager and confirm that devices like this are allowed.

If you compare the DoorCam 2 to any of the peephole cameras, it’s better in almost every way. It’s definitely the most smart home compatible. But clearly, it’s NOT a peephole camera. If you want a peephole camera for security purposes, this is a nice, but expensive option. However, if you want a more discreet camera with a door viewer lcd screen, you’re better off looking at one of the options from Brinno.

Choosing which peephole camera is going to be best suited for you can be a difficult task, and it can often be confusing to decide what sort of features are worth considering on a security camera for your peephole.

Peephole cameras hang on your door and therefore, plugging them in to constant power is inconvenient at best. Therefore, these cameras are designed to run on batteries. The WiFi connected models I found (Brinno and JeaTone) both suffer from terrible battery life (1-2 months at best). However, the simpler models (like Digitharbor and the Brinno SHC500) demand much less power, and therefore perform much better (6+ months).

Given the quality of video available from typical smartphone cameras, you would think that similar quality could be achieved with a camera that fits in a peephole.Video quality is a combination of resolution, light, and image distortion. Most people focus on resolution for which the current standard is at least 1080p. But resolution alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Wide angle field-of-view lenses will be able to capture more viewable area, but the edges of the image will become distorted.

A WiFi connection unlocks the possibility of remote access to your peephole camera’s footage, or other smart home integrations. It also uses more battery power, and introduces the possibility of the WiFi connection not performing as it should. The Brinno, JeaTone, and Remo+ all have WiFi and apps that grant remote access, but the Remo+ is the only one that has smart home integrations.

A lot of the best security peephole cameras tend to feature a larger housing on the outside of the door in order to house all of the necessary elements for things like motion detection and night vision, but if you’re not looking for this from your peephole camera, then you can opt for a more discrete design if that’s preferable.

A discrete option is much better if you don’t want people to catch on that they’re being watched through your peephole and means that it is also less likely to be vandalized too.

The Brinno Duo, JeaTone and Remo+ cameras feature the ability to talk with your visitors, this is great if you find yourself out when an important package arrives and is also great at deterring unwanted guests that find themselves at your door.

This is mostly a feature for capturing footage of people doing things they probably shouldn’t be doing. The Brinno Duo and JeaTone are equipped with motion sensors.

I suspect a lot of peephole cameras will be installed in apartment buildings that have hallways which are well-lit 24/7. For that reason, night vision may not be a necessity.

Maybe. You should be able to install a peephole camera without modifying the rental property. However, be aware that some buildings may have regulations against cameras that automatically capture images of public spaces (e.g. the hallway outside your door). You may also run into legal issues if your peephole camera has the potential to capture the inside of a neighbor’s apartment as they enter/exit.

Sort of. Every peephole camera I’ve researched can be powered by batteries alone. However, some models also have an external USB port, which can be plugged into the nearest outlet for constant power.

The Brinno Duo is probably the best I could find, but it also carries a hefty price tag and an inconvenient workaround for avoiding frequent battery replacement.

The only safe bet for the true peephole cameras are the much simpler models like the Brinno SHC500 and the Digitharbor. These models don’t have any motion detection or WiFi to run, so there’s much less that can go wrong, and they require much less power. Therefore, they are quite reliable and have much better battery life.

The best product by far that I researched for this article appears to be the Remo+ DoorCam 2. However, the over-the-door design clearly makes it NOT a peephole camera. It’s also the most expensive product I’ve listed, but in this case, I believe the extra price is justified.

With a dearth of decent peephole cameras available right now you do have another option if you’re looking for more smarts and features. There are a wide variety of no-drill mounts available for major brand video doorbells that allow you to use these without damaging the property.

Like home security cameras, a higher resolution peephole camera is always going to give you better results, but you may not need full HD video for your situation. Cheaper options can still provide sufficient clarity to identify people and see what is going on in front of the door, especially when these types of devices can’t be angled any other way. The best peephole camera for you may not be the highest resolution one, and high video resolution doesn’t reflect true camera quality.

Many of these peephole cameras have a larger housing on the outside of the front door, usually to accommodate a doorbell button and night vision LEDs. You might not need that, in which case going with a more discrete model could be preferable. These models completely conceal the presence of a peephole camera, and just look like a normal peephole. This is less obvious and ensures there nothing for vandals to target, but you’ll also lose some functionality like night vision, two-way talk, and integrated doorbell functions.

This is a feature common on video doorbells and basically means you can talk to the person outside the door from the inside, or even from the smartphone app (if there is one). After all, there isn’t much point being able to see the person outside if you have to open the door to talk to them anyway. Peephole camera don’t commonly support this feature, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for it.

Many peephole cameras will have motion detection features and capture either photos or video of the event. This is handy, but of limited usefulness if you can’t be notified about it as well. Better models will include some sort of notification when motion is detected, which may be as simple as a beep on the internal screen.

Peephole security cameras with Wi-Fiand a smartphone app provide the best home security benefit as they will be able to alert you wherever you are and may offer advanced notification controls to limit where motion will trigger a notification, and what types of motion you’re interested in (only people for example).

Some of these devices are merely a door viewer and don’t even store video. For those that do, storing peephole camera videos locally provides the best solution from a privacy perspective, but often limits the usefulness of the device. In these cases, you may only be able to access the video from your local network, or possibly only on the device itself.

Most folks are familiar with the traditional peephole cameras in front doors. Many homes still use them, and they serve a purpose. But the new generation of smart peepholes is light years ahead of the dated cylindrical types. They give much clearer images for one, via mobile screens and monitors, but that’s not all they do. This guide looks at 8 current favorites and the reasons to consider them.

The old-fashioned peepholes are small door fixtures with wide-angle lenses. They let those inside identify the caller without having to open the door. Many of the newer front doors come with peepholes built-in, but they’re easy to fit into the ones that don’t. These low-tech types continue to sell well, not least because they’re as cheap as chips and work as promised.

The features and functions of these security gadgets differ between products. It’s useful to know what they are so that you can shop for a smart peephole camera to suit your needs.

When a caller to your home rings the doorbell, the peephole camera turns on and starts to record. Some even offer knock detection. Smart peepholes come with display panels to view the caller. Others use a regular smartphone, tablet, or laptop as the viewer. The latter lets you answer your door remotely, whether you’re at home or away. That means you can interact with the caller in real-time.

How smart is that? You can see and talk to those who ring your doorbell wherever you are. You know when someone calls because the smart peephole sends an alert to your phone. Video quality can vary, though, so you may want to think about resolution. Options are typically 720p and 1080p.

You must physically go to the door and put your eye to the lens with the old-style peepholes. And if you’re not home, well, you have no idea who called or when. That’s not the case with smart peephole cameras. They can take snapshots of the caller, record video, or do both. The better ones come equipped with night vision sensors so that you can see who’s calling even when it’s dark outside.

Smart peephole cameras can save footage in a couple of ways. The local method uses an SD or MicroSD card. The other is Cloud Storage, and some gadgets offer both. It’s vital to choose the product that meets your storage preferences. Some sellers offer free limited cloud services, and others charge a nominal fee. There are good arguments for either option.

Local storage: It’s cheap, easy to use, and the saved data is under the user’s control. However, there are potential problems with local-only storage. It’s physical, and therefore the files can become corrupted. Also, the memory card may get lost, broken, or even stolen by a housebreaker.

A smart peephole sends auto-alerts to your phone as it detects motion or when someone rings the bell. And Advanced Motion Detection (AMD) is an excellent feature that helps to prevent false alarms. AMD allows you to customize specific motion zones within the camera’s angle of view (AOV).

App-control puts everything at your fingertips as most of us carry smartphones on our person. Apps give you live view, caller interaction, and video playback. There are things to check with apps like ease-of-use, reliability, and device compatibility. You don’t want to buy a product that only works with Android if you have an iPhone. Most of the newer products tend to work with both systems.

The best way to get a feel for peephole apps is to read real user reviews. Those with experience of these programs always comment on any bad features or compliment the good.

Many homes have voice-activated virtual helpers nowadays. The most popular ones are Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Assistant. New generation peephole cameras work seamlessly with these systems. Functions may include caller announcements via doorbell or motion detection. Users can also have 2-way conversations with their visitors via compatible smart speakers like Echo.

There are 8 mini-reviews below for the most sought-after smart peephole cameras. I have chosen these from several dozen products based on popularity, user feedback, and ease-of-use. You may want to make a shortlist of personal wants and needs before you start to read. It’s a simple way to ensure the peephole camera you like checks all or enough of your boxes.

The Best Budget peephole camera goes to the Digitsea Doorbell Cam. It’s an affordable product that checks lots of security boxes for a product in this price category.Best feature 1: Simple DIY installation and easy to use

The simplicity of this product is its main appeal. Installation is quick and easy, especially if it’s to replace an existing peephole. Some users may have to widen the old aperture if it’s too small. Digitsea’s digital doorbell cam doesn’t need apps, smartphones, or a WiFi connection to function. It’s purely a home-based product for folks to use who are indoors when callers turn up.

Digitsea’s Digital Peephole starts to record the moment someone presses the doorbell. There are 32 ringtones to choose from, so you can select a chime that’s pleasing to your ears. The cam has two power options. One is to use 4 AA batteries, the other a wall adapter (neither included). Battery power should deliver an average of 1500 peeps before replacement.

Consider the Digitsea digital door camera if you want a better view than the traditional peepholes. The camera’s wide 120° lens makes sure the caller is in its field of view (FOV). This peephole cam takes clear snapshots and videos of callers to your home in daylight and the dark. It’s night vision LEDs turn on automatically once light levels fall. All recorded footage saves to the 4GB microSD card.

ZUMIMALL’s Chiming, 2-Way Wireless Talk Doorbell 1080p Camera makes the Best Value slot. It’s a quality security peephole camera for use at home or to access remotely whenever you’re out.Best feature 1: PIR Motion detection

This wireless chiming doorbell camera has a built-in rechargeable battery. It can last anywhere between 2–5 months, depending on usage. The product’s free app for Android and iOS smart devices give you remote control. Not only can you see and hear callers at the door, but you can chat with them too. Moreover, there’s an option to share live feeds with family and friends via the CloudEdge app.

Ring’s Video Doorbell Pro is a bestselling product for lots of reasons. It has a solid design and comes with a choice of faceplates to match the home. The installation is quick and easy for anyone with basic DIY skills. There are even the necessary tools included in the box. You can connect it to any existing doorbell wiring, which means no changing or charging of batteries—ever.

There’s good news for those who use Amazon Alexa too. Just connect your Ring account to the virtual digital assistant for 100% hands-free home monitoring. Don’t worry if you don’t have an Echo device. This bundle includes the latest Echo Show 5 as part of its package.

The delay between the first bell ring and the notification can be a tad long at times. We’re only talking seconds, but that’s all it takes for some callers to walk away. The app can also be slow to connect to live view sometimes. The last gripe is with the two-way chat. It works as advertised, but the quality of the audio leaves a lot to be desired. It could certainly use a little extra clarity and volume.

Meet the affordable Sonew Digital Home Video Door Viewer. It’s a simple yet effective eye-in-the-door product that comes with a 3.5” color LCD screen and a bunch of useful features.Best feature 1: 3.5-inch color LCD viewing screen

Consider the Sonew Digital Home Video Door Eye Viewer if you want a simple, manual product. It’s light years ahead of the old-style peepholes, but easier to use and of much higher quality. Installation takes a few minutes and doesn’t need any DIY skills. The ultra-slim design looks stylish and fits right in with any door type without distraction.

There can be a slight lag in live view mode. That’s quite typical with many doorbell cams, but it can be frustrating nonetheless. This product doesn’t have motion detection or night vision features. The latter isn’t too much of an issue if you have a bright outdoor light. Motion detection is available with some doorbell cameras nowadays. Still, that feature is more useful with alarm systems than door viewers.

The Wsdcam Doorbell Camera is a feature-packed product with full app control. It lets you answer the door whether you’re at home or not, thanks to its real-time video and two-way talk.Best feature 1: Quality, 2.0MP 1080p Full HD Camera

Wsdcam 166° wide-angle doorbell cam works well in daylight and after dark. Its IP65 waterproof rating means you can mount it outside and forget about it, whatever the weather. The product runs on battery power, so there are no concerns with messy wires or power outages. And the Cloudedge APP keeps watch on battery levels and tells you when it’s time to recharge.

The doorbell offers 4 ringtones and 3 volume levels, including silent mode. The loudest setting is around 100dB, so anyone with normal hearing is sure to hear it indoors. Push alerts keep you informed of any visitors at the door when you’re away from home. Multi-user sharing is another useful feature. Pre-recorded voice messaging and the local MicroSD storage option are two more.

The ringer is battery-powered, and that’s a pro and a con depending on who you ask. The battery needs charging quite often with regular use, and that’s a hassle. The cloud storage is affordable, and there is a free trial. However, there isn’t a limited free storage plan like some products offer. Still, local storage suits many users, and this one accepts MicroSD cards up to 128GB.

This review is for another Ring security video doorbell. It’s the company’s highly popular Video Doorbell 2 with HD Video and a whole lot of security features. Let’s check it out.Best feature 1: Customizable motion detector

All Ring video doorbells ensure you never miss a caller whether you’re in or out. It’s a comfort to have that connection with home whatever you’re doing and wherever you are. This handy security gadget has adjustable motion detection. That lets you zoom in and monitor activity where it matters most. The Ring app then sends motion-activated alerts to your phone, tablet, or computer.

The 2-way talk feature lets you see, hear, and speak to callers via the Ring app in HD video. Sometimes, we simply want to check in at home, and Live View On-Demand allows you to do that. The Ring Doorbell 2 works with all the Alexa devices, which is an added convenience. Other highlights are the quick-release battery pack, interchangeable faceplates, and Lifetime Theft Protection.

SkyBell can help to stop housebreakings from happening. Anyone who approaches the front door and rings the doorbell is caught on the camera’s 180° wide lens. There’s also a 5x zoom, and it’s all captured in HD 1080p video. The 2-way audio feature lets you talk to visitors via a smartphone without going to the door. That includes remote interaction for times when you’re not even home.

All videos and snapshots save to the free Skybell Cloud service. The footage is available for download for up to 7 days with the included account. Other product highlights are the Activity History, Silent Mode, and Multiple User accounts. One of the reasons this video doorbell hasn’t gotten better ratings is that it doesn’t offer local SD card storage. It probably should do at this price.

The last review until our next update goes to the Brinno front door peephole camera. It’s a 100% wire-free video peephole with all the essential features and a theft-proof design.Best feature 1: Theft-proof design with camera on the inside

The theft-proof design keeps the camera on the inside. That means only the peephole is visible on the exterior of the door. Installation is quick and easy, especially if the Brinno is to replace an existing peephole. There are no special tools or DIY skills needed at all. It’s battery-powered too, so there are zero wires to contend with. And no visitor can see you looking at them on the built-in LCD screen.

This indoor LCD peephole is a straightforward, uncomplicated product with one-button control. It’s ideal for the technically challenged and those who spend a lot of time at home. It’s not a good choice for someone who’s out a lot. That’s because there’s no remote access with smartphone apps.

They don’t give a great view, especially in the dark. They don’t record. We have to be at the door to see. Someone could use them to look into your home, if they have a reverse peephole viewer.

A digital door peephole allows you to see who is at your door, without having to stand directly in front of it. It also ensures that no one can use your peephole against you with a reverse peephole viewer (these devices allow anyone to look back into a peephole and are the reason peephole covers exist).

Good question. Not everyone does. But if you want to know who is at your door before answering it, then you need a peephole. For some this is not an issue, but for many of us it is. I will not answer my door, unless I know who is knocking.

Have you experienced rushing to your door just to answer a knock but when you open it, there’s no one there? It can be a scary experience and it would be helpful to be able to see who was there before they ran away. A viewer doorbell will enable you to do this.

Finally, do you have lots of salespeople or church missionaries coming to your door, but you hate to have to send them away. A door viewer camera will help you avoid this awkward situation.

Or, picture this. You’re lounging in bed with your loved one on a Saturday morning still in your pajamas. The doorbell rings. Is it someone important? Or it is a salesperson?

Our recommendations for the best door viewer cameras have a huge range in prices: from $40 to $200. All get the job done and do it well. So why pay more when you can get the same for less?

It’s not quite the same. Higher quality peephole cameras generally work better in terms of sensing motion, and the software and apps are less buggy and more user-friendly. They also tend to have more features.

Do you need phone access only, a touch-screen in your home, or both? Do you want 2-way audio, and alerts and recording? Some have night vision, and rechargeable batteries, while some do not. Do you want a camera that just gets the job done with 720p quality? Or a top-of-the-line 1080p one?

The following 6 models are the best front door spy cameras on the market. Which one is ideal for you depends on your needs, but you can’t go wrong with any one of them.

It looks like an ordinary peephole viewer but it is actually a camera that can capture pictures and record videos of people coming near your doorstep. Read through the reviews, and you’ll find almost no negatives written about this compact security device.

We love companies that stand behind their products, and Digitsea is certainly one of them. They offer a full 1-year warranty that takes care of you for the first year after purchase. It can be an excellent, risk free way to try out a video peephole for the first time.

“Battery life is great (batteries not included with the product), the bell is loud enough and the image allows you to easily see who’s at the door. Great product for the price, but kind of difficult to see at night on it.”

The Ring is also an Amazon bestseller. It has a ton of features that you’ll love, as well as all the latest technology you could hope for in a digital viewer.

The ring video doorbell is one of the most expensive products in our list of top peephole door cameras. In fact, it is one of the most expensive models on the market period.

One of the best features of this wifi enabled doorbell camera is that it is compatible with Alexa. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a voice controlled personal assistant for your home. This device is sold separately.

“I really like the peephole and found that it worked well for my needs—being able to see who is at the door. The only thing I didn’t like is that it can run out of juice without any warning. it’s not terrible, but kind of less than ideal if I’m on vacation when it happens. I love that the images and videos can show up on my phone without any hassle.”

“It’s a great peephole if you’re looking for a reasonably priced system. I use mine with Alexa and found that they were indeed compatible. I’ve tried a couple similar ones and found this one worked the best. I love the color of it too…it looks sharp on my door. It’s battery powered, which is nice because you don’t have to deal with wires and cables.”

Next up on our list of the best peephole surveillance cameras is the Eques doorbell. Of all the options on the list, this is a premium choice and has plenty of features that you’ll love, including the touch-screen, advanced technology. It’s also easy to get alerts via smartphone app and connect up to your home this way.

One of the things we love best about the VEIU system is that there’s a large screen that you install on the inside of your door. This allows you to see who’s outside your door without a phone, making it an obvious choice if you have seniors or kids at home.

You can also see the feed via an app, with alerts whenever someone is at your door. It’s a handy way to keep an eye on things at home when you’re not there.

A couple of features that we love are the night vision and motion alerts. As far as the night vision goes, it works well and you can make out who is at your door with reasonable ease.

For the motion detector, you can get alerts on your phone, take a snapshot, or start recording when this is triggered. It’s always handy to have a record of things. The VEIU comes with a 2 GB storage card, but this can be expanded to 32 GB if you need more space.

The best thing about the VEIU? It can be installed in less than 5 minutes, with few tools and no tech knowledge. It really is the simplest device on this whole list to get up and running. We love it and we’re sure you will too!

“What won me over about this one was the large screen on the inside of the door, app for my cellphone, and also no monthly fees. It was easy to set up in under an hour, and it just works well. The functionality of the phone app is great, and my kids can use it too without a smartphone. The viewing window is big and clear.”

“Great execution, and it’s probably the best doorbell that I’ve tried so far. My family loves the sharp LCD display screen. However, the drawbacks are the same as other ones, mostly a motion detector that is not that accurate. It sometimes gets triggered by big trucks that are driving by.”

Next up on our list of the best door viewer cameras is the Zmodo Smart Greet video doorbell. This is one of the lower priced peepholes on our list. Is it still a good buy?

One of the things we love is that Zmodo stores your video clips in the cloud for free, for 12 hours. This is enough for most people. However, you can upgrade to a better plan, with the first 30 days free.

“I love that I don’t have to pay a monthly fee for this peephole, which can add up quickly. Overall, it’s a nice product and works well for my needs (to see what’s going on when I’m not home, but my kids are). I found the set-up to be very quick, unlike some of the other reviewers.”

“This digital door peephole is a great product, but my only complaint is that I wish it came with a wedge so I could aim it lower. Other than that, it’s amazing and works better than other similar products I’ve tried. It isn’t hard at all to install it.”

For more details, you can check out our full review here: Zmodo Greet Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell. Or head over to Amazon to learn more about this peephole cam.

Next up on our list of the best wireless doorbells is this one from Brinno. This is by far one of the easiest ones to install and it’s for this reason that it should be at the top of your list if you’re not handy with the power tools. This type of peephole should be mandatory in all homes to help ensure personal safety.

It’s so, so easy and takes most people only a few minutes, or even less. You just have to remove your peephole viewer, install this one, and then snap the camera onto the base. There are no wires or complicated setups.

As far as we can tell, there is no Smartphone access, or motion alerts available. This is a big difference between Brinno and many of the other ones on the list.

However, if you’re looking for a very simple setup that allows you to see clearly who’s outside your door, as well as taking a picture of them and storing it on a micro SD card (with a time/date stamp), then Brinno may be exactly what you need.

“I live in a condo and we have very strict rules about not being able to modify anything on the exterior of our units, so I decided to go with the Brinno that just fits on my previous doorbell. It did the trick and and I now feel much more confident about opening up the door because I can clearly see who it is.”

“Installation was very easy (as promised) and only took a few minutes. I love being able to open my door, not blindly like previously because of the terrible peepholes.”

“Overall, my Brinno peephole works well but we sure to keep in mind that you have to purchase a separate micro SD card so keep that in mind when comparing prices with some other units. It was super easy to install and get up and running, right out of the box. I loved not having to run cable through my house!”

Does this peephole sound like exactly what you need to protect your office or home? You can get more information about it here: Brinno Wireless Doorbell Review. Or, check it out on Amazon.

Rounding out our list of the best video peephole is this one from LAView. It’s a new product that has only come onto the market in the past couple of years, and it has a number of both pros and cons that you need to take into account.

“Easy to install and clear viewing during both the day and night. The phone all with alerts and push notifications works well. Unlike some of the other peepholes I’ve tried, there’s no lag when using the 2-way audio to talk to delivery drivers. Very happy with it.”

“We’ve had a few packages stolen from our house and the very fact that we have this peephole has prevented any problems. You can very clearly see who’s at your door, even if it’s a night. A great purchase and took just a few minutes to take out my peephole and put this one in.”

Regular peepholes in doors don’t really allow a clear picture, especially at night, or in foggy weather. That’s where something like the Ring, or Eques Vieu comes in. They allow you to see clearly who is there, even in low light conditions, on an LCD display or your Smartphone.

If you’re short, you may not be tall enough to put your eye up to the fishhole on your door. Avoid this problem by getting a digital door viewer. Young or old, tall or short people can see who is out there with the touch of a button.

We love being able to see who is ringing our doorbell when we’re not home. It can offer some serious peace of mind, especially when the kids are home alone. Same with parents. As they age, set them up with something like the Ring, and you’ll be able to have a bit of an idea what’s going on in their home.

If you get a peephole cam with 2-way audio, you’ll be able to talk to delivery people when you’re not at home. This is super convenient because you can direct them to leave the package on your back deck for example, instead of taking it to the depot where you’ll have to get it later.

There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when buying your front door viewer camera. Is there one single perfect one for everyone? Not really. It’s more a matter of choosing the right one for your needs from all the ones on the market today.

It can be difficult to view a small screen that is less than 2.5 inches. One that is 3-4 inches is very easy to see clearly, even for people with poor eyesight. You’ll also want to consider the resolution. Generally, the bigger size screen the better.

Generally, you’ll want to stick with screens that have an LCD display, and cameras that capture a sharp, clear image. How they perform in low-light conditions is another important factor to consider.

The higher end items come with 1080p, which are crystal-clear. A 720p camera will work well for most purposes. At the lower end, some come with 360p, which most people find pretty fuzzy, especially in lower-light conditions.

If you have a normal size door area, then almost any of these peephole cameras will work well for you in terms of the range of vision. However, it you have a large area outside your door, then you’ll want to consider a device that shows a larger area.

This is certainly something you should check out before buying . You’d be surprised, but many people don’t! Doors come in varying thicknesses and peepholes come in different sizes. Make sure the system you buy is compatible to save yourself a big headache.

If you have a door that might not work with many video doorbells, you might want to consider this simple DIY home security device: a Porch Light Camera. It’s basically a wireless security camera that connects to an existing light fixture.

If you have a ton of people coming to your door, the batteries can quickly be drained. Although you can get rechargeable ones, it can be a bit of a hassle to replace them. It’s prudent to see if the peephole cam you’re considering offers any power-saving features.

Almost all of these devices can be installed by someone with basic tools and installation should be quick and easy. Some don’t even require that and take only minutes.

If you want this feature, you’ll need a peephole cam that is wi-fi enabled and doesn’t just record to a memory card for example. All the devices that have this feature are compatible with both iOS and Android phones, and you’ll often be able to check via computer by entering the company’s special URL.

Most of these peephole monitors start recording if motion is detected. However, quality of the sensors vary. The best ones fall right in the middle. They don’t trigger on every little thing, but they also don’t stay off when something bigger happens.

As with any technology, some peephole cams work much better than others in terms. This is important when you consider the number of false alerts you may get.

Is the technology of both the product and software consistently being upgraded? That’s usually a good thing. If you can get more features with your existing doorbell via a software update, that’s great!

Some of these motion activated peephole cameras will have an alarm feature. For example, you can set them to make a loud noise in case something happens when you’re not there. Perhaps your home or business is in an extremely remote location and there is never any reason for someone to be at the door.

There is a wide variation among peephole cameras as to what accessories are included, so please take a careful look at this before making your final decision.

Some peephole cameras tap into your existing doorbell, while other require a whole new wiring set up. Some require being constantly hooked up to a power source, while others have rechargeable or replaceable batteries that don’t need wires. Check to make sure whatever device you get meets your expectations in this regards.

Some companies offer 24/7 chat or call support while other are much more limited. We generally prefer the companies with 24/7 support because who likes to stop what they’re doing for a day or two while waiting for a reply to an email?

Picture and audio quality, along with motion sensors don’t vary too much in terms of quality. It’s usually customer service and ease of use for the Smartphone apps that suffers with the lower-priced items.

Don’t be scared to opt for one of the more affordable door peepholes. Just make sure it offers everything you need. If not, it’s worth paying more to get the exact features you want and also to ensure top quality.

If you’re looking to keep your home as safe as possible, then digital door viewers are just one part of that. Know who’s at your front door before you open it! What if it’s a bad guy, and you’ve just given him access to your home?

Outdoor security cameras are an integral piece of home, or business safety. Basically, you can keep an eye on what’s going on when you’re not around. The top cameras have night vision, motion detection alerts, and a huge field of vision with an HD camera.

We usually recommend Lorex. It’s designed for DIY set-up, and even people who aren’t especially handy, or tech-savvy can figure it out. The quality is top-of-the-line, and most people are very happy with this home surveillance system.

The next option are fake security cameras. If you’re on a very tight budget, they can make a nice option. Some people go exclusively with them, and hope that they deter criminals. Others use them along with real security cameras to increase visibility.

The last option you might want to consider besides a peephole camera recorder is a fake TV. They’re an excellent way to simulate someone being home, when they’re actually not.

Leave a comment below and let us know: What do you look for in a peephole camera? How much are you willing to spend for one of the best peephole cameras? Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other people who are looking to protect their home and family find this useful resource.

Damon Kennedy is the expert on all things home security systems. He"s been working in the field for 20 years, recommending and installing them for his clients, for both homes and businesses. He"s excited to share his knowledge with you so that you can make the best choice!

Peephole cameras are becoming more and more popular as home security demand increases. There are so many different camera options out there that choosing between them can be difficult. Many people prefer a door camera than manually