Are you considering installing a security camera at your home or office? It’s quite natural in places with high crime rates or if you have something valuable in your possession and need that extra safety. Installing a security camera assures you that the trespassers and burglars can be spotted before they arrive at the scene or at least they can be identified later on. The question is, can you use your iPhone as a security camera?
You can repurpose your old iPhone into a security camera thanks to these apps that we have tried and tested below giving you in & out details of the same. Do check out the list of best apps to turn your iPhone into a security camera.
Alfred
Alfred has advanced features like a 360 camera, walkie-talkie, low-light filter, unlimited cloud storage, and many more. There’s two-way audio in case you want to convey something. The footage is fed onto the cloud storage for 7 days free of charge. Also, you can set up a “trust circle” where your friends can view the footage if required.
Pros:
- Primary features are free
- The feed can be viewed on the web
- Content is uploaded on a free online cloud account
- 24/7 live streaming
Cons:
- Some premium features are behind the paywall
- Requires iOS 8 and above
- Low-quality footage
Key Features: Two-way communication | Motion Detection | High-resolution video-quality | Trust Circle | Intruder alert and siren system
Price: Free | Offers In-app purchases | Premium subscription starts at $3.99/mo or $29.99/yearly
Download: Alfred
ManyThings
ManyThings is an all-powerful app that transforms your iPhone into a security camera. It takes advantage of both the camera and microphone of your device to deliver optimum security. ManyThings can be used to monitor the office place or home or children’s room as a baby monitor and so on. It is compatible with IFTTT that allows connecting with a huge number of web services and devices connected with it. ManyThings are capable of tracking motion as well that comes in handy in tracking burglars and intruders in your home.
The free version does have Cloud Video Recording (CVR) although in a limited fashion. There are a few shortcomings with ManyThings too such as it faces substantial lag in the live stream when viewed on other smartphones.
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Supports multiple devices
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Cons:
- Compatible with iOS 6 and above
- Low-quality videos
- Expensive premium plans
- A substantial delay in live stream
Key Features: Compatible with IFTTT | Download videos | Adjust detection zones & camera sensitivity | Control cameras remotely
Price: Free | Offers In-app purchases | Pro at $3.99 to $25.99 from 1 camera to 5 cameras setup
Download: ManyThings
Related: How to Disable Camera and Mic Access to iPhone Apps
Presence Video Security Camera
You have an old iPhone that you want to repurpose. Check out the Presence Video Security Camera that transforms your iPhone as a CCTV camera transmitting footage to your primary devices in real-time. It does have a lot of features such as audio and video streaming live, alert when someone’s around, and so on. Two-way communication is available on Presence and it entertains multiple simultaneous viewers as well.
Its Presence Pro is strapped with a lot of features including a camera alarm, faster and longer recordings, 5GB of encrypted cloud storage among others. You also get clear video streams and additional layers of privacy and security with Presence Pro.
Pros:
- Advanced motion detection
- Pro version is very powerful
- Supports multiple simultaneous viewers
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Cons:
- Constant reminders on buying its cloud storage
- Most features are behind a paywall
- Limited storage on the free version
- No IFTTT channel
Key Features: Compatible with Amazon Alexa | Two-way audio communication | Live audio and video feed stream
Price: Free | Offers In-app Purchases | Pro at $1.99/week trial, $4.99/mo, and $49.99/yearly
Download: Presence Video Security Camera
Baby Monitor 3G
This one is a bit different but has many use cases. It is a baby monitor wherein you can convert two iPhones or a combination of iPhone and iPad into a child and a parent station. Watch the live stream of your baby sleeping and keep an eye without actually entering his/her room. Baby Monitor 3G works on a 3G/LTE/Wi-Fi which means you can have an HD video feed anywhere anytime.
It has other features like an adjustable night light, lullabies for babies, 13 languages support among others. You can repurpose it as a security cam in or outside your house just in case. Ensure you are carefully tucking the phone at the right place hidden from intruders if the purpose is security.
Pros:
- HD video anywhere and anytime
- Unlimited reach
- Night Mode
- Easy to use and set up
Cons:
- Lacking many security features
- Connects to only one parent station at a time
Key Features: Setup in 30 seconds | Enhanced Baby Activity log | Discrete Vibration Light | Reliable and secure | Two-way audio communication
Price: Pro at $3.99
Download: Baby Monitor 3G
AirBeam Video Surveillance
If you are looking to set up surveillance at your home or in the office, AirBeam Video Surveillance can be of great help. Assuming that you have one or more spare iPhone, you can simply use AirBeam and transmit high-quality videos at 1080p in real-time on the monitoring device. The app doesn’t take much configuration as it automatically detects cameras i.e. your iPhone(s) in this instance.
The list of features includes Multi-Camera and Multi-Monitor setup as well as manual and motion/audio detection. Integrate it with Dropbox and all the recordings will be uploaded directly over Wi-Fi. The app is powerful thanks to the tonne of features it offers including a web interface, full remote control, and two-way audio communication to name a few. The app isn’t free so you will have to pay for it but it’s worth it.
Pros:
- High-quality videos in real-time
- Uploads recordings to the cloud automatically
- Full remote control
- Multi-Camera & Multi-Monitor setup
Cons:
- Occasionally lags
- Port configuration can be tricky to understand
Key Features: Two-way audio communication | Virtual Reality Mode | Dropbox Integration | Manual, motion, & audio detection | Zero Configuration
Price: $3.99
Download: AirBeam Video Surveillance
iCamSource Mobile
Another lesser-known app that converts your iPhone into a security camera, iCamSource Mobile works with iCam Video Streaming app. It feeds footage containing both audio and video recorded using an iOS device such as the iPhone. It is a handy app if you are looking to use it as a spycam, a security cam, or a baby monitor if you have a spare iPhone to use.
The iCam video viewer app is great as a monitoring station as it can collect feeds from multiple cameras at once. Connect it over to Wi-Fi or 4G/LTE/3G/EDGE and it will do its job right away. The app also takes backup of recordings in case needed. Need to watch the live feed or recording without the monitoring device? The app also offers the ability to stream video on the web. It is also compatible with Windows Vista and above, iOS 8.2 and above, and so on.
Pros:
- Encrypted recording
- Adjustable frame rate and image quality
- Motion detection alerts
- Tutorials for easy configuration
Cons:
- Requires separate apps for recording & monitoring
- Requires paying for premium upfront
- Negligible free storage
Key Features: Multiple multiple audio/video feed | Backs up recordings | Easy to configure | Supports both front/back cameras
Price: $0.99 to $49.99
Download: iCamSource Mobile | iCam View Streaming
Related: 15 Best Instagram Video Editor Apps for Android and iPhone
IP Cam
IP Cam transforms your iPhone into a portable IP camera that you can access via the WI-Fi network. The app lets you configure your iPhone as an IP Cam capturing both video and audio. You can view all the recordings on a web browser from any computer or you use your Safari or other browsers. The app has Night Vision and Grayscale mode, Apple Watch support, and lets you view recorded devices from any iOS device.
IP Cam uses login and password for utmost protection against intruders. The app has support from viewing recordings using 3rd party apps, has configurable video quality, supports dynamic DNS among others. Not that this is a lesser-known app on iPhones but it is worth giving it a shot.
Pros:
- Night Vision & Grayscale
- Supports login & password
- Remote streaming & recording
- Web access
Cons:
- Relative underrated
- Relies on web browsers for viewing recordings
Key Features: Configurable Video Quality | Supports Dynamic DNS | Back/Front cam support | View on 3rd party apps
Price: Free
Download: IP Cam
If you are looking for popular apps that allow converting your iPhone into security cameras like AtHome and a few others, those are no longer working. We did find some of the best apps including a few unknown ones that would allow using your spare iPhone as a security camera. Let us know which app you found the best based on your use cases.