The 7 Best Pet Cameras of 2023, Tested in Our Lab

Best Overall

Eufy Pet Dog Camera D605

4.9

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The eufy Pet Dog Camera D605 allows you to follow your friend as they nap, eat, and play, with a 170 degree wide-angle lens providing 1080p resolution with a 4x zoom function—allowing you to pop in on their activities in real time. 

This pet camera checked all the boxes for our tester, who described the eufy video as "extremely clear" in both full light and night-time settings. They were similarly impressed with the responsive app inputs for the voice, treat, and motion controls, which allow for 270 degrees of camera rotation (combined with the wide lens, the eufy pet camera can capture 360 degree video). It was just as easy to take screenshots or record video from within the app. Plus, the camera’s automatic night vision, which uses multiple infrared sensors, will ensure you are able to clearly see and speak to your pet at all hours.

"This is the camera I'd go with," our tester noted. "The wide-angle camera has great resolution and swivels so you can see everything. It can even follow your dog around automatically. The treat dispenser 'game' is a nice bonus as well."

The camera features a gamified treat tossing setting, which was an unexpected highlight for our tester. While many pet cameras have the ability to dispense treats, the eufy Pet Dog Camera offers a suite of fun options, with the ability to fire a treat anywhere in a 270-degree arc, with three different distance settings. The anti-clog dispenser held up under testing too, working reliably throughout our time with it. The treat container is also dishwasher-safe.

Setting up the app and virtually engaging with your pet is simple, with a QR code syncing the camera with your mobile device. The 16 GB of built-in storage allows you to save adorable moments captured by the camera and to pre-record audio messages that can be easily delivered to your pet via the app. The eufy Pet Dog Camera is fully featured right out of the box, with no additional subscription to access anything in the app.

If they get a little loud with their barks or meows (aww, they miss you!) a notification on your mobile device will let you know, and you can offer calming words of comfort with a two-way audio system. Other pet-centric features include smart motion tracking that keeps your pet at the center of the frame. It will even alert you when your dog exhibits unusual behavior, like pooping inside the house or licking their paws too much.

All the features are accessible, without an additional subscription. While we were impressed with the eufy's thoughtful design, from the app to the sleek camera housing, it's meant to be used as a tabletop device, similar to an Alexa or Google Home. This means there are no options for mounting the pet camera.

_{Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.7 x. 12.44 inches | Subscription Required: No | Treat Dispensing: Yes | Motion Alerts: Yes | Night Vision: Yes}

Best Subscription

Furbo Dog Camera

4.2

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Imagine getting notifications on your phone for a "Doggie Selfie" that your pet captured on their own, followed by an end-of-day "Doggie Diary" showcasing how your pet spent their time at home alone. While our testers preferred pet cameras that were fully featured without the need for an additional subscription, the Furbo Dog Camera and its Furbo Dog Nanny subscription service might be worth the price for some users, with an abundance of fun, unique, and useful features.

The Furbo Dog Camera itself was well-liked by our testers. It offers a 160-degree wide-angle live stream in 1080p HD with night vision, two-way audio, a barking alert, and the ability to take a photo. In our tests, its treat feature worked well, reliably dispensing 2-4 treats every time you press the treat button in the center of the app's screen.

One tester described the Furbo as "the best looking of the cameras we've tried, and would be good for someone who cares a lot about their camera blending into decor on a shelf."

They were also impressed with the video and audio quality, which did a good job of keeping pets in view. However, unlike our Best Overall pick, the eufy Pet Dog Camera, the Furbo's rotation is automated and can't be controlled from the app.

The main aspect separating the Furbo from its competition is its subscription features, which currently cost $6.99 a month. The Furbo Dog Nanny service includes 24-hour cloud recording, a home emergency alert for smoke and CO alarms, and notifications for continuous barking or crying. It also sends you "Doggie Diary" daily highlights videos, which capture your pet at play.

The Furbo app is free to use with the Furbo Dog Camera, but is relatively bare-bones without the additional subscription. While several of the features locked behind the subscription wall come included with other pet cameras we recommend, the Furbo Dog Nanny service provides enough additional features to put it above other subscription-based pet cameras we tested.

And while it’s in the name, we should also note that this camera is geared toward keeping an eye on and engaging with dogs—but could also work for cats. 

_{Dimensions: 4.72 x 8.86 inches | Subscription Required: No | Treat Dispensing: Yes  | Motion Alerts: Yes | Night Vision: Yes, black and white}

Best Outdoor

Wyze Cam V3

4.6

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If your pet prefers spending time exploring your outdoor terrain, then the Wyze Cam V3, with its ability to withstand the elements, is our top pick for you.

When motion or sound is detected, the camera automatically starts to record and sends an alert straight to the connected mobile device. Since your pet might not be the only living entity outside (birds, squirrels, lizards, etc.!), the sensitivity of the detection feature can be adjusted or turned off completely, if preferred. 

This is the only pet camera to make our list that is suitable for use outdoors, and the camera’s design impressed our tester: “The camera being small and easily mountable is a definite plus.”

It features full-color night vision in 1080p HD, and it’s lightweight, easy to mount, and adjustable, so you can find the angle that works for your space—indoor or outdoor. “I think this camera delivers a lot of features for the price,” remarked our tester, and while “there is no [remote camera] control or other special features, the basics all worked very well.”

The camera is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, provides two-way audio, and offers a 130-degree field of view. With the Wyze app, users can stream video, get notifications, and change settings.

"Sound quality from the app seemed good, as well as the speaker in the camera," our tester noted. "The only area to improve would be that the speaker in the camera is a little quiet.”

Cloud storage of video footage regularly deletes the oldest data, but an additional memory card can be inserted for additional storage. Depending on your space, and especially for outdoor use, you may need to purchase a longer USB power cord than the standard 6-foot cord provided with the camera.

_{Dimensions: 3.93 x 2.51 x 2.24 inches | Subscription Required: No | Treat Dispensing: No | Motion Alerts: Yes | Night Vision: Yes, color}

Best for Training

eufy Security 2K Indoor Pan & Tilt Pet Camera

4.8

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If you are trying to keep your pet off of or out of a specific area in your home (the couch, the table, a window sill, etc.), then this camera is our top pick for you. “I think the pet detection zone is a really useful feature for keeping your dog off the couch,” our tester said.

From the eufy Pet app, you can indicate a zone within the camera’s that is off limits. If your pet is detected within the marked area, the camera automatically plays a sound altering your pet to their misstep and sends you a notification.

The eufy Security 2K Indoor Pet Camera offers advanced features including a 2K resolution and the ability to distinguish between animal motion and human motion. The design of the camera allows the lens to pan 360 degrees, with a tilt up to 96 degrees, and when pet motion is detected the camera automatically tracks it. Through the app, a user can determine activity that will automatically trigger recording and notifications, and the two-way audio allows for communication in real time.

“I liked being able to pan/tilt the camera, to control the sensitivity, and the activation zone feature is really nice," our tester said. "Camera controls worked very well, and the app has a lot of features built into the live video stream. I got notifications for both movement and sound, and the movement notification specified that a person was detected.” 

Our tester was less impressed with the automatic night vision, noting that it didn't activate until lighting conditions were nearly pitch-black. There is no way to manually activate the night vision.

The eufy camera is also smart home ready, compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. The camera’s design lends itself to placement or mounting, but it is slightly larger than other options on our list because of its wide range of motion.

_{Dimensions: 2.97 x 2.97 x 4.21 inches | Subscription Required: No | Treat Dispensing: No | Motion Alerts: Yes | Night Vision: Yes}

Best Roaming

Skymee Owl Robot

4.4

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Arrange playdates and keep your pet active with this unique camera that looks like an owl on wheels. Similar to a Roomba vacuum—but dispensing treats instead of cleaning floors—the Skymee Owl Robot is designed to roam around your space on wheels.

This is the only pet camera on our list with this unique feature, and our tester was impressed with its mobility. "This moves really well on its wheels. We tested on a shag rug too [and] it caused no problems,” noted our tester.

"I would recommend this to pet parents who feel guilty about being at work," exclaimed your tester. "I love that not only can you check in on your pet, and have the two-way audio, but you can also keep them entertained with the movement. The treats setting is great too because you can use the microphone setting to talk to your pet before dispensing a treat, or just set up a predetermined amount to dispense."

Through the app, this pet camera allows a user to control where the camera goes in real time or with pre-programmed movements designed to stimulate and engage your pet. A stick with a feather at the tip can be added for feline participation, and the treat dispenser can accommodate a variety of sizes and shapes, so your furry loved one can get their preferred snack either on demand or at a pre-programmed time of your choosing. 

Our testers did note that this might not be suitable for all pets, especially those that tend to be anxious. “I think movement out of nowhere may scare them, so I would recommend testing it out with them before you use it when you're not home.”

Since this camera is primarily meant to be free range, it does rely on a rechargeable battery. On average, with 6 hours of charging, the Skymee Owl Robot can run for 3-7 days in interactive mode before needing a recharge.

_{Dimensions: 6.7 inches x 6.7 inches x 4.9 inches | Subscription Required: No | Treat Dispensing: Yes | Motion Alerts: Yes | Night Vision: Yes}

Best Budget

YI Dome Camera

4.8

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Small but mighty! Our tester was very impressed with the video quality and features of the YI Technologies Dome Pet Camera. “I love that the camera is small and easily portable.” With a price around $33.99, you might even consider getting two and setting them up in different locations in your home. 

The circular dome design of the camera lens provides 360-degree coverage paired with an 84-degree vertical pan, so you can keep an eye on your pet as they move about, especially with cats who tend to seek out high locations in a home.

Our tester also found the camera very easy to use and control from the app. “It definitely exceeded my expectations”, shared our tester. “The video quality was good. The app offered a few options including HD and SD, which I found helpful.” The HD resolution is more clear, but the SD may be easier to load and view while you are away from Wi-Fi. And our tester saw no difference between HD and SD quality in night mode.

_{Dimensions: 3.7 x 3.7 x 6.5 inches | Subscription Required: No | Treat Dispensing: No  | Motion Alerts: Yes | Night Vision: Yes}