Home security is getting cheaper, smarter and easier to use every year. Therefore, the demand for stand-alone home security applications is decreasing. Nowadays, people buy a security camera, set it up, and install the appropriate app. However, if you have old smartphones that you’d like to repurpose as security cameras and are looking for some extra security, here are the best home security apps for Android.
Best home security apps for Android
Camera at home
Price: Free app / Hardware costs
AtHome Camera is one of the better and more popular DIY home security apps. Its biggest feature is cross-platform support. It has apps for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows. The service comes in two separate applications. The camera app turns your device into a camera, while another app lets you monitor. Some of the features include time-lapse recording, multi-view for up to four cameras, remote monitoring and even facial recognition. This is a great way to repurpose old laptops or smartphones. It also has a number of hardware cameras if you want to go that route. The application itself is free.
Home Security AlfredCamera
Price: Free / $5.99 per month / $29.99 per year
Alfred Home Security Camera is one of the most popular home security apps for mobile devices. It allows you to reuse old smartphones for home security purposes. This one has remote access, live video streaming, some free cloud storage, walkie-talkie functionality, zoom and more. Many features are available for free. However, some things, like HD recording, are only available with a monthly subscription. It has its issues, but the pros tend to outweigh the cons for most. Otherwise, the application is free to download and use.
IP web camera
Price: Free/$4.99
An IP web camera is one of the simpler applications for home security. It turns your phone into a remote camera. The app has a decent but basic set of features. They include support for VLC player, live video streaming, Ivideon support, support for FTP servers and Dropbox, motion detection and video chat support. This is one of the few good free home security apps. However, it takes a few minutes and some brains to set up. The application is supported by advertising. Otherwise, it is completely free.
Monitor TinyCam
Price: Free / $3.99
TinyCam Monitor works like most of the other IP cameras on the list. You are installing this on two different devices. The first is used for its camera, while the second is used to monitor the first. Some features include H.264 and H.265 codec support, support for security cameras from some manufacturers, 17 different skins and more.
The Pro version removes ads, adds support for 24/7 video recording and facial recognition. The feature set is pretty good and the app is generally pretty easy to use. We also like that it doesn’t require a subscription.
WardenCam
Price: Free / $5.99
WardenCam is another home security app for your old phones. It claims to work anywhere over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi networks. Additionally, the app offers multi-camera setups, Google Drive and Dropbox support, motion detection and alerts, two-way audio support, and above-average developer support. This one requires a one-time price instead of a monthly subscription. That’s always better. The user interface is decent and the app is quite easy to use.
Bonus: actual smart security cameras
Price: Free apps/hardware prices vary
The best home security apps match their hardware counterparts. Popular smart home products like Nest, NETGEAR and LG smart cameras have their own apps. In addition, some traditional security companies such as ADT or Vivint have started to introduce their own applications. Finally, there are a number of security cameras available from companies like Nest, and most of them also have apps. Generally speaking, it’s best to find the hardware camera that works best for you and just use the app that comes with it. Reusing your old phone is great for these things, but it just can’t beat devices designed for this specific task. Good luck!
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