Best Free Apps Use Old Phone as Security Camera | 2024
Are you struggling with what to do with your old phone after getting a new one? Well, you can use your old phone as a security camera in your home to monitor your small children, elderly and pets to keep them safe. This article will introduce 11 best free apps to turn your old phone into security camera. Let's get started.
How Can I Turn My Phone Into a Security Camera for Free?
The easiest way to turn your old phone intro security camera is by using an app. And here we collected 11 free apps for you. Now you will have a overview of all the apps.
| Apps | Streaming quality | Video recording | Motion detection | Free Trail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirDroid Personal | High | Yes | No | Free for local network $3.99/month for remote network |
| Alfred | High | Yes | Yes | Free for One Viewer $5.99/month |
| SeeCiTV | High | Yes | Yes | Free Trial start with $0.99/month |
| Manything | Medium | Yes | Yes | Free without video recording $2.99~19.99/month |
| AtHome | Medium | Yes | Yes | Free Trial |
| BabyCam | Medium | Yes | No | BabyCam $0.99 |
| OWLR | Medium | No | Yes | Free |
| WardenCam | Medium | Yes | Yes | Free with limited storage $8.99 |
| Haven | Medium | Yes (triggered upon motion detection only) | Yes | Free |
| Salient Eye | Low | No | Yes | Free |
| IP Webcam | Low | Yes | No | Free |
11 Best Free Apps to Turn Old Phone into Security Camera
In this section, we will present more information about these programs, including their features, performance, compatibility, advantages and disadvantages, and so on.
1AirDroid Personal
AirDroid Personal is the first free app to turn old phone into security camera that we will recommend on our list. While the old phone serves as a security camera, a secondary remote device functions as the viewing device. After downloading the app on your old phone and PC, you can remotely access the camera. AirDroid Personal also provides a web version, so that you can access your phone's camera from any device, such as PC, phones, tablets.Note that this app can only turn your old Android phones as security camera.
Why Choose AirDroid Personal
- Flexible camera control options: You can access the camera and flashlight settings to see the different angles clearly with the device's rear or front camera.
- Remote screenshotting and recording: You can take screenshot and record through the remote camera. And screenshots & videos will automatically be stored on your computer
- One-Way Audio You can hear background sounds of your remote device using One-Way Audio in real-time.
- Free from network limitations Our Remote Camera works no matter if your devices are connected to Wi-Fi or cellular network.
Pros
- Can be used on both cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
- Compatible with multiple platforms; Android, desktop and web.
- All the basic features are free to use.
- Ease of operation.
Cons
- One-way audio is the premium feature.
- It can only help you turn your old Android phone into a security camera.
How to Use Old Phone as Security Camera with AirDroid Personal
Follow these steps to convert your old phone into security camera using AirDroid Personal
Step 1: Click Download Now button to download and install AirDroid Personal on your old Android device. Install AirDroid Personal on your computer or use web.airdroid.com on any devices to monitor your home security remotely.
Step 2: On your old phone, go to Security & Remote Features, switch on the Camera button, then select the Grant Permission button.
Step 3: Next, you enable One-Way Audio by turning the option on. Afterwards, allow AirDroid Personal to record audio by tapping the relevant button.
Step 4: On your PC, launch AirDroid Personal. Select your old device as the device you want to monitor remotely, then Click on Remote Control, and tap on Remote Camera. Now your old phone has been completely turned into a security camera.
2Alfred
Alfred is a multi-purpose app that can turn your old phone into a home security system. As long as you have the app installed on both phones at the same time, you can turn your phone into a security camera and view the footage in real time from the other phone. It employs both front and rear cameras to provide a live home feed. And with the free version, you can enjoy unlimited live stream and motion detection feature. Hence, it's a good choice to turn your old phone into security camera for you baby, pets or family.
Features
- Live view
- Motion detection and notifications
- Two-Way Audio
- Playback, continuous recording
Compatibility: Android and iOS
Streaming quality: High
Pros
- It provides HD video surveillance.
- You can remotely zoom in and out.
- Smart motion detection.
Cons
- The HD live stream, zoom and cloud storage features are only provided in paid version.
- There are ads in the app.
- It always disconnect.
- Don't support PC.
3SeeCiTV
SeeCiTV is also a great app letting you turn your old cell phone into a security camera for your family. It allows you to remotely turn on your phone's camera and monitor what's going on in your home in real time. However, it only supports Android devices, both the controlled and controller side. It utilizes Google Sign-in API for authentication, features camera access password (PIN), and offers enhanced security through highly encrypted P2P data transmission.
Compatibility: Only on Android
Streaming quality: High
Features
- Two way talk
- Periodic monitoring
Pros
- Free to use.
- Allows users to record HD live videos.
- Consumes less power.
Cons
- Users can't record for a long period of time.
- There are so many ads which take over the entire phone screen.
4Manything
As one of the best apps to turn old phone into security camera, Manything is a simple app which functions both as a motion detection tool and a surveillance tool. Manything works by detecting movements within a specified zone. It converts your old smartphones into sophisticated security cameras. This app can be used to monitor anything.
Compatibility: iOS and Android
Streaming quality: Medium
Features
- Live streaming
- Motion alerts
- Cloud recording
Pros
- The motion sensitivity can be adjusted to capture only significant events.
- Extensive backup cloud storage.
Cons
- Doesn't offer extensive coverage; it only defects movements within a specified zone.
5Athome Camera
AtHome camera is also a good choice among best free apps that turn your old phone into security camera. Like other apps, it has powerful monitoring features. It supports remote real-time video transimission, two-way talkback. and also guarantees your data security and privacy. And it supports multi-platform. You can even watch the remote video on TV.
Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows
Streaming quality: Medium
Features
- Schedule Recording
- Multi-platform Interconnection
- Pan-tilt Control
Pros
- AtHome group view option permits the viewing of 4 cameras simultaneously.
- You can remotely control the rotation of the camera to achieve 360-degree monitoring.
- Its face recognition feature reduces the occurrence of false alarms; you only get notified when necessary.
Cons
- It's not user-friendly; the advanced features make it quite complex for the average user.
- The app doesn't always run smoothly; it lags from time to time.
6BabyCam
This app is specifically designed for monitoring babies. When parents need to be in another room or when the baby is sleeping, they can use this app with two phones to check the baby's status. It offers rich features. You can listen to the surroungdings, zoom in the screen, record video and so on.
It requires that the devices are connected on the same WiFi network or via WiFi Direct
Compatibility: Only on Android.
Streaming quality: Medium
Features
- In-built Lullaby songs
- Screen recording and Screenshotting
Pros
- You will get instant notification when your baby wakes up or begins to cry.
- The app allows you to talk to your baby from a remote device.
- Recorded videos are available for download on the remote device and not the recording device.
Cons
- It requires that the remote device and the camera be linked to the same network for it to function.
- Both the remote device and camera have to be relatively close for Baby Cam to work well.
7OWLR
Another free app on our list to turn your old phone as security camera is OWLR. This app has the ability to convert an Android phone into an IP camera. Primarily functions as a monitor. It can be used as a home, baby or pet monitor. It can also serve as an office monitor. However, I can't access the dowmload either from the official website or app store. Maybe it's unavailable now.
Compatibility: Android and iOS
Streaming quality: Medium
Features
- Motion alerts
- Instant and Email Notifications
Pros
- It serves as a hub that links different IP cameras around the home.
- Passwords are not stored on its server hence protecting the camera from being hacked.
- Easy to Setup.
Cons
- It's a new app; hence most features are not fully functional; they are still being developed.
- It is not reliable.
8WardenCam
It provides round-the-clock security surveillance. Works over both Wi-Fi and cellular networks. Warden Cam utilizes the audio and video sensors of your old smartphone, essentially making it a security camera.
Compatibility: Android and iOS devices.
Streaming quality: Medium
Features
- Ultra HD Audio and Video
- Motion detection
- Free Cloud Storage
Pros
- Users can link as many phones as possible.
- Its ability to support multiple phone connections enables it to record and document all activities happening in the home and its surroundings.
- The night vision feature ensures visibility under low light conditions.
Cons
- Consumes a lot of data.
- Doesn't work well over Wi-Fi networks.
9Haven
Haven is an open-source app that can turn any Android phone into a remote monitoring device. It can detect motion, sound, vibration and light. Although it's open source, you can get it from Play Store. And it doesn't support iOS devices now.
Compatibility: Android
Streaming quality: Medium
Features
- Sound & Vibration detection
- Light detection
Pros
- Consumes less data; it only records and stores footage when there are unusual movements and sounds.
- It is reliable; works fine even on the oldest Android devices.
- Works well over Wi-Fi networks.
Cons
- Low-quality videos and pictures.
- Doesn't have cloud storage.
- Doesn't support iOS devices.
10Salient Eye
Salient Eye can turn your spare phone or tablets into a security camera. It will detect motion and capture photos of intruders and send the alerts to you. The app is free for Android on Play Store and is $1.99 for iOS devices.
Compatibility: Android and iOS
Streaming quality: Low
Features
- Motion detection
- Theft-deterrence
Pros
- Simple and easy to set up.
- Works on almost all Android devices.
- Modifiable motion sensitivity.
Cons
- Only works on Android devices.
- Doesn't provide live video feeds.
11IP Webcam
This app turns your spare phone into a network camera. You just need to install the app on your spare Android phone. From your side, you can view the camera with VLC Viewer and web browser from any device.
Compatibility: Only on Android.
Streaming quality: Low
Features
- Multiple viewing points
- Cloud Backup
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Ability to detect an object and capture all movements across its path.
- Recordings are not lost.
Cons
- Works over a limited distance.
- Requires frequent check-ups; the app constantly requests permission from users.
Best Practices to Use Your Old Phone as the Security Camera
What happens after you pick up your best app to turn your old phone into a security camera? Now you can follow these steps:
- Choose a Proper Spot for Your Phone Camera: Once you have chosen a device as your security camera, you need to find a spot to place it. At this point, you should keep in mind the main purpose of using your old cell phone as a security camera and place it accordingly.
- Keep Charging Your Phone: These apps can drain a device’s battery quite quickly, especially on older phones. You’d want to choose a spot for your phone where you can easily access a charging source.
- Ensure the Storage Space: If your security camera app saves its recordings in the internal memory of your phone, then it may fill up quickly.
- Close Unnecessary Apps and Close Other Notifications: Background apps can slow down a phone’s processor, causing the video recording to get stuck or even disconnect. Close all background apps before connecting your phone with a security camera app.
When to Use Old Phone as Security Camera?
There are a number of situations where you may want to use your old phone as a security camera.
- Nursery monitoring: these apps help you keep an eye on a sleeping baby while you’re at work.
- Pet monitoring: you can use such apps to monitor your pets while you’re not home.
- Home security: you can even use these apps for home security. Some of these apps have special home security features like recording when they detect motion and two-way audio.
- Elderly or special needs care: using these apps, you can remotely monitor your loved ones and give instant help.
Conclusion
These innovative apps give your old, abandoned phones a whole new purpose and are cost-effective. Of the numerous options discussed in this article, AirDroid Personal is the best app to turn old phone into security camera.
Give your old phone a new life. Get AirDroid Personal today. Download it Now.
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