Here are four high-quality camera apps for creating a cheap security camera in minutes.

All you need is an iOS or Android machine and a computer.

Recorded video can also be viewed via the web.

Close-up of a person monitoring the rooms in their house with a home security system app

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Extras like zooming are behind a paywall.

The app occasionally crashes on aging hardware.

Alfred Home Security Camera is one of the best surveillance apps for both iOS and Android devices.

Alfred Security Camera app running on Android and iPhone

Alfred Security

The app works by turning one smartphone or tablet into a camera and another into a viewing monitor.

Once set up, the Alfred Home Security Camera begins recording video when motion is detected.

The app uploads all footage to a free online cloud account for viewing later.

AtHome camera app My Cameras and Local Album tabs for iPhone

AtHome

Additional features, such as zooming, require a paid subscription.

You might also experience crashes if you have an older unit.

Video streaming is encrypted.

Viewer for Baby Monitor for Kinect turning Xbox One into a security camera or baby cam

Viewer for Baby Monitor for Kinect

Cloud save functionality requires a subscription.

It also works on Android 4.0 and newer.

Like other surveillance apps, AtHome begins recording footage from the gear’s webcam when it detects motion.

Manything smartphone app turning a smartphone into a security camera

Manything

View all recorded footage on another gadget or a computer.

The Kinect camera sees in the dark.

The Xbox One console must be turned on for this app to work.

you’ve got the option to’t use your Xbox One while this app is running.

You also can’t use the gaming console while in baby monitor mode.

Clips can be downloaded and shared easily.

Subscription required to save footage to the cloud.

Fee to use more than one gear as a surveillance cam.

Stream video from the app live on your primary smartphone or tablet and receive alerts when motion is detected.

One helpful feature is the ability to talk through the unit working as the camera.

You’ll pay extra for extras such as cloud storage and using multiple devices as cameras.