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Looking for the best Amazon Echo Show compatible cameras that also work with Amazon Echo Spot and even your smartphone? You’re in the right place.
Oh, and you’re in good company too, according to market research firm Stratistics MRC, the global home security solutions market is expected to reach $57.73 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 8.9%.
So what are the best Amazon Echo Show cameras? Here are my top five picks:
- Best Budget Option: Wyze Cam
- Budget Plus: Wyze Cam Pan
- Most Versatile: Ring Stickup Cam
- Most Innovative: Logitech Circle 2
- Best Video Quality: Arlo Pro 3
The Best Echo Show Security Cameras
Since they arrived on the scene last year, the Amazon Echo Show and Echo Spot are among Amazon’s top-selling Alexa devices.But did you know the HD display on the Show and Spot make a great security monitor when paired with a compatible camera? You can use it to monitor baby, check up your kids, spy on your nanny, monitor an elderly parent, check your front door, keep an eye on your pooch, and more.
But there are also a ton of options out there now and it can be overwhelming to choose the best camera for your needs. That’s where I come in. I put more than 30 hours of research into this post to come up with five solid recommendations among the 25 top-rated cameras on Amazon.
Without further ado, let’s start with a helpful infographic comparing the top three brands. Then, I’ll dive into the details of my five favorite Amazon Echo Show compatible security cameras in more detail below.
Comparison Infographic: Wyze vs Ring vs Circle 2
The handy infographic below illustrates key features of each of three of my favorite Echo Show compatible cameras with Alexa side by side.
As you can see, the major features are largely the same with some subtle differences.
We’ll go into more detail on the similarities and differences in our review of each camera below.
Like our colorful graphic? Feel free to use it if you give us a link back here!
1. Budget Option: Wyze Cam
I’m not technical at all and this took me 10 minutes to set up.Kara Williams (My Favorite Sis)
The Wyze Cam gets you the most bang for the buck out of any camera I have researched, reviewed, or tested. It provides many of the features that the premium cameras provide for a fraction of the price. It also works great as a video feed for both the Echo Show and Echo Spot. In fact, the price is so low that some have speculated that the company must be selling customer footage to the government. As my boy Reed backs me up in the video below, this just isn’t the case. I bought one of these for my sister last year for Christmas and it took her literally 10 minutes to set it up and get it paired to her Echo Show in the Alexa app. For some reason, Wyze Cam reminds me of Gonk, the power droid from Star Wars: A New Hope.
Dimensions
ProCamera diameter (60 mm), camera thickness (42 mm), overall height (104 mm), base diameter (70 mm).
What’s In the Box
Why I Like It (Pros)
- Night vision
- Zone detection
- Camera sharing with multiple family members
- Free Cloud storage
- Mobile push notifications
- Ability to record continuously to a MicroSD card (sold separately)
A Few Nits (Cons)
- Compatible with the 2. 4GHz WiFi networks only (does not support 5GHz Wi-Fi)
- Live stream through voice command is limited to ten minutes.
- Must have an Apple (iOS) or Android mobile devices for set up.
- No Cloud storage option beyond 14 days of saved alert videos (free).
- Designed for indoor use only.
- Requires a wired connection (no battery option).
Video Review: Wyze Cam
Here’s a really nice review of the Wyze Cam from Reed over at Smart Home Solver:
Wyze Cam Alexa Commands
To see your live Wyze Cam feed, you can say:
“Alexa, show me the baby room.”
“Alexa, show my bedroom.”
“Alexa show the back yard.”
“Alexa show Fido cam.”
To stop your Wyze Cam live stream you can say:
“Alexa, stop.”
“Alexa, go home.”
2. Budget+: Wyze Cam Pan
I know what you’re thinking. Oh sure, so now you’re going to try to sell me on a MUCH more expensive Wyze Cam, aren’t you? Actually, no I’m not. The Wyze Cam Pan is an equally affordable security camera that has all of the same features of the Wyze Cam, plus a few extras. And the additional cost really is trivial – at least at the time of this writing. Wyze does a great job detailing the differences between the two models, but I will summarize the main points here. The Wyze Cam Pan is best when you want visibility of an entire room. It lets you pan and tilt the lens to give you a 360° horizontal and 93° vertical viewing range (using the Wyze app). Wyze Cam Pan also has better quality night vision, thanks to sux IR LEDs instead of the four that come with regular Wyze Cam.
What I Like (Pros)
- You get all of the benefits of the Wyze Cam listed above.
- Pan, tilt and zoom the camera remotely using the Wyze app.
- Motion tracking tracks motion at 110° per second and provides all-directional coverage (horizontal 360°, vertical 93°)
- “Pan Scan” mode auto rotates the camera to get a full view of a room
- Enhanced night vision distinguishes 18 shades of gray and provides clear images up to 30 feet away
- Can be mounted to a standard camera tripod or mount
A Few Nits (Cons)
- Pan has a higher power requirement than Wyze Cam v1/v2
- It cannot be reliably used for daisy-chaining.
Video Review: Wyze Cam vs Wyze Cam Pan
Craig’s Tech Talk does a nice comparing the Wyze Cam and the Wyze Cam Pan in this video review:
How To Use Wyze Cam With Alexa
Wyze put out this nice video showing how to use Wyze with Alexa.
NOTE: You will definitely want to mute Alexa before you watch this to prevent her from going off.
3. Most Versatile: Ring Stickup Cam
Next, on my list of Echo Show compatible cameras is the Ring Stickup Cam. This is an outstanding camera from the leading video doorbell maker Ring that works with Alexa to launch crystal clear 1080 HD video using your voice. Like the Wyze Cam, it has night vision. Unlike the Wyze, it has Cloud recording for all of the motion detected on the camera for a very low monthly fee. Also, like the Wyze Cam, the Stick Up Cam will alert you on your mobile when motion is detected. The best thing about this camera is its versatility. You have three options: wired, battery-powered, and solar-powered. The camera can also be used both inside and out. If you opt to mount it outside, you can get a solar panel that will keep it charged for you 24-7. You can price out the various options including solar on the Amazon product page. The solar panel looks like this:
You can use the Ring Spotlight Cam to see, hear, and even speak to outside visitors from your phone, tablet, or PC. When motion is detected outside your home, the Spotlight Cam springs into action. It will send alerts to your iOS, Android, Mac or Windows 10 devices. It also includes LED light strips and a siren. You can also control the siren remotely—if you see a shady-looking character in your video feed.
Set up is easy. The cam and the solar panel contain all of the required hardware that you need to mount the camera on the inside or outside of your home. Expert tip: Make sure you fully charge the Ring and connect it to Wi-Fi before you mount it.
This is a good place for a stickup!
Dimensions
3.82 in x 2.36 in x 2.36 in
What’s In the Box
Why I Like It (Pros)
- It is the only camera here that offers three power options: Wired, Wireless, and Solar.
- You can use it inside as well as outside.
- You can place it on a flat surface or mount it to a wall or ceiling.
- The 80-degree viewing area will let you get a full view of most large rooms and good sized yards.
- Live view via intuitive Ring app
- Add a Ring Protect Basic Plan for $3/month and record all your videos, review up to 60 days of footage
- Share videos with friends, family, neighbors and more.
A Few Nits (Cons)
- As Erin points out, the camera will not work in temps below 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 Celsius).
- There is no free Cloud storage plan, so you’ll need to commit to at least a few dollars a month if you want to playback video.
Video Review: Ring Stickup Cam
Here’s an excellent review of the Stickup Cam features and installation from our friends at TechGadgetsCanada.com:
Erin, are you single? Call me! 🤙 LOL.
Ring Stickup Cam Amazon Alexa Commands
To see your Ring feed, you can say:
“Alexa, show the living room.”
To stop your Ring feed, you can say:
“Alexa, hide the living room.”
“Alexa, stop.”
“Alexa, go home.”
To see your most recent video clip on Ring, you can say:
“Alexa, show me the last activity from the living room.”
“Alexa, show the most recent event from the garage.”
“Alexa, pause.”
“Alexa, stop.”
4. Most Innovative: Logitech Circle 2
Next on my list of Echo Show compatible security cameras is the Logitech Circle 2. This wi-fi connected home security camera from the innovators at Logitech records 10 to 60-second videos when motion is detected. It then stores the video footage in a secure, private cloud. It works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and it will allow you to stream video to your Show or Spot.
Depending on your camera model and settings, the length of time you can stream the feed may vary. The feed automatically times out if you’ve exceeded the streaming limit for your camera. You can reopen the feed at any time by asking Alexa to show your camera again. To show your camera feed, you just activate Alexa and say, “Show [camera name].”
The Circle has many similar features to the other cameras we reviewed. These include:
- Night vision
- Smart alerts with snapshots
- Two-way talk
Dimensions
H: 3.8″ x W: 3.2″ x D: 3.7″ x Wt: 12 oz.
What’s in the Box
Why I Like It (Pros)
- The best looking camera of the bunch in my opinion.
- Mobile alerts display snapshot of detected motion.
- Built for indoor and outdoor use.
- Works with Alexa, Homekit, and Google Assistant.
- Night Vision, 2-Way Talk, Alerts, Free 24-Hours Storage
- A 180-degree wide-angle lens gives it the most coverage out of cameras we tested.
- The free daily smart time-lapse briefing gives you a 30-second time-lapse video recapping the most important moments of your day. Cool.
A Few Nits (Cons)
- Access to some advanced features is via paid subscription only (e.g., person detection).
- Some customers have complained that the notifications don’t go out fast enough.
- Others have complained that the battery drains too fast., although it looks like this has been addressed in the newer models. Battery life depends on use. The company provides the following guide to help owners estimate battery life. This seems reasonable to me.
Check out this video review from CNET of the wired model (the wireless features are essentially the same):
Logitech Circle Alexa Commands
To view your camera’s live stream:
“Alexa, show me the Front door camera.”
To stop watching the live stream:
“Alexa, stop the Front door camera.”
To see the most recent recording:
“Alexa, show the latest event from the Front door camera.”
5. Best Video Quality: Arlo Pro
If video quality is your primary concern, then Arlo Pro is worth a look. But it is more expensive than the other Echo Show compatible cameras listed here, and the quality output you get on the Show or Spot is going to be negligible. However, you want to hook this up to your TV, HD smartphone, or video monitor, the quality is going to be AWESOME. By awesome, I mean twice as sharp the feed from the other products pictured here. This really is the main selling point of this camera. Other special features include enhanced color night vision and a built-in siren and spotlight. The premium storage plans after the one-year are up are around $10 bucks a month, but if you are already paying for a home security system, this can save you money over time.
What I Like (Pros)
- 4K UHD video quality (yes that is ultra high def folks, just like on Netflix).
- Works indoors and out.
- Review up to 30 days of Cloud footage.
- Works great as part of a multi-camera home security setup.
- 180-degree diagonal field of view reduces the “fish-eye” effect.
- Enhanced night vision in color.
- Two-way audio.
- Include siren and spotlight.
- Includes 1 Year of Arlo smart Premier service with rolling 3-day cloud recordings (for 1 camera).
A Few Nits (Cons)
- It’s expensive.
- A few customers have reported problems with getting 4K video quality.
- At least one customer complained that the siren isn’t loud enough.
Video Review: Arlo Pro
onourshelf nails it with this informative Arlo Pro review and set up overview:
What Is the Best Echo Show Compatible Camera?
Despite some minor shortcomings, all of the cameras we tested provide great video quality and convenience features you would expect from a smart video camera. Also, the integration with the Show and Spot work flawlessly and is “spot” on.
All in all, I like the Ring Stickup Cam for its versatility the Logitech Circle 2 best for its innovative features like the wider field of view and daily time-lapse briefing. Plus, it just looks cooler. However, the price is a bit more, so you’ll need to weigh that against the additional features. For a budget option, you can go wrong with either Wyze model here. And the Arlo Pro footage will look stunning on your big screen TV as well as your Echo Show or Spot.
Do You Really Need a Security Camera?
To be honest, I was super skeptical about these before I bought one. Why would I want to peer inside my empty apartment, I thought.
But then I started reading some of the reviews on Amazon. One guy tells an amazing story about how his Echo Show compatible camera saved his dog’s life. He received a notification showing that his house had caught fire! So, he called a neighbor and the neighbor was able to get the dog out of the house just in time.
One guy tells an amazing story about how his Echo Show compatible camera saved his dog’s life.Tec Timmy
There are also several posts among Amazon’s ratings of video footage showing actual robbers getting caught on tape inside customers’ homes and apartments. According to statistics published by Safewise, a property crime occurs every 3.9 seconds in the US.
Pretty crazy.
Still not convinced? Check out these 9 Surprising Stats About Home Security.
Echo Show Compatible Cameras – Your Turn
We hope you enjoyed reading our review of the best Echo Show compatible cameras.
Do you already own a Show or Spot? How do you like it? Which home security camera do you like best?
Please leave a comment below and let us know.
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About the Author
Tim Brennan, Technical Writer & Blogger
Tim Brennan [a.k.a. "Tec Timmy"] is a senior technical writer with over 20 years of experience writing for companies and organizations in and around Greater Boston, including GE and MIT. In addition to actively writing for this smart home blog, Tim is also a regular contributor over at UniversalRemoteReviews.com. Tim holds a BA in Journalism from Northeastern University. Brennan is a father to two sons, an active blogger, a Star Wars nut, and loves a good taco🌮. There is a strong chance he is developing a crush on Amazon Alexa. You can learn more about Tim here.
Comments
This blog beautifully explains about the Amazon Echo Show compatible cameras in depth. It will surely help others to understand more about these products. Thanks for the great info!