Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor vs Owlet Cam 2
Compare features and trade-offs. Catalog scores are editorial assessments, not customer review averages or proof of hands-on testing.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Catalog price ranges are estimates; check the exact model, seller, and current retailer price.
Facts and prices checked
The short answer: sleep analytics and split-screen versus the cheapest app camera
Both are 1080p Wi-Fi cameras that stream to your phone, so the choice comes down to what you want beyond live video. The Nanit Pro ($289.99) adds an overhead sleep view, free Breathing Motion Monitoring with Nanit's Breathing Wear, and free split-screen for multiple cameras. The Owlet Cam 2 (about $99.99) is a simpler camera whose extras pay off mainly if you also use Owlet's Dream Sock. The deciding factor is price: the Owlet costs about a third as much up front, and its free tier keeps 48 hours of event clips, while Nanit's free tier is live-only. Owlet's own store now sells the Dream Sight (Gen 3), a 2K camera at the same $99.99, instead of the Cam 2, so only buy a Cam 2 at a clear discount.
Key differences
| Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor | Owlet Cam 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection and security | Wi-Fi to the Nanit app. 256-bit AES encryption, mandatory two-step verification, and video relayed through Nanit's servers. | Wi-Fi to the Owlet Dream app, which Owlet describes as a secure, encrypted connection. Setup requires 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. |
| Screen / parent unit | Phone or tablet, plus an optional 8-inch Nanit Home touchscreen ($179). | Phone or tablet only, with no dedicated screen for the camera. Up to 5 devices can stream at once. |
| Video, zoom and night vision | 1080p HD with infrared night vision. | 1080p HD with night vision, a wide-angle view and 4x pinch-to-zoom. |
| Camera placement | Fixed overhead bird's-eye view from a wall mount or floor stand. The Flex stand gives a 130-degree angled view. | Fixed camera on a magnetic base, either wall-mounted above the crib or set on a flat surface. No pan or tilt. |
| Breathing and health data | Breathing Motion Monitoring is free. The camera reads the pattern on Nanit's Breathing Wear, which has no sensors, and a band comes free with the system. | The camera has no breathing feature. Pulse rate and oxygen readings come from the separate Dream Sock ($299.99), which is FDA-cleared to display them. |
| Multiple cameras | Split-screen, free in the app and on the Nanit Home display. | You can add several cameras to one account, but you can't stream them at the same time. You toggle between feeds. |
| Subscription | Optional. Free: live video, alerts, Breathing Motion Monitoring and 2 users, but no video history. Sleep is $100/yr, Memories $120/yr (adds continuous video history) and Milestones $300/yr. | Optional. Free: live video, sound, motion and cry alerts, and 48 hours of about 10-second event clips. Owlet360 ($9.99/mo or $99.99/yr) extends clips to 14 days and adds trends and reports, most of them sock-based. |
| 3-year cost | $290 on the free tier. About $565 with Sleep, $650 with Memories or $1,190 with Milestones. | About $100 on the free tier. About $400 with Owlet360 annual, or $460 paying monthly. |
Choose Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor if…
- you want breathing-motion tracking without a wearable sensor, since it reads a pattern printed on Nanit's Breathing Wear.
- you'll run two cameras and want both on screen at once, since Owlet only lets you toggle between cameras.
- you want a dedicated bedside screen. Nanit's optional 8-inch Home display is $179, while the Owlet Cam 2 is phone-only.
Choose Owlet Cam 2 if…
- you already use, or plan to buy, the Owlet Dream Sock, since both run in the same Dream app under one Owlet360 plan.
- you want the lowest 3-year cost for an app camera: about $100 on the free tier or about $400 with Owlet360 annual.
- you want short event clips without paying. Owlet keeps 48 hours of sound, motion and cry clips free, while Nanit's free tier is live-only.
9.2
Excellent
Best Overall
Pros
- +Crystal-clear 1080p HD video with excellent night vision
- +Breathing monitoring via wearable band is highly accurate
- +Comprehensive sleep tracking and analytics
- +Bird's-eye view mounting gives full crib coverage
Cons
- −Most expensive option in our ranking
- −Breathing Wear bands need regular replacement ($25/pack)
- −Requires subscription for full analytics features
Don't buy if
- ⚠ You need a strong WiFi connection — performance drops significantly on slow networks
- ⚠ Not ideal if you want a dedicated handheld unit (app-only viewing)
7.0
Good
Discontinued (Remaining Stock)
Pros
- +Pairs with Owlet Dream Sock for heart rate and oxygen monitoring
- +Crystal clear 1080p video quality
- +1080p HD video quality
- +Good 1080p video quality with night vision
- +Room temperature monitoring
Cons
- −Best features require buying the sock separately ($299+)
- −Designed for babies, not pets specifically
- −Requires Wi-Fi connection
- −App can be buggy with connectivity issues
- −No treat dispensing or pet AI features
Don't buy if
- ⚠ Discontinued: Owlet no longer sells the Cam 2 in its US store and now offers the Owlet Dream Sight ($99.99). Buy only from remaining stock at a discount.
- ⚠ You're uncomfortable with a product that had an FDA regulatory issue (resolved but notable)
- ⚠ This is a baby monitor repurposed for pets — the noise detection is calibrated for crying babies, not barking dogs.