Vaava

Best baby monitor apps: free and paid compared

Last checked October 21, 2026

Last checked October 21, 2026

The right baby monitor app depends on where you need it to work. Some keep monitoring on your home Wi-Fi for free, while others add video, cellular access, or a one-time purchase. This comparison checks six apps against their official store listings and product documentation, including what each one costs and what it does not document.

Choose by what you need

  • VaavaPublisher

    Consider Vaava if you want free local audio monitoring, cry alerts, and talk-back on the same home Wi-Fi, with optional video.

  • Ninna

    Consider Ninna if you want live audio and video, alerts, and talk-back over home Wi-Fi, with the option to pay for remote viewing.

  • Murmeli

    Consider Murmeli if you want a short free trial followed by one purchase, with no account and both local and remote connections.

  • Pevu

    Consider Pevu if you want free local audio monitoring with alarms and talk-back, and can keep the devices on the same network or use its local travel mode.

  • Cloud Baby Monitor

    Consider Cloud Baby Monitor if you want a one-time purchase per platform, live video, and the option to monitor over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile data.

  • Annie Baby Monitor

    Consider Annie Baby Monitor if you want live video, two-way audio, alerts, and a free trial before choosing a paid plan.

Compare baby monitor apps

Compare connection requirements, live video, account details, and current US prices. “Not listed” means the reviewed official source did not specify the detail. Read the app profiles below.

Six baby monitor apps compared using official sources checked October 21, 2026. US store prices are shown where listed.
Feature VaavaNinnaMurmeliPevuCloud Baby MonitorAnnie Baby Monitor
Platforms iPhone and Android. Source Google Play listing; Android app. Listing says it can pair Android and iPhone, but a US App Store listing was not verified. Source iPhone and iPad on the US App Store. Developer site also lists Google Play; the Play app ID was not verified. Source US App Store lists iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Pevu's guide says Android and iPhone/iPad combinations are supported; no US Google Play listing was verified. Source iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac, and Android per developer and store listings. Source iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV on the US App Store; Android listing also available. Source
Free vs paid Free local monitor. Remote monitoring is Vaava Plus, a one-time purchase. Source Free local Wi-Fi use; Ninna Pro adds remote viewing. The listing describes monthly, yearly, and lifetime options, without prices. Source Two-day iOS trial, then one purchase. No subscription. Source Audio monitoring and alerts are free. Pevu Full adds video and multiple baby devices; monthly, yearly, or one-time plans. Source Paid app, one purchase per supported platform; no recurring subscription. Source Free download and three-day premium trial; the listing describes weekly, monthly, yearly, and lifetime purchases. Source
Wi-Fi or internet/cellular Free monitor needs both phones on the same Wi-Fi; no internet needed. Different networks or cellular require Plus and internet. Source Free use is over the same Wi-Fi. Pro relays the stream for remote viewing over the internet. Source Same Wi-Fi locally; remote monitoring can use mobile data or other Wi-Fi through a relay when needed. Source Same Wi-Fi works without internet. Travel mode creates a local network without a router or internet. Internet/cellular remote monitoring is not documented. Source Home Wi-Fi by default; Bluetooth is also listed. Unlimited Range works over internet, Wi-Fi, or cellular. Source Wi-Fi or mobile data, including 3G/4G/5G/LTE. Source
Live video Live audio and optional live video. Source Live camera stream; the listing calls the product a video camera monitor. Source Live video and audio; video can be switched on from the parent device. Source Live video is part of Pevu Full; audio and alarms remain free. Source Live audio and video. Source Live HD video; recordings are also listed as a feature. Source
Account required No account required for local monitoring. Source Listing says no passwords are needed; its privacy section mentions an anonymous account identifier for sign-in. Whether an account is required is not clearly specified. Source No account or sign-up. Source No account or cloud service. Source Account requirement is not listed in the reviewed official materials. Source Account requirement is not listed in the reviewed official materials. Source
US price Free locally; Plus is €14.99 once. Source Free locally; Pro prices are not listed in the reviewed materials. Source US App Store: $5.99 once after the two-day trial. Source US App Store: $3.99 monthly, $17.99 yearly, or $24.99 once for Pevu Full. Source US App Store: $6.99; Google Play: $6.49. Each platform requires its own purchase. Source Current US prices for each paid plan are not listed in the reviewed materials. Source

What each baby monitor app offers

Vaava

Publisher

A local two-phone monitor with an optional remote tier

Consider if: you want free local audio monitoring, cry alerts, and talk-back on the same home Wi-Fi, with optional video.

Documented strengths

  • The free local monitor includes live audio, cry alerts, talk-back, and optional live video.
  • Local monitoring works on the same Wi-Fi without internet and without recording.

Limitations

  • Both phones must be on the same Wi-Fi for the free local monitor.
  • Monitoring across different networks or cellular requires Vaava Plus and an internet connection.
  • The Apple Watch app has no monitor alerts.

Free and paid access

  • The local monitor is free. Audio and optional live video stream between the phones.
  • Vaava Plus adds monitoring over the internet as a one-time purchase.

Pricing notes

  • Vaava Plus is €14.99 once. The Apple or Google store displays the current local offer.

Ninna

Free local monitoring with a paid remote option

Consider if: you want live audio and video, alerts, and talk-back over home Wi-Fi, with the option to pay for remote viewing.

Documented strengths

  • Google Play describes free local audio and video, sound and movement alerts, background listening, and push-to-talk.
  • The listing says streams are live and encrypted, and not recorded or stored.

Limitations

  • Remote viewing requires Ninna Pro.
  • The US App Store listing and exact Pro prices were not verified.

Free and paid access

  • The developer says local monitoring over Wi-Fi is free.
  • The listing describes paid Pro monthly, yearly, and lifetime options, with a seven-day trial on yearly plans.

Pricing notes

  • Current US Pro prices were not listed in the reviewed Google Play materials.

Murmeli

A one-time purchase for home and remote monitoring

Consider if: you want a short free trial followed by one purchase, with no account and both local and remote connections.

Documented strengths

  • The US App Store describes live audio and video, sound alerts, talk-back, and remote use over mobile data.
  • No account, subscription, or recordings; one purchase covers local and remote use.

Limitations

  • The iOS trial is two days, after which the app requires a one-time purchase.
  • Video monitoring uses battery; the listing recommends keeping the baby device plugged in for a full night.

Free and paid access

  • The iPhone and iPad listing provides a two-day trial.
  • Full use is a one-time purchase; no recurring subscription is listed.

Pricing notes

  • US App Store lists Murmeli Full Unlock at $5.99 once. Prices may vary by storefront.

Pevu

Free audio monitoring, with video in Pevu Full

Consider if: you want free local audio monitoring with alarms and talk-back, and can keep the devices on the same network or use its local travel mode.

Documented strengths

  • Free audio includes alarms, talk-back, and sounds.
  • The guide documents same-Wi-Fi monitoring without internet and an offline travel mode.

Limitations

  • Video requires Pevu Full.
  • The documented travel mode uses a device-created local network; monitoring over internet or cellular was not listed in the reviewed official materials.

Free and paid access

  • Free tier includes audio monitoring and alerts.
  • Pevu Full adds live video and up to four baby devices, with monthly, yearly, and one-time offers.

Pricing notes

  • US App Store lists Pevu Full at $3.99 monthly, $17.99 yearly, or $24.99 forever.

Cloud Baby Monitor

A paid app with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and unlimited-range options

Consider if: you want a one-time purchase per platform, live video, and the option to monitor over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile data.

Documented strengths

  • Official materials document live audio/video, noise and motion alerts, talk-back, and remote monitoring.
  • A single platform purchase can be installed on multiple devices using the same store account, subject to each store's family-sharing rules.

Limitations

  • This is a paid download, and the official FAQ says a separate purchase is needed for each supported platform.
  • The reviewed sources do not specify whether a separate app account is required.

Free and paid access

  • The iOS and Android apps are paid purchases, not free tiers.
  • The developer says there is no recurring subscription.

Pricing notes

  • US App Store lists $6.99; US Google Play lists $6.49. The developer says purchases are separate by platform.

Annie Baby Monitor

Multi-device monitoring with video, alerts, and paid plans

Consider if: you want live video, two-way audio, alerts, and a free trial before choosing a paid plan.

Documented strengths

  • The official listings describe live video, cry and sound detection, motion alerts, two-way audio, and remote access over cellular or Wi-Fi.
  • One subscription can cover additional devices on the account, according to the Google Play listing.

Limitations

  • Premium features have a three-day trial, then a paid plan is required for continued premium use.
  • Recordings are listed as a feature, so this is not a no-recording monitor.
  • The official US store materials reviewed did not show current plan prices.

Free and paid access

  • The app is free to download and offers a three-day Premium trial.
  • Paid choices listed include weekly, monthly, yearly, and lifetime options.

Pricing notes

  • Exact current US plan prices were not listed in the reviewed official US store materials.

What to check before using two phones

First check the connection model. A local monitor can keep audio and video on the same Wi-Fi and may work without an internet connection. Remote monitoring needs both devices to reach each other across networks, usually through internet or cellular data. A free local mode does not necessarily include remote use.

Then check what stays free, whether the app records audio or video, if it asks you to sign in, and how the price is charged. A free download can be a trial, and a one-time purchase on one platform may not unlock the app on another platform.

For step-by-step instructions using Vaava, read how to use two phones as a baby monitor.

Choosing between local and remote monitoring

If both phones stay at home, local Wi-Fi can be enough and does not use cellular data. For a yard, a different building, or travel, check whether the app supports remote connections and whether that feature is part of the free tier or a paid plan.

A network name is not always a guarantee that the devices can see each other. Guest Wi-Fi and client isolation can block local connections. Test the monitor, audio, alerts, and any video before relying on it overnight.

How we compared these apps

We included Vaava, Ninna, Murmeli, Pevu, Cloud Baby Monitor, and Annie Baby Monitor because each has official material describing a phone-based baby monitor. Store IDs and developers are shown in the source lists so apps with similar names can be distinguished. Where a US store listing or an exact price was not found, we say so instead of estimating it.

We reviewed official US App Store and Google Play listings, plus the developer pages linked below, on October 21, 2026. We did not independently install or test these apps. We do not rank reliability, alert accuracy, privacy security, ease of use, or medical suitability. Vaava publishes this guide and benefits if you choose Vaava.

FAQ

Which baby monitor app is free for two phones?

Several apps document a free option, but the limits differ. Vaava offers free local monitoring on the same Wi-Fi. Ninna describes free local Wi-Fi use. Pevu offers free audio monitoring while video is paid. Check each listing for current availability and offers.

Can a baby monitor app work without internet?

Some local modes can work when both devices share a Wi-Fi network even if that network has no internet. Vaava and Pevu document this. Remote monitoring from cellular or another network requires internet access and depends on the app's plan.

Do these baby monitor apps record video?

Vaava says its monitor does not record or store audio or video. Murmeli and Pevu also say they do not record. Annie lists recordings as a feature. Check each app's current settings and policy before use.

Do I need an account to use a baby monitor app?

Murmeli, Pevu, and Vaava say an account is not needed for their documented monitor use. The reviewed official materials for Cloud Baby Monitor and Annie do not clearly state whether an account is required. Ninna's listing mentions an anonymous account identifier but does not clearly say whether sign-in is required.

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