Best Baby Monitor Under $100

Looking for the best baby monitor under $100 that can provide peace of mind without breaking the bank?

Then let us help you find an affordable baby monitor you’ll love with our best cheap baby monitor guide!

A good quality baby monitor allows busy parents to check how their little one is doing, without constant trips to the nursery.

It wasn’t that long ago that all a good baby monitor did was provide a crackly audio transmission when your baby started crying.

Nowadays, it seems as though premium baby monitors do everything except change diapers! But how do you find the right balance of price and quality? 

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best baby monitors under 100 dollars including their features, pros, and cons. These monitors might be simple, but they provide a quality performance that can help parents (and babies) to relax. 

And if you love this guide on the best baby monitor under 100 dollars, then make sure to check out these guides on best long range baby monitors, best travel baby monitors, best non WiFi baby monitors, and when to stop using a baby monitor. Or even this guide on the best split screen baby monitor.

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Best Cheap Baby Monitor

1. VTech VM819 Video Baby Monitor

Best Overall Baby Monitor Under $100

VTech has long been providing new parents with peace of mind, thanks to their excellent and extensive range of baby monitors. And with the VM819 video baby monitor they’ve done it again, creating a high performance monitor for parents on a budget.

Let’s start with the basics: the VTech VM819 is an audio and video baby monitor with two-way talk, auto night vision, and a temperature sensor.

With a 19-hour screen-on battery life and a range of 1000 feet, the VTech VM819 allows for daily monitoring across the house. 

As for the screen itself, at 2.8 inches it isn’t the largest monitor, but it’s better than many budget options. Depending on the camera angle, parents can easily see a full view of the baby. And the screen can easily fit in your pocket, for monitoring on the go!

At night, the camera switches to invisible infrared LED, providing clear images for parents, with no glaring lights waking a sleeping baby.

Two-way audio monitoring, including an auto-on function when crying starts, allows parents to comfort from a distance.

Pros

• 19-hour screen-on battery life – Stays charged for longer.
• 2-way talk back – Quickly comfort a fussy baby with your voice.
• Secure internal 2.4GHz channel – You’re the only one with access to the camera.
• Range up to 1,000 feet – Great for large houses or when you want to step outside.

Cons

• Inaccurate temperature monitor – Users have had issues with the temperature display.

2. VTech Upgraded Audio Baby Monitor

Best Audio Only Baby Monitor Under $100

Audio-only baby monitors are becoming less common, but they do have one serious advantage over the audio and video monitor: price.

An audio-only monitor typically costs significantly less than the video and audio counterparts, making them an excellent choice for parents on a budget. 

VTech has come out on top again when it comes to the audio-only monitor. Their upgraded design provides incredibly clear sound, long battery life, and exceptional transmission range.

Even small sounds are detected and transmitted, so you can respond to a tantrum before it gets properly started.

The audio monitor is hugely useful for busy parents. With a belt clip allowing the parent unit to be used hands-free, you can keep monitoring as you get on with other tasks.

It also has a small visual indicator — LED lights show the current level of noise in the nursery, for quick checks even with the receiver on mute.

Audio-only monitors may lack the same range of functions as a video monitor, but they still have many uses. And for parents looking to save money (which is most of us!) the audio monitor is definitely worth considering. 

Pros

• 1000 feet transmission range – Exceptional transmission, even over long distances.
• Belt clip – Can be kept with you at all times.
• 5-level sound indicator – Monitors background noise even when the unit is muted.

Cons

• As an audio-only unit, this baby monitor lacks diverse functions.

3. Nooie Baby Monitor With Camera And Audio

Best Smartphone Link Baby Monitor Under $100

The Nooie Baby Monitor with camera and audio is a little different to the standard baby monitor. Instead of connecting to a dedicated parent unit, the camera links straight to your smartphone!

When “mommy brain” kicks in, it’s easy to forget where you left your keys, shoes, the cup of coffee you were just holding, and, yes, the parent unit for your baby monitor.

But most of us know where our phone is at all times, so even when we’re swamped with chores, we can check the baby monitor feed. 

But what makes the Nooie Baby Monitor in particular our choice? First, the quality of the picture. During the day, the HD 1080p imagery is clear and colorful.

At night, the full HD night vision is exceptional, and the 850 nm IR LEDs provide crisp imaging without bright lights waking the baby.

Two-way audio allows for effective communication and comforting, while an Alexa link up makes baby monitoring more intuitive than ever!

Pros

• 1080p full HD night vision – Clear imagery, day or night.
• Alexa compatible – Check on your little one, even without your smartphone handy.
• Smartphone notifications – Receive alerts when movement or sound is detected.

Cons

• Single link – Only one device can log in at a time.

4. Anmeate Video Baby Monitor With Digital Camera

Best Night Vision Baby Monitor Under 100 Dollars

A good baby monitor allows parents to quickly check on their little one throughout the day and night, and that’s exactly what you get with the Anmeate Video Baby Monitor.

A 2.4-inch screen with high resolution and 2x zoom, plus two-way audio and temperature monitoring, the Anmeate Video Baby Monitor is an excellent budget choice.

The Anmeate Video Baby Monitor offers a 960 feet transmission range, allowing parents to move around the house while maintaining a strong video connection.

2x digital zoom provides clear close up images, while the pan and tilt function helps you find the perfect angle. When the light gets low, the camera automatically switches to night mode.

As well as video images, the Anmeate Baby Monitor includes clear two-way audio. With just the touch of a button, parents can comfort their baby from across the house.

4 built-in lullabies add to the audio function, and make it easier than ever to deal with late night fussiness. 

Pros

• 2x digital zoom – Focus on the details.
• Pan/tilt – For babies that like to wriggle, the pan/tilt function ensures you get the perfect angle, every time.
• 960 feet broadcast range – Sharp images across a long distance.

Cons

• Battery life – With just 8 hours of battery in eco-mode, you need to charge the monitor frequently.

5. Hello Baby 5” Display Pan-Tilt-Zoom Video Baby Monitor

Biggest Screen On Baby Monitor Under $100

The Hello Baby 5” Display Video Baby Monitor does push the limits of that $100 limit for just one camera, but in return, you get one of the biggest screens available in a budget monitor.

At 5”, the display screen shows crisp and clear images of your little one, easy to check even at a glance. 

The major advantage to the large screen is that it makes those quick checks so much quicker.

Whether you’re making dinner, getting dressed, or simply taking a 10-minute coffee break, with the larger screen, you just need to turn your head to see what’s going on. 

So, what can you see on that exceptionally large screen? The Hello Baby video monitor offers 355 degree pan and tilt, with a 2x zoom function to achieve the perfect angle.

At night, the screen automatically switches to night vision, using invisible infrared to avoid disruption.

A two-way audio mode with 8 built-in lullabies allows parents to quickly respond to any fussing, with an audio-only mode for when you want to preserve the power. 

Pros

• 5” screen – A large screen for a budget price.
• 355 degree pan/tilt – Monitor your little one closely with the adjustable angle.
• Invisible infrared night vision – No waking baby up with bright lights.

Cons

• The controls are poorly organized, so adjusting the camera and audio can take time.

Buyer’s Guide On best baby monitor under 100

Shopping on a budget can be difficult, especially when you’re trying to stock up on essential baby items. You don’t want to sacrifice quality, but there’s so much you need to buy that it’s important to budget effectively.

It is possible to get a good quality baby monitor for less than $100! Baby monitors that were considered top of the line 10 years ago are now affordable options for budget conscious parents, and there are many ways to get quality at a lower price.

Let’s dive into the features to look out for when choosing a baby monitor under $100.

Video And Audio

It wasn’t that long ago that video baby monitors were universally expensive, or incredibly low quality. But that’s changed in recent years, and now parents can find audio and video monitors at a low price.

If you really do want to save money, audio-only monitors are typically cheaper than audio and video.

Audio-only monitors aren’t as useful as video monitors, but they still provide an important function, and allow parents to monitor their little one from across the home.

And it is possible to get a good audio-only baby monitor for around $20.

Video Quality

The quality of the image is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a baby monitor. Poor image quality will make it difficult to check how your little one is doing, which is not only frustrating, but it can also be stressful for new parents. 

We recommend a minimum camera resolution of 720p, and the higher the resolution, the better. This should provide you with a clear image, allowing you to effectively monitor your baby.

The absolute minimum resolution to consider is 480p — any lower than this, and the image will be hard to make out.

Audio Quality

Video monitors allow parents to check on sleeping and resting babies, but it tends to be audio that alerts us to a problem first. For that reason, it’s important to buy a monitor with clear audio, and minimal static or distortion.

It’s important that the monitor can pick up even low levels of sound, so parents can react before a sniffle becomes a tantrum.

Two-Way Communication

Many baby monitors under $100 do more than just broadcast how your baby is doing — they allow the parent to respond. Two-way audio means that when cries start, mom can quickly soothe and comfort.

Sometimes, all a child needs is to hear their parent’s voice, and they’ll calm down! With two-way audio, you can do this without having to disturb your own tasks.

As well as two-way communication, many monitors come with lullabies and soothing sounds built-in. Parents simply need to press a button, and the child unit will respond with a pre-programmed lullaby.

Night Mode

Night mode is fairly standard on video baby monitors, even those under $100. With night mode on, parents can keep an eye on how their little one is sleeping, without having to enter the room.

When they wake up in the night, you can decide if your child needs attention, or if they should self-soothe. And when you wake up in the night, a quick glance at the monitor will reassure you that everything is okay!

Night mode has become standard, but when you’re looking for a budget baby monitor, there are two factors to consider. First, video quality.

The better the video quality during the day, the better it will be at night (although expect some deterioration of clarity in night mode). Second, will night mode disturb the baby?

The best night vision cameras use sophisticated infrared technology that doesn’t need any additional lights.

Transmission Range

How far can you walk across the house before the parent unit loses connection to the baby monitor? Transmission range is highly important, as it really determines the usability of the device.

If the range is bad, you’ll need to stay close to the monitor to use the parent unit — hardly worth having at all!

An excellent transmission range is around 1000 feet, although you probably won’t need it to stretch this far.

After all, it’s hard to react to a problem when you’re 1000-feet away! WiFi baby monitors can be checked outside the house, but these devices typically cost more than $100.

Battery

We probably don’t need to explain the importance of battery life in a baby monitor: the longer the battery lasts, the easier it is to use the monitor. Good battery life is roughly 8 hours and above.

Many baby monitors come with a battery saver mode, allowing you to turn off the screen while still transmitting audio.

Security

A secure connection ensures that you are the only person receiving the audio and video transmission from the baby monitor.

This is really important, but it’s a feature that can be overlooked. Double check how the monitor is secured when making your choice.

Installation

One of the benefits of a budget baby monitor is that they tend to be pretty simple to install.

Instead of having a long and complex connection process to ensure every aspect of the monitor is functioning, budget units often just need to be plugged in, switched on, and are ready to go. 

Temperature Monitoring

Temperature monitoring is becoming more common even on budget baby monitors. A temperature monitor helps parents keep track of the ambient temperature of a room, to ensure it’s comfortable for a baby.

To be honest, temperature monitoring can be hit or miss on a budget baby monitor. It tends to give you a rough estimate of the room, rather than a really accurate measurement.

It’s still useful – you know when to turn the fan off, for example – but perhaps not the most important feature.

Smartphone Compatible

Smartphones have become an indispensable parenting tool, and the baby monitor world is starting to take note of that. Some baby monitors now link to an app, allowing you to check the monitor feed from your phone.

This is much more common in premium models, but expect to see it popping up on budget baby monitors sooner rather than later.

FAQs on best baby monitors under 100 Dollars

Final Thoughts on Inexpensive Baby Monitors

It is possible to get a good baby monitor for under $100, you just have to know what to look for!

Prioritize the basic performance over additional features, and look for a monitor that provides clear images, and crisp audio. 

We hope this guide has been helpful in helping you find some inexpensive baby monitors you’ll love.

And if you are looking for more great baby guides, then you’ll love these guides on preparing for baby checklist, save money on baby items, best baby monitors, best baby monitors with WiFi, and best baby monitors for twins.