We all know the scenario, a guest books your Airbnb for 2 people and turns up with 15 friends… A recipe for a disaster and lost income. This is why so many hosts now resort to installing cameras around their property. So, what are the best Airbnb security cameras to catch out these guests?

In this article I review the best Airbnb security cameras and recommend my the best products on the market. I will also answer important questions like ‘can an Airbnb use hidden cameras?‘ Let’s get cracking.

Can I put cameras in my Airbnb?

Yes! Airbnb fully condones and even encourage hosts to install cameras around their properties. There is no limit to how many cameras you can use, but remember, no one likes to feel watched, so keep it subtle.

There are many benefits to installing cameras in your property. The main one, of course, is to make sure your guests are being honest about the number of people they booked for.

For example, the Airbnb price changes with extra guests, so guests book for less people on purpose. As a result, it leaves you (… and them) under insured. In other words, this is bad news for all involved!

Airbnb customer support receives hundreds of calls every day from disgruntled hosts. A lot of these calls relate to damage of the property or stolen goods. Surveillance footage could mean the difference between getting an insurance refund or nothing.

What Airbnb considers a security camera

• WiFi Camera
• Nanny Cam
• Web Cam
• Baby Monitor
• Decibel or Sound Recording Devices
• Smart Phones

Airbnb Security Camera policy

One word can sum up Airbnb’s security camera policy – Disclosure. As long as you disclose that you have security cameras within your listing you are free to use them.

However, Airbnb policies don’t allow you to record in certain spaces. These spaces include private areas such as bathrooms, toilets, and bedrooms. If your lounge room doubles as a bedroom, then a camera here is off-limits too.

To disclose that you have security cameras set up at your Airbnb, go to your listing and click edit. Then click on Booking Settings and scroll down until you see House Rules.

Hit the edit button and keep scrolling until you see – Details guests must know about your home. It will look something like this:

After you check the surveillance box you must state how many cameras you are using and where they are. Once this is complete, you are good to go!

Can Airbnb use hidden cameras?

Any camera that is not disclosed in your listing is a hidden camera. Even if they are in plain sight. These types of cameras are a big no-no with some pretty serious repercussions.

If a guest discovers a hidden camera you run the risk of getting your listing shut down or penalised. Your guest also has the ability to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund. And yes, this will come out of your pocket.

These harsh penalties also apply to guests. For example, a guest books a room in a shared house and sets up a camera to catch out a snooping host. Airbnb deem this spying and it is against their policy. If found out the guest runs the risk of a suspension or getting removed from Airbnb.

So if you want to install a couple of cameras around your property, make sure to disclose them in your listing.

How do I know if Airbnb has cameras?

The thought of being watched is enough to send even the sanest person over the edge. But never fear, if your paranoia starts acting up there plenty of things you can do to sniff out any rogue cameras.

1. Shine a light – Turn all the lights off in the room you suspect may have a camera. Then use a torch or a bright light and scan the room. The lens of the camera will reflect the light and give away its location.
2. Wired – If you see a wire leading to an inanimate object, this could be a clue that there is a hidden camera. Follow the wire to see what it leads to and check over the object for a small lens.
3. WiFi & Bluetooth – Turn on your phone and check for local networks and Bluetooth devices. If a camera shows up, its time to call Airbnb!
4. Common Items – Cameras often hide in – Alarm and Wall clocks, smoke detectors, wall sockets, and DVD players. Check over these common items thoroughly for little round-shaped lenses.

Best Outdoor camera for Airbnb

In this category, I have rounded up the best outdoor cameras for your Airbnb. Outdoor cameras have to be robust, weatherproof and also have great night vision. So let’s dive in and see my top 3 recommendations for each budget.

Budget – Veroyi $39.99

Our best budget pick is the Veroyi Outdoor Cam. All you need to do with this camera is mount it by the door, download the app and then you’re good to go. It has all the top features of the higher-priced cameras, for a lot less. Such as motion detection, two-way audio and smart night vision. All this for $40, you can’t go wrong!

Mid-Range – Nest $177

When you buy anything from the Nest range you know you are buying a top-quality product. The Nest NC2400ES is no exception. I love this particular model for its compactness and unobtrusive looks. Both of which is perfect for Airbnb’s. I mean, your guests won’t want a huge camera pointing right into their face right? The night vision on the Nest camera is always crisp and clear. This is vital for using as evidence should something happen on your property.

High End – Arlo Pro 2 $419

Coming up trumps in the high-end category is the Arlo Pro 2. I love the Arlo for its monitoring software and the free 7-day cloud storage. The Arlo is also completely wire-free and super easy to set up.While a bit on the pricier side, you do get two cameras in the pack and the recording hub as well.

Best Home security system for Airbnb

When it comes it inside your home, it can be wise to install a camera or two especially if it is a shared house. Having a camera in the kitchen can guard against stove top fires. It is also a great safeguard against theft.

Rooms that are off-limits to guests like an office is a great place to install a camera. You can set up an alert to your phone if anyone ventures where they are not supposed to.

The doorway is another popular place to have a camera set up. This will catch guests that bring over more people than they should. You can also watch to see if your guest checks out on time as well.

While cameras inside the home are legal, the bedroom and bathroom are off-limits. And remember that you have to disclose where each camera is set up.

Here are our best home security cameras for inside your Airbnb:

Budget – Yi Home Camera $25.99

For a no-fuss camera to monitor the inside of your home, the Yi system is great value for money. It has a dedicated app with cloud storage which you can share with up to 5 different users. You can set alerts to detect motion and best of all, it is completely portable with no wires.

Mid-Range – Bluerams Home Pro $43.99

Packed with features, the Bluerams Home Pro is perfect for Airbnb use. When recording you can set certain areas within the room that you would like to blur out. This could be family photos or an important document sitting on the table. Anything that you don’t want anyone else seeing.

This model is also ultra-portable which is a huge plus. You can place it anywhere in the room including the roof or the wall.

High-End – COOAU Home Security Cam $69.98

The COOAU system is our pick of the bunch. Its best feature is its smart facial recognition and AI technology. It can tell the difference between your family and an Airbnb guest so no more false alerts. And it can tell the difference between pet and human movement.

This feature alone will save hours of looking back through footage. There is nothing worse than getting an alert only to find it was your dog walking past your door at 1 am.

Best Doorbell Cameras for Airbnb

If a mounted camera hovering over your guests bothers you, then a doorbell camera is the solution.

Small and compact, doorbell cameras blend in seamlessly with the door. They don’t give off an entrusting vibe as overhead cameras do. And you can monitor who comes in and out of your Airbnb from your phone. Which is great way to catch out any extra guests sneaking in.

The one feature doorbell cameras must have is motion detection. This will alert you when someone uses the door. Normal doorbell cameras will only alert you if someone rings the bell. As most guests use a key, this wouldn’t work in an Airbnb situation.

So let’s see my picks for the best doorbell security cameras for Airbnb:

Budget – Mountdog Doorbell Camera $72.99

The Mountdog Camera is a great budget buy. It is super easy to set up with no wires, just mount and go. It has an amazing sensor that sends you an alert when someone passes by. And you get free cloud storage with no subscription fees. Best of all, this unit actually looks like a doorbell and blends in perfectly with the door. It is definitely our pick of the bunch.

Mid-Range – Eufy Wi-Fi Doorbell $159.99

Coming in a close second is the Eufy unit. This doorbell really packs a punch when it comes to features fit for Airbnb. Not only does it have motion sensor, but it can tell the difference between a guest and a stray cat. So you won’t get an alert at 2 am saying a guest is trying to get in. Like the Mountdog, the doorbell software comes with free cloud storage, bonus!

High-End – Ring Doorbell Pro $249

A leader in its class the Ring doorbell has everything you could ever need when it comes to door security. You can see, hear and even speak to your visitors on any device form anywhere in the world. And best of all, if your Ring doorbell is ever stolen, the company will replace it free of charge! Bonus!

Go forth and monitor!

So now you are fully clued up and know everything there is to know about the best security cameras for Airbnb.

As long as you disclose any cameras and follow Airbnbs guidelines your place will be safe and secure.

Further Reading