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Babysense Pro Baby Monitor vs Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Babysense Pro Baby Monitor ranks higher (#1 vs #2 of 8) and scores better on video & night vision, connection reliability. Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor wins on app & features, privacy & security.
The biggest complaint about the Babysense Pro Baby Monitor is battery falls short of the claim; for the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor it's best features sit behind a membership. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Babysense Pro Baby Monitor | Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in baby monitors | #1 | #2 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Type | Video (no Wi-Fi) | Wi-Fi camera |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 12% | 14% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Video & night vision | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Connection reliability | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Range & battery | 3.5 | — |
| App & features | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Privacy & security | 4.5 | 5.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $100 · $$ $100–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Babysense Pro Baby Monitor
- Battery falls short of the claim
Babysense claims up to 20 hours, but Wirecutter's parent unit cut out after 9 hours 36 minutes. The Bump got 20 hours only after the full 8-hour charge; when charged until the bars looked full, it died after 7 hours. Amazon's review summary says some owners' batteries stop charging within months.
- Audio from only one camera at a time
Wirecutter found scan mode cycles each camera's audio in 10-second increments, so one room is always silent. Babylist also lists audio from only one camera at a time as a con.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), Babylist - Bright sound bar, sticky buttons and touchy alerts
Wirecutter says the light-up sound bar can't be dimmed or turned off, and the buttons stuck in testing and feel cheap. The Bump found VOX mode slightly over-sensitive, and an unused second camera triggers an error alarm until you unpair it. Babylist says brightness and volume may still be too high and the lullabies sound tinny.
Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor
- Best features sit behind a membership
Wirecutter says that after the first three months you pay at least $100 a year for the full membership. Without it, you get only a live stream, the night-light and access for one other person. The Bump puts the plans at $9 to $25 a month, and CNET calls the subscriptions and accessories pricey at $120+ a year. Amazon's review summary says some owners find it expensive.
- Only as reliable as your Wi-Fi and the app
Wirecutter warns that power outages and frequent internet interruptions keep the monitor from working. CNET lists a sometimes spotty Wi-Fi connection, no backup if the app crashes, and an app that has to stay on overnight. Wirecutter also found the app pushes sleep training and subscription renewals, and its opt-out doesn't cover every notification.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), CNET - Hardware failures and gaps in sleep data
Low-star Walmart reviews describe cameras that broke or stopped connecting to Wi-Fi after about 18 months, a stuck Wi-Fi/reset button that one owner calls a known defect, and a unit that failed within 24 hours. Forbes Vetted's nightly sleep summaries cut off after the 4 a.m. feeding on several nights, and one night produced no data.
Who should pick which
Pick the Babysense Pro Baby Monitor if
Parents who want a simple monitor with no Wi-Fi or app
Two kids or two rooms (split screen, up to four cameras)
Panning across a shared room from the parent unit
Skip it if: You need continuous audio from two cameras at once; A glowing sound bar on your nightstand would bother you; You want to check in when away from home
Pick the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor if
Checking in from work or a night out
Parents who want nightly sleep summaries and trends
Security-conscious Wi-Fi users (two-factor login is mandatory)
Skip it if: You don't want an ongoing subscription; Your internet or power goes out often; You want to pan or tilt the camera remotely
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