📱 Smart Monitors
How we rank: Ranked from the baby monitors in our comparison — the products we track in Australia. “Best” means best of these, not every model sold in Australia.
Reviewed by the BabyCosts editorial team
| Feature | Owlet Dream Duo | CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor | Nanit Pro Camera |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Price | $580.18 View full comparison → | $329.00 View full comparison → | $629.00 View full comparison → |
| Smart Features | Heart rate monitoring, oxygen saturation (SpO2), sleep tracking, movement detection, 1080p HD camera, two-way audio, night vision | Face-covering detection, rollover alerts, danger zone alerts, cry detection, lullabies, white noise, temperature/humidity monitoring | 1080p HD video, night vision, breathing motion monitoring, sleep tracking, two-way audio, background audio |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth (sock to base station) | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) |
| Weight | 0.15 kg (sock sensor only) | 0.48 kg (camera only) | 0.55 kg (camera only) |
| Price (AUD) | $580.18 – $699.99 | $329 – $449 | $629 – $799 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year |
| Safety Standard | Product-specific ARTG and Australian electrical compliance evidence not located in the reviewed public source | Product-specific Australian electrical compliance evidence not located in the reviewed public source | Product-specific Australian electrical compliance evidence not located in the reviewed public source |
No subscription required; basic monitoring free
Safety alerts free; video history $9.99 AUD/mo
Basic live view free; Insights $12.99 AUD/mo required for breathing alerts & sleep analytics
Many Australian parents on Reddit and Facebook groups are actively seeking non-WiFi baby monitors for privacy and security reasons. Wi-Fi monitors (CuboAi, Nanit, Owlet) stream video through the cloud, which introduces hacking risk if not properly secured. Non-WiFi options use DECT or FHSS radio signals — a closed loop between camera and parent unit, no internet required. The Tweetycam (~$199-$299) and Oricom Secure 940(~$299-$399) are popular Australian options that don’t connect to the internet at all. Tradeoffs: no phone app, no remote viewing away from home, no AI alerts. But they’re immune to hacking, work during internet outages, and have zero ongoing costs. If you value privacy and simplicity over smart features, a non-WiFi monitor is worth considering. The monitors on this page are all Wi-Fi connected — if you want the non-WiFi approach, look for DECT or FHSS models at Baby Bunting or The Memo.
Owlet Baby Care
The pulse-oximetry smart sock and HD camera bundle for complete monitoring.
From $580.18
View details & buy →
CuboAi (by Taipei-based CuboAi Inc.)
The AI-powered baby monitor with face-covering and rollover alerts.
From $329.00
View details & buy →
Nanit (by Procter & Gamble)
The overhead baby monitor with sleep tracking and breathing motion detection.
From $629.00
View details & buy →
The CuboAi Plus ($329 – $449 AUD) provides all safety alerts — face-covering detection, rollover alerts, danger zone alerts, cry detection, and temperature/humidity monitoring — without a subscription. These are processed on-device and work even if Wi-Fi drops. The Owlet Dream Duo ($580.18 – $699.99) also requires no subscription for basic monitoring. The Nanit Pro Camera ($629 – $799) requires a Nanit Insights subscription ($12.99 AUD/month) for breathing motion monitoring, sleep analytics, and video history.
Nanit Insights costs $12.99 AUD/month for video history, sleep analytics, and breathing motion alerts. CuboAi Care costs $9.99 AUD/month for video history, sleep analytics, and developmental tracking — but all safety alerts work without it. Owlet Dream Duo has no subscription. Over 2 years, the Nanit Pro + subscription costs approximately $791–$1,111 AUD total vs CuboAi Plus at $329 – $449 (no subscription needed for safety).
CuboAi Plus is the better choice if you want to avoid subscriptions. It provides face-covering detection, rollover alerts, danger zone alerts, cry detection, and temperature/humidity monitoring — all processed on-device, no subscription needed. The Nanit Pro’s breathing motion monitoring is tied to the Insights subscription ($12.99 AUD/month), making it significantly more expensive over time. The Nanit has stronger brand recognition and retail presence in Australia, but CuboAi offers better value for privacy-conscious parents who want safety alerts without ongoing costs.
It depends on what features you value. If you want breathing motion monitoring (which detects if your baby stops breathing), the Nanit Pro with Insights ($12.99 AUD/month) is the only camera-based option. If heart rate and oxygen monitoring matter more, the Owlet Dream Sock (no subscription) measures actual vitals. If you want face-covering and rollover alerts without ongoing costs, CuboAi Plus is the best value. For most parents, a no-subscription monitor like CuboAi Plus or Owlet provides sufficient safety features without the recurring expense.
How we compare monitors
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