Free compatibility checker
Will my daycare camera work with CareCam?
CareCam connects to the IP cameras you already own, with no rip-and-replace. Run our free checker on a Windows PC and it tells you which of your cameras will work, or pick your camera brand for a quick answer. If you're not sure of the model, we'll confirm by email.
The most certain answer
Check your cameras. No guessing.
Run one small program on any Windows PC on the same network as your cameras. It checks each one directly, reads what it is actually set to, and tells you which ones CareCam can show to parents. It takes about a minute, with no account and no sign-up.
- It installs nothing and changes no camera settings.
- It runs on your network only. Results stay on your PC unless you choose to send them.
- Your camera passwords never leave the computer and are never sent to us.
9 MB · Windows 10 and 11
On a Mac or a phone? Look your camera brand up instead.
Look up your camera brand
A quick answer by brand and model. If you're not sure of the model, we'll confirm by email.
Or read the full guide for your brand:
Daycare camera notes by brand
Hikvision cameras for daycare
Compatible: recommended
Yes. Hikvision cameras work great for daycare parent viewing. Hikvision IP cameras stream standard RTSP/ONVIF, most models offer a configurable substream, and CareCam pulls that stream directly, no new cameras, no installer.
Read the full Hikvision guide, with model notes and setup steps.
Hanwha Wisenet cameras for daycare
Compatible: our top recommendation
Yes. Hanwha Wisenet cameras work excellently for daycare parent viewing. They stream standard RTSP/ONVIF and are our default recommendation: the smoothest, most reliable brand under CareCam's on-demand streaming.
Hanwha Vision's Wisenet line (formerly Samsung Techwin) is professional-grade equipment, and it's the brand we've found most reliable in production with CareCam: standard RTSP/ONVIF streams, a configurable substream for mobile-friendly parent viewing, and rock-solid behavior under on-demand streaming, where the camera is only pulled while a parent is actually watching.
If your center already has Wisenet cameras, common in newer commercial installs, you almost certainly need no new hardware. CareCam's appliance pulls the streams; your existing NVR keeps recording exactly as before, and parents get a live-only, video-only view of just their child's classroom during the hours you set.
Hanwha also markets its Wisenet cameras as NDAA-compliant, which matters if your center purchases equipment under federal-funding procurement rules. It's one reason Hanwha is our default recommendation over Hikvision and Dahua for new purchases. Confirm the specific model with your supplier before buying under those rules.
Already have Wisenet cameras? Send us the model numbers. You very likely keep everything and just add CareCam's pre-configured appliance ($49 one-time through Oct 31, normally $349). Buying new for a center? Hanwha Wisenet is our default recommendation: professional-grade, sold as NDAA-compliant, and the smoothest brand we run with CareCam.
Anpviz cameras for daycare
Compatible: budget pick
Yes. Anpviz PoE cameras work well for daycare parent viewing. They stream standard RTSP/ONVIF, cost roughly $40–90 per camera, and are the least expensive brand we recommend, with one audio caveat to know about.
Anpviz is the budget pick among the brands we recommend: wired PoE cameras with first-class RTSP/ONVIF support, image quality roughly on par with a 4MP professional camera, and reliable behavior under CareCam's on-demand streaming, at roughly $40–90 per camera.
Anpviz also markets its cameras as NDAA-compliant, unlike Hikvision and Dahua. If your center buys equipment under federal-funding procurement rules, Anpviz and Hanwha are the two recommended brands to look at. Confirm the specific model with your supplier before you buy.
One real limitation: on Anpviz cameras, audio can't be disabled independently per stream. CareCam's parent stream is video-only by design, so you turn audio off at the camera, which also mutes audio on your own NVR recording. If your center wants audio in its own recordings, pick Hanwha or Hikvision instead.
Outfitting rooms on a budget? Anpviz PoE cameras (~$40–90 each) plus a small PoE switch and CareCam's pre-configured appliance ($49 one-time through Oct 31, normally $349) is the least expensive reliable setup we recommend. Already own Anpviz? Send us the model numbers and we'll confirm before you spend anything.
Dahua cameras for daycare
Compatible: with caveats
Yes. Dahua cameras work for daycare parent viewing, and we run Dahua in production today. They're just not our first pick for new purchases: some units drop offline intermittently under on-demand streaming.
Dahua IP cameras and NVRs stream standard RTSP/ONVIF, and CareCam runs Dahua cameras in production right now. If your center already has Dahua installed, there's a good chance you need zero new hardware. CareCam's appliance pulls the streams and your NVR keeps recording as before.
The honest caveat: under CareCam's on-demand streaming, where the camera is only pulled while a parent is watching, some Dahua units intermittently drop offline, typically login lockouts at higher connection counts. Enabling the substream helps, and most Dahua setups run fine, but it's why we point new purchases to Hikvision, Anpviz, UniFi, or Hanwha instead.
Worth knowing: Amcrest is rebadged Dahua and Lorex is Dahua-built, so both share the same RTSP/ONVIF compatibility, and the same occasional quirks.
Like Hikvision, Dahua can't be purchased with federal funds under the NDAA. That doesn't affect cameras you already own; for NDAA-compliant new purchases, look at Hanwha and Anpviz, and confirm the specific model with your supplier.
Already own Dahua? Don't replace anything. Send us your model numbers, connect them to CareCam's pre-configured appliance ($49 one-time through Oct 31, normally $349), and enable the substream; most Dahua setups run fine. Buying new for a center? Choose Hanwha (our default), Hikvision, Anpviz, or UniFi instead.
CP Plus cameras for daycare
Compatible: with caveats
Yes. CP Plus cameras, NVRs, and DVRs work for daycare parent viewing in most cases. The professional CP Plus lines stream standard RTSP/ONVIF (much of the hardware is Dahua-built). The consumer Ezykam WiFi line is the exception.
Read the full CP Plus guide, with model notes and setup steps.
Reolink cameras for daycare
Compatible: native RTSP
Yes. Most wired Reolink cameras work great for daycare parent viewing. Reolink's wired PoE and plug-in WiFi models stream standard RTSP/ONVIF that CareCam pulls directly.
Reolink is one of the best consumer brands for this: nearly all its wired PoE cameras and plug-in WiFi models expose standard RTSP and ONVIF streams out of the box in full-resolution H.264, exactly what a parent-viewing platform needs. No hacks, no beta firmware.
The exception is Reolink's battery-powered Argus line, which does not offer usable RTSP. Battery cameras can't hold a continuous stream.
If you already own wired Reolink cameras, there's a good chance your home daycare needs zero new camera hardware: CareCam's appliance pulls each camera's full-resolution stream and gives every parent secure, schedule-limited access to their child's room.
Already own wired Reolink? Send us the model numbers. You likely keep everything. Buying new? Reolink PoE cameras (~$50–90) are a solid pick for a 2-camera home daycare setup alongside our pre-configured appliance.
TP-Link Tapo cameras for daycare
Compatible: native RTSP
Yes, with a caveat. TP-Link Tapo cameras work for daycare parent viewing, streaming standard RTSP/ONVIF that CareCam pulls directly, but we recommend a wired camera (Anpviz or Reolink) over Tapo whenever running a cable to the room is possible.
Tapo (TP-Link's smart-home line) supports RTSP and ONVIF on its plug-in indoor and outdoor cameras: you create a camera account in the Tapo app, and the camera serves a standard local stream any professional system can pull. At roughly $25–50 per camera, it's the cheapest option that works.
Because Tapo cameras are WiFi with a plug-in power adapter, they're an option in a home daycare where a room genuinely can't be wired: no ethernet runs, no PoE switch, just a wall outlet. But wired PoE (Anpviz/Reolink) is what we recommend by default: it's more reliable day to day and simpler for us to support.
Three setup quirks worth knowing if you do go with Tapo. RTSP isn't on by default: you have to add a dedicated camera account in the Tapo app before the stream is reachable, an extra step compared to brands that expose RTSP out of the box. Tapo serves two streams: a full-resolution main stream and a lower-resolution sub-stream. CareCam can pull either, so a home daycare with a decent upload can use the sharper main stream, and the sub-stream keeps bandwidth low when the connection is tight. A typical home router handles up to four of them; beyond that, plan for a stronger access point or wired backhaul. And audio can't be stripped from the RTSP stream itself: CareCam's parent stream is video-only by design, so on Tapo you mute the microphone in the Tapo app rather than disabling audio per stream.
Wired first: an Anpviz or Reolink PoE camera (~$40–90) plus CareCam's pre-configured appliance is our default recommendation, it's simpler to set up and more reliable. If a room genuinely can't be wired, a Tapo indoor camera (~$25–50) is a reasonable fallback, just add a dedicated RTSP camera account and mute the mic in the Tapo app before connecting it.
Eufy cameras for daycare
Some models: check yours
Sometimes. Certain wired Eufy cameras do work for daycare parent viewing. Eufy's wired indoor models can turn on a local RTSP stream, but its battery cameras can't, so it depends on your exact model.
Eufy is the one consumer brand where the answer is genuinely model-by-model. Wired indoor models like the Indoor Cam 2K / E220, Indoor Cam S350, SoloCam wired variants, and some floodlight models (E340) can enable an RTSP stream from the Eufy app (often under the NAS/RTSP setting). That stream is standard enough for CareCam's appliance to pull.
Eufy's battery-powered cameras (EufyCam series, SoloCam battery models) do not support RTSP. Their sleep-based power design can't hold a continuous stream.
One practical note: enabling RTSP on Eufy is a per-camera app setting, and vendor firmware updates occasionally move or rename it. It works, but it's a step less bulletproof than cameras where RTSP is the primary design (Reolink, Anpviz, Tapo).
If you already own wired Eufy indoor cams, send us the exact model. There's a good chance they'll work and you buy nothing new. If you're buying fresh for a daycare room, we'd point you to wired Anpviz or Reolink, where RTSP is a first-class feature rather than an app toggle. A WiFi Tapo is a fine fallback only if that room can't be wired.
Google Nest cameras for daycare
Not compatible: cloud-locked
No. Google Nest cameras can't be used for daycare parent viewing. Nest video is locked to Google's cloud and the Google Home app, with no local RTSP/ONVIF stream.
Sharing your Google Home access instead would show families your whole home setup, with no per-family limits and no viewing hours.
Keep your Nest cameras for your own monitoring. For parent viewing, add one wired PoE camera (Anpviz or Reolink, $40–90) in each room parents will watch, or a $25–50 WiFi TP-Link Tapo if a cable can't reach. We set up the parent side remotely.
Wyze cameras for daycare
Not reliable: beta firmware only
Not reliably. Wyze cameras aren't dependable for daycare parent viewing. RTSP on Wyze is a beta side-firmware for a few older models, and Wyze has repeatedly removed and changed it.
Wyze has flip-flopped on RTSP for years: it exists only as separate beta firmware for a few models (like the Cam v3 and Pan v3), was removed from the Cam v4 in a 2026 firmware update, and installing the RTSP firmware cuts the camera off from new Wyze app features. Wyze's own support pages describe it as a beta that may not be updated.
A daycare feed that parents rely on every day can't sit on a beta firmware that the vendor may pull in the next update. Even when Wyze RTSP works, it's a per-camera hack with no guarantee it survives a firmware refresh.
If you already stream a Wyze v3 on RTSP firmware and it's stable, it can technically connect, but we don't recommend building your daycare's parent viewing on it.
For roughly the same money as a Wyze, buy a camera with first-class RTSP support. We recommend wired: Anpviz or Reolink PoE, ~$40–90. Only if the room can't be wired would we point you to a WiFi TP-Link Tapo instead (~$25–50). Same camera quality class, no firmware roulette, and fully supported by CareCam.
Blink cameras for daycare
Not compatible: cloud-locked
No. Blink cameras can't be used for daycare parent viewing. Blink (Amazon) is a battery-first, cloud-only system with no RTSP/ONVIF stream and no continuous live view designed for all-day streaming.
Blink cameras are built around short battery-powered clips sent to Amazon's cloud. They have no RTSP or ONVIF output and no local streaming interface, so a parent-viewing platform has nothing to connect to.
Even setting compatibility aside, Blink's design goal is the opposite of a daycare camera: battery cameras aggressively avoid continuous streaming to preserve power, while parents expect to open a live view of the classroom at any time during viewing hours.
Use Blink for what it's good at, battery spot-checks around the property. For parent viewing, add one small camera in each room parents will watch. We recommend wired: a $40–90 Anpviz or Reolink PoE camera. Only reach for a $25–50 WiFi TP-Link Tapo if running a cable to that room genuinely isn't an option. Your Blink cameras stay exactly as they are, and we set up secure parent access remotely.
Arlo cameras for daycare
Not compatible: cloud-locked
No. Arlo cameras can't be used for daycare parent viewing. Arlo streams to its own cloud with no supported local RTSP/ONVIF output on current models.
Most Arlo cameras are also battery-powered, so they could not hold a continuous daytime stream even if Arlo opened one up.
Keep Arlo for outdoor and home security. For parent viewing, add one wired PoE camera (Anpviz or Reolink, $40–90) in each room parents will watch, or a $25–50 WiFi TP-Link Tapo if a cable can't reach. We set up the parent side remotely.
What makes a camera compatible?
CareCam is software plus a small on-site appliance (about 8 watts). It reads the live stream your existing IP cameras already publish. A camera is compatible when it provides:
An RTSP stream
CareCam connects to your camera's RTSP video URL. Almost every networked (IP) security camera has one.
ONVIF support (helpful)
ONVIF is the open standard that lets different software talk to a camera. ONVIF cameras are the easiest to connect.
H.264 video
CareCam plays an H.264 stream in the browser. This is the default codec on virtually all IP cameras.
A lower-resolution substream
A configurable substream keeps parent viewing light on mobile data without touching your full-resolution recording.
The usual exception: cloud-only consumer cameras (Wyze, Ring, Nest, Blink, Arlo) and Tuya-based wifi cameras keep their video inside the maker's own app and don't publish an RTSP/ONVIF stream, so they typically can't be used. Analog cameras on a coax DVR also need a network upgrade.