Best Audio Baby Monitors
What to Expect selects products based on real-life testing conducted by staff, contributors and members our user community, as well as independent research and expert feedback; learn more about our review process. Prices and details are accurate as of the published date. We may earn commissions from shopping links.
$19 
$50 
$33 
Best Buy 
Walmart Today’s baby monitors offer a plethora of bells and whistles that go way beyond HD video — think real-time breathing alerts, temperature readings and humidity sensors, to name a few. With these conveniences at your fingertips, you may wonder why anyone would want a relic like an audio-only baby monitor.
Benefits of audio baby monitors
Before you write audio-only monitors off as a thing of the past, consider a few benefits to the low-tech devices. For starters, audio baby monitors are significantly less expensive than their streaming counterparts. Because of this, parents who feel confident their baby is safe while they are nearby may opt to spend a little less on this baby gadget.
Similarly, some parents opt for an audio video monitor in addition to their video monitor, relying on the lower-tech option while traveling.
Audio-only monitors are also a good option for occasional caretakers, like grandparents, who may not be as tech-savvy. They don’t have to deal with large screens, extra accessories or sometimes glitchy smartphone apps, but can still rest easy knowing they have an ear on the baby.
What to consider when buying an audio baby monitor
Even though audio monitors are inherently simpler than more feature-packed options, there are a few things to consider. Are you leaning toward analog or digital? Here are the differences:
- Analog monitors. These don’t encrypt the transmission, so anyone might be able to listen in.
- Digital monitors. These ensure that the signal is private, but they cost a bit more, and you might experience some interference from your wireless router if both are on the same frequency. You may also want to weigh each monitor’s range, battery life and additional functionality like the ability to talk to your baby through the unit.
To help you pick the best basic option, we’ve considered all the factors that go into a good audio monitor.
Why Trust Us?
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
Best Audio Baby Monitor Overall
VTech DM111 Audio Baby Monito
- Affordable
- DECT technology
- intuitive controls
- One-way audio
- some users report excess static
You can’t beat the price of this audio baby monitor. Still, the functionality is what you’d hope. It transmits using DECT technology, which prevents interference from other devices like your wireless router or the neighbor's baby monitor. And don't worry about messing with lots of features when you're ready to put baby down: The monitor's panel has just three buttons for powering it on and off and changing the volume.
Range: Up to 1,000 feet
Weight: 14.4 ounces
Dimensions: 1.9 x 4.6 x 2.6 inches
Best Audio Baby Monitor for Multiple Rooms
VTech DM221 Audio Baby Monitor
- Two parental units
- long range of up to 1
- 000 feet
- built-in night light
- No backup battery for power outages
- some users are bothered the fact that the buttons beep
For parents who prefer not to tote their audio monitor from room to room, this slight upgrade comes with two parental units for convenience. It also harnesses the power of DECT technology for interference-free sound, plus works at a long range of up to 1,000 feet, so you won’t feel tethered to a certain spot in your home. As an added bonus, the child’s unit has a soft (optional) night light to help illuminate a dark nursery should baby stir.
Range: Up to 1,000 feet
Weight: 1 pound
Most Versatile Audio Baby Monitor
Graco Wireless Two-Way Audio Baby Monitor
- Nice extras like a nightlight and temperature sensor
- easy to use
- two-way communication
- small size works well for travel
- Child unit must be connected to a wall plug
- which limits flexibility
This sound-activated audio baby monitor offers tons of flexibility, since it has a long range of up to 1,500 feet, alerts you when you’re out of range (no guessing games!) and offers two-way communication, which your baby will appreciate as they get older. It also has a soothing nightlight and a temperature sensor, which will alert you if the room becomes warmer than 86F or colder than 61F. The parent unit can also be easily recharged using a USB cable.
Range: Up to 1,500 feet
Weight: 0.6 pounds
Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 2 inches
Best Audio Baby Monitor with Extra Features
HelloBaby HB180 Two-Way Audio Baby Monitor
- Has plenty of bonus features
- like two-way talk back
- room temperature monitoring
- a night light and the ability to play lullabies
- No handle or clip on the parental unit
- lights on parental unit cannot be dimmed
Did we say audio monitors are basic? This one puts that statement to the test. Not only does it have secure and clear audio transmission and two-way talk back, it also boasts an impressive range of extra features, including room temperature monitoring that’s displayed on an LCD screen, a night light and the option to play lullabies.
Range: Up to 1,000 feet
Weight: 9.6 ounces
Dimensions: 4.9 x 3.8 x 4.5 inches
Audio Baby Monitor With Best Battery Life
Philips Avent DECT Baby Monitor
- Long operating time of 24 hours
- DECT technology
- included night light
- One-way audio
- some users report short battery life
This audio monitor is a sleek and reliable option with an exceptionally long operating time of up to 24 hours. (Of course, you can also opt to plug the device in.) Like other great units, DECT technology guarantees zero interference, so you’ll always get clear sound quality. And despite extras like a night light, the device only has three buttons to keep it super simple.
Range: Up to 1,082 feet
Weight: 12.8 ounces
Dimensions: 2 x 8 x 6 inches
Most Adorable Audio Baby Monitor
TimeFlys Audio Baby Monitor
- Cute design
- two-way audio
- remotely-controlled night light
- real-time temperature readings and impressive 1
- 000-foot range
- Lights on parental unit cannot be dimmed
- short battery life
It’s almost impossible to resist the adorable design of this audio baby monitor. But there’s more to love than the aesthetic: Two-way talk allows parents to comfort baby from afar, a remotely-controlled night light lets you illuminate a dark nursery, an LCD screen takes real-time temperature readings of baby’s room and an impressive range of up to 1,000 feet grants caregivers flexibility.
Range: Up to 1,000 feet
Weight: 15 ounces
Dimensions: 3.8 x 3 x 1.7 inches
Most Popular Audio Baby Monitor
Hatch Rest+
- Doubles as a sound machine
- Alexa-enabled
- grows with baby — it’s also a clock and an OK-to-wake device
- Expensive
- some users report a delay in the two-way audio
- sound machine and monitor don’t work well in tandem
This incredible audio baby monitor doubles as one of the most popular sound machines on the market. There’s no fumbling with cords or any additional units — to control the safe and secure two-way monitor, the device pairs with a compatible smartphone app. Also accessible through the Alexa-enabled app: a library of comforting sounds, lullabies and white noise, a multi-colored night light, and — for older children — a “time-to-rise” feature that alerts them to when they can get out of bed.
Weight: 14.5 ounces
Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 6.5 inches
Trending On What to Expect
