An old phone is the cheapest way to get a home security camera if you already own the phone: the hardware costs nothing, and the main running cost is the AndrIoT plan, $4.99 per month on Standard (up to 5 phones) or $9.99 per month on Pro (up to 10 phones). There is no free plan for real phones, only a free demo, so this is not a no-fee option, but the cost per camera drops quickly when you add more phones.
This article does the maths with real numbers, shows where the phone approach wins and where a purchased camera is the smarter buy, and gives a short checklist to build a budget setup that works.
Key takeaways
- Hardware cost is zero if you already own the phones. You pay for a cable, a stand and, optionally, a smart plug.
- AndrIoT is a subscription: Standard is $4.99 per month ($49.90 per year) for up to 5 phones. The demo is free but short-lived.
- The more phones you add on one plan, the cheaper each camera is per month.
- You give up weatherproofing, infrared night vision and a purpose-built form factor.
- For outdoor or very dark locations, a purchased weatherproof camera is a better tool.
What it actually costs
Costs split into one-off items and a running plan. The one-off items are small if you already own the phones.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old phone | $0 | Already in a drawer; second-hand phones vary widely |
| Charging cable and adapter | $0 to $10 | Use the original if you still have it |
| Stand or clamp | $5 to $15 | Or a shelf, or a stack of books |
| Smart plug (optional) | $10 to $20 | For battery cycling on a phone that runs 24/7 |
| AndrIoT Standard | $4.99 per month or $49.90 per year | Up to 5 phones, 7 days of history, 1080p |
| AndrIoT Pro | $9.99 per month or $99.90 per year | Up to 10 phones, 30 days of history, webhook and MQTT |
These figures are rough ranges for common items, not quotes. Check local prices. The plan prices are AndrIoT prices in USD.
Old phone vs buying cameras
Neutral comparison: a purchased camera is built for the job. A phone is a general device doing the same job at lower cost and with more sensors.
| Old phone with AndrIoT | Typical bought camera | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Close to zero | $25 to $150 each |
| Running cost | Plan from $4.99 per month for up to 5 phones | Often free basic use; cloud storage may be a paid add-on |
| Outdoor use | No (not weatherproof) | Yes on outdoor models |
| Night vision | No infrared | Common |
| Two-way audio | Yes | Common |
| Extra sensors, GPS, screen | Yes | Rare |
| Setup | About 2 minutes per phone | Varies, often similar |
| Eco impact | Re-uses e-waste | New device |
Prices for bought cameras are indicative ranges and change often. The point is the shape of the trade-off, not an exact figure.
Where the phone approach wins
- Several rooms: one Standard plan covers 5 phones. See the cost chart above.
- Special jobs: a baby monitor with temperature, a pet camera that talks, a shop sign. A phone with a screen and speaker can do things a camera cannot. See the baby monitor and LED sign guides.
- Short-term use: rental flats, a holiday, a building site. No installation, no drilling.
- Experimenting: try the free demo first, then pair a real phone.
Where a bought camera is better
- Outdoors in the rain: a phone is not weatherproof. A cheap bullet camera is.
- Dark places: if you need to see in total darkness, infrared matters.
- One camera forever: if you only ever want one cheap fixed camera and you do not mind its app, a single purchased unit can cost less over several years than a subscription.
- Wired reliability: a wired camera does not depend on a battery or a phone charger.
If your plan is a single indoor camera and you already own a spare phone, the phone is still cheaper in year one. After that, compare honestly with what you would pay for storage or an app elsewhere.
A budget setup checklist
- Pick a phone with a working camera, no swollen battery and a good charging port.
- Update nothing you do not have to. An old phone that works is best left alone.
- Install the Android app (Android 5+) or the Legacy app (4.1 to 4.4).
- Pair with the 6-letter code from app.andriot.net.
- Exempt the app from battery saver.
- Mount the phone high in a corner, away from windows.
- Add a smart plug only if the phone will run 24/7 for months. See the power guide.
- Turn on motion alerts with a zone. See motion alerts.
The setup guide walks through each step.
A worked example: a small flat
Say you want to cover the front door, the living room and a home office, and you have three old phones. Here is how the numbers and the work add up.
- Phones: three you already own, so $0.
- Extras: three stands at about $8 each and one smart plug at about $12, so roughly $36 once.
- Plan: Standard at $49.90 per year covers up to 5 phones, which is about $16.63 per camera per year.
- Time: about two minutes of pairing per phone, plus an hour of placing and tuning motion zones the first evening.
You also keep two spare slots on the plan for a pet camera or a phone used as a sensor hub. The same maths with a single outdoor camera bought separately would be a different story, which is why the limits section above matters.
Hidden costs to plan for
- Electricity: a phone on a charger uses very little power, usually a few kilowatt-hours a year.
- Wi-Fi: upstream bandwidth is used while you watch. A 720p stream uses a few hundred kilobytes per second.
- Your time: the first phone takes about two minutes, but placement and tuning take longer.
- Replacement batteries: old batteries wear out. Replace or retire a phone that swells.
There is also a cost in expectation: a phone camera is a good household tool, not a certified alarm system. Do not rely on it as your only protection.
Mistakes that make a cheap setup expensive
- Buying a stand per phone before you know the best spot. Try each phone on a shelf and a stack of books first.
- Using the weakest phone for the busiest room. Put the phone with the best camera at the front door or the main room.
- Ignoring Wi-Fi. A camera at the edge of your Wi-Fi range stutters. Move the router or the phone before you buy anything.
- Leaving a worn battery on a charger. It is the one place where saving money can cost more later. See the power guide.
- Skipping the demo. The live demo costs nothing and shows you what the dashboard does before you commit to a plan.
None of these are fatal. They are the reasons a cheap setup feels flaky in week two, and each has a free fix.
Pros and limits
Pros
- Close to zero hardware cost if you already own phones.
- One plan covers several phones, which lowers the per-camera cost.
- Two-way audio, sensors and GPS included.
- Quick to move or remove, which suits rentals.
Limits
- Not free: real phones need a paid plan. Only the demo is free.
- No weatherproofing and no infrared night vision.
- The phone needs power and Wi-Fi.
- Not a certified alarm system.
FAQ
Is there a free way to use an old phone as a camera with AndrIoT?
The demo is free, with one virtual device and no signup, but it is short-lived. Real phones need Standard ($4.99 per month) or Pro ($9.99 per month).
How many phones can I use on one plan?
Standard covers up to 5 phones and Pro up to 10.
Is it cheaper than buying a camera?
In year one with one phone, usually yes. With several phones it is clearly cheaper per camera. For one outdoor camera, buying a weatherproof one is a better choice.
Do I need a smart plug?
No. It is optional and useful when a phone runs around the clock for months, because it keeps the battery from sitting at 100%.
Can I pay yearly?
Yes. Yearly plans are $49.90 for Standard and $99.90 for Pro, which is two months free compared with monthly.