A free Alfred Camera alternative that needs no account
Alfred Camera turns a spare phone into a security camera, and it does that well. It also asks you to install an app, create an account, and let your footage travel through someone else's servers. MySentryHome is what you reach for when those three are the part you want to avoid.
Side by side
| MySentryHome | Alfred Camera | |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | No | Yes — sign-up before first use |
| Install required | No — it is a browser tab | Yes — mobile app on both devices |
| Where video is processed | On your device, always | On the company's servers |
| Cloud storage of your footage | None — nothing is recorded | Yes, with paid retention tiers |
| Subscription | None, and no PRO tier exists | Free tier with ads; paid plan for HD and longer storage |
| Where alerts arrive | Your own Telegram bot | Push notification in the app |
| Works on a laptop webcam | Yes | Not the primary use case |
| Live remote viewing | On demand (photo or short clip via Telegram) | Yes, continuous stream |
When Alfred is the better choice
Being honest about this is worth more than a longer feature list. Pick Alfred if you want a continuous live stream from anywhere, if you want your clips kept in the cloud so they survive the device being stolen, or if you want two-way audio and a polished mobile app maintained by a company with a support desk. MySentryHome has none of that, and pretending otherwise would waste your evening.
When MySentryHome is the better choice
Pick MySentryHome if you would rather not create another account, if you have an old laptop already sitting in a drawer, or if the idea of your living room going through a third party's servers is the reason you have been putting this off. Detection runs in the browser tab; the only thing that ever leaves your device is the alert you configured, sent to a Telegram bot you own.
How to try it in two minutes
- Open the Runner on the device that has the camera.
- Allow camera access when the browser asks.
- Paste your Telegram bot token and chat id in the Alerts panel, or skip it and just watch detections on screen.
Frequently asked questions
Is MySentryHome really free?
Yes, and there is no PRO tier to upgrade to. It is kept by one person in their spare time, so there is no revenue behind it either — no ads, no paid unlock, no trial that expires.
Do I need to install an app?
No. MySentryHome is a web page. You open it in a browser on the device that has the camera, allow camera access, and it starts watching. Nothing is downloaded and nothing is installed.
Where does my video go?
Nowhere. Frames are compared on your device at low resolution and thrown away immediately. A photo is only ever encoded when a detection fires and you have configured Telegram to receive it — and it goes to your own bot, not to a company server.
Can I watch a live feed from somewhere else?
Not as a continuous stream. You can ask the camera for a photo or a short clip on demand through your Telegram bot, but MySentryHome does not run a live remote viewer. If that is the feature you need most, Alfred does it better.