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Video doorbells are equipped with smart cameras that allow you to answer your door using your smartphone. Additionally, they are designed with speakers, microphones, motion detectors, and a wide range of features that enable you to monitor your home from any location in the world.
However, with so many components to consider, choosing the right video doorbell can be challenging. That's why we have curated a list of the best video doorbells for every budget and smart home ecosystem.
With the Ring Video Doorbell Wired, you can receive real-time notifications when someone presses your doorbell or when the built-in motion sensors are triggered. You can also customize the motion settings to avoid getting notifications for motion on busy streets or at your neighbor's house, and only receive alerts for the ones that matter most to you.
Best Affordable Video Doorbell: Ring Video Doorbell Wired
This product is compatible with Alexa and features a camera resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, as well as a 155° horizontal and 90° vertical field of view. It requires a subscription that starts at $3.99 per month, although the details of the subscription are not specified.
The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is an affordable option with essential features for your home security needs. You can communicate with your guests through your smartphone and receive real-time notifications when motion is detected. However, to store and review video clips, you must subscribe to the Ring Protect plan for at least $3 per month. This subscription also includes features like Customizable Motion Zones, Privacy Zones, and Pre-Roll.
Ring Video Doorbell Wired with Ring Chime $79.99 Amazon
Best Video Doorbell for Security: Arlo Essential (Wired)
Product Name: Arlo Video Doorbell (Wired)
Compatibility: Alexa, Google, Apple HomeKit
Camera Resolution: 1536 x 1536 pixels
Field of View: 180°
Subscription: Starting at $2.99/month per device
The Arlo Essential video doorbell provides advanced features to enhance your home security, including the ability to distinguish between people, vehicles, packages, and animals. You can customize your notifications to avoid unnecessary alerts, and the 180-degree ultra-wide field of view offers a broader view of your front porch compared to other models.
Instead of just sending a notification, the Arlo Essential directly calls your phone when someone rings your doorbell, allowing you to speak to visitors or leave a pre-recorded message. The device also includes an anti-theft siren that automatically sounds if someone tries to tamper with it, and you can trigger it manually from your smartphone.
To access cloud storage and Activity Zones, you need an Arlo Secure subscription that starts at $3 per month. Although the Arlo Essential works with Alexa and Google, you need a SmartHub to connect it to Apple HomeKit.
Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell - HD Video, 180° View, Night Vision, 2 Way Audio $79.99 Amazon
Best Video Doorbell with No Subscription: Eufy Security
Works With: Alexa, Google Voice Assistant
Camera Resolution: 2560 x 1920 pixels
Field of view: 180°
Subscription: Not required, but cloud storage starts at $2.99/month (per device)
The eufy Security video doorbell is a great choice if you want to avoid paying a monthly subscription fee. This model comes with 4GB of internal storage, allowing you to save your video clips for free. You can store up to 30 days’ worth of encrypted video clips, ensuring that your videos are always private.
The eufy Security video doorbell stands out for its ability to differentiate between people and animals, preventing unnecessary notifications. It also offers features such as Activity Zones, Pre-Roll footage, and customizable audio messages for visitors when you're not available.
In terms of camera quality, this doorbell boasts a higher resolution camera with HDR support for improved image detail, even in low light conditions. It also provides a taller field of view to capture guests from head to toe.
While it doesn't work with your existing doorbell chime, the eufy Security video doorbell comes with a free chime that you can plug into any outlet in your home. Additionally, there's a wireless version that can be connected to your existing doorbell and store up to 16GB of videos to a Home Base device in your home.
Best of all, this video doorbell doesn't require a monthly subscription fee for video storage, as it comes equipped with 4GB of internal storage that can save up to 30 days' worth of encrypted video clips.
Eufy Security, Wi-Fi Video Doorbell, 2K Resolution, No Monthly Fees, Local Storage, Human Detection, with Wi-Fi Chime–Requires Existing $99.99 Amazon
Nest Doorbell (2nd Gen, Wired): Best for Google Home Integration
Works With: Google
Resolution: 960 x 1280 pixels
Field of view: 145°
Subscription: Not Required, but subscriptions start at $6 a month
The newest addition to Google's lineup of video doorbells is the Nest Doorbell, and it stands out as one of the few models that don't require a monthly subscription fee for saving video clips. However, without the subscription, Google offers only up to three hours of storage, which means you might miss important videos if you don't review them in time.
Despite not having a subscription, the Nest Doorbell still offers advanced features such as Activity Zones and Smart Alerts. The device can detect people, animals, packages, and vehicles, and you can customize your notifications to filter out irrelevant alerts.
For $6 a month, a Nest Aware subscription allows you to store video clips for up to 30 days, while the Nest Aware Plus subscription, which costs $12 a month, adds 24/7 continuous video recording. With the latter, you can review all activity at your front door from the past 10 days, even if it didn't trigger the motion detector.
The Nest Doorbell is compatible with your existing chime or a Google smart speaker. There's also a battery-powered option that's cheaper and easier to install. The wireless version comes with wires that can be connected to your transformer, but it doesn't support 24/7 video recording.
Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen) - Video Doorbell Security Camera - Snow $129.99 Amazon
The Logitech Circle View is the top choice for Apple HomeKit users
Works With: Apple HomeKit
Resolution: 1200 x 1600 pixels
Field of view: 160°
Subscription: Starts at $2.99/month
If you're an Apple HomeKit user, your options for video doorbells compatible with your smart home setup are limited. Apple's list of HomeKit-compatible devices reveals that Logitech Circle View is one of the few video doorbells available in the US that supports HomeKit Secure Video for end-to-end encryption on all your Apple devices.
Featuring an HD camera with HDR and color night vision, this video doorbell also boasts a bright light on its front that activates upon motion detection, ensuring great video quality even in the darkest conditions. Additionally, its 160-degree field of view and portrait-style video enable you to see your guests from head to toe.
Keep in mind, however, that to save and review your video clips, you'll need to subscribe to iCloud, which starts at $3 a month. You'll also need an Apple TV, Home Pod, Home Pod Mini, or an iPad to serve as a central home hub. Doing so will allow you to review 10 days' worth of video recordings from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
Sleek in design with a glass face, the Logitech Circle View complements any Apple user's home. Note that this smart device requires hardwiring, and you'll need to replace an existing doorbell during installation. You can also use your current doorbell chime and link it to your Home Pod speakers to hear the chime from any room.
Logitech Circle View Apple HomeKit- enabled Wired Doorbell with Logitech TrueView Video, Face Recognition, Color Night Vision, and Head-to-toe HD Video $199.99 Amazon
Ring Video Doorbell 4: Best for Alexa Users
Works With: Alexa
Resolution: 1080 x 1920
Field of view: 160° horizontal, 84° vertical
Subscription: Starts at $3.99/month
Ring, the original maker of the video doorbell, continues to dominate the market. Their Ring Video Doorbell 4 was the first wireless video doorbell to offer four seconds of color Pre-Roll footage, allowing you to see what triggered a motion event before it occurred.
This doorbell can be powered by your existing doorbell wiring, or you can use the built-in battery for a wireless setup. A notable new feature is the Quick-Release battery pack, which allows for speedy charging when the doorbell's power runs low.
The latest Ring Video Doorbell also boasts enhanced dual-band WiFi capabilities, allowing for connection to either a 2.4GHz network for extended WiFi signal range or a 5GHz network for faster speeds. Other features include Activity Zones, Rich Notifications, Quick Replies, and more. However, to access some advanced features, a Ring Protect subscription is necessary.
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