- 9.20/10 1. Premium pick: eufy Security Video Doorbell
- 9.20/10 2. Editors choice: Ring Video Doorbell Plus 3
- 8.00/10 3. Best value: Remo+ RemoBell S
- 8.80/10 4. Arlo Essential Video Doorbell
- 8.60/10 5. Nooie Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Camera
- 9.00/10 6. Ring Peephole Cam
- 7.40/10 7. RCA Doorbell Security Camera
A great category of smart home technology isn’t even located inside your house. Smart doorbells take the age-old device and put a modern spin on it with a built-in video camera.
Along with extra-added security, the devices bring a big dose of convenience. You can answer your doorbell anywhere in the world using a companion app and even see who is coming and going.
Here are some of the best smart doorbells on the market.
There's no need to worry about power options with the eufy Security Video Doorbell. You can take advantage of the doorbell's built-in battery or use existing doorbell wiring. The battery can provide up to six months of power on a single charge.
The camera records video in 2K resolution with wide dynamic range technology for the clearest possible images. It also records in a 4:3 video format so you can see a full-body view of anyone who approaches.
Instead of paying extra for cloud storage, all videos are stored locally on the included HomeBase. The company's AI can determine whether an approaching subject is human to cut down on false alarms.
You can also create an activity zone for the doorbell's camera to keep watch on to exclude areas like a road. When someone rings the doorbell, you can respond automatically and even select a pre-recorded response.
- 2K video resolution with wide dynamic range for clear video
- 4:3 ratio so you can see a full-body view of anyone who approaches
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support
- Brand: eufy
- Resolution: 2K
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Internal or External: External
- Power Source: Battery or existing doorbell wiring
- Axis Control: N/A
- All videos are stored locally on the HomeBase
- Can be used with the included battery or existing doorbell wiring
- No Apple HomeKit support
Ring helped define the smart doorbell category. And one of the best choices from the company is the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. The doorbell is powered by an included battery and doesn't require existing wiring, allowing more flexibility on where you can place it. A corner kit is also included for more complex installations.
The 1080p camera can record video when the doorbell is pressed or when motion is detected. You can customize motion settings to cut down on unwanted notifications. And to better help you understand who came to your door, a four-second pre-roll will show you what happened before the motion was detected.
With Amazon Alexa compatibility, you'll hear an announcement on Echo devices when the doorbell is pressed. And on Echo Show models, you can see a live video and can even talk to visitors.
- Four-second pre-roll will show you what happened before motion was detected
- Takes power from a provided battery pack
- Dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity
- Brand: Ring
- Resolution: 1080p
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Internal or External: External
- Power Source: Battery
- Axis Control: N/A
- Feature-rich compatibility with Amazon Echo devices
- Corner kit included for difficult installation spots
- Advanced features require an additional subscription
Adding a smart video doorbell doesn't have to break the bank with the Remo+ RemoBell S. The doorbell uses existing doorbell wiring and provides 1080p video with a 180-degree field-of-view.
Instead of paying anything additional for cloud storage, Remo provides three days of free video storage for no cost. Paid plans are available if you need to keep the video for longer amounts of time. It records when the doorbell is pressed or when motion is detected.
You can select motion zones and adjust the motion sensitivity to fit you best. Using the companion app, you can also view a live video of the doorbell at any time. The doorbell is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- 1080p video with 180-degree field of view
- Customizable motion zones
- Adjustable motion sensitivity
- Brand: Remo
- Resolution: 1080p
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Internal or External: External
- Power Source: Existing doorbell wiring
- Axis Control: N/A
- Free, three-day cloud storage of videos
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Must use existing doorbell wiring
Arlo is a well-known name in home security with a lineup of wireless security cameras. And that experience transfers nicely to the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell. The doorbell can take continuous power from existing doorbell wiring or with a built-in battery.
You can go for up to six months of regular use with the battery before it needs to be recharged. While you can easily use the smart doorbell as part of a larger Arlo setup with a hub, you can also connect it directly to Wi-Fi. The camera offers a 180-degree view angle with a 1:1 aspect ratio so you can see more of who is at your door.
Whenever the doorbell is pressed, you'll receive a video call on your phone, so you'll never miss a visitor. You can communicate with visitors at the door using the companion smartphone app or use a pre-recorded message.
In the case of an emergency, you can automatically trigger a siren or manually initiate it from the app. The doorbell is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- 180-degree view in 1:1 aspect ratio to see more of the scene
- You'll receive a video call to your phone when the doorbell is pressed
- Trigger a siren manually or automatically through the smartphone app
- Brand: Arlo
- Resolution: 1536p
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Internal or External: External
- Power Source: Battery or existing doorbell wiring
- Axis Control: N/A
- Takes power from included battery or existing doorbell wiring
- No hub required with direct Wi-Fi connection
- Advanced features require an additional subscription
The Nooie Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Camera brings high-resolution surveillance to your door. The battery-powered camera records at 2K resolution with a 158-degree field-of-view. Nooie includes two different wall mounts for maximum flexibility during installation.
An onboard algorithm can determine if motion is caused by a human to help cut down on false alarms. You can communicate with visitors at the front door using the companion app or even use pre-recorded messages.
While you can pay an additional fee for cloud storage, you have the option to provide your own microSD card in the base station to store video locally. It's also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- 2K video with 158-degree field-of-view
- Can determine if motion is from a human or not
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Brand: Nooie
- Resolution: 2K
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Internal or External: External
- Power Source: Battery
- Axis Control: N/A
- Can use optional microSD card to store video locally
- Two wall plate types are provided
- Base station must be plugged into electrical outlet
In some cases, like in an apartment or rental home, it's not practical to install a traditional smart video doorbell. But the Ring Peephole Cam can still bring those advantages to your front door. As you could probably tell by the name, the camera is installed using a door's existing peephole. No drilling or wiring is needed, and the entire installation process takes less than five minutes.
The camera takes power from an included battery. The 1080p camera records when the doorbell is activated, when motion is detected, or even when someone knocks on the door thanks to the built-in impact sensor. Using the companion smartphone app, you can customize motion zones to minimize false alarms.
If you have an Amazon Echo device, it will illuminate and make an announcement anytime the doorbell is pressed or if motion is detected. And if you have an Echo Show, you can see, hear, and speak to the visitor.
- 1080p camera can be viewed on-demand at any time
- Two-way communication with visitors
- Customizable zones to watch for activity
- Brand: Ring
- Resolution: 1080p
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Internal or External: External
- Power Source: Battery
- Axis Control: N/A
- Installation requires no drilling or wiring
- Impact sensor will let you know even when someone knocks on the door
- Only works with Amazon Alexa devices
The RCA Doorbell Security Camera can coordinate with any exterior with one of the three included faceplates. It records 2K video with 180-degree field-of-view.
There's no need to pay for cloud storage of videos. RCA includes a 16GB microSD card, and the camera is compatible with cards up to 128GB. You can receive alerts when motion is detected or when anyone presses the doorbell on the companion iOS app.
Onboard technology can help determine if a human causes movement to help false alarms. A loud 90-decibel siren is automatically triggered when motion is detected or manually enabled through the app.
- 2K video recording with 180-degree field-of-view
- Takes power from existing doorbell wiring
- 90-decibel alarm that can be manually or automatically triggered
- Brand: RCA
- Resolution: 1080p
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- App Compatibility: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Internal or External: External
- Power Source: Existing doorbell wiring
- Axis Control: N/A
- Three different faceplate colors provided
- 16GB microSD card included for local video storage
- No compatibility with smart home devices like Amazon Alexa
FAQ
Q: Why Do I Need a Smart Doorbell?
Securing your home starts at the front door, and a smart doorbell is an easy and inexpensive way to do just that. With just a little bit of installation, you can have a camera that can keep watch over the most important part of your home and still inform you when someone is at the door.
Along with a live camera, many smart doorbells offer great features like the ability to communicate with visitors through an app or smart home assistant like Amazon Alexa. They can also record when motion is detected.
Q: Do Smart Doorbells Need to Use Existing Wiring?
As the smart doorbell market has grown, manufacturers have introduced more versatile options. Initially, you needed to use existing doorbell wiring with a smart option. But that's no longer the case. Many wireless options take power from a battery inside the doorbell.
That gives you many more options for where you can place a doorbell. When the battery is depleted, you'll need to juice it up. Usually, that means you'll just need to take the battery out of the doorbell and charge it.
Q: Does a Smart Doorbell Record All the Time?
Unlike some traditional video cameras, a smart doorbell doesn't record 24/7. Usually, the smart doorbell will only record when someone presses the doorbell itself out when motion is detected within the camera's view.
That saves battery life when using a non-wired option and limits the amount of video that needs to be stored in the cloud or on a storage card.
