The video doorbell is still a new concept. As a homeowner it’s great to see who is at your door, whether you’re upstairs on in another country.

Being able to tap a microphone icon on your phone so the doorbell speaker can tell your visitor that you’re out or where to leave that parcel, is very useful.

The best video doorbells also record footage even before the bell button is pressed. Handy if someone is loitering. Also, how long the video is saved for is something to consider.

One downside is that they are dependent on your home wifi speed and the speed of your smartphone’s connection: if both are slow, it can take as much as a minute for you to be notified someone’s there – and they may have left by then.

The cameras are connected to the internet, so it’s important to ensure they’re secure. There are reports of video cameras being hacked but if you take full security precautions, it needn’t be a concern.

We tested the video doorbells for image quality, microphone and speaker efficacy, elegance of design, security of installation, and battery life where appropriate.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

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Nest Hello

Image resolution: 1600x1200
Two-way audio: Yes
Night vision: Yes, black-and-white
Battery or mains: Mains
Online storage: Yes

This is a great video doorbell because of its great video quality, simple interface and great app. The Nest Hello connects to your existing doorbell – so it’s worth checking compatibility before you buy. You can also pay extra for professional installation. It’s the most stylishly designed video doorbell on the market and works brilliantly. It records all the time, though to make the most of this you need a Nest Aware subscription (from £4 a month for one Nest product or from £5 a month for more than one). This includes extra features such as facial recognition so the doorbell can spot familiar faces. Like other video doorbells, it doesn’t sit flush to the door or wall so you’ll notice the difference. An angled backplate means you can attach it to the corner of the doorframe and see everything, though realistically the wide viewpoint is enough even without this in most situations. Set-up is quick and simple and it’s easy to integrate with other Nest products. The noise-cancelling microphone is effective, though I sometimes found visitors couldn’t hear me very well, though that’s likely a connection issue. If you have a Google Nest Home Hub, the video pops up there as soon as the doorbell is rung. Night vision is good, though in black-and-white, not colour. There are also pre-recorded messages so you can tell the visitor to leave the parcel, for instance. Two-step verification aims to ensure your data stays safe.

Buy now £229.00, Google Nest

Ring Video Doorbell 2

Image resolution: 1080P
Two-way audio: Yes
Night vision: Yes, black-and-white
Battery or mains: Either
Online storage: Yes

Ring, owned by Amazon, was one of the very first smart doorbells and this second-generation version improved a series of features, including image resolution. The doorbell comes with a rechargeable battery which Ring says lasts six months or more, though realistically it will be a lot less if it’s used a lot (though still measured in months). You can view what the camera is seeing at any time, and receive notifications when it spots any movement. But for storage of video which gives access to a 30-day video history there’s a charge of £2.50 a month or £24.99 a year. Note that the original Ring is still available and is considerably cheaper, £89.99, but has lower-resolution video quality.

Buy now £89.00, Currys PC World

Ring video doorbell pro

Image resolution: 1080P
Two-way audio: Yes
Night vision: Yes, black-and-white
Battery or mains: Mains
Online storage: Yes

The Pro version for the Ring doorbell has high-quality video and comes in a slim design. You can change the faceplate to suit your decor: Satin nickel, pearl, Venetian and black are all included in the box. This also contains a transformer, a wireless doorbell chime – handy if you don’t have any doorbell at the moment – and a plate which you can fit over the previous Ring doorbell if you’re upgrading. The Ring app is easy to use and effective. Alerts are triggered by movement and you can adjust the areas covered so a person on the drive will alert you but a tree waving in the wind at the end of the garden won’t.

Buy now £229.00, Argos

Ring door view cam

Image resolution: 1080P
Two-way audio: Yes
Night vision: Yes
Battery or mains: Battery
Online storage: Yes

This doorbell is designed to fit in the door where there’s a peephole – which is ideal for many flats, for instance. It fits through the existing hole and secures on the inside of the door without screws. The rechargeable battery also sits on the inside. And a clever lens means it still works as a conventional peephole. A motion sensor means that if someone knocks the door instead of ringing the bell, it recognises this and lets you know someone’s there. If your door faces another one, you can ensure your neighbour’s privacy by setting which part of the display you see.

Buy now £99.00, John Lewis & Parntners

Ezviz CS-DP1 wireless video intercom

Image resolution: 720P
Two-way audio: Yes
Night vision: Yes
Battery or mains: Either
Online storage: Yes

Like the Ring Door View Cam, this mounts in an existing peephole and what it sees is transmitted to a 4.3in touchscreen that sits on the back of the door. Picture quality is noticeably lower than the other doorbells here, but is still acceptable. A rechargeable battery powers the camera but you can wire it in if you prefer. The camera also integrates with Ezviz alarm systems. As well as online storage, there’s also a memory card slot in the device so you can save footage locally.

Buy now £129.99, Amazon

August doorbell cam pro

Image resolution: 1080P
Two-way audio: Yes
Night vision: Yes, colour
Battery or mains: Battery
Online storage: Yes, free or subscription

You need an existing doorbell and chime to connect the August to, and it uses that bell’s power supply. The image quality is good, especially at night because a light means it can see in colour when it’s dark. This light also works as a security deterrent. The real standout here is that the last 24 hours of recordings are available to view free, unlike rivals which charge subscriptions for this. The field of vision isn’t quite as wide as, say, as the Nest Hello, so careful positioning is recommended. If you have August smart locks, this doorbell can work in conjunction with them to unlock the front door.

Buy now £281.00, Amazon

The verdict: Video doorbells

The most well-equipped video doorbell is the Nest Hello which combines superb ease-of-use, strong picture quality and a deep set of features. Ring’s range of doorbells is also very good and the two standouts are the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and Ring Door View Cam.