The 10 Best Video Doorbells To Keep An Eye On Your Home’s Security
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Our best overall pick, the Arlo Essential Doorbell, has a bunch of features—two-way audio, night vision, and motion sensors, to name a few—to keep you feeling safe.
Better Homes & Gardens / David Hattan
Video doorbells are a great way to help you feel secure, whether you’re away from home and want to make sure a package was delivered, or on the couch and just don’t want to hit pause on the latest TV show binge until you know who’s at the door. With real-time feeds and recording options, you can keep an eye on your front door and put your mind at ease from anywhere.
“When shopping for a video doorbell, customers should consider video quality, smartphone compatibility, and two-way talk capabilities,” says Rachel Paul from The Home Depot. She adds that, in particular, “One of the most important features of video doorbells is the accessibility from your mobile device,” which “allows you to monitor the safety of your home from anywhere.”
We’ve rounded up the best video doorbells to keep your home feeling safe and secure. Our best overall pick is the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell. We love that it is affordable, while still offering features of more expensive cameras like HD resolution videos, night vision, and a 180° field of view. It also offers smart alerts that can differentiate between people, animals, vehicles and more.
Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell
Best Overall
Why You Should Get It: It has a high video resolution, field of view, and can differentiate between people, packages, animals and more.
Keep in Mind: It requires a $3-per-month subscription for advanced features.
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell is our pick for best video doorbell overall because it has an abundance of features and an affordable price (for both the doorbell itself and the optional subscription). The view is also notable—the camera has a field of view that’s a full 180-degrees with a high video resolution, so you’ll get a clear view of your whole doorbell area.
The camera has two-way audio so that you can speak with whoever is at your door, and you can even pre-record messages so that, even if you’re not available to interact, the person at the door doesn’t have to know that.
Keep in mind, if you want more features than just alerts and live video, you’ll have to pay for a $3-per-month subscription. With an Arlo Secure subscription, though, you get less false notifications to your phone because it activates smart alerts that differentiate between people, packages, vehicles, and animals.
The camera’s Arlo Foresight feature makes it so that you get notified before anyone even tries to ring the doorbell. This is notable because, with some video doorbells, this response time is slow enough that you miss the person entirely (and it means you can get alerts for people who might not ring at all, like someone delivering a package). It also has night vision that gives you alerts and clear views of whoever’s at the door once the sun goes down.
It’s important to note that the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell does require some electrical installation, so if you’re not someone who is comfortable with wiring things yourself, you may need to add the cost of hiring a professional onto the overall price.
Price at time of publish: $150
Product Details: Size: 1.77 x 0.98 x 5.11 inches | Video Resolution: 1526x153 | Field of View: 180° View | Features: Two-Way Audio, HD Resolution, Night Vision, Motion Sensor | Subscription Required: No | Wired or Wireless: Wired
Blink Video Doorbell
Best Budget
Why You Should Get It: This doorbell still has features like night video and two way talk, but at a fraction of the cost of many competitors.
Keep in Mind: If you want to install it wirelessly, you’ll need to purchase a Sync Module separately, which does add to the cost.
The Blink Video Doorbell is the best video doorbell for someone looking to make their home “smarter” on a budget. It comes with many of the basic features that other video doorbells do, including two-way audio so that you can converse with whoever is at your door. The Blink Video Doorbell is also weather resistant and has infrared night video so that it can function rain or shine, day or night.
You also have the option of installing it wirelessly or by hooking it up to your existing doorbell wiring. Keep in mind, while you can install the Blink Video Doorbell wirelessly, doing so requires that you pair it with a Sync Module 2, which is sold separately. Without the Sync Module 2, live-view and two-way audio can only be used in response to a doorbell or motion event.
This video doorbell comes with a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan, and after that, you can either pay $3 per month per device, or $10 per month for unlimited devices.
Without the plan, you get motion-activated notifications, up to 5 minutes of live view streaming, and you can access recordings on Sync Module 2. With the subscription, you also get 90 minutes of continuous recording, live view recording, 60-day unlimited video history, video sharing, photo capture, and more.
Price at time of publish: $50
Product Details: Size: 5.1 x 1.7 x 1 inches | Video Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 135° horizontal, 80° vertical | Features: Day and Night HD Video, Two-Way Audio, Chime App Alerts, Long Lasting Battery Life | Subscription Required: Optional | Wired or Wireless: Either
Ring Video Doorbell 4
Best Splurge
Why You Should Get It: This pick comes with all of the bells and whistles, including an option for your visitors to leave you a message if you’re not home.
Keep in Mind: You’ll need a subscription in order to access recordings and photos.
The Ring Video Doorbell 4 is the best video doorbell to splurge on because of its reliability and abundance of features. With the Ring app, you can get real-time notifications to your smart device, save and share videos from your doorbell, and check things out in real time with a live view.
The Ring Video Doorbell 4 has 1080p HD video and night mode, so you get a clear look at who or what is at your door more clearly, whether it’s day or night. It also has two-way talk, so you can tell that delivery man where to put your package while you’re not at home. You can also use the video doorbell’s Quick Replies feature, which let you choose from past responses, or even ask visitors to leave a message for you.
This camera starts recording up to four seconds before it sends you a motion alert. This makes it possible for you to see what happened before it was detected, and with color pre-roll video preview, it’s crystal clear.
This doorbell is particularly easy to install, with a quick-release, rechargeable battery, so you don’t have to constantly purchase batteries if you want to keep it wireless.
Keep in mind that you’ll need a subscription plan in order to record or share videos and photos. It also keeps your videos and photos stored for up to 180 days, so you can look back on your footage for up to 6 months.
Price at time of publish: $220
Product Details: Size: 5.1 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches | Video Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 160° Horizontal, 84° Vertical | Features: Advanced Motion Detection, Two-Way Audio With Noise Cancellation, Rechargeable Battery, Weather Resistant | Subscription Required: Yes | Wired or Wireless: Either
AOSU Doorbell Camera
Best Without a Subscription
Why You Should Get It: This video doorbell provides privacy in more ways than one, and without a monthly fee.
Keep in Mind: You’ll need Wi-Fi to connect to the video doorbell, so you’ll want to test out your Wi-Fi strength from outside before you buy it.
Most video doorbells need subscription access to function past their basic duties, but the AOSU Doorbell Camera does it all for free. It gives you 60 days of loop recording, storing videos to your HomeBase, which has built-in 8G memory so that you can view them whenever you’d like without having to pay extra.
The camera has a high video resolution of five megapixels and a 160-degree view, so that you get the full picture when it comes to who is at your front door. It can also automatically filter out motions that aren’t relevant to your home, so you’ll get fewer distracting notifications in the middle of the night or while you’re away on vacation. Instead, you’ll get notifications for people and animals, with the camera being able to distinguish between the two.
With the AOSU Doorbell Camera, you can use two-way audio to converse with whoever is at your door, as well as leaving pre-recorded messages for them. You’ll get a notification, even if someone doesn’t ring your doorbell, so you’ll be aware if delivery men or anyone else comes up up to your front door as soon as it happens.
On top of not needing a subscription to access all of its features, the AOSU Doorbell Camera also does not need to be charged often. Its built-in, rechargeable battery is made to last 180 days without needing to be recharged.
AOSU is also all about protecting your privacy. Not only do they protect your data, but you can also set up privacy zones to restrict video coverage and voice privacy with a feature that changes your voice to disguise yourself.
Keep in mind, you’ll need to set up the AOSU Homebase, which is where your videos will be stored. You’ll need Wi-Fi in order to connect.
Price at time of publish: $250
Product Details: Size: 5.12 x 1.97 x 1.18 inches | Video Resolution: 5 Megapixel Resolution | Field of View: 166° Features: Local Recording, HD Resolution, 33 Feet HD Night Vision, Motion Sensor, Voice Changer, Two-Way Audio, Weatherproof | Subscription Required: No | Wired or Wireless: Either
Lockly Vision
Best Video Door Lock
Why You Should Get It: There’s no monthly fee for this video, biometric lock combo.
Keep in Mind: This lock is weather resistant but not weatherproof. You should only use it on your front door if you have an overhang or awning.
This easy-to-install device is our pick the best video door lock. The Lockly Vision Video Doorbell Smart Deadbolt pulls double duty in the security department, both locking your door and keeping watch.
The deadbolt can be opened in multiple ways, either with a PIN Genie digital keypad, 3D biometric fingerprint reader, smartphone app, smart home device (like Alexa or Google Home), or a physical key will gain you access to your home. The keypad is peek-proof, keeping others from seeing your code and keeping your privacy. You also never have to worry about forgetting to lock your door—there’s an auto-lock feature.
You can also grant (or revoke) access to people in your life using the Lockly app. These codes can be temporary—so you can give someone access to your home for a specific period of time without needing to reset your codes afterwards.
The doorbell camera has a built-in, HD camera with 720p resolution and a 150-degree field of view. You don’t need to pay for a monthly subscription in order to access the videos, instead you can use the 32GB micro-SD memory card. You will also get real-time alerts to your smartphone when the door is unlocked or when someone rings the doorbell.
Keep in mind that this video lock is not weatherproof, but rather it is weather resistant. If your door isn’t protected from the elements, you may want to look into another video doorbell. You should only use it on your front door if you have an overhang or awning.
Price at time of publish: $400
Product Details: Size: 7.8 x 3.14 x 3.8 inches | Video Resolution: 720p | Field of View: 150° Features: Two-Way Audio, Biometric Lock, Touchscreen, Patented PIN Genie Technology, Offline Access Codes™, Bluetooth Connectivity | Subscription Required: No | Wired or Wireless: Wireless
Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell Pro
Best Wireless
Why You Should Get It: You can install this wireless video doorbell easily and efficiently.
Keep in Mind: You need to upgrade to Cam Plus in order to get real-time alerts and store videos on the cloud.
The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is our pick for best wireless video doorbell because it has a super easy installation. You don’t need any tools or screws—it comes with a 3M adhesive mounting plate.
A common complaint with wireless doorbells is that they tend to be slow to catch motion or notify users of it. When connecting wirelessly (this camera does also have a wired option, if you want continuous power) you can connect your video doorbell using dual-band Wi-Fi at 2.4G Hz or 5G Hz. This doorbell includes a dual-band WiFi Extender chime, so it stays connected and does its job efficiently.
This wireless video doorbell also has 180 days of battery life, so you don’t have to worry about keeping it charged, or having it unexpectedly lose power. It also features a 150-degree x 150-degree field of view, 1440p HD video, and night vision, so you can see everything, anytime.
Keep in mind that, while this wireless camera has plenty of features and easy installation, you’ll need to upgrade to a CamPlus subscription in order to get real-time alerts and storage for your security videos. CamPlus also includes smarter notifications that can tell the difference between a person, package, or animal at your door.
It’s also important to note that, when you install a wireless video doorbell, theft can be a problem because they tend to be less securely attached than wired options.
Price at time of publish: $106
Product Details: Size: 5.5 x 1.8 x 1.1 inches | Video Resolution: 1140 x 1440 | Field of View: 150º Horizontal | Features: Night Vision, Motion Sensor, Chime Included, Extended Battery Life | Subscription Required: Optional | Wired or Wireless: Wireless
Ring Video Doorbell 3
Best Subscription
Why You Should Get It: It has multiple tiers of subscription so that you can choose based on your budget.
Keep in Mind: Plans offerings remain basic unless you’re using the most expensive subscription.
We think that the Ring Video Doorbell 3 has the best subscription options for video doorbells because Ring Protect has three pricing options, while most others only have one. For $3.99/month, you can get the Basic plan, which comes with video recording for one doorbell. Other perks of the Basic plan include having access to your video history for up to 180 days, being able to save and share videos, and smarter alerts.
The Pro plan starts at $20 per month (or $200 per year) and gives you video recording for all of your smart home devices, Ring Alarm professional monitoring, 24/7 backup internet with the option for extra data, and more.
With the Ring Protect Plan, you can also connect the Ring Video Doorbell 3 to your Amazon Echo, so you can get announcements and, if it has video capabilities, a live view of who is at your door. If you feel like you’re missing footage, you can also use the pre-roll feature, which lets you see the first four seconds before your alert goes off.
The doorbell itself has an 1080p HD camera, a field of view that spans 160-degrees horizontally and 84-degrees vertically, and live view and night vision capabilities, so you’ll always be able to see what set off your alerts. It also has two-way audio with noise cancellation, so you’ll be able to hear and be heard. The doorbell can be used wirelessly (it comes with a rechargeable battery pack) or wired to existing doorbell systems. It is also weather resistant.
Price at time of publish: $200
Product Details: Size: 5.1 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches | Video Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 160° Horizontal, 84° Vertical | Features: Two-Way Audio, Weather Resistant, Rechargeable Battery, Ring Protect Plan, Customizable Motion Zones | Subscription Required: Optional| Wired or Wireless: Either
Remo+ RemoBell S Smart Video Doorbell Camera
Best with Free Cloud Storage
Why You Should Get It: It’s one of the few video doorbells that offers 24/7 surveillance (and recording), without requiring a subscription.
Keep in Mind: You get 3 days of free cloud storage before you need to upgrade to a paid subscription.
If you’re looking for free cloud storage, this options is most likely the best video doorbell for you. While a majority of video doorbells require a subscription for 24/7 surveillance or storage of video recordings, this one does not—although only for a limited amount of time.
Keep in mind, while this device offers free cloud storage, recording and storing all motion activity, it only does stores that information for three days. If you’re looking for longer recordings, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. In our opinion, unless you’re often away for long periods of time (and not checking in periodically), three days is sufficient.
On top of the free cloud storage, this video doorbell has plenty of other features that make it a great choice. It’s a wired doorbell, so you’ll have to hook it up to your existing doorbell wiring. This is necessary in order to be able to have 24/7 recording, rather than just recording when motion is detected or the doorbell is pressed.
The videos are streamed in 1080p HD video resolution, and it has a 180-degree wide angle lens. There’s also a dewarping feature so that you can get an even crisper image. The doorbell has two-way talk, infrared night vision, and allows you to set your own boundaries and borders so that you get alerts for any motion in that area (for example, your yard, but not the busy sidewalk in front of your house). You can also adjust the sensitivity of the device’s motion sensors, so you get fewer frivolous notifications.
Many doorbells have features that can only be accessed by subscription, and those costs add up—we also love that this option’s base price is affordable and doesn’t accrue additional costs.
Price at time of publish: $100
Product Details: Size: 5.1 x 0.84 x 1.8 inches | Video Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 180º | Features: Free Storage, HD Video, Motion Sensor, Two-Way Talk | Subscription Required: No | Wired or Wireless: Wired
SimpliSafe Doorbell
Best for Wired Installation
Why You Should Get It: This option pairs well with a SimpliSafe security system or can be used on it’s own, so you can decide on your level of security needed.
Keep in Mind: Video recording is only available with a subscription, which costs an additional $5 a month.
We think that the SimpliSafe Doorbell is the best video doorbell for those who wish to wire theirs because it is designed to work with any type of home. It can be installed on corners or shingles, it’s compatible with any 8-24V AC transformer, and it’s compact (just 4.35 inches tall!), so it fits anywhere. It can also be installed easily with nothing more than a Phillips head screwdriver.
The doorbell features crisp, 1080p HD video, a 162-degree field of view, and is able to capture motion in bright light and also night vision. The doorbell also alerts you even when someone is at your door but doesn’t ring your doorbell.
It sets itself apart from other doorbells by using two sensors: one that detects human form, and another that detects the heat signature of whoever is at your door. The camera’s dual-sensor trigger ignores things like cars or neighbors passing by on the street, so you get fewer false or trivial alerts.
Keep in mind, you’ll still need to have a Wi-Fi connection of at least 2.4GHz in order to use the doorbell properly. There’s also the option for a monthly subscription, which starts at $5 per month for one camera. The camera is compatible with SimpliSafe’s security system, but also as a standalone, so you can customize the system to your needs.
Price at time of publish: $170
Product Details: Size: 4.35 x 1.35 x 1.12 inches | Video Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 162° | Features: Two-Way Audio, HDR Imaging, Infrared Night Vision, Motion Alerts, Door Chime | Subscription Required: Optional | Wired or Wireless: Wired
Google Nest Doorbell (Battery)
Best for Smart Alerts
Why You Should Get It: It can tell the difference between a person, package, animal, or even the sound of a smoke alarm and alert you to them accordingly.
Keep in Mind: In order to access the smart features, you’ll need a Nest Aware subscription and additional Google products.
Google Nest can alert you to a person at your front door, and you can even teach your Nest to learn the difference between people who are at your home often and people you don’t know. It also has enhanced features when it comes to listening for alerts.
When connected to your other Google devices in your home, you can get alerts about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and even glass breaking. Additionally, if there’s an emergency while you’re not at home, you can call emergency services from your phone. However, in order to access these features, you’ll need a Nest Aware subscription (and in some cases have the rest of your home set up with compatible Google products). The subscription starts at $6 per month.
The Google Nest Doorbell has 1080p resolution and night vision, so you’re able to spot what’s at your front door, no matter the time of day. It also has a 145-degree diagonal view, so you can see everything from packages on the ground to your tallest of friends approaching.
We also love that this doorbell has a sleek and slim design, with the wired version measuring 5.1 inches and the battery version measuring in at 6.3 inches tall. However, if you choose the wireless option, you won’t be able to access 24/7 recordings, even with a subscription. The wired option, however, offers continuous and uninterrupted recordings, and with Nest Aware Plus, you get 10 days of 24/7 video and 60 days of event video history (meaning the time around alerts). Without the subscription, you get three hours of video history.
Price at time of publish: $180
Product Details: Size: 6.3 x 1.8 x 0.95 inches| Video Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 130-degree diagonal field of view | Features: Defined Activity Zones, HD Video, Two-Way Audio, Respond with Pre-Recorded Messages, Encryption | Subscription Required: Optional | Wired or Wireless: Either
The Bottom Line
Overall, when looking for the best video doorbells for your home, it’s important to take into consideration not only your security needs, but also whether or not you’d like to install your doorbell wirelessly or wired to your home’s existing doorbells, and whether or not you want to pay for a subscription to access advanced features.
We’ve chosen Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell as our pick for best video doorbell because it’s affordable (even if you add on the optional subscription) and offers features like high video resolution, wide field of view, and smart alerts.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly video doorbell, the Blink Video Doorbell is our favorite affordable option, with features like two-way talk and night video.
What to Know About Video Doorbells Before Shopping
Size
The size of your video doorbell will vary depending on the brand, but typically they are around 5 to 6 inches tall, and 1 to 2 inches wide. If you are using a wired video doorbell, it will need to sit where your original doorbell sits, so the more compact the video doorbell, the less conspicuous it is.
Video Resolution
The higher the video resolution, the better the video quality. Choosing a video doorbell with an HD camera, which is no less than 1080p resolution, is important so that you can make out details in your footage. Some cameras have a higher resolution (these are typically more expensive) and make viewing an even clearer experience.
Field of View
Your video doorbell is meant to provide you with as complete a view of your front door area as possible. A 180 degree view is the best because it gives a full field of view horizontally. You can also get a video doorbell that has a vertical field of view so that you can move the camera up and down.
Features
Video doorbells come with, well, plenty of bells and whistles, so what are the most important? HD resolution and an optimal field of view are important for the best visibility. Night vision or even infrared vision are features that can make nighttime viewing easy—most video doorbells have this already. Two-way audio is also a common feature for video doorbells, and it allows you to speak with the person who is at your door, and for them to speak to you as well.
Some video doorbells have advanced motion detection, so that it can differentiate between a person, animal, package, or vehicle, and you can set your settings so that you only get notified for things you choose. Some even allow you to set boundaries so that you aren’t notified erroneously for people and animals walking by in a busy neighborhood.
Subscriptions
Most smart video doorbells have options for subscriptions, but they tend to also offer some services for free. Typically, subscriptions come with some sort of cloud storage, so that you can access the videos from your device later. Free versions tend to only allow you live access to your video feed. There’s also the option of getting a video doorbell that stores your videos on memory-cards, which don’t require a subscription because they’re not being stored with a third party.
Wired or Wireless
If you choose to go the hardwired route, then you won’t have to worry about your doorbell dying (and therefore being rendered temporarily dysfunctional) because it is always connected to a power source. You just connect it to the already existing wires in your traditional doorbell.
Wireless video doorbells make installation easy because they run on batteries. The downside to this is that those batteries will either need replacing or recharging at some point. A problem that some wireless video doorbell users encounter is that the doorbell isn’t as effective at catching motion because your device will typically go to sleep to save energy, and it then takes time for the device to wake up when someone’s at your door.
Your Questions, Answered
Are video doorbells compatible with smartphones and other devices?
Most video doorbells are compatible with smartphones and other devices. Check the product information for your specific video doorbell, but most have an app that you can download onto your phone and tablet for easy access. For example, Ring (which earned top marks as our picks for best subscription and best splurge) has an app and an option to subscribe so that you can access more features.
The Google Nest Doorbell is compatible with the Google Home app and the Nest app, depending on whether or not you’ve chosen to install it using wires or go wireless. All of the video doorbells in our roundup send alerts to your smartphone when there is motion detected by your door.
What are the biggest differences between a video doorbell and a smart home security camera/system?
There are a few differences between a video doorbell and a smart home security camera or system. The first big difference is the installation. When you install a smart home security camera, it typically requires a professional because it needs to be wired to your home, whereas a video doorbell is installed either using the existing wires of your doorbell or is installed without the use of wires.
The second difference is coverage. Video doorbells cover the area outside of your front door, but they don’t cover your entire home, so the rest of your home is a blind spot for the camera. If you have a security system, you can set up the cameras where there is the most foot traffic, or at the entrances and exits to your home. A security system is just that: a system. It will have more coverage than a single video doorbell.
With that in mind, Paul says, “Most smart doorbells double as a security camera; they have a small camera that captures motion on your front porch and records anyone who rings your bell. You can use your smartphone to remotely view any activity recorded by the smart doorbell, whether you're home or away.”
How much does it cost to install a video doorbell?
If you were to pay a professional to install your video doorbell for you, it can cost anywhere from $100 to $250. You can either hire a service through the retailer you purchased it with, or you can install the doorbell yourself.
The good news is that most video doorbells are made for easy installation that you should be able to complete on your own with a bit of research. If you’re going wireless, it’s a matter of hooking it up to your door, but if you’re going to wire it into the doorbell, it’s also pretty user intuitive.
Who We Are
Andrea Wurzburger is a freelance writer at Better Homes & Gardens. For this story, she spent several hours researching the best video doorbells by comparing product reviews, customer recommendations and product specifications. She also spoke with Rachel Paul, Marchant for The Home Depot.
