Screen Your Visitors Remotely With The Best Video Doorbells

The best video doorbells are practically synonymous with convenience. These smart home devices are not just excellent security tools, so you can catch package thieves or vandals in the act. They’re also perfect for seeing who’s at your door without having to physically be there yourself – whether you’re away from home, trying to avoid Jehovah’s witnesses, or you just can’t be bothered to get up from the couch.

In addition, video doorbells are a perfect complement to that smart lock you’ve just installed. Alongside a set of wireless security cameras, they make an ideal home security system that’s easy on the pocket and free from exorbitant monthly service fees. Take a look at our top picks for the best video doorbells.

TL;DR – These are the Best Video Doorbells:

1. Google Nest Hello

Best video doorbells

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Google’s Nest Hello is the best video doorbell hands down, complete with all the bells and whistles you could ever want – pun intended. This nifty little device already has all the makings of a great video doorbell, including 24/7 live streaming and video recording, a video format that captures your visitors from head to toe, HDR capability, two-way audio, night vision, an IPx4 rated weather resistance, and of course, alerts and notifications.

However, it beefs up its feature set with things like facial recognition so you’ll know if a familiar face is coming. Package tracking, meanwhile, notifies you immediately if a package has been removed. You can even leave a pre-recorded messages for when you’re not home, and noise and echo cancellation ensures any audio captured in your security recordings is loud and clear. You’ll need a Nest Aware subscription to get some of the more advanced features like intelligent alerts and timelapse, but it starts at $5 a month, which is less than the cheapest Netflix plan.

Our only gripe here is that its installation is best left to professionals, as you’ll need a wired doorbell, a compatible chime and the right transformer. However, for all the features it brings to the table, the Nest Hello is well worth the extra $99 installation service fee.

2. eufy Video Doorbell

Best money-saving video doorbell

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For budget-minded consumers who want to save money on both their device and monthly subscription, eufy’s video doorbell has our vote. Not only is this among the cheapest options right now, but it also forgoes any type of monthly subscription for storage and additional features, saving you money in the long run.

Instead, it utilizes local storage. Though don’t take “local storage” to mean that your videos are vulnerable to theft. They’re stored in a military-grade chip that boasts AES 256-Bit data encryption to keep that footage from prying eyes.

And, for much less than Nest Hello, eufy Video Doorbell boasts facial recognition, a 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR capability, night vision, pre-recorded responses, 2-way audio, and instant alerts when someone is approaching, just like its more expensive rival. Understandably, it isn’t as feature-rich – it doesn’t record 24/7 or offer package tracking, and it only has a 150-degree field of view.

However, it has a few advantages over the competition including impressively high resolution video, camera distortion correction so you’re not getting those ghastly fisheye footages, and a wider operating temperature range of -4 to 122F.

3. Arlo Video Doorbell

Best in unique features

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The Arlo Video Doorbell has a few tricks up its sleeves that you won’t find in other video doorbells on the market. While it has all the trimmings that make for an excellent video doorbell, including intelligent motion detection alerts, 2-way audio, pre-recorded messages, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, it also boasts a few features that make it unique.

Among those features is its video call function. You can set this device to call your mobile phone directly if someone presses the doorbell. That way, you won’t just know when someone’s at your door, you’ll also be able to interact with them directly without that extra step of going through the app.

Other features that set it apart are its 180-degree field of view, 1:1 video aspect ratio, and that built-in siren that you can either set to go off automatically or trigger remotely in case of suspicious activity. What’s more is you also have the option to save your videos directly to your Arlo base-station or Smarthub, so you can keep your video footage locally.

4. Ring Video Doorbell 3

Best battery-powered doorbell

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Whether hardwired or battery-powered, Ring Video Doorbell 3’s versatility makes it ideal for both homeowners and apartment renters. It’s definitely a favorite among folks who either do not have existing doorbell wires or cannot make too many big changes to the unit they are renting. In fact, its battery-powered model takes only a few minutes to install, and you won’t be needing the help of an electrician to do it.

It’s also popular among consumers who want extensive smart home integration. That’s because this video doorbell is easier to pair with existing locks, smart lights, and home alarms than many of its rivals.

Unfortunately, its video resolution isn’t as high as the top three contenders on this list. However, it’s just as reliable in terms of motion detection, alarms and notifications, and two-way audio, which boasts noise cancellation. And, it’s cloud storage service is pretty affordable, starting at $3 a month. Besides, 1080p resolution is pretty standard these days, so it’s not like you’re getting pixelated footage and images.

5. Ring Peephole Cam

Best for basic features

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If you like the Ring Video Doorbell 3’s battery-powered feature, but you just don’t have the funds to spend $200 on a video doorbell, the Ring Peephole Cam might just be the perfect budget alternative. You’ll still be paying a little over $100, but you’re also saving $70, which could go into paying for that Ring Protect subscription for almost 2 years.

There are, of course, things that the Ring Video Doorbell 3 can do that the Ring Peephole Cam can’t. This cheaper alternative has a narrower field of view, for example, and it doesn’t give you the option to connect to your existing doorbell wires. However, it offers the same fundamentally important features like two-way audio, live viewing, night vision, and motion detection. It’s also compatible with many smart locks on the market.

Plus, it has a couple of unique tricks. It has a built-in impact sensor that notifies you when someone’s knocking at your door, for one. And, it takes care of that aging, unflattering peephole you’d rather not display, but still want to utilize.

6. Remo+ RemoBell S 6

Best budget video doorbell

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You can spend a couple of hundreds of dollars on a pricier video doorbell, or you can spend half that amount for practically the same basic features. That’s what Remo+ RemoBell S 6 offers budget-minded consumers. Not only is the video doorbell cheap, but it also comes with a free 3-day rolling cloud storage, so you don’t have to pay for a monthly subscription if you don’t want to.

As for its features, it has all the necessary trimmings: two-way audio, night vision, motion detection alerts, and an operating temperature range of -4 to 122ºF. It even offers that live on-demand streaming feature that some of the more expensive video doorbells make you pay for. And, while many of its rivals only give you a 160-degree viewing angle, this one offers a 180-degree field of view.

The only thing is that it does have that fisheye distortion happening, but that’s hardly a deal-breaker, especially for that price tag.

7. Amcrest Video Doorbell Camera Pro

Best budget with local storage

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See it on Walmart

The Amcrest Video Doorbell Camera Pro may be the least popular and one of the cheapest products on our list, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take it seriously. Sure, it has its share of limitations: namely, the 1080p resolution, the 140-degree field of view, and the 2.4GHz only support.

However, it also has a few things going for it. We certainly appreciate the MicroSD local storage, for one. You can put in a MicroSD card with up to 128GB storage space, instead of having to commit to a monthly subscription. And, its operating temperature range of -22 to 122°F certainly comes in handy to those folks living in places with the coldest winters.

Factor in its up to 16 feet of night vision and motion detection, 2-way audio, and motion detection alerts, and you’ve got yourself a great value. The catch? To get the live streaming function, you’d have to get the Amcrest Smart Home Cloud app and subscribe. The good news? You get your first year free with your purchase. Not too bad a deal.

What to Look for in the Best Video Doorbells

Most video doorbells on the market offer basic features. They all have 2-way audio so you can communicate with whoever’s at the door even if you’re not home. These doorbell cameras are capable of recording videos, naturally, and at resolutions of 1080p and up. They have night vision, though some are better at it than others. And, they all offer compatibility with one or more of the most popular smart home systems and virtual assistants right now.

However, they do differ in quite a few ways that matter a lot to consumers. Here are the some of the main things you must consider when choosing the best video doorbell:

Installation and power

When it comes to installation, not all video doorbells are created equal. Some require a bit of electrical knowledge and experience similar to the best home security cameras, while wireless doorbells can be installed in minutes by anyone capable of inserting a battery.

It really boils down to the type of power source the video doorbell requires. Quite a few of them actually need doorbell wiring to work, although there are others that only rely on rechargeable batteries, making them perfect for many apartment renters. One or two have adapters so you can make them work even if you don’t have existing doorbell wiring at home.

Before you click that buy button, find out what kind of power source your choice needs and whether or not it’s something you can accommodate.

Storage and subscription

Cloud storage solutions are all the rage these days, which makes sense as they’re generally more secure. However, most video doorbells do not offer their cloud storage for free. Subscriptions typically start at $3 per month and can go all the way up to $30 a month.

Granted, if you’re getting the basic plan, you might be paying less than your Netflix or Disney+ subscription. And, you’re also getting additional features like live streaming, timelapse recording, and intelligent alerts.

However, that monthly subscription can still add up, which isn’t good if you’ve got limited funds. Luckily, there are video doorbells out there that come with free, albeit limited, subscription, or better yet, a MicroSD card compartment.

Resolution

There are still some video doorbells out there with only 720p resolution. That’s hardly a surprise; many high-end ultrabook laptops only have 720p webcams. However, when it comes to your home and family’s security, the higher the resolution, the better. You wouldn’t want your home invaded by an intruder, and then realize that the only chance you have of finding the perpetrator is an extremely grainy, low resolution video.

These days, 1080p is standard and good enough. If you want something better, however, there are a few that offer 1,536 x 1,536 and 1,600 x 1,200 resolution.

Field of View

The field of view or viewing angle is another thing that differs from video doorbell to video doorbell. And, unlike camera lenses, it doesn’t follow that the more expensive ones typically offer the widest angles. A lot of video doorbells boast a 160-degree viewing angle, while there are some that give you a whopping 180 degrees of viewing pleasure. A handful still only have around 140 degrees.

Find out what’s best for your home or apartment before deciding. If you have a broader area to cover, then the widest field of view is better for you. However, if you only need to cover a smaller area – like if you’re in the corner apartment, for example – then a 140- or 150-degree video doorbell should suffice.

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Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram @straywithRae.

Source: IGN.com Screen Your Visitors Remotely With The Best Video Doorbells