Best Video Doorbell
With the introduction of Ring the video doorbells burst on the scene. And since then, the demand has grown like wildfire. So I guess the question is, Which is the best video doorbell?
Best Video Doorbell
Arlo Video Doorbell
The camera has exceptional video quality, no matter the time of day.
Amazon.com | $119.99 11 new from $109.50 21 used from $80.96 | Buy Now |
Bestbuy.com | $129.99 | Buy Now |
Walmart.com | $149.00 out of stock | Buy Now |
Ebay.com | $122.00 out of stock | Buy Now |
Runner Up
Ring Video Doorbell Pro
It’s one of the most popular video doorbells on the market.
Walmart.com | $169.00 | Buy Now |
Bestbuy.com | $169.99 | Buy Now |
Ebay.com | $149.00 out of stock | Buy Now |
Amazon.com | out of stock | Buy Now |
Best Budget Option
VALKIA Video Doorbell
Great features for a fantastic price; it just needs a couple of tweaks.
Amazon.com | $69.99 out of stock 2 new from $69.99 | Buy Now |
The Buyers Guide To The Best Video Doorbell
It can be pretty daunting looking at all the features video doorbells have to offer if you’re new to the smart home world. That’s why I’ve made it easier for you and picked out the essential features to look out for:
Resolution
The whole point of a video doorbell is the ability to see who is at the door without having to go and check for yourself. With an excellent resolution, you'll ensure you always get a clean and crisp image. If you're looking for the very best lookout for a 1080p lens with either HDR or WDR technology.
Field Of View
This feature determines how much you can see through the lens; most video doorbells have a field of view around 150° to 160°. If you're looking for the very best, you should look for a camera with a field of view of 180°; it's the best range you can find yet.
Subscriptions
It's one of the most annoying factors with any smart camera. You may have to pay a monthly fee if you want access to all the fancy features, including cloud storage and facial recognition. These fees can vary depending on the storage options.
Night Vision
Cameras aren't great in the dark; it's no secret. The problem is, night time is when we feel we need the camera more. No one likes answering the door to a late-night visitor; you never see who's the other side of the door. Using a night vision enabled doorbell can rid you of this fear.
Power source
A lot of video doorbells come with a wired connection; it allows the camera to record continuously without the battery running out. A wired connection isn't suitable for everyone; it can be pretty hard to install, which is where a battery option comes in to play.
Motion Detection
Most video doorbells come with motion detection, but not all of them. Opting for a doorbell camera with motion detection means you'll know someone's there before they ring the bell. It also lets you use the doorbell as a security camera.
Two-Way Speaker
This is what allows you to have a conversation with any visitors at your door. You can use the function remotely with a WiFi connection. I must note that not all doorbells come with a two-speaker, so it's definitely a feature you need to look out for.
Storage
Not all video doorbells use the same storage options, which is why you need to think about which option suits you the best. Cloud storage gives you access to the footage remotely using a WiFi connection but usually comes with a cost. You also have the option of local storage.
Table of Contents
The Best Video Doorbells
Now you’re armed with the knowledge of what to look for; you can start the fun part, searching for your first video doorbell. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of the best video doorbells the market has to offer:
Arlo | Ring Pro | VALKIA | eufy | August Home | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Resolution | 1536 x 1536 HD | 1080p HD | 1080p HD | 2K HD | 1080p HD |
Power Source | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired Or Battery | Wired |
Field Of View | 180° | 160° Horizontal, 90° Vertilcal | 166° | 160° | 120° |
Storage | Cloud | Cloud | Cloud/Local | Local | Cloud |
Motion Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Subscriptions | Yes | Yes | N/A | No | Yes |
Two-Way Speaker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Night Vision | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Buy | Find Best Price | Find Best Price | Find Best Price | Find Best Price | Find Best Price |
#1 – Arlo Video Doorbell
BEST VIDEO DOORBELL
Amazon.com | $119.99 11 new from $109.50 21 used from $80.96 | Buy Now |
Bestbuy.com | $129.99 | Buy Now |
Walmart.com | $149.00 out of stock | Buy Now |
Ebay.com | $122.00 out of stock | Buy Now |
The Arlo video doorbell comes with a 180° field of view so you can see people from head to toe.
It records the footage in HD and uses HDR technology to ensure you get the best quality image no matter how bad the lighting is.
The doorbell camera also uses night vision technology, so you’ll know exactly who’s at the door no matter how dark it is outside.
It also features two-way audio so you can have a conversation with people at your door without having to get out of your seat.
If you’re not ready to speak to people, you can use a pre-recorded message to let them know what you’re doing or how long you’re going to be.
The Arlo video doorbell includes a 3-month Arlo Smart trial; this allows you to take advantage of the cloud storage.
The smart doorbell comes with a far-sight motion detector that lets you know someone is at the front door before they ring the bell.
Key Features
- Built-in siren
- Customize activity zones
- Works with Alexa
- Field of View: 180°
- Two-way audio
- 1.8” x .1” x 1.5”
What Other People Say
One customer already owned a couple of Arlo Ultra cameras, so they thought they should complete the circle. They’d only had the doorbell cameras installed for a few weeks, but so far so good. The installation was relatively easy, and the functionality was second to none.
Another said setting up the video doorbell to the Arlo App was very straightforward. They also found the wiring very simple because they had an existing doorbell; it was a simple case of swapping the wires over. Whenever someone rang the doorbell, they were notified instantly.
Final Verdict
The Arlo video doorbell provided excellent video quality at all times; it was exceptional. This gave you an extra level of security. The motion detector is brilliant. You can change the sensitivity within the App, and when maxed out, it could pick out motions from a great distance.
The App was exceptionally functional and very easy to use, which made it perfect for customizing the little details that make your experience better. Overall this is a fantastic video doorbell, and it comes with a very reasonable price for what you get.
What We Liked
- Great video quality
- Clear audio
- AI detection
What We Didn’t Like
- Wired only
- Requires a subscription for all the best features
#2 – Ring Video Doorbell Pro
RUNNER UP
Walmart.com | $169.00 | Buy Now |
Bestbuy.com | $169.99 | Buy Now |
Ebay.com | $149.00 out of stock | Buy Now |
Amazon.com | out of stock | Buy Now |
The Ring Pro is available with three buying options, which include purchasing the doorbell by itself or adding either the Echo Show 5 or Echo Show 8.
You can use the Echo Show as a screen for the Ring video doorbell, making it easier than ever to view your footage.
The doorbell uses a 1080p HD lens, ensuring you get a clear image of any visitors approaching the front door.
It also comes with a fantastic field of view (160° horizontal and 90° vertical. This feature allows you to get a great view of door way.
It also uses a two-way speaker system to speak to any guests without having to answer the door. Which is great when you’re out of the house.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro also comes with a few privacy features which allow you to change the perimeters of the camera zones and audio recordings.
With the motion detector, you can set activity zones; if any motion is detected within the preset zone, a notification will get sent to your phone.
You can live stream the footage directly to your smartphone from anywhere in the world. If you’re not ready to view the footage, it will get sent to the cloud (Subscription Required).
Key Features
- Advanced motion detection
- Dimensions: 4.5" x 1.8" x 0.8"
- Field of view: 160° horizontal, 90° vertical
- 1080p HD video
- Two-way speaker
- Works with Alexa
What Other People Say
They installed their Ring Doorbell Pro about 4-months ago; they didn’t have any trouble hooking it up to the transformer. They loved how customizable the Ring doorbell was. It allowed them to configure the doorbell in a way that suited their needs.
Another person also found Rings doorbell camera very easy to install. They loved the video quality and how the app allowed them to customize the Ring Video Doorbell. They claimed the motion detection was instrumental and responded to triggers quickly.
Final Verdict
It’s the best video doorbell device Ring has made so far; the video quality is exceptional, and the customizable features mean you can make it work for you. Having to wire the device did make it a little harder to install, but you didn’t have to worry about the batteries running out.
The Ring Pro’s motion detection zones worked exceptionally well; it was sensitive enough to pick up any motions. And the customizable zones meant you were only notified when someone enters the zone. It was also swift to respond; you received a notification almost instantly.
What We Liked
- Stylish
- Great video quality
- Intelligent motion detection
- Works with IFTTT and Alexa
What We Didn’t Like
- Mains powered only
#3 – VALKIA Video Doorbell Camera
BEST BUDGET OPTION
Amazon.com | $69.99 out of stock 2 new from $69.99 | Buy Now |
The Valkia Video Doorbell uses a 1080p wide-angle lens to capture any visitor that arrives at your front door.
The wide-angle lens means you get a field of view at 166°, so you get a full-body picture of guests.
It also comes with night vision mode, which can pick out a person from 10 meters away.
You can take advantage of the two-way audio system, which lets you communicate with people at your door in realtime.
And the noise cancellation ensures the sound quality is perfect every time. They use a motion detector with built-in PIR technology.
This allows you to receive notifications quickly and efficiently to your smartphone when any irregularities have been detected.
It comes with dual storage options, so you can save videos on the cloud or locally using the 32 GB SD card. You can choose your storage option via the App.
Key Features
- 1080P HD video
- Real-time notification
- PIR motion detection
- Field of view: 166°
- 32GB SD storage
- Dimensions: 5.3” x 3.5” x 1.9”
What Other People Say
They were a lot more impressed with the video doorbell than they thought they would be. They also loved how easy the setup was; it took little to no time to get it running. The motion detection worked really well, and there was no delay with the notifications. For the price they paid, they were delighted.
And they weren’t the only people impressed with the quality of the smart doorbell. Another person had been waiting for a while to make the purchase, and they’re glad they did. It detects motion without fail, and the picture and audio quality were terrific.
Final Verdict
Considering the video doorbell’s price, you’d expect this doorbell to pretty shoddy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The video quality was amazing; it provides vibrant and colorful images in real-time, as well as crisp audio quality.
One downfall was that this unit didn’t come with the batteries included, but they were easy to find at supermarkets. Other than that, it’s a great video doorbell for you to get behind, especially if you are looking for one that won’t break the bank.
What We Liked
- Great camera quality
- Advanced motion detectors
- Local storage option
What We Didn’t Like
- Battery sold separately
#4 – eufy Wireless Video Doorbell
Walmart.com | $135.99 | Buy Now |
Amazon.com | $149.99 1 new from $149.99 13 used from $82.78 | Buy Now |
Bestbuy.com | $199.99 | Buy Now |
Ebay.com | $146.99 out of stock | Buy Now |
The video doorbell comes with a built-in 2K sensor with WDR technology and a professional lens to ensure you get the perfect picture every time.
It provides sharp and crisp images so you can see who’s at the door in perfect detail.
The doorbell camera features a 4:3 aspect ratio, which allows you to see visitors from head to toe.
The company claims they wanted to protect your home and wallet, which is why you’ll never see a monthly fee.
Instead of the cloud, they use an internal 16GB memory card, which is 256-bit encrypted to ensure the videos stay safe.
The doorbell camera gives you total control over what is and isn’t detected.
This could be using smart human detection or customizable activity zones.
You’ll receive notifications directly to your phone based on your preset perimeters.
Key Features
- 2K with WDR
- 180-Day battery life
- Customizable activity zones
- Works with Alexa
- Field of view: 160°
- Dimensions: 5.5” x 2.1” x 1.1”
What Other People Say
The doorbell exceeds all their expectations; it was easy to install and great to use. The camera was excellent quality; you could see all the details of your visitors’ faces. They also found the human detection feature to be handy, it meant they didn’t receive unnecessary notifications to there phone.
Another person wanted a device that was going to be easy to install, which is why they opted for this video doorbell. It did take them to long to get everything up and running. But the video quality was great day or night, and the two-way speaker was crystal clear.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a video doorbell that won’t break the bank, this is a great option. As a unit, it’s not much cheaper than other brands, but it does save you money not having to pay for cloud storage. Running it locally means you could save over $100 per year.
It also provided a very clear and high-quality image, which was made better due to the WDR technology. The biggest let down was the lack of third-party integration. Luckily it did work with Alexa and Google Assistant, so at least you have some voice control options.
What We Liked
- High resolution
- Works with Alexa and Google
- Local video storage
What We Didn’t Like
- Poor integration list
#5 – August Home
Ebay.com | $209.99 out of stock | Buy Now |
Walmart.com | $197.78 out of stock | Buy Now |
Amazon.com | out of stock | Buy Now |
The August doorbell cam bring you realtime alerts whenever motions have been detected.
You can then access the camera in real-time from anywhere in the world.
The camera records and stores all your missed moments so you can play them again later.
And to ensure you never miss a thing the video doorbell uses Hindsight technology which monitors your door and ensures you capture the moments leading up to an event.
All videos are stored in the cloud for 24 hours before being deleted.
If you want to extend the time you need to subscribe to their service to gain 30 days of cloud storage.
All videos are recorded in stunning HD quality so you never miss a thing.
The August Doorbell Cam also comes with a built-in floodlight which is used to bring you full-color HD even at night.
Key Features
- 1080p HD video
- Built-in flood light
- Two-way audio
- Field of view: 120°
- 2.9” x 2.9” x 0.9”
- Works with Alexa
What Other People Say
They couldn’t believe how easy it was to install the August Doorbell Cam, it worked with the existing doorbell wiring, so it was a case of switching the wires. Since the installation, everything has been working perfectly, and they loved how well it integrated with their August Smart Lock.
Other customers had a similar love for the smart doorbell. Their favorite part was the camera capturing the moments leading up to an event. The biggest downfall was the field of view; it was a lot smaller than they first thought. On the plus side, the installation instructions were straightforward to follow.
Final Verdict
The camera works well and provided sharp images directly to your phone. The biggest downfall was the small field of view; it was only 120°, which was a lot lower than its competitors. I also really enjoyed the hindsight feature; it worked well and never missed a moment.
The problem was, you couldn’t set your own activity zones; this could result in a lot of unnecessary notifications come through. It’s saving grace was the app; it was incredibly well designed and effortless to navigate the system.
What We Liked
- Well designed app
- Hindsight mode
- Integrates with smart locks
- Third-party integration
What We Didn’t Like
- Can’t set motion zones
- A small field of view
But This Is The Best Video Doorbell
In my opinion, the best video doorbell is the Arlo Doorbell. The camera quality was second to none; this was down to the HD lens and HDR technology.
The video doorbell also came with an excellent aspect ratio so you could see your visitor from top to bottom.
Another nice feature was the built-in siren; it allowed you to ward off anyone you didn’t like the look of.
The biggest downside was having to subscribe to the Arlo Smart membership to get all access to all the best features.
Overall this is an excellent camera at a very reasonable price for what you get.
If you liked this article don’t forget to comment below and let me know what you think. If you’re looking for some more security options, then you should check out my round-up review on the best self-monitored home security system.