Doorbell Cameras

A doorbell camera is a great way to keep track of who or what is at your doorstep without opening the door or even being at home. These smart devices can notify you of any motion at your door, be it a guest, package, or the dog. Not only can you view a live feed of what your camera can see in the moment, event videos of motion can also be recorded for later viewing should you miss the action. Here are the features you should be aware of when looking for a doorbell camera, our recommendations, and a feature comparison of some of the most popular doorbells on the market.

Features

POWER - how is it powered?

• WIRED - Many doorbells cameras can be wired to existing doorbell wiring, provided that they are receiving enough voltage. If not, the transformer can be replaced, and some doorbell camera companies even sell compatible transformers alongside their doorbells. This is not an uncommon issue, as the transformers in lots of older houses don’t provide enough voltage for modern doorbell cameras. However, this can make installation challenging, so some may want their doorbell cameras professionally installed.
• BATTERY - Doorbells can also be powered by a battery. This makes the installation process much simpler, but the batteries must be monitored and replaced or recharged when necessary. If you’re a renter, this may be a good option since you won’t be fiddling with any wiring.

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE - what additional functionality can be added by paying for a subscription?

Most of these cameras include some amount of free cloud or local storage to store recently recorded event videos or snapshots. Several offer an additional subscription service that allows users to store videos for a longer period of time as well as use a variety of other features such as person detection, activity zones, or 24/7 continuous recording. In our feature comparison table, we compare the storage that comes with each camera should you opt not to go for a subscription plan.

OTHER COMMON FEATURES

• ACTIVITY ZONES - These are specific zones within the camera’s field of view that users can set by toggling predetermined areas or drawing custom shapes. The camera can then either ignore or prioritize any activity that occurs in that area. These are also referred to as “motion zones.”
• PRERECORDED RESPONSES - Some cameras allow users to set a couple of prerecorded responses that can be played if someone’s at the door.
• TWO WAY AUDIO - A built-in speaker and microphone allows users to communicate with the person on camera, be it kids in the backyard or a delivery man at the porch. All of the doorbells mentioned offer this without the purchase of an additional subscription.
• NIGHT MODE - All of these cameras have a designated night mode in order to record video in low light settings or at night.
• ANGLE PLATES - Several camera come with angle plates or wedges that can be used to adjust the angle of the camera and thus what it can see.

Our Recommendations

BEST OVERALL (w/ subscription) - Google Nest Hello

The Google Nest Hello is a wired camera that’s packed with features. It works best with the Nest Aware subscription plan, which gives users activity zones, person detection, and 30 days of event history at its lowest tier ($6/month). It also records 24/7, and with the higher subscription tier ($12/month), users will be able to look back at that history. Additionally, it has facial recognition to detect familiar faces, a feature unique to this doorbell. Without Nest Aware, users only get three hours of event history in snapshots (not videos) and cannot use any of the previously mentioned features, so the doorbell is probably not worth a purchase without the subscription. If you’re willing to put in the money, this is a great doorbell that does it’s job and more.

BEST OVERALL (w/o subscription) - Eufy Video Doorbell 2K

The Eufy Video Doorbell 2K is available in two variations: wired and battery-powered , and it has no additional storage subscription. The wired version has 4GB of storage within the doorbell itself, and the battery-powered version contains 16GB of storage on the “Homebase” that comes with it. Both versions also allow users to use person detection and activity zones to cut down on nuisance alerts. For those who don’t want to deal with a regular subscription fee, the Video Doorbell 2K offers great flexibility at a fixed price.
Here are a couple things to note about the battery-powered version, though. First, users have found that the battery lasts for a couple of months—less than the six months that Eufy advertises but still enough to work with. Second, whereas the wired version has a 3-second look-back which allows users to see the three seconds prior to when the alert was triggered, the battery-powered version does not have this feature. Lastly, because the battery is built directly into the doorbell, the entire doorbell needs to be taken off to recharge it. The battery-powered version is still a good choice because of the functionality that it provides, but if any of those issues bother you, you can always opt for the wired version instead.
[ BUY (wired) ]
[ BUY (battery-powered) ]

THE REST OF THE PACK

• Arlo Video Doorbell - Arlo’s Video Doorbell is a wired camera that will work most effectively when paired with Arlo Smart , its subscription service. For $3/month (on Arlo’s “Premier Plan”), users will get 30-days of event video history as well as the ability to use activity zones and person detection. It also has a 1x1 aspect ratio which lets it see much more vertical space (this is good for watching packages). For those who are willing to pay for the subscription, it’s a great choice—versatile, reliable, and good at it’s job. Note that you will need to pay the subscription fee in order to access the 30-day video storage even if you’re already an Arlo customer. For those currently on a Premier Plan, the Video Doorbell will be an additional camera, and for those not on any plan, the Video Doorbell may be a reason to get on a plan.
  [BUY]
• Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) - To be clear, this is the 2nd generation of Ring’s original Video Doorbell, not the Ring Video Doorbell 2. This revamp of the doorbell camera that started it all is one of the cheaper doorbells on the market. It works both wired or wireless, but if you choose to use the built-in battery, you’ll have to take the doorbell off its mounting bracket each time you want to charge it. Unfortunately, several users also have found that the motion detection is slow and unreliable. It doesn’t always detect motion, and if it does, it often doesn’t start recording until a couple seconds after the initial trigger. Additionally, it doesn’t have any free storage, so users will need to subscribe to a Ring Protect plan ($3/month at the lowest tier) to view any recorded event video (60 days worth, in this case).
  [BUY]
• Ring Peephole Cam - The Ring Peephole Cam is a battery-powered camera that installs through your existing peephole. The camera itself also has a built in peephole, allowing you to retain access to a physical peephole while still having access to the features of a doorbell camera. Additionally, it has knock detection to send alerts when people knock without pressing the doorbell button, but users have reported that it doesn’t work very well. Unfortunately, the Peephole Cam has a couple other flaws as well. Because of the nature of its placement, its viewing angle can’t be altered. This has been frustrating for users whose cameras have recorded plenty of sky but very little ground. The battery life also doesn’t last the six months that Ring claims, and many users have had trouble adjusting the motion sensitivity settings to optimal positions. Lastly, it has no free storage like the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen), so it will also require a Ring Protect plan ($3/month at the lowest tier) for users who want to view any recorded event video (60 days worth, in this case).
  [BUY]

Feature Comparison

		Power	Field of View	Resolution	Person Detection	Activity Zones	Prerecorded Responses	Integration	Free Storage	Subscription Plan
Google Nest Hello ($229)		wired	160°	1600 x 1200	w/ Nest Aware	w/ Nest Aware	✔		3 hrs	Nest Aware
Eufy Video Doorbell 2K1 ($160-200)		both models offered	160°	2560 x 1920	✔	✔	✔		wired: 4GB wireless: 16GB	none
Arlo Video Doorbell ($150)		wired	180°	1536 x 1536	w/ Arlo Smart	w/ Arlo Smart	✔		none	Arlo Smart
Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) ($100)		either	155°	1920 x 1080	✘	✔	✘		none	Ring Protect
Ring Peephole Cam ($130)		wired	180°	1920 x 1080	✘	✔	✘		none	Ring Protect