The best smart doorbell overall
Easy to install, Google's Nest Hello supports streaming video and two-way conversations. A Nest Aware subscription adds video recording, AI-powered motion detection, and facial recognition.
Pros : Easy wired installation, good quality video both night and day, two-way conversation, motion detection, facial recognition
Cons : Expensive, some features require Nest Aware subscription
Google's Nest Hello is a very smart doorbell with a wide range of features. It's well built, offers advanced security, and can be installed quickly and easily using your existing doorbell wiring. It is on the expensive side, both in terms of the upfront cost and the ongoing subscription that you'll need for the advanced features. But it's the complete package, and the best smart doorbell for most people.
The Nest Hello is relatively compact and lozenge shaped. When someone rings the doorbell, you can listen or talk through the device. There are some handy pre-recorded messages in the app for quick responses, such as "You can leave it" and "We'll be right there." You can also set quiet time, so the Nest Hello won't disturb you during your chosen hours.
Video quality is very good. The Nest Hello captures color video at a 1600 x 1200-pixel resolution at 30 frames per second. In low light, it switches to night vision in black and white. It has a 160-degree field of view and supports high dynamic range (HDR), which improves daytime clarity. Provided your Wi-Fi network is stable, you can see a live feed of your doorbell camera at any time, and there's a three-hour snapshot history of video clips you can review. The Nest Hello supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies for Wi-Fi.
If you want to unlock advanced security features, you'll need a Nest Aware subscription, starting from $6 per month for 30 days of video. You can also pay $12 for 60 days of video, with 24/7 video recording. The Nest Aware subscription enables intelligent alerts, so your Nest Hello can detect motion, recognize regular visitors, and tell you when a package arrives. You can also set activity zones to reduce the risk of false alarms.
For installation, there are easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. If you have an existing doorbell and chime with the right transformer (16-24V AC), then you can put in the Nest Hello yourself in less than an hour. (Google has instructions on how to check if you have a compatible setup.) Alternatively, professional installation starts from $99.99, through OnTech . Everything you need to install it, including a special drill bit, is included in the box.
Nest Hello works with Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa, and you can use it in concert with your smart TV or smart locks, as well as any other Nest devices you own.
With excellent review scores at Wired , CNET , TechRadar , and Digital Trends , among others, the Nest Hello is a top-rated smart doorbell. The big downside is the relatively high price at $229.99, with Nest Aware subscriptions -- an essential extra to unlock the smart features -- ranging from $6 to $12 per month.
The best wireless smart doorbell
With motion detection, two-way audio, and streaming video support, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 is a full-featured option that doesn't have to be wired in.
Pros : Easy installation, can be wired or wireless, decent quality video, two-way conversation, motion detection
Cons : No video stored without subscription, quite large, Ring has some security and privacy concerns
If you want a smart doorbell that doesn't require any wiring at all, then the Ring Video Doorbell 3 could be ideal for you. This smart doorbell is very easy to install, offers good quality video streaming, and supports two-way audio. You'll need a subscription to record video, but the Ring Protect Plan is relatively affordable.
The doorbell is capable of recording color video at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and there's HDR support, and a night vision mode that records in black and white. The camera has a 160-degree field of view. The big upgrade for the Ring Video Doorbell 3, over its predecessor, the Ring Video Doorbell 2, is the support for 5 GHz frequency.
With motion detection, you'll get real-time notifications on your phone when someone approaches your door or rings the bell. You can jump straight to a live video feed, and you can listen and talk to visitors. The app is very easy to use. You can also set motion zones to reduce false alarms. Ring Video Doorbell 3 works seamlessly with Amazon's Alexa and any Echo devices you have in the home. That means you can talk to visitors through your Echo Dot and see visitors on an Echo Show's screen.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 is very easy to install. It comes with a battery pack, so there's no need to tangle with wires or remove your existing doorbell. You can wire this in using standard doorbell wiring if you want to, though. Almost everything you need is included in the box, and you can choose a silver or bronze face plate. It is quite wide, so you'll need to find a suitable spot to install it, and it may not fit on your door frame.
If you decide not to wire it in, then you'll need to charge up the battery periodically. The manufacturer suggests an average battery life of between six and 12 months, but much depends on how you use it and how busy your front door is.
What we don't like about the Ring Video Doorbell 3 is the complete lack of any video storage unless you subscribe. If you miss an alert at the time, you can't go back and check the video without a subscription. The Ring Protect Plan costs $3 per month per device (or $30 for the year). That gets you video history for 60 days, with the ability to save, share, and capture snapshots.
There have also been some high-profile Ring camera hacks that may leave you concerned about how secure the Ring Video Doorbell 3 is, though the company has stepped up its security as a result of this. Ring's Neighbors program has also raised privacy concerns .
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 costs $199.99. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, which costs an extra $30, adds four seconds of pre-roll to the video recording function, provided you have a subscription, to let you see the lead-up to each alert.
Read our full Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus review .
The best value smart doorbell
Good quality video and two-way audio comes standard with the reasonably priced Arlo Video Doorbell . You can add advanced motion detection and video recording with a subscription.
Pros : Good video quality, wide field of view, two-way conversation, motion detection
Cons : Some features require Arlo Smart subscription, limited smart-home integration
Despite matching its competitors on features, the Arlo Video Doorbell is a lot cheaper. It's large but well-designed and offers good quality video streaming and two-way audio. It's compatible with many existing doorbell setups. You do need a subscription to record video, but the Arlo Smart subscription plan is relatively affordable.
The Arlo Video Doorbell can record color video at 1536 x 1536-pixel resolution, and it has an 180-degree field of view. There's also a night vision mode that records in black and white and support for HDR. One of its strongest features is that it records all the time, so when it detects motion or is pressed, it can include a few seconds before the event -- provided you have a subscription. Unfortunately, it only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
When you get an alert, you can jump into the live feed and have a two-way conversation with whomever is on your doorstep. There are pre-recorded replies for your convenience.
If you want to record video and access advanced features, like smart object detection, customized activity zones, and intelligent alerts, then you're looking at paying $3 per month for an Arlo Smart subscription. That gets you 30 days of video recordings in the cloud; the ability to detect people, vehicles, packages, and other objects; and the option of choosing activity zones to reduce false alerts.
You can arm or disarm your Arlo Video Doorbell , and you can set it on a schedule, so it doesn't disturb you when you're sleeping. It also has a built-in siren, which is an interesting option for emergencies that could come in handy to scare away package thieves. While it does work with Alexa, there's no integration with other smart devices and assistants yet.
The Arlo is lozenge-shaped, but it's tall and a fair bit bigger than the Nest Hello. Everything you need for installation, apart from tools, is included, and it should work using the wiring and chime from your existing doorbell. Some users complained about tricky installation, so f you're not confident doing it yourself, you can always hire an electrician.
You'll find very positive reviews of the Arlo Video Doorbell at CNET , Digital Trends , and Tom's Guide .
Downsides here include the limited smart home integration and the need for a subscription to record any video. Overall, the Arlo Video Doorbell is a bargain at $149.99 and the $2.99 per month subscription plan gives you access to a full 30 days of recordings.
Arlo just announced the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free, which we plan to get in for testing as soon as possible.
The best smart doorbell for apartments
With a clever design that replaces your door's peephole, the Ring Peephole Cam is ideal for some homes, such as apartments.
Pros : Compact design, fits into peepholes, motion and impact sensors
Cons : No video stored without subscription, limited view, false positives
If you live in an apartment or want to avoid an invasive installation, then the Ring Peephole Cam could be perfect for you. This smart doorbell is designed to fit into the existing peephole in your front door. You can still use it as a peephole, but it also detects motion, allows you to stream a video feed, and enables you to carry on two-way conversations via your smartphone. If you want to record video and review it later, you'll need to sign up for a subscription.
The Ring Peephole Cam records color video at 1920 x 1080 pixels and has a night mode that records in black and white. It has a 155-degree field of view, and there's support for HDR, which boosts video quality at the cost of shorter battery life. The Ring Peephole Cam only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
Functionality is very similar to the Ring Video Doorbell 3, so you can carry on two-way conversations, customize the motion detection, and jump to a live video feed from your phone. One unique feature for the Ring Peephole Cam is the knock detection, which is designed to alert you if someone knocks on the door rather than presses your bell.
If you want to record video, you need to subscribe to the Ring Protect Plan, which costs $3 per month per device (or $30 for the year). The subscription gives you video history for 60 days, with the ability to save, share, and capture snapshots.
Naturally, the Ring Peephole Cam works with Alexa and Echo devices, but that's the only voice assistant it supports.
Perhaps the easiest smart doorbell to fit, the Ring Peephole Cam slots into the existing space that your traditional peephole occupies. There's no need to drill, mess with cables, or do anything else that will leave a lasting mark. The camera goes on the outside and connects to the battery on the inside.
Your battery life will vary depending on how you configure the Ring Peephole Cam and how busy your front door is, but you should get at least three weeks from a full charge. It charges via USB, and you can buy a spare battery for $30.
The Ring Peephole Cam has positive reviews at CNET , Tom's Guide , and Digital Trends . While it doesn't score quite as highly as the other entries on our list, the unique design makes it the right choice for some people.
The fact there's no video storage without a subscription is an obvious downside. Reviews also complain about the flimsy construction of the plastic mount on the inside, the need to charge the battery, and the lack of Google Assistant or Siri support.
The Ring Peephole Cam costs $199, and it comes with a free 30-day trial of the Ring Protect subscription, which costs $3 per month thereafter. If you're unable to fit a different kind of smart doorbell, this may be your only choice.
The best subscription-free smart doorbell
Offering high quality video and desirable features at a reasonable price, the Eufy 2K Video Doorbell can also be used without a subscription, as it stores video locally.
Pros : Local storage, low price, very high-quality video, two-way conversation, motion detection
Cons : Limited integration, software issues
Smart doorbells that can record video are rare, unless you sign up to a subscription service, so the Eufy 2K Video Doorbell is sure to be of interest. Not only does this smart doorbell record video locally, it also features a strong set of features, including high-resolution video, two-way audio, customized detection zones, human detection, and an indoor chime.
There are currently two different versions of the Eufy Video Doorbell. The cheaper model must be wired in but can likely use your existing doorbell wiring. You get everything you need to fit it, but it is quite large, and it only comes in black. The more expensive model has a built-in battery, which makes it even bigger, but it can also be wired in if you prefer.
Before we go further, there's another important difference between the two models that leads us to recommend the more expensive one with the built-in battery. While they both store video locally, the cheaper version only has 4GB of storage and it's on the doorbell itself. This seems like a potential security issue, in that someone could steal the doorbell and take the video with them. The battery model offloads video wirelessly onto a HomeBase device you keep inside your home, which offers 16GB of storage.
The HomeBase also doubles up as a chime that sounds when the doorbell is pressed. The cheaper model comes with its own plug-in chime.
Video quality is excellent, with a top resolution of 2560 x 1920 pixels and support for HDR. It records at 1600 x 1200 pixels by default, which keeps bandwidth and storage requirements down and is likely good enough for most people. The video is in color during the day and black and white at night. The camera has a 150-degree field of view. The Eufy 2K Video Doorbell only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
You can get alerts to the app on your phone triggered by motion or by someone ringing the bell. Then you can view the live feed and have a two-way conversation with whomever is there. The Eufy Video Doorbell has human detection, so it should be able to distinguish between a cat and a person, for example. You can also mark out specific activity zones to reduce false alerts.
The big-selling point here is the local storage of video, which means no subscription is necessary. The smaller, 4GB model can record video for up to 30 days. How much video you have recorded, and how far it stretches back, depends on how you configure it, and how busy your front door is. The good news is that you can connect via the app wherever you are, provided the doorbell is powered up and connected to your Wi-Fi.
The Eufy 2K Video Doorbell works with Alexa and Google Assistant but functionality is limited, and there isn't much smart home integration either.
We are testing this smart doorbell right now and will add impressions and a full review very soon. In the meantime, you can find positive reviews of the Eufy 2K Video Doorbell at Digital Trends , Tom's Guide , and Tech Hive .
Potential cons, beyond the risk of losing footage if the cheaper model is stolen, include the lack of smart home support, and the fact that only one person can be logged into the app and connected to the doorbell at one time. Some reviews also mention reliability issues with streaming to the app.
The cheaper version, which must be wired in, and has 4GB of storage in the doorbell itself, costs $159.99. The model with the built-in battery and 16GB of storage in the separate HomeBase, costs $199.99. If you don't want a subscription, the Eufy 2K Video Doorbell is a great option.
What else we considered
AmazonThe smart doorbell market is still expanding, so there are lots of other options that might be worthy of further investigation. Many of our old considerations are out of stock or have been phased out for newer versions by the manufacturers.
- SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro ($169.99): Support for 1080p HDR video, two-way audio, motion detection, pan and zoom, and a 162-degree field of view make this sound tempting at such a low price. The downsides are that it lacks smart home and assistant support and the fact that it only connects on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. You get 30 days of video with a $4.99 per month subscription.
How to choose a smart doorbell
To find the right smart doorbell for your home, you'll need to ask yourself a few questions.
Do you want a wired or wireless doorbell? Some smart doorbells take batteries, some can use your existing doorbell wiring, and others require a new power connection. Even if you have wiring, older doorbell chime transformers that are 16V or less often won't work with smart doorbells. Check your existing setup and the smart doorbell requirements before you buy.
What video quality do you need? It's a good idea to look for smart doorbells that support at least full high definition (HD) video; we'd recommend 1080p as a minimum, rather than 720p. It's also important that they have some sort of night mode, such as infrared, so they still work after sunset.
Do you need a subscription? Many smart doorbells require you to pay a monthly subscription in order to access advanced features and store video footage in the cloud. If you don't want to pay monthly, then make sure you're clear on precisely what's included without a subscription to avoid disappointment.
What security features do you need? Smart doorbells run the gamut, from simple doorbell replacements that stream live video to major security enhancements that will guard the front of your property, sense motion, trigger intelligent alerts, and even recognize repeat visitors.
What about connectivity? All smart doorbells are designed to connect to your home Wi-Fi network, so you will need Wi-Fi connectivity in range. Some smart doorbells support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, while others are limited to 2.4 GHz. In general, 2.4 GHz has better range but offers slower speeds than 5 GHz.
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