Best Video Doorbell Cameras of 2024

1. Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 - Best Overall

SecurityScore:

9.2 /10

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Ring started the whole doorbell camera industry, and a decade later, it’s still one of the top brands. The flag bearer for Ring is the Ring Wired Video Doorbell Pro, formerly called the Video Doorbell Pro 2.

What we loved most about the Wired Video Doorbell Pro, besides its sleek form factor, was the video quality. Ring is yet to release a 2K or 4K video doorbell, but the Wired Pro comes close with its 1536p resolution. It also boasts a 150-degree viewing angle both horizontally and vertically. That’s almost wall-to-wall coverage on either side. It was able to capture our six-foot-nine neighbor as he stood about three feet from our door.

We also liked the digital enhancements it makes to recorded video, particularly HDR. Since our door faces East, we get glary videos from video doorbells in the afternoon. But Ring’s HDR helped keep glare to a minimum, allowing us to better see our guests. On top of that, it kept videos colored at night instead of black-and-white.

Here’s some more quick specs:

3D Motion Detection

The Wired Video Doorbell Pro boasts some of Ring’s latest technology, including 3D motion detection. It’s a step-up from the PIR motion detection we see in most doorbell cameras, because instead of infrared lights, it uses radar to detect movement. That allows the Wired Video Doorbell Pro to detect, map out and track the movement incoming guests quickly. And if a doorbell can do that, it can start recording as soon as a guest – especially an unwelcome one – crosses a threshold you’ve set. We personally want our doorbell camera to record as soon as someone is about 10 feet away from the door.

Bird’s Eye View Feature

Now, about the ability to track a visitor’s movement, the Wired Video Doorbell Pro can offer a simulated birds-eye view of your front yard to offer more insight on the comings and goings of guests.

In our tests, Ring mapped out our Amazon delivery guy’s journey up the driveway, reflected as a dotted line on a map. These details can come in handy in case of an attempted break-in, as it paints a clearer picture of how the culprit got all the way to your front door. You can use that information to address weak points and blind spots to spoil future break-in attempts.

Alexa Greetings

A video doorbell that lets you speak to guests through your smartphone is useful, but one that greets guests for you is even better. Thanks to Ring’s close ties with Alexa, the Wired Video Doorbell Pro offers Alexa Greetings.

When someone rings your doorbell, Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant will greet them after a short delay. Alexa can either take a message or deliver instructions on where to leave packages. Unfortunately, those are the only two things Alexa can do for now, but they can be immensely useful in combating package theft.

To enable Alexa Greetings, you’ll need a Ring Protect plan, which is the same subscription for Ring’s cloud storage service starting at $3 per month.

2. Wyze Video Doorbell - Most Affordable Video Doorbell

SecurityScore:

8.7 /10

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Next to our feature-packed top pick, the Wyze Video Doorbell looks like an amateur. But it has a different advantage – the price. Whereas the Ring Pro 2 costs over $200, the Wyze Video Doorbell starts at $35. And don’t think that it’s low quality. It packs a punch – within its 3.25-inch frame comes an IP 65 water resistant case, clear night vision powered by Starlight CMOS sensors, a 1080p HD resolution camera, and a 120-degree viewing angle. It’s not a Ring Pro 2, but it’s more than decent.

Another thing to like about the Wyze Video Doorbell is that it costs nothing at all to use it. It comes with a 14-day free cloud storage. All clips from up to 14 days ago will be stored securely. That’s one of Wyze’s advantages over Ring doorbells, which all require a cloud subscription to record. Of course, Wyze offers optional subscriptions for extended cloud storage, starting at only $2.99. Again, it’s our budget pick. Don’t expect much feature-wise, but it can get the job done.

Cost

At just $35, the Wyze doorbell is one of the most affordable video doorbells on the market. However, unlike some other bargain doorbells we’ve tested, Wyze performed relatively well.

There are two options for cloud recording: A basic free subscription, and Wyze Cam Plus. The former gives you 14 days of cloud storage for 12-second motion clips. That’s the maximum it can record, so if your interaction with a guest lasts for more than 12 seconds, it won’t be able to capture the whole thing. There’s also a five-minute cooldown before it can record again, so it’s not like you can piece together back-to-back 12-second clips to playback everything.

If you want improved cloud recording abilities, as well as added features like person detection and package detection, a paid subscription to Wyze Cam Plus is required. But don’t fret, it’s inexpensive. It costs $2.99 per month for each camera you have, but if you have more than four cameras, it makes more sense to buy the $9.99 per month option that can cover unlimited cameras.

High-Quality Images

The Wyze doorbell may not be as fancy as the other doorbells on this list, but it more than meets our video quality standards. Its 1080p HD resolution impressed us, much like when we reviewed the Wyze security cameras. The color night vision, provided by its LED light, was also a nice touch, although we much better preferred using the infrared night vision.

The 3:4 aspect ratio was also noteworthy, as it gave us a full head-to-toe view of anyone standing in front of our door. The girl scout selling cookies who couldn’t have been more than four and a half feet tall was captured from head to toe in the frame, and so was our six-foot nine-inch friend who visited from Florida.

Our one gripe, however, was the side peripherals. Unlike the Ring Pro 2, Wyze had blindspots, so if someone were to creep to our front door very close to the wall, it would be easy for the camera to miss it. Our advice is to supplement the doorbell with another affordable camera from Wyze, the Wyze Cam v3. It can record through a window or even live outdoors thanks to IP 67 weatherproof rating. And fortunately, Wyze Cams are some of the most affordable security cameras, so you can use multiple cameras without breaking the bank.

Continuous Power

Let’s face it: Recharging your video doorbell every six or so months is not fun. And since video doorbells play a vital role in home security, you wouldn’t want dead batteries to be the reason you lose critical video evidence in case of a break-in. With the Wyze Doorbell, which connects right to your existing doorbell setup, you wouldn’t have to worry about running out of juice. Yes, you might have to spend a few extra minutes setting up the doorbell’s wiring, but it’s set-and-forget once it’s there.

If you really want a battery-powered doorbell, though, the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is a good option from Wyze. It’s more expensive, retailing for $93.99, but it runs on battery with up to six months of battery life, and it features a 1440p Full HD camera. It also boasts a wide viewing angle (150-degree) with a 1:1 aspect ratio, which means it’s similar to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2.

3. Nest Doorbell - Best for Google Assistant

SecurityScore:

9.0 /10

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Video doorbells help you monitor the front door, but in our experience, there’s still  human interaction required. If someone rings your doorbell, you still need to see who’s at the door using the doorbell camera’s app. That is, if your doorbell camera doesn’t have facial recognition.

The Nest Doorbell offers person and package detection out of the box, but if you use it with a Nest Aware subscription, it also includes facial recognition. There’s a lot you can do with that. For example, you can set the camera to alert you only when a stranger is spotted, or to let you know when it sees a certain person. We use the latter to know when our pet sitter arrives so we can open the door using our smart locks.

The Nest Doorbell comes in two models. We opted for the Nest Doorbell (battery) because it’s plug-and-play, courtesy of the built-in battery. The wired version is just as good though. The two models share the same features, so if you prefer a video doorbell you never need to charge, go with the Nest Doorbell (wired).

We recommend the Nest Doorbell particularly to those who prefer Google’s AI assistant over Amazon’s. Being from the same company, the Nest Doorbell integrates seamlessly with Nest products, including the Nest Hub Max that can display video doorbell live footage.

Google Functionality

Our Nest Doorbell worked great as a standalone device, but because it’s from Nest, it also worked as part of our larger Nest camera system, including, for instance, our Google Nest Hub smart display and our Google Nest Mini smart speaker. And because Nest is part of the Google family, it’s set up to work seamlessly with Google Assistant voice commands. All we had to tell our phone was “Google, what’s on our doorbell?” and the app popped open with streaming live video.

Facial Recognition

Nest may not have pioneered the invention of video doorbells, but it did pioneer the use of facial recognition in security cameras. The Nest Cam IQ was one of the earliest cameras to offer facial recognition, and since then, every Nest camera comes with the feature, including the Nest Doorbell.

Nest uses facial recognition not just to tag whoever’s at your front door, but to deliver insightful notifications. You can create custom alerts based on facial recognition. For instance, we set our Nest Doorbell to alert us when an unfamiliar person approaches our front door, but not when a household member walks in. For parents, it’s also possible to set up notifications when their children get home so they know if their kids are safe and sound.

The downside is that you need a Nest Aware subscription to enjoy facial recognition. Nest Aware is Nest’s cloud service, which also enables cloud recording. And since the doorbells don’t record video without Nest Aware, we strongly suggest getting a subscription. Your options are the Nest Aware for $8 per month or Nest Aware Plus for $15 per month.

Clear Day and Night Vision

We were impressed by the Nest doorbell’s video resolution of 1600p HD, above the industry standard. It also had a 160-degree field of view. But the video wasn’t just clear in the daytime. The Nest Doorbell’s infrared night vision uses 850 nm LED sensors allowing us to see whatever was happening, no matter what time it happened.

4. Arlo Video Doorbell - Best Smart Motion Detection

SecurityScore:

9.1 /10

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They may not be as popular as the Nest Doorbell, but Arlo Video Doorbells rival the former in terms of smart detection. The Arlo Video Doorbells can tell the difference between your next door neighbor stopping by, that tabby cat that likes to lay on your porch, and the box of chocolates you ordered from Godiva.

We’d like to point out though that to access those features (person, animal, and package detection), you’d need a subscription to Arlo Secure. Arlo Secure is the brand’s cloud subscription service, and it isn’t the cheapest. Unlike the Nest Aware subscription that covers all cameras for as low as $8 per month, Arlo Secure covers only one camera for $7.99. If you want all cameras covered, you’ll have to pay $12.99 monthly. We think it’s worth it though if it means protecting your front door.

The Three Ps

The Arlo Doorbell has artificial intelligence that allows it to detect what we like to call the three Ps: people, pets, and packages. Thus, real-time alerts didn’t just let us know the camera had detected movement but also identified exactly what kind of movement it detected. That’s infinitely better than getting random alerts throughout the day and having to pull up footage to find out what’s going on at home. Plus, we always knew when a package had arrived, so we could take measures to outwit porch pirates, like having our neighbor store it until we got home.

Doorbell Options

Arlo actually offers two video doorbell options – the Essential Wired Video Doorbell and the Arlo Video Doorbell. The Essential model is cheaper, but it requires a wired setup and only offers a 1080p HD resolution. On the other hand, the Arlo Video Doorbell can either be wired or powered by batteries. You can also choose between the HD model (1080p HD resolution) or the 2K model.

We like the Arlo Video Doorbell HD version in particular because it costs only $79.99 – the same as the Essential Wired Video Doorbell – but offers wired or wireless setup. If you’d rather go with a higher-resolution doorbell, just add $50 for the 2K version. In any case, you’ll enjoy a wide field-of-vision, up to 180 degrees.

Do It Yourself, Even With the Wired Model

The installation process will depend on whether you wire your new doorbell camera to your existing setup or use battery power instead. But no matter the setup, we’d say that Arlo’s doorbells are easy to install. Even wiring the doorbells is easy. Pop out your existing doorbell, twist a couple of wires together, and you’re done. Just make sure to read up on electrical safety, but if you’re not confident you can do it, better call the pros. Safety first always!

5. Logitech Video Doorbell - Best Video Doorbell for Siri

SecurityScore:

8.4 /10

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The Logitech Video Doorbell has it all, nearly: great video quality, increased privacy, and a smooth app experience. If you’re an Apple loyalist like we are, you’ll want to add this to their collection.

Straightforward Installation Process

Though we had the option to have the Logitech Video Doorbell installed professionally for an additional $100, we went for the DIY option. First, we connected the doorbell’s powerline using a micro-USB cable and a 5V 2A AC adapter. Then, we paired the doorbell to our Wi-Fi network. Next, we attached the chime kit to our existing transformer and our door chime, snapped the doorbell onto its mounting plate, and voilá! We were cooking with gas.

Color Night Vision

When we looked at night footage from the Circle View, we were impressed with the detail captured. Infrared night vision is the norm, but sometimes that footage looks grainy and blurs out important details. The Circle View used an LED light at night, which illuminated our whole front porch and even parts of our driveway. The feature turned on automatically there was motion and shined a bright beam of light onto visitors. We got quality footage in color, even when the sun had set.

Specific Motion Detection

We were most impressed with the Circle View Doorbell’s advanced motion detection. We pulled our car into the driveway just as a stray cat darted through our yard and a branch fell out of our neighbor’s tree. The Circle View reacted quickly and accurately to the series of events. It could tell what was a vehicle, an animal, and an inanimate object. We saw the series of events mapped out on a scrolling timeline within the app. We thought the mapping feature was really neat, and understanding an event in such detail would definitely come in handy for something more serious, like a burglary.

6. Lorex Video Doorbell - Best Video Doorbell with Local Video Storage

SecurityScore:

7.5 /10

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The Lorex Doorbell Camera is great for anyone who prefers a hardwired system that’s also completely DIY. Oh, and it also happens to be about half the price of most other video doorbells, costing just $129.99. That meant that we could secure our house without having to break the bank.

Low Price

A Lorex Video doorbell can be had for just $129.99, about half of what the more expensive examples on this list cost. It’s true that Lorex doesn’t come with some of the high-priced extras you might get elsewhere like cloud storage. But its 1080p HD video resolution matches the industry standard, and it offers a wide 160-degree field of vision. It also includes infrared night vision, two-way audio, and free local storage. That’s a heck of a lot of features to get for such a low price.

Sleek Design

The Lorex Video Doorbell is small and fairly unobtrusive, four inches by 1.7, and only one inch wide. That meant it didn’t give our front door a cluttered look. In fact, it didn’t look all that different from a traditional doorbell. The faceplate is a stylish black and silver, with rounded features within a rectangular casing. All-in-all, it told visitors we like our technology, but we also like it to blend well with our signature style.

Hardwired Setup

In general, we prefer hardwired video doorbell systems for one simple reason: no batteries required. Unfortunately, purchasing a wired system often means hiring a professional installer. Lorex, however, was completely DIY. We connected a few wires, attached the faceplate, and were done. It was hardwiring without the hassle!