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A white video doorbell sits on a black-and-white, diamond-patterned surface Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

The Best Video Doorbells of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A white video doorbell sits on a black-and-white, diamond-patterned surface Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

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Editor's Choice Product image of Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen)
Best Overall

Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen)

This is the best video doorbell to safeguard your home with as it offers great home security features including continuous recording. Read More

Pros

  • Reliable and accurate
  • 24/7 recording with preview alerts
  • Free intelligent alerts and video storage

Cons

  • Paid plan required for long-term video storage
  • Doesn't work with Nest app
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Ring Doorbell Wired
Best Value

Ring Doorbell Wired

Ring's Video Doorbell Wired is the brands smallest, most affordable doorbell. It works with Alexa and features custom motion zones. Read More

Pros

  • Compact size
  • Great for Amazon Echo ecosystems
  • Custom motion zones

Cons

  • Doesn't work with existing chimes
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Nest Doorbell (Battery)
Best Wireless Doorbell

Nest Doorbell (Battery)

Google’s first battery-powered doorbell is beautiful, smart, and versatile enough for any front door. Read More

Pros

  • Free intelligent alerts
  • Multiple installation options

Cons

  • No support for HomeKit
  • Doesn’t work with Nest app
4
Product image of Eufy Video Doorbell Dual (2K, Battery-Powered)
Best for Deliveries

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual (2K, Battery-Powered)

The Eufy Video Doorbell Dual has two high-powered cameras to combat porch pirates. It works with Alexa/Google Assistant and has free local storage. Read More

Pros

  • Multiple installation methods
  • Two cameras
  • Free intelligent alerts

Cons

  • Large size
  • Hub required (included)
  • Poor smart display integration
5
Product image of Wemo Smart Video Doorbell
Best for HomeKit

Wemo Smart Video Doorbell

The Wemo Smart Video Doorbell offers a large field of view and great security features, as long as you’re all Apple. Read More

Pros

  • Wide field of view
  • Helpful security features
  • Works well with Apple HomeKit

Cons

  • Apple only
  • Hub needed for remote access
  • So-so night vision quality

With the best video doorbell, you can see who’s there without getting up, keep an eye out for porch pirates, or make sure the delivery person leaves your package while you’re away.

With useful features like live video that streams to your smartphone, two-way audio, and timely motion detection alerts, a smart video doorbell can be an integral part of your home security system. Currently, the Nest Doorbell (wired 2nd gen) (available at Amazon) is our best video doorbell winner thanks to its stellar spread of free intelligent alerts, supreme accuracy, and reliability.

Looking for something cheaper? The Ring Video Doorbell Wired (available at Amazon) is packed with value. However, we've tested many great video doorbells below to ensure you find the best one for your home.

A gray Nest video doorbell hanging on a gray house
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

The second-gen Nest video doorbell (wired) is the best video doorbell you can buy.

Best Overall
Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen)
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and Bluetooth Low Energy
  • Power source: Hardwire
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Field of view: 145 degrees
  • Smart assistant support: Google Assistant, Alexa
  • Dimensions: 5.2 inches H x 1.7 inches W x 1.1 inches D

The Nest Doorbell (wired) is the best video doorbell you can buy. It trumps our previous No. 1 pick, the Nest Doorbell (battery), because after months of testing we can confidently say it offers more reliable smart alerts and a more stable Wi-Fi connection. The battery version is still a great option if you don't have existing doorbell wiring. But, if you do, the wired version of the Nest Doorbell is the one to get.

The wired doorbell is slightly smaller than the battery version, but both come in the same neutral color options. The doorbell shows people from head-to-toe and package deliveries on your front porch, and it has clear two-way talk.

The wired version also has another leg up over the battery: It continuously records, offering even more protection over your home. With a paid Nest Aware plan, you can pay to store up to 10 days of 24/7 video coverage. The wired doorbell also gives a two-second preview and extended video clips to help you see what's happening before and after the notification is sent.

While doorbells from Ring require a paid subscription plan to get person and package alerts and save and share video, Nest Doorbells include all of that at no charge for three hours at a time. Nest doorbells also notify you of vehicles and animals without a subscription, too. These alerts are helpful for you to determine whether or not something at your front door needs your attention—and they are included at no additional cost to you.

However, a Nest Aware subscription with more detailed intelligent alerts is beneficial as you can utilize Google's Family Face feature, which recognizes common faces at your front door, and get access to long-term video history and storage. This is a cool feature, especially if you have frequent house guests or kids who come and go, and want a way to keep track of it all.

Additionally, Nest Doorbell (wired) works with Google Assistant and Alexa, so you don’t have to be tied to the Google ecosystem to enjoy the benefits of this doorbell.

Compared to other video doorbells on the market, the Nest Doorbell (wired) offers incredible features at a great price point. It’s reliable and accurate, making it our top pick out of any smart doorbell you can currently buy.

Pros

  • Reliable and accurate

  • 24/7 recording with preview alerts

  • Free intelligent alerts and video storage

Cons

  • Paid plan required for long-term video storage

  • Doesn't work with Nest app

The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is installed on the front of a home.
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

The Ring Video Doorbell Wired records in 1080p HD video with a 155-degree horizontal field of view.

Best Value
Ring Video Doorbell Wired
  • Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection @ 2.4 GHz
  • Power source: Hardwire
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Field of view: 155 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees vertical
  • Smart assistant support: Google Assistant, Alexa
  • Dimensions: 3.98 inches H x 1.81 inches W x 0.88 inches D

With its low price point, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired is the brand’s most affordable smart doorbell yet—and it offers a ton of value for the money. It includes two-way talk with noise cancellation, night vision, and Alexa integration.

There’s no option for a battery, so existing doorbell wires are required and installation takes about 10 minutes. Within the Ring app, you can view a live stream of your doorbell camera, create custom motion zones, and fine-tune your privacy settings. With a paid Ring Protect Plan, you can record, store, and share all of your videos for up to 60 days.

It’s equally responsive and reliable as other more expensive Ring doorbells, delivering real-time smart alerts. It also offers customizable motion zones, and Ring’s People Only mode and Snapshot Capture features. It also includes mandatory two-factor authentication to keep your account secure.

As the most affordable Ring doorbell yet, it makes a great addition to your home security setup.

Read our full review of the Ring Video Doorbell Wired.

Pros

  • Compact size

  • Great for Amazon Echo ecosystems

  • Custom motion zones

Cons

  • Doesn't work with existing chimes

The Nest Doorbell (battery) is shown in the color white.
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

The Nest Doorbell (battery) is a wireless video doorbell that records up to three hours of event history without a paid subscription fee—a first for Google smart doorbells.

Best Wireless Doorbell
Nest Doorbell (battery)
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and Bluetooth Low Energy
  • Power source: Built-in lithium-ion battery or hardwire
  • Resolution: 960p x 1280p
  • Field of view: 145 degrees
  • Smart assistant support: Google Assistant, Alexa
  • Dimensions: 6.3 inches H x 1.8 inches L x 0.6 inches W

The Nest Doorbell (battery) is the best wireless doorbell you can buy. It includes free intelligent alerts and a sharp head-to-toe view of whoever is at your front door. You can see everything happening on your front porch in real-time using the Google Home app or a Nest smart display.

The front door camera differentiates between people, packages, animals, and vehicles without a paid subscription plan. A three-hour video history is also included right out of the box, adding even more value to an already tremendous smart doorbell.

If you have doorbell wiring, this smart doorbell can be connected for a continuous charge. If not, it does need to come down fully to power the battery back up once depleted. Chime notifications are available on a Nest smart speaker or display can, both of which work well. Two-way talk is loud and clear and works well with either your smart display or the Google Home app. This doorbell also works with Alexa, so you can get smart alerts on your Echo devices, too.

For the best wireless doorbell that installs anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection, the Nest Doorbell (battery) is a fantastic choice.

Read our full review of the Nest Doorbell (battery).

Pros

  • Free intelligent alerts

  • Multiple installation options

Cons

  • No support for HomeKit

  • Doesn’t work with Nest app

The Eufy Video Doorbell Dual sitting on top of several brown package boxes outside of a front door
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

This two-camera doorbell from Eufy is the best video doorbell for package deliveries.

Best for Deliveries
Eufy Video Doorbell Dual
  • Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
  • Power source: Built-in rechargeable battery
  • Resolution: Front camera 2K (2560 ×1920), bottom camera 1080p (1600 × ️1200)
  • Field of view: Front camera 160 degrees, package camera 97 degrees
  • Smart assistant support: Google Assistant, Alexa
  • Dimensions: 6.5 inches H x 2.17 inches W x 1.17 inches D

The dual-camera Eufy Video Doorbell Dual is the best video doorbell for package deliveries. The front camera shows video in crisp and clear 2K resolution, and the bottom camera faces downward to watch over deliveries in 1080p. Features the ability to detect people and packages, as well as facial recognition, are available for free.

Local storage is also available at no cost via the Eufy Home Base, which is included with the purchase of the doorbell. The doorbell runs on a rechargeable, built-in battery or it can be connected to existing wiring.

Eufy has introduced a package-management feature available for the Video Doorbell Dual called Delivery Guard that tells the doorbell when a package gets delivered. The feature can also automatically play custom audio recordings if it senses someone approaching the package post-delivery, as well as reminding you to bring your delivery inside.

There are a couple of downsides to Eufy’s doorbell, though. For example, we experienced multiple delays and buffering when accessing the doorbell’s live view on smart displays like the Echo Show 10 and Nest Hub (second-gen) and don’t recommend relying on this feature until it’s been improved.

Not every home needs a two-camera doorbell, but if you receive frequent deliveries or live on a busy street, the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual is a hardworking watchdog to have on your side.

Read our full review of the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual

Pros

  • Multiple installation methods

  • Two cameras

  • Free intelligent alerts

Cons

  • Large size

  • Hub required (included)

  • Poor smart display integration

The Wemo Smart Video Doorbell  hangin on a white door
Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy

The Wemo Smart Video Doorbell is the best doorbell for HomeKit.

Best for HomeKit
Best for HomeKit
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Power source: Hardwire, 16-24 V AC transformers with 30 VA or higher
  • Resolution: 1200p x 1600p
  • Field of view: 178 degrees
  • Smart assistant support: Siri
  • Dimensions: 4.9 inches L × 1.7 inches W × 1.4 inches D

The Wemo Smart Video Doorbell is the best doorbell for HomeKit. Most video doorbells work with Alexa and Google, but Wemo’s Apple-only doorbell supports Siri only. One of the best things this doorbell has going for it is the expansive field of view.

The video resolution isn’t as high quality as non-HomeKit doorbells in a similar price range, like the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual or Ring Video Doorbell 4, but you’ll find the same with Apple-only competitors like the Logitech Circle View Doorbell). The video quality looks better in the daytime, but the night vision is hard to see in total darkness and needs the help of a porch light for better clarity.

The doorbell fits in nicely with other Apple devices, like the HomePod Mini, which works as an indoor chime (the doorbell also works with mechanical chimes).

If you have Apple’s optional facial recognition feature enabled, the Siri-enabled smart speaker can tell you the name of who is at the front door when they ring the bell. Other features, like intelligent push alerts (people, packages, pets, and familiar faces) and customizable activity zones, are available and work well.

As is the case with any HomeKit smart device, an Apple home hub (such as an iPad, Apple TV, or HomePod smart speaker is the key to managing the doorbell remotely and storing video clips in the cloud with HomeKit Secure Video.

Enhanced security features like mandatory two-factor account authentication and end-to-end encryption for recorded clips provide peace of mind for protecting Siri-controlled smart homes.

For a HomeKit-only doorbell that shows a sweeping, wide-angle view, the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell has you covered at every angle.

Read our full review of the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell

Pros

  • Wide field of view

  • Helpful security features

  • Works well with Apple HomeKit

Cons

  • Apple only

  • Hub needed for remote access

  • So-so night vision quality

Other Video Doorbells We Tested

Product image of Ring Video Doorbell 4
Ring Video Doorbell 4
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Power source: Hardwire or rechargeable battery
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Field of view: 160 degrees horizontal, 84 degrees vertical
  • Smart assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant
  • Dimensions: 5.1 inches L x 2.4 in inches W x 1.1 inches D

The Ring Video Doorbell 4 is Ring’s most appealing front door camera. It runs on battery or existing doorbell wires, ensuring compatibility for any home.

Most notably, it’s the only Ring doorbell to offer color Pre-Roll clips, a feature that captures the four seconds leading up to a motion event.

The doorbell records in 1080p resolution and offers two-way talk with active noise cancellation, ensuring a smooth experience every time someone rings the bell. Color night vision is not available but the HD black and white night view is clear thanks to the camera’s infrared LEDs.

It’s slightly larger than other Ring doorbells and works well with Alexa and Amazon Echo speakers and displays can be used as indoor chimes. This smart doorbell can also be paired with existing mechanical chimes.

It doesn't offer a full head-to-toe picture like other doorbells in our guide. Features like Quick Replies and color Pre-Roll video clips are free to use and help enhance the overall experience, but a paid Ring Protect Plan is needed to access features like saving and sharing video clips, People Only mode, and rich preview notifications.

This isn’t Ring’s most affordable or feature-filled doorbell but it hits all the sweet spots of a great front door camera: reliability, accuracy, and flexibility, making it great for any Alexa-driven smart home.

Read our full review of the Ring Video Doorbell 4.

Pros

  • Works with Alexa

  • Quick Replies

  • Color Pre-Roll clips

Cons

  • Large footprint

  • No Siri or Google Assistant support

Product image of Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Power source: Hardwire
  • Resolution: 1536p HD
  • Field of view: 150 degrees horizontal, 150 degrees vertical
  • Smart assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant
  • Dimensions: 4.49 inches H x 1.9 inches W x 0.87 inches D

Ring's Video Doorbell Pro 2 is a premium smart doorbell with a price tag to match. It offers excellent video resolution, recording in 1536p HD video—the best resolution of any Ring doorbell. The Pro 2 also has color night vision that works well and is easy to see in darkness. The field of view provides a top-to-bottom look at who is at your front door. You can also share and store videos, but you’ll need a Ring Protect Plan to do so.

Features like two-way talk with noise and distortion cancellation provide the Pro 2 with the clearest and loudest sound of any Ring doorbell we’ve tested. The camera's motion sensor can detect deliveries, sending package alerts to your phone (with a paid plan).

Home security features like 3D Motion Detection and Bird’s Eye View (which creates an aerial map view that outlines the exact path of where a motion event starts and stops up to 30 feet away from your doorbell) will appeal to curious homeowners who enjoy diving into the details but aren’t crucial to the day-to-day operations of your doorbell. Unless you examine motion events on the regular, you likely won’t pay much attention.

There are also other features like Alexa Greetings and Quick Replies, which offer convenient, built-in responses from Alexa, including the option for visitors to leave a voice message, when you can't answer the door.

A Satin Nickel faceplate adds to the premium feel, but while this is an impressive doorbell with tons of features, for most people its cost is simply too high to compete with our favorites in its class.

Read our full review of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2.

Pros

  • Fantastic video

  • Loud and clear audio

  • Alexa Greetings

Cons

  • No support for Apple HomeKit

  • Extra features aren't worth it

Product image of Wyze Video Doorbell Pro
Wyze Video Doorbell Pro
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
  • Power source: Hardwire 16V-24V AC, ≥10VA or rechargeable 6500 mAh lithium battery (included)
  • Resolution: 1440p HD
  • Field of view: 150 degrees horizontal, 150 degrees vertical
  • Smart assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant
  • Dimensions: 5.5 inches H x 1.8 inches W x 1.1 inches D

The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is an upgraded version of the Wyze Video Doorbell and Chime. It offers improved AI, multiple installation methods, and a bigger, clearer view of your front door. The doorbell also works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

You cannot view the live stream of the doorbell in the Alexa or Google Home apps, but you can pull it up on a compatible smart display or view it in the Wyze app for iOS and Android. Alerts are sent quickly when motion is detected.

For a small monthly fee, you can unlock detailed smart alerts for people, packages, and pets. The doorbell can't recognize faces like the Google or HomeKit front door cameras, but it is one of the only video doorbells you can find in this price range to offer enriched security alerts.

The doorbell can be installed using existing wiring or using the included rechargeable battery. The battery life drains quicker than other battery-operated doorbells in our guide. The battery itself is not removable, so the entire doorbell needs to come down for recharging.

It connects over dual-band Wi-Fi, another improvement over the first-gen model, and comes with a plug-in chime. It does not work with existing mechanical chimes, but you can add multiple Wyze Chimes throughout your house. Amazon Echo speakers also double as Wyze doorbell chimes.

The included Wyze Chime needs to remain plugged in at all times for the doorbell to function, which isn’t a deal-breaker, but it is something to know before you buy. As for looks, that’s up to you, but we find the design plain and boring compared to the modern-looking Nest Doorbell.

For an affordable video doorbell that can detect motion events like people, packages, and pets, the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro gets the job done, with a few minor caveats.

Read our full review of the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro.

Pros

  • Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

  • Dual install methods

  • Large, clear view

Cons

  • Questionable battery life

  • Boring design

  • Must use included chime

Product image of Abode Wireless Video Doorbell
Abode Wireless Video Doorbell
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
  • Power source: Battery
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Field of view: 160 degrees
  • Smart assistant support: Google Assistant, Alexa
  • Dimensions: 5 inches H x 2 inches W x 1.3 inches D

If you’re looking for a great battery-powered video doorbell at a reasonable price, then the Abode Wireless Video Doorbell is perhaps the way to go. The device offers a 1080p resolution, color night vision, and more.

The video quality is perhaps the biggest win here, considering the price. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro offers a similar price and has a higher resolution, but it doesn’t support things like color night vision, like the Abode Wireless Video Doorbell, and it has a narrower field-of-view. The Abode Wireless Video Doorbell supports Google Assistant and Alexa but not Apple HomeKit.

On top of solid image quality, the Abode doorbell also has a sleek and stylish design that should allow it to look great next to any front door.

While you do need a subscription to get the most out of the device, like cloud storage, the standard plan is all you’ll need, and that’s not an unreasonable subscription price, compared to some of the competition.

Read our full review of the Abode Wireless Doorbell.

Product image of Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4
Aqara Video Doorbell G4
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g/n
  • Power source: Six AA 1.5V LR6 batteries, Hardwire, 12V-24V AC 0.2A 50/60Hz 8V-24V DC 0.5A
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Field of view: 162 degrees
  • Smart assistant support: Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant
  • Dimensions: 5.6 inches L × 2.6 inches W × 1.2 inches D

The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 has many of the features you would expect from a modern video doorbell, plus one feature that makes it unique — it’s the only battery-powered video doorbell that works with HomeKit. In other words, if you’re a renter in Apple’s ecosystem, it’s probably your best bet, unless you can get permission to hard-wire a doorbell.

It’s a good thing that the doorbell offers that unique feature because apart from that, it’s mostly only fine. The video quality isn’t bad, but it has a low viewing angle, and to preserve battery it only records six seconds of video at a time — which can result in many notifications if someone stands outside your door for longer.

The device also must be used with the accompanying chime, which is actually what connects to your smart home, and it doesn't ring any existing chime that you might have, even if it's hard-wired.

But what it lacks in video quality, it somewhat makes up for in features. Apart from the HomeKit support, the doorbell also works with Google Assistant and Alexa, and Aqara says it’ll get Matter support in the future. And, it's relatively inexpensive, at only $120.

If you can hard wire a doorbell or don't need a HomeKit option, it's probably worth looking elsewhere, but for now, Apple users who rent have a decent option in the Aqara Video Doorbell G4.

Read our full review of the Aqara Video Doorbell G4

Pros

  • Sleek design

  • Versatile power options

  • Chime works well

Cons

  • Battery life may not be great

  • Video recording limits

  • Included chime is required

Product image of Logitech Circle View Doorbell
Logitech Circle View Doorbell
  • Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)
  • Power source: Hardwire
  • Resolution: 1200 x 1600 HD resolution
  • Field of view: 160 degrees
  • Smart assistant support: Siri
  • Dimensions: 4.68 inches H x 1.65 inches W x 1.1 inches D

There aren’t many worthy options when it comes to Apple HomeKit-enabled video doorbells, but the new Logitech Circle View Doorbell is an enticing contender.

Though there’s no support for Alexa or Google Assistant, the Siri-only doorbell works well, detecting motion events immediately and accurately telling the difference between people, animals, and vehicles. The 3:4 head-to-toe view and integration with other iOS devices make it an ideal pick for any Apple-driven smart home.

The doorbell supports facial recognition, an optional feature that can potentially tell you who specifically is at the door by pulling from the photos on your iOS device to recognize your friends and family. It also comes with truly customizable motion zones, meaning you can draw activity zones tailored to your front door view, which is helpful to avoid false notification alerts.

An Apple Home Hub (Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini, or iPad) is required to use the doorbell, so owning at least a few iOS products is a must here.

Additionally, the wired doorbell requires a paid iCloud subscription, which allows the doorbell camera to differentiate between people, animals, vehicles, and motion but, unlike Ring and Nest doorbells, it does not detect packages. It also supports HomeKit Secure Video, which encrypts videos before uploading to iCloud.

Read our full review of the Logitech Circle View Doorbell.

Pros

  • Timely and accurate smart alerts

  • Head-to-toe view

  • Advanced features

Cons

  • iOS only

  • Doesn't work with Alexa/Google

How We Test Video Doorbells

The Testers

Hi, I’m Rachel Murphy, Reviewed’s home editor. I live in a smart home that’s full of smart home devices like cameras, plugs, speakers, and an oven. During my tenure at Reviewed, I’ve tested smart mini projectors, smart water leak detectors, and other gadgets that can be controlled remotely or via smart assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri.

The Tests

e put each doorbell through a series of in-depth, hands-on tests to fully understand each one’s capabilities, features, and downsides.

We considered audio and video quality, of course, since video doorbells double as home security cameras, measuring how clear the picture was in multiple settings. We also tested the apps in terms of connectivity, time to start streaming, storage options, and ease of use. We also made sure they were weatherproof.

When it came to audio testing, almost all of the doorbells passed with flying colors, but as you’ll read below, some excelled. The same, not surprisingly, went for the “rain” test, where we simulated inclement weather with a spray bottle. But our other tests revealed variances that helped us determine which doorbells were worth your time and which wouldn’t deliver as good of a result.

How to Set Up a Smart Video Doorbell

Most smart video doorbells should easily be installed using the existing wires your home may already have for an everyday doorbell. If you don't have a wiring setup, then purchasing a smart video doorbell that's battery-powered will be the way to go. For the most part, you don't need any other smart home devices or technologies to use smart doorbells—just your smartphone and the doorbell’s app.

However, most of these video doorbells will play nicely with other smart home devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers, so check to see which are most compatible with the system you're using. Smart speakers can make announcements when someone rings your doorbell and display a live stream of your front door camera. If you want to save your videos, a separate storage subscription cost may be necessary.

Can Police Access Your Doorbell Footage?

Whether or not companies need permission to share recordings with law enforcement depends on your setup and the access that the companies themselves have. In short, however, it’s unlikely that a company needs your permission to share data, if that data is stored on the company’s servers. This is a good reason to opt for local storage, ensuring that you are the only one who can access your doorbell video.

In the case of Ring, which operates the Neighbors community service, police can directly ask users if they can access footage, through the Request for Assistance feature. Usually, this will involve users within a certain distance of an incident receiving that request.

Privacy

Even your video doorbell needs security. So, what should you look for? Features like two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, and local storage are all things to consider before investing in a smart video doorbell camera setup.

Two-factor authentication, which sends a code to your mobile device to verify it’s really you, is available on many smart video doorbells and is something to seek out and activate. That way, if someone tries to hack into your account, you will receive an alert and can quickly take care of the problem.

Another thing to consider is how your videos are used and stored. Most video doorbells allow you to turn them on and off from the app to control when they're recording and uploading video to the cloud. Look for end-to-end encryption for storing videos. The encryption offers a layer of protection that can help prevent unwanted eyeballs from viewing your saved and stored videos.

Make sure to create a strong password unique to your app. Data breaches feel like the norm as of late, making it all the more important not to reuse passwords across multiple websites and apps.

Finally, when using any device with assistants like Alexa, Google, and Siri, you can help protect your privacy by regularly deleting your voice recordings and muting the mic when not in use.

Looking for more privacy tips? Read our guide to securing your smart home.


Meet the testers

Rachel Murphy

Rachel Murphy

Editor, Home

@rachel_murphy

Rachel Murphy is Reviewed's home editor. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a freelance writer for publications like Insider and Mashable, and as an associate editorial producer for Good Morning America. Aside from smart home tech, her interests include food, travel, parenting, and home renovation. You can usually find her sipping on coffee at any time of the day.

See all of Rachel Murphy's reviews
Christian de Looper

Christian de Looper

Contributor

@cdelooper

Originally from Australia, Christian has long had a passion for gadgets and consumer electronics. Christian has experience reviewing products in all areas of the consumer tech world, and is dedicated to helping people find the best products for their lifestyle.

See all of Christian de Looper's reviews
Nick Woodard

Nick Woodard

Contributor

@nwoodard25

Nick Woodard is a tech journalist specializing in all things related to home theater and A/V. His background includes a solid foundation as a sports writer for multiple daily newspapers, and he enjoys hiking and mountain biking in his spare time.

See all of Nick Woodard's reviews

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