If you want to know who is at the door before you even open it, the best way to go is to install a smart doorbell. These can keep your home secure, and provide awareness before opening the door to a threatening stranger (or annoying solicitor).
Gone are the days of looking through peepholes, which are often difficult to see out of anyway. If you want to be aware and prepared for who may be hanging around your porch step, you’ll want to get your hands on a smart doorbell.
There are lots of smart doorbells available, offering functions from video recording, two-way communication, motion sensors, and more. This means you can tell the package delivery guy where to put your package, even if you’re at work.
Or if there is unusual activity, many smart doorbells allow you to go back and review the footage to see who was at your house. Some even allow you to speak to the other party, which often scares off intruders.
Many companies are catching on to the need for more home security, and smart doorbells are becoming more popular. Many of the products on this list have user stories where the camera helped catch a burglar or prevented a crime from happening in the first place.
They’re also a great option for those with mobility problems, as you can see who is at the door, and in some cases unlock the door, without having to get up.
Take a look at the list below of the 12 Best Smart Doorbells.
Ring Video Doorbell
This doorbell is affordable and easy to use.
Whenever motion is detected, or someone rings the doorbell, an alert will be sent out to your equipped devices. It can be used with smartphones, tablets, or PCs.
The app allows you to hear and talk to the visitors from any compatible device. Video is shot in clear 720HD, and it even has noise cancellation for the two-way talk feature.
You can set up custom motion zones, choosing where you want the camera to focus or not focus on motion.
If you don’t want to wire it to your existing set up, you can easily use the battery power. You can always hardwire your current doorbell, too.
The battery life is not especially long, so many opt for the hardwiring option eventually. The only other downside to this doorbell is that it is very difficult to use without a strong wifi connection.
You may also be interested in some of the smart home alarm systems from our list. Check them out.
Zmodo Greet
This smart doorbell will send a notification through the app each time motion is detected at your doorstep. If someone rings the doorbell, you will get a phone call letting you know.
You can watch footage live, record it for later on the 8GB memory card, or upload it to the cloud. There is no monthly fee for storing on the cloud, which is an extra bonus.
It records in 720p resolution, which is lower than other cameras on the market. It still records clear footage, just not as high quality as others. It has night vision as well, so you won’t have to worry about not being able to see who a visitor is in the later hours.
It’s relatively cheap too, so it would be a good choice for someone who just wants some extra protection around their house. To use, you just need to hardwire the smart doorbell to your existing doorbell.
Nest Hello
The Nest Hello is an amazing video doorbell that will keep your family safe and in-the-know. It can record up to 30 days of continuous footage, allowing you to keep your house secure, and the ability to go back and review footage.
It records in high definition, and even has a night vision setting that will record crisp and bright footage in the dark, when you probably want to know who is at the door the most.
The camera has full view of your entry, meaning it can see the top of people’s heads, or a package left low on the ground.
The Nest records continuously and does not just turn on when motion is detected. This means you will be able to go back and review previous times, even if no one was at the door, or if they failed to set off the motion detector.
One of the most outstanding features of the Nest is its recognition abilities. It will alert you if the person at the door has never been seen before and can also remember familiar faces and alert you when a friend is at the door. This can remove the initial panic from the doorbell ringing.
The only downside of this product is the chime connector which is included with the doorbell, and a required part of the setup.
Remobell Wireless Wi-Fi Video Doorbell
This doorbell is a little easier than the others to get set up. Rather than having to hardwire it to your existing doorbell, it can just be placed outside and hooked up to the wifi.
If anyone presses the doorbell, or is caught on the motion detector, you will get an immediate alert on your phone. From there, you can communicate with the people live or watch the footage later.
Videos are streamed in high definition and can be accessed in the cloud for 30 days. It costs $3 per month for storing footage in the cloud.
You can link up this doorbell to other smart products, such as Alexa or Google Home devices. It is battery powered and can withstand most weather conditions.
The Remobell allows up to five people to be logged in and viewing the system at a time, which is an easy way to keep a family connected.
August Doorbell Cam Pro
This doorbell requires a little more set up than others but is worth it for its features. To get it set up, you’ll need a drill and some mounting brackets.
The camera is constantly streaming, and you can tune in at any time from your phone to see what is going on at home. You can link the August Smart Lock with your doorbell, which allows you to lock or unlock the door from anywhere.
The free and basic subscription allows you to replay any video from the last 24 hours, and you will need to upgrade your subscription if you need more.
It also has a hindsight feature, which monitors your doorway constantly in order to capture all the moments leading up to the motion sensor activating.
This smart doorbell records in HD full color, even at night when you’d expect the quality of video to go down.
Vivint Doorbell Camera
This smart doorbell has integrated with other technology to allow users to unlock their front doors, open garages, and even turn on the lights if they choose.
Up to four cameras can be set up, and the doorbell will record continuously for 30 days. You can also watch 30-second clips on demand whenever you like.
You can speak to your visitors through your phone, and they can converse back with you easily.
If you’re not too concerned with having other home features, this might not be your top choice because it only allows you to get the doorbell as part of the home monitoring package.
The package will cost you extra for equipment and monthly fees, but if you’re willing to put some money into your home security, this is a solid choice that will give you a lot of useful features.
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell
Netatmo is another trusted brand for smart doorbells, and they offer plenty of useful features for homeowners. They record in 1080p, so the quality of your video footage will be great.
You’ll need to keep your doorbell wiring setup and can easily replace the doorbell with the new Netatmo. Then you’ll just need to hook it up to your wifi connection.
The app keeps a list of all the calls that have come through, and you can scroll through and select specific ones to review. Videos are stored for free, so you don’t have to worry about running out of room.
A great feature included in this doorbell is an alert that is sent out if it appears someone is trying to deactivate the system. If someone is trying to prevent your security system from letting you know they are at your door, they’re probably up to no good.
Netvue Vuebell Video Doorbell
This doorbell gets HD quality videos, though you can choose to lower the resolution to make smaller file sizes.
Anyone in the household can set up their app to view the cameras and get notified when someone is at the door.
A great feature the Vuebell doorbell offers is functionality for those who do not have smartphones. It comes with an indoor unit with a chime that sounds if the doorbell is pressed.
For its low price, the Vuebell is a great gadget that will secure your home. It only works through the app though and cannot be integrated with other smart technology.
Skybell
This smart doorbell has tons of features that make it a great pick.
You can watch a video stream at any time, and even take a snapshot if something stands out. Instead of cloud storage, you’ll need to download the footage directly to your device, which is an easy task.
It’s hardwired into your household, so there will be no need to replace batteries or worry about maintenance. If it’s stolen, they offer lifetime replacement.
The camera records in high definition 1080p and can also do night vision.
Skybell Trim Plus
This doorbell has all the same features as the Skybell HD, it just offers a different look. Rather than the circular design, this doorbell is available in a long and thin look.
Ring Video Doorbell Pro
Ring has a variety of products, including four different types of smart doorbells. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a great upgrade, without getting too expensive. It shoots in 1080HD video, which is much higher quality than the regular video doorbell by Ring.
This doorbell is motion activated and will turn on when it senses anyone at the doorstep. If the motion sensors are triggered, or if someone presses your doorbell, you will receive an automated alert to your phone immediately.
It’s compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows 10, and will let you look at the doorstep directly from your device. It also offers two-way communication if you need to say something to the person at the doorstep, and they can respond back to you.
The doorbell comes with a few different designs, which allows you to customize it with the look of your house. You will need already existing doorbell wiring set up in order to get this smart doorbell working.
Arlo Audio Doorbell
This doorbell is a smart device, though it does not have camera with just the doorbell. They do offer compatible security cameras as well that you can pair with the doorbell to better monitor your home.
Despite not having a camera, the Arlo doorbell has a lot of useful features. It sends out mobile notifications, allows you to message with visitors, and is wire free.
The battery-powered doorbell is easy to set up, and weather-resistant. It also comes with seven days of cloud storage, so you can keep your audio recordings.
It works like an answering machine if you’re not home, where visitors can leave a message or you can respond to them through your phone letting them know you’re not available.
Skybell Trim Pro
This doorbell has all the same features as the Skybell HD, it just offers a different look. Rather than the circular design, this doorbell is available in a long and thin look.
Smart Doorbell Buyer’s Guide
If you’re struggling to decide on a smart doorbell, don’t worry. It can be a difficult choice to make, and the security and safety of your household is not a light subject.
The most important thing is to decide what your end goal with the smart doorbell is. If you just want to be able to see who is at the door, you choices may differ from someone who wants to have total control over their household remotely.
Start by acknowledging the most important features you’ll require from your smart doorbell, such as ability to save video, cloud storage, compatibility with certain devices, and many other considerations.
Eliminate the features you know you won’t need, which will help cut down the cost and align you with the best fit. For example, if you don’t want to be able to lock and unlock the house from your smart device, it probably is not worth the money for you to purchase a device made for those capabilities.
You might find as you look into getting a smart doorbell that you do want more than you initially thought. As you start to see the features available, certain ones may become more important.
Be sure to consider who else will be using the devices. If you’re getting a smart doorbell for someone with mobility impairments, be sure to look for features that will make letting guests in or telling somebody to leave much easier.
If you’re buying a camera because of a security issue, you’ll want to make sure you get one that takes good quality pictures. You don’t want to go back and see that the video evidence you recorded is too blurry to identify.
In the case of security, the option to take a snapshot is useful as well. This way you can get a picture of the person you need to identify, and easily have the file ready to send off.