X

Best Video Doorbell Cameras of 2024

We've tested the best doorbell camera brands, from Arlo to Wyze, on a variety of factors to determine our top picks. Find the perfect video doorbell camera for your needs.

Updated Nov. 1, 2023 12:00 p.m. PT

james-headshot
davidpriest.jpg
Written by  James Bricknell David Priest
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
james-headshot
James Bricknell Senior Editor
James has been writing about technology for years but has loved it since the early 90s. While his main areas of expertise are maker tools -- 3D printers, vinyl cutters, paper printers, and laser cutters -- he also loves to play board games and tabletop RPGs.
Expertise 3D printers, maker tools such as Cricut style vinyl cutters and laser cutters, traditional paper printers Credentials
  • 6 years working professionally in the 3D printing space / 4 years testing consumer electronics for large websites.
davidpriest.jpg
David Priest Former editor
David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who formerly covered home security for CNET.
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET
16171819202122232425+
Years of Experience
14151617181920212223
Hands-on Product Reviewers
6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000
Sq. Feet of Lab Space

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Read how we test products and services.

What to consider

Latency

Live view

Two-way audio

$50 at Amazon
Arlo Video Doorbell
Best overall video doorbell camera
Arlo Video Doorbell
View details
View details
$200 at Eufy
Black doorbell camera on a black door
Best video doorbell camera for tracking packages
Eufy Dual camera doorbell
View details
View details
$149 at Walmart
Image of Google Nest Doorbell 2nd generation wired in Ash color.
Best video doorbell camera without a subscription
Google Nest Doorbell 2nd gen (battery)
View details
View details
$250 at Amazon
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
Best high-end video doorbell camera
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
View details
View details
$90 at Amazon
A Wyze Video Doorbell Pro on a house
Best value video doorbell camera
Wyze Video Doorbell Pro
View details
View details
$350 at Amazon
Black video door lock with a "monitored by eufy" sign next to it
Best video doorbell camera for home security
Eufy Security S330 Video Smart Lock
View details
View details

Which is the best overall video doorbell camera?

The Arlo Video Doorbell is our pick for the overall best video doorbell camera. It has a wide field of view (180 degrees), night vision and built-in siren. This camera will exceed expectations for most households, making it stand above the competition. As shown by Arlo's model, not all video doorbell cameras are created equal -- design, installation cost, video quality and video storage subscriptions for each doorbell cam can vary immensely. Some also have features that may give you pause on ethical grounds.

If you aren't sure where to begin in your search for a smart video doorbell, take a look below, we've rounded up our favorite models following several weeks of video doorbell testing by our experienced smart home team. We've also offered a few general pointers on finding the best security camera device for you. If you're looking for the best doorbell camera, chances are it's among those we've tested. We update this list periodically.

Best video doorbell cameras of 2024

Editors' choice
Show less
$50 at Amazon

Best overall video doorbell camera

Arlo Video Doorbell

As mentioned above, we like the Arlo Video Doorbell for a number of reasons, including the wide view, night vision and built-in siren. It's also easy to install, performs well and has reasonable cloud storage fees starting at just $3 a month. With a cloud storage subscription, this wired doorbell gives you access to advanced functionality like custom person, animal, vehicle and package alerts.

The Arlo Video Doorbell, our pick for best video doorbell overall and recipient of a 8.5/10 score in our review, also features HD video, a built-in siren, two-way audio, motion detection zones and arm/disarm modes.

Show expert take Show less
$200 at Eufy

Best video doorbell camera for tracking packages

Eufy Dual camera doorbell

While it's important to see people coming to your door, it isn't what I use my doorbell for most days. I use mine to see when I have deliveries and whether those deliveries are safe. This Eufy doorbell uses a two-camera system -- with a front-facing human-detecting camera and a downward-angled camera -- to capture your porch and packages. Both cameras have 2K resolution and use AI to detect people or packages. The detection is excellent, highlighting your package on the app and even telling you if that package vanishes. 

The Eufy doorbell comes with a home hub that acts as storage for your videos and a rather loud chime. If your front porch almost always has packages, this is an excellent way of tracking them. Of all the camera doorbells for the delivery-conscious homeowner, this is my recommendation.

Show expert take Show less
wired counterpart typically cost $180 (though sometimes they're discounted), and they're a breeze to set up, whether you've got doorbell wiring or not. Along with live video feeds, two-way audio, and alert notifications, the Nest Doorbell 2nd gen includes event recording up to three hours without a subscription. These features won't match the ones you get with a subscription -- with Nest Aware or another service, like Ring's or Arlo's -- but they're a solid place to start if you're hoping to just try out a video doorbell for the first time. A nice bonus? The Nest Doorbell also works well with Google Assistant-powered devices like the Nest Hub.

Privacy-minded consumers will want to take note that Google complies with warrantless requests for footage during rare emergency situations, which you can read more about here. Other companies, including Arlo and Wyze, refuse to share footage without a warrant or subpoena compelling them to do so, while video processed via Apple's HomeKit Secure Video uses end-to-end encryption, which blocks Apple or any third party from accessing it at all.

" page-position="" linktext="Read our Nest Doorbell 2nd gen review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/home/security/nest-doorbell-2nd-gen-wired-review/" can-collapse="true" collapse-on-page-load="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="{"id":"6a8a732a-7cda-4254-90b0-39374f84af72","label":"Google - Nest Doorbell Wired (2nd Generation) - Snow","slug":"google-nest-doorbell-wired-2nd-generation-snow","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"e0412e95-442d-4ace-a7fe-17e132731ceb","imgUrl":"/content/image/redirect/e0412e95-442d-4ace-a7fe-17e132731ceb/resize/75x56","typeLabel":"Tech Product","objectType":"content_product","icon":"type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product ct-small"}" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"6a8a732a-7cda-4254-90b0-39374f84af72","slug":"google-nest-doorbell-wired-2nd-gen-snow","name":"Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen, Snow)","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"PRISM","mod":1699900011805}" overridecredit="David Anders/CNET" overridecaption="

The second-generation Nest Doorbell (wired) is available in four colors, including Ash, shown here.

" imagegroup="{"uuid":"4e4fa708-e2f8-44b9-abca-4e82b597b825","alt":"Image of Google Nest Doorbell 2nd generation wired in Ash color.","caption":"

The 2nd generation Nest Doorbell (wired) is available in four colors including Ash, displayed above.

","credits":"David Anders/CNET","imageData":{"id":"4e4fa708-e2f8-44b9-abca-4e82b597b825","filename":"nest-doorbell.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/7b3d492f6a116c4ba7dd80dcc6a1d2ed12738200/hub/2022/10/25/4e4fa708-e2f8-44b9-abca-4e82b597b825/nest-doorbell.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-10-25 19:16:42.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/7b3d492f6a116c4ba7dd80dcc6a1d2ed12738200/hub/2022/10/25/4e4fa708-e2f8-44b9-abca-4e82b597b825/nest-doorbell.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"

The 2nd generation Nest Doorbell (wired) is available in four colors including Ash, displayed above.

","imageCredit":"David Anders/CNET","imageAltText":"Image of Google Nest Doorbell 2nd generation wired in Ash color.","imageFilename":"nest-doorbell.jpg","imageWidth":4032,"imageHeight":3024,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2022-10-25","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"he2a73pm9grn2zw","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__1e96e525-15f1-4d2b-9bbf-4ef5d55e3e36" index="3" imagecredit="David Anders/CNET" tagslugs="hv90,nest,ring,google-assistant,home-security,august,wyze,amazon" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="FAQ Markup + BL Precap" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">
$149 at Walmart

Best video doorbell camera without a subscription

Google Nest Doorbell 2nd gen (battery)

The second-gen Google Nest Doorbell (battery) and its wired counterpart typically cost $180 (though sometimes they're discounted), and they're a breeze to set up, whether you've got doorbell wiring or not. Along with live video feeds, two-way audio, and alert notifications, the Nest Doorbell 2nd gen includes event recording up to three hours without a subscription. These features won't match the ones you get with a subscription -- with Nest Aware or another service, like Ring's or Arlo's -- but they're a solid place to start if you're hoping to just try out a video doorbell for the first time. A nice bonus? The Nest Doorbell also works well with Google Assistant-powered devices like the Nest Hub.

Privacy-minded consumers will want to take note that Google complies with warrantless requests for footage during rare emergency situations, which you can read more about here. Other companies, including Arlo and Wyze, refuse to share footage without a warrant or subpoena compelling them to do so, while video processed via Apple's HomeKit Secure Video uses end-to-end encryption, which blocks Apple or any third party from accessing it at all.

Show expert take Show less
a long history of extensive partnerships with police organizations, and it complies with warrantless police requests for user footage during rare emergency situations, which you can read more about here. Ring's optional end-to-end encryption setting is good to have here if you're privacy-conscious -- turning it on will break some of Ring's features, but it'll also block Ring or any other third parties from accessing your footage at all.

" page-position="" linktext="Read our Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/home/security/ring-video-doorbell-pro-2-review-do-you-really-need-radar-at-your-door/" can-collapse="true" collapse-on-page-load="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="{"id":"21b20278-41dc-4a55-bcc6-8ffe0051a0aa","label":"Ring Video Doorbell 2 - doorbell - 802.11b/g/n - satin nickel","slug":"ring-video-doorbell-2-doorbell-802-11b-g-n-satin-nickel","edition":["US","ES"],"imageId":"8e949553-4cf1-4b76-8287-74a6a08518e2","imgUrl":"/content/image/redirect/8e949553-4cf1-4b76-8287-74a6a08518e2/resize/75x56","typeLabel":"Tech Product","objectType":"content_product","icon":"type-icon ct-cmg-tech-product ct-small"}" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"21b20278-41dc-4a55-bcc6-8ffe0051a0aa","slug":"ring-video-doorbell-2-b086q54k53","name":"Ring Video Doorbell 2","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"PRISM","mod":1699900011224}" overridecredit="David Priest/CNET" overridecaption="

The Pro 2 looks almost identical to the original Pro -- and that's not a bad thing. The design is small and straight-forward.

" imagegroup="{"uuid":"7ca39574-c399-45cb-a0be-4b92a860976f","alt":"Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2","caption":"

The Pro 2 looks almost identical to the original Pro -- and that's not a bad thing. The design is small and straight-forward.

","credits":"David Priest/CNET","imageData":{"id":"7ca39574-c399-45cb-a0be-4b92a860976f","filename":"image-from-ios-10.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8bcc319f8d0069054bf990bb90013fb07f7300e5/hub/2021/03/30/7ca39574-c399-45cb-a0be-4b92a860976f/image-from-ios-10.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2021-03-30 18:44:03.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8bcc319f8d0069054bf990bb90013fb07f7300e5/hub/2021/03/30/7ca39574-c399-45cb-a0be-4b92a860976f/image-from-ios-10.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"

The Pro 2 looks almost identical to the original Pro -- and that's not a bad thing. The design is small and straight-forward.

","imageCredit":"David Priest/CNET","imageAltText":"Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2","imageFilename":"image-from-ios-10.jpg","imageWidth":4032,"imageHeight":3024,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2021-03-30","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"uqmc5hehs9j9ypn","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__c2fe6a93-7822-4d12-823e-0f473431e45c" index="4" imagecredit="David Priest/CNET" tagslugs="hv90,nest,ring,google-assistant,home-security,august,wyze,amazon" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="FAQ Markup + BL Precap" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">
$250 at Amazon

Best high-end video doorbell camera

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

The Ring Pro 2, with its $260 price tag, isn't the best value on the market, but if you're more worried about features than a cost-benefit analysis, this device won't steer you wrong. The Pro 2 has a superwide field of view, a 1:1 aspect ratio, 1536p resolution and all the basics you'd want your smart buzzer to have. What makes the Pro 2 stand out is its radar sensing and bird's-eye-view mode, which lets you track the movement of an interloper around your yard, to give a clear sense of their route and general activity. Beyond that, the Ring Pro 2 offers end-to-end video encryption.

If you're looking for solid performance and top-of-the-line features, the Ring Pro 2 is a solid bet, but you'll want to familiarize yourself with Ring's policies regarding law enforcement before buying in. The company has a long history of extensive partnerships with police organizations, and it complies with warrantless police requests for user footage during rare emergency situations, which you can read more about here. Ring's optional end-to-end encryption setting is good to have here if you're privacy-conscious -- turning it on will break some of Ring's features, but it'll also block Ring or any other third parties from accessing your footage at all.

Show expert take Show less
reported security breach has affected some Wyze camera users. Out of caution and until Wyze resolves its systems for reporting breaches to users, we've removed our Editors' Choice designation from Wyze products. We will update this page as we reevaluate home security cameras and accessories.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Wyze offers one of the best video doorbells for the price, with its $100 Video Doorbell Pro. Not only is this doorbell cam battery-powered (which usually adds $50 or so to a doorbell cam's price tag), but it also offers 2K resolution, a 150-degree field of view with 1:1 aspect ratio, free cloud storage and much more. Throw in an included plug-in chime and you've got an incredible deal.

The fact that you can use the Wyze Pro wirelessly makes it the best wireless video doorbell on the market, too.

" page-position="" linktext="Read our Wyze Video Doorbell Pro review" linkurl="https://www.cnet.com/home/security/wyze-video-doorbell-pro-review/" can-collapse="true" collapse-on-page-load="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"cc2b65ec-ec79-409e-8982-32dca110529e","slug":"wyze-video-doorbell-pro","name":"Wyze Video Doorbell Pro","productType":"SERIES","updateType":"EZMONEY","mod":1699900011271}" overridecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" overridecaption="

" imagegroup="{"uuid":"dbe83981-72c1-416d-a66f-aa34a6eb09eb","alt":"A Wyze Video Doorbell Pro on a house","caption":"

","credits":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageData":{"id":"dbe83981-72c1-416d-a66f-aa34a6eb09eb","filename":"wyze-vs-blink-wireless-doorbells-2.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/80c343d0a6f3388a07985423a9881880a98f857a/hub/2022/02/11/dbe83981-72c1-416d-a66f-aa34a6eb09eb/wyze-vs-blink-wireless-doorbells-2.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-02-11 18:34:06.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/80c343d0a6f3388a07985423a9881880a98f857a/hub/2022/02/11/dbe83981-72c1-416d-a66f-aa34a6eb09eb/wyze-vs-blink-wireless-doorbells-2.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"

","imageCredit":"Chris Monroe/CNET","imageAltText":"A Wyze Video Doorbell Pro on a house","imageFilename":"wyze-vs-blink-wireless-doorbells-2.jpg","imageWidth":5811,"imageHeight":3269,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2022-02-11","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"ym2x6earuvs9s86","type":"listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cnetlisticle__17a1bd0b-4fb2-4f84-b718-48a432cb4e4c" index="5" imagecredit="Chris Monroe/CNET" tagslugs="hv90,nest,ring,google-assistant,home-security,august,wyze,amazon" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="FAQ Markup + BL Precap" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">
$90 at Amazon

Best value video doorbell camera

Wyze Video Doorbell Pro

Editors' note, Sept. 22, 2023: A reported security breach has affected some Wyze camera users. Out of caution and until Wyze resolves its systems for reporting breaches to users, we've removed our Editors' Choice designation from Wyze products. We will update this page as we reevaluate home security cameras and accessories.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Wyze offers one of the best video doorbells for the price, with its $100 Video Doorbell Pro. Not only is this doorbell cam battery-powered (which usually adds $50 or so to a doorbell cam's price tag), but it also offers 2K resolution, a 150-degree field of view with 1:1 aspect ratio, free cloud storage and much more. Throw in an included plug-in chime and you've got an incredible deal.

The fact that you can use the Wyze Pro wirelessly makes it the best wireless video doorbell on the market, too.

Show expert take Show less
some evidence that your face and image of your front yard are sent to the cloud regardless of your choice. We are still learning more but keep this in mind before purchasing.


While most video doorbells sit in the same space as traditional ones, the Eufy video smart lock doubles as your home lock too. The video part is about as good as the Ring in terms of visuals; the 1080p resolution is more than good enough to capture faces and the AI can distinguish -- with varying degrees of success-- the difference between someone coming to your door and other distractions happening further away. The porch pirate test (or latency test if you want to use the technical term) we describe in our "how we test" article had mixed results. The doorbell did capture the "thief" in the act but it failed to alert me in time to catch them. It sometimes takes upwards of 8 to 10 seconds to alert me about a change at the door, which is much slower than others we've tested.

This Eufy video lock comes bundled with a wireless door chime that also doubles as a local storage hub so you don't have to worry about those pesky subscriptions. That's not to say Eufy doesn't have a cloud service if you want it; you just aren't forced to pay more. The locking system works almost flawlessly though. The fingerprint scanner recognizes each member of my family and unlocks the door within 2 seconds of them scanning their finger, and I even get a log of who opened or closed the door and at what time of the day. If you do have trouble with the fingerprint scanner there's always the number pad to fall back on too. Each person, along with their own fingerprint, gets their own code and you can even assign guests their own code when they visit.

" page-position="" linktext="" linkurl="" can-collapse="true" collapse-on-page-load="true" can-truncate="true" truncate-on-page-load="true" offer="{"id":"17248ec7-1bd6-42d6-8e2c-79675642097f","label":"eufy Security - Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Battery Operated - Black/White","slug":"eufy-security-smart-wi-fi-video-doorbell-battery-operated-black-white","edition":["us"],"imageId":"6fde59d9-5bda-40e3-b134-44ff7e169f4b","imgUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/be6cbba97ba72a143141096ca2a48e5d5b540080/hub/2021/11/10/6fde59d9-5bda-40e3-b134-44ff7e169f4b/6460112-sd.jpg?auto=webp&width=300&height=300&fit=crop","imageHeight":0,"imageWidth":0,"typeLabel":"Product","objectType":"content_product","icon":""}" techobjectinfo="{"uuid":"17248ec7-1bd6-42d6-8e2c-79675642097f","slug":"eufy-security-smart-wi-fi-video-doorbell-battery-operated-black-white","name":"eufy Security - Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Battery Operated - Black/White","productType":"PRODUCT","updateType":"PRISM","mod":1699900854816}" overridecredit="James Bricknell/CNET" overridecaption="

" imagegroup="{"uuid":"cdb88fb2-6ddc-4791-a5b8-1f2590796455","alt":"Black video door lock with a \"monitored by eufy\" sign next to it","caption":"

","credits":"James Bricknell / CNET","imageData":{"id":"cdb88fb2-6ddc-4791-a5b8-1f2590796455","filename":"eufy-video-door-lock.jpg","path":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/119431c0bba7eadc37e909118774079ad749af7e/hub/2022/10/25/cdb88fb2-6ddc-4791-a5b8-1f2590796455/eufy-video-door-lock.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","dateCreated":{"date":"2022-10-25 20:26:23.000000","timezone":"UTC","timezone_type":3},"primeColor":null,"hasWarning":false},"size":"","float":"","lightbox":false,"imageUrl":"https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/119431c0bba7eadc37e909118774079ad749af7e/hub/2022/10/25/cdb88fb2-6ddc-4791-a5b8-1f2590796455/eufy-video-door-lock.jpg?auto=webp&height=500","imageCaption":"

","imageCredit":"James Bricknell / CNET","imageAltText":"Black video door lock with a \"monitored by eufy\" sign next to it","imageFilename":"eufy-video-door-lock.jpg","imageWidth":4032,"imageHeight":2268,"imageDoNotCrop":false,"imageDoNotResize":false,"imageWatermark":false,"imageDateCreated":"2022-10-25","imageParallax":"","imageCrop":"","imageEnlarge":false}" usepricing="true" ng-block="{"id":"tso09okxvafgz5p","type":"cross-content-listicle"}" edition="us" data-key="cross_content_listicle__00a08cf8-bdba-49a8-8f51-c95101a5c059" imagecredit="James Bricknell/CNET" tagslugs="hv90,nest,ring,google-assistant,home-security,august,wyze,amazon" contenttype="Best List - Precap" isbestlistredesign="true" filtershortcodetypes="" totalfilteritems="0" pagelayout="FAQ Markup + BL Precap" showdetails="true" suppressautoplay="true" tocheadlineitem="[object Object]" class="c-bestListProductListing">
$350 at Amazon

Best video doorbell camera for home security

Eufy Security S330 Video Smart Lock

Update, Nov. 29: While Eufy states that none of your data is stored in the cloud if you don't want it to be, there is some evidence that your face and image of your front yard are sent to the cloud regardless of your choice. We are still learning more but keep this in mind before purchasing.


While most video doorbells sit in the same space as traditional ones, the Eufy video smart lock doubles as your home lock too. The video part is about as good as the Ring in terms of visuals; the 1080p resolution is more than good enough to capture faces and the AI can distinguish -- with varying degrees of success-- the difference between someone coming to your door and other distractions happening further away. The porch pirate test (or latency test if you want to use the technical term) we describe in our "how we test" article had mixed results. The doorbell did capture the "thief" in the act but it failed to alert me in time to catch them. It sometimes takes upwards of 8 to 10 seconds to alert me about a change at the door, which is much slower than others we've tested.

This Eufy video lock comes bundled with a wireless door chime that also doubles as a local storage hub so you don't have to worry about those pesky subscriptions. That's not to say Eufy doesn't have a cloud service if you want it; you just aren't forced to pay more. The locking system works almost flawlessly though. The fingerprint scanner recognizes each member of my family and unlocks the door within 2 seconds of them scanning their finger, and I even get a log of who opened or closed the door and at what time of the day. If you do have trouble with the fingerprint scanner there's always the number pad to fall back on too. Each person, along with their own fingerprint, gets their own code and you can even assign guests their own code when they visit.

Show expert take Show less

Video doorbell cameras compared


Arlo Video DoorbellEufy Dual camera doorbellNest Doorbell (w/ battery)Wyze Video Doorbell ProRing Video Doorbell Pro 2Eufy Video Door Lock
Price $150$260$165$100$260$400
Resolution 1,536x1,5361,440x1,4401,280x9601,440x1,4401536p2K
Field of view 180 degrees160 and 97 degrees145 degrees150 degrees150 degrees head-to-toe view160 degrees
Setup Wired, outdoors onlyRechargeable BatteryBattery-poweredWireless, outdoors onlyRemovable, rechargeable battery pack or hardwiredRemovable 10,000mAh battery, requires lock replacement
Extra features Live streaming, arm/disarm modes, two-way talk, motion zones, night vision and an integrated sirenExtra camera for packages, local storage, AI detectionLive streaming, two-way talk, smart alerts, facial recognition, integration with Google AssistantTwo-way talk, live streaming, smart alerts, cloud storageRadar tracking, bird's-eye-view, push alerts, integration with Amazon AlexaMotion detection, local storage, remote lock and unlock
Review score 8.58.588.97.58.9

Factors to consider when choosing a video doorbell camera

Does it work with smart home platforms? If so, do the smart features work well together? 

Nowadays a smart home device is expected to work with at least one major smart home platform. Amazon AlexaGoogle Assistant and Apple HomeKit are the main ones you need to look for. 

How's the latency?

If your smart doorbell camera takes a long time to send a push notification after someone rings your doorbell, then you risk missing your visitor completely. You also need to be sure you're getting notifications when something sets off the motion detector, as you can set the motion sensor of most video doorbells to notify you of activity happening near your door, even if no one rings the buzzer. If you have latency problems, start with your Wi-Fi connection. If it isn't strong where the doorbell is installed, you might consider moving it (or, more easily, getting a Wi-Fi range extender). But it could also be the way the software works.

How's the live view? 

Doorbells are often exposed to direct sunlight, but many others are installed under porches, near shady trees and in all sorts of other settings. It's important that the camera has night vision and can handle any of these scenarios so you don't get stuck with a nonfunctioning product that can't see faces under a porch. 

How's the two-way audio? 

If the doorbell's microphone and speaker don't work well, you're going to have a tough time communicating with whoever's there. We tested this out multiple times to see how the doorbell's audio sounds over my phone.

How we test video doorbell cameras

Testing to determine the best video doorbell is similar to testing any other home security camera. 

Installation and setup process

First, a reviewer will download the corresponding app and create an account. While a lot of products include tutorial booklets in the box with your purchase, a good app includes detailed steps on the installation process, as well as how to connect to your Wi-Fi network and actually get the smart device up and running. It's your one-stop shop for taking your doorbell setup from start to finish.

We make sure the doorbell is installed based on the manufacturer's specifications -- either a hardwired doorbell, or a battery- or solar-powered one. 

Wyze and Blink video doorbell cameras

Here are two wireless video doorbells, Wyze and Blink, that we installed to the CNET Smart Home for testing. 

Chris Monroe/CNET

Additional features and settings

As soon as it's connected and we're able to view the live video feed, we check the settings. We make sure features like motion detection, two-way or activity zones are enabled (they aren't always turned on by default) to get a complete sense of what it's like to use the product -- and to see how well the device actually works as a replacement to a regular, nonsmart doorbell. 

To test motion zones, we first determine the motion zone, then move around it to see when we get an alert and when we don't. The aim is to discover how precise those zones really are. For two-way talk, we'll have a conversation with a partner on the porch via the doorbell to listen for clarity and latency.

ring doorbell

While testing, we always check how seamlessly the video doorbell camera integrates with third-party smart home voice assistants, like Alexa, as well as how usable the brand's app is for installation and monitoring. 

Chris Monroe/CNET

App integration 

Like smart locks and home security cameras, many top-notch video doorbells will allow the camera to be integrated with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. We download the respective apps, connect the video doorbell and see the ease (or hassle) of using voice commands to control the doorbell camera, plus how easily the doorbell cam integrates into the wider ecosystem of smart devices. 

If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.

Video doorbell camera FAQs

How much is the monthly charge for a video doorbell?

It depends on which brand you purchase, but generally video doorbell monitoring subscriptions will set you back between $3 and $6 per month. Ring Protect and Arlo Secure both cost $3 for a single device and $10 for more. Google's Nest Aware service costs $6 for one or more. These services tend to get you cloud storage, more advanced notifications and a few extra perks.

Do video doorbells get stolen?

While some video doorbells are fairly easy to remove (looking at you, Nest), that doesn't mean they're likely to be stolen. There isn't much evidence that doorbell-swiping is common. It makes sense: you're likely to be filmed stealing the doorbell, after all. In addition, for the video doorbells that are easy to remove from the doorstep, there are just as many that are pretty rock-solid when installed.

How long do videos stay on video doorbells?

Again, this depends on your product and subscription. Generally, without a subscription, live viewing is the only option available. Some brands, like Nest, will keep event recordings for a short period. But if you purchase a subscription plan, you'll get anywhere from 10 to 60 days of event storage, and sometimes the possibility of 24/7 continuous recording.

Can you recover deleted doorbell camera videos?

For security purposes, your video doorbell videos are only stored with your account, which means once you've deleted a video, even accidentally, it's gone. The best way to prevent losing an important video is to download it to your phone or computer. Also keep in mind that, as mentioned above, cloud storage services may automatically delete events after 10 to 60 days, so be sure to check your doorbell camera's cloud storage frequently to avoid missing the window to save or download important videos.