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Discover our pick of the best video doorbells in 2024. In this guide, we compare some of the best doorbells on the market for your home.
Like the best home security systems, the best video doorbells should give you peace of mind while not breaking the bank. A video doorbell gives customers more control than with a regular doorbell, including features such as real-time notifications when someone is on your doorstep, night vision and motion detection.
| Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) | Arlo Wireless Smart Video Doorbell | Hey! Smart Video Doorbell | Eufy Video Doorbell C210 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power source | Battery | Battery | Battery | Battery |
| Connects to | Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT | N/a | Amazon Alexa and Google Home | Amazon Alexa and Google Home |
| Monitoring subscription options? | Yes | Yes | No | No |
There are lots of reasons why a homeowner might want to install a video doorbell, including increasing their security, the ability to use two-way audio to speak to visitors, and access to real-time notifications when someone has dropped off a parcel or if there is an unwanted guest at the door or risk of intrusion.
There are also plenty of video doorbells on the market, from budget options to more expensive and comprehensive doorbells. That said, our pick for the best one is the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen), due to its reasonable monitoring plans, reasonable price and easy installation.
While all video doorbells will vary in terms of their features, some common ones are:
(Ring)
| Specification | Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|
| Price | £99.99 |
| Resolution | 1080p |
| Night vision | Yes |
| Size | 12.6 cm x 6.2 cm x 2.8 cm |
| Power supply | Battery or hardwired with Ring plug-in adapter |
Ring is one of the most well-known companies when it comes to video doorbells, so it’s no surprise we’ve chosen their Video Doorbell 2nd Gen as our overall best option. While it is possible to add a monitoring subscription and pay monthly fees – either the Basic plan for £3.49 per month or the Plus plan for £8 per month – the great thing about this doorbell is that you’ll still be able to enjoy plenty of premium features without any subscription at all. These include motion-activated notifications, a live view of the footage from the doorbell and two-way audio, though admittedly the latter is a pretty standard feature of a video doorbell.
If you do choose to upgrade to the Basic plan, you’ll be able to store footage for up to 180 days, save and share videos, and get package alerts when a delivery is detected in your chosen zone, plus more great features. The low monthly price is very enticing, and while you can choose to pay more for the Plus plan to cover more than one device, there aren’t many add-ons you’ll be missing out on without it. Like most of Ring’s security products, installation is simple, meaning you can easily DIY it or get a professional out to install the device for you, if you wish.
One negative that we’ve found in our research, however, is that while the Ring doorbell is able to connect to Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT, because Ring is now owned by Amazon, the connection to this smart home system is much stronger than all the rest. If you own an Amazon Alexa device, this will be a benefit for you, but if you want to connect to a different kind of smart home system this may be something to keep in mind.
Delivering on price, easy installation and a range of impressive features, the Ring 2nd Gen doorbell is a simple yet effective option for beginners to home security, or those who have dabbled in video doorbells before.
(Ring)
| Specification | Arlo Wireless Smart Video Doorbell |
|---|---|
| Price | £79.99 |
| Resolution | 1080p |
| Night vision | Yes |
| Size | 4.7 cm x 14.3 cm x 3.7 cm |
| Power supply | Rechargeable battery |
A slim video doorbell with a sleek design, the Arlo Smart Video Doorbell has the highest price of the options we’ve featured here, but offers great built-in and optional advanced features. The 180-degree angle of the doorbell’s view is one of the best elements, as is the inclusion of an integrated siren that can be activated from the app. Alternatively you can set up the doorbell so that the 80dB siren automatically activates when motion is detected, in order to deter potential intruders.
Rather than having to wait for the app to open before you can speak to someone at the door with the two-way audio, you’ll also get a video call straight to your phone, which makes interactions a lot more seamless. And, while a monitoring subscription from Arlo will give you access to features such as theft replacement, it’s not a necessary add-on to enjoy this doorbell. Indeed, one negative is that the monitoring plans are slightly more expensive than other brands we’ve featured here, but it will unlock features such as AI-powered person, vehicle and package detection.
We love the inclusion of a built-in siren to deter intruders, and the subtle design of this doorbell is another plus. While the RRP is a little high, we do think there are plenty of features to rave about here.
(Hey!)
| Specification | Hey! Smart Video Doorbell |
|---|---|
| Price | £79.99 |
| Resolution | 1080p |
| Night vision | Yes |
| Size | 14 cm x 4 cm x 3 cm |
| Power supply | Rechargeable battery |
The Hey! Smart Video Doorbell, like the rest of the brand’s security products, doesn’t come with the option to add a monitoring subscription, so if you know you don’t want to pay any extra monthly fees then it’s probably a good option for you. It’s also the cheapest option on our list, but that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice any features.
You can choose to store video footage either on a micro SD card, or on the Cloud, and the footage can be viewed anytime on the Hey! app, which is also where you can speak to guests at the door, no matter how far you are away from the property. You’ll also find in-depth installation instructions in the app, but setup should be a breeze anyway, with mounts included to affix near your front door.
This doorbell also delivers on smart home integration, as you can connect to Amazon Alexa or Google Home and use voice commands to immediately view what’s going on through the doorbell on Alexa or Chromecast. The rechargeable batteries last up to four months, and the doorbell will automatically switch to night vision, where it has a 10-metre range even in complete darkness. As a smart doorbell, there are truly very few negatives, but if you’d also like the device to function as a normal doorbell then there’s a free chime included, so guests will be able to ring the bell as usual, too.
For an inexpensive home security option, Hey! is always one of our favourites. Like its cameras, Hey!’s video doorbell is an easy-to-install, subscription-free and very reasonable option, but one that still has plenty of great features to enjoy.
(Eufy)
| Specification | Eufy Video Doorbell C210 |
|---|---|
| Price | £99.99 |
| Resolution | 1080p |
| Night vision | No |
| Size | 13.2 cm x 4.6 cm x 7 cm |
| Power supply | Rechargeable battery |
If you don’t want to pay monthly fees for a monitoring subscription but still want to enjoy advanced features, the Eufy Video Doorbell C10 has plenty. While there’s no night vision on the camera, there is a head-to-toe image that can be viewed on the app, as well as via Amazon Alexa or Google Home. Impressively, there’s also an AI-powered feature that can decipher whether or not the movement in front of the doorbell is actually a person, meaning you’ll get relevant real-time notifications.
The doorbell comes with a separate chime device included, which will need to be plugged into a socket inside your home. An SD card that stores your footage will sit inside the chime, which means that even if someone were to damage or remove the doorbell on the outside of the property, your information would still be secure and inside the home. As with the Hey! Smart Video Doorbell, the device can last up to four months on a single charge, and the system is completely wireless.
While you can simply speak to guests at the door using the doorbell’s two-way audio, there’s also the option to pre-record up to three automatic responses. The app will allow you to choose from one of your responses when you’re notified of a guest being at the door, so if it’s not a convenient time to talk, all you’ll need to do is tap the screen and your guest will be made aware that you’re not there or you’ll be at the door in a second, for example.
With no subscription necessary to enjoy a range of impressive features, we think the Eufy doorbell is a solid choice. Another nice plus is that you can connect your Amazon Alexa device to the doorbell and make the device your chime, which will make the setup feel a little more ‘smart’.
Most of the video doorbells we have researched are around the same cost, with just under £100 being the common price tag. However, the Hey! Smart Video Doorbell comes in at a little less, making it our best budget option.
The majority of video doorbells that we’ve researched are easy to install. Generally, you don’t have to be a DIY pro to get set up with the devices, and some companies include step-by-step instructions and other assistance if you are finding it a bit tricky. If you don’t feel confident enough to set it up yourself and professional installation is required, this is also usually an option, too.
All of the doorbells we’ve featured here offer 1080p video resolution and two-way audio as standard, and the majority of them also have night vision. The angle of the camera differs between doorbells, but you should still be able to get a good view of the guests at your front door, which is usually accessible through the app or on another device.
How long your footage is available for will differ for each company, but generally if you’re paying for a monthly monitoring subscription, you can expect a longer period of being able to view and download the footage from the camera. Security is obviously an important element of a video doorbell, so you should find that most companies will offer an advanced encryption level, ensuring that your footage is protected.
If you know you want to purchase a complete and comprehensive home security system for your property, it might be best to wait and purchase a video doorbell as part of this package, as you’ll probably enjoy better value for money. However, if you just want the video doorbell and the features that come with it, all the options we’ve featured here are definitely affordable, and with bonuses like long battery life and real-time notifications, to name a few, it’s a purchase that is worth the price.
All the video doorbells we’ve featured here can be purchased as they are, with no monthly fees to pay or a monitoring subscription to keep track of. The Hey! Smart Video Doorbell, which is also the cheapest doorbell on this list, doesn’t include the option to add a subscription, whereas each of the other brands allow you to add on a subscription if you would like. Keep in mind that a monitoring subscription often unlocks extra features that you may not be able to enjoy with no plan, such as the option to download and store footage, or to get real-time motion-activated notifications.
