The 5 Best Doorbell Cameras of 2020

Doorbell cameras are the modern way to screen guests. They offer you peace of mind with live transmission from your front porch, the ability to respond via voice, and, in some cases, recorded footage of everything that happens at your front door. These cameras are equipped with Wi-Fi, sensors, speaker-microphone combos, and a power source—either battery-operated or hardwired.

Here's how they work: When someone approaches and rings the doorbell, the camera transmits the activity to your smartphone (or another compatible device) and presents you with the opportunity to respond or ignore the activity. Of course, you could also walk over and open the door, but the point is that you can virtually answer the door from anywhere—including your couch, desk, or vacation home.

Your options for a doorbell camera include easy-to-install, battery-operated models and more integrated models that need to be hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Most doorbell cameras rely on sensors to activate recording, but a few will continuously record everything that happens within their field of view. You can expect to spend anywhere from $50 for the most basic doorbell camera to $200 or more for a sophisticated system.

There are a number of factors to consider when shopping for a doorbell camera. Read on to learn more about each one.

Power Source

Battery-operated doorbells offer quick, simple installations but will require you to recharge or replace the batteries regularly—which is both a hassle and an added expense. For cameras with more frequent motion detection or doorbell activity, battery life may be significantly shorter. However, taking advantage of a quick setup process and minimal damage to your door frame may be ideal if you’re an apartment dweller or a renter.

Hardwired video doorbells, which draw on your home’s electrical power supply, are an alternative to the problem of limited battery life. The downside is that they'll stop working in the event of a power failure. These doorbells can also be tricky to install if you have very little electrical experience or if you don't already have an existing hardwired doorbell.

Motion Detection

While some doorbells just have an alert when someone presses the doorbell button, many others are equipped with motion detection. These sensors will activate the system and alert you when someone approaches your door. Motion detection features can help you keep an eye out for unannounced visitors or any suspicious activity on your front porch.

Motion is usually captured by either camera or infrared sensors. Camera sensors give more false positives than infrared sensors because they may detect inanimate objects like passing cars. However, some models include the ability to set activity zones for surveillance, allowing you to exclude busy sidewalks or streets.

Infrared sensors pick up on body heat and are generally considered to have more reliable alerts. However, infrared technology isn’t foolproof either, and these motion detection systems sometimes fail to detect a person at all.

Resolution

The higher the camera's resolution, the easier it'll be to identify someone at your door. A clear picture will not only make it easier to decide whether or not you'll answer, but it could also be useful if you ever needed the surveillance as evidence in the event of a break-in.

Low-resolution doorbell cameras are the most affordable, but they can have a resolution of as little as 480p. To put that number in perspective, it means you're seeing images in standard definition and not HD. That may be fine if you primarily want a doorbell camera as an added alert for door activity. If you're using your camera as a security feed, definitely opt for a resolution of 720p or above. HD resolution will give you a clearer picture of who's at your front door and may provide more peace of mind if you frequently have unfamiliar faces stopping by.

Field of View

The camera’s field of view (FOV) will determine how much of the activity around your front door is captured. A narrower FOV will reduce what activity the camera can see at any given time.

Look for a FOV of at least 120 degrees; models with a 180-degree FOV are best. Some of the most basic video doorbells on the market have a 90-degree FOV, which will only show the area immediately in front of the doorbell. You won't be able to see a visitor standing to the left or right of the camera.

Additionally, some cameras offer a more vertical FOV designed to capture the head-to-toe image of the person at your door rather than a wide-angle view. Each approach has its advantages, but a larger wide-angle FOV is currently the more popular approach.

Video Storage

What happens with all the footage your video doorbell collects? Many models upload it to a server in the cloud, where you can access it from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. How much footage is stored varies depending on the specific doorbell you choose, and some companies charge a monthly or yearly cloud storage fee.

The alternative is a doorbell camera with internal storage. Some models have a built-in SD card where video footage is stored. This avoids monthly storage fees, but also means that if the video doorbell is stolen or destroyed, the footage is lost.

Night Vision

Since you can’t only expect visitors (wanted or not) to show up in the daylight, it makes sense to look for a camera equipped with night vision. This will help you make out faces and figures in the camera’s alerts no matter what time of day it is. Most doorbell cameras are equipped with night vision and perform reasonably well for the conditions.

Since infrared night vision doesn’t always produce the best video feed, some manufacturers have added spotlights to their doorbell cameras that illuminate the subject when the doorbell is activated at night. This gives you a brighter, clearer picture of who's at the door.

Smart Home Integrations

Adding to the functionality of doorbell cameras is the fact that many models integrate with other popular smart home platforms. If you use Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Nest, Samsung SmartThings, or other smart home applications, you may be able to find a video doorbell that works with these platforms to give you more features and conveniences.

For instance, some video doorbells integrate with smart home locks, allowing you to unlock the door for the person standing on your porch. This is handy if you’re busy prepping dinner and want to let a friend in, or if you need to give temporary access to someone like a dog sitter or house cleaner but don’t want to give out a key to your home.

Operating Conditions

Since a doorbell camera is mounted outside your home, you’ll need to think about what type of weather the unit will be exposed to. While most models are fairly precipitation-resistant, there can be a wide variety in the temperatures that the unit will operate in.

Some video doorbells are rated for the coldest of winters, with the ability to operate in -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Other units can’t be relied upon if the temperature dips into the single digits.

If you live in a warmer climate, you won’t need to worry unless temperatures climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If that's a regular occurrence where you live, look for a unit with a higher warm weather rating.

Wi-Fi

Just about every doorbell camera relies on Wi-Fi to keep you in the loop on front door activity. When possible, your router should be in relatively close proximity to your doorbell camera so that the unit can receive a strong signal from your network.

Having an internet connection means you’ll be able to receive alerts from your doorbell camera and see a live feed of your front door wherever you are. If the signal is weak, you may need to look into relocating your router or purchasing a Wi-Fi extender.

There are three main types of doorbell cameras; each has different advantages and drawbacks.

Wired Doorbell Cameras

Wired doorbell cameras tap into your home’s power supply, ensuring that your virtual doorman will never be off-duty due to dead batteries. Some basic electrical knowledge is helpful when you're installing one of these models though, or you'll need to consult with an electrician to get your doorbell operating properly.

Many wired doorbell cameras offer higher resolutions of 780p—or even 1080p—for a clearer picture of what's happening outside your door. And they're more likely to have a continuous recording feature. You can expect to spend anywhere from $75 to $250 for a wired model.

Wireless Doorbell Cameras

Wireless doorbell cameras are generally the simplest options on the market and the easiest to install. They're a good choice if you want a straightforward installation process that skips over electrical wiring, transformers, and other aspects of hardwired installation. Instead, just mount the baseplate of the unit on the exterior of your home with several screws then follow the manufacturer’s directions to affix the doorbell camera securely.

If your home lacks a pre-existing doorbell and you want to avoid paying an electrician to run the wiring, a wireless doorbell camera is a perfect solution. It's also great for renters in apartments that lack external doorbells.

The biggest limitation of wireless doorbell cameras is that they may forgo certain features and functionality to conserve battery life. For instance, they typically have lower resolutions than wired models. Wireless models are generally the most affordable doorbell cameras, though—average prices range between $60 and $100.  

Continuous Surveillance

If you're looking for a doorbell camera that does double-duty as a security camera, then a model with continuous surveillance may be right for you.

These doorbell cameras will record what happens outside your front door 24/7, giving you a chance to review anyone or anything that passes by. Of course, you’ll still get activity alerts and notifications if your doorbell rings. But the surveillance footage can be useful if you ever need to look back on the moments before someone entered the motion detection field.

Continuous surveillance doorbell cameras aren’t as common but make a great 2-in-1 solution for people that want a home security camera and smart doorbell in one device. Be aware that these types of doorbells will often incur additional monthly or yearly cloud storage fees—all that surveillance footage has to be stored somewhere!

Count on paying over $100 for a doorbell camera that has the ability to record continuously—and even more than $200 for a leading brand in the space. Then, plan on monthly cloud storage fees of up to $30, though some models offer 24 hours of free playback.

There's an increasing number of competitors in the video doorbell market, but several manufacturers are leading the way in terms of reliability, technology, home integrations, and support.

Ring

The first to bring a video doorbell to mass market, Ring has become synonymous with the concept of a doorbell camera. The app is easy to use, the products are well supported, and the technology supports a wide range of smart home integrations.

The product lineup includes both wireless and wired models and features quality materials and leading technology, including the ability to set motion detection zones and resolutions of 780-1080p.

Several Ring models also offer the option for interchangeable faceplates. It’s a small detail, but many people prefer to be able to coordinate the look of their doorbell to their home’s exterior.

While Ring isn’t the only choice to consider for a video doorbell, it is one of the most reliable with a reasonable price point and a well-rounded set of features.

Nest

Always expanding the concept of a connected home, Nest is known for creating a suite of home technology products that work together to automate your home and keep you in the loop through the Nest app.

Hello is Nest’s single-model entrance into the smart home doorbell market and is a wired doorbell. As expected from a smart home giant like Nest, the Hello doorbell is packed with features and integrated technology options. The biggest differentiator from other video doorbells is Hello’s facial recognition system, which can learn to recognize residents and frequent guests. However, the technology isn’t foolproof and may not be as reliable as you’d like for a doorbell that costs over $200.

Other advantages to the Hello include the ability to capture surveillance footage 24/7—but to take advantage of this feature, you’ll need to sign up for Nest Aware for a monthly fee. You can also pre-record messages for playback when someone rings the doorbell, which could come in handy if you aren’t in a position to answer the door personally.

If you’re already a user of the Nest ecosystem, then this video doorbell may be a good choice for your home. Otherwise, you’ll need to weigh the benefits offered by this doorbell against the associated costs.

August

Putting their own spin on the video doorbell, August—which started in the field of smart home security with door locks—adds the Doorbell Pro Cam to their lineup.

This square hardwired video doorbell offers advantages in the areas of video playback, with free cloud storage that gives you quick access to any event video within the last 24 hours. It also takes motion alerts one step further by recording events leading up to a motion alert. Where other doorbell cameras sometimes only capture half the action, August does a good job of showing you the whole sequence that triggered a motion alert. Additionally, a spotlight activates when the doorbell is pressed at night, which gives you a clearer image of who’s at the door even when it’s dark outside.

However, August products can be a little clunky and it’s not readily apparent to everyone where the doorbell button is on this product. Still, these doorbells are worth considering for their advantages in video capture and playback.

SkyBell

Another early innovator in the video doorbell market, SkyBell is known for making hardy products that can withstand a wide range of temperatures—everything from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Angled as a cross between a virtual doorman and a home security device, SkyBell relies heavily upon the promise that this device will help you to feel more secure at home and keep a watchful eye on your property while away. However, it only offers 780p video and the connection can be spotty at times.

This is a good video doorbell to consider if you live in a climate prone to extreme temperatures, but otherwise, there may be a more advanced model that fits your needs.

If you make the investment in a video doorbell, there are some additional accessories that may help you get the most from these devices or overcome potential shortcomings with the device.

• Wi-Fi extenders can give your doorbell a boost if it's having trouble connecting to your router due to its location inside the house.
• Indoor chimes may be a necessary add-on for some models of video doorbell that offer app alerts only—meaning you’ll only hear the doorbell on your phone or tablet unless you install a separate chime box.
• Floodlights and security cameras can boost the watchful eye of your doorbell camera and enhance its usefulness as a home protection device.

Many of the major manufacturers of video doorbells offer a 1- or 2-year limited warranty that covers defects in workmanship or materials. Some video doorbells are also protected by a theft replacement policy. If someone goes through the trouble to steal your doorbell, it’s covered and you’ll receive a new one, free of charge.

Obviously, the details of warranty and theft protection vary by manufacturer, so it's best to read the fine print before making a decision based on offered warranties.