If you want to keep your home against robbers and other potential criminals, you’ll find the market offers a plethora of solutions. Technology has allowed us to secure our homes more easily with the introduction of smart home accessories such that allow you to keep watch on your home remotely, such as smart video doorbells.
Some people are also using video doorbells as a way to keep away any unwanted visitors that harbor ill-intent. These video doorbells record footage of the people who come to visit when you’re unable to answer. Most of these video doorbells use Wi-Fi to be able to communicate remotely with your phone.
There are also additional features that come with each brand, such as sirens, motion detection, cloud video storage, interoperability with other smart devices as well as numerous other features that we’ll be going through in this article.
If you’re looking for the best smart doorbell, be sure to keep on reading to find out. And now, without further ado, let us take a find out which is the best smart doorbell.
The Best Smart Doorbell for 2020 – Our Picks
1. Ring Video Doorbell – The Overall Best Doorbell Camera
If you’ve done the smallest bit of research on your own, then the name ‘Ring’ might have popped up in your search. There’s no denying that Ring has some of the best smart doorbells out there. One of the reasons being this is the fact that Ring has been around long enough to perfect their formula that delivers a product that works consistently and reliably.
The Ring Video Doorbell is the best smart doorbell for a variety of reasons. One of Ring’s most appealing strengths is how easy it is to use and install. If you’re new to the whole smart home security thing, then Ring might be one of the better places to start. With that said, there’s something for everybody with Ring’s video doorbell. It has enough advanced functionalities and features to keep you safe, and if you know how to use them, then you’ll find that you’ll get a lot of more use and an overall much more convenient experience.
Another thing we like about Ring’s video doorbell is their lifetime purchase protection plan, where they will replace your smart doorbell if it’s stolen. In order to make use of this plan, you’ll need to submit your claim within two weeks of the theft.
Additionally, ring doorbell allows you to customize the motion sensor’s setting and configure your own custom motion alert zones and alert sensitivity. You’ll be able to customize the motion setting to your heart’s content.
If you’re going to opt for the original Ring video doorbell as your best smart doorbell, you’ll be getting all of the features we’ve mentioned so far at a surprisingly affordable price. However, there’s one caveat, and that is the video footage quality.
When it comes to its competitors on the market, this doorbell lags behind when it comes to video quality. With that said, the difference is not really that big, and considering the bevy of other great features you’ll be getting, this is a fair trade-off.
2. Google Nest Hello – The Best Doorbell with Facial Recognition
When you’re as big as Google, and already have one of the biggest home automation products out there, it’s no surprise to have your smart doorbell on this list. Google Nest Hello might be the best smart doorbell when it comes to its facial recognition features.
As we just mentioned before, Nest Hello is the king when it comes to facial recognition. It can tell apart objects from people. It can even tell strangers apart from friends. This feature becomes available when you subscribe to Nest Aware.
Another great feature in Nest Hello is the ability to play prerecorded messages when you can’t answer the doorbell. This can also act as a security measure since it also gives the impression that someone is always home.
And lastly, Nest Hello has crisp and clear video footage quality that gives you a perfectly angled view of everything that’s happening on your doorstep. You’ll also be able to examine any person or object in your doorstep thoroughly.
Now, let’s talk about the cons of this Google product. Nest Hello might be the leading smart doorbell when it comes to advanced functionalities such as accurate facial recognition, but it’s not cheap. As a matter of fact, if you want to get the full set of features of the product, then you’ll need a subscription to Nest Aware. What this means is that Nest Hello will cost you more than most other doorbells. With that said, having access to the smartest doorbell shouldn’t be cheap.
3. Eufy Video Doorbell – The Best Smart Doorbell for Privacy Protection
What sets Eufy apart from its competition is how much emphasis it puts on its users’ privacy. With privacy being a big concern in this day and age, this puts Eufy in a very favorable position.
Eufy are not playing around when it comes to their clientele’s privacy. Even when it comes to their footage, they make sure to provide you with enough storage space to keep your camera footage stored locally. The wireless doorbell camera inherently has 4Gb storage capacity, which allows you to store up to a month’s worth of clips. The best thing about having your footage locally stored is that you avoid the risk of being hacked. With that said, Eufy does provide you with the choice of using cloud storage for $2.99 per month.
Additionally, Eufy offers military-grade encryption, which means that your data will be protected no matter what happens. When you couple this with the fact that most of your footage data will likely be locally stored, then you’ve got yourself one of the most secure video doorbells out there.
And lastly, Eufy gives you the ability to set several activity zones if you want to record specific things and optimize your storage space. You can also use this feature to limit the number of false alarms by setting zones that don’t include high-activity areas.
While Eufy offers one of the most secure smart doorbells on the market, it still hasn’t cemented its place as one of the leaders in the field. Since Eufy can be considered relatively new when compared to the rest of the companies, it still has some ways to go until it perfects its doorbells. For instance, the video camera that is used by Eufy is still relatively new. This means that it’s still susceptible to some weird bugs and other behavioral anomalies.
With that said, Eufy is working hard to eliminate these issues by frequently updating their firmware and polishing any issues that might have been submitted by their consumer base. At this rate, Eufy will be among the best in the smart doorbell business in no time.
4. August Doorbell Cam Pro – The Best Video Quality
When it comes to the best video quality, August Doorbell Cam Pro is the best smart doorbell as it stands right now. It offers a variety of great security features that are built-in its camera. Additionally, August offers innovative smart doorbell cameras as well as smart locks that are praised among a lot of people.
One of August doorbell cam’s biggest strengths lies in the smart lock that comes with it. What this means is that you’ll have a great camera with a slew of useful security features, as well as a smart lock for your door to keep your door completely safe and protected.
One of this product’s unique features is the ‘Hindsight Video Capture’ feature. What this feature does is set the camera to record footage seconds before a person approaches and rings the bell. As the name of the feature implies, this allows you to have a better understanding of the context.
Another great thing about August’s smart doorbell is its integrated Floodlight, which makes it possible to record good and clear footage during the night. It also shines a bright light on anyone who approaches the door. This can also be used as a security measure to keep robbers and burglars at bay.
Last but not least, this is one of the easiest smart doorbells when it comes to the installation process. It’s compatible with any wiring that you might have from your existing doorbell. It also includes a USB charger, which allows you to test the doorbell cam before you set it up.
One of the major issues with August’s smart doorbell stems from its bulky design. While it might look stylish, it comes at the price of functionality and convenience. Some people have complained that the doorbell’s square shape makes it awkward to install since most traditional doorbells are rectangular in shape.
This drives us to talk about the issue of its overall bulkiness. The biggest issue this creates is that it makes the installation process harder than it needs to be.
5. Vivint Doorbell Camera – The Best Smart Doorbell for Smart Homes
If you already have a smart home setup and want something that can work seamlessly with what you have, then Vivint Doorbell Camera is the best smart doorbell to get.
Vivint is known as one of the smart home leaders. This is why they made this smart doorbell with smart home compatibility in mind. This is one of its best and strongest features among the rest of the doorbells on this list.
Another unique feature is the fact that this product also comes with professional installation to save you the time and trouble of having to set up the whole thing yourself. While some of the doorbells on this list are easy to set up, this one doesn’t require you to do anything other than watch a professional do it for you.
After you’ve installed the doorbell cam and are ready to start using it, you’ll find plenty of features and options to like. For instance, you have complete control over notifications and alerts and how you receive them. You can even customize the doorbell chime if you want.
Last but not least, Vivint provides you with ample storage space for your video footage as well as an option to use cloud storage or DVR recording. The amount of options is vast and allows you to truly customize to your heart’s content.
The only problem we have with this doorbell is the fact that you have to get the whole package to enjoy this product. What this means is that you’ll be spending a bit more than you would with any other smart doorbell.
All in all, if you’re just looking for a smart doorbell camera, then you might want to look at the other options that we mentioned on this list. However, if you already have a smart home setup and want something to go along with it, then this is definitely the way to go.
6. ADT Video Doorbell Camera – The Best Smart Doorbell for Security Systems
When it comes to security systems, our choice for the best one has to be the ADT smart doorbell. It comes with a 720p camera, mobile alerts, live video streaming, as well as full integration with your pre-existing ADT security system.
If you happen to have an ADT security system set up, then you can use the companion to access all of the cameras that you have. If your security system happens to be entirely made from ADT products, then you can run everything conveniently from one app. With that said, this also means that you have to use an all ADT security system to get the most out of your system.
When it comes to the video camera, you’ll have access to all of the standard features such as two-way communication, night vision as well as HD images.
There’s also the fact that the video doorbell doesn’t require that you already have a doorbell set up. What this means is that you can make use of it, whether you live in a small apartment or a house.
Another great thing about this doorbell camera is that it has an IP65 weatherproof rating. What this means is that it’s very reliable and durable even when put in bad weather conditions.
And lastly, the ADT video doorbell will make sure that you’re always aware of what’s happening on your front door. In addition to recording video footage whenever the motion sensor is triggered, there’s also the option of button-activated recording, which means that you can always record footage whenever you want.
One of our biggest issues with ADT is that the video doorbell can’t be purchased separately. You’ll have to get it as part of the ADT security system. What this means is that you will have to use ADT products alone, which might severely limit your choices.
On top of that, you also need to sign up for the ADT Pulse and video package. This sort of commitment can be rather daunting to a lot of people. ADT will require a 3-year contract with its pro packages, so you need to weigh your options carefully before you make a decision.
Choosing the Best Smart Doorbell For 2020 –Buying Guide
Wired vs. Wireless Video Doorbell
When you’re looking at different smart doorbells, you’ll notice that there are wired smart doorbells and wireless ones that run on batteries. Each type of doorbell has its own pros and cons. For instance, you might be tempted to get a wireless video doorbell. You’ll be saving yourself the trouble of having to set up the wiring and worrying about the installation process.
However, the convenience of battery-powered smart doorbells can only last as long as the batteries themselves. So you’ll be running the risk of having your smart doorbell go out when you least expect it. The majority of smart doorbell batteries can last you anywhere between two and six months, depending on where you live and the overall conditions in which they’re kept.
If you can’t trust yourself to keep your smart doorbell powered up, then you might be better off with a wired one. Even though the installation process might not be as simple as that of a wireless smart doorbell, you’ll be spared the long-term trouble of having to charge your smart doorbell. If you don’t want to bother with the wiring process in the first place, you can call in a professional to set things up for you for a small fee.
Video Doorbell Design and Features
The market is full of different smart doorbell brands and models, each one coming in a different shape and size than the last. In most cases, bulky designs are usually cheaper than slim and compact ones. With that said, it’s important to note that wireless doorbells are inherently bigger and bulkier than their wired counterparts due to them having to rely on batteries.
When it comes to the accessories and features, there are some things that must be present in any smart doorbell. One of the first things you need to keep an eye out for is a video camera that is capable of sending alerts to your phone along with a live video stream. Smart doorbells will also have their own companion app, which will allow you to access the video feed as well as customize all kinds of settings.
What you can change and manipulate will largely depend on the brand. Some brands also feature 1080p video, two-way audio, on-demand video stream, as well as motion detection. Of course, all of these features will result in a more expensive product, but they are definitely worth the extra bucks. Some smart doorbells also offer customizable motion zones that allow you to minimize the occurrences of false alarms that might have been caused by passing cars, high winds, or any other arbitrary factor.
Additionally, you might find smart doorbells that feature facial recognition to varying degrees of precision. Some video doorbells can even distinguish friends and family from strangers. Other models can also identify people by name.
In most cases, video doorbells don’t come with local storage. Instead, you’ll have to make a subscription to a cloud service if you want to access any recorded clips. Most of these subscriptions will cost you about $3. With that said, you can find smart doorbells that offer local storage for recorded video. These models are not as common, but they’re also not too rare either.
Compatibility with Other Smart Home Tech
Most home security systems you’ll come across will offer smart doorbells as an add-on component. With that said, you need to keep in mind that these doorbells can’t work independently from a system hub. They are meant to be a part of the whole smart home package. What this means is that they’ll be able to interact with the different smart home components. This can be a great thing if you already own a smart home security system and just want an add-on device in the form of a video doorbell. However, if you’re just looking to buy a smart doorbell separately, then you’ll need to get something with IFTTT support. IFTTT is an internet service that stands for ‘IF This Then That.’ It allows you to effortlessly create applets, which are small programs that allow IFTTT-enabled devices to communicate with each other.
Another cool feature that you might find in some smart doorbells is Alexa voice commands support. This will allow you to view the live stream on an Amazon-enabled display. All you have to do is say “Alexa, show the front door,” and you’ll have access to the live video stream on your Amazon-enabled display.
Picking the Best Smart Doorbell For 2020 –Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between video doorbells and smart home security cameras?
Even though home security cameras and video doorbells share a lot of the same functionalities, there are some major differences that set them apart from each other. The biggest difference between the two is the fact that home security cameras lack the doorbell component.
Additionally, outdoor security cameras and doorbells don’t feed on the same power outlet. The former requires a GFCI outlet while the latter uses the existing low-voltage wiring.