But not all video doorbells are created equal. Check out our top picks for the best video doorbells and join the forces of porch protection. The Nest Hello solves that problem by giving you smarter alerts about the stuff you care about. Plus, it can tell the difference between a visitor and a car (or a waving tree branch), so you don’t get motion notifications for nothing. The subscription is definitely worth it, but it is an extra bill on your plate every month. Plan to spend $6 per month for the lowest-priced plan. The Arlo Video Doorbell can actually call your phone when people come to visit, so you don’t miss telling the delivery person to please hide your package behind the flower pot. The Eufy Video Doorbell combines exceptional 2K video quality with encrypted local storage, so you don’t have to worry about your personal footage being leaked to the masses. That also means you don’t have to shell out money every month for a cloud storage subscription plan like you do with Arlo and Nest. You can also choose between a battery-powered or hardwired model. We recommend the hardwired model if you can swing it because the battery model doesn’t have quite the same features. This doorbell camera doesn’t have AI features either, like facial recognition or package detection. To top it all off, the Eufy Video Doorbell doesn’t work with your existing doorbell chime. Instead, it comes with a chime you plug into your wall. If your main concern is privacy and security, but you still want a high-quality doorbell camera, then the Eufy is an excellent choice. But it’s not quite the smartest option out there. The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro breaks that stereotype. It works with your whole Vivint system (which is our favorite home security system, by the way), and it gives you top features like 1080p resolution and smart alerts. This doorbell cam can tell you when there’s a package on your porch, or when there’s a person standing at your door. You’ll know exactly what’s happening with just a glance at your phone. Keep in mind that the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro doesn’t have facial recognition, so it doesn’t actually know if that person on your porch is you or a stranger. You risk getting yelled at by your own camera. But if you want that ADT name on your yard sign, then Blue by ADT is more affordable than the traditional ADT security system—and the camera quality is frankly a lot better. We also like that, as with other Amcrest cameras, the Amcrest Video Doorbell lets you use some third-party apps to control the camera and view your footage. Blue Iris fans, take note. When you record interactions through the Amcrest camera, you also have to manually select the record button in the live view to start recording. And, even then, the camera will only record one side of the conversation: the doorbell’s side. What does that mean, you ask? It just means that the camera will capture what happened four seconds before you actually get an alert. Which is useful if you want to see people’s faces and where they came from before they’re actually on your porch. If you opt for a hardwired camera, then you can get this same feature in better quality. But if you need a battery-powered doorbell camera, then this model is the only one that can do the rollback thing. Until it steps up its security and privacy methods, Ring is not our top pick for video doorbells. But, as battery-powered models go, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has some compelling features. Just know what you’re getting into before you buy. Google Nest Hello: Best technology—The Google Nest Hello has awesome tech features and smart alerts that will make your life easier. Just be prepared to pay for a monthly Nest Aware subscription. Arlo Video Doorbell: Best value—The Arlo Video Doorbell is more affordable than the Nest and almost as smart. But similarly, you’ll want to opt for a monthly Arlo Smart subscription to get access to the best features. Eufy Video Doorbell: Most secure—If you’re concerned about privacy, then the Eufy Video Doorbell is a good choice. It has secure local storage and still gives you excellent video quality. Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro: Best for a security system—The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro works with your Vivint security system and is a lot better than other security systems’ video doorbells. You’ll get smart alerts and features like Smart Sentry™. Blue by ADT Doorbell Camera: Best reputation—The Blue Doorbell Camera gives you the ADT name without the contract. It’s a bit expensive, but you do get HD resolution and facial recognition technology. Amcrest Video Doorbell: Best NVR option—If you want storage options, then Amcrest has them. The Amcrest Video Doorbell lets you store footage on an NVR device, a microSD card, or in the cloud. Ring Video Doorbell 3: Best battery-powered—Ring has faced some criticism over its security and privacy practices, but its Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has a neat rollback feature you won’t find in other battery-powered cameras. Just be aware of the privacy risks. Do you use a video doorbell camera? Do you have a favorite model? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
