The Best Smart Video Doorbell Cameras in 2020

Overview

We tested the most popular smart doorbell cameras to make it easy for you to find the best one for your home. We compare installation, features, quality, and how much they’re going to cost you.

Best doorbell camera: Nest Hello

Nest Hello pros and cons

Why we recommend Nest Hello

While most doorbell cameras tell you when someone is at your door, the Nest Hello can tell you who is at your door. That’s really cool.

The Hello’s Intelligent Alert feature is the superpower that lets the Nest Hello tell the difference between a person and other things the camera picks up. Now you can see if it’s just the neighbor’s cat crossing your doorstep or a stranger.

We also like Nest Hello’s stylish design and high-tech features like sound and motion detection and 8x digital zoom. And, because this is a hardwired camera (warning—setup can be tricky), it’s on the job 24/7, which means you’ll never miss a thing.

But you can’t take advantage of the Hello’s coolest features (facial recognition, five-day video history, and continuous recording) without a Nest Aware subscription. The good news is that it’s only around $5 a month, but the bummer is that without it you basically have an intercom with a really impressive video feature.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Nest Hello is one of the most advanced video doorbells on the market. It requires a monthly subscription to save video, but we think you'll be happy if you want to get an outdoor security camera and video doorbell in one. Plus, it works with the whole Nest ecosystem, so it’s easy to add a Nest thermostat or the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm.

>>Get the Nest Hello doorbell.

>>Read our full Nest Hello doorbell review.

Best wireless doorbell camera: Ring Video Doorbell 2

Ring Video Doorbell 2 pros and cons

Why we recommend Ring Video Doorbell 2

If you’re renting a house or you simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of hardwiring your doorbell camera, the Ring 2 is your best option. It can be hardwired, but if you’re going that route, you might as well opt for the slimmer Ring Pro.

The Ring 2 is a lot bulkier than the original Ring Video Doorbell, but it records crisp 1080p video, delivers on-demand live video, and stores clips in the Ring Cloud for up to two months. Getting ongoing video storage requires you to pay for a Ring Protect plan.

The Basic Protect Plan starts at $3 per month (a little cheaper than Nest’s subscription service) and offers motion alerts, custom motion detection settings, live HD video, and 60 days of video storage.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Ring Video Doorbell 2 offers the best of both worlds—you can hardwire it, but it’s designed to be wireless. This doorbell camera is the ideal choice for renters and anyone who doesn’t want to try their hand at electrical work.

>>Get the Ring Video Doorbell 2.

>>Read our full Ring Video Doorbell review or compare Ring vs. Ring 2.

Best for your budget: SkyBell Trim Video Doorbell

Get advanced features and a few extra dollars in your pocket. SkyBell sets itself apart with color night vision, sharp video, and free cloud storage.

SkyBell Trim Video Doorbell pros and cons

Why we recommend the SkyBell Trim 

Considering how feature-rich the SkyBell is, it’s surprising that you don’t have to pay a monthly fee to get access to all the perks—including free cloud storage. That will save you a good amount of money over time, considering other plans range from $3 to $5 per month. Plus, the SkyBell’s purchase price is a few bucks lower than other video doorbells.

Some of our favorite features include color night vision and a quiet mode that lets you turn off the chime if you’ve got little ones napping. SkyBell also has the highest level of weather and rain resistance of all the video doorbells we tested.

Beyond its features, the SkyBell HD camera delivers sharper video and more reliable motion activation than the spottier Ring cameras. But we’ve been disappointed with SkyBell’s track record for serving customers. That’s one area where this company could step it up. 

ASecureLife’s recommendation: If you’re a bargain shopper—or you simply like to get the biggest bang for your buck—you won’t get more for your money than with the SkyBell Trim Video Doorbell. It retails for a bit less than other doorbell cameras, and SkyBell doesn’t charge you extra to access its robust features or use cloud storage.

>>Get the SkyBell HD doorbell.

>>Read our full SkyBell HD doorbell review.

Best for video capture: August Doorbell Cam Pro

An attractive doorbell camera with high-quality video, the August Doorbell Cam Pro makes it easy to save and capture video footage.

August Doorbell Cam Pro pros and cons

Why we recommend the August Doorbell Cam Pro

The August Doorbell Cam Pro uses the same resolution as a GoPro (960p HD) which gives you a higher frame rate for improved motion capture. That means you can slow down footage while maintaining clearer video, letting you get a clear view of whoever’s at your door.

We’re big fans of August’s HindSight feature, which lets you see the full story when you review a motion-activated event. Other doorbell cameras have a delay of one to three seconds between when motion is detected and when they start recording. The HindSight feature retroactively records a few seconds of footage before a motion detection event, giving you extra context when you need to review a video.

If you’ve been looking into smart locks for your home, you can pair this doorbell with the August Smart Lock. Combined, these two smart home devices let you see, talk to, and open the door for people on your porch—no matter where you are.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: You won’t miss a thing with the August Doorbell Cam Pro. Its HindSight feature makes sure you catch every second of action when the motion sensor is activated. Video delay is a common complaint with motion-activated video, but August seems to have solved that problem. But the setup is tricky, so call in some handy reinforcements or consider hiring an electrician to get it set up correctly.

>>Get the August Doorbell Cam Pro.

>>Read our full August Doorbell Cam Pro review.

Best slim doorbell camera: Ring Video Doorbell Pro

Ring Video Doorbell Pro pros and cons

Why we recommend the Ring Video Doorbell Pro

Ring Pro has a lot in common with the Ring 2 except it’s slimmer and requires hardwiring. It’s a better option if you’re tight on space or if you don’t want to deal with Ring 2’s rechargeable battery.

We also think the Ring Pro performs a little better in terms of video quality, even though its tech specs are similar to the Ring 2’s.

Both Ring doorbells we recommend work with the Ring Alarm security system that was released in July 2018. You can control all the aspects of the Ring security system in the Ring app. That means you won’t lose precious moments during an emergency opening multiple apps to see what’s going on at home.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: It’s no secret that we like Ring video doorbells. This one delivers better aesthetics than other smart doorbells, and its slim profile means it’s easier to fit in spaces designed for traditional doorbells. But it requires a subscription and is known to have Wi-Fi connection issues. Still, if you want a doorbell that won’t distract from your perfectly posh porch, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro could be the perfect stylish choice.

>>Get the Ring Video Doorbell Pro.

>>Read our Ring Alarm security system review.

Other brands we considered

SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro

If you have a SimpliSafe home security system, it’s worth looking into the new SimpliSafe doorbell camera. It offers a 1080p resolution and 160° field of view. It also gives you features like two-way audio, motion sensor alerts, and pan and zoom. Even if you don’t have a SimpliSafe system, you can still use this smart doorbell camera on its own with the SimpliSafe app.

>>Get the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro or read our full review.

Arlo Audio Doorbell

If you don’t need a camera, or if you already have Arlo cameras on your porch, the Arlo Audio Doorbell is a cheaper alternative to the video doorbells above. Arlo’s wireless doorbell gives you features like visitor messaging, remote communication, and seven days of free cloud storage for audio recordings.

>>Get the Arlo Audio Doorbell

Blink Doorbell

Amazon hasn’t yet released its Blink Video Doorbell, but it’s something to keep your eye on if you’re looking for a doorbell camera. The camera is going to be wireless with live video streaming, two-way audio, night vision, and motion detection. And it might cost considerably less than the wireless Ring 2.

Our recommendation

We really like the Nest Hello—it’s the most solid all-around video doorbell camera for both aesthetics and function. If you’re willing to get the electrical work done, and if you’re okay with the slightly higher price tag ($229 compared to $199 for most other doorbell cameras), then it’s simply the best smart video doorbell on the market right now.

• For renters: If you’re renting a place and don’t want to deal with complicated wiring, or if you’d rather opt for a wireless doorbell camera, the Ring 2 is your best bet.
• For smart home fans: If you want a doorbell camera that works with a keyless door lock, we recommend the August Doorbell Cam Pro. It works seamlessly with August’s smart locks to give you extra security and convenience—all from one app.

Things to consider about smart video doorbells

Should I get a wired or a wireless video doorbell?

It depends on your living situation and your preferences. Most video doorbells are connected to your existing doorbell’s wiring, but wireless options are available. If you own your home, wiring in a new smart doorbell makes sense so you don’t have to remember to change dead batteries. But if you’re a renter it could be a hassle to chase down your landlord for permission to change out the doorbell—and they could tell you no.

We also found in testing that some of our homes didn’t have the doorbell placed in the best spot to keep an eye on what was happening. If you want to use your smart doorbell as a security camera, you might choose to put a wireless video doorbell in a location that’s better for security, regardless of preexisting wiring.

Is it worth it to add a subscription to my doorbell camera?

We think so. Even though none of us like having another monthly expense, the $3 to $5 subscription prices aren’t bad. That’s one fancy coffee splurge per month, which we think is worth it to get cloud storage and other features like facial recognition.

Do I need more internet speed to support a Wi-Fi doorbell?

It depends on what you plan to do with your doorbell camera. If all you’re using it for is to answer the door and say hi to the kids after school, you shouldn’t see it impact your Wi-Fi network speeds or data usage much.

Most of the video doorbells we tried performed best with an upload speed of about 2 Mbps. If you upload and store a lot of video clips, that could slow down your upload speed or impact your data usage. But in our experience, it didn’t make a big difference.

What are the benefits of connecting a smart doorbell to other smart home devices?

When you integrate your video doorbell camera with other smart gadgets like a smart lock or Amazon Alexa, you can get extra security, extra convenience, and extra fun. Here are a few of our favorite ways to combine the power of a smart doorbell with other home automation devices.

• Thwart porch pirates. Connect your video doorbell to a smart garage door opener. Use the two-way audio from the doorbell to direct the delivery person to leave your goods in the garage—which you can open from an app no matter where you are.
• Guarantee a quiet naptime. Use voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Home to tell your smart doorbell it’s time to silence the chime. You won’t have to fumble for your smartphone while you’re rocking your little one to sleep.
• Come home to paradise. Whether you’ve been on vacation or just survived another day at the grind, come home to a door that opens when you approach (no fumbling for keys or dropping groceries), a warm glow from lights that are already on, and the perfect temperature to put you instantly at ease. When you connect your video doorbell to other home automation devices, you can set up routines that are triggered the moment your video doorbell senses your approach.

Contributing author: Rebecca Edwards