Our guide to the 6 best video doorbells to improve security and make sure you never miss a delivery again

The best video doorbells can be a valuable investment as part of your home security costs. Giving you peace of mind that you can see who is at the front door, they can also help prevent missed deliveries and give you the confidence of knowing that children or relatives have safely arrived home – and on time.

But with a vast array on offer, how do you choose the best video doorbell for you and your home? From wireless to wired, integrated to independent and budget through to big bucks, there are a myriad of choices available.

To help narrow down the selection, we've picked six of the best video doorbells and ranked them based on their strengths and ability to suit a number of different needs, so you can press the buzzer on whatever suits you best.

The quick list

Want to jump straight to the chase? Welcome to the quick list, a brief overview of the best video doorbells we've chosen and a link to read about them in more detail. Perfect for those of you who know exactly the category that matters the most, an easy way to head straight to your preferred brand, or go straight to the best video doorbell that will will work with your existing smart home tech.

Best subscription free model

With dual cameras and excellent clarity thanks to the 2KFHD, you get to see exactly who is at your front door, and also see any parcels that have been left on the floor.

But, for us, the biggest appeal is that the Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340 Dual product is subscription free. This means you can access on average up to 90 days of video recordings, without having to pay a monthly fee.

It can also be used with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or used as part of a wider Eufy home security system which is exactly what Laura Crombie, Homebuilding & Renovating's content director did, and why she'd recommend Eufy as one of the best home security systems without a subscription.

The motion sensor lights and full colour night vision also ensure the video doorbell works just as well during the day as at night time. Hold a two way conversation with whoever is at the door using the Eufy app, or record a series of different messages to play if you are away.

It comes with the battery as standard but it needs to be left in, even if using it as a wired model. There's also an external chime, or you can pair it with the Eufy HomeBase S280, HomeBase S380 or MiniBase Chime(T8023).

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Best for Google Home

The Google Nest Doorbell comes in both a battery and wireless operated version, but for users of Google Home, the battery version has built in intelligence that will sent you an in-app notification. What's more, it can also identify between person, package, animal and vehicle.

Easily installed on a wall, it has ‎night vision, a built in mic and HD resolution giving you crisp clear video quality. And, as it's powered by battery, you'll still be able to use it even in a power cut.

Its 3:4 vertical ratio also means you can see people from head to toe, as well as any parcels left on the ground. If you miss a notification, you also get 3 hours of free event video history, meaning you can go back and check what happened. If you prefer a longer time frame, you can add a Nest Aware package to extend this to 60 days.

As with some of the other models, you can also pre-record messages if you aren't able to speak in person.

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Best for Alexa users

This is the newest generation of the Ring Video Doorbell and comes with a quick release rechargeable battery. Its head to toe vision range, night camera and motion detection gives you full knowledge of who or what is at your door.

Privacy Zone settings also allow you to block out certain areas from the camera's view so you don't get unnecessary notifications if there is activity in these areas – handy if there is a public pathway relatively near to your front door for example. This will also help to conserve the battery power. This may be useful as some users suggest the battery can drain quite quickly, despite the fact it should last around 4-6 months at a time.

Add a Ring Home subscription service (sold separately) and you can also get Package Alerts, use modes to arm or disarm your devices when you're home or away and save your recorded videos for up to 180 days to rewatch any time.

Installation is easy, with a 5-10 minute set up suggested, and the video doorbell is easy to use via the Ring app. Or, you can connect it to Alexa-enabled devices for hands-free use. When motion at the door is detected, your Echo device or Fire TV device can notify you. You can also ask Alexa to answer the front door allowing you to see, hear and speak to the visitors at your door.

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Best for wide angle view

Offering one of the widest views of the best video doorbells, the Tapo D230S1 has a head to toe 160 degree diagonal view point with 2K 5MP clarity giving you crystal clear vision.

Notifications come via the Tapo app, or you can connect it to your Amazon Alexa or Google Home. That said, it also comes with a ring chime you can plug inside your house for greater audio notifications.

The colour night vision means you can see visitors clearly both day and night. Smart AI algorithms also identify people, pet, packages and cars and you can choose to store video footage either using a hub-installed microSD card (up to 512 GB) or pay extra and upgrade to add the Tapo Care cloud storage services.

Worried someone might try to remove the video doorbell to avoid detection? Don't be, it comes with a built in alarm if anyone tries to tamper with it. It's battery operated and like most, offers 6 months battery life but this will depend on how often it's used.

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Best for apartments

The wireless Ring Peephole camera is designed to replace the standard peephole on your front door and comes in two different sizes, so make sure you check the width of your door before purchasing.

Once installed, the video doorbell will detect motion using high quality video resolution, and record video too.

The unit features an 1080p camera using High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, as well as three infrared LEDs for night vision. Using the Ring app you can also customise motion sensors, and the microphone and speaker enable two-way audio.

Installation is easy too. Simply place the doorbell on the door with the cable and tube feeding through the existing peephole, then pull the back part of the camera into place and screw on a retaining clip (provided), holding it in place.

Like most battery powered video doorbells, you’ll need to recharge the battery every few months depending on your usage.

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Best for Apple HomeKit

If you've set up your smart home system based on the Apple HomeKit, this is the recommended video doorbell to use. Featuring a wide angle camera, indoor chime, you can also use the voice changing facility so that you sound like someone else, something that could be an added security feature if you live alone for example.

Infrared night vision ensures clear sight of visitors at all times of day, and you can also take advantage of additional alarm settings that will notify you of other disturbances such as break ins, water leaks and more.

Power by battery, or wire-in where the current connections are suitable. You can also access video footage via your iCloud account, although it's also possible to access 7 days worth of free storage without any subscription.

For more peace of mind, a micro SD card that captures video footage can be inserted in the chime that's placed indoors meaning it's tamper free. And, while you can get notifications on most devices such as Apple TV, iPads and iPhones, there is also an Aqara app should you wish to use this when away from home.

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FAQs

How should you choose the best video doorbell?

When browsing the best video doorbells for your home, it's recommended you consider the following aspects to make sure you buy one that meets your needs:

Battery vs wired

Although many video doorbells now come with the option of being battery operated, or hardwired in if you have a suitable existing wired doorbell, there are pros and cons to each option.

Battery-powered video doorbells are easy to install and don’t require you to mess with any wiring, but batteries can deplete quickly depending on use, and you may have to replenish them fairly regularly. However, you can maximise the battery life by adjusting the doorbell's motion sensors.

Hard-wired video doorbells are not quite as easy to install, but you don’t have to worry about power running out. If you can't utilise existing doorbell wiring, you can use a plug-in transformer or hire an electrician to fit the doorbell for you. Some models also come with a solar panel option too giving you free green energy.

Video quality

The higher resolution you opt for, the sharper the image you'll receive, which will make it easier to identify people at your door. Look out for a video doorbell with 1080p quality vision (around two million pixels) for a great display.

Smart home compatability

Your video doorbell can be integrated with your smart home in several ways. Models that support IFTTT (If This Then That) means you can make your devices interact with each other – turning the lights on when the doorbell rings after a certain time of day, for example.

Subscription services

While there are many great features available out of the box on many models, it's worthwhile just checking the additional features that are available with a subscription, as for just a small amount extra per month you could add invaluable elements and extra peace of mind.

How do the best video doorbells work?

Video doorbells connect to your WiFi, and let you view who's at your door from your smartphone. But unlike old security cameras from days gone by, the best video doorbells have crystal clear smart displays which show you who's at your door.

Video doorbells also offer connectivity with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Homekit, so you can make your smart speaker play an alert when someone is at the door, or talk to them through the speaker.

The best models also have built-in motion detection, and will record video whenever someone enters your chosen range of motion. And although some doorbells record video all the time, on others, when the doorbell is triggered, it will send an alert to your app, so you can view a stream of what's happening on your doorstep. Just make sure you are aware of the laws surrounding video doorbells to make sure you don't break any when recording visitors to your home.

How do you test?

Here at Homebuilding.co.uk we like to get our hands dirty and trial as many products as possible, but in the instances where we aren’t able to, we leave no stone unturned to provide you with the crucial information you need to know before buying.

Our team is passionate about DIY and home improvement (which probably won’t be a surprise) so we already have knowledge about the brands and products that should be included in these guides, or maybe we already have them in our own homes.

We also take into account user reviews when compiling this buying guide, and gleaned key information from other trusted reviewers.