'This subscription-free doorbell is one of the best things I've ever bought – here's why I rate it for boosting home security'

There's nothing more annoying than investing in the best video doorbell, only to find out that you have to pay a monthly subscription to make it worthwhile.

So when our content director Laura Crombie put the Anker Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340 (available on Amazon) to the test, she was pleased to find that there were no nasty fees waiting on the other side – unlike with other cameras she had used in the past.

From package detection to facial recognition, there's lots to love about this subscription-free doorbell, as Laura has discovered after years of using it in her home. Below, she's shared her thoughts on whether it could be right for yours, too.

Anker Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340: specs

Tested by

Tested by

Laura Crombie

Laura Crombie is Content Director for Homebuilding & Renovating and has been a homes journalist for more than 17 years. She’s DIY-renovated three properties and written about decorating and design for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Metro. She’s currently renovating a four-bedroom detached house in Worcestershire. Outside of written journalism, she’s a TV presenter for QVC and Crufts.

Anker Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340: first impressions and set-up

The Anker Eufy E340 comes in two options: hardwired or battery powered. Laura opted for the latter and was impressed by how easy it was to install – she simply mounted it next to the front door following the instructions.

In the box, you'll receive:

• A video doorbell unit
• A rechargeable battery pack
• A USB-C charging cable
• A mounting bracket
• A 15-degree mounting adapter
• A screw positioning card
• Two extension cables
• A detaching pin
• A warming sticker
• A quick start guide

To view the footage and live recordings, Laura uses the Eufy app, which was "simple to download" and, unlike many other video doorbells, is free to use. It also lets multiple people access the footage, so both she and her husband have downloaded the app.

"We also have two mains-powered floodlight cameras and an Anker Eufy HomeBase to connect all our devices and store video footage," she adds.

Anker Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340: performance

With a 2K HD resolution, this doorbell offers good picture quality for monitoring your home and strikes a happy middle ground between premium 4K options and budget HD models. Laura says that, across all of her Anker Eufy devices, the quality is "excellent".

The doorbell boasts two different cameras – a front-facing one to focus on people and a downward-facing one to show you the view in front of your door – which Laura says is handy for seeing what parcels have been delivered.

The camera also has colour night vision with a range of up to five feet, so you can feel secure in your home no matter the time of day. That's not the only security feature Laura loved – it can also differentiate between humans and animals, so you don't have to worry about pointless alarms being triggered constantly.

"It never sets off at night when the fox comes to visit, or when the neighbour's cat comes for its evening stroll," says Laura. "You can also set it to recognise people who come regularly and it's very accurate – even with the children as they grow and change. Ours is linked to our Alexa so it clearly alerts us when somebody is detected. The only time it has got confused is when there's a spider on the lens."

"It gets a lot of activations as we're busy renovating our front garden, so we set it off a lot. The only time it isn't reliable is if the power goes down and there's no internet – otherwise, it's brilliant."

Since Laura's area doesn't have floodlights, she was pleased to discover that the Anker Eufy E340 features two motion-sensor lights at the top and bottom. These don't just add an extra level of security but also help with visibility up the driveway.

The two-way talk feature lets Laura hear and speak to visitors at her door from anywhere in the world, with the option to set up six pre-saved Quick Replies for when you don't have time to get into a long conversation.

When it comes to battery life, Laura says it lasts "a really long time" and she only has to charge it four or five times a year.

Anker Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340: final verdict

While the Anker Eufy E340 might be a tad more expensive to buy upfront compared to rivals such as Ring (also on Amazon), you'd potentially have to splash out more in the long run if you want access to recorded footage. And for many people, this is one of the main reasons they invest in a doorcam in the first place.

So, in short, is it worth your money? "Yes, absolutely," Laura confirms. "We've had better-known brands before but they required monthly subscriptions, which I found really annoying.

"Cost per use, the doorbell has to be one of the best things we've bought. I genuinely think for the price and ability to build a full home security ecosystem, it's hard to beat."

For more of our top tried-and-tested security picks, read our Toucan Wireless Camera S4 review or our EZVIZ EP3X Pro Dual Camera Video Doorbell review. Or, you may want to learn about the rules of video doorbells in the UK.