Video doorbell FAQs and buying advice
What is the best video doorbell?
The Eufy E340 is currently my favourite video doorbell. I favour any video doorbell that stores footage locally instead of requiring you to pay a monthly fee for cloud storage. But what makes the E340 especially good is that it has two lenses – one can be used to spot and monitor deliveries on your doorstep.
The main camera records in sharp 2K resolution, plus there’s colour night vision and the option to integrate with Eufy’s excellent home alarm system, complete with security cameras and the company’s HomeBase, which uses AI to increase the doorbell’s abilities and acts as a central video storage unit.
My favourite budget video doorbell is the Blink video doorbell. It costs just £50, yet is easy to set up, records good-quality video, and works very well. In fact, it has all the features you really need from a video doorbell, without the unnecessary extras and increased costs of others. I’d recommend you buy it with Blink’s sync module 2, and you get subscription-free local storage too, so there are no ongoing costs. At the time of writing, the new Tapo D235 is also excellent value for money, since it has been reduced to £89.99 at Amazon.
Finally, my favourite video doorbell from Ring is the battery pro model. It’s more expensive than most, at £200, but includes 3D motion tracking powered by radar, which effectively turns a doorbell into a fully-fledged security camera. It even plots the motion of trespassers on a satellite view of your land, and provides a time-lapse summary of everything it has seen each day. Just remember that Ring doorbells have no local storage, so you’ll need to pay monthly or annually for Ring’s subscription service, which adds extra features and unlocks cloud video storage.
How do video doorbells work?
Video doorbells work as both a doorbell and a security camera. They mount to a flat surface, such as a wall, fence or door frame, connect to your wifi network, and have a button for visitors to press, which then sends an alert to your smartphone. You can then either answer the door as normal or tap on that alert, and a video call will begin between your phone and the doorbell. You can then chat with the visitor, telling them you’ll be there in a moment, or that you’re not home and the courier should leave the parcel with your neighbour.
As for being a security camera, video doorbells can also be configured to alert you and start recording when they detect motion nearby. So if someone is loitering by your door, footage of them will be saved either to the doorbell itself or uploaded to a cloud storage service, depending on the make and model of video doorbell you buy.
Battery vs wired: Which is best?
Most video doorbells include a battery and can be used without touching your existing doorbell wiring. Battery life varies depending on usage, but in testing, I’ve found that several months between charges is possible. Almost all battery-powered doorbells can be recharged, either by plugging the doorbell into a charger or taking the battery out and charging it separately. Blink is an exception here, since its budget doorbell uses disposable AA batteries instead.
Wired doorbells tend to be cheaper and smaller, but require some basic electrical knowledge, since they are powered from your existing doorbell wiring. Professional installation isn’t a requirement, but you might want to consider it if you aren’t comfortable with handling doorbell wiring yourself.
Battery-powered doorbells can often be connected to the original wiring, too. This draws power from the existing chime box, if your home has one, which tops up the video doorbell’s battery and means you don’t have to remove it for recharging.
Do all video doorbells work with Apple Home?
No, unfortunately not. Apple’s Home app – which is the user interface of its HomeKit smart home platform – doesn’t work with as many products as rivals like Amazon Alexa and Google Home. As of 2025, only a handful of video doorbells work with the system, including the Logitech circle view, Robin ProLine, Yobi B3, and the Aqara G410, which is my current favourite.
How are video doorbells powered?
Almost every video doorbell has the option for connecting to your home’s existing doorbell wiring. Most come with a couple of connectors that simply screw into place and draw power from the old wiring. They generally do not work with your old doorbell’s chime.
Many video doorbells also have a rechargeable battery, which lasts for between several weeks and several months (depending on usage) before it needs to be taken out and charged. Some video doorbells can top up this battery with a solar panel (usually sold separately but occasionally included in the box), meaning you might never need to charge the battery yourself.
Lastly, some video doorbells are, very occasionally, powered by Ethernet. This is a great option if you want to install the doorbell a long way from your wifi router – by the gate at the end of your drive, for example – since it won’t be reliant on a wireless internet connection.
Should I install a video myself or get professional help?
In almost all cases, video doorbells are easy to install, requiring just a screwdriver and possibly a drill. They come with a mounting plate and all the screws and wall plugs you need (usually four) to install on a flat surface like a wall or door frame. You’ll need a screwdriver and potentially a drill, but that’s it. The app often includes detailed instructions for mounting and wiring up the doorbell, as shown below.
Do I need a subscription for my video doorbell?
This depends on which make of video doorbell you buy. Ring is the most popular brand, and while its doorbells perform very well, they do not save any video recordings unless you pay for a cloud storage subscription. Ring’s products still work like a doorbell, buzzing your phone and opening a video call when a visitor presses the button, but don’t function as a proper security camera unless you pay a monthly or annual fee.
Other doorbells, like those from Eufy, Ezviz and Swann, store recordings locally, either on the doorbell itself or a microSD card installed in the doorbell, or in a separate unit inside your home. Paying for cloud storage is often still an option with these models, too, but not the practical necessity it is with Ring. That said, if you plan to install a full Ring security system, with an alarm and multiple cameras, the same subscription provides cloud storage and extra features for all of these.
What are the key features to look for in a video doorbell?
Video resolution and the field-of-view of the lens are key attributes to look out for. While the former is obvious – a higher resolution generally means better video quality – the latter is vital for a video doorbell. A wider lens means a broader view out from your door, with the best video doorbells giving a view that stretches from the visitor’s head to their feet, and to parcels left on the doorstep.
On that note, some video doorbells also have a second camera, installed specifically to focus on the doorstep and used to alert you when a parcel has been left there. Some models even use AI to issue a warning (and send you a message) when someone approaches the parcel. Speaking of AI, some new video doorbells from Swann have an AI voice capable of having a real-time conversation with visitors.
Another key feature is night vision. All video doorbells have it, but while some make do with an infrared system that produces black-and-white footage in low light, others have full-colour night vision. Useful for capturing evidence like the colour of a car that drove off after crashing into yours late one night.
How I tested video doorbells
I installed and used each of the video doorbells featured in this guide before awarding a star rating and coming to a conclusion.
As with all the devices I test, I compiled a list of factors to consider while using each video doorbell. Each one was installed and used in a real UK home to assess how it performs day to day, focusing specifically on the following criteria:
- Ease of installation: I looked at how simple it was to mount the doorbell, connect it to wifi and complete setup via the companion app, including wiring or battery options.
- Video quality: I assessed the resolution, field of view and clarity in both daylight and low-light conditions, including colour and infrared night vision.
- Speed and reliability: I gauged how quickly notifications arrived after motion was detected or the doorbell was pressed, plus how fast a live video call connected.
- Audio performance: I considered the quality of two-way audio when speaking to visitors, including the clarity of the doorbell speaker itself.
- Motion detection and smart features: I noted the accuracy of motion alerts, the effectiveness of person, parcel and vehicle detection, and the usefulness of AI features such as package alerts or voice responses. It was a bonus if the device featured integration with platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit, or any wider home security systems.
- Storage and subscriptions: I recorded whether footage was stored locally or required a paid subscription, what features were locked behind paywalls and whether ongoing costs felt justified.
- Battery life: My tests included exploring charging convenience, be it wired or solar powered.
- App experience (where applicable): I judged the user experience, customisation options (such as motion zones and notifications) and ease of integrating the smartphone app into my day-to-day workings.
- Overall value for money: I weighed up how features, performance and long-term costs compared with rival products at similar price points.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The Independent is committed to providing unbiased reviews and expert shopping advice across a range of home improvement products. Our team of experts has spent years testing and rating the latest smart home tech in our homes, gardens and under real-world conditions, so you can be sure our verdicts are authentic and based on personal experience with each product featured.
When it comes to video doorbells, Alistair Charlton is a journalist who specialises in consumer tech. Having reviewed everything from the best home security cameras to the best Ring video doorbells, he’s an expert in protecting your home. His experience is why you can trust his verdict on the best video doorbells. Alistair has conducted extensive research, but more importantly, he’s used each of these doorbells in the same way you would. He has assessed the design and build quality of each doorbell, the installation process, the smartphone app used to control them, and their performance. Features, reliability, speed and video quality were all tested, along with extra functions like AI-powered object recognition and voice. You can be sure his verdict is authentic and based on personal experience with each product featured.
