One of the downsides with smart video doorbells is that you’ll need to pay an additional monthly subscription to unlock the full feature set and, most importantly, view recorded video. If you’re looking to keep that cost down, here are some great video doorbell options with inexpensive subscriptions.
1 Aqara Video Doorbell G4
If you want to use cloud video storage for recorded videos, and don’t want to pay a dime, the Aqara Video Doorbell G4 is your best bet. You can store and review video recordings for the last seven days for free. After that time, the video is deleted.
The catch is that, with the free option, each video clip is limited to 6 seconds. If you want to record and view longer recordings, you can pay $4.99 a month for 30 days of storage and no time limit.
There’s no need to worry about how you’ll power your doorbell (existing wiring or battery) as the Aqara model offers both options. The battery can provide up to four months of use with 6 AA cells. With 1080p resolution, the camera has a 162-degree field of view so you can see a wide field of view.
An indoor chime is included with a loudspeaker so you won’t miss anyone at the door. It also doubles as a repeater for a more stable connection to your home network. To protect your privacy when talking with visitors, the two-way audio features allow you to disguise your voice with options like a robot.
The doorbell supports all three major smart home platforms—Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home. Make sure to find out which smart home ecosystem is best for your needs.
2 Blink Video Doorbell
While it might not be as well-known as fellow Amazon-owned brand Ring, Blink offers an inexpensive video doorbell with a low-cost cloud video recording option. With the Blink Video Doorbell, you can subscribe to the Blink Basic Plan for $3 per month or $30 per year. Subscribers can make use of unlimited cloud space for 60 days of storage.
Blink’s option can also be used with current doorbell wiring or with 2 AA batteries. If you choose to use the existing wires for installation, it will use the chime box already installed in a home. The batteries can provide power for up to 2 years of use before needing to be changed. The video camera provides 1080p resolution and works during the day and at night with infrared vision.
Since it’s an Amazon product, the doorbell is only compatible with Alexa. With an Echo smart speaker, you can receive alerts and talk to a visitor with two-way audio. You can also see a live video of your front door with an Amazon Echo Show. To better match your home, you can select a white or black version of the doorbell.
3 Kasa KD110
With the Kasa KD110, you can subscribe to a Kasa Care plan for $3 per month or $30 yearly. That provides up to 30 days of video history and rich notifications with a snapshot of what’s happening at your front door. To help from worrying about false alarms, subscribers can also use the person notification feature to receive alerts only when someone is spotted at your door.
Along with the inexpensive cloud plan, the doorbell itself is also another great option for budget-conscious buyers. Only for use with existing writing, Kasa includes all necessary installation hardware and a mounting wedge to place the doorbell at a better angle, if needed.
A modular chime can be plugged in anywhere in your home and you can choose from several doorbell tones. The doorbell provides 2K resolution and can see in the dark, even from 30 feet away, with a 160-degree field of view. You can use the doorbell with Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
4 Eufy Security E340 Video Doorbell
You can subscribe to Euf’s cloud storage plan with the Eufy Security E340 Video Doorbell for $2.99 per month or $29.99 yearly. This can store up to 30 days of recorded video.
Even though cloud storage is available, you won’t need to make use of it. The video doorbell has 8GB of storage built-in, good enough to store a few weeks of recorded video. Another highlight is its dual camera system. One focuses on people and faces while the other points down to keep an eye on packages and more. You can choose to use the doorbell with existing wiring or with battery power. If you use existing writing, you can also use the chime box already installed in your home.
The top camera provides 2K resolution. At night, a light will automatically turn on when motion is detected for color night vision. The doorbell can be used with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home. If you’re looking for more information, make sure to take a look at our complete review of the Eufy E340.
5 Wyze Video Doorbell V2
Another great doorbell with inexpensive cloud storage is the Wyze V2 Video Doorbell. You can pay $2.99 per month or opt for a money-saving $19.99 annual subscription option. You can store up to 14 days of unlimited event videos in the cloud while also unlocking person, package, and vehicle notifications.
Only for use with existing doorbell wiring, the 2K camera is designed to show a complete head-to-toe look at whoever is at your front door. It also supports an existing chime. With a wired setup, it also provides a pre-roll recording—3-6 seconds of video before a motion event is triggered. You can also choose to alert visitors that they are being recorded with a voice prompt.
The doorbell is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
There is some good news if you just can’t stomach paying a monthly subscription. It’s easy to avoid paying a smart doorbell subscription fee in a number of ways, including finding a model that uses a built-in microSD card or one that supports Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video.
And before you make a final purchase choice, there are a number of steps you can take to make your home ready for a video doorbell.
