You probably assume robbers aren’t brave enough to try walking through your front door, but you’re mistaken. According to an old research, around one-third of burglars enter through the front entrance, either by breaking in or unlocking an unlocked door. That demonstrates how important it is to secure the entrance door in order to keep intruders out of our houses. It’s also why video doorbells were developed.
We recently completed testing more than three dozen doorbell cameras. After considering all of the options, we concluded that Ring is still the best choice. Aside from Ring, we included five other video doorbells on our list this year. They’re from Wyze, Google Nest, Arlo, Logitech, and Lorex. We’ll look at each choice to see what makes them the greatest video doorbells of 2024. But first, let’s define video doorbells and explain their purpose.
Best Video Doorbell Cameras
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 – Best Overall
- Wyze Video Doorbell – Most Affordable Video Doorbell
- Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen) – Best for Google Assistant
- Arlo Video Doorbell – Best for People/ Pets/ Packages Detection
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
Resolution: 1536p with HDR – Field of view: 150-degrees (horizontal and vertical) – Night vision: Color or infrared – Dimensions: (in inches) 4.49*1.9*0.87 – Power source: Hardwired – Audio: Noise and echo cancellation
The Pro 2 met all of our high expectations, particularly in terms of video quality. It has a resolution of about 2K, which is clear enough to recognize persons without causing lag. It also has a 150-degree viewing angle horizontally and vertically. That’s nearly wall-to-wall coverage on either side, and it even caught our six-foot-nine neighbor as he stood about three feet away from our door.
We also enjoyed how it adds digital upgrades to captured footage, particularly HDR. Our door faces East, so we receive glare from video doorbells in the afternoon. However, Ring’s HDR helped reduce glare, allowing us to view our guests more clearly. Furthermore, it rendered videos in color at night rather than black and white.
What We Liked
- Wide field of view
- Two-way audio
- Birds-eye view feature
- 3D motion detection
What We Didn’t Like
- Subscription required to save recorded video
- Not compatible with Google Assistant
- Ring’s ongoing privacy concerns
Wyze Video Doorbell
Wyze Video Doorbell looks like an amateur. But it has a different advantage – the price. Whereas the Ring Pro 2 costs over $200, the Wyze Video Doorbell starts at $35. And don’t think that it’s low quality. It packs a punch – within its 3.25-inch frame comes an IP 65 water resistant case, clear night vision powered by Starlight CMOS sensors, a 1080p HD resolution camera, and a 120-degree viewing angle. It’s not a Ring Pro 2, but it’s more than decent.
Another thing to like about Wyze Doorbell is that it costs nothing at all to use it. It comes with a 14-day free cloud storage. All clips from up to 14 days ago will be stored securely. That’s one of Wyze’s advantages over Ring doorbells, which all require a cloud subscription to record. Of course, Wyze offers optional subscriptions for extended cloud storage, starting at only $2.99. Again, it’s our budget pick. Don’t expect much feature-wise, but it can get the job done.
What We Liked
- Affordability
- Stellar image quality
- LED light built-in
- Continuous power
What We Didn’t Like
- Need to pay extra for person detection
- Does not control your existing doorbell
- No local storage
- Narrow field of view
Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen)
Whether you find the design to be appealing or not, there’s no denying that the features and smart technology that comes with the second-gen Nest Doorbell (wired or battery) are impressive. It’s not the cheapest video doorbell on the market, but I’d say the video and audio quality, customizable alert and ring settings, and compatibility with Google Assistant and Alexa devices more than justify the cost.
It delivers clear 1080p HD video with HDR, ensuring you get a sharp and detailed view of your doorstep. The camera provides a 160-degree field of view and includes features like package detection and familiar face alerts, distinguishing between known and unknown visitors.
What We Liked
- High-quality audio and video
- Lots of customizable settings
- Free cloud storage up to three hours
- Excellent object recognition
What We Didn’t Like
- Recorded events automatically delete after 3 hours
- Somewhat limited field of view
Arlo Video Doorbell
The Arlo Doorbells can tell the difference between your next door neighbor stopping by, that tabby cat that likes to lay on your porch, and the box of chocolates you ordered from Godiva.
We’d like to point out though that to access those features (person, animal, and package detection), you’d need a subscription to Arlo Secure. Arlo Secure is the brand’s cloud subscription service, and it isn’t the cheapest. Unlike the Nest Aware subscription that covers all cameras for as low as $8 per month, Arlo Secure covers only one camera for $7.99. If you want all cameras covered, you’ll have to pay $12.99 monthly. We think it’s worth it though if it means protecting your front door.
What We Liked
- Integration with both Alexa and Google Assistant
- 1536 x 1536 pixel resolution
- Free seven days of cloud video storage
- Wired and wireless models available
What We Didn’t Like
- People, pets, and packages detection is only available with a monitoring subscription
- Confusing app interface
- Not IP rated
- No professional installation option