The Best Video Doorbell Cameras
When it comes to home security, technology has moved ahead by leaps and bounds in the last decade or so. Where a deadbolt used to reign supreme, we now have video surveillance, electronic doorbells, keypads, home devices that sync to your smartphone, and more. If you’re looking to take your home safety to the next level, getting a video doorbell or a camera system is an affordable and convenient way to do it. You can never be too careful with security, so we’ve rounded up the best in the biz to help you find the video doorbell that’s right for you.
What to Look For
When narrowing down the best video doorbells, we considered size, installation process, overall features, and price. For example, if you want something small and mighty, the Blink Home Security Mini keeps a low profile and won’t be an eyesore on your home. If you want something more fit for the outdoors, the Blink Home Security Outdoor with floodlight is a great combo pack with added lights for security. Read on to see all our top picks and find the video doorbell that’s right for you and your home.
Blink Home Security Mini
If you’re looking for a low-profile, low-hassle camera to add to your video doorbell setup, the Blink Mini is a great place to start. This tiny two-pack is surprisingly affordable and has two-way audio for your home security. You can use these cameras to add a second monitor to your front door video doorbell, watch different rooms in the house, use it as a baby monitor, or even add it as a backdoor camera. Best of all, installation is easier than ever. Just plug it in, connect to wi-fi, and set it up on the app.
Pros:
- It comes with two cameras, so you can put one at the door and another inside your house.
- Both cameras can pair with Alexa to respond to voice commands.
Cons:
- The Blink Mini isn’t meant for outdoor use, but it can still capture outdoor video if positioned in a window facing outside.
Blink Home Security Outdoor
When nature calls
If you’re looking to get multiple angles on your front door, it helps to have an outdoor camera that can get a bird’s eye view of the situation. Lucky for you, the Blink Outdoor camera is made for just that. With this three-pack, you can place the cameras all around your home or apartment to cover multiple angles for maximum security. They’re wireless and battery-powered, and they even shoot video in HD. The batteries are included, and they can last for a whopping two years.
Pros:
- You can get motion detection alerts on your phone, so you’ll be the first to know if someone is outside your home.
- All three cameras have two-way audio so that you can speak to anyone outside your home through the app, which will project through the camera’s speaker.
Cons:
- The cameras may detect small movements like trees and leaves since there’s no setting to change the intensity of the movement detection.
Blink Home Security Outdoor With Floodlight
Well-lit areas tend to drive off crime, and if you’re looking to keep intruders away from your front door or around your home, this combo kit from Blink maybe be just what you need. With two powerful floodlights and one camera that records video in 1080p HD, this combo is a force to be reckoned with. This kit comes with everything you need to get set up, and it offers plenty of customizable settings on the Blink app. If you’re looking for great-quality video and 700 lumens of shining light, you can’t beat this bargain.
Pros:
- The battery life can last up to two years, which is great for the lights and camera combined.
- It comes with a hook, so you don’t have to drill through your vinyl siding during installation.
Cons:
- It only records video when motion is detected.
Wyze Video Doorbell with Chime
Ringing in your ears
A crucial part of any doorbell is, well, the bell. Since modern doorbells don’t connect to any analog sound device, designers have taken to digital means to recreate that classic sound. This video doorbell set from Wyze comes with one included chime, which can be programmed to produce a ring, a chirp, or a bark when the doorbell is activated. It features two-way audio so you can talk to whoever is at the door, and it boasts an extremely small footprint so that it won’t be an eyesore. On top of all that, the price is excellent. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better combo package than this at a lower price.
Pros:
- You can link multiple chimes to your doorbell so that you can be alerted in every room of the house when someone is at the door.
- The chime plugs into a standard electrical outlet, so you can hear a ring from anywhere you want in the house.
Cons:
- Removing the rubber seal on the back voids the warranty and eliminates the waterproof capabilities of the doorbell.
Google Nest Doorbell
Google is known for being innovative, but its venture into smart electronics takes its performance to another level. This tech-savvy video doorbell comes with all the standard bells and whistles but with modern add-ons. The Nest doorbell can tell the difference between people, packages, animals, and vehicles, and it can send notifications about all of them through the Google Home app. You can even leave pre-recorded messages to play at your doorstep. It may be a bit pricey, but this battery-powered video doorbell proves to be the most sophisticated one out there with its top-notch features.
Pros:
- The doorbell can store up to one hour of recordings if the power goes out or it disconnects to Wi-fi.
- It has a tall vertical view, so it’s easier to see people at your door from head to toe or to see packages lying on the step.
Cons:
- The battery-powered Nest doorbell can’t record continuous 24/7 video history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Blink Home Security make strictly video doorbells?
Blink cameras have a lot of uses, but they can be used as a video feed or indoor plug-in chime for a doorbell. You can sync multiple Blink cameras to your Blink home Monitor app and use them for surveillance around the house, outside, and even at the front door. They also make a video doorbell model that can sync with the other blink cameras in your home.
Do I need to hardwire a video doorbell in my house?
Not necessarily. Many video doorbells offer battery-powered options that make installation a breeze. Just stick it to your front doorway, power it on, set it up, and you’re good to go. Changing batteries may be a pain, but if you don’t want to wire the doorbell yourself, it can be a great alternative.
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