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While doorbell cameras may have started as a novelty, they are now vital for home security.
Updated September 27, 2023
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Back in the day, a lot of security experts viewed video doorbells as something of a gimmick. Today, though, these powerful pieces of equipment have evolved considerably, adding convenience and security to modern homes — not to mention the sight of one alone is enough to keep most porch pirates and burglars at bay.
And thankfully, modern doorbell cams are affordable, easy to install, and remotely accessible. Most home security providers have a doorbell camera or two in their product lineup, so we’re here to walk you through the options and to point out what’s unique about each system (shout out to ADT’s new facial recognition capabilities). Use our guide to find the best doorbell camera for your needs. Following are the top home security systems with doorbell cameras in 2023.
These days, doorbell cameras are everywhere. Most homeowners understand their utility — both in terms of security and making life a little easier. What do we mean by that? Well, they’re great for keeping burglars at bay as well as seeing when your kids get home from school. Would-be porch pirates will often walk on by, and you can have a conversation with the dog-walker from your office. Overall, doorbell cams are well worth the cost.
The top reasons why many homeowners fall in love with video doorbells are affordability, ease of use, and the DIY nature of the installation. Plus if you already have a more advanced security system, but didn’t add the doorbell camera, it’s an easy add-on. Keep reading to learn more about the best video doorbells around.
It’s no surprise that SimpliSafe takes the number one spot in yet another one of our lists of the best security equipment. Their video doorbell offers reliability, ease-of-installation, affordability, and scalability. Use it on its own, or integrate it into a comprehensive SimpliSafe home security system. While its lack of professional monitoring might be a drawback for some, others might overlook that since it doesn’t require any monthly fees for operation. Storage, on the other hand, is a different story.
SimpliSafe’s video doorbell is exactly what we’d expect from this provider. From the DIY approach to the no-frills, everything-you-need-and-nothing-you-don’t philosophy, this is a simple doorbell that just gets the job done right.
When it comes to features, you’re not going to be blown away, but you’re not going to miss anything either. Maybe the lack of motion detection zones could irk some people, but we didn’t think it was too big of a problem when we tested the SimpliSafe video doorbell. Its wide range of vision along with the unique pan and zoom feature helped us see everything we needed to, and its smart features limited the number of false alarms we received.
And as far as pricing goes, this doorbell is right on the money. At just $169, it’s an option for most budgets, and when you consider what you’re getting for that price tag, we think it’s the best on the market today.
| Monitoring Options | None |
|---|---|
| Installation | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa, Google Home, and August Smart Locks |
| Equipment Cost | $169 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | None |
| Contract Length | None |
Vivint is one of our favorite home security providers, and their video doorbell only helps to solidify that. It’s sleek, it’s well designed, and it boasts features many of its competitors don’t. When you use Vivint’s cameras in part of a larger home automation set up, you’ll really see what we mean. Before we get to that, though, here’s a quick list of pros and cons.
Vivint is a provider of comprehensive, high-tech home security and as such it makes sense that they offer a really powerful video doorbell as one of their options.
The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro bills itself as the only video doorbell that proactively protects your packages. Using artificial intelligence, this doorbell camera can detect deliveries as well as potential porch pirates lurking on your property. If someone is acting a little off, or tries to take a parcel from your stoop, the bright LED light and 90 dB speaker will let the thief know they’re being recorded without you having to lift a finger.
It also offers a massive 180 degree by 180 degree field of view for a whopping 1664p HDR resolution. This means your image is going to be crystal clear, and the picture captured will be one of the largest in the industry.
Two things to note about the Vivint Video Doorbell Pro, though. One, it has to be hardwired, which means installation will be a little more involved than it would be if you went with a battery-operated model. The good news there, though, is that all Vivint systems are professionally installed, which means you won’t be the one busting out the power drill.
And on that note, the second thing to know about the Vivint Video Doorbell Pro is that it can’t be purchased as a stand-alone piece of equipment like some of the others on this list — it has to be part of a larger Vivint security package. Good news if you’re looking to fully outfit your home, bad news if you’re just looking for a doorbell camera. You can read all about their products and services, though, in our review of Vivint home security.
One last thing – the doorbell itself will add $249.00 to your total Vivint tab. A perfectly reasonable price if you ask us, considering the features packed into it.
| Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | $600 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | $40-$70 |
| Contract Length | 42-60 months |
ADT is all about customization, and their doorbell solutions are no different. With your system you can select from ADT’s doorbell or a Google Nest version. Both of which will have your entryways protected with a few bonus features to boot.
ADT is a well-respected home security company that offers a wide variety of equipment including the Google Nest video doorbell camera. Their prices tend to be a bit higher than the industry average, but they give you more for the money so it all washes. Additionally, you can purchase a basic package and continue to add on to it as needed.
For its traditional systems, ADT security packages start at $599, with monitoring plans that start at $45.99 per month. ADT also has plenty of home automation products that you can add to your security system if you want even more convenience and control over your home whether you’re there or not. ADT also offers ADT Pulse, an app that lets you remotely access and control your home security system.
With ADT Self Setup, the doorbell camera costs $199.99. Remember, there are no additional monitoring or installation costs. You will self-monitor using the free mobile app.
Recently, ADT added facial recognition software to its video doorbells. All you have to do is turn on the Familiar Faces setting. Any time an unfamiliar face shows up on your doorstep, the doorbell asks you if you can identify it. Over time, it learns all the people you know and sends you customized alerts so you know exactly who’s knocking.
| Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | Starting at $109 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | Starting at $49 |
| Contract Length | 36 months |
Frontpoint is a fast growing technology and service company founded in 2007 that has a wide variety of home security/automation features. Frontpoint also offers both wired and wireless video doorbell cameras that you can use to keep an eye on your home from just about anywhere, so you can monitor what’s going on at all times. Their doorbell camera comes with plenty of features to help keep your home and family safe. Additionally, the Frontpoint doorbell camera is an easy installation. Here is a quick summary of the Frontpoint pros and cons.
Consistently rated one of the best in the industry, Frontpoint is a widely used home security and home automation brand that also offers a video doorbell. Their equipment is easy to use and can usually be installed in under 30 minutes without any special tools or skills required.
Frontpoint offers three equipment packages that range in price from $403 to $791. You can also create a build-it-yourself package that includes a hub and keypad for $99. A wired doorbell camera can be added for $66 and a wireless doorbell camera can be added for $125. Here’s a quick breakdown of those packages and everything they include. And here’s a tip — all of these packages are currently on sale.
| Frontpoint Security Package | What’s Included | Regular Price | Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Family Lookout |
|
$790.91 | $349.00 |
| The Home Shield |
|
$678.91 | $269.00 |
| The Starter Pack |
|
$402.96 | $129.00 |
Frontpoint contracts are either one-year or three-year agreements. Their monitoring plans range from $34.99 per month to $49.99 per month. Additionally, they frequently run specials which sometimes include a free Doorbell Pro camera, among other things. Be sure to check their website frequently for the most current specials available.
| Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional |
|---|---|
| Installation | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | $99 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | $18 |
| Contract Length | 1-36 months |
Brinks is one of the top-ranked DIY home security companies in the industry. Additionally, they have an award-winning alarm response center with one of the best response times (under 30 seconds) in the industry. Brinks offers 24/7 professional monitoring and a 90-day risk-free trial. Brinks also has an HD video doorbell at $240.00 that allows you to see and hear who is at your door at all times. Here is a quick summary of the Brinks pros and cons.
Brinks has a 26-year history, over one million subscribers, and one of the fastest response times in the industry. Additionally, they currently have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. They also offer a 90-day risk-free trial and a two-year warranty on their equipment which is compatible with up to 119 smart home devices.
Brinks has two monitoring plans ranging from $29/mo. to $39/mo. and there’s no upfront equipment cost because it’s included in the monthly monitoring price. However, if you want the video doorbell, you’ll have to go with the upper tier plan because that’s the only one that includes the video doorbell.
The Brinks plans include tamper protection, LiveVoice Assist, smartphone controls, and home automation (depending on the plan you choose). Their plans are also flexible because you can buy the one you need now and add-on to them as your needs change.
| Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional |
|---|---|
| Installation | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | $199 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | $29 |
| Contract Length | 36 months |
Ring started out with a video doorbell camera which was the first to hit the market. However, they have since expanded their services into a full suite of home security products. Ring now offers a wide range of video doorbells, security and floodlight cams, full home security systems, and environmental protection sensors, as well as some add-on pieces. Here is a quick summary of the Ring pros and cons.
Ring began life as a video doorbell company, so their equipment is some of the best in the industry. In the last decade, they’ve grown beyond doorbells into a well-respected home security brand with a huge following. Part of that popularity has to do with the company’s commitment to constant innovation. All video doorbells, for instance, let you monitor your own home, but with real-time crime alerts and information on your neighbor’s Ring doorbells, you can monitor your entire neighborhood.
Ring has three plan options. The Free plan is free of charge; however, that plan only offers limited functions. Then they have a Protect Basic plan that costs $3.99/mo. or $39.99 annually which includes the recording for one camera. The Protect Plus plan is $10/mo. or $100 and expands recording to all your Ring devices. Finally, there’s the Pro plan with video monitoring plus full-service 24/7 monitoring.
And since this is a roundup of the best security systems with doorbells, let’s take a look at some of Ring’s options:
| Ring Doorbell | Price |
|---|---|
| Video Doorbell Wired | $38.99 |
| Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) | $99.99 |
| Peephole Cam | $129.99 |
| Video Doorbell 4 | $159.99 |
| Video Doorbell Pro | $169.99 |
| Battery Doorbell Plus (Video Doorbell) | $179.99 |
| Video Doorbell Pro 2 | $249.99 |
| Video Doorbell Elite | $349.99 |
| Monitoring Options | 24/7 professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | $199 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | $20 |
| Contract Length | 1-12 months |
Your first line of defense, equipment-wise, to protect your home and loved ones is a doorbell video camera. They are easy to install and simple to use, but most importantly, they can be a big crime deterrent. And if the unfortunate happens and a break-in occurs, you just might have video proof to pass onto police and your neighbors.
FYI: Your cameras can certainly do a lot to keep you safe, but they might also be a source of comedy gold. Check out these eight hilarious security camera fails caught on tape.
There are other benefits of doorbell video cameras as well. For example, you can more easily screen your visitors, monitor your kids, confirm package deliveries, and it might even lower your insurance premiums.
The following are some common features found in home security systems that include video doorbell cameras:
Remote Access is a key feature of the best home security systems with doorbell cameras. And it’s incredibly powerful. You can view your doorbell camera’s live-feed, on your smartphone, from virtually anywhere in the world. Just login to the companion app to access, monitor, and control your home security and automation setup. Welcome to the future.
Here’s another value-packed feature of doorbell cameras. Video Recording captures suspicious activity, break-ins and burglaries, and even environmental hazards. Some high-tech doorbell cameras offer continuous recording, while others record intermittently when triggered by activity. A security camera with video recording, combined with a cloud storage plan, is your ticket to a safe home.
Knowledge is power. That’s why Mobile Alerts are so popular. The best home security systems with doorbell cameras include Mobile Alerts in their suite of features. If and when your camera detects activity, it automatically sends you an alert so you can take action. If it’s a good guy, great! But if it’s a bad guy... it’s time to make him pay.
Simply put, entryway sensors make the security system – they secure the perimeter of your home. Without the advance warning of a sensor, anyone could walk onto your property. (Or in reverse, your wandering toddler could escape out an unlocked door.) Magnetic sensors come standard with all systems, and when active in “arm” mode, the alarm will sound the moment a door or window opens. These add to the protection offered by a video doorbell camera.
Now that your entryway is secure with a doorbell camera and sensors, it’s time to round-out your home security system with Motion Detectors. These devices are strategically mounted throughout your home to monitor activity inside. If they detect movement, the alarm sounds and alerts are sent. Rest assured that if there’s any motion or commotion, you’ll be the first to know.
It’s true that doorbell cameras are the foundation of smart home security. But look for a home security system and doorbell camera that supports home automation features. This will allow you to remotely control everything from your door locks and lights, to your thermostat, garage door, and more. Access the controls via mobile app, or setup voice control for a future-forward lifestyle.
Two-Way Voice comes with the best home security doorbell cameras. At work but have a visitor at your front door? No problem. You’ll get a mobile alert, allowing you to open the app and talk with the person remotely. If it’s the mailman, have him hide your package. If it’s a burglar, tell him to skedaddle. If it’s your mother-in-law… you’re on your own.
Night Vision is another great feature that comes standard with many home security doorbell cameras. Some night vision cameras are black and white, while others boast full-color imaging. Both types leverage infrared technology to record crisp and clear video as if it were broad daylight. Impressive tech-forward functionality aside, Night Vision just sounds cool.
Live-View, live-stream, live-feed — whatever you call it, just be sure your doorbell camera has it. This feature lets you tap into a real-time video feed of your doorbell camera. Simply login to your home security system’s companion app, open the Live-View option, and get comfortable. This feature is especially powerful when combined with two-way voice.
