The Best Budget Video Doorbells
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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A video doorbell is a wireless camera paired with a two-way intercom. This allows a property owner to see and speak with a person at the door, regardless of whether the owner is at home.
Most video doorbells have night vision and motion detection. Footage can be stored in the cloud (usually, for a monthly subscription fee), and a companion app sends alerts when someone approaches the house or nears the door.
Video Doorbells in the Era of Social Distancing
“Until recently, home security systems were mostly synonymous with crime prevention. But in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, smart-home safety devices have taken on an added role of mitigating risk and aiding social distancing,” writes Tom Samiljan for the Los Angeles Business Journal. Indeed, a video doorbell can help to minimize face-to-face interaction.
The Case Against “Smart Doorbells”
“By sending photos and alerts every time the camera detects motion or someone rings the doorbell, the app can create an illusion of a household under siege,” according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “It turns what seems like a perfectly safe neighborhood into a source of anxiety and fear.”
Additionally, owners can “never really can be sure with whom cloud-stored video is being shared,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union. On top of that, the most-cited reason to buy a video doorbell might not be valid.
Video Doorbells (Probably) Don’t Prevent Crime
There is no clear evidence that video doorbells reduce crime, according to an analysis by MIT Technology Review. And even if irrefutable statistics existed, people wouldn’t necessarily believe them.
“Opinion surveys regularly find that Americans believe crime is up nationally, even when the data shows it is down,” according to Pew Research Center. The latest FBI report on crime statistics shows that burglary and property crimes are at record lows (and overall crime has fallen for 20 years). Meanwhile, the amount of smart home security products being sold is reaching record highs.
If smart doorbells don’t prevent crime, they can at least provide video evidence when a crime is committed. A Ring doorbell was recently used to identify and arrest a thief in San Francisco.
In an interview with USA Today, Capt. Jack Hart of the San Francisco Police Department described the package-theft arrest in bittersweet terms: “We have a captain, two sergeants and six officers who wrote four reports and a search warrant — for about $73 worth of goods.” Is a video doorbell worth it? An individual might say “yes,” but the impact on society is unclear.
Some video doorbells get power from traditional doorbell wiring. Others use batteries or have a battery backup. Regardless of its power source, a video doorbell can’t unlock a door wirelessly like a smart lock. But, the best video doorbells are designed to integrate with other smart home technologies.
How Much Does a Good Video Doorbell Cost?
A good video doorbell (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $115, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same wireless doorbell cameras cost around $80 while on sale: an average discount of 30%. Here are the best affordable video doorbells for the money:
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find video doorbells with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any doorbell with a price above the mid-point.
To find doorbell cameras with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Models with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, fewer than 20% of the analyzed products remain.
Energizer Connect Smart 1080p HD Video Doorbell
Good Value: $60 | Great Deal: $40
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Energizer’s affordable video doorbell is easy to install and it offers a clear picture, reliable motion detection and subscription-free service, according to several online customers. Some reviewers were disappointed that this unit requires existing doorbell wiring for power; others say that the Energizer Connect app is slow to load.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Eufy Security by Anker: 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell (No Monthly Fees)
Good Value: $140 | Great Deal: $100
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Anker’s inexpensive video doorbell is easy to install and has a clear picture, according to several online customers. Even happy reviewers say that Eufy’s facial recognition algorithm doesn’t work well (sometimes, mistaking a tree or a car for a person). This was a dealbreaker for some unhappy customers.
Ring Peephole Cam 1080p
Good Value: $120 | Great Deal: $70
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Ring’s peephole camera is easy to install and is ideal for renters, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say this camera has a clear picture, but caution that it has a limited field of view. Others complain that the motion detector misses important actions, yet sends useless alerts for unimportant events.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
About the Author: John DeFeo was formerly the head of editorial insights for Tom’s Guide and Tom’s Hardware. He specializes in online review analysis.
