A video doorbell is the best tool for protecting your home from intruders. With the help of this camera, you can see who enters or exits your home. Also, you can record the video in front of your house. These cameras also offer two-way communication. The video doorbells also come wired or wireless, so that you can choose any of them.
However, there are wide varieties of video doorbells in the market. Many of these need a subscription or monthly fee to execute all features. But don’t worry, this article explains the best video doorbell without a subscription with all features. Also, study the buying guide for an easy purchase. So, keep reading to discover more.
Can you Get a Doorbell Camera Without a Subscription?
Yes, you can use a ring video doorbell camera without a subscription. You can access all its features without a subscription, such as real-time video, lifetime theft protection, motion-activated alerts, two-way communication, etc.
OUR TOP PICK
List of Best Video Doorbell Camera
- Eufy Security Wi-Fi Video Doorbell
- Arlo Essential Wired Doorbell
- Ring Peephole Cam Smart Video Doorbell
- Eufy Security Video Doorbell (Battery Powered) Kit
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro
- Google Nest Doorbell (Battery)
- Wyze Wireless Video Doorbell Pro
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Product Description
Eufy security Wi-Fi video doorbell offers a high definition resolution that records the footage in 2x quality. It features two-way audio that allows you to speak directly to the person at the door. It also detects body and face patterns; whenever someone is near your door, it detects the person and alerts you by notification on the app.
Features:
- Smart detection zones
- Made interaction easy
- Compatible with Alexa and google assistant
- Two-way audio communication
- Motion detection and notification
- Respond in real-time
- A crystal clear 2K image
- Electronic chime included
Company Review:
Eufy is a trusted brand that offers customers security cameras and provides complete protection in their homes. They value their customer’s privacy, and eufy’s security tools are military-grade encrypted. That transmits the data of your device only to you. So, they have a high rating and are quite popular worldwide.
About the Product:
Eufy’s video doorbell is a battery-powered video doorbell that offers adequate protection to your home with its brilliant features. It features high definition 2K resolution that records the image from head to toe. You can see the footage with an adjustable angle by a magnified ratio of 4:3. It offers human detection technology that alerts you on the app in real-time whenever someone arrives at your door.
The best thing is that it works with Alexa and google assistant, so you can ask them what’s going on at the location. You can use a wired connection to install the video doorbell. Also, run it on battery, and the battery stays for six months. Usually, I run my video doorbell on battery because the wire connection is impossible in my area.
It has a storage of 16GB, so it stores long-term data. The best benefit about this Eufy video doorbell is that it is subscription-free, and the memory is local. Also, it is AES-256 data encryption, which means your data is only sent to you. Lastly, this video doorbell comes with a one-year warranty.
Specifications:
| Video Resolution | 2K (2560 x 1920) |
| Field of View | 106 Degree |
| Internal Storage | 16GB |
| Battery life | 120 Days |
| Supported Ecosystems | Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Weight | 3.2 Ounces |
| Dimensions | 4.8 x 1.69 x 0.94 Inches |
| Connectivity protocol | Wi-Fi |
Highlight: Night vision is a better and clearer video. Also, it supports a chime with an adjustable volume level.
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Product Description:
Arlo essential wired doorbell offers a 180-degree view that records an image from ground to roof. It offers HDR-quality footage that shows a clear picture even in low or bright light. You can connect it directly to Wi-Fi, so no hub is needed. Also, it offers a night vision feature that captures footage clean even in the dark.
Features:
- Smarter alerts and quicker actions
- Capture from head to toe
- Withstand the heat, cold, and Rain
- Speak to delivery people from inside of the home
- Receive a video call when the doorbell button is pressed
- Two-way audio and pre-recorded messages
- Built-in siren and work with Alexa
- Smoke and CO alarm listening
Company Review:
Arlo is a popular brand of video doorbells, wired and wireless security cameras, and advanced floodlight cameras. They aim to bring peace of mind by offering secure home cameras. Their tools also protect your data and safeguard your privacy. So, that’s the best industry-leading brand.
About the Product:
Arlo video doorbell camera offers outstanding features, including a 180-degree field of view. The camera captures a person’s full image, and a video call is received when someone bells your front door. It offers two-way talk so you can easily speak and hear the visitors. Also, you can answer the visitors with pre-recorded messages if you are busy.
The upside is that it is a weather-resistant outdoor video doorbell that withstands any weather conditions. It automatically triggers a siren when unwanted people arrive. It captures every motion-triggered video, so the chances of missing the footage are less. Connect the doorbell directly to Wi-Fi and control the app from anywhere.
Some customers reviewed that they received the camera broken, but I also ordered this Arlo wired doorbell camera and did not find any inconvenience. Well, it depends on the delivery and location. The last thing is that it requires wiring for the existing doorbell and comes with a one-year warranty. So, that’s the best choice to protect your home from intruders.
Specifications:
| Video Resolution | 4K |
| Field of View | 180 degree |
| Internal Storage | Cloud storage |
| Battery life | Long |
| Supported Ecosystems | Alexa |
| Weight | 4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 1.77 x 0.98 x 5.11 inches |
| Connectivity Protocol | Wi-Fi |
Highlight: It is weatherproof and sends a video call when someone arrives at the door.
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Product Description:
Ring peephole cam smart video doorbell offers easy installation and lets you see the footage at 1080p HD. It alerts you on your phone when someone knocks on the door. It requires no wiring and drilling to install. Also, you can connect it to Alexa to talk to the visitors. It offers built-in motion sensors to focus on your important area.
Features:
- Advanced motion detection
- 1080p HD footage
- Two-way communication
- Works with Alexa
- Real-time mobile notifications
- Removable battery pack
- Easy self-setup in minutes
- Knock detection and privacy settings
Company Review:
Ring brand offers the best security cameras for your home. They deliver security cameras throughout the world and have an excellent rating. They manufacture home security products for indoors and outdoor. All security cameras feature motion detection and two-way audio. So, it is a trusted brand with an excellent rating.
About the Product:
Ring peephole video doorbell camera is best for any peephole door. This camera is an alternative to any battery or hardwired video doorbell. This ring video doorbell is battery-powered and easy to install. You can talk to visitors by using Alexa. It features motion detection that detects the person at 155 degrees of distance.
You can monitor your front door in HD video and receive notifications on the app when someone presses the doorbell. It offers a removable battery that can be recharged into an outlet. It also customizes privacy zones and focuses on relevant places. The best advantage is that it is a subscription–free video doorbell camera.
Some customers say the camera is buggy and does not seem to have a clear image at night. I also use this camera, and it works well even at night. But in foggy weather, my camera gets blurred due to fog. That’s not a problem because fog causes smoke and works perfectly. Also, the price is reasonable.
Specifications:
| Video Resolution | 1080p HD |
| Field of View | 155 degree |
| Internal Storage | Free cloud storage |
| Battery life | 6 months |
| Supported Ecosystems | Alexa |
| Weight | 10.6 ounces |
| Dimensions | 1.81 x 1.81 x 2.95 inches |
| Connectivity Protocol | Wi-Fi |
Highlight: The camera has a better response time and is affordable.
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Product Description:
Eufy security video doorbell is a battery-powered camera with a built-in 2K image resolution. You do not need to pay monthly fees as it stores data locally. You can connect the camera by wire or wireless. It offers a 4:3 field of view that gives you the perfect angle every time.
Features:
- Power-savvy connection
- Military-grade data encryption
- Enhanced human detection
- Customized detection
- Connect the doorbell to google voice assistant or Alexa
- Real-time respond
- Two-way audio talk and weatherproof
Company Review:
Security cameras from Eufy provide the best protection to the customer’s home, making them the trusted brand. Eufy security tools are military-grade encrypted to protect the customer’s privacy. That means your device data is transmitted only to you. As a result, they have high ratings and a good reputation worldwide.
About the Product:
It is the second product of Eufy that has been upgraded. It uses an SD card to store the data. It offers high-resolution footage of 1080p HD. The night vision video quality is clear. It has professional-grade sensors and a lens that captures the footage in high resolution. It features two-way communication in real-time. You need to install the app to use the camera. The app is easy to control and use. Also, it works smoothly.
The battery life is 120 days, so it is different from the use of a doorbell. A chime is used to connect the doorbell and Wi-Fi. The doorbell lasts long due to the chime. You can use the battery to use video doorbell cameras. Also, a wired connection is used for the power supply. It depends on you what method you want to use.
Well, I installed it with a battery and changed the batteries after four months. It offers a 130-degree field of view that captures everything above 50 feet. I find it very useful as it alerts me whenever a parcel is delivered to my home. It is a subscription-free doorbell. The downside is that you need to purchase an SD card separately to store data.
Specifications:
| Video Resolution | 2K full HD |
| Field of View | 130 degree |
| Internal Storage | 64GB |
| Battery life | 180 days |
| Supported Ecosystems | Google Assistant, Alexa |
| Weight | 7.39 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5.51 x 2.13 x 1.1 inches |
| Connectivity Protocol | Wired, Wi-Fi |
Highlight: It offers a hub with a built-in chime and is easy to implement with an existing chime.
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Product Description:
Ring video doorbell pro 2 has an advanced ring chime that alerts you and peeps when someone knocks on the door. It offers 3D motion detection and tracks the motion with the sensor. It provides a complete home security picture and crystal clear color night vision. Also, you can control the camera with the ring application.
Features:
- Real-time notifications and live view
- 3D motion detection with a bird’s eye view
- Two-way audio talk
- Noise cancellation
- Enhanced dual-band Wi-Fi
- Built-in Alexa greeting
- Head-to-toe HD and video
- Security and privacy control
Company Review:
Ring brand security cameras provide the best protection for your home. They have excellent ratings and deliver security cameras worldwide. They manufacture indoor and outdoor home security products. Motion detection and two-way audio are included in all of their security cameras. So, the brand is trusted and highly rated.
About the product:
This video doorbell offers a wide 150-degree field of view that records everything from head to toe. It offers a 1536p HD resolution that provides a clear image view. You can respond quickly to the person who knocks on the door with messages. Also, you can talk to the person from inside.
The best part is that it offers 3D motion detection that tracks a person’s existence from afar from the door. Also, the mounting is easy, and the instructions are very clear. I like its package detection feature; whenever something delivers to my home, it alerts me by notification. So, that’s quite an advancement.
Some users say that the motion sensor does not work properly as it records only 15-30 feet away, but my video doorbell records 50 to 60 feet away, and it started to ring. You must connect it with the power supply, and if you want Alexa, you must pay extra. The upside is that it is subscription-free.
Specifications:
| Video Resolution | 1536p HD |
| Field of View | 150 degree |
| Internal Storage | Local video Storage |
| Battery life | Long |
| Supported Ecosystems | Alexa |
| Weight | 11.6 ounces |
| Dimensions | 4.49 x 1.9 x 0.87 inches |
| Connectivity Protocol | Wired |
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Product Description:
Google nest doorbell offers built-in intelligence that alerts you about the app’s person, vehicle, package, and animal differences. It does not require any subscription. Also, it records 24/7 hours of footage and provides a video history. You can choose wired or battery installation according to your satisfaction and needs. It is also compatible with google Nest and amazon speaker.
Features:
- 24/7 recording
- See people from head to toe
- HDR and night vision
- Pre-recorded responses
- Stores up one-hour recording event in case of power down or Wi-Fi goes
- Seamlessly pair with other devices
- Designed for any door
Company Review:
Google nest is a popular brand of smart security cameras that offers weatherproof cameras for any door. All their security cameras require a google home app to execute the cameras. The security tools of this brand record live footage from anywhere. They have an excellent rating and customers are very satisfied with their products.
About the product:
This video doorbell is incredibly easy to install and has good video quality of high resolution. You can install this doorbell anywhere as it has a built-in rechargeable battery. You can also connect it wire for 24/7 video history. You can also check the live recording anytime. I usually used a power supply for all-day recording.
The advantage is that it recognizes the living and non-living things. That means if a person, animal, vehicle, etc., comes, it alerts you with notification. For this doorbell camera, the google home app is required as it controls the video doorbell. Also, it gives you a clear picture even in high contrast, lightening or darkness.
You can respond to the visitors with pre-recording messages that also save your time. It also stores one hour of recording if the internet gets disturbed or electricity goes. This video doorbell is a weather-resistant remote control. The downside is that some users say that battery life is short.
Specifications:
| Video Resolution | HD video with HDR |
| Field of View | 160 degree |
| Internal Storage | Local storage |
| Battery life | Rechargeable |
| Supported Ecosystems | Alexa |
| Weight | 7.3 ounces |
| Dimensions | 0.95 x 1.8 x 6.3 inches |
| Connectivity Protocol | Wi-Fi, Wired |
Highlight: Facial recognition is a cool feature, and it is affordable.
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Product Description:
Wyze wireless is an effortlessly mounted video doorbell that comes with a chime. It has better features and an affordable wireless doorbell. It is battery-operated, so you do not worry about the power supply. It offers a clear image that is better than traditional cameras. Also, it alerts you when a person is detected.
Features:
- Wire-free setup
- 3M adhesive mounting plate
- Smart notifications on motion detection
- Two-way audio
- Head-to-toe viewing
- Receive real-time alerts
Company Review:
Wyze Company manufactures smart home devices and cameras for all types of doors. They offer fully-features devices at a reasonable price. Their purpose is to provide the people with a safe environment to live freely. This brand regularly beats more expensive companies with their modern and affordable devices. They have almost a trillion users.
About the Product:
This video doorbell camera does not require drilling or screws to mount on the door. It uses adhesive tape to install within 30 seconds. It offers 1440 x 1440 HD sensors that give a clear recording of everything. The best part is it uses a battery, so you are free from the hassle of wiring, and the battery last for six months regularly.
This camera is weatherproof, so you do not need to worry about water, storm, and snow. A chime is included with it that has twenty tunes and eight sounds, including chirping, bark, ring, and music. You can select any of these for notification. So, whenever you knock on the door or ring the bell, you will get a notification and can access the door.
It offers a 150-degree field of view that shows the image from head to toe. The downside is that Alexa and google assistant are incompatible with this video doorbell. But the price is affordable and has excellent features. Also, it used cloud-based instead of local storage, which means long data is safe here. So, that’s the best subscription-free video doorbell for your apartment.
Specifications:
| Video Resolution | 2K HD |
| Field of View | 150 degree |
| Internal Storage | Cloud-based storage |
| Battery life | 6 months |
| Supported Ecosystems | None |
| Weight | 7.4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 1.8 x 1.1 inches |
| Connectivity Protocol | Wi-Fi |
Highlight: It uses adhesive to install instead of screws. Also, it is cheap.
Comparison of 2 Brands
The comparison of Eufy and Ring is as follows:
Eufy Brand
- As a trusted brand, Eufy provides customers with the most effective protection for their homes.
- Military-grade encryption is used in Eufy’s security tools to ensure that customer privacy is protected. Therefore, only you can access the data stored on your device.
- They have an excellent reputation and customer satisfaction.
- Their price is affordable and expensive too.
- They offer a modern collection of security cameras that protect your home from every angle.
Ring Brand
- Your home will be well protected if you use Ring brand security cameras.
- They aim to provide the best cameras for the home.
- They have millions of users that are satisfied with their products.
- Their reasonable prices strongly protect homes, offices, condos, and apartments.
- So, it is also a reputable brand in the market.
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Consideration of important factors before buying a video doorbell camera without a subscription
Before purchasing a video doorbell camera, you must consider some factors to ensure you buy a good product. So, it’s important to understand these factors. These are as follows:
Installation
Doorbell cameras come in different installation methods, such as battery-powered and wired. If you buy a battery-powered video doorbell, you can install it easily without wiring. Although, if you purchase a wired video doorbell, you must install it professionally, which might take time. So, it is challenging for you to install a wired one if you are not a techie.
Also, most manufacturers provide a manual or guidelines to install the video doorbell. They also offer a video of installing the camera so that you do not face any hassle of installing the doorbell and do all the work yourself easily. But if you cannot install it, you can call a professional to install your video doorbell.
Field of View
You must consider the field of view of your doorbell camera to see how much it captures. Mostly, video doorbell cameras provide a 180-degree field of view. Some of the cameras offer less or above it. You can easily see the intruders from afar if your camera has a wide range of fields of view. Then, you have more security and more visibility.
Design
Video doorbell cameras offer different colors, shapes, and sizes. If aesthetics matters to you, choose a doorbell camera that looks good in your house. You cannot give a touch-up of paint on your video doorbell as it can damage the functioning of your camera. So, before choosing, consider this factor.
Mode of Storage
The footage of the video doorbell camera must be stored on some device. Video doorbell cameras adopt cloud-based storage and local storage mechanism to save footage. It depends on manufacturers and what storage method they use. Also, consider the storage space because great footage or files takes a lot of space and ends videos with chunky running.
A cloud-based storage mechanism is perfect if you want to store big footage without pixel cutting. For small footage, the local storage mechanism is good. So, it depends on your needs and what storage method suits you the best.
Video Quality
It would be best if you did not compromise this factor. The quality of footage of your video doorbell is too much important. Before purchasing, determine on which resolution the camera shoots. Choose a high-resolution video footage camera to easily see someone behind your car or stealing the parcel from your door.
Motion Detection
The security camera starts recording footage when the camera detects motion in its field of view. This allows the camera to remain efficient. Also, it saves battery by alerting the camera to record when it senses. Also, you get a notification on the app if someone is at the door.
The video doorbell cameras even let you designate zones where motion must be detected. It prevents moving cars, pedestrians, etc., from triggering the alerts unnecessarily.
Chime
If you want a chime-integrated video doorbell, check it is compatible with your chime. Mostly, video doorbell cameras are adaptable with digital and mechanical chimes. Also, you can install Nest hello video doorbells without chime.
Night View
Night vision is very crucial for proper security. Choose a doorbell camera that records video even at night. If it is not, your security is compromised.
App Interface
The app controls the doorbell camera. The app control panel sets up the review footage, two-way talks, etc. Choose a doorbell camera that uses an easy-to-use app and offers an intuitive interface so you can use your video doorbell camera at its best.
Lens Design
The image quality entirely depends on lens quality. Wide angle lenses offer a greater field of view, including image distortion on the edges. Most video doorbell cameras come with a 180-degree field of view to completely capture the front part of your house.
Weather Protection
It depends on your home design and where you install the camera, so the video doorbell camera is sensitive to weather conditions. It means that the doorbell is susceptible to snow or rain. Most doorbells are resilient to water and snow. So, choose a video doorbell camera according to the weather circumstances or where you position your doorbell.
Wi-Fi Reliance
Consider a doorbell camera that does not work with the internet because if you have an internet issue in your area or do not have internet, it might be a big problem for you. But if you have good internet, you can purchase an internet function doorbell camera.
Two-way Communication
It is a useful feature that has been integrated with almost a maximum of the video doorbell cameras on the market. Whenever anyone comes to your door, you can speak to the person. Also, if someone delivers a parcel to you, you can tell them to leave it here. So, that’s quite an interesting feature.
Value for Money
Video doorbell cameras have become conventional, so they have been manufactured more and more. These cameras also come with cheap models with basic functions and features and expensive models with a punch of features. So, it is important to consider what features you want.
Choose a doorbell according to your budget. Also, purchase a reputed brand that has good ratings and customer reviews. Buying a doorbell from a sketchy or cheap site is likely to be defective or faulty.
Voice Assistant Integration
The doorbell must integrate with your smart home ecosystem. So, choose a doorbell that is compatible with Alexa and google assistant.
Power Source
As I discussed before, the doorbell has two types, including wired and wireless. So, choose a doorbell camera that efficiently works for your home. A wired video doorbell camera needs no batteries and works 24/7 hours.
If wiring is inconvenient in your area, choose a battery-powered doorbell camera. For example, choose a wireless camera if you live in a rented house.
Warranty
Warranty is a huge assurance with any tool. The manufacturers also support a warranty if the camera malfunctions or you need help installing or setting up the features. Typically, video doorbell cameras come with one or two-year warranties. Also, some offer satisfaction or replacement guarantees if a camera is stolen.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do video Doorbells Get Stolen?
Yes, but it is not common to steal a video doorbell. Some doorbells are easy to remove from the doorstep, while others are challenging to steal as these are solid video doorbells.
Can I Recover Deleted Doorbell Camera Footage?
No, you cannot recover deleted footage of your doorbell camera. In any security system or camera, if you deleted footage once, even if it is by accident, you cannot recover it. Once it deletes, it’s gone. So, to prevent this problem, download the videos on your computer or phone.
Also, the cloud storage mechanism automatically deletes footage within ten to sixty days, so check the cloud-based storage to prevent missing footage or downloading videos.
Are There Any Additional Fees Involved?
No, the video doorbell cameras do not involve any additional fees to run.
How long are Doorbell Videos Saved Without a Subscription?
Well, it depends on the model of the doorbell camera. Usually, a video doorbell camera saves footage for 24 hours automatically. Also, it depends on the memory of the video doorbell.
How long does Footage Stay on Video Doorbells?
Usually, a video doorbell camera saves footage for 24 hours without a subscription. But if you buy a subscription plan, the footage will save for 10 to 60 days and record 24/7 hours.
How Much is the Monthly Charge For a Video Doorbell?
It depends on the video doorbell brand, but generally, the monthly charge of a video doorbell is $3-$6. Also, different brands offer different subscriptions, such as Arlo secure and Ring protect charge $3-$10. Google’s nest aware charge $6 or more. So, these brands give you advanced features with extra storage.
How long the Battery of the Doorbell Camera Does Last?
The battery of the doorbell camera lasts for almost 2 and 12 months. Sometimes it lasts 2 and 6 months if you use the battery regularly.
Will I Get Notified if I am not at Home?
The smart video doorbell has this feature. You will get a notification on your phone, and also, you can talk to the person on your door from anywhere.
Do video Doorbells Need Wi-Fi?
Most video doorbell need Wi-Fi. You will get a notification through an internet connection. Also, you can communicate with others if you have a Wi-Fi doorbell. You can also purchase it without an internet doorbell, but still, it needs Wi-Fi to perform a few functions.
Wrapping up
While we have mentioned the best video doorbell camera in this article, all are high-quality, have good vision, have more storage, and are fully featured. We have selected these cameras after analyzing and usage. We have to check the customer review and then select the product. So, it depends on your needs and what model you need. Purchase according to your satisfaction and budget.
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