Best smart doorbell: the best wired and wireless video doorbells for your home

Whether you're interested in getting a futuristic video feed of your front porch or you just want a more convenient way to field couriers, the best smart doorbells can bring a touch of personality - and security - to your home.

These days a knocker just won't do, so a smart doorbells can offer your guests a proper welcome as they reach your home (or a useful intercom for delivery workers in an age of social distancing). And, with camera-equipped doorbells, you'll have peace of mind that there's always an eye being kept on the door, whether you're there or not.

Smart doorbells are a convenient, simple-to-use and often affordable DIY job for the home, also offering added security and able to work in tandem with any other security cameras and alarms you may already have.

Our top picks here include both wired and wireless options, meaning there’s something for renters and homeowners alike. And - if you're looking to really boost  safety - check out our guide to the best security cameras.

The best smart doorbells in 2021

Installed in minutes, capturing sharp HD video and even offering motion detection, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is our top pick for the best smart doorbell you can buy today. It’s not the cheapest on the list by a long shot, but its overflowing feature list makes it more than just a doorbell.

How it performs

With a full 1080p resolution camera, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus connects over Wi-Fi, and can work alongside your Amazon Alexa voice assistant, letting you use devices like the Amazon Echo Show (as well as your phone, of course) to see who’s at the door and speak to them, or trigger a hallway smart bulb to light up once the buzzer is pushed.

Night vision functionality lets you get a look at your guest even in low light, with pre-roll motion-triggered video letting you see who’s coming to the door before they’ve even buzzed. There’s even a separate solar charger accessory you can get to keep the battery charged – well, in places where the sun shines, at least!

Anything else?

Its biggest drawback however is that its recorded video (not the clips you see live as someone is at the door, but those it captures in the background that are useful for security purposes) require a separate subscription. It’s an additional fee that you have to factor in, but adds extra peace of mind without the need for a separate security camera.

Livingetc rating: 5 out of 5 stars | read our full review of the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus

The top offering from a brand other than rival Ring, the Google Nest Hello is a fantastic option that's recommended for homeowners who don't plan on moving anytime soon. It has to be wired in, but this comes with its own benefits like never having to recharge the batteries.

How it performs

One of the best things about the Nest Hello is its cross-platform compatibility, meaning it will work with Google Assistant products as well as Alexa. This makes it more accessible for those who already have a smart home set-up that they want their new doorbell to integrate with.

The 2K video feed allows you to see pretty much your entire front porch, with visitors visible from head to toe. You can also send pre-recorded audio messages to the doorbell (such as instructions on where to leave a package) should you not want to answer the door at that moment.

Less good is the added cost of having to sign up for a subscription if you want advanced features like facial recognition, but they're well worth it if you want the full experience. It's also a bit spotty with bad Wi-Fi, so make sure you have a strong connection.

Livingetc rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The 'Pro' model in Ring's suite of doorbells needs to be hardwired, but it also has a slimmer, more stylish design and a slightly wider field of vision.

How it performs

The main selling point of the Ring Pro is the smaller unit, which is much more compact and looks better on older and more modern homes alike. It also boasts enhanced dual-band Wi-Fi for better connectivity, color night vision and Alexa Greetings so your house can literally answer itself if you're not there.

Otherwise it is pretty similar to other models, and benefits from the same reliable Ring app, advanced motion detection options and Alexa compatibility. 

Livingetc rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Ring Doorbells have dominated the market for so long, but they've always been a little on the pricey side. That changed with the release of a new budget-friendly option - the Ring Video Doorbell Wired.

How it performs

As the name suggests, this is a doorbell that must be hardwired, so maybe won't suit renters or those who might want to move in the near future. For everyone else, however, this comes with its own benefits including not needing to be constantly recharged.

And it has pretty much everything you'd expect and want from a Ring Doorbell, with costs being cut somewhere outside of features and specs. You won't get 3rd party chime compatibility, Alexa greetings or a choice of faceplates, but that's more or less it.

Anything else?

If you're interested in some of Ring's more advanced features like 60-day cloud storage and snapshots, you'll need to fork out for the Ring Protect Plan at around $3/month. 

Livingetc rating: 4 out of 5 stars | read our full review of the Ring Video Doorbell Wired

A budget offering from security leaders Ezviz, the DB1 smart doorbell will suit those who want a simple, well-designed device that integrates with other devices such as security cameras and systems from the brand.

How it performs

As such, it is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and IFTTT, and you can control it via the Ezviz app.

The drawback for some will be that it needs to be hardwired in, with professional installation recommended, but this means no charging downtime and no bulky case to house the battery. The doorbell sits pretty flush (relatively, compared to the rather boxy Ring doorbell design) to the wall, yet gives you 180-degree viewing angles that allow you to see more of your porch area. 

Anything else?

Handily, the Ezviz DB1 can house a microSD card for storing video footage, but you'll need to pay for a subscription if you want to upload to the cloud.

An option for those want to look beyond big names Google and Ring, the eufy Wi-Fi Video Doorbell comes recommended for the security conscious.

How it performs

Straight away one big thing the eufy doorbell has going for it is local storage on a memory card, meaning you won't need to spend more on a cloud subscription as many other models require. There's also a chime included within the accompanying base station, so you won't have to rely on your phone notifications.

It's completely wireless, taking away a lot of the fuss involved with installing wired doorbells, and will work with both Alexa and Google Assistant if you want to hook it up to your smart home. 

Anything else?

Video footage is shown in a 4:3 square aspect ratio which, while looking slightly wrong on a phone screen, allows you to see more of your porch area.

Livingetc rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Today's best smart doorbell deals

How to choose the best smart doorbell

Will my smart doorbell work with Alexa/Google Home?

Compatibility with your smart home hub will depend on the smart doorbell you buy but, generally speaking, Ring doorbells will always work with Amazon Alexa smart speakers and displays. The same goes for Ring Alarms and other security products, as they all come under the same banner.

Similarly, Nest products come from Google and so will work well with a Google-branded doorbell. Anything else will vary, so it's important to check before buying.

Once set up, we absolutely love how the best smart doorbells work with smart displays such as the Echo Show or Nest Hub, allowing you to see what's going on outside from the comfort of your kitchen or bedroom. For more on this, take a look at our guide to the best smart speakers.

Are smart doorbells safe?

Many are concerned - and for good reason - about the security implications of essentially strapping a surveillance device to the front of your home, but there are a lot of protections in place preventing things from getting dystopian. 

We would recommend going for a well-known brand so as not to fall fowl of a device that's more vulnerable to hackers, set a strong password when signing up, always download software updates when they are released, and make sure all settings are correct for your needs.

All this said, smart doorbells can actually form an essential part of the best home security systems, adding an affordable camera that can detect motion and send alerts directly to your device when something untoward is going on. 

Are smart doorbells worth it?

As you may have noticed while walking down the street, smart doorbells are becoming more and more popular - but are they worth it?

Priced significantly higher than ordinary audio chime doorbells, it's true that they won't be worth the extra cash for everyone. However, as we all continue to rely on our smartphones for access to the outside world and make more use of couriers and home deliveries that ever before, they can be a game changer.

They're also fantastic for those building out their smart home, with most able to connect with Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit and more with ease. If nothing else, they're great for keeping on eye on what's happening around your home.

What is the best smart doorbell?

Though there’s lots to be said for the simplicity of an audio-only chime system, the video doorbells from Ring really are fantastic. The range of connected options, from video playback and recording to phone notifications is fantastic, and the fact it’s all achieved from a battery powered supply is remarkable.

They’re not only great alert systems, but a first step towards securing your home with a video camera installation too.

Given the range of features they support, you’d be forgiven for expecting the Ring Video Doorbell systems to be twice the price they are. But the scale of the Amazon machine, the parent company behind Ring, means they stay relatively affordable. Any of the Ring options above get our recommendation.