10 best video doorbells for upgrading your home security system
Video doorbells FAQs
Do video doorbells work with Alexa?
Most popular video doorbells are compatible with Alexa and Amazon Echo devices. For the most seamless setup and experience, Alexa users should consider choosing a Ring doorbell. Ring is also owned by Amazon, so the functionality between the devices is more reliable than with a third-party video doorbell.
Video doorbells list which voice assistants and smart home setups they're compatible with. Look out for the 'Works with Alexa' badge, the 'Works with Hey Google' (or 'Works with Nest') badge, and the 'Works with Apple HomeKit' badge.
Is there a monthly fee for a video doorbell?
Most of the bestselling video doorbells don't store recordings locally, but upload their footage to the cloud. This makes them more secure – as an intruder would be unable to access and destroy the evidence – but to cover the cost of storing and viewing these recordings, a monthly subscription fee is charged.
Many video doorbells work without a subscription, either by deleting footage after a short while, only providing live audio and video feeds, or by storing their recordings locally. I've chosen the Toucan wireless video doorbell (£99.95, Toucansolution.co.uk) as the best video doorbell without a subscripti on.
How do I install a smart doorbell?
Battery-powered video doorbells are easier to install than their wired counterparts and can usually be secured to a wall or door using the supplied anchors and some basic tools.
Installing a wired video doorbell requires basic knowledge of wiring. Each doorbell will have a slightly different installation, so follow the instructions carefully. If you're not confident, book an electrician to do the job.
Some general tips to bear in mind: take a picture of your old wiring before you begin, so you can put things back the way they were, if needed, and switch off the power at the fuse box before you start working (though if you need us to tell you that, you should probably call an electrician).
Do you need an electrician to install a Ring video doorbell?
Like changing a light fitting or rewiring a plug, installing a video doorbell does not require a certified electrician to carry out the work.
This doesn't mean installing a video doorbell is a simple or safe task, however. While there are easy-to-follow guides online, if you want to be absolutely sure the doorbell is installed properly, it's worth calling a professional. Most electricians will be very familiar with the leading brands of video doorbells and can carry out the work quickly and without fuss.
Do all doorbell cameras need wifi?
Not all video doorbells need wifi, but most do. Some video doorbells have SIM cards and operate on mobile data networks. Wired video doorbells will continue to work like a traditional doorbell, even if you lose wifi.
The verdict: Video doorbells
The Ring doorbell offers incredible value for money. You get great HD images and most of the top-of-the-range functions at a fraction of the price of some others in this round-up. The subscription fee is fair for the service offered. Plus, I love how customisable the functions are, from choosing your chime to the sensitivity of the motion detection. If you're not keen on cloud-based storage, the eufy S330 looks great and offers quality footage, and the chime box is included in the price.
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