Comparing the Best Video Doorbells Without a Subscription
Discover the best video doorbells without a subscription and increase your home’s security today!
Discover the best video doorbells without a subscription and increase your home’s security today!
Video doorbells are becoming increasingly popular in recent times. While it may have been rare to see one just a decade ago, they are now quite common due to the benefits they offer. They allow you to quickly and easily see what’s happening outside your front door, and many allow conversations between the visitor and homeowner. However, while video doorbells are incredibly convenient, it can be hard to decide which one to choose. There are dozens of models available to purchase, each with its pros and cons. Some require a subscription while others do not. If you’re looking to find the best video doorbells without a subscription, then check out the top picks below!
The Arlo Video Doorbell is a popular doorbell that allows you to easily stay connected to your home from anywhere in the world thanks to its live video and audio that is always on. Maintaining the safety of any home is incredibly important, and Arlo has included unique features to their product to make it one of the best video doorbells without a subscription in the home security market.
This video doorbell comes equipped with many unique features that allow it to stay ahead of the competition. Arlo’s motion-detection technology sent directly to your phone makes it easy to know who is walking by the front of your home, and the included night vision with infrared LEDs ensures that your home will be protected at any time of the day or night. An extra benefit of the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell is the ability to have a two-way conversation with visitors or when you have specific instructions during package delivery. You can even keep track of your pet when you’re at work to make sure they don’t get into trouble.
While unlimited cloud storage is available for an added subscription fee, the choice exists to simply store a smaller number of recordings locally on a smart hub device. This is ideal for short recordings covering a small period (such as a weekend spent away from home). For an extended trip away from home, however, a cloud subscription may be better suited to the task of collecting and saving each recording.
Protect your home day and night — while keeping a close eye on visitors — with one of the best video doorbells money can buy.
The Cree Video Doorbell is an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable security camera without a subscription. Available at an affordable price, this doorbell is perfect for any home and will provide users with complete knowledge of their front door. Designed to provide homeowners with peace of mind, users can see and hear visitors at home with a touch of a button.
The excellent high-definition camera quality of this video doorbell supplies clear, sharp, and full-color images that you can view at your leisure on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. The video response time, strong data security, and collection of smart features make this an excellent choice to protect and watch your home. Night vision is also included in this doorbell, making it easy to see who is there and what happens around your home in the quiet hours of the night. The two-way talk function paired with instant notifications sent directly to your phone, similar to Arlo’s smart device connectivity, is another highlight of the Cree video doorbell, allowing you to speak through the doorbell to visitors in real-time.
Local data storage is also available, but you’ll need to purchase an additional microSD card to use this feature.
Designing security cameras and devices since 1991, the Lorex brand is synonymous with quality, and its video doorbell is no exception. One of their best-selling products, the Lorex video doorbell is truly one of the best video doorbells without a subscription that is available today.
Taking a closer look at one of their newest models reveals a sleek design with a glowing ringer that draws in the eye and pairs well with the solid shade of the doorbell. The technical features themselves are no less impressive, with a respectable 2K resolution that ensures high-quality video, a wide 164-degree viewing angle that allows a sizable view of your entryway, and an HDR that instantaneously corrects exposure when the light shifts throughout the day. This video doorbell also comes with a nightlight that automatically activates when it senses movement, working to dissuade unwelcome visitors in the night or, for those who live there, serving as illumination to find the key to unlock the door (although you could always choose to hide the key somewhere safe instead).
Like the Cree video doorbell, the Lorex model stores video footage locally on a small SD card. Unlike the Cree doorbell, however, the SD card needed to store your doorbell’s recordings is included with the product, encouraging an immediate setup that will ensure your videos remain safe.
The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell makes it easy to see who’s at the door while answering the ring from anywhere. This handy device works with the Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Assistant, making it a highly versatile video doorbell that should be considered. The exceptional 1080p camera offers impressive video quality while the weatherproof design allows it to remain functional even in the harshest of weather.
An added detail of this smart video doorbell is the inclusion of the latest encryption software for your saved recordings. No one besides you will be able to access your recordings, making this an added security benefit to consider. Design-wise, the Netatmo doorbell boasts a minimalist approach, with three distinct sections that each have their own, designated duties.
The microSD card-based storage system included in this device makes this a necessary addition to our list of the best video doorbells with a subscription. This makes it a great video doorbell to buy on a budget without sacrificing any of the quality that is a hallmark of more expensive smart doorbells.
Another affordable video doorbell is the Kasa Smart Doorbell. This camera/doorbell hybrid is one of the best video doorbells because it boasts some of the features found in higher priced video doorbells, but with a stunningly low cost that makes this smart doorbell worth checking out. The Kasa Smart Doorbell can work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings with a quick and easy installation process on all three systems. This compatibility (especially with Samsung SmartThings) makes it appealing to those who already own one of the three above devices, saving them added costs.
A notable feature of the Kasa Smart Doorbell is the indoor chime. Users can choose from a variety of different ringtones to customize and personalize their system and make it appealing for everyone in the house. This doorbell also withstands the elements extremely well, much like Arlo’s weatherproof video doorbell. Whether during the rainy season or in the depths of winter, the Kasa doorbell will still help protect your home.
A cloud-based service is available for users to share recorded clips via the Kasa app, but a non-subscription-based option also exists that offers 24-hour recording using an SD card. Like many of the doorbells on this list, the SD card is sold separately, but the one-time fee is much less expensive than the subscription.
The Door Ringer Video Doorbell is one of the best video doorbells available today. It includes all the features needed for home security including motion detection, night vision, audio recording, and remote viewing. The affordability of this smart doorbell is one of its main draws; it’s much less expensive than traditional CCTV systems. A mountable bracket is also included to make installing this smart doorbell even easier. Additionally, the powerful combination of a 170-degree wide-angle lens and a power supply ready to last for 8-12 months on a single charge ensures that your door will be continuously and comprehensively guarded for a prolonged period.
Door Ringer offers a cloud-based storage system named Ring Protect that allows users to store and share videos for later viewing, however, this cloud system is entirely optional and is not needed to save and watch videos. The only major difference is in the amount you’re able to save at any one time. With Ring Protect, the storage is unlimited; when using an SD card, the storage space goes down drastically, although you’ll still have plenty of time to watch the recordings before deleting them.
While many smart video doorbells are alike, some individual factors set them apart from each other. Arlo’s infrared LED capability that aids in nighttime security is a must-have for security after the sun goes down, Lorex’s reduced price and inclusion of features that are typically found in more expensive cameras, and Door Ringer’s array of unique functions are just some of the things that set these video doorbells apart. However, whichever video doorbell you choose to go with, they all share one thing in common: keeping your home protected and secure throughout all hours of the day.
