Best Video Doorbells Without Subscription
Test the right video doorbell for you without a subscription today.
Test the right video doorbell for you without a subscription today.
While it may have been rare to see one just a decade ago, now you can’t walk a city block without seeing at least one video doorbell. What is a video doorbell, and what are the best video doorbells without subscriptions?
Available in both battery powered or wired options, a video doorbell is easy to set up on any doorway in your home or business to monitor activity zones with motion alerts. A convenient, wire-free video doorbell like the Essential Wireless Video Doorbell helps you keep watch over your doorstep with full coverage from head to toe.
With a paid subscription plan like Arlo Secure, you can unlock key features directly to your phone for an added fee. Receive smarter alerts with Object Detection, look back at past events with Video History, and even quickly respond with Intelligent Alerts. Typically, subscription model doorbells cost between $50 and $300 depending on the amount of storage and number of features you need.
From Eufy Security to Ring Doorbells and beyond, there are an overwhelming number of options out there. Not sure where to start? Before you invest in a subscription model, try a low-maintenance video doorbell without a paid plan.
Read on to discover the best wireless video doorbells without a subscription in 2023.
Protect your home day and night — while keeping a close eye on visitors — with one of the best video doorbells money can buy. Maintaining the safety of any home is incredibly important, and Arlo has one of the best video doorbells without a subscription in the home security market.
The Essential Wireless Video Doorbell comes equipped with many unique features that allow it to stay ahead of the competition. Featuring a wider 180° viewing angle, 2-way audio, and HD video with HDR, Arlo’s patented motion detection technology sends push notifications directly to your phone. Plus, night vision and advanced video recording and video storage capabilities ensure you’re in the loop 24/7.
Welcome guests with 2-way audio capabilities or offer specific instructions during package delivery.
Heading out for a long weekend? While unlimited cloud storage is available for an added subscription fee, you can simply store a couple of days worth of recordings locally on a smart hub device.
Planning a long-haul trip? Easily invest in a cloud subscription like Arlo Secure for a low monthly fee.
Available at an affordable price, this doorbell is perfect for any home and will provide users with complete knowledge of their front door.
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.
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 has 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 high-quality video 2K resolution, a wide 164-degree viewing angle that allows a sizable view of your entryway, and HDR that instantly corrects exposure when the light shifts throughout the day. Struggling to find the key to unlock your door? Similar to Arlo’s Pro 3 Wireless Floodlight Camera, this video doorbell also comes with a nightlight that automatically activates when it senses movement. (Pro tip: You can also hide your key somewhere safe instead.)
Like the Cree video doorbell, the Lorex model offers local storage 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 for convenience.
The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell is a great budget find. Save money without sacrificing any of the quality that is a hallmark of more expensive smart doorbells. The microSD card-based storage system included in this device makes this a necessary addition to our list of the best video doorbells without a subscription.
Just like Arlo’s Essential Wireless Video Doorbell, this versatile product works with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Assistant. The exceptional 1080p camera offers impressive video quality with a weather-resistant design.
Plus, Netatmo offers the latest encryption software for your saved recordings. No one besides you will be able to access your recordings. Design-wise, the Netatmo doorbell boasts a minimalist approach, with three distinct sections that each have their own, designated capabilities.
Another affordable video doorbell is the Kasa Smart Doorbell. This camera/doorbell hybrid is one of the best video doorbells because it boasts big-ticket features on a budget.
Even better, the Kasa Smart Doorbell can work with Alexa, Google Nest, 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 includes all the features needed for home security including motion zones, 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 with a mountable bracket for simple installation. Plus, 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 keeps you covered 24/7.
Door Ringer offers a cloud-based storage system named Ring Protect that allows users to store and share videos for later viewing. However, this optional cloud system isn’t needed to save and watch short videos. With Ring Protect, the storage is unlimited; when using an SD card, the storage space decreases drastically, although you’ll still have plenty of time to watch the recordings before deleting them.
Arlo’s night vision with infrared LED capability is a must-have for security after the sun goes down. If your budget is tight, Lorex’s reduced price for a limited number of high-quality features might be a better option.
While many smart video doorbells are alike, keep an eye out for key features that work for your needs. Prioritize LTE connectivity if you live in a remote location, 1080p video recording for high quality footage, and a motion-sensor spotlight or color night vision for added security at night.
Pro tip: Most of Arlo’s cameras and doorbells come with a free Arlo Secure trial. However, whichever video doorbell you choose to go with, they all share one thing in common: keeping your home protected and secure 24/7.
