This Old House Reviews Team

Doorbells have evolved over the years from traditional, one-push buttons to high-tech gadgets capable of capturing video and audio. While your only doorbell choice used to be deciding between a chrome or nickel doorbell, now the problem lies in which type of doorbell you should select in this oversaturated and fast-growing market.

With so many products advertising high-definition video and state-of-the-art motion detection, it can be challenging to determine which doorbell is right for you, which is why the This Old House Reviews team decided to do the research for you. Here are five of the best doorbell selections available on Amazon that feature unique characteristics suited for a variety of homeowners.

Scoring Metrics

To score the doorbells in this review, we looked at the type of doorbell, ease of installation, and additional features.

• Type: We awarded the most points to smart doorbells because of their video and audio capabilities. We docked points for doorbells that only offered a chime function and weren’t controllable through a mobile app.
• Ease of installation: We awarded the most points to battery-powered doorbells that don’t require hard wiring. For those that require wiring, we awarded more points to doorbells that are compatible with the existing wiring.
• Unique features: We awarded the most points to doorbells with the most unique features, such as facial recognition or package detection.

 

Buyer’s Guide

Before purchasing a doorbell, it’s important to understand the factors that influence a doorbell’s capabilities and user experience. Here are four factors to consider before buying a doorbell.

1. Type

As you’re shopping for doorbells, there are three types to consider: wired, wireless, and smart doorbells. Wired doorbells use your home’s electrical circuit to power the button chime located at your front or back door. These traditional doorbells are still used today but are quickly being swapped for more advanced wireless or smart doorbells.

Wireless doorbells look similar to wired models, with many of them designed in a classic nickel or chrome look. However, wireless doorbells are battery-powered and don’t require hardwiring into your home’s circuitry. Wireless doorbells often come in kits with multiple button chimes or with the capability to sync multiple receivers or buttons to the system.

Smart doorbells typically refer to video models. These doorbells function as video cameras, capturing footage of those at your front door and even allowing you to speak directly with visitors. Smart doorbells can be wireless or wired and are usually controlled remotely through a mobile app.

2. Ease of installation

Consider the time required to install your doorbell, which is closely tied to its type. Wired doorbells require extensive electrical knowledge to complete installation. Wireless doorbells, however, are typically mounted to walls using brackets or adhesive tape and are battery-powered for a quick installation. Smart doorbells, which can be wired or wireless, require both hardware and software installation, adding time to the installation process.

3. Video quality

If you purchase a smart doorbell, look into its video quality, which affects how well you can see and identify captured people and objects. Most video doorbells record in 1080p, though some models like the eufy Wi-Fi Video Doorbell record in higher resolution 2K.

4. Additional features

Some additional doorbell features include motion detection zones, facial recognition, two-way communication, and package detection. Most of these features come standard with video doorbells, while more basic models just offer recorded video.

 

FAQs

How do wireless doorbells work?

Wireless doorbells use a radio signal that sends a notification from the push button to the receiver, which triggers a chime. Since wireless doorbells utilize a radio signal to trigger the chime instead of an installed wire, the push button has a limited distance it can be from the receiver.

Are wireless doorbells waterproof?

Most wireless video doorbells are weather-resistant. For example, the SadoTech Wireless Doorbell Kit is weather-resistant and can operate between -4 and 140°F.

How far can a doorbell camera see?

Video doorbells are designed to see beyond your front porch and into your yard or street. For example, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 can pick up video from up to 30 feet away.

 

Ring Disclosure

In the past, there have been customer concerns over data privacy while using Ring products, including the company’s video doorbell. Most of the concerns were around the ability of unwanted users to take control of personal Ring accounts and the company’s partnership with local law enforcement. In the past, these privacy concerns have pushed Ring out of consideration for a top doorbell product. However, the company has taken steps to remedy these privacy concerns.

In February 2020, Ring made two-factor authentication mandatory. This helped Ring customers prevent unauthorized users from logging in and controlling their account by requiring both a password and authentication code.

Around this time, Ring also rolled out an update for its in-app control center, which gave customers easier access to their privacy and security settings. This update allowed customers to view and remove all devices and services with access to their Ring account, add and remove shared users, and opt out of receiving video request notifications from the police.

 

 

The This Old House Reviews team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the This Old House Reviews team.