But how do you know if a doorbell camera will work with your house? Do you have the right voltage? The right chime? What if you can’t mess with your existing wiring? What if you don’t have existing wiring? This guide is here to help. This is the complete rundown on what you need to support a doorbell camera, and how to choose a model that will work for you. Go forth and never miss a package again. Sound intimidating? It’s not as hard as it seems. But first, you do want to make sure you turn off the breaker that powers your doorbell connection. If you don’t have a doorbell, or if you’re a renter who can’t modify your existing doorbell system, there are some alternatives to a doorbell camera that might work better for you. You can check your doorbell wiring’s voltage a few different ways: If your house was built within the last 50 years or so, you should have the appropriate voltage. But the voltage in older houses may be too low, or your doorbell transformer may have degraded over time. You can adjust the voltage by hiring an electrician to install a new transformer. (You probably don’t want to tackle that one yourself.) Or, you can opt for a doorbell cam alternative. You can usually tell what kind of chime you have from the way it sounds. Mechanical chimes don’t let you adjust the tone, and they sound like a bell (or two) being struck. But digital chimes sound recorded and may let you choose from a few different tones. When in doubt, you can open up your chime box and take a look. If it has a speaker inside, it’s a digital chime. If it has a couple of pistons inside, it’s mechanical. Knowing what kind of chime you have will help you choose a doorbell camera. You can check which chimes are compatible with the model you’re looking at. Ring, for example, has a list of compatible mechanical and digital chimes. Over-the-door cameras and peephole cameras are becoming more popular. Like, doorbell cameras, they let you see your porch and yard, and they alert you when they detect motion from visitors (or package thieves).
Two-way audio Night vision High-definition resolution (720p or 1080p) Motion detection
At a bare minimum, doorbell cameras tell you when they detect motion and let you see and talk to visitors on your porch. Even a basic doorbell camera will have features like two-way audio and motion detection. These basic cameras don’t cost a lot—we’ve seen doorbell cameras priced as low as $20. Generally speaking, the more you pay, the better the quality. But you can find a decent model for around $100.
1080p or 2K recording Person detection Package detection Animal detection Vehicle detection Custom motion zones Facial recognition Built-in siren Continuous video recording Emergency call function
Now here’s where things get fun. Advanced doorbell cameras can tell you exactly what they see, and some of them can even recognize familiar faces. These cameras give you much smarter alerts than a basic model. Instead of saying, “Motion detected,” they can say things like, “Package detected” or “Aunt Martha is at the door.” You can also adjust the settings to only alert you about things you care about. That way, you don’t get a notification every time a car drives down your street. Expect to pay more for advanced doorbell cameras. They usually cost in the neighborhood of $200, and you’ll often want to sign up for a monthly subscription plan to get cloud storage and additional smart features. A lot of smart video doorbells also work with IFTTT, which lets you create “recipes” between your doorbell camera and your other smart home devices, like smart door locks, smart light bulbs, and smart electrical outlets.
Ring Video Doorbell (all models) Arlo Video Doorbell Toucan Video Doorbell Google Nest Hello August View Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro RemoBell S Eufy Video Doorbell
Video doorbells that work with Google Assistant*:
Google Nest Hello August View Eufy Video Doorbell Maximus Answer DualCam Video Doorbell RemoBell S SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Ring Video Doorbell (all models) Ring Peephole Cam
Video doorbells that work with Apple HomeKit:
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell Robin ProLine Doorbell Yobi Video Doorbell
- Not complete lists If you’re an Apple HomeKit devotee, then you have fewer options for doorbell cameras with direct integration. HomeKit works with only three doorbell cameras. But you might be able to develop a roundabout solution through IFTTT if you want a different model that still works with your other smart stuff. The most obvious models are the ones that work with the biggest professionally installed security systems: Vivint and ADT. Just keep in mind these aren’t standalone products: they’re for people who want a whole security system that also offers a doorbell camera. Standalone doorbell cams with professional installation:
Google Nest Hello works with OnTech Arlo Video Doorbell works with HelloTech
Most video doorbells require an internet download speed of at least 2 Mbps. Keep in mind, that’s just for the doorbell itself. If your family already uses a lot of bandwidth playing games or streaming videos, then you’ll need higher speeds. Check your existing doorbell: Most doorbells require an existing doorbell connection to work. If you don’t have one (or can’t modify your doorbell), then choose a battery-powered doorbell cam or a doorbell camera alternative. Consider what features you want: You can get a basic doorbell camera for pretty cheap or an advanced, smart video doorbell for double the price. Decide if you just want basic features (like two-way audio and motion detection,) or if you want to opt for advanced features (like facial recognition and package detection). Consider professional installation: If the electrical installation is a bit much for you, you can get professionally installed doorbell cameras from major security system providers (like Vivint and ADT) or from companies that partner with third-party contractors, like Google Nest and Arlo. Check your Wi-Fi connection: If you have a weak Wi-Fi connection, then your doorbell camera won’t work very well, no matter how much you paid for it. Make sure you have fast enough download speeds and that your Wi-Fi signal reaches all the way to your front porch.
