The 8 Best Smart Doorbell Cameras to Buy in 2018

Well-known in the video doorbell space, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is a superb choice for buyers looking for a great combination of price, features and ease-of-use. Available right out of the box with motion-activated alerts, 1080HD video (and video recording) and two-way talk, the Ring 2 instantly helps you keep watch over your house via Wi-Fi (and to your phone via cellular connectivity), whether you’re inside the house or on the other side of the world.

Capable of working with just about any home, the Ring 2 incorporates its own internal battery pack that lasts between six months and a year before needing to be re-charged. Beyond battery life, the Ring 2 allows you to monitor via night vision, as well as live video-on-demand through Ring’s subscription-based service (cloud-based storage is included). Compatible with both iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, the Ring 2 also offers a water-resistant design, plus two different color styles.

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Available with a full HD camera and recording video at 1080p, Ring’s Doorbell Pro offers a feature-rich smart doorbell with Amazon Alexa compatibility. The Doorbell Pro includes more standardized options such as night vision (so you can see visitors during the evening hours) and a wide-angle 1080p camera for a complete view of your home’s entrance. Cloud recording enables you to maintain and view footage anytime, while automatic motion sensing sending alerts to your smartphone upon detecting any type of movement at the front door.

The ultra-slim design offers four interchangeable faceplates for pairing with the style of your home. The inclusion of Amazon Alexa allows Ring Pro owners to say “Alexa, how is my front door?” and see what’s going on right from your phone. Installation is easy: It just requires a connection to your existing doorbell since there’s no rechargeable battery option on-board.

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Zmodo’s budget-priced Greet Smart Doorbell is a standout option for the wallet-conscious shopper and includes many great features found on higher-priced models. The Zmodo offers two-way communication, so you can see and speak to visitors, plus smart motion detection that sends alerts via smartphone and records a short video clip whenever motion is sensed. And if you can’t answer the door, the Zmodo can play a brief, personalized voice message when you’re unavailable.

Beyond its mainstream features, the setup utilizes existing doorbell wiring and adds the Zmodo Beam as a dual Wi-Fi extender and Wi-Fi companion to the bell, which pairs quickly to the downloadable Android and iOS smartphone app. Once it’s installed, the 720p camera helps capture up to 8GB of video storage with an option for a subscription-based cloud backup service that combines with night vision, so you can see and remember who is at your door no matter the time of day. While it doesn’t offer true “HD” video capture at 1080p, the Zmodo offers just about every feature a smart doorbell shopper could want at a price that’s too good to pass up.

Ring is a brand to be reckoned with in the smart doorbell space. The Elite option in their video doorbell line falls in the runner-up spot, mostly because of the high-end price. The standard or even the Pro option can serve most users well for a smaller price tag. But if you’re in need of the most reliable and feature-rich option, take a look at this one.

The Ring Elite offers 1080p HD images and 160-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical viewing angles. The hardwired ethernet cable ultimately gives you more consistent power without the need to employ a backup battery, though it’s important to note that this means the Elite will need to be installed professionally. It supports 2.4 or 5 GHz Internet connectivity, on-demand video, two-way talk, motion activated alert, and advanced motion detection. Add that to Alexa compatibility and an easy-to-use app and you have a powerhouse of a smart doorbell (if you can manage the price).

Unlike most of the doorbell cams on the market, this option from RCA takes a more long-term budget approach when it comes to video storage. Most video doorbells will give you a free trial period on their cloud service, while eventually charging you a monthly fee. RCA skips those recurring fees in favor of microSD storage. The cam comes with a 16GB microSD card to get you started, but the slot will accommodate up to 128GB, making it a pretty versatile internal storage option.

The other features are pretty top-notch, too, with a 3MP sensor on-board to give you ultra-HD video recording with excellent clarity. The app lets you use a two-way talk feature even when you’re on the go to communicate with anyone at your front door, and the motion-sensing capability sends you notifications, too. And with a 180-degree field of view, you won’t miss anything around your front door. It doesn’t have the same brand recognition as Nest or Ring, but the approach to video storage makes this RCA doorbell cam a perfectly viable option.

The iseeBell offers Wi-Fi connectivity at 2.4 GHz without the need of any wire setup or complicated installations. The tiny smart doorbell camera is compact (measuring 3.3 x 0.9 x 2.9 inches) and affordable.

With its dedicated smart app feature, the iseeBell connects to your iOS and Android devices through Wi-Fi, making it accessible to view live stream video from outside your home. The smart doorbell camera can also speak with visitors at your door, receive alerts and even snapshot pictures of any activity from remote locations. Shooting in 720p HD, the iseeBell gives a 180-degree ultra-wide lens field of motion, includes a night vision mode and pushes all its captured content to a convenient cloud storage system completely accessible from your mobile or desktop devices.

If you're looking for a smart video doorbell that's quick and easy to install, check out the one from RemoBell. Available right out of the box with six AA batteries, there’s no need to hardwire the RemoBell to your existing doorbell. Just mount the included bracket by screwing it into the wall, snap the main unit on the bracket and, for added peace of mind, screw in the additional security screw. Beyond fast installation, the RemoBell adds two-way audio, infrared night vision, advanced motion sensors, low battery reminders, 256-bit AES security and a 120-degree viewing angle.

Additionally, the RemoBell is water- and weather-resistant (it's capable of withstanding temperatures 0 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The included Cloud system for storing video is good, but it requires a small monthly subscription fee (and with no local storage, it’s a must if you want true security). Fortunately, each subscription works for up to five viewers, so it's possible to have multiple household members connected. Looking past storage, alerts come instantly via apps for both Android and iOS. While the lack of a desktop app is disappointing, the RemoBell offers great value, four months of battery life, inexpensive storage options and a great installation process.