The 8 Best Smart Doorbell Cameras of 2020

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.

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.

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.

Still can't decide on what you want? Our round-up of the best smart home security systems can help you find what you're looking for.