Smart Doorbells

Discover the Best Smart Doorbells for your Smart Home.

Smart doorbells are the ultimate crossroad where security meets convenience. They provide users with peace of mind by allowing them to monitor their front door from anywhere, whether they're at home or away. Paired with a good smart lock, and your home is secured.

In this curated Best Buy Guide, we are helping you navigate the spectrum of smart doorbells and streamline your decision-making process. From sleek designs to advanced security features, this article will help you choose the best doorbell for your Homey.

What to look for in a smart doorbell

A smart doorbell sounds like it’s only a device with a simple camera and microphone combo, which couldn’t be further than the truth. The true value of smart doorbells lies in their advanced features like motion detection, two-way audio, people, pets and facial recognition as well as night vision capabilities.

With that in mind, here are the top factors to consider when choosing a smart doorbell:

• Video Quality and Field of View: Opt for a smart doorbell with high-definition video resolution (1080p or higher) and a wide field of view to ensure clear and detailed footage of your doorstep area.
• Additional Features: Consider the importance of additional features highlighted in our article such as advanced motion detection with customizable zones, two-way audio and night vision capabilities.
• Installation and Power Source: Evaluate the installation requirements of the smart doorbell highlighted in our best buy guide, including compatibility with your existing doorbell wiring or the availability of battery-powered options. Opt for a doorbell that suits your installation preferences and provides reliable power source options.
• Durability and Weather Resistance: Choose a doorbell rated for outdoor use, capable of withstanding various weather conditions to ensure long-term reliability.
• Storage and Data Privacy: Consider the availability of local and cloud storage options for storing and accessing video recordings securely. If you are opting for the cloud, ensure that your brand pick prioritizes data privacy and offers robust security measures to protect your sensitive information from unauthorized access.

Brand	Model	Protocol	Motion Events	Button Events	Snapshots	Price
Blink	Video Doorbell	Wi-Fi				€69.99
DoorBird	D1101V Door Station	Wi-Fi				€529.00
Eufy	S330 Doorbell	Wi-Fi				€199.00
Foscam	VD1 Video Doorbell	Wi-Fi				€145.00
Google Nest	Doorbell	Wi-Fi				€199.99
Netatmo	Video Doorbell	Wi-Fi				€299.99
Ring	Battery Doorbell Plus	Wi-Fi				€119.99
Trust	ACBD-8000A	433 MHz				€27.99
Ubiquiti	G4 Pro Doorbell	Wi-Fi				€276.00

The Blink Video Doorbell is a popular smart doorbell option known for its simplicity and affordability. Out of the box, it doesn’t require wiring and can be powered by 2xAA batteries but you can attach it to your existing chime if you wish too.

It’s equipped with a full HD 1080p camera providing video footage of up to 30fps, a fairly standard setup for smart doorbells. However, at a horizontal angle of 135 degrees it has one of the narrowest fields of view on our list.

Equipped with a responsive motion sensor mounted on its front, this doorbell can be activated to record and send notifications upon detecting motion. Even during nighttime, its infrared LED light ensures clear footage and motion capture. With its integrated speaker and microphone, you can engage in live conversations and welcome visitors at your doorstep remotely.

Even though the Blink Video Doorbell is the most affordable device on our list, it’s important to note that some features are hidden behind their cloud subscription model. There is also no local storage option without pairing the doorbell to a Blink’s Sync Module.

If you are looking for a super high-quality video doorbell that resembles classical intercoms in apartment buildings, then consider the DoorBird D1101V model. The DoorBird Video Door Station is an industrial grade smart doorbell manufactured in Germany, which can be flat or surface-mounted on your entrance wall.  

This model can be retrofitted to your existing doorbell wiring and use Wi-Fi to pair to your Homey. Alternatively, the device can be powered and linked by PoE (Power-over-Ethernet), enabling a more stable and robust connection.

The DoorBird features an 180° ultra-wide hemispheric lens, capable of recording video in full HD. With motion detection, two-way audio and a night mode feature enabled by two 850nm infrared LEDs, the DoorBird becomes a highly effective video doorbell, capturing even the smallest details at your front door.

DoorBird allows for a local integration with third-party systems, for storing recordings, capturing motion events or even managing the device. When linked with Homey, this smart doorbell becomes incredibly versatile, allowing you to set up various automated flows in your smart home.

All these features come at a premium though, as the DoorBird D1101V is the most expensive smart doorbell on our list.

The Eufy S330 is the latest and greatest addition to the company’s smart doorbell portfolio, available in both wired and wireless variants. The wireless model is powered by a rechargeable battery-pack and uses Wi-Fi to communicate with your Homey. Interestingly, you can also power the battery version by your existing wiring at 8-24V.

The S330 is capable of capturing video in 2K HDR resolution, expressing details in the recorded footage in both very bright and very dark scenes. It’s equipped with two cameras instead of one which double down as motion sensors, monitoring every corner of your front door with zero blind spots. This camera combo can also distinguish between humans, pets and packages thanks to its trademarked smart AI detection features.

The Eufy S330 is IP65 rated, which means the product has the highest level of dust protection, and is able to withstand low-pressure water jets from all directions.

There are no hidden subscription fees for the Eufy S330 and all features are available out of the box, however you will need one of their HomeBase stations for local storage. The wired model does come with a built-in 8GB of flash memory, which cannot be expanded and new recordings simply overwrite old ones.

One downside of the Eufy S330 is its susceptibility to being easily removed with a hairpin, rendering it an easy target for thieves.

The Foscam VD1 Video Doorbell is a dual-band Wi-Fi doorbell with a 2K HD color camera. It features an impressive ultra-wide detection angle of 170° along with clear night vision of up to 5 meters.

The VD1 is a retrofit model, meant to substitute your old doorbell and utilize existing wiring. You can also attach any chime you want to the Foscam VD1, including simple mechanical chimes or digital chimes with different sounds.

Equipped with a two-way audio system, you can use this doorbell to communicate with anyone at your front door. Besides standard motion detection capabilities, this doorbell is also equipped with a unique sound detection feature, triggering alerts even when no one is present in its field of view.

This doorbell can record up to 20 different faces and recognize them when they approach, an AI feature that requires a subscription. The camera footage can be saved locally on an expandable storage (SD card) of up to 256GB, circumventing the cloud necessity for the main functionality of the doorbell. 

Paired to your Homey through the Foscam app, you can create elaborate flows to automate the VD1 beyond its basic motion detection trigger.

The Google Nest Doorbell is a very elegant and modern looking smart doorbell, primarily designed for the Nest smart home ecosystem. Paired to your Homey, it can alert you when someone’s at the door or when a sound is detected.

The doorbell's two-way audio functionality enables real-time communication with visitors, whether at home or away. The noise-canceling microphone ensures crisp audio quality, eliminating any background noise.

The battery version of the Google Nest doorbell, is equipped with a 145° wide angle camera lens, recording HDR video in portrait format. Additionally, it boasts night vision capabilities for clear visibility even in low-light conditions, ensuring 24/7 surveillance. 

The camera can detect people, pets and packages, however, facial recognition features are only available with a Nest Aware subscription, which raises the cost of the Google Nest Doorbell significantly.

If you are interested in attaching a door chime, a better camera (2K) and wider field of view (160°), you will have to opt for the wired version of the Google Nest Doorbell.

If you are looking to install a completely weather-resistant doorbell, take a look at the Netatmo Video Doorbell. It’s made of anodized aluminum, high-strength plastic, and glass with UV protection. With IP44 certification and innovative HZO film coating, this doorbell is fully weatherproof against rain, snow, moisture, dust, and dirt. 

The Netatmo Video Doorbell is a retrofit model, utilizing your existing chime and wiring for power and connecting over Wi-Fi to your network. Once added to Homey, you can use its motion sensor and doorbell button to create triggers and automate a variety of different things around your home. 

It’s equipped with a 1080p HD camera with night vision, enabled by a powerful infrared LED which records footage in HDR quality. The software allows you to digitally zoom-in the feed up to 5 times. 

The Netatmo is a subscription-free model, offering the ability to expand its local storage with an SD card. Alternatively, you can connect it to an FTP server or Dropbox account and have complete control over your personal data. 

At a 140-degree camera angle, it has a narrower and more limiting field of view compared to others on our list.

The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is a highly favored and user-friendly option for a smart video doorbell. Unlike most video doorbells, this model has a unique rechargeable battery back which makes it very easy to install. If you prefer not to recharge the device every couple of months, you can always wire it to your existing transformer for continuous power supply.

With two-way audio, color night vision and high-definition video footage in 1536p, it’s considered a top pick among smart home users. The camera includes a function called "Head-to-Toe," allowing it to capture a person entirely within the frame, even when the person is standing very close.

Paired to your Homey, you can use the motion detection feature to create flows and control the doorbell's behavior. You can even capture and save snapshots automatically and review them at your convenience.

Unfortunately, the Ring Battery Doorbell requires a Ring Protect subscription to be able to utilize some of its best features. Person detection, package detection and viewing recordings instead of snapshots are only available with a subscription.

If you are looking for a simpler alternative and don’t need a video doorbell, consider the Trust Smart Home (KlikAanKlikUit) series of smart doorbells. Their models are essentially smart buttons which you can pair to one of their wireless or plug-in chimes. 

The Trust ACBD-8000A uses 433 MHz to communicate directly with your Homey, which makes it an excellent choice for covering long distances. Installing this doorbell is especially beneficial for larger homes or if you wish to place it farther away, such as on your front gate.

Since the communication protocol uses very little power, the Trust doorbell is powered by a single CR2032 button cell battery. A built-in indicator LED will notify you once the battery is almost empty.

The button press event is recorded in Homey, which you can use to create different flows and automations. This is the most affordable option on our list, both the wireless or wired combo.

Ubiquity is a well-known and highly regarded brand in both home and enterprise networking as well as video surveillance markets. The G4 and G4 Pro models are their take on smart video doorbells, offering some unique features not seen in other brands.

Besides a quality two-way audio system, infrared powered night mode and a 5MP camera recording HDR footage, the Ubiquity G4 Pro features a secondary camera for package detection. Both cameras are also capable of smart AI detection of people, pets, vehicles as well as smoke and CO2 alarms.

The Ubiquiti G4 Pro is also equipped with a very appealing welcome display underneath the doorbell button, which you can program with your own custom text. You could use it to leave dynamic messages for family members or delivery people.

The G4 Pro can be retrofitted to replace your old doorbell and use your existing wires and chime, or paired over-the-air with their Protect Wi-Fi Chime which is a simple plug and play device.

One downside that users mention about the Ubiquiti G4 Pro is its outside speaker's low volume. Despite users actually praising the audio quality, they find the speaker volume to be insufficient in noisy environments.

Final Thoughts

From the budget-friendly Blink Video Doorbell to the premium DoorBird D1101V, each option offers a range of features such as motion detection, two-way audio, and night vision. While some models like the Eufy S330 impress with high-quality footage and advanced AI detection, others such as the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus prioritize user-friendly installation with rechargeable battery options.

Whichever you choose, integrating these doorbells with Homey unlocks a world of possibilities for automation and customized setups. Hopefully, discovering the perfect smart doorbell for your home becomes easier and clearer with our Best Buy Guide.