After 18 months of testing 11 popular video doorbells, the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro emerges as the best overall, offering excellent footage day and night and clever pre-roll video. For budget buyers, the Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ delivers strong value, while the Eufy Video Doorbell E340 stands out as the best subscription-free option.
How the doorbells were tested
Consumer journalist Andy Shaw mounted 11 doorbells to various rigged-up contraptions over 18 months, comparing them side by side. He measured how close he could get before motion detection triggered, how much video was recorded and its usefulness, and timed how long notifications took to reach smartphone apps. He also tested apps, examined prices, and considered subscription costs.
All doorbells that didn't need to be returned after testing were donated to the British Heart Foundation.
Top picks at a glance
Best video doorbell overall: Ring Battery Doorbell Pro, £219.99. It offers excellent footage day and night, a clever pre-roll video, and fast response times. However, it's expensive and limited without a subscription (from £4.99 per month).
Best budget video doorbell: Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+, £69.99. It's the lowest-priced doorbell tested, with clear daytime footage and decent night vision. Motion detection is slower, and notifications averaged six seconds, but it remains excellent value, especially with an annual subscription.
Best for Google Home users: Google Nest Doorbell (battery), £129. It has a good viewing angle and quickly sends alerts to other devices. However, it lacks an inbuilt chime and requires an £80-per-year subscription for storage.
Best subscription-free video doorbell: Eufy Video Doorbell E340, £139.99. It uses local storage with 8GB built in, and has a second camera pointing down to monitor parcels. Motion detection can miss fast-moving visitors.
Other notable models
The Ezviz EP8 Ultra (£139.99) features dual cameras and a voice-changing option, but has a clunky app. The Aqara G4 (£79.99) uses six AA batteries to avoid charging downtime, but its app is cumbersome. The Yale Smart Video Doorbell (£149.99) is responsive to movement with a good field of view, but has poor sound quality and an unnatural colour tint. The Tapo D235 (£116.99) offers local storage and a chime, but has a short motion-detection range.
What to consider when buying
Battery doorbells are easier to install but require periodic charging, while wired doorbells need professional installation. Subscriptions typically provide cloud storage, but some doorbells offer local storage. Video doorbells can integrate with smart speakers and screens, and battery life varies widely depending on usage and weather.
