We didn’t like every video doorbell we tested. These are the ones we don’t recommend.
Ezviz EP3x Pro: This is a far better-looking doorbell than Ezviz’s previous models, and it’s nice to see solar panels as an option for doorbells, though you will need a porch capable of catching some rays. The video quality is good, and you get a split view (like the Eufy above) that includes packages or waiting cats on your doorstep. The distortion correction works well, and there is optional color night vision with a built-in light, though it only works at very close range. I appreciate the 2FA, with fingerprint login, and 32 GB of onboard storage (cloud storage is an optional extra). Sadly, if you use the solar panel, you can’t connect to your wired chime. The lack of HDR is disappointing, human detection was a bit off (it frequently pinged for my cat), and I had issues with alerts failing to come through on some Android phones (even after following Ezviz’s instructions, they never worked reliably on my Xiaomi 14 Ultra). This model is not yet available in the US.
Botslab Video Doorbell 2 Pro: The flaky setup procedure required a couple of restarts, and physical installation was no better, as the screws supplied were so cheap that one of the heads actually broke off. The camera has a fisheye effect, but you can correct it with different views. I liked the VR mode, which provides a 180-degree view of your front porch. It comes with a handy plug-in chime, alerts seem reliable, there is an HDR option, and you can record locally (32 GB included) or in the cloud. You can also set a detection range, which could be handy for street-facing cameras. But the app is confusing, with an AI tab that lists various skills available for purchase. There is a login history and a limit of two devices signed in at once, but no 2FA, which makes this impossible to recommend. It is versatile but also relatively expensive.
Wyze Video Doorbell Pro: The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) was our budget recommendation, but with caveats. It alerted reliably, offered clear video, and had accurate AI for people detection, but you need the Cam Plus subscription (from $3/month). This camera model was not one of those affected by the security flaw that Wyze failed to fix or report to customers for three years, but after repeated security breaches from Wyze, most recently exposing thousands of camera feeds to other customers, it’s hard to recommend its cameras anymore.
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell: This is a smart-looking, if rather chunky, doorbell that supports Apple’s HomeKit, but not HomeKit Secure Video. Video is reasonable quality at 1080p with HDR to balance the lighting without losing all the detail. This wired doorbell must connect to your existing doorbell wiring and chime. (If you don’t have that, you will also need to buy a Netatmo transformer.) There’s no need for a subscription, because video records to a microSD card (my review unit came with a 16-GB card installed). It also works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The problem is that it’s far too expensive at $300, and the app was often slow to load.
Swann SwannBuddy Video Doorbell: This doorbell comes with a wireless battery-powered chime and the option of local storage, but the positives end there. The video quality is poor, the app is painfully slow to load and glitchy, and the doorbell frequently fails to register motion. I found the battery life disappointing. I must also question the decision to provide local storage via a MicroSD card inserted in the doorbell (the chime would make more sense and be more secure).
Ezviz DB2 Video Doorbell: An affordable video doorbell that comes with a plug-in chime, the Ezviz DB2 works quite well, but it is very chunky and kinda ugly. Video footage is detailed, but I had issues with blown-out bright areas when the sun was shining. The app is solid and quick to load, doorbell presses trigger a call to your phone, and you can record locally by inserting a MicroSD card in the chime. Sadly, it only offers a very limited option to define motion zones—a big problem if you live on a busy street. I also found the battery life below average, and it’s tricky to remove.
