Wyze Video Doorbell Pro
Overall the best cheap video doorbell
Ring video doorbell (wired)
The best wired doorbell camera available
Blink Video Doorbell
The cheapest (but still good) video doorbell
The the best doorbell cameras are those who discourage porch pirates. These video doorbells take away the worry of your packages being stolen, but they’re good for more than that. Once you install a doorbell camera, you can interact with vendors and visitors, and you might even catch some kids in the act of playing ding-dong ditch. Doorbell video cameras provide a sense of comfort and security that doesn’t have to be expensive and out of your reach.
But video doorbells can get expensive—especially if you want premium features like facial recognition and radar tracking. It’s a good thing that these solid doorbell cameras have popped up in the past year or so, all for $100 or less. If you are looking for a great, inexpensive video doorbell, look no further because they are the best on the market.
I’m setting up Movable, outdoor/indoorResolution 2560 x 1440 (2K)Storage Cloud storageCompatible with Google/Alexa BothA glance 150 degrees
Wyze released its second video doorbell in 2022, and at $100, it’s a bit more expensive and a lot smarter than its first video door attempt. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is one of the cheapest wireless doorbell cameras on the market. Wyze didn’t skimp on features, either: Doorbell Pro has a 1440×1440 resolution, 1:1 aspect ratio with a wide field of view, smart alerts (with a $2/month subscription), free cloud storage, and an included doorbell plugin. That’s why we gave it an Editors’ Choice award and an 8.9/10 rating.
Read our Wyze Video Doorbell Pro review.
I’m setting up Wired, outdoor/indoorResolution 1080pStorage Cloud storageCompatible with Google/Alexa Amazon AlexaA glance 155 degrees
Priced at $65, this wired version of Ring’s Video Doorbell is super affordable and includes all the essentials—live streaming, night vision, two-way talk, and motion alerts. While this smart buzzer doesn’t include the premium features of more expensive models, it works reliably well, downloads its live feed with little delay, and is easy to install if you have a wired setup. You can get cloud storage for $3 a month. If you live in an Alexa-friendly home, the doorbell can integrate well with your other gadgets, too. After testing it, we gave the Ring Video Doorbell (Wired) a rating of 8.6/10.
Read our Ring Video Doorbell (Wired) review.
I’m setting up Movable, outdoor/indoorResolution 1080pStorage Cloud, local storageCompatible with Google/Alexa Amazon AlexaA glance 135 degrees
Blink’s Video Doorbell is the cheapest we’ve tested and one we’d recommend—at least to some users. What makes the Blink really impressive is its value: At $50, the Blink Video Doorbell offers most of the video doorbell basics, including wireless installation options and a plug-in doorbell (Ring’s $65 option is wired only and doesn’t include a doorbell).
The biggest downside to Blink is that unless you pay for a separate device, you don’t have access to a real-time feed unless someone rings the doorbell or the device senses motion (or unless you buy a $35 accessory). That means no random checks if you’re out of town or just want to see if it snowed last night.
But if you just want a basic doorbell that works as a modest security measure — and that lets you chat with visitors during the day without opening the door — the Blink will do the job well at a pretty unbeatable price. And you can get cloud storage for $3/month. We gave Blink Video Doorbell a 7.6/10.
Read our Blink Video Doorbell review.
Comparison of affordable doorbell video cameras
Here’s a breakdown of the exact features offered by each of our favorite affordable video doorbells.
Comparison of cheap video doorbells
| Wyze Video Doorbell Pro | Ring video doorbell (wired) | Blink Video Doorbell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $90 | $65 | $50 |
| Resolution | 1440×1440 | 1080p | 1080p |
| A glance | 150×150 degrees | 135×80 degrees | 155×90 degrees |
| Ratio | 1:1 | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Plug-in bell | Included | Which are not included | Included |
| two-way conversation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live streaming online | Yes | Yes | No |
| Local storage | No | No | With accessory |
| Cloud storage | Free and with subscription | Subscription only | Subscription only |
How we test video doorbells
Hands-on testing is at the heart of our approach to evaluating home security devices. That means we install every video doorbell we review, use it in a home environment, test every feature, and carefully compare it to the competition. These are the comparisons we focus on:
- Features offered
- How functions work
- Running the entire product for a one-week testing period
- Comparisons of resolution, night vision and latency
- Total value
If you want to read more about our testing procedures, see our detailed article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.
Cheap Video Doorbell FAQ
Are cheap doorbell cameras good?
Short answer: Yes. But this has become true only in recent years. While home security cameras have reached sub-$100 price tags since 2016, reliable video doorbells have only reached double digits since 2021. There are now enough devices on the market to spur some solid competition – which means better products at better prices.
What is the cheapest video doorbell that works with Alexa?
Blink’s $50 Video Doorbell is the cheapest video doorbell we recommend, and it can use Amazon’s Alexa devices as indoor doorbells. If you want more robust integrations, like checking live feeds and starting a two-way conversation, Ring’s $60 Wired Video Doorbell is the better option.
What is the cheapest video doorbell that works with Google Home?
While Ring and Blink can work with Google Home to a limited extent, the best cheap video doorbell we recommend using with the platform is Wyze’s. Yes, it’s $90, but you can stream the doorbell to your Nest smart display or Chromecast TV.
Are there video doorbells that don’t require a subscription?
Most video doorbells don’t require a subscription to use them – but almost all benefit greatly from paying that extra fee. If you’re after a good amount of local storage, Blink’s video doorbell offers plenty if you shell out $35 for the Blink Sync Module 2 (the module enables live streaming and brings the total package price to $85). For $5 more, you can get the $90 Wyze Video Doorbell Pro, which includes 12 seconds of video storage on a 14-day rolling basis with a 5-minute wait. It’s not amazing, but it’s a solid cloud storage option with no monthly fees.
For more, see our recommendations for The best video doorbells of 2023 and on The best outdoor home security cameras of 2023.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23988534/acastro_STK059_zoom_03.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8253873/jbareham_170330_1577_0001.jpg)
