Smart doorbell cameras are a great way to boost your home security, track package deliveries, and greet visitors when you’re out of town. Wired video doorbells have a set-and-forget appeal, but battery-powered models are the easiest to install since they don’t need hardwiring. They can be positioned just about anywhere, and they are often renter-friendly or an alternative for homes without doorbell hookups.
Ring, Google, and Arlo make some of the most popular battery-powered video doorbells on the market, but many other options exist. No two video doorbells are the same, and the features, prices, and quality vary from model to model. While finding the perfect video doorbell can be a daunting task, there is an option out there for everyone. To help narrow down the vast array of video doorbells, here are the top battery-powered smart doorbells this year.
Top smart battery doorbells
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus
A classic brand with powerful features
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus comes with great features, including a 150-degree head-to-toe field of view and excellent night vision, ensuring pristine monitoring. While the video quality is good and integration with Alexa is outstanding, the lack of other AI assistant integrations may be a deal-breaker for some.
- Head-to-toe field of view
- Great video quality
- Robust Alexa integration
- Limited AI Integration
- Limited features without a subscription
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus keeps valuable features from previous models while improving on user pain points. One of the most notable upgrades is the head-to-toe view, addressing the lack of vertical field-of-view in earlier models. With a larger field of view and motion detection alerts, this doorbell already stands out. While subscription features such as package detection cost more, they are well worth it for the extra protection.
The included toolkit and simplistic design make installation quick and easy, and maintenance is even easier with the long battery life and quick-release battery pack for charging. We were able to get the unit up and running in less than forty minutes, and this included the time spent removing the previous video doorbell.
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review: A porch pirate’s nightmare
A good doorbell that’s most useful if you get lots of deliveries
In addition, the excellent Alexa compatibility allows Amazon devices to set pre-recorded announcements, engage in two-way talk, and even monitor the live feed from screened devices. This doorbell keeps the features that make Ring one of the top smart doorbell brands while bringing upgrades that address user complaints. It’s the best pick for just about any user.
Arlo Essential
Robust features in a compact device
The Arlo Essential offers a wide field of view — a full 180 degrees — so you can see more of what’s at your door. It’s imperfect, but the long-lasting battery, good-quality video, and plentiful features are impossible to ignore.
- Wide 180-degree viewing angle
- Compatible with Alexa, Google Home
- AI differentiates between pets and people
- Some rivals offer sharper video
- Limited compatibility with Apple HomeKit
The Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell is easy to mount and packed with features, making it one of the most complete doorbells on the market. The camera’s ultra-wide 180-degree field of view and 1:1 aspect ratio, which delivers a head-to-toe picture of what’s on your doorstep, is one of the most notable features. Spotted a porch pirate? The remotely-triggered siren might just scare them away.
Video quality is good overall, and notifications arrive like a phone call, making it easy to chat with visitors. Arlo’s AI does a decent job differentiating between people, pets, and packages, but you’ll need to subscribe to an Arlo Secure plan (from $5 a month) to access advanced features and cloud recording.
Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell review: Great features, as long as you subscribe
Probably one of the best smart doorbells, if only most of its features weren’t behind a paywall
The lackluster Google Assistant and Alexa integration is limited and does not have the same level of features as some competitors. Also, battery life varies on usage, but the easily-removable battery pack can last up to six months and is easy to recharge. Although this doorbell is on the more expensive side, minor annoyances aside, the Arlo’s innovative features and reliable performance make it worth every penny.
Blink Video Doorbell
Best budget smart doorbell
This Blink model includes a solid set of features, night vision, and an astounding two-year battery life. The video quality is average at best, but given the features and affordability, this model is great value for its features.
- No subscription required
- Great features for the money
- Outstanding 2-year battery life
- Video and sound quality
- Requires sync module
- No Google Assistant integration
Want something cheap and efficient? The Blink smart doorbell camera is incredibly affordable and doesn’t require a paid monthly subscription; slot a USB stick into the sync module, and you can record video events for free. It runs on two AA batteries and uses standby mode to conserve charge, providing an impressive 2-year battery life. Fitting the doorbell is no problem as it snaps onto a plate mounted to the wall using the provided anchors. Relocation is just as easy with the provided tool to securely release it.
Inevitably, a few compromises must be made at this price point. For one, the video resolution is 1080p, while some competitors offer better resolution. Also, the field of view covers 135 degrees horizontally and 85 degrees vertically, which is actually perfectly adequate for the price. Given that Blink is made by and for Alexa, integration with Amazon devices is superb; however, integration with other smart home assistants is not available. There may also be some minor lag between pressing the ringer and the notification being delivered to the mobile device, but it is not a dealbreaker.
Blink Video Doorbell review: An affordable and smart way to welcome your visitors
Check on your deliveries from wherever you are without breaking the bank
Overall, the Blink delivers all the security basics and nifty features at a fraction of the cost of premium rivals. It’s a great choice for those who don’t mind ditching some of the extra bells and whistles for a price that won’t break the bank.
Wyze Pro
Have no fear, smart home compatibility is here
The Wyze Pro is an excellent battery-powered smart doorbell with a base station and a chime. The built-in motion-sensitive security light is a nice extra. However, some may find the irremovable battery inconvenient to maintain.
- Stuffed with features
- Works with Alexa, Google Home, and Ring
- Relatively affordable
- Battery charging inconvenient
- No Apple HomeKit support
- No built-in security alarm
The Wyze Pro offers a better-than-HD (1440p) video camera with a 150-degree vertical and 150-degree horizontal view, guaranteeing a clear, expansive view of any entryway. There’s also an 80dB speaker for two-way audio, a chime module, and a built-in security light. Installation is a piece of cake; just mount it to a backplate that is screwed to the wall, and the doorbell is ready to monitor. An astounding feature is the flexible smart home assistant integrations. The Wyze Cam Plus works with Alexa, Google Home, and even Ring systems, allowing the flexibility to choose smart home products without fear of compatibility issues.
Access advanced features such as cloud recording with a Wyze Plan Plus subscription at the reasonable price of $3 a month. While the Wyze Pro is a great, flexible option for any home, one drawback is the irremovable battery, which can make charging difficult. While the battery life can last up to six months depending on usage, when it does come time to charge, a wire needs to be run to the doorbell, or the doorbell will need to be removed from the wall. This minor downside can be inconvenient, but issues aside, the Wyze Cam Plus is an excellent, affordable option, jam-packed with top-of-the-line features and smart home compatibility.
Google Nest Doorbell
Perfect choice for Google fans
Google has poured cutting-edge AI into a stylish doorbell to great effect. Set-up is easy and Google Home users are well-catered for. This option is quite a bit pricer than competitors but provides seamless integration and features for Google products.
- Sleek design
- Compatible with Google Home and Alexa
- Pixel phone-friendly
- Integration is Google Home focused
- No optional chime
- iOS users miss out on features
Google’s Nest doorbell, available in a range of trendy finishes, wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of a glossy design magazine. It’s arguably the smartest smart doorbell on our list thanks to its facial and sound recognition (identifies noises like smoke alarms and breaking glass) tech. The 3:4 vertically-orientated camera provides a great head-to-toe view of visitors, but it’s worth noting that the wired version enjoys an even wider horizontal viewing angle (160 degrees vs. 145 degrees).
The Nest works beautifully with the Google Home app, and you can even use your smart speaker as a doorbell chime. With unmatched Google Home integration, this doorbell will fit in perfectly with any existing Google Home system. Pixel owners can also check their doorbell feed via At a Glance without having to open the app. Note that a Nest Aware subscription (from $8 a month) is needed for features beyond the three hours of free event video history.
Nest Doorbell (battery) review: Worthless without a subscription
$180 is only the start, it’s basically useless without a monthly or yearly Nest Aware subscription
Battery life is another key call-out; this doorbell’s battery can be expected to last up to 2.5 months, based on 13 to 16 recorded events per day, and monitoring battery life through the Google Home app is simple. While this model may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the features provided for Google aficionados are hard to beat.
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro
Utilizes radar technology
The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is a slight upgrade over the Battery Doorbell Plus and boasts an advanced radar-powered motion detection system, enabling Ring’s Bird’s Eye functionality for accurate mapping of all movement in front of the camera. It records clear head-to-toe footage with its 1536p HD+ lens, has video pre-roll, and is dual-band enabled.
- Offers head-to-toe coverage
- Long battery life
- Great features
- Doesn’t support Google Home integration
The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is one of the latest additions to Ring’s high-performance battery-powered video doorbell line-up. It has a wide, 150-degree viewing angle (horizontal and vertical), creating the perfect format for head-to-toe video coverage. With a resolution of 1536p, this video doorbell records quality daytime footage and has decent color night vision. However, we weren’t impressed with the camera’s night vision because it doesn’t deliver uniformly colored images. It’s hit and miss, with parts of the footage often remaining black and white.
On the plus side, the Battery Doorbell Pro has a pre-roll function that notifies you of what happened before the main recording started. It also uses radar technology, allowing for quick movement detection. The built-in radar system powers the Bird’s Eye View, a feature that enables the camera to create an aerial map of the area where motion is detected, and the Bird’s Eye Zone, which allows users to configure motion areas for customized detection.
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro review: Fancy features, dated design
It boasts radar to track people’s footsteps, and can keep an eye on packages for you, too
A subscription to the Ring Protect plan unlocks package detection, rich notifications, 180 days of cloud storage, and other advanced features that you’ll find helpful. Plus, the two-way talk function delivers quality sound, thanks to Ring’s Audio+ system. Since the doorbell is dual-band, it can connect to 5GHz or 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks and easily integrates with Alexa devices for added convenience. Lastly, the battery on the Doorbell Pro performs well and provides up to two months of usage per charge.
Aosu Wireless Doorbell Camera
Pin-sharp video without the subscription
The Aosu captures razor-sharp footage and doesn’t require a monthly subscription, making it an attractive fee-free option. It’s just a shame the functionality isn’t as polished as it should be.
- Razor-sharp images
- No monthly fee
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Inconsistent app
- Laggy audio
The Aosu doorbell aims to deliver premium features at a relatively affordable price. The 5MP Ultra HD camera is the main attraction, which offers a head-to-toe view of visitors. Other strengths include customizable motion detection and a HomeBase hub that stores up to 60 days of recordings on its 8GB memory (removing the need for any monthly subscription fees). The device’s battery life is claimed to be 180 days, so regular maintenance will be minuscule.
Given that this is not one of the usual big smart home security brands, some drawbacks are to be expected. The app lacks polish and refinement, with some users reporting motion sensor glitches and some lag in the two-way audio. Even with some of the shortcomings of this device, it is designed with DIYers in mind, allowing it to be installed and managed without any additional services. The great video quality is perfect for monitoring entryways, plus users have the power to store and manage their recordings, making it a great option for anyone looking for visual security without having to defer to a service plan.
Eufy Security Video Doorbell
Two cameras are better than one
There’s a lot to like about the Eufy, especially because it boasts two cameras for a better view of packages left on your doorstep. No subscription is required, but security issues could be a concern for some.
- Two cameras in one device
- Compatible with Alexa and Apple Kit
- Free video storage
- Potential security issues
- Irremovable battery
- Not directly compatible with Google Home
Simplicity is sometimes best, and that’s what you get with Eufy’s smart doorbell. Screw-mounting the device is straightforward, and there’s no need for any monthly subscription since recordings are stored locally on the included 16GB hub. What makes this doorbell model particularly impressive is the dual camera feature that is designed to provide users with a standard entryway view with one camera and an additional view of any packages left at the doorstep. Eufy is constantly improving its products and now offers integrations with Alexa and Apple Home Kit, allowing users the flexibility to choose either AI assistant.
Unfortunately, Eufy does not natively support Google Home. While there are some workarounds, they are often tedious and provide very limited capabilities. The battery life is roughly 6 hours, about average for video doorbells, but the biggest flaw is that the doorbell is not easily removable, which can make recharging a chore for some.
Another thing to bear in mind: Anker, Eufy’s parent company, has admitted that its products don’t always use end-to-end encryption when transmitting recorded video footage. In theory, this could make it easier for a stranger to hack into your doorbell’s camera feed. That aside, the device’s unique dual-camera design, robust features, and integration make this a solid option for anyone looking for an extra set of eyes at their front door.
Choosing the right battery-powered video doorbell
The vast majority of battery-powered video doorbells cover basics, such as two-way audio, night vision, and motion sensors. However, that’s often where the similarities end. Luckily, whether it’s a unique design or cool AI-powered functionality, there’s a smart doorbell to suit every buyer and every budget.
When shopping for battery video doorbells, it is important to look at the battery life, as this is one of the first key indicators of how much maintenance certain models require. Investigating how the doorbell is installed, as well as how it is removed, is another indicator of how arduous charging the video doorbell will be. Of course, features are always a crucial point in research to ensure that the doorbell will provide the desired functionality at the best cost.
Which battery smart doorbell is best for you?
While every option has great features and benefits, there are three that stand out. The Blink is a no-frills option that will appeal to those who demand value for money. Its video quality is just okay, but the solid feature set, including night vision, a decent field of view, and Alexa compatibility, make up for it. A big plus for the Blink doorbell is its impressive battery life of up to two years, which blows past most other models. Blink delivers a great, affordable doorbell without having to sacrifice the features that matter.
For something a little more robust with extra features, decent video quality, and state-of-the-art AI human detection, the Arlo Essential is a great, compact device that delivers a lot of features in a sleek and simple package. This device is slightly more expensive than the Ring model but provides a lot of great features. With a wide, 180-degree angle view, a long-lasting battery, and smart AI that can differentiate between humans and pets, Arlo’s Essential doorbell is easily one of the most powerful, feature-packed models on the list.
But The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is the top overall option with the most up-to-date features, an easy-to-charge build, and an affordable price for all the components that come with it. This model knocks it out of the park by keeping all the features that make Ring products great while updating with the new head-to-toe view. The battery life is decent, and the quick-release battery unit allows for easy maintenance, making this an overall great smart doorbell for anyone.
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus
A classic brand with powerful features
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus comes with great features, including a 150-degree head-to-toe field of view and excellent night vision, ensuring pristine monitoring. While the video quality is good and integration with Alexa is outstanding, the lack of other AI assistant integrations may be a deal-breaker for some.
