Besides improving your home’s security, video doorbells also significantly increase your peace of mind. The idea of a video doorbell sounds even more interesting if you’re getting the facility without spending a monthly subscription fee.
However, even for a one-time investment, you need to look for multiple features that make a video doorbell worthy of spending money. Considering all those factors, we’ll be sharing with you the finest choices for video doorbells that don’t require a subscription.
So let’s get started.
Which Are The Best Video Doorbells Without Subscription?
1. Eufy 2C Pro 2 Cam Kit
- Resolution: 1440p
- Field of View: 135°
- Internal Storage: 16 GB EMMC
- NVR Storage: Yes
- Motion Detection: Yes
- Night Vision: Spotlight and Infrared
- Two-way Audio: Yes
- Battery Life: 180 days
- Waterproof: Yes, IP67
The Eufy doorbell camera is a spectacular choice for upgrading your home security system. Starting with the 2K resolution that allows the camera to produce clear and helpful footage, there’s a lot more that won’t leave you unimpressed.
This security camera offers a 135° field of view which covers not only the door but also allows you to always have access to a broader perspective around the house.
The camera comes with a Sony sensor and offers a spotlight and infrared vision during the night, providing a brighter view that is as good as the day vision.
Also, what’s worth mentioning is this device’s intelligent detection feature that eliminates or at least minimizes false alarms as it can differentiate between objects and human movement.
Additionally, you can enjoy two-way communication through this camera and connect with the ones on your door without moving an inch from your place.
Lastly, we cannot ask for better battery life. This camera can spend half a year on a single charge. Changing weather is not a problem for this star either. This comes without a subscription fee, so it’s not far from perfect.
2. Eufy Cam 2 Pro
- Resolution: 1440p
- Field of View: 140°
- Internal Storage: 16GB
- NVR Storage: Yes
- Motion Detection: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Two-way Audio: Available
- Battery Life: 365 Days
- Waterproof: Yes, IP67
Another option from Eufy is an even better version with improved battery life, increased field of view, and versatile connectivity options.
This doorbell camera produces a crystal clear 2k video with enhanced colours during the daytime. The visuals are clean and bright. You can quickly identify anyone out there by looking at your mobile.
The field of view is slightly better than the 2C pro. This one allows you to monitor within a 140° so you can stay updated with whatever’s happening around your house.
In terms of night vision, this one might be a downgrade from the 2C pro as it lacks infrared vision as a good spotlight. However, the situation is not that bad even then. This camera’s advanced night vision settings still allow more light to be captured and keep the helpful footage in the nighttime.
The motion detection is accurate and capable of distinguishing between human and object motion to minimize unwanted alarms. The storage again is not great. Eufy needs to work on the storage capacity because 16GB goes away quickly.
Unfortunately, the battery life is not as great as advertised. It doesn’t last anywhere near 365 days, but that’s not a deal-breaker. Charging a year thrice isn’t going to be that bad either.
3. Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell
- Resolution: 1536p
- Field of View: 180°
- Internal Storage: No
- NVR Storage: No
- Motion Detection: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Two-way Audio: Yes
- Battery Life: Wired Function
- Waterproof: Yes
Arlo is known for its incredible security cameras and doorbells. However, the functionality it is known for comes with monthly charges. Without a subscription fee, you get a very basic video doorbell, to be fair.
So let’s only focus on what you can get without a subscription fee. This Arlo doorbell offers a 1536p video in a square aspect ratio that allows you to get a whole picture from head to toe, contrary to what most security cams offer in their widescreen footage.
The video quality is crisp and includes precise details in all kinds of light conditions. The doorbell also comes with a night vision feature, enhancing the footage during the night to avoid losing any piece.
The field of view is awe-inspiring. The camera can cover up to a 180° view of the surroundings. The motion detection feature is accurate. However, it doesn’t serve much as the camera can’t record or store footage unless you’re subscribed.
The two-way audio system is always a plus for any doorbell camera. With Arlo, you can interact with the visitors or delivery guys at your door, no matter where you are.
Lastly, this is a wired doorbell camera, so you don’t have to worry about the battery life. You just need existing doorbell electrical wiring to get its function started.
4. Eufy Video Doorbell Kit
- Resolution: 1080p
- Field of View: 4:3 aspect ratio, 15° wedge
- Internal Storage: SD card required
- NVR Storage: Yes
- Motion Detection: Yes
- Night Vision: No
- Two-way Audio: Yes
- Battery Life: 120 days
- Waterproof: Yes
If you’re looking for a doorbell camera that is easy on the pocket, this has to be the one. This video doorbell is a cheaper version of the previously mentioned Eufy 2K cameras.
The thing with these Eufy cameras is that they offer epic features without you having to pay the monthly subscription fee. This camera produces 1080p footage, which serves the purpose well. You can easily monitor and identify the visitors on your door.
It produces a 4:3 footage which means you can get a head-to-toe image and even focus on the ground, which is quite helpful if you’re expecting a package delivery. Moreover, this camera comes with a 15° wedge that allows you to look on a specific side which is a brilliant addition for a primary camera.
Motion detection is quite responsive to AI technology that aids the camera in distinguishing between human and object motion. The camera locally stores the footage for seven days, and it’s all we need.
However, the package does not include an SD card, so you’ll have to make an additional purchase. The camera can last up to 3 months on a single charge, and we have no complaints about that.
5. Wyze Video Doorbell
- Resolution: 1080p
- Field of View: 4:3, 30° wedge
- Internal Storage: Not available
- NVR Storage: Yes
- Motion Detection: Yes
- Night Vision: Yes
- Two-way Audio: Yes
- Battery Life: Wired
- Waterproof: Yes, IP65
This video doorbell by Wyze is a cheap deal, so the lack of practical functionality doesn’t come off as a surprise. Anyway, the doorbell is still good enough for primary users.
You get a 1080p live monitoring of your door. The video quality is crisp and clear. The frame rates are a bit substandard. However, you can still see the visitors at your door, so it doesn’t matter much.
The footage is provided in a 4:3 view which is excellent since you get a top-to-bottom image. With the addition of a 30° wedge, this camera is unbeatable for the price. The wedge allows you to modify the camera’s angle and focus on the desired side.
The motion detection feature is a little disappointing. The camera shows noticeable lags in detecting motion to the point that the intruder will be gone when you receive an alert. So minus points in terms of security.
The camera offers storage for 12 seconds videos in the cloud for unsubscribed users, which I’d instead not write home about. You need to subscribe to their annual plan to utilize more functions.
The two-way audio system is excellent. Additionally, the camera is designed to endure all kinds of weather conditions. Overall, it is a fantastic deal for the price.
6. XTU Wireless Doorbell Camera
- Resolution: 1080p
- Field of View: 166°
- Internal Storage: SD card required
- NVR Storage: Yes
- Motion Detection: Yes, the PIR sensor
- Night Vision: Yes, 720p
- Two-way Audio: Yes
- Battery Life: 60 days
- Waterproof: Yes, IP65
This doorbell camera by XTU can be powered by a battery and hardwired to your existing doorbell set-up for a wired function.
This camera offers a clear 1080p footage with the best live monitoring experience during the day. At night, the performance drops down a bit. Despite having a night vision feature, the camera supports a 720p video only. Yet it is still used to monitor activity around the house.
This doorbell camera can cover a 166° field of view with its wide-angle lens that allows you to keep an eye on the surroundings and not just the door.
The motion detection feature couldn’t be better for a sub 100 bucks device. The built-in sensors of this camera activate recording when triggered by human motion.
It supports SD card storage up to 128GB, quickly enough to store necessary footage. You’ll need to make an additional purchase for the card, though. The two-way audio system allows honest time communication. You can even leave messages for the visitors while you’re away.
The battery can last well up to 40 to 50 days. Although, it can vary depending on the sensitivity levels and overall functioning. The camera works fine in all kinds of weather, and honestly, it is a steal for the price.
7. Amcrest Video Doorbell Camera Pro
- Resolution: 1080p
- Field of View: 164°
- Internal Storage: SD Card required
- NVR Storage: Yes
- Motion Detection: Yes, up to 16ft
- Night Vision: Yes, up to 16ft
- Two-way Audio: Yes
- Battery Life: Wired
- Waterproof: Yes, IP65
This video doorbell by Amcrest supports a wired functioning and needs an existing doorbell connection to work.
You get a high-definition 2K video with its 4Mp lens that produces all the required details in the footage. The visuals are crystal clear and better than what you usually require for a primary function.
The camera offers a broad angle view as it can cover an area up to 164° with its fantastic lens. Even more so, it comes with a wedge that allows slight tweaking to adjust angles per your requirement.
The motion detection sensors are highly responsive, and you may need to lower the sensitivity to avoid unwanted alerts. It can detect motion up to 16ft, so you’ll know before a visitor rings the bell.
The night vision is not the best but still serves well. You can spot whoever’s around, so you can’t complain much about it. You get free cloud storage for seven days, and then you can buy yourself an SD card for storage or subscribe to their monthly plan to access the cloud storage.
The two-way audio works well. The set-up is super easy; it takes 10 minutes to get the doorbell operational.
Read More: Can You Use A Blink Camera Without A Subscription?
Best Video Doorbells without Subscription: Buyer’s Guide
While some of the absolute best options for video doorbells are mentioned above, the following is a short yet comprehensive guide that will help you make an ideal choice by prioritizing some essential requirements.
Video Quality
First and foremost, you should be looking at the quality of the camera and the resolution of the footage it produces. Subpar camera quality will render your video doorbell useless. You don’t want a grainy video but footage that helps you identify your visitors and possible intruders.
For that matter, you need to look for cameras with at least 1080p resolution. Many doorbell cameras offer a 2K or higher video resolution, which will be a great choice. However, if you’re stuck with a limited budget, you’ll most probably find 1080p cameras, and thankfully, they serve the purpose just as well.
Motion Detection
Almost all mid-high range video doorbells feature a motion detection system. This system allows the camera to start recording each time the motion triggers the sensor.
This way, the battery is conserved at other times, and only the required footage takes up storage space. Most cameras also offer an alert on your mobile every time motion is detected within a specific range, so you’ll know in case there’s a potential intruder around.
Most motion detection sensors can differentiate between an object and human movement, which helps to eliminate unwanted alerts. So look for this feature specifically, or you’ll be stuck with a constantly buzzing phone.
Some high-end video doorbells are also equipped with face detection features that allow automatic door unlocking for programmed faces.
Weatherproof
Regardless of your residence, you should look for a weatherproof video doorbell. You do not want your doorbell to malfunction in extreme weather conditions. Your top priority should be a waterproof device and move on to other factors like extremely hot or cold resistance.
All video doorbells mentioned in our list are weatherproof, ranked between an IP65 to IP67 range, which means you can choose from them with your eyes closed. A doorbell without a weatherproofing feature will eventually make you question your choice, so don’t compromise in this regard.
Battery Life
There are two kinds of video doorbells; one is battery-operated, and the other runs on a wired connection. Most doorbell cameras that have a wired functionality require an existing doorbell connection to work.
On the contrary, if you’re choosing a battery-powered device, then it should be able to last a reasonable time before it goes dead. If you’re considering a budget device, the most you’ll get is 40 to 60 days or more if you’re lucky.
Most high-end doorbell cameras can last up to 6 months and only require a charge twice a year. The battery life can vary depending on the functions of your device, mainly motion detection sensitivity.
Other than that, for a battery-powered device, make sure it has a built-in rechargeable battery and not something you’ll have to remove each time it requires a charge.
Night Vision
A night vision feature is essential for any security system or video doorbells. You don’t want your nighttime footage to be useless; therefore, look for a camera that supports night vision.
A night vision feature allows the camera to catch additional light and enhance the visuals to produce clear footage. Some cameras also offer infrared vision at night, which they get extra points. However, an essential night vision will suffice as well.
Audio System
What you’ll never want to not have in your video doorbell is a two-way audio system. While you can see the visitors through the video, interacting with them in real-time makes the idea of a video doorbell even better.
A video doorbell camera with a two-way audio system allows you to be present despite being away. It is beneficial if you’ve someone in the house who cannot move, or even while you’re away, you can communicate with anyone on your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a video doorbell without a monthly fee?
Well, they’re a lot of video doorbells without a monthly fee. Almost all video doorbells can function without monthly subscriptions. However, the functionality is too limited in most cases.
But gone are the days when a complete functionality was only accessible to those who paid for it. Now there are several alternatives for the high-end video doorbells that require a monthly fee.
Some of the best options are from Eufy, mentioned in our list. Others like the Amcrest Video Doorbell Pro are an excellent choice too.
Which Ring Doorbell does not require a subscription?
The ring is a well-known, high-end brand for doorbells. You can use all the Ring Video Doorbells without a subscription. However, the functions will be too limited unless you subscribe to their monthly plans.
Most functions like storage or notification alerts are unavailable for unsubscribed users. But if you only need live monitoring without storage or other fancy features, you can get that by any Ring video doorbell.
Can you access Ring videos without a subscription?
You can access only actual time footage without a subscription on Ring doorbells. They do not offer recorded videos for their unsubscribed users. No local or cloud storage Amount is available unless you’re subscribed to their monthly plan.
To access recorded footage, you will need a subscription.
Can I save a Ring Doorbell video without a subscription?
No, you cannot save a Ring Doorbell video without a subscription. Only subscribed users get access to a cloud storage facility. Without a subscription, you can only have access to live footage.
Final Word
Video doorbells can help you stay connected from anywhere in the world, and that’s the best part about them. They will improve your life by adding security and convenience to your daily routine. So if you are getting a good deal without a subscription fee, make sure not to miss it.