1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best affordable
4. Best premium
5. Best for deliveries
6. Best battery-powered
7. Best for facial recognition
8. Best without subscription
9. How we test
10. How to choose
11. FAQ
12. Latest updates
The best video doorbells should reliably offer extra security to your home — while not adding any stress. Ideally, you want a device that’ll alert you when somebody presses the doorbell and detect motion in front of your home; but you also want access to a live feed so you can see who is at your door – and a microphone for talking to your visitor.
Similarly to the best home security cameras, investing in a video doorbell camera is essentially investing in your home. These gadgets add a layer of protection to your home from unwanted guests to delivery drivers, letting you check in on whoever is at the front of your house without necessarily meeting them face-to-face.
But if you’re keeping security front of mind, you’ll want to get the best – particularly the top pick for your lifestyle. For example, battery-powered video doorbells work way better for renters than wired doorbells, as a renter is much less likely to modify a home or apartment. You may also be less thrilled about paying a subscription fee for your home doorbell or want to spend as little as possible on a product.
Thankfully for you, we’ve done the hard work as our team of reviewers have tested dozens of the best video doorbell cameras, assessing their prices, app integrations, microphone and speaker quality. Here are some of the best models that you can buy in Australia right now.
The quick list
Below you'll find a quick roundup of what we think are the best video doorbells in Australia. We've selected a mixture of wired and wire-free models to make sure there's something for everyone, and you can jump to a more detailed review of each pick, using our price comparison deal to shop the latest deals.
Best video doorbell overall
Slim and super easy to use, providing a substantial field of view and painless integration with all major smart assistants, the Arlo Video Doorbell ticks all the boxes – you just need to subscribe to get the most out of it.
Best affordable video doorbell
If your number one priority is increasing your home security without breaking the bank, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired is your best bet. It works seamlessly with Amazon Alexa and Echo products, and the footage capture is impressively clear.
Best premium video doorbell
With superb colour vision during day and night, along with a large field of view, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 does a lot right. Those premium features, however, come with a premium cost.
Best for deliveries
Enjoy online shopping and package anticipation without stressing about missing your delivery. This battery-powered Eufy doorbell has two cameras, facing out and downward, ensuring there's an eye on the delivery and your package. There's no features hidden behind a subscription, either.
Best battery-powered
A battery-powered doorbell with a range of features, the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus takes over from the Ring Video Doorbell 4 on our list, offering a better battery life and improved camera quality — including a new head-to-toe view. It’s a shame that it only works over 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and that it’s a bit pricey. Many of the best features are also locked behind a subscription.
Best for facial recognition
Battery powered for easy installation with facial recognition to differentiate regular visitors and a companion app that even the most tech-deficient will have no trouble using, the Google Nest Doorbell is a super simple smart home upgrade.
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Best without subscription
Eufy's battery-powered Video Doorbell 2K has a lot to shout about, but the main one is that there is no extra paid-subscription hiding away those juicy features you want. Its video is also incredibly clear and detailed, and installation is oh-so easy.
Below you can find more in-depth reviews of our choices for the best video doorbells, and you can click through the full reviews of each, written by TechRadar's team of audio experts.
The best video doorbell overall
For anyone who already owns Arlo devices, Arlo's first video doorbell is an absolute no-brainer. Even if not, we think it's the best video doorbell on the market, and recommend placing it at the top of your list of options.
Slim and stylish, thanks to the camera's crystal-clear 180-degree field of view and 1:1 aspect ratio, you can view the entire length of the person at your door, as well as any packages they place at their feet.
This is a mains-powered unit, so we'd recommend getting it installed professionally – which means it might not be the choice for those working on a budget or looking for an easy installation. However, Arlo offers a battery-powered version called the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free.
It's one of a handful of doorbell cameras that integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit. However, features like the ability to go back and view who was at the door if you missed a call and giving callers the option to leave a message, do sit behind the Arlo Secure subscription.
Read our full review: Arlo Video Doorbell
The best affordable video doorbell
Ring's most affordable doorbell by quite a margin, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired offers excellent value for money. Like other Ring smart doorbells, its full HD video recordings (colour by day and black and white at night) possesses clear audio, though it has a narrower 155-degree field of view.
There's no option to use this Ring Video Doorbell on battery power and to make installation as simple as possible, it will stop any existing chimes you have in your home. Unfortunately, this means they won't sound when the doorbell is pressed. If you want an audible alert to signal someone's at the door, you'll need to either link it to an Amazon Echo smart speaker you already own, or purchase the Ring Chime or Ring Chime Pro. While the doorbell offers Alexa integration, there's no support for Google Assistant or HomeKit.
While the ability to review a missed alert would require a subscription, the majority of key features, such as setting zones, are all available with the purchase of the Ring Video Doorbell Wired.
Read our full review: Ring Video Doorbell Wired
The best premium video doorbell
Ring's almost top-of-the-range video doorbell comes a close rival to our number 1 Arlo - with footage that's just as detailed coming in the same 1:1 aspect ratio, so you can see the complete length of anyone on your doorstep,as well as any packages they might have with them. However, at only 150 degrees, it is a slightly smaller field of view than Arlo's rival doorbell offers.
Where it betters its rival, though, is with coloured night vision. The camera takes ambient light areas within its field of view and applies a simulated colour to them – tinting the sky blue, for example. Of course, it doesn't create a full-colour picture, but in our time with the product we certainly found that it made night-time footage easier to review.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 doesn't come cheap (hence the 'premium' category it sits in), and if you're on a budget, it's worth considering its predecessor, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro. While its resolution and aspect ratio don't match up to its successor, it's still a worthy wired doorbell.
Read our full review: Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
The best video doorbell for deliveries
With not one but two cameras, one of which faces the ground, this video doorbell is ideal for anyone that's looking who loves to receive a delivery, and hates to miss them (or have them stolen off their doorstep). Not only can the second camera pick view any parcels at the feet of someone at your door, but it includes handy features like pre-recorded messages that can be broadcast when anyone approaches said package, that are good for deterring any would-be thieves.
Like the Eufy Video Doorbell 2K (Wireless), that features down below, the Video Doorbell Dual is battery-powered, making it a great choice for renters or DIY aficionados. Even better, it ships with a base station that offers 16GB of local storage for videos recorded by the doorbell, so no subscription is required to get the most out of it.
However, it's bulkier than many doorbells on this list, and the battery isn't swappable – unlike on the Ring Video Doorbell 4 (below) – so the doorbell will be out of action while charging. Also, while it integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant, Apple fans will be disappointed to know there's no HomeKit support. That said, this doorbell could prove invaluable if you get regular deliveries while you're out.
Read our full review: Eufy Video Doorbell Dual
The best battery-powered video doorbell
The Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus builds upon Ring’s brilliant footprint in the video doorbell space to deliver a great option for renters and folks who don’t want to hardwire their systems to their homes. Packing a new head-to-toe camera viewing option, the Plus offers substantial improvements over previous models.
The new video doorbell includes a better camera with a 1,536p resolution. It also comes with night vision with colour and an increased field of view – up to 150 degrees by 150 degrees.
Unfortunately, there are still some drawbacks to note with the Plus —most notably that it only works on the 2.4GHz band and not 5GHz. Some of the best features, including the ability to keep recordings, package detection, advanced motion detection and alerts, are reserved for the subscription. Also, it’s quite an expensive product from the get-go.
But as Ring’s go-to battery-powered video doorbell, you could certainly do worse. If you’re a renter and you want to add a bit of Back to the Future to your home, this could be a good way of doing it.
Read our full review: Ring Video Doorbell Plus
The best video doorbell for facial recognition
Google also offers a battery-operated video doorbell for those looking to upgrade their home security for minimal cost. The battery-powered Google Nest Doorbell is capable of recognising regular visitors by way of facial recognition – although the quality of its video isn't the best on this list.
That said, we still found the footage recorded during both night and day was clear, and the battery operating means it's incredibly easy to install.
The Google Nest Doorbell (battery) will save video clips of detected motion and visitors from the past three hours, but it will delete footage older than that unless you subscribe to Nest Aware. As you'd expect, there's more comprehensive integration with Google Assistant than Alexa (and it's completely incompatible with HomeKit).
We were also disappointed the battery isn't swappable, like with some rival doorbells – so you will be without a video doorbell while it's recharging.
Read our full review: Google Nest Doorbell (battery)
The best video doorbell without a subscription
This is one of just two video doorbells on this list that doesn't require a subscription to review footage at a later date, which in and of itself makes it a great option. Both are made by Eufy and come with a base station that offers 16GB of local storage – equating to about two weeks' worth of videos – but the base station does need to be connected to your wireless router with an Ethernet cable, so you'll need a spare port.
However, the Eufy Video Doorbell 2K is more affordable than the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual - partly because it has just one camera - which makes it our pick for those looking for a quality smart doorbell at the lowest price.
In our time with it we found the video highly detailed thanks to the 2K resolution, and a 4:3 aspect ratio means you can see the person's full length on your doorstep. It was extremely simple to install, but we found colours in the footage were more subdued than rival doorbells, with the video losing detail in very bright situations – but excelling in darker settings. There's also no HomeKit support, but it does integrate with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Unlike Ring's battery-operated doorbells, the battery in Eufy's unit isn't removable. Instead, you'll have to physically unmount the camera to recharge the battery for around six hours every six months.
Read our full review: Eufy Video Doorbell 2K (Wireless)
How we test the best video doorbells
All the video doorbells which you have seen in this guide have been reviewed in the homes of our Contributors and Editors. We take testing very seriously, looking out for the things that would be important to us if we were in the market for a video doorbell.
To compare the best video doorbells, we review the quality of the footage they capture both during the day and at night, the video's sound quality, as well as how well it works when conversing in real-time with someone on the doorstep.
We also assess the ease of installation and, if relevant, the battery life, along with how simple the app is to navigate, and the benefits offered by any subscription services, such as secure storage for footage and handy features designed to identify what triggered a motion alert and reduce unwanted notifications about activity in the doorbell’s field of view.
How to choose a video doorbell
There are several key factors you need to consider before choosing the best video doorbell for you and your household.
Battery vs wired: Video doorbells are widely available in both battery and mains-powered options, meaning that your current preferences and setup could help you choose. For example, those who already have existing wiring for an old doorbell might find it easier to choose a hardwired option. At the same time, renters could be better suited to a battery-powered model.
If you do opt for a mains-powered doorbell and aren't completely confident about working on your home's wiring, ensure you opt for professional installation. Meanwhile, a battery-powered alternative requires far less DIY and can be a better alternative despite needing to be regularly charged.
Additional extras: However, you may need to purchase an additional chime to hear a sound inside your house when the doorbell is pressed or set up a compatible smart speaker or smart display to do this for you. The quality of the video doorbell records video in should also be considered - most record footage in Full HD. In contrast, others offer a higher resolution, which is ideal if you have a long driveway and want to clearly see small details in the field of view.
Aspect ratio: If you get a lot of deliveries, also consider a video doorbell that offers a 1:1 aspect ratio - so you’ll be able to see the full length of someone on your doorstep and if they have a package at their feet too.
Storage and subscriptions: Finally, consider how the video the camera captures is stored - does it require a subscription to save the video in the cloud so it can go back and be reviewed after it has happened? These will set you back a little extra each month, so remember to factor in this cost. Some video doorbells, such as those from Eufy, offer local storage, so you don’t have any ongoing costs associated with the camera. While others, including the Google Nest Doorbell (battery), provide free cloud storage for a limited time after the video has been recorded.
The best video doorbell in Australia: FAQ
Can I use a Ring video doorbell without a subscription?
Ring video doorbells, and those from other manufacturers, can be used without a subscription, but this means you only get access to the most basic function, such as getting an alert when the doorbell is pressed and accessing a live feed from the camera. However, if you miss an alert and want to review a video from the doorbell camera at a later date, you do need to subscribe to Ring Protect or the relevant service.
These subscription services also ensure you can access handy features designed to reduce the number of false-positive alerts issued by the video doorbell, such as identifying the cause of the motion and creating activity zones, so you’re only notified about motion in these areas.
How do video doorbells work?
Video doorbells work the same way as home security cameras, connecting to your home Wi-Fi and sending a notification to your smartphone if motion is detected. You can log in and view a live feed from the camera and even converse with whoever is at your threshold. Alternatively, you can ignore the notification and review the footage at a later date.
The higher the resolution of the doorbell’s camera, the more detailed the footage. In addition, some video doorbells offer a wider field of view so you can see the full length of the person at the door and any packages they may have with them. Find out in more detail how do video doorbells work in our article.
Do video doorbells work with Alexa (and other voice assistants)?
Most video doorbells work with Alexa, and other voice assistants such as Google Assistant or HomeKit, so a compatible smart speaker in your home will announce and play an audible alert when someone is at the door and let you converse with them through the speaker. The most comprehensive Alexa integration comes from doorbells from Amazon-owned brand Ring and Blink, which has recently released its first video doorbell, the Blink Video Doorbell. Find out how the two brands compare by reading Blink vs Ring.
On top of that, if you have one of the best smart displays, such as an Amazon Echo Show 10, you can also view the doorbell's feed on its screen. A handful of video doorbells work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit; others only work with one or two of these voice assistants.
The latest updates to this video doorbell guide
August 8th, 2023:
Updated page to new format, making buying decisions easier with clearer descriptions and use cases for each product.
Removed one video doorbell that is no longer available to buy.
- Check out the best Ring video doorbell deals and prices
