Google’s smart notifications are on point when it comes to identifying faces and packages. The field of view is smaller than the Arlo’s, but it’s still expansive enough to see packages left on our porch, and night vision picks up Instacart and DoorDash deliveries. (I also suggest keeping Google’s branded chargers, since the off-brand USB-C chargers increased charging time from 5 hours to 15.) I (Adrienne) have tested the battery version for months, and I find it very easy to mount, take off, and charge. For a 30-day video history and smart alerts, you also need to subscribe to Nest Aware, which costs $6 per month-more than twice the cost of Arlo Secure. At $180, the wireless battery-powered version is less expensive than the wired version, which costs $229. The Nest Doorbell comes in second, mainly because it’s more expensive. The ability to dictate zones that should trigger motion alerts and filter them, so you only get notifications about people, is essential if you don’t want to get pinged every time the neighbor's cat crosses your porch. Arlo Secure adds important extras, including 30 days of cloud video history, animated previews, interactive notifications, activity zones, and detection smarts that enable it to categorize by person, package, animal, and vehicle. Without a subscription, the Arlo doorbell is limited to live streaming and motion notifications. You can get the wired model for $150 or pay an extra $50 for the battery-powered version, but you need an Arlo Secure plan ($3 per month) to get the most from either.

The notification system is also superior to most competitors, with a box highlighting the subject and animated previews that often save you from opening the app. These calls come through more reliably and quickly than alerts from other doorbells-particularly away from home. I also appreciate that someone pressing the doorbell triggers a call on my phone.

The companion app is very straightforward and relatively quick to load a live view or recorded videos compared to other smart doorbell apps. False positives are rare, and it never misses the action. It offers an expansive 180-degree square view of your front porch, swift alerts with clear notifications, and detailed video during the day and night. This doorbell has performed reliably over months of testing. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day. com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-Year Subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). Updated September 2022: We've added the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro, Toucan Wireless Video Doorbell, and updated the Logitech Circle View Doorbell. These are the best picks for you.ĭon't see anything you need here? Don't forget to check out our guides to the best indoor and outdoor security cameras and our guide to the best personal safety devices and alarms.

My colleague Simon Hill and I have tested these doorbells for months, peering at Instacart deliveries and stray raccoons from the safety and comfort of our couches. If you're sitting at your desk with your shoes on, waiting and ready, I guarantee that every knock or ring will be from someone trying to convert you to an obscure and weirdly expensive religion.Įven if you're working in your backyard or hungover in bed, a smart video doorbell can help you tell which knocks are worth lunging for and which ones can wait until next time.

As people who receive a lot of packages, we in the Gadget Lab have a foolproof way of making sure an important delivery shows up: Just step into the shower.

Wyze security camera