9 Best Video Doorbell Cameras Without a Subscription, Lab-Tested and Reviewed
These highly rated doorbells from Eufy, Night Owl, TP-Link, and Wyze store recordings locally, which can keep them private and save you money
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Amazon’s many Ring doorbells dominate the doorbell camera market, and several receive a passing grade in our ratings, but they do have at least one drawback: You need a subscription to save recordings and access features like person alerts. The fees—from $5 to $20 per month—add up, costing more than the actual doorbell after just a few years. The math is similar for any doorbell camera that has a subscription. There’s a potential privacy issue, too: The manufacturer has control over the video, which is stored on its servers.
When you consider inflation and the fact that Ring and some other camera brands may share your video footage without your consent, you might want to look for alternatives.
Below, you’ll find the best doorbell cameras without a subscription from our ratings, broken out by power source. Wireless models run on batteries, while wired models connect to your home’s low-voltage doorbell wiring. Both types of doorbells use WiFi for internet connectivity. The lists, which are in alphabetical order, include video doorbells from Eufy, Night Owl, TP-Link, and Wyze.
All of the doorbells store footage locally and perform well in our tests, and many of them outperform Ring doorbells. We also highlight which free smart alerts these doorbells provide and whether they offer an optional subscription if you want to store your video remotely. For more options and shopping advice, check out our complete video doorbell camera ratings of over 50 models and our home security camera buying guide.
5 Best Wireless Video Doorbell Cameras Without a Subscription
Here are the top-performing wireless doorbell cameras that run off batteries. Some of these doorbells can also be connected to existing low-voltage doorbell wiring for continuous power. An added benefit of that option is that the doorbell wiring can keep the battery charged and leave it available to power the doorbell during power outages.
Smart alerts: People only
Optional storage subscription: Yes
The Eufy Video Doorbell C31 is a solid, relatively inexpensive battery-powered video doorbell with a 2K resolution camera that has excellent nighttime video quality and response times. It also has very good data security, as well as decent daytime video quality and data privacy. It receives just a midlevel rating for smart features in CR’s tests, however, because it’s limited to basic person and motion detection.
The C31 features a quick-release battery that makes it easy to recharge, but hardwiring it to your existing doorbell wiring enables continuous power, 24/7 recording, and 5-second preroll footage from the moment someone approaches or rings the doorbell. The downside to enabling those features is that you’ll have to bypass your home’s existing chime. But you can pair it with Eufy’s add-on chime ($40) if you still need audible alerts throughout your home.
Once visitors ring the bell, you can get smartphone notifications that allow you to jump right into the live feed and greet them by voice or trigger preset responses. The doorbell is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. You can store recordings entirely locally with up to a 128-gigabyte microSD card, no subscription required. The C31 supports Eufy’s Cloud Storage plans for online backups, but you can also get the optional HomeBase S380 add-on that supports up to 16 terabytes of local storage, which is especially nice if you have several Eufy security products. For a similar version of this doorbell that’s less expensive and only runs on battery power, consider the Eufy Video Doorbell C30.
Smart alerts: Packages, people, and faces
Optional storage subscription: Yes
Eufy’s latest dual-camera doorbell, the Eufy Video Doorbell E340, is a great performer in CR’s tests. It offers speedy response times for alerts and loading live feeds, and earns strong scores for nighttime video quality and data security. It also receives midlevel scores for smart features and data privacy, but a subpar score for daytime video quality. In addition to its two cameras (one aimed out at visitors, the other aimed down at packages), this doorbell packs a ton of features: color night vision (thanks to built-in spotlights), person detection, package detection, facial recognition, activity zones, and voice and app control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
This doorbell can run off its removable, rechargeable battery pack or be connected to low-voltage doorbell wiring for power. When hardwired, it can also ring existing doorbell chimes. It features 8 gigabytes of memory to store video locally, and it supports Eufy’s Cloud Storage plans for online backups. You can also get the optional HomeBase S380 add-on that supports up to 16 terabytes of local storage, which is a great solution if you have several Eufy security products.
Smart alerts: People only
Optional storage subscription: Yes
The TP-Link Tapo D205 is a new, less expensive model in the company’s ever-growing doorbell lineup. It claims to offer 2K video resolution, and it’s battery powered, but its smart alerts are less robust than other TP-Link models because it only offers person detection. In our tests, it received an excellent rating for response time, very good ratings for nighttime video quality and data security, and decent ratings for its daytime video quality, data privacy, and smart features. In addition to person detection, this doorbell offers activity zones, doorbell calls (to receive a phone call to talk to visitors when they ring the bell), prerecorded messages for visitors, and voice and app control via Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.
This doorbell can run on its internal rechargeable battery, but you have to remove it from its mount to charge it with a USB-C cable. It can also run off an AC wall plug or an optional solar panel accessory (not included). You can store video on up to a 512-gigabyte microSD card (also not included), or in the cloud with a Tapo Care subscription.
Smart alerts: Packages, people, and vehicles
Optional storage subscription: Yes
The TP-Link Tapo TD25 is a Best Buy exclusive version of the TP-Link Tapo D225, featuring a slightly higher-resolution camera sensor (5 megapixels vs. the D225’s 4 megapixels). It receives excellent scores for its quick response times for motion alerts and doorbell presses, and its robust set of smart features that are included without the need for a subscription. It also receives a very good score for data security, as well as decent scores for daytime and nighttime video quality and data privacy. Its features include a 180-degree field of view for head-to-toe video, AI object recognition (for people, packages, and vehicles), a built-in spotlight for color night vision, activity zones, and compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
You can use a microSD card (up to 512 gigabytes) for local storage, or upgrade to Tapo Care Premium to store clips in the cloud for up to 30 days. The TD25 has a built-in rechargeable battery, but it can also be hardwired to doorbell wiring for continuous power and to enable 24/7 recording and 4-second preroll video (this shows you what happens before the doorbell detects motion). Depending on how you hardwire the doorbell, it can ring an existing doorbell chime, but you won’t be able to use the 24/7 recording feature. Your best solution is to use the plug-in chime that comes with the doorbell instead.
For a more inexpensive alternative with similar performance in our lab tests, consider the TP-Link Tapo D225. And if you don’t plan to hardwire your doorbell, you can save even more with the TP-Link Tapo D210.
Smart alerts: None without a subscription
Optional storage subscription: Yes
The Wyze Duo Cam Video Doorbell gets its name from its two-camera design. It has one 2K-equivalent main camera with color night vision to see visitors, while a second bottom-mounted camera helps you scout your porch for packages. Despite the extra hardware, it only manages to nab midlevel scores for daytime and nighttime video quality in our tests. It receives an excellent rating for response time and a very good rating for data security, though.
We found both its data privacy and smart features to be subpar. By default, you’ll get motion detection with automatic voice alerts (in addition to a two-way intercom) to inform visitors they’re being recorded. But you’ll need a Wyze Cam Plus subscription to unlock smart alerts for people, pets, packages, and vehicles. Like many other doorbell cameras, it works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
You can mount the Duo Cam nearly anywhere you want, thanks to its quick-release battery, which lasts three to six months, according to Wyze. The doorbell comes with a plug-in WiFi chime, but you’ll need to purchase the Wyze Chime Controller, $18, if you want the doorbell to ring your home’s existing chime. Hardwiring the doorbell enables continuous 24/7 recording with a few seconds of preroll footage. You can store footage locally on up to a 256-gigabyte microSD card (not included) or keep events backed up to the cloud with a Wyze Cam subscription.
4 Best Wired Video Doorbell Cameras Without a Subscription
Here are the best wired doorbell cameras from our ratings. These doorbells have to be hardwired to low-voltage doorbell wiring for power, but they’re much smaller and slimmer than battery-powered bells. This helps them stand out less on your doorframe.
Smart alerts: Packages, people, and faces
Optional storage subscription: Yes
The Eufy Video Doorbell (Wired) S330 has two cameras, one pointed straight out to spot visitors (or intruders) and one pointed down to keep an eye on package deliveries. In our lab tests, it receives strong scores for nighttime video quality and data security, and midlevel scores for daytime video quality, response time, data privacy, and its smart features.
In addition to its two cameras, this Eufy features high dynamic range (HDR) for more vivid video, compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, activity zones, 3-second video previews (to show what happened before the camera detected motion), facial recognition, person detection, and package detection.
This doorbell features 8 gigabytes of built-in memory to store footage, but the company also offers cloud video storage subscriptions. As its name suggests, the Eufy Video Doorbell (Wired) S330 requires low-voltage doorbell wiring for power and can ring your home’s existing chime. It also comes with a wireless plug-in chime in the box.
Smart alerts: People and vehicles
Optional storage subscription: Yes
The Night Owl DB-DBW2 performs decently in our tests, earning an excellent rating for response time, a very good rating for data security, and midlevel ratings for daytime video quality and smart features. But it receives unfavorable ratings for nighttime video quality and data privacy. Its feature set includes activity zones, person detection, and vehicle detection.
This doorbell provides free local video storage through either its microSD card slot (card not included) or through a Night Owl WiFi recorder hub. Night Owl also offers an optional cloud video storage service called Night Owl Cloud. This Night Owl doorbell camera requires low-voltage doorbell wiring for power and can ring your home’s existing chime. A wireless plug-in chime is also available for purchase.
Smart alerts: People only
Optional storage subscription: Yes
The TP-Link Kasa Smart KD110 is a great video doorbell for the money, with a very good rating for data security, fast response times, decent daytime video quality, and a good number of smart features. Its only noticeable flaws are its lackluster nighttime video quality and data privacy (the latter is not uncommon for this product category). This TP-Link model features activity zones, compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, person detection, and local video storage using up to a 128-gigabyte microSD card (sold separately). It requires low-voltage doorbell wiring for power, but it can’t ring your home’s existing chime. Instead, it comes with a wireless plug-in chime in the box.
Smart alerts: Packages, people, pets, and vehicles
Optional storage subscription: Yes
One of the smallest (and least expensive) doorbell cameras you can buy, the TP-Link Tapo D130 offers a bunch of features without a subscription. They include 24/7 recording with local video storage on a microSD card (up to 512 gigabytes, sold separately), AI object recognition (for people, vehicles, packages, and pets), activity zones, and color night vision. In our tests, it receives excellent scores for response time and smart features, very good scores for daytime video quality and data security, and a decent score for nighttime video quality. Its only weak spot is data privacy, but that’s common among video doorbells. This TP-Link model requires low-voltage doorbell wiring for power, but it can’t ring your home’s existing doorbell chime. Instead, it comes with a wireless plug-in chime in the box.
Pros and Cons of Doorbells Without a Subscription
There are plenty of highly rated video doorbells without a subscription. Instead of storing footage in the cloud, these doorbells store video locally, usually on either a microSD card or their internal memory. This frees you from paying a monthly fee and gives you more control over your recordings. Some of these doorbells offer optional subscriptions if you ever change your mind and want to store your footage in the cloud for extra protection.
Like security cameras without a subscription, the main downside to doorbells that forgo them is that many lack intelligent object recognition of people, animals, vehicles, packages, and faces. That’s because object recognition often happens on the company’s servers rather than in the doorbell itself. The same is true for new features like AI video search, which allows you to search for clips using natural language, and descriptive alerts that use AI to describe what the camera sees. Many doorbell camera makers, including Ring, have been using these AI-driven features to entice consumers into paying for a subscription. But there are still plenty of doorbell cameras without a subscription that will offer at least one of these intelligent features (usually person detection) for no additional charge.
How CR Tests Video Doorbell Cameras
Our engineers put doorbell cameras through several tests. Among other characteristics, the tests reveal how quickly a video doorbell sends alerts to your smartphone when it detects motion, how long the doorbell takes to load a live video feed of a visitor in its smartphone app, video quality under daylight and nighttime lighting conditions, and smart features (such as person detection and voice control via digital assistants). We also evaluate 70 factors related to each product’s privacy practices and data security.
In 2024, we updated our testing methodology to reflect changes in the technology.
Doorbell cameras have become faster at loading videos and live feeds since we started testing them in 2017, so we’ve adjusted our response time test to reflect those improvements and push manufacturers to do even better. We no longer factor in smart features that require a subscription into our smart features score. We also now place greater emphasis on our data security and response time tests to help you avoid purchasing a video doorbell that’s slower or more susceptible to security problems than its competitors.
For more information on our doorbell camera testing process, see our home security camera buying guide.
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