Ring’s video doorbells are incredibly useful smart home tools. The problem is that Ring products really only work well with Amazon Alexa and don’t always work well with non-Ring products. That’s why you may want to consider video doorbells from companies like Arlo, Nest, and others. If you want to mix and match your smart home gadgets or just prefer to use Google Assistant or Google Home, these are some of our favorites.
These Ring Video Doorbell alternatives can do even more
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Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen)
Google Assistant partner
The Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) features one of the best doorbell cameras (opens in new tab) we’ve ever seen. Things like automated voice responses when you can’t answer the door, and intelligent object detection that knows the difference between a person, animal, car, or package. It’s also got 3 hours of free footage history so you’re not locked into a subscription. A Nest subscription will get you continuous recording and features like Familiar Faces to sweeten the deal.
Kasa Smart Video Doorbell
Local storage champ
The Kasa Smart Video Doorbell is one of the slickest-looking smart home devices we’ve ever seen, but during our testing, it’s clear there’s more than just a pretty face. It has a tremendous 180-degree field of view, local storage, and free three-hour cloud storage.
Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell
Arlo, is anybody home?
The Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell (opens in new tab) is one of the most affordable on this list, but it still packs in many essential features that we’ve come to value. HD video with HDR, intelligent motion detection with object recognition, night vision, two-way audio, and a battery that lasts months at a time. It can even be hardwired if you want, but you’ll need a cloud subscription to get the best features.
SimpliSafe Pro Video Doorbell
Comprehensive system
If you already have components of a SimpliSafe home security system, this device is a natural fit. It’s easy to install and comes equipped with heat and motion sensors. If not, Simplisafe offers an incredibly compelling, fully-featured and well-rounded suite of products that work brilliantly together, including the option for professional monitoring.
SkyBell HD WiFi Video Doorbell
Takes up less space
We liked the August Doorbell Cam Pro in part because of its non-standard design, and the SkKyBell HD WiFi Video Doorbell has its take on being different. This video doorbell is the one to get if you want a more traditional look or need to fit in a tighter space.
Hello there neighbor
The Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen) is our top pick for homeowners who are all-in on Nest products and the Google Assistant. It has some of the top camera specs around in a video doorbell with HD video, night vision, HDR, and a 145-degree field of view, but that’s not really what makes it so unique.
Because Google makes it, you can bet that some super software smarts are included. Nest Doorbell can notify you when a package is delivered, and it can also filter out those nonsense motion notifications by telling the difference between a person, animal, or vehicle. That ensures you only get notifications when a certain type of object is seen.
It also allows you to pre-record quick responses for those annoying solicitors or overly helpful neighbors, and it can recognize family members and familiar faces with a Nest Aware cloud storage plan. That service is continually getting better (and cheaper) and features AES 128-bit encryption and two-step verification. If you’re going to upload something as precious as videos from your home to the cloud, you want to make darn sure they’re secure.
Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd-gen)
A Nest for your nest
Google smarts and Nest design make this a high-quality video doorbell.
Holding it all in
Kasa from TP-Link, a brand that makes some of the best Wi-Fi routers also makes some of the most compelling and most affordable smart home security devices in the industry. The company’s video doorbell has quickly become one of our go-to recommendations for several reasons.
It also offers an expansive field of view at 160 degrees, up to fifteen feet of night vision, and a feature-rich app that allows for scheduling notifications and drawing out detection zones. Oh, it also includes a ringer that you can plug into any outlet in your home so you won’t miss anyone at your door.
With IP65 water and dust resistance and night vision, you know this video doorbell can withstand the elements. You also get tons of storage options, with a microSD card slot capable of accommodating 128GB cards and cloud storage.
Kasa Smart Video Doorbell
Local storage champ
This video doorbell stands out not just by how it looks but by all of the essential features it includes.
Wire-free without compromise
Arlo offers some of the best security cameras on the market that are often at the top of our lists because they offer good value, tons of storage options, and quality specs. This video doorbell is no different.
Not only do you get HD video with high dynamic range (HDR) but it also features a wide 180-degree field of view. Oh, and the aspect ratio on the footage is 1:1, so you get to see more than in a traditional, letterboxed viewfinder like some other cameras have. Trust us; you’re not going to miss much with this camera!
Arlo also built-in night vision, motion detection, and two-way audio, all of which seem to be table stakes at this point, but it’s nice to see them here too. Arlo claims its video doorbell can withstand the elements with its weather resistance, and it has a nifty feature that lets you send emergency services directly to your home from the app (and not to the location where your phone is).
While this device doesn’t feature built-in storage options, Arlo does offer up to 30 days of video recordings and gives you the first three months of its Arlo Smart cloud service for free. Arlo Smart also adds object detection to the mix which can tell the difference between a person, animal, vehicle, or package and send you the proper notification for each kind of object. That’s important for keeping pesky nonsense motion detection notifications at bay.
See it all
With greater than 1080p quality and 180-degree field of view, the Arlo Video Doorbell helps you capture it all.
Simply, safe
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro (phew, that’s a mouthful!) has been a favorite of critics and reviewers across the smart home space for some time now because not only is it a great device, but it’s a fantastic value. It works seamlessly with the SimpliSafe home security system, and it’s easy to get up and running quickly.
The doorbell has a dual-sensor trigger, one of which detects a person’s shape, which detects their heat signature. It has a wide-angle view and records in 1080p HD, and it’s capable of clear night recording as well.
SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro
System-wide support
If you’re considering a whole-home, do-it-yourself security solution, the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is an excellent addition.
If you’re considering a whole-home, do-it-yourself security solution, the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is an excellent addition.
Coming full-circle
With everyone on your street sporting a Ring, Nest, Eufy, Arlo, or a similar-looking black rectangle, you probably want your smart video doorbell to stand out a bit. Perhaps you want something with a more traditional look and something that can fit in just about any entryway. You should look at the SkyBell HD WiFi Video Doorbell if that sounds like you.
This non-techy-looking device can capture HD 1080p video with a 180-degree field of view and five-times zoom. It can even record color video even at night. Of course, you’ll still get two-way audio, on-demand viewing, motion sensors, and the ability to grant access to multiple users or guests. Perhaps the most compelling features relate to its price. The SkyBell is one of the least expensive video doorbells we’ve come across, and it includes seven days of video recordings for free — no subscription required!
SkyBell HD WiFi Video Doorbell
Little bell, big value
Smart styling and free seven-day video backup make this a compelling doorbell for just about anyone.
Bottom line
If you’re looking for an alternative to the best Ring video doorbells, there are a lot of other great smart doorbells to choose from. One of the best reasons to pick another company’s doorbell is the inclusion of Google Assistant support.
Speaking of the Google Assistant, another excellent option for those in the Google ecosystem is the Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd-gen). With smart AI features like delivery alerts and people recognition, this doorbell is quite a powerful assistant.
But, if you’re wanting (or needing) to go wire-free, Arlo offers the best option with its Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell. It packs in the same kinds of great object detection smarts as Nest Doorbell, even if you’ll need to subscribe to an Arlo Secure plan to get them.
Finally, suppose you’re concerned about spending a lot of money. In that case, the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell is one of the most affordable quality video doorbells you can find. It offers great video quality with local storage and an easy to use app.
As a note, we’ve removed Wyze cameras because of significant security issues (opens in new tab). While these flaws have been fixed, the company’s deceptive practices over a period of three years have caused us to lose trust in its products. Additionally, we’ve stopped recommending Eufy’s cameras (opens in new tab) as of December 1, 2022 because of security issues stretching back to 2021.
