4 video doorbells that work without a subscription

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A video doorbell is often a useful addition to your home. It not only allows you to keep tabs on who shows up at your door whether you’re home or not, but can also help you track your package deliveries and deter theft. However, aside from the different categories of wired and wireless video doorbells on the market, you will also come across doorbell cameras that require a subscription to access their key features. This makes you dependent on the company’s cloud infrastructure to use your video doorbell’s essential features. More importantly, the subscription represents an additional monthly or annual expense that will significantly increase your overall cost of ownership in the long run.

Fortunately, several manufacturers sell doorbell cameras that either don’t require a subscription to use their products or offer an optional subscription that you don’t need for the basics. That said, it’s important to remember that some of the higher-value features that require processing that the camera hardware can’t handle will also be done in the cloud and require you to pay a subscription. However, these features are mostly nice and don’t take away from the core functionality.

We’ve selected some of the best video doorbell options that don’t require a subscription to help you get started. We took into account both feedback from real buyers and expert opinions when available to select our recommendations.

The TP-Link Tapo D130 is one of the most affordable video doorbell options. This is a wired model, so you will need doorbell wiring to make it work; however, it can work seamlessly with any existing doorbell wiring your home might already have. That said, it won’t work with your existing chime, but the company provides a wireless chime in the box, which will alert residents when someone is at the door and presses the doorbell button.

It has a built-in microSD card slot for local storage and supports cards up to 512GB. However, you don’t get a card in the box and will need to purchase it separately. Optional cloud storage is available if you ever change your mind in the future. The doorbell camera is also IP65 rated, which means it can handle the elements. Other features include instant notifications, two-way audio alerts, motion and person detection, color night vision, activity zones, and a wide 180-degree diagonal field of view. It has a video resolution of 2560 x 1920 and can record 24/7.

Consumer Reports and Wirecutter like the video doorbell’s video quality and alert delay, but say there is a noticeable fisheye effect due to its wider field of view and that it doesn’t support 5GHz Wi-Fi. The D130 costs $57 and has a decent average rating of 4 out of 5 from Amazon buyers. Buyers consider it a good value offering and appreciate its ease of setup and lack of subscription. However, some customers point out problems with Tapo’s after-sales service and the doorbell camera dying after a year.

The Eufy Video Doorbell E340, also in our recommendations for doorbell cameras with local storage, may be a good choice if you’re looking for a battery-powered option with built-in local storage. It also differentiates itself from our other recommendations by including two cameras. The primary camera, with its 2048 x 1536 resolution, focuses on visitors, while the secondary downward-facing camera, with 1600 x 1200 resolution, is designed to fill in gaps in ground coverage and track packages. You get 8GB of onboard storage, and you can optionally use the company’s Homebase hub for additional storage.

If you don’t want to rely on the battery or deal with downtime caused when you charge the battery, you have the option of opting for a wired setup, including wiring and chiming your existing doorbell. Other features include two-way audio support, motion-activated lights, and AI-powered human, package, and face detection. Experts from PC Mag, Gear Lab, and Trusted Reviews have a positive opinion of the E340 and appreciate its impressive night vision, protective packaging, and availability of dual cameras, but aren’t big fans of its price and not-so-stylish design.

The Eufy doorbell camera will cost you $150, or you can opt for combos that include a chime or extra battery for $220 and $200, respectively. Amazon buyers rated it 4 out of 5 and noted relatively easy installation, good video quality, and no subscription. However, some buyers claim that the battery life is poor and that it has Wi-Fi connection and detection issues. Some people are also unhappy with the customer service.

If you have an Ethernet-wired home or prefer a PoE-powered video doorbell solution, the Reolink PoE Video Doorbell is worth considering. It has 2K (2560 x 1920) resolution and a 180-degree diagonal field of view. It also supports custom activity zones, two-way audio, and infrared night vision. You will need ambient lighting if you want color night vision. Additionally, you get a wireless chime provided; however, unfortunately your existing chime cannot be used.

In other features, you can use the built-in microSD card, Reolink Home Hub Pro, company NVR or FTP/NAS for video recordings, and access them anywhere using the Reolink app. It also works seamlessly with Home Assistant, Amazon smart displays, and Google Assistant. Additionally, there is a built-in smart detection function that can alert when it detects people and packages.

The video doorbell costs $120 and has received positive feedback from Amazon shoppers, who gave it an average rating of 4.3 out of 5. Shoppers highlight the intuitive app, lack of false alerts, wide-angle camera view, and reliability. That said, there are some concerns regarding the doorbell camera’s IP65 weather-resistance rating, chime connectivity, and after-sales support experience.

The Tapo D205 from TP-Link is another video doorbell you can consider. It sits above the D130 in the company’s portfolio and has a built-in battery for wireless setup, which the company says can last up to six months on a single charge. However, battery life will depend on the number of detections and other uses. The camera has a built-in microSD card slot for local storage; However, if you wish, you can take advantage of the company’s optional paid cloud storage solution for video recordings in the future.

It has a 2K (2304 x 1296) resolution and features color night vision, IP65 dust and water resistance, two-way audio, custom activity zones, and a 160-degree diagonal field of view. The doorbell camera is also capable of detecting people using AI, comes with a bundled chime for alerts, and supports Amazon and Google’s smart home ecosystems. In particular, you can combine the video doorbell with Tapo’s A201 solar panel if you don’t want to worry about charging the battery.

The Tapo D205 will only cost you $50 at list price and is often discounted. It’s also rated quite well by Amazon buyers, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. Buyers are happy with its affordable price, build quality, simple setup process, and good customer support experience. Experts from Consumer Reports and Homes & Gardens also have good things to say about the Tapo D205, and note that it sends alerts quickly and has good video quality, but has limited motion detection range. Additionally, some Amazon shoppers note battery life issues and motion detection reliability issues.

Not everyone is a fan of adding another monthly or annual subscription to their budget, which is where video doorbells that don’t require a subscription for their core features come in. Fortunately, several manufacturers, like Anker’s Eufy brand, Reolink, TP-Link’s Tapo brand, and Wyze, offer video doorbells with local storage and subscription-free features. In researching our no-subscription doorbell camera recommendations, we focused on reputable brands and options that received positive reviews from verified buyers and experts when available. That’s why all of our recommendations are rated at least 4 out of 5 by Amazon buyers. Finally, we’ve included options with different power modes to meet different needs.