Doorbell cameras are among the most popular home security devices, and are set to continue taking the market by storm. Chances are, you’ve noticed plenty of them down your street.
While surveillance at your front door is a great idea, is a doorbell camera the best front door camera?
Below, discover our picks for the best front door cameras, including a mixture of doorbell cameras, plug-in front door cameras, and front door cameras without subscription.
Table of Contents
Is a Doorbell Camera Better Than an Outdoor Camera?
Doorbell cameras carry out the same functions as outdoor security cameras, meaning an outdoor camera is a perfectly viable option for monitoring your doorway.
Many ‘doorbell cameras’, including popular options from Ring and Arlo, don’t actually come with a chime. Chimes generally require an additional purchase.
Top 6 Best Front Door Cameras of 2023
- Best wired front door camera – AlfredCam Plus
- Best front door camera without doorbell – AlfredCam
- Best doorbell camera – Google Nest Doorbell
- Best budget doorbell camera – Ring Video Doorbell (Wired)
- Best wireless front door camera – Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell
- Best front door camera with chime – aosu Video Doorbell Ultra
AlfredCam Plus
Best plug-in front door camera
Available on AlfredCamera, Amazon. From $39.99.
Pros
- IP65 waterproof for use at front door
- Variety of mounting methods
- 64 GB microSD card included for continuous recording
- Advanced AI motion detection features (Premium only)
Cons
- Plug-in, so requires power source near door
AlfredCam Plus offers advanced outdoor security at an unbeatable price. Up to 2K video, excellent infrared night vision, and advanced motion detection features give you everything you need to secure your front door area.
The wide variety of mounting methods—including a magnetic mount, zip ties, mounting sticker, and nails—make it easy to set up AlfredCam Plus as a wireless front door camera in no time.
Key Specifications
- 2K QHD video
- 130-degree field of view
- Two-way audio
- 64 GB microSD card included
- Infrared night vision
- Built-in siren
- IP65 weatherproof
- Unlimited devices per account
AlfredCam Plus is the latest release from AlfredCamera, and our most advanced security camera yet. Check out our in depth AlfredCam Plus overview to find out more.
AlfredCam
Best front door camera without doorbell
Available on AlfredCamera and Amazon. From $29.99.
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Excellent color night vision
- microSD card support
Cons
- Not weatherproof, so must be used through window
If you don’t like the idea of having a front door camera outside your home, AlfredCam is an excellent indoor security camera that’s small enough to peek out through a window.
Setup is simple, and if you’re looking for front door cameras without subscription, AlfredCam nails all the basics straight out of the box—like flawless motion detection, infrared night vision, and real time push notifications.
Pro tip: Outdoor lighting at night
Putting a security camera in your window is a great way to monitor your porch and front door if you don’t like the idea of a front door camera being outside.
But at night, activating infrared night vision might cause reflections in the window unless the camera is flush with the glass, especially if there’s light behind the camera.
Install additional lighting outside, like a porch spotlight or floodlight, to illuminate the area if infrared light reflection is a problem.
Key Specifications
- 1080p HD video
- 130-degree field of view
- Two-way audio
- MicroSD card support
- Powered by USB
- Infrared night vision
- Built-in siren
- 7 days cloud storage
- Unlimited devices per account
Google Nest Doorbell
Best doorbell camera
Available on Google. From $179.99.
Pros
- Smart notifications alert you to package deliveries and vehicle detection
- Preset responses to answer the door from afar
- Battery version is easy to install
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires subscription for many features
- Excessive traffic drains battery version fast
Nest Doorbell is a sleek front door camera that doubles as—surprise!—a doorbell. There’s a wired version and a battery-powered version, so you can still enjoy front door surveillance even if there’s no accessible power source.
Both versions use vertical viewing angles, which enables a clear view of whoever’s at the door, head to toe. HDR enabled night-vision is also great.
Key Specifications
- 1.3 megapixels
- 3:4 aspect ratio
- 145-degree field of view
- Two-way audio
- Intelligent motion detection
- Wire-free
- Infrared night vision
- IP54 weatherproof
Ring Video Doorbell
Best budget doorbell camera
Available on Ring. From $64.99 (wired).
Pros
- Low price point
- Seamless compatibility with Amazon Alexa
- Customizable options with extra features
Cons
- No built in chime
If you’re searching for a video doorbell on a budget, Ring’s Video Doorbell is a solid choice, with both a wired and rechargeable version available. For basic needs, the standard wired Ring Video Doorbell is a more than adequate wired front door camera.
The design is a little dated, but video quality excels and Alexa integration is seamless.
Key Specifications
- 1080p HD
- 155-degree field of view
- Two-way audio
- Motion detection
- Hardwired
- Infrared night vision
- Alexa compatible
- Weather resistant
Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell
Best wireless front door camera
Available on Arlo. From $149.99.
Pros
- Sleek weatherproof design
- Wire free
- Super wide viewing angle
Cons
- Chime bought separately
- Short battery life
- Expensive
Arlo Essential is a wirefree front door camera and doorbell. 1080p HD looks fantastic, and all the bells and whistles, like two way audio and a built in siren, are here (except a chime, which is sold separately).
Of note here is the super wide 180 degree field of view, which is handy for outdoor surveillance around your porch.
Key Specifications
- 1080p HD
- 180-degree field of view
- Two-way audio
- Motion detection
- Wire free
- Infrared night vision
- 1:1 aspect ratio
- Built in siren
Recommended reading: Review: The Best Wireless Security Cameras 2022 Without Subscription
aosu Video Doorbell Ultra
Best front door camera with chime
Available on Amazon. From $149.99.
Pros
- Chime included
- Dualband Wi-Fi
- 5MP camera looks great
Cons
- Hit or miss person detection
You might have noticed that many front door cameras don’t come with a chime, which means paying even more to have the ‘doorbell’ part of the ‘doorbell camera’.
The aosu video doorbell offers excellent 5MP resolution, impressive 166° viewing angles, and an indoor chime to boot.
Key Specifications
- 5MP UHD
- 166-degree field of view
- Two-way audio
- Motion detection
- Wire free
- Infrared night vision
- 4:3 aspect ratio
Are Front Door Cameras Legal?
Front door cameras are legal around the world so long as they comply with privacy laws. With the doorbell camera market growing exponentially every year, it’s perfectly reasonable to expect being recorded on a doorstep.
Front door cameras only become a problem if the camera captures neighboring properties, like the neighbor’s doorway. This would violate the neighbor’s right to privacy.
What are the Disadvantages of Doorbell Cameras?
Regular outdoor security cameras make great front door cameras, so you don’t necessarily need to choose a doorbell camera.
Below, see the advantages and disadvantages of using a doorbell camera rather than an outdoor camera.
| Advantages of Doorbell Cameras | Disadvantages of Doorbell Cameras |
| Vertical ratio recording | More expensive than outdoor security cameras |
| Hardwiring possible using existing doorbell wires | Chimes rarely included, costing extra |
| Plenty of battery powered options for wire free use | Must be placed outside rather than at a window, which some people dislike |
What are the security risks of video doorbells?
Any outdoor security device, including video doorbells, runs the risk of being stolen or damaged. If this is a concern, consider placing a security camera at a window indoors instead.
Likewise, poor encryption on the part of the manufacturer makes video doorbells at risk of being hacked, though the actual value of this to a hacker would be limited. Choose a reputable brand to ensure optimum data protection.
FAQ
Do doorbell cameras constantly record?
Doorbell cameras usually offer constant recording as an option, but are most useful when motion detection is enabled. This only records when motion is detected, i.e. when someone’s at the door.
What is the most common doorbell problem?
Doorbell problems are most commonly caused by:
- Faulty or loose wiring
- Weather damage
- Low or dead chime battery
- Transformer needing a replacement
Conclusion
Outdoor use front door cameras are a useful and increasingly common way to stay secure in your home. They also enable easy conversation with delivery people, which is convenient when no one’s home.
Although doorbell cameras offer advantages (namely a vertical aspect ratio), a front door camera without doorbell does essentially the same things at a fraction of the price of video doorbells.
AlfredCam Plus offers users person detection, infrared night vision, and two way audio, making it an excellent wireless front door camera for those on a budget.