The holidays are coming, and that can mean a few things. Presents and packages delivered to your door, carolers, and package theft. Every year, CNBC reports that over 36% of Americans are subject to porch pirates, a term coined to describe the pesky criminals who steal packages off front doorsteps. Don’t let the modern day Grinch ruin your holidays- here are the best doorbell cameras to keep criminals away.
1. Nest Hello
Specs
- Price: $229
- Camera Quality: 1080HD
- Video Storage: 30 days free, then $6/month
The Nest Hello is one of the best doorbell camera options for those who want to be able to hook up their doorbell camera to their Nest Hub. If you don’t have the Nest Hub already, there is a bundle deal where you can get the Nest Hello and the Nest Hub for $289.99, or a two year, $12.04/month option. Another great thing about the Nest Hello is if you don’t want to install it yourself, they can send someone out for $99 to set it up for you.
The Nest Hello comes equipped with a camera that has 1080 HD quality, night vision, and HDR. This camera will record in 4:3 ratio, giving you the ability to see people head to toe. The ratio is great for packages being delivered, because it will do 24-hour surveillance and the package will be visible, even if it’s a small box that is on the ground. It also comes with a microphone to allow your guests to leave messages if you aren’t home. However, the Nest Hello will only work on homes that already have a hard wired doorbell, so this will not be compatible with all homes or apartments.
2. Ring Peephole Camera
Specs
- Price: $129.99, or 12 months/no interest
- Camera Quality: 1080p HD
- Video Storage: First 30 days are free, then $3 a month/per camera, or $30/year.
The Ring Peephole Camera is another great option for a camera. While the Nest Hello was only compatible with homes that have hardwired doorbells, the Ring Peephole Camera does not require it. That makes this the perfect camera choice if you are living in an apartment, or if your home doesn’t have a pre-existing doorbell. Instead of drilling into the doorframe to install, this camera fits perfectly over your front door’s peephole. You still have the ability to look through your peephole, even with the camera over it.
This camera also comes with a microphone with 2 way audio and noise cancellation. It is Alexa Echo and Fire TV compatible, and will send real-time alerts to your phone, your tablet, or your Alexa Echo. You will receive real-time notifications of package deliveries as well. Since this camera is not hardwired, it is powered through a rechargeable battery.
3. Arlo Video Doorbell
Specs
- Price: $129.99 or 0% interest over three months.
- Camera Quality: 1080HD
- Video Storage: $3/month, with three months free
The Arlo Video Doorbell offers a 1:1 ratio with a 180° viewing angle to see full body, offering you full coverage video surveillance for packages being delivered, and anyone that comes to your door. This camera also has arm and disarm modes, night vision, two-way audio, and motion zones. The motion zones will allow you to customize your notifications, so wherever you have motion zones set up are the only locations where you will get notified. This can help if your camera gets tripped up by moving cars, or branches. Instead of getting tons of notifications a day, you can customize it where you will only get pinged if there is motion in front of your door or on your patio. This doorbell camera requires the house to have the pre-existing hardwiring. This is another one of the best doorbell cameras on the market right now.
4. Eufy Video Doorbell 2K
Specs
- Price: $159.99
- Camera Quality: 2k, 2560 x 1920 Resolution with advanced HDR
- Video Storage: Military Grade AES-256 Chip
Unlike the other cameras on the list, the Eufy Video Doorbell 2K does not backup to the cloud, instead it comes equipped with a military grade chip to encrypt any data transmission. Therefore, there is no subscription requirement. It offers a 4:3 video ratio offering the same full image quality the other models offer. Any motion detected within your motion zone will be sent to your phone, with three seconds of footage before the motion was detected.
This doorbell camera is compatible with Amazon Alexa products or through Google voice assistant. You can see what is happening outside your door from these devices. There is also the capability to record three different voice recordings for anyone who rings your doorbell. This is especially helpful for households who want to keep their face-to-face interactions limited, but still want to let someone know that they can leave an item on the front step.
5. SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro
Specs
- Price: $169
- Camera Quality: 1080 HD
- Video Storage: $4.99/month
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro camera operates with a 162° field of vision. The camera comes equipped with night vision, motion alerts, and track and zoom features. This doorbell camera will alert you when someone is at the door, even if they don’t ring the doorbell. It must be installed with pre-existing doorbell hardwiring and Wifi. The motion detector with this option is sophisticated enough to only notify you if there is a person, so there won’t be any notifications for moving cars outside your home! Whenever motion is detected, the camera will automatically start recording, giving you full footage that could become crucial evidence if a package is stolen.
Protecting Your Home and Your Deliveries
The great part of all these cameras is that they will protect your home and provide you with live viewing, and recordings of your front door! No matter which you choose, you should begin to feel comfortable with ordering packages for the holiday season. These are the best doorbell cameras you can find right now, and all are going to be great choices.
If you’re wanting more than just a doorbell camera, we can help! At ONIT, we believe in trustworthy customer service. Our team of experts is here to help you protect your home and your family. We can help set you up with a great home security system. The protection doesn’t need to end with a doorbell camera, let us find you great products with a free quote. Contact us today, we look forward to securing your home!