Best Video Doorbells Without a Subscription Required in 2024

The uptick in online shopping has also led to problems with “porch pirates” stealing deliveries. And anyway, wouldn’t you like to know who’s knocking from the comfort of your couch, or to sleep more soundly because you’ll be alerted whenever someone approaches your house in the middle of the night? To enjoy these benefits, it’s time to protect your property with the best video doorbell without a subscription. You can avoid paying for services you don’t need but still attain protection.  

With Chime notifications, these doorbells are compatible with AI virtual assistants like Alexa, and they’ll send alerts to your phone or mobile device whenever anyone approaches your door — from the creepy prowler to the delivery person, simply dropping off a package. If your old-fashioned doorbell is no longer safe enough for you, it’s time to upgrade your home security with one of the best video doorbells in our ranking.

Our Top Picks

A Closer Look: The Best Doorbell Cameras Without Subscriptions

Proper security is much more than what can be found in a simple table. So feel safer as you read on below with our closer look at each of the best options.

For the absolute best doorbell camera without a subscription, look to Ring home security systems. Their video doorbell 4 offers 1080p HD resolution, two-way talk, and motion detection. With customizable privacy zones and private audio, Ring also has field-leading privacy functions, and all notifications show up directly on your mobile device, whenever anyone rings the doorbell or whenever the motion sensor is triggered.

Also notable, Ring allows for quick replies, or preset messages, something like an answering machine for your door. And, for a complete picture of home security, there’s color pre-roll, capturing a few seconds before or after the motion detector was triggered. All Ring functions can be controlled directly from the app, and it’s powered by a removable and rechargeable battery. You can, however, choose to hardwire it into your doorbell system, if that’s what you prefer.

A secure home shouldn’t cost you a fortune. With this in mind, the Wyze video doorbell with Chime is the best budget camera without a subscription in our ranking. With two-way talk and motion detection, the 1080p HD camera comes with Chime and instant push notifications whenever someone is at your door. Or instead, set it to alert you whenever anyone is on your porch, even if they don’t touch the doorbell. 

The Wyze is also highly weather-resistant, so it’s a good choice in inclement weather. The doorbell also livestreams video in 1080p Full HD with a 3:4 aspect ratio, and it’s Alexa compatible. Without a battery, though, it does have to be wired straight into your existing doorbell. But otherwise, it’s an excellent camera for the price, according to reports, with easy installation and useful how-to videos available on Youtube. 

For the best wireless video doorbell, no subscription necessary, we like the Nooie video doorbell camera. With 2K resolution (That’s twice the resolution of 1080p) Nooie provides two-way audio and quick response. However, what sets the system apart is the advanced passive infrared sensor (PIR) and human detection algorithm. What this means is the Nooie knows when it’s a human at your door, as opposed to just an alley cat prowling across your porch. Chime is included.

Otherwise, Nooie also offers 160-degree views from the camera, and it’s compatible with both Alexa and Google Assistant. Pair it with the Nooie’s indoor cameras for a complete picture of your home security. It’s easy also to set up and functions effortlessly, with a chime that’s loud enough to be heard all over the house and massive battery life. Be careful, because the app sensitivity is set to high by default, causing false alarms.

Also, with 2K resolution, the Lorex QHD is the next video doorbell in our ranking. What that QHD stands for is “quad high definition,” meaning the camera exposure auto-adjusts when lighting is low. Speaking of low light, there’s also a night light feature, which can be programmed to turn on at a specific time or simply set to turn whenever motion is detected. Also notable is the two-way talk, quick-response function, and built-in people detector sending alerts straight to your phone.

The Lorex is highly weather-resistant, with a wide-angle lens and two adapters, so you can tilt the thing for a better angle. It runs without a battery, though, so you’ll have to wire straight into your existing doorbell wiring. But that’s easy to do or a simple task for an electrician. The camera comes with a 32 gb microSD card, and another nice feature is the ability to set the light on the doorbell to “flash” as an added deterrent. 

Our Process

For this guide on the best video doorbell cameras without subscriptions, our team spent 3 hours researching the most popular options from over 20 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about twenty user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each video doorbell camera without a subscription. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 4 on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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