If you're paying a monthly fee to use your video doorbell, within a year or so you'll have paid more than your initial purchase. It can come with useful features, sure, but over time, the amount you're investing in your home security will only continue to rise.
But the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Doorbell, which is currently $60 cheaper at B&H, has all of its features available without a subscription. Live alerts, two-way audio, and even event recordings don't need a fee to be used, meaning the full functionality is intact without ongoing costs.
The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Has Sharp Picture Quality and Clip Recording, Without Monthly Fees
A straightforward app, an easy setup, and color night vision make the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell stand out.
Monthly subscription fees are a clever way for brands to keep earning money from you, long after you've bought a product. It can come with huge benefits, of course – as with the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, paying the fee allows cloud storage and access to some of the clearest picture quality we've tested. But if you can find similar features in a model that doesn't demand monthly payments, you're saving money without compromising on functionality.
That's where the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi comes in. As it's $60 cheaper right now, it's more affordable than most video doorbells out there. So, you're saving on monthly fees, you're paying less than the competition, and you have access to all the features you'd need.
It shares many of the features you'd find in big brands such as Ring – crisp picture quality, color night vision, two-way audio – and doesn't put them behind a paywall. But most importantly, you can store clips and view recent events using local 32GB storage. This is typically the main feature that home security brands put behind a paywall, leaving users with a camera that can only really be used while you're looking at it, which defeats the purpose of having evidence of recent moments.
32GB is generous, too, as our favorite subscription-free video doorbell, the eufy E340, comes with just 8GB – and we've never found that to be limiting.
The 2K video really impressed us during testing. Details were easy to pick up, including people's faces and branding on uniforms. And at night, turning on 'Auto Night Vision' produces picture that is almost as vibrant as during the day. This isn't a given in video doorbells – many alternatives we've tested such as the Arlo 2K only have monochromatic night vision.
And for those who aren't tech savvy, the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell has a painless installation. Our tester James Holland appreciated how Lorex included everything you could possibly need: The right drill bit, screw anchors if mounting on drywall, and two angled plates depending on where you're positioning it. All you need is a screwdriver, or a drill if mounting to brick.
The app doesn't take much figuring out, either. You can name the camera, then every time you open the app you can activate or turn off any features, view the live feed, see previously recorded clips, and view a timeline of recent events.
And as the storage is local, stored on a 32GB hard drive, it's harder for hackers to access your device and view your front door. Cloud-based storage is riskier.
The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is discounted to $109.99 at B&H.
More to Shop
Here are a few more steps you can take to improve your home security without ongoing costs.
All prices correct at time of publication.
The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell doesn't come with a chime, and if you're connecting it wirelessly, this is a great way to hear the doorbell ring throughout the house. Without the Chimebox, you can still hear it on your phone and on any connected Google or Alexa smart speakers, but this way, it can easily be heard by everyone in the house.
It's a bit more expensive than the Lorex, but the eufy E340 is our best subscription-free video doorbell that we've tested. It has two cameras, with one pointed down at your porch so you can keep a close eye on any packages – which the Lorex doesn't have.
Read more in our full eufy E340 review.
If you're away or out of the house during these dark winter evenings, this energy-efficient gadget simulates the changing lights of a TV screen, so from the outside, it looks as if someone is home.
Making sure that intruders feel observed is the active deterrent that underpins why video doorbells and cameras are so effective. Outdoor solar-powered lights will help discourage unwanted visitors from approaching your home, while making sure you're aware of their presence.
Instead of hiding spare keys somewhere potentially dangerous, a lock box keeps them secure.
This two-pack of Ecobee smart sensors can alert you when a door or window is opened, hopefully only needed as a last resort.
Next, learn the best security measures for a house.
