The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini is an entry-level, budget-friendly video doorbell that I've come to appreciate for what it is – an affordable Ring alternative that will enhance home security and convenience on a budget.

I've been a user of video doorbells since we bought our first home almost 10 years ago, with some a more permanent fixture than others. I was excited to try the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini, to see how it compares with the other video doorbells I've tested and make full use of the features.

It's usually around $49.99, but currently on offer for $34.99 at Best Buy, and I've been impressed by the video and audio quality, and it was so easy to install. It's not without its quirks, though. As far as affordability goes, it's a contender for one of the best video doorbells on the market.

My One-Minute Summary

Overall, the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini is a brilliant, budget-friendly doorbell that I found easy to install and use. With just some DIY know-how, a screwdriver and a smartphone, it's been a seamless experience through 14 days of testing.

I've been particularly impressed by the video and audio quality, both daytime and nighttime. The video quality can be adjusted to 2K or 360p to preserve battery life, which has dropped from 100% to 84%, so I'm not convinced it'll make it to the 180-day battery life expectancy.

It can detect people and motion as they enter a 25ft detection range, which is helpful if you're expecting a visitor or delivery, but not so helpful if you're planning on using the D205 as a means of surveillance beyond this modest distance.

The app is really easy to use, with the ability to engage in two-way audio, set privacy zones to block out a neighbor's property, and access stored activity in the Tapo Care Cloud storage. This storage is an ongoing cost that'll set you back $3.49 per month after the free 30 days. You do, however, have the option to use a 512GB microSD card to avoid these costs.

Equally, the eufy E340 and the Lorex 2K, both of which we've reviewed, are great alternatives if you want to avoid paying a monthly fee.

I admit, I am more familiar with Ring video doorbells and security cameras because they are a permanent resident at my home address. The cost of those devices are closer to $100+, which is double that of the D205, but if you want even more customization and detection with a fantastic range, then the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is a good backup option, but with a higher upfront cost.

Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini: Specifications

Installation and setup

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini arrives in a neat, compact box that contains everything that you'll need for installation. In the box you'll find the video doorbell, mounting bracket, mounting wedge, 3M adhesive, foam pad, screws and anchors, USB cable, mounting template sticker, and the all-important quick start guide.

Before installing any hardware or software, the battery needed a charge. The guide estimated that this would take about 6.5 hours. However, my sample took around seven hours to charge.

Once the doorbell was fully charged, I set it up and installed it on our gated fence using only the essential DIY skills. I downloaded the Tapo app and connected it to the home Wi-Fi. I then followed the on-screen instructions and it went without a glitch.

To install, I first attached the mounting wedge to the bracket because I wanted to achieve a better view of looking down our drive. Make sure it's facing the right direction, and watch out for the screw underneath as it's tiny and easy to drop.

You can then attach the bracket in your desired spot by either sticking it to the wall or mounting it to the wall. I opted to install on the wooden fence next to the gate, the side access to our house. I used the screws for this, but if you're securing to masonry, the relevant plugs are also supplied.

It's advised that the doorbell be placed 4ft above the ground, and the 15° mounting wedge be used for a more focused view from a specific side.

The Tapo D215 then simply clicks into place, and a tiny screw underneath is all that holds it in place. This would be easy to remove; good for recharging, but not good for thieves. The use of a release pin, such as eufy models, would've made it more of a challenge for those up to no good.

Overall, it took me fewer than 10 minutes to set up and install the D205 by myself.

Video Quality

After using the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini for 14 days, I have found that the video quality was consistently good.

Daytime: I could clearly recognize the faces I know at the gate, and larger branding on packages as they enter the 25ft motion detection range. However, small details on packages and number plate detailing were not as clear, unless this filled the 145° horizontal, or 83° vertical field of view.

I couldn't see the floor in front of the lens, so this, sadly, will put a lot of packages out of view. Ring and eufy doorbells often have package detection, so you're able to view the floor at your doorstep with the camera, and set alarms if anyone tries to remove it, which can help deter porch pirates. But those video doorbells cost more upfront, so on this budget-friendly Tapo, that's an area of functionality you won't have.

However, the 10x digital zoom of the D205 was exceptional; it didn't appear grainy, and details were just as clear as they were when zoomed out.

Nighttime: The video is in black and white at nighttime, enabled by two 850-nanometer infrared LEDs to allow the D205 to capture footage in low light conditions.

Overall, the picture was still clear, but a lot of detail was lost; faces needed to be close up to the camera lens for me to recognize them, and I could not read any packaging. It could, however, detect people just as quickly as during the day, which still makes it a viable security measure for the house.

In both daytime and nighttime, the D205 survived lashings of rain throughout the test period. It's an IP-54 rated device, which means that it is water-resistant, but it isn't fully waterproof.

Dynamic light: The front of our house gets a lot of sun throughout the day, which is balanced well; there is no beam of light behind a moving person, animal, or vehicle, and facial details remained clear in these bright conditions.

Audio Quality

I could clearly hear people outside standing next to the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini, and they could clearly hear me when engaging in two-way communication with no echoes or delays.

However, when viewing live or stored footage, I noticed that the background noise (wind, traffic, etc.) sounded amplified. There was a constant low "hum" of this noise, but this doesn't interfere with the clarity of communication through the video doorbell.

This is where you feel the cost of more affordable video doorbells, as their higher-end counterparts have very effective noise cancellation to avoid wind, traffic, or background noise being picked up.

App and Smart Features

The Tapo app is simple and intuitive to use. It can be downloaded by scanning the QR code found on the box and Quick Start Guide, or direct from Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS).

You can link it to Google Home or Amazon Alexa devices, such as the Echo Show, as another smart home gadget that receives notifications when motion or a person is detected, or when the doorbell is activated.

I found that the app was stable while using it and quick to load. I could customize how I viewed and engaged with footage easily, too. For example, you can opt to capture footage in 2k or 360p and set custom privacy zones so that you're not surveilling a neighbor's land. This is important as capturing areas of your neighbors' homes where they might expect privacy (for instance, their bedroom windows) could land you in trouble.

You can also talk through live footage, engage in two-way audio when the doorbell is activated, or, if you're not around, opt for a "quick response" to automatically respond if the doorbell isn't immediately answered.

If you're signed up to Tapo Cloud Storage, then you can also playback and download activity detected in the app. Activity is stored for 30 days, video clips can be made into a short video summary, weekly reports can be viewed, and rich notifications with snapshots will be received. I found it useful to look back through the activity outside our gate.

The D205 can be shared with up to five family members in the app so that you can manage the smart device together. Invitees will have limited permissions, and they can not modify camera settings, but they'll still be able to live view and talk.

Motion Detection and Notifications

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini can detect people when they come into range using AI algorithms, and motion within the cameras view. If either of these are enabled, you'll receive an instant notification to your phone.

To test the accuracy of the people detection and motion detection, I switched off motion detection. I waved my hand in front of the camera and received no notification. However, when I stood in front of the camera, I received a notification that a person was detected. This is good.

Both motion and people were detected as they entered the specified 25ft motion detection range. However, in reality, this range often felt a lot shorter. Neither motion nor people were detected as they approached the drive, and the camera stopped rolling as the subject was close to being out of range.

It's worth noting that, unlike the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell we reviewed, you can't set a Detection Tag in live view. This feature would draw a box around the subject (person, package, animal, vehicle) and track its movement while it's within range. I liked this detail, especially in low light levels, and it would be good to have the same access to software across all Tapo devices for consistency.

Increased sensitivity results in fewer missed recordings and notifications; lower sensitivity results in fewer unwanted recordings and notifications. By lowering the sensitivity, you will help to preserve the battery power, but I fear that this may miss some important events if you are using the D205 as a means of security.

The only time when I felt that the notifications were on overdrive was when I was taking out the trash. The D205 is located next to the trash cans, so if I were in this proximity to the camera for a couple of minutes, my phone received a notification every 20 seconds.

When the doorbell is activated, I also receive a notification on my phone. I noticed a lag time of a few seconds between pressing the button on the D205 and receiving the notification on my phone, which looked as though I was receiving a phone call.

It was quick to answer the doorbell and see who was standing outside the gate. Similarly, when motion or a person was detected, I found that I could quickly load the notification to see the activity.

The D205 can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home to receive doorbell activations, too. As someone who has yet to set up a smart home and isn't too confident with how voice assistants can be used, I won't be compromising on how I use the device.

Power and Battery Life

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini is battery-powered, making it a fantastic renter-safe home security option. As we've previously explored, I found it easy to install and I imagine that it'll be just as easy to remove as and when needed.

It was installed next to the side gate for 14 days, and, in that time, I didn't have to recharge it, and the power levels haven't dropped as rapidly compared to other Ring-alternative video doorbells, such as the Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery), which dropped to 41% within just 10 days.

Within the time I tested the D205, the battery level depleted from 100% to 88%. Tapo suggests that the battery can last for up to 180 days, which I feel is an optimistic expectation. On the tested rate of battery usage, it would last just over 100 days.

It took more than seven hours to charge the battery when it arrived, so I'd expect it to take this amount of time (perhaps longer) to recharge. A USB charging cable is included, and you'll need to remove the D205 from the mounting plate to charge because the battery is built in. This is a long time to be without a video doorbell while it's charging, so it would be better to do this when you're at home if you're concerned about security.

Connectivity and Reliability

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini has been one of the more reliable Ring-alternative doorbells that I have tested. It didn't detect a poor signal or lose connectivity, as with the others.

It requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for a stable wireless connection. In my home, our Wi-Fi router is located behind thick, external stone walls and inside a cupboard under the stairs. With the D205 located around the side of the house on a fence, the signal had some distance to travel, and yet it remained stable.

The D205 pushed notifications to my phone when activity was detected; it did this 25 times within 24 hours, as an example. For contrast, our testers found the eufy E340 to have quite a severe lag despite being in a moderate range of the Wi-Fi router.

When subscribed to Tapo Cloud Storage, activity will also be recorded for playback and download; it'll record the activity in snippets of up to 20 seconds. It'll do this if you have a 512GB microSD card installed instead. And I could watch live footage from anywhere. I experienced fast load times and a steady live view with clear audio.

If you find that the Wi-Fi connectivity is poor or that you're missing activity, the Tapo Smart Hub with Built-In Chime ($22.99 at Amazon) can be bought to boost signal across a lower frequency broadband, so it can reach the device without interference.

Privacy and Security

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini has a couple of home privacy options, including zones to block out a neighbor's property, and Privacy Mode to disable streaming and the recording functions to protect your privacy.

I enabled a privacy zone to block footage of my neighbors' homes, opposite. I could set multiple zones, if I wanted to, and it was simple enough to move the custom zone while editing.

I also activated Privacy Mode during testing, and it worked easily. I couldn't live-stream or view any stored footage during this, as it gets automatically disabled.

Unlike other video doorbells, including the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell, I had to sign up to the Tapo Care Cloud Storage off the bat, rather than enjoy a free trial period and sign up once that ends. This means that no data will be stored unless you sign up. While the first 30-days is free, you'll be looking at paying upwards of $3.49 per month after this time to continue with access to stored footage.

If you'd prefer to not have the ongoing cost, local storage on a 512gB microSD card – like this SanDisk 512GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card (Amazon) – is another option.

Post-installation it is unclear how my data is handled with nothing obvious to read on the app. The app also doesn't support two‑factor authentication which would provide extra login protection.

Price and Value

The Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini comes with everything that you need (aside from a screwdriver) in the box. You may feel that you would benefit from the addition of a Chime. This will ensure that you hear when the doorbell is activated.

It doesn't look as though there is a compatible chime with the D205, so either the Amazon Echo Show 11 or the Amazon Echo Dot Max would suffice. The Echo Show 11 will also display footage as you answer the activated video doorbell.

The D205 can also be connected with the Tapo Smart Hub with Built-In Chime ($22.99, Amazon) if you need to boost the signal. This can make it part of a 64-strong ecosystem of Tapo devices, so you can control and access your video doorbell, security camera, and smart lighting all from one central hub.

Aside from the small upfront cost of the Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini, which is typically 49.99 on Amazon, but sometimes discounted as low as $34, you will also have the ongoing cost of the Tapo Care Cloud Storage.

This is typically around $3.49 per month when the free 30-day trial ends. During the trial, you'll get 30 days of cloud video storage for events, video clips that can be made into a short video summary, weekly reports and rich notifications with snapshots.

This is notably cheaper than the Ring subscription plans, starting at $4.99 for the Basic plan, which includes up to 180 days of event history, person, package, and vehicle alerts, and video preview alerts. However, Ring video doorbells are generally more expensive than Tapo.

For example, I have the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro installed next to my front door. This costs $229.99 when not on sale at Amazon. The image quality is comparably crisper day and night, and the 1536p head-to-toe HD+ video means that I can see a complete person standing right outside our front door, rather than just the head and shoulders that I see with the D205.

If you'd prefer to avoid paying any subscription fees altogether, then I'd opt to install a 512GB memory card for local storage. This will mean that you'll get a good, affordable video doorbell for a fraction of the price of a Ring video doorbell.

Alternatively, look into buying the eufy E340 video doorbell instead. On test, we found that the eufy footage is crisp, audio is clear, and it's easy to install. Plus, you can access all features without a monthly subscription. Subscriptions will get you more storage and allow longer recordings of doorside interactions.

Installing a video doorbell is a good way to start improving your home security. Learn how else smart tech gadgets can help transform your home, and check out these home security tips to make your home safer and more secure.

You no longer need to install an expensive security system or be a technological expert to feel secure at home. In fact, you can improve your home's security in myriad ways, whether through landscaping, porch etiquette, or basic, easy-to-install devices.

Burglaries, shed thefts, and unattended homes during vacations are all too common security concerns. So, to alleviate your worries and give yourself peace of mind while out of the house, we've put together the ultimate guide to securing your home like a pro.

Covering everything from the best video doorbells to whole-home systems, we spoke to seasoned home security professionals for the most up-to-date advice on keeping your home safe.

Common Home Security Concerns (And What Actually Works)

'I Want to See Who’s at My Door or Around My Property'

'A video doorbell camera is a simple solution to see who is at your door. They’re affordable and easy to install,' advises Jason Fischbeck, owner of Automated Environments.

The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (with a monthly subscription) and the eufy E340 (without a subscription) are the two best video doorbells we've tested.

'I also highly recommend floodlights for each side of your home. These can be hard-wired or solar, with or without motion detectors, LED or standard light bulbs, and in different colors and illumination. Foliage can be cut back to avoid hiding spots,' recommends Philip Farina, founder and chief security and safety advisor for Risky Business.

Pair a video doorbell with these affordable motion sensor floodlights at Walmart, and you'll have strong visibility at your front door and around your property. Don't forget to explore our guide on the best places for security lights before installing them.

'I’m Worried About Break-ins While I Sleep or Travel'

'If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s a good idea to connect your lights to your smart home system. You can turn them on and off remotely, giving burglars the impression that somebody is home,' advises Jason. Using this technique to secure your home while you're away is deceptively simple.

You can use two smart plugs to deter intruders, connecting them to your existing lamps, and set up timers so that they turn on and off to make it seem like you're home. These $10 smart plugs from Walmart are perfect.

'Doors and locks should also be improved and updated,' adds Philip Farina, emphasizing the value in robust locks and door and window sensors.

This five-piece Ring alarm security kit will alert you when sensors are triggered, and you can find more robust locks and doors at Home Depot and Lowe's.

'My Garden, Shed or Outbuilding Feels Vulnerable'

'Sheds and outbuildings are commonly targeted and frequently overlooked. Use motion lighting, stronger locks, a gate or fence where appropriate, and if possible, a camera watching the area from the main house,' shares Ray Ansari, owner of CCTV Camera World.

To keep your shed safe from thefts, the Ring Outdoor Camera at Amazon can be positioned directly towards it, and it's weather-resistant and easy to install.

This motion sensor lighting at Walmart is another inexpensive option that will quickly make potential intruders more visible.

'I Worry About Packages Being Stolen From My Porch'

'Use a porch camera or video doorbell, but also consider a lockbox or delivery locker. Cameras help document what happened. A lockbox helps prevent theft in the first place, which is always the better outcome,' advises Ray.

The eufy E340 video doorbell has two cameras, with one pointed directly at the floor for focused package protection. Other video doorbells, such as the Arlo 2K or the Philips 7000 Series, have anti-intruder sirens that can deter opportunists, but they may not always sound in time.

For more secure protection, Architectural Mailboxes' Elephantrunk Parcel Drop Box at Amazon will give couriers a safe location to leave deliveries, which can't be accessed by any passersby.

'I Don’t Want Anything Complicated to Install or Monitor'

'Battery cameras and app-based systems are a reasonable starting point,' shares Ray Ansari.

Almost every video doorbell, from the budget-friendly Blink Video Doorbell to the more premium Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell, will have a battery-powered option available.

This means you won't need to hardwire the device to your existing doorbell system, and all you need are minimal DIY skills to install the doorbell on your front porch, requiring just a screwdriver.

Similarly, outdoor cameras such as the Ring Outdoor Cam at Amazon are easy to install, and can even stick using adhesive to avoid having to drill into your property.

'But homeowners should understand the trade-off: Easier installation usually means more dependence on batteries, Wi-Fi, cloud storage, and delayed recording. If reliability and image detail matter more, a wired system is the better long-term choice,' Ray continues.

To avoid this potential reliability concern, look for security products with local storage and solar-powered charging. eufy is our personal favorite, as their products don't typically require monthly fees to be able to store footage locally.

Home Security Solutions That Fit Your Life

Monitored vs. Self-Monitored Alarms: What's the Difference?

'A monitored alarm contacts a response centre when triggered, helpful if you travel often, sleep through phone alerts, or want a backup,' explains Ray.

'A self-monitored system is cheaper and can work well, but it depends entirely on you seeing the alert and reacting,' Ray continues.

For both solutions, cameras are useful to know whether a false alarm has been triggered. Being able to see the footage will help to distinguish between an animal triggering a sensor to a potential intruder on your property.

'Cameras make either option significantly better because they let you verify what's actually happening instead of guessing. I've personally had false alarms trigger between 1am and 3am at my own properties. Because I had cameras covering the inside and outside, I could check instantly and confirm nothing was happening, avoiding unnecessary police call-outs and potential false alarm fines,' Ray explains.

This Blink three-camera system at Amazon is an inexpensive option, with day and night vision and a two-year battery life.

Monitored alarm systems often come with installation included, so if you're unsure about how to install home security systems by yourself, this can be useful.

Smart Locks: Who Are They For?

Smart locks grant you remote access to your door, typically through a smartphone app by connecting to your Wi-Fi. They also offer alternative methods of access, such as keypad, fingerprint, and palm vein unlocking.

'Smart locks are best for families, rental properties, caregivers, dog walkers, and anyone who needs to manage access without handing out physical keys,' Ray explains.

It's simple: If you pair a smart lock with a video doorbell, you can have eyes on your front door while you're out, and speak with any visitors. Then, if it's someone you recognize – say, a family member or your dog sitter – you can grant them access.

It's best to choose a smart lock and video doorbell from the same brand, so you can manage both from one app, such as the eufy E340 video doorbell and the eufy FamiLock E34.

Outdoor vs. Indoor Cameras: What You Actually Need

'Outdoor cameras are for deterrence, early warning, alarm verification, and evidence. They belong near driveways, front doors, side gates, rear entrances, garages, and detached buildings, anywhere you want to know what's happening before someone reaches the house,' Ray explains.

'Indoor cameras are more personal, but very useful for verifying alarm events, watching pets, or confirming a motion sensor was triggered by a real person and not a false alarm,' he continues.

There are many affordable indoor cameras at Amazon starting from as little as $20, and the Blink Mini 2K+ is a well-reviewed, small, and easy-to-use option that will give you a closer eye on your home while you're out.

Indoor cameras are best used as confirmation before alerting the authorities. If your alarm has sounded, or your door or window sensors have been triggered, indoor cameras allow you to check whether it was a false alarm or not.

Contrastingly, outdoor cameras offer active deterrence and home security by signalling to potential opportunists that your home is well-guarded, and that there will be evidence of any break-ins after-the-fact.

Do You Need a Subscription?

Depending on the product, subscriptions tend to unlock cloud-based storage and extended video history. Many home security brands such as Ring, Blink and Arlo put these features behind a paywall, so when you purchase one of their video doorbells or cameras, you'll need to pay a monthly fee to be able to store event clips.

Other subscription-based services include monitored alarm systems (as I explained in more detail above), where an external provider will oversee your home's security and alert the authorities if needed.

Subscription packages can be some of the best home security solutions for beginners, as much of the admin is taken care of on your behalf.

However, the recurring cost – ranging from $5 to $25+ a month – can easily be avoided by choosing a wired installation, or opting for local storage.

The eufy S330 video doorbell, for example, comes with a hub that stores event history locally, meaning no cloud-based subscription is required. The initial cost is a little higher, but you're avoiding the monthly fees required to view event history.

But really, a wired setup is best, as Ray Ansari explains, 'For anyone serious about protecting their home, I usually recommend a quality wired camera system with local recording. It costs more upfront but gives better reliability, higher resolution, and no ongoing cloud subscription required.'

Should You Get a Dog?

It might not always be practical for anyone who works long hours out of town or has allergies, but where dogs make up part of a household, intruders are far less likely to break in. Not only will a loudly barking pooch alert the occupants or neighbors to a problem, but most intruders also won't want to risk coming face-to-face with a potentially vicious and protective animal.

'Get a dog!' agrees self-defense, personal safety, and violence prevention expert Julie Waite of Streetwise Defence. 'A well-trained dog is a great alarm and defense system. When ex-intruders were surveyed, a barking dog was one of the top things that would deter them from entering a property.'

Windows and Doors: Do They Need Upgrading?

Assess your windows and doors, as these are weak points when it comes to a property. Look out for signs your wooden windows need replacing and put any areas of damage right. You should also check that they all have working, modern locks.

'Get a peephole, chain, and caged mailbox on the door or an external mailbox,' advises Julie Waite. 'A simple but effective tip that is often overlooked is to install horizontal blinds to all windows and keep them down (but not closed). This makes it hard for intruders scoping out your home to see into your property and, if they do break in, the blinds make a lot of noise and make it difficult to get in quietly – especially if you have some plants and ornaments on your windowsills that could get knocked off.'

A noisy entrance into your home might well cause intruders to abandon their plan for fear of being caught.

Design & Discretion: Security That Doesn’t Ruin Your Curb Appeal

Robust home security doesn't have to make your home look like a fortress; many options can seamlessly blend in with your home's aesthetic and style.

'For a more subtle look, choose low-profile turret or dome cameras, ideal for fitting under the eaves,' Ray recommends, such as the subtle Blink Outdoor 4 at Amazon, or the sleek Google Nest Cam Outdoor at Walmart.

Stylish security cameras are out there, and choosing the right design depends on your home's exterior. Modern homes would benefit from a glossy, polished device such as the eufy E340 video doorbell, while more colorful homes would blend well with the brighter Arlo 2K.

But remember: Securing your home without sacrificing style can include much more than introducing new devices.

'Reinforced doors, locked gates, and trimmed landscaping' can improve your home security without a system, Ray Ansari explains, particularly as overgrown shrubbery can give intruders a place to hide.

The plants and materials you choose to finish off your driveway and your back and front yard landscaping ideas play an important role in securing your home.

'When strategically placed, trees and shrubs can act as a natural security barrier to your home and provide privacy,' explains Jeff Ketelaars, co-founder at Security Guards Only. 'You can even opt to get defensive plants that naturally have spikes and thorny exteriors to deter anyone from coming on the property.'

Barberry, hawthorn, holly, and scotch briar are aesthetically pleasing choices, with spikes or thorns that act as active deterrents.

Julie Waite continues, 'To the exterior of your property review your boundaries and gates – have you got high fencing, can you use anti-climb spikes? Check if these are legal in your area and put up a sign advising that they are there,' advises Julie Waite.

You can also use gravel on pathways around your property, as the small gravel pieces compacting against each other underfoot will undoubtedly alert you to anyone crossing your garden or approaching your home.

Budgeting & Getting Started

As there are so many security solutions available, investing in your home security can cost as much as you're prepared to spend. Whether you want to keep it below $150, or spend more than $1,000 on a comprehensive, whole-property system, there are ways to secure your home for every budget.

At the most affordable, a budget-friendly video doorbell is the best place to start. The Blink Video Doorbell at Amazon costs just $59.99, or the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell costs $49.99 – but both devices require a monthly subscription to capture event history.

Or, the eufy E340 or the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell cost more than $140, but you won't need to pay monthly fees.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of what you can get at different price bands:

Entry Level: Up to $300

'A video doorbell, motion lights, and a few sensors covers the basics for renters or first-time homeowners,' Ray Ansari explains.

Mid Range: $300 to $800

If you spend more, you can build a comprehensive security system around your home, combining outdoor cameras, alarms and sensors to have accurate, timely alerts when needed.

Advanced: $800 to $1,500+

If you pay more upfront, you can get a professionally-installed, hardwired security system that will eliminate the need for any monthly fees, battery charging, or missed alerts. ADT, Vivint, and SimpliSafe are a few of the highest-rated nationwide options, but it's worth checking for local installers, too, as they may offer better rates and more personalized security solutions.

Ray Ansari explains that this package could include, 'Multiple high-resolution cameras, a local recorder, full cable runs, and professional installation. More upfront, but better reliability, image quality, and no subscription dependency long-term.'

Maintenance & Peace of Mind

Whether you have invested in home security, or you're still in the decision process, it's useful to brush up on a few simple routines to keep your precious home secure.

You can use two smart plugs to deter intruders by making it seem like you're home. Connect them to your existing lamps, and you can set up a routine so that the lights turn on in different rooms in the evening, creating the illusion that someone is moving throughout the house.

Knowing how to secure your home for the holidays includes keeping your yard tidy, making sure no valuables are on display, and making sure your alarm system is poised to prioritise early detection.

If you don't own your home, there are many renter-safe home security options such as adhesive video doorbells and camera mounts, indoor security cameras, and making sure no packages are left on your porch for too long, as they can essentially advertise what's inside your home.

And don't forget the importance of protecting your home from cyber hackers, too. By strengthening passwords, turning off certain features, and updating your devices, you can protect your smart home ecosystem. If your devices are interconnected, it only takes one appliance to be hacked for the rest to be at risk.

For more smart home upgrades, learn how the best robot vacuums from our rigorous testing sessions can save you time at home.

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During a busy house remodel, I installed the eufy S330 Video Doorbell, which is battery powered for ease, and was impressed that this dual-camera offering was fast to set up and delivered advanced visibility compared to others I've tested.

Whilst many competitors do not include the hub, the eufy S330 came with a HomeBase that allows for subscription-free storage – a bonus for privacy-conscious users like me.

From its unboxing to long-term use, here’s my full rundown of the benefits of this model – and how I think it stacks up against the best video doorbells.

My One-Minute Summary

The eufy S330 Video Doorbell’s USP is its full smart doorbell functionality without the monthly subscription. Instead, all footage is stored on the HomeBase, which means you can review events anytime without paying ongoing fees.

Its dual-camera setup is genuinely useful too: I found that the 2K front camera clearly captures visitors, while the second camera gave me a full view of my doorstep for deliveries – especially helpful for households that receive frequent packages. Setup is easy, and alerts are smart enough to reduce (although not eliminate) false alarms.

Its main drawbacks are relatively minor. The connection to the live feed and two-way audio can be slightly slow to open, and the battery may need charging more often in busy households with lots of motion.

Still, for suburban or urban homes wanting strong doorstep security without subscription costs, it’s a compelling buy and worth the price. If you want a cheaper option, the eufy E340 offers similar core features for around $50 less, while those prioritizing the fastest app performance may prefer the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, which we found offered no lag – though it requires a subscription to unlock full recording history.

eufy S330: Specifications

eufy S330: Installation and Setup

Inside the box, you can expect to find the eufy S330 Video Doorbell, the HomeBase 2 hub, a mounting kit and screws, and the Quick Start guide.

I found installation really straightforward: I simply connected the hub to my router and powered it on. LEDs indicate status – blue blinking for setup, solid blue when connected. While this was in motion, I downloaded the eufy Security app to add to my smart home setup, scanned the QR code on the doorbell with the app, pressed the sync button, and waited for confirmation that the two had paired, which they did pretty quickly.

The mounting kit is equally easy to install (though I'll admit to asking a contractor with more advanced DIY skills to fix that to the porch wall for me). The kit comes with two mounting bases: One flat, one angled, so that whatever your porch setup, you can position it to capture the widest possible view. It's recommended that the doorbell be mounted at around four feet above the ground; mine's probably a little higher, but I can still see both my porch floor and ceiling.

I chose a battery-powered installation, though there is a hard-wired option using existing doorbell wires. However, because I installed the doorbell in my first week in my new home, I needed it up and running quickly – I had a ton of deliveries planned, and construction workers coming and going over the next few weeks.

Connectivity has been reliable so far, though it’s worth noting that if the router is unplugged or moved, it can upset the connection between it and the HomeBase, and the HomeBase and the doorbell, which can then go offline – at which point you may need to remove it from the app and resync it.

eufy S330: Video Quality

The standout home security feature of the S330 is its dual-camera setup. The front 2K HDR camera offers a 160-degree field of view, which captures visitors clearly, to the point where you can read logos on clothes and clearly see facial features. The additional package camera (1080p) offers a 97-degree field of view and allows me a surprisingly full view of my entire doorstep.

This means you can clearly see a package, even a small one, on your doorstep – though I can't zoom in to read the label.

There is also a picture-in-picture display or a split screen. That way, you can see what's on the doorstep and someone's face – both simultaneously and clearly. This is particularly useful, I imagine, if you regularly receive packages but have perhaps in the past had them stolen from porch pirates. And, be assured, vision is great at night, too. The package camera switches to black and white infrared in the dark but the view is still clear.

I had the original Google Nest camera in my old home, and while I prefer the eufy's camera functionality, I found the Nest app quicker to respond, so I tended to miss fewer visitors.

I have pretty decent WIFI at home (and the doorbell is only around 10 yards from my well-positioned router), and I tend to use 5G when I'm out, but I've yet to manage to get the app open and functioning before the person at the door has left again.

eufy S330: Audio Quality

Audio is really clear, even if it’s blustery or noisy outside. As with most video doorbells, there is two-way audio for communicating with visitors – so if someone rings your doorbell, whether you are home or not, you can talk to them via the app on your phone.

I have found that there is a lag when I am speaking to someone at the door. It’s only two to three seconds, but it’s enough to make us talk over each other.

eufy S330: App and Smart Features

The app is extremely easy to use and allows you full control (other than charging) of the doorbell. I tend to only access two of the screens: The home screen, which shows if the doorbell is on or offline, and which provides a ‘security report’ (icons of faces that have appeared at my door historically); and the events screen, which is essential to secure my porch.

The events screen is the most used. It is the one I can go to to see who has come to my door as an alert comes in, assuming they’ve either let themselves in with a key or simply put something through the door.

I also like that the app can manage multiple users – permissions can be customized for family members so family can see, for instance, that it's me at the door.

eufy S330: Motion Detection and Notifications

The doorbell chimes from the HomeBase 2 hub and from my phone, but it is not terribly loud. You can pair the eufy S330 with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Smart AI alerts include human detection, package delivery notifications, and loitering detection. I haven't had a loitering detection as of yet (luckily), but I can imagine this might be something you'd have to silence if your porch overlooked a bus stop or crosswalk, for example.

The human detection function is truly useful – you get a notification to your phone (if enabled) every time someone comes to your door. I have a short front path, so I occasionally get notifications of neighbors passing by, too, though I don't get notified that a dog or a truck, for instance, has passed.

We've seen similarly advanced motion detection in other video doorbells, such as the Philips 7000 Series.

You can reduce false alerts by engaging the motion zones and motion sensitivity settings.

The best function, for me, is the facial recognition of regular visitors. Once your doorbell has recorded a face, you can record their name; then, when they come to the door, you will get a notification, such as 'Sue is at the door'.

Otherwise, the notifications just say (rather ominously), 'Stranger at the door'. However, that stranger's face is then recorded, so you could choose to name callers, even irregular ones ('Steve from number 159', 'the postman', and so on). It does offer some peace of mind, and it's been useful for me in keeping track of my contractors' comings and goings.

Package delivery alerts seem to happen each time someone in the front yard bends forward to pick something up or put something down. So, while I have had real, very useful package notifications when I've been out, I have also had them when my contractor goes outside to cut a piece of wood. In other words, the doorbell doesn't really seem to recognize a package – and is perhaps interpreting a person's body movement to guess that it's a delivery.

What I do like much more than my previous Google Nest, however, is how I can go back, subscription-free, and review all the 'events' on the camera. That means if a package is delivered and then is perhaps taken by a porch pirate, I can see it – and prove it.

There is also a delivery guard function: A set of pre-recorded responses to deter porch pirates, which again, might not work quickly enough to deter someone in reality, as I have the shortest of front paths.

eufy S330: Power and Battery Life

Battery life is rated three to six months under typical conditions (10 motions a day, 20-second recordings). My household has been busy – my kids are in and out, I probably come and go at least three times a day, and my contractor has used my front yard as his work station for the past four months, so I'd say 'traffic' has been heavier than it might be ongoing.

As I said, I installed the eufy back at the beginning of November 2025 – and I'm writing at the end of February 2026. In those four months, I've had to recharge the doorbell twice.

This is easily managed. You get an alert via the app that the battery life is low, a good couple of days ahead of it running flat. Then you simply use the supplied pin to remove the doorbell from its fixing, then use the supplied charging wire to repower it. I usually recharge mine overnight, removing the last thing before bed, returning it fully charged first thing in the morning. Hardwiring would remove this concern, but I'm not on the 'porch' part of my slow renovation yet.

eufy S330: Price

The eufy S330 typically costs $259.99 at eufy, making it one of the most expensive video doorbells we've tested to date. This is offset by the fact that it doesn't require a monthly subscription, so, within a year, a cheaper video doorbell will have ended up costing this much anyway.

But this isn't the only subscription-free doorbell out there. The eufy E340, costing $149.99 at eufy, has almost all of the same core features, including the dual cameras, object recognition, and event history with local storage. The $100 drop in price is owed to the lack of the HomeBase 2, and you'll have to buy one separately (or use an existing Google or Alexa device) if you want to hear the doorbell chime. Otherwise, you'll only hear it on your phone.

The Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell is another strong option, costing $235.99 at Philips but often discounted to around $169 (as it is at the time of writing). It has some of the most advanced radar detection and motion sensitivity we've tested, picking up movement from up to 15 yards away.

Next, discover how these rigorously tested best soundbars and best robot vacuums can add to your smart home.

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For all its security benefits, I was sick of constant ghost notifications from my video doorbell until I set up activity zones and stopped time-wasting alerts in their tracks.

Those bothersome notifications included locals walking their dogs multiple times a day past my front door, couriers delivering packages to neighbors, lost drivers doing U-turns in my dead-end street, and were also running down my eufy device’s battery unnecessarily.

Since the greatest home technology, including the best video doorbells, should be the kind you don't have to think about, I took advantage of the app’s invisible intelligence and set up motion zones to stop the deluge of daily alerts – it worked so well.

Reduce False Alarms This Spring With One Feature on Your Smart Doorbell

I reviewed the E340 subscription-free doorbell a year ago, and have kept it on my door for the last year, though I stopped the ‘ghost’ notifications (non-important motion) in minutes over winter to stop the incessant alerts and faster-than-I-would-like battery drainage. You can enjoy the same curated feed with similar settings across multiple brands, including eufy.

Dan Fauzi, Home Tech Editor at Homes & Gardens, explains, ‘Activity or motion zones are customizable areas within the video doorbell’s field of view where you want the device to detect motion, to prevent it from picking up movement in areas where it isn’t necessary, such as on the street where cars pass by.

'Different brands, such as Ring or Blink, call them 'Activity Zones' or 'Camera Motion Zones', but the premise is the same. Search for it in your video doorbell’s app: It’ll usually be in the device settings.’

What Activity Zones Are Useful For

As the days grow longer, the sun rises earlier and sets later for spring, your neighbors will be making the most of the extra daylight, taking dogs for walks, exercising outdoors, cleaning their cars, and tending to their spring gardens.

Many trees and shrubs will also be in their growth phases and expanding rapidly, bringing constant breeze-induced movement in view of your camera, where a few months ago they were pruned back and unproblematic.

When I set up the activity zones on my eufy, it reduced unwanted notifications by 90%, and extended my device’s battery life by a further four weeks.

Dan adds, ‘Using every aspect of your video doorbell’s motion sensors at all times will quickly drain the battery. We see this across the board during testing, as a device’s battery life can go from six to two months when every feature is activated.’

The Benefits of Engaging These Settings

Limiting motion detection areas will not impact your home security, as using activity zones or similar features on your device to systematically ignore the sidewalk means any people, local wildlife, or car traffic outside your vital surroundings won’t trigger your alerts.

You will still retain your automated porch guard functionality (if your device has such features), which is even more necessary as spring deliveries and therefore the incidence of opportunistic thieves rise. You’ll still be alerted if someone steps inside your zones, a package is set down by your door, or someone picks it up.

Make This Digital Decluttering Part of Your Spring Cleaning

So whilst you’re busy spring cleaning your home, don’t forget to address digital decluttering too, and help usher in calm to your home sanctuary with fewer alerts.

I also made use of privacy zones to capture what I need without capturing my neighbor's homes, especially areas where there will be a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bedrooms.

Dan explains, ‘Setting up privacy zones keeps your field of view free from unnecessary visual clutter, while also being able to protect your neighbors’ homes from being observed.’

After I made both activity zone and privacy zone tweaks, the volume of notifications was conspicuous by their absence, and it made me realise how much notification fatigue I had been dealing with where my video doorbell was concerned.

It also freed up mental and emotional bandwidth, as well as increasing my sensory tolerance to be able to focus on more strenuous tasks related to work, tax season, and all the family trips and events I am in charge of organizing this spring.

It also meant that when we went away for the weekend last month, I wasn’t grappling with hotel WiFi or cell signal while out and about to view and respond to false notifications that didn’t need my attention in the first place.

Being able to largely ‘set and forget’ my doorbell’s settings has been a blessing in what has transpired to be one of my busiest 12-month periods yet.

Dan adds, ‘The beauty of integrating smart tech into your home is seamless functionality that works alongside your lifestyle, and failing to make use of its automated and AI features means you won’t be using your device to its full potential.’

Who Motion Alerts and Zoning Settings Are Beneficial For

• Notification fatigue: If like me, you’re dealing with the ‘Boy Who Cried Wolf’ effect and have stopped checking alerts because they’re always just a passing car and are now missing the important ones, this is for you.
• Battery drain: Constant false triggers reduced my otherwise impressive eufy E340 battery capacity, forcing more recharges than my desire for low-maintenance security tips allowed. If your device is underperforming, try motion zones.
• Shadow problems: As natural brightness increases for spring, you might find that high-contrast March sunshine is creating moving shadows that the AI mistakes for people. This will particularly be problematic if trees and shrubs that had lost their leaves are now unfurling new foliage for spring and setting up bigger shadows that are swaying in the wind and triggering sensors.

Tweaking Your Device’s Settings

Whilst different bestselling brands such as Blink and Ring, both available at Amazon, will have their own names for these functions and slightly different setting options, there are three areas to consider when setting yours.

The first is being clear on where the public zones outside your home are and excluding them from your motion zones. This might include sidewalks, public areas, and streets.

Next, decide how much of your low-sensitivity zones, such as your drive, the steps up to your porch, and the front yard, will serve as a buffer zone and need to be captured, ignored or turned down for sensitivity. If you have a mailbox further out that you’d like to keep an eye on, keep that in mind when setting your motion zones. You may prefer to toggle that to ‘Human’ only so nosy dogs on daily walks don’t trigger an alert.

The final elements in proximity to your door and immediate porch, including your welcome mat and any area where parcels are often left for you, should be kept at high sensitivity for alerts so you don't miss a knock, parcel, or lurker.

Utilise AI Features

Eufy’s polygon zoning tool has further distinctions which have been very helpful in sensibly reducing rogue alerts and letting only the meaningful ones through, including 'Human-Only’ motion detection settings versus vs ‘All Motion’.

Most of the top video doorbell offerings have similar options and can be accessed through your settings options in-app.

Motion Sensitivity Cheat Sheet

Use this easy cheat sheet to help you establish how far your motion zones should reach and the detection sensitivity to apply.

What to Shop

As we clear out the cobwebs this spring, it’s the perfect time to refresh your home security with tech that works for you, not against you.

These top-rated products, including doorbells we have vetted for weeks if not months in real-world conditions, offer the perfect balance of robust protection and 'plug-and-play' simplicity, ensuring your peace of mind is never interrupted by another false alarm.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

The payoff of putting zones into play this spring is an increased peace of mind, zero false pings, no more excessive or fatiguing notifications, and a battery that actually lasts through the season. You can also layer on the extra safety measures by ensuring you protect your smart devices from cyber attacks.

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Philips may not be the first name you think about when considering a video doorbell. The brand is more commonly known, at least in recent years, as the brand that pioneered the smart light bulbs, along with producing a suite of household appliances.

I was quite excited to test out the Philip 7000 Series Video Doorbell, mainly because it promised to be a solid upgrade from our eufy doorbell. The 2K video quality, lack of subscription fees, Alexa and Google Home integration, and two to three-month battery life seemed promising to me.

After using the Philips 7000 Series for several weeks at home, I’m confident in saying it’s one of the best video doorbells, even if it has a higher upfront cost.

My One-Minute Summary

The Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell impressed across the board. The picture quality was crisp and vibrant, even at night, and the doorbell has two cameras, one pointed at the floor and one forward, so I had a clear view of faces and packages.

There was a slight delay in the audio, but not enough that it posed issues when communicating, and it was always clearly audible, even when it was loud outside or in windy or rainy weather.

A stand-out feature is the incredibly sensitive motion detection. I had to turn it way down, as on its usual setting it picked up passing cars more than 15 feet away, but this is an excellent security feature for big properties where you'd benefit from a heads up as someone approaches your door.

Notifications are quick and accurate, even letting me know when someone placed a package.

Frustratingly, using the features to their full effect – like using the most high-resolution 2K picture quality or having motion detection on its most sensitive – will drain the battery more quickly than with others we've tested. This isn't too drastic, though, and it only takes around seven hours to charge it back to full.

Most importantly, all of these features (including local storage) are available without a monthly subscription. This is one of the most common pain points we hear from homeowners trying to avoid recurring costs, and it's nice that Philips is one of the few brands to not ask for more money after the purchase.

It is a little expensive up front, so a suitable alternative, which is more affordable, is the eufy E340. This is another great subscription-free pick that's typically less expensive, or the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, which has a longer battery, but needs a subscription.

Philips 7000 Video Doorbell: Specifications

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Installation and Setup

The Philips 7000 Series is incredibly easy to set up, even if the number of things in the box might seem a bit intimidating when you first open it up. It comes with the wireless door chime too, which you’ll need to get everything synced up.

The first step is to download the Philips Home Access app, as there are no proper instructions in the box. Thankfully, the app is straightforward to follow, which is always desirable when setting up smart home gadgets. Just follow the steps, and everything should be connected in about five minutes.

Unfortunately, the wires for my doorbell got hidden somewhere in the door frame years ago, before we bought the house, so I’ve had to rely on battery power for my doorbell. On the bright side, it made the installation even easier. The process will be slightly more complex depending on whether you’re mounting it to wood or brick, but the idea is largely the same.

If you’re installing into wood, all you’ll need is a screwdriver, although a power drill is preferred. If you’re installing into brick, you’ll need a masonry drill bit, which is easy to find at your local hardware store. Aside from that, Philips includes everything you need to install it, even a window sticker to let your neighbors and delivery drivers know they’re being filmed, and it's nice to see Philips prioritize privacy as well as home security.

I chose to add the included wedge to my mount because my door has a full 180º view of the street, and I wanted to make sure I capture just what was happening in front of the door. My favorite thing about the installation was the included alignment paper, so I didn’t have to do any measuring. I just held it up to the door frame, marked the holes with a pencil, and went from there.

Start to finish, it took me about 20 minutes and was simple enough that I’m confident my completely technology-averse parents could handle it.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Video Quality

Daytime: One of the selling points of the Philips 7000 Series is the optional 2K video feed, and it is certainly impressive. I never had any trouble seeing faces during the day, and the picture was much clearer than on my previous doorbell. Sadly, the 2K feed does drain the battery much faster than the standard feed, but the lower resolution feed is still good enough that we didn’t need to use 2K all the time. The 157º viewing angle meant I could see almost the entirety of my front yard, which was cool, albeit unnecessary for me.

The Philips 7000 Series actually has two cameras, similar to the eufy E340, which is one of our favorites on test. At the bottom of the doorbell, facing about 45 degrees downward, is a second camera that’s meant for packages. I really appreciated this feature as the main camera would let me see the people and delivery drivers as they approached the door, but once they dropped the package, I couldn’t see it anymore. It was nice to be able to see the package on the porch as well.

These two feeds are split by default, but you can enable picture-in-picture mode for them, which I ended up preferring because it didn’t have a huge black bar splitting the camera feed.

Night time: I was also impressed with the night vision. It’s still perfectly easy to make out faces and uniforms at night, and the motion detection works great, too.

Dynamic light: Because my house faces due south, I don’t get too much direct sunlight on the doorbell, but even during the brightest part of the day, the camera never struggled with harsh lighting. I was always able to see whoever came to the door, which is helpful because most of our packages tend to arrive in the early afternoon.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Audio Quality

The two-way audio was perfectly fine for me. It didn’t blow me away, but it was good enough that I don’t have any issues with it. There is a bit of a delay each time, but it was never an issue. It could very well be because the doorbell is on the opposite side of the house from my router, and a good distance from the chime, but it was still perfectly usable.

There are some default auto responses you can use if you can’t talk at the moment (like when trying to put the kids down and the delivery driver feels compelled to ring the doorbell). My door is also far enough back from the road that I never pick up much traffic, but I can hear the weather on windy days. I was impressed that the audio was still clear enough that I could hear everything in detail, even with the wind.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Motion Detection and Notifications

The motion sensor on the 7000 Series is incredibly sensitive, so I would make sure you define a detection zone as soon as you install it, otherwise it will likely pick up the passing cars, as it did on the street that’s a good 15 yards from my front door. Once I more clearly defined the zone, the motion detection was more manageable.

You can also enable radar detection if you like to increase the detection accuracy, and you can have it detect all motion in addition to just humans if you prefer.

Keep in mind that if you set the motion sensitivity to the lowest setting, you will likely only record anyone right as they're approaching the door instead of a few steps away. I ended up using this setting most of the time to try to extend the battery life, but I do sometimes worry that a porch pirate with enough motivation might be able to grab something off my porch quickly enough not to be fully caught on camera.

The notifications are accurate. By default, it notifies you when someone rings the doorbell, for motion alerts, and when someone places a package. Thankfully, it seemed to be smart enough not to notify me twice when someone both approached and placed a package, so I appreciate that extra touch.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Power and Battery Life

Let me just say that if at all possible, I highly recommend wiring this doorbell up. Really the only frustration I’ve had with this doorbell has been the battery life. Philips claims it should last approximately 2-3 months, but I didn’t come close to that in my few weeks of testing. With HDR on, full motion detection and the highest sensitivity level, I had to charge it after about 2 weeks.

This is a major difference compared to other models like the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, with a battery that can last 6-12 months.

Granted, if you turned off everything except the most basic detection features, and set the sensitivity to the lowest settings, then you could possibly get close to 2 months.

However, that entirely defeats a lot of the purpose of having a camera like this, particularly the 2K, HDR video feed. And since the battery is built in, you have to take it off the mount to charge it every time. It does only take about 2 hours to fully charge, but unless you’re diligent about charging it regularly and immediately putting it back on, you could easily go a few days without it.

Philips does make it easy to take off either with the included pin, or in the app. There’s a quick-release button in the app which detaches the doorbell right from your phone. I would say that if you know you’re going to be relying solely on battery power for your video doorbell, there are probably more power efficient options available.

Philps 7000 Series Video Doorbell: App and Smart Features

If you’ve used other video doorbells before, the app will be familiar. The home screen shows your two most recent events, plus quick access to the Live feed, all Events, Settings, and a Snooze option.

In the Live view, you can manually record footage, edit clips, talk, mute audio, or use one of the Quick Response audio options. You can also change the resolution and rotate the app to landscape mode if you want a better view.

There are three main tabs I the settings to adjust the motion detection, notifications, and power management options. Overall, the app is quite thorough and I appreciate how many options you have.

And what's more – all of these features are available without a monthly subscription. While others charge anywhere from $3.99 to $19.99 a month to use the essential functions, everything's available without a fee.

The only annoying thing is that there are few translation issues in the app, which was a bit surprising to me, because I didn’t even realize Philips had been sold to Chinese owners until using this app (I’ve tested enough devices now to quickly recognize machine translation). It’s certainly not a deal breaker, and I only noticed one or two.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Privacy and Security

The only specific 'privacy' settings in the app are to always record audio by default and to set up zones where parts of the video feed will be invisible when recording. This is great if you have neighbors close by so you can respect their privacy.

You can also add users to the doorbell which can be great when you’re travelling so you can add a family member or trusted neighbor to just keep an eye on things.

There’s also an anti-theft siren that will sound a loud alarm if someone tries to manually remove the doorbell, a major feature recommended by security experts, and one that we love in the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell.

Just keep in mind that if you’re running on battery power, if you don’t detach the doorbell from within the app, you’ll want to turn this off before you physically remove it. Otherwise, it will trigger the alarm.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Price and Value

There’s no getting around the fact that the 7000 Series is quite expensive. The retail price is $235.99 at Philips, which makes it one of the most expensive video doorbells around. However, I have seen it on sale for as low as $160 on Amazon, which makes it much more compelling. If you can find it for that price, then it’s worth it.

At that price, even with the higher resolution video and second package camera, it’s hard to recommend, especially when these same features can be found in the eufy E340 for $149.99, which also doesn't require a monthly subscription, but it doesn't include a chime.

Also, the fact that there’s no monthly subscription fee certainly offsets quite a bit of the cost as Ring, Blink, and several other popular video doorbells require a subscription to access the main features.

The downside of that is that there’s only 8GB of onboard storage with no option to expand beyond that, and if you’re using the higher resolution footage, that 8GB will fill up rather quickly. You can offload the footage manually, but that’s an extra step you really shouldn’t have to take (the eufy E340 automatically deletes the oldest footage that you don't want to save).

If you want just a basic video doorbell that nails the basics but doesn’t have any extra stuff, the Blink Video Doorbell is incredibly affordable. The Ring Doorbell Plus is a solid option from one of the biggest names in video doorbells, and it comes with swappable batteries. Just keep in mind the added subscription cost.

For more smart home upgrades that we've tested and love, see our guide to the best soundbars and the best robot vacuums.

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As one of the most affordable options today, the Tapo D210 is an entry-level and budget-friendly way to secure your front door. I've been a user of video doorbells since we bought our first home almost 10 years ago, with some a more permanent fixture than others.

I was excited to try the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell, available at Amazon, and since testing it, have enjoyed detecting motion, customizing nighttime modes, and changing the included Chime's ringtones.

My quibbles with it lay with the lag times that can affect the image and audio quality. I can still make out the person, animal or vehicle, and I like all the flexible installation options. Is it the best video doorbell for you? This is what I make of it, to help you decide.

My One-Minute Summary

Overall, the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell is a fantastic entry-level surveillance option, especially for renters. With some DIY know-how (and guidance from my husband), I eventually made it through the installation process and it accurately alerted me when there was movement within the 20 foot range.

I like that it has an adhesive backing supplied so, if you're securing it to a smooth surface, this video doorbell could be something that you have up and running not long after its charged. This fixing will also mean that it doesn't cause any long-term damage to the property, which is great for rentals.

The Tapo app is also fairly responsive and does enough for customization, making it personal to your lifestyle. You can view live and stored footage, and see Night Mode in one of three different settings: Infrared, Doorbell or Full Color.

However, the video and audio quality lacked for me. Footage wasn't always clear, with detail getting lost the closer a subject came to the lens. Two-way talk lagged so it was a struggle to communicate to whoever and whatever was at the receiving end too. This could be because of a poor signal strength yet I haven't had a problem like this with the other video doorbells I've used and tested.

I am more familiar with the quality of Ring video doorbells and security cameras. The cost of these devices are closer to $100+ which is double that of the D210. If you want more advanced customization and the ability to view "missed rings", the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is great alternative.

Equally, the eufy E340 and the Lorex 2K are great options if you want to dodge paying a monthly fee.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Specifications

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Installation and Setup

The Tapo D210 Video Doorbell is delivered with everything that you need to set and up and install, aside from a drill or screwdriver. It comes with a 5V USB charger, chime, mounting template, mounting bracket, two mounting screws, two anchors, mounting wedge, foam pad, doorbell detaching pin, mounting wedge screws and 3M adhesive. This means that you'll have plenty of configurations with this smart home setup.

Step one on the Quick Start guide advises to charge this video doorbell for seven hours before use. While it was charging I made the most of my time by securing the wedge to the mounting plate, and downloaded the Tapo app.

Initially I wasn't going to use the wedge because the D210 has a 160-degree field of view. However, when I offered it up to where I wanted it on the fence post I wanted to see if I could see around the corner from the garage a little more – and I could with the wedge. The four screws are tiny and annoyingly fiddly. Fortunately, my husband has a tool box of sorts and he found a mini screwdriver that did the job.

And it was a good job that I had my husband around to install the mounting bracket with wedge to the sodden fence posts because he has the essential DIY skills that I simply do not have. The screws are not the best quality; the screwdriver head kept loosing grip, knackering the screw head, so if I need to remove it for whatever reason it could be problematic.

But, of course, you can affix this video doorbell whenever you would like on the outside of your property where it'll benefit you. For example, use the 3M adhesive if installing onto smooth tiling (this looks a lot easier) or use the anchors and mounting screws to install onto a brick wall.

I then headed back indoors to pair the video doorbell with the Chime. To do this I scanned the QR code printed in the Quick Start Guide, but the app can also be easily found in the App Store and Google Play. I then followed the instructions on the Tapo app.

The app was very detailed yet easy to follow. It was also responsive through each step.

You'll need to ensure that your Wi-Fi router is positioned in the best place for a stable connection when installing the video doorbell and chime. The D210 requires 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and, if you want/need, a microSD card for local recording. As in my case, the Chime required a Firmware Update too although this was done and dusted with a matter of seconds. From downloading the app to pairing with the Chime, it took 10 minutes.

You can customize the ringtones and noise level when the video doorbell is activated by pressing a couple of buttons on the side of the Chime. There are six ringtones to choose from (including a Jingle Bells) and three levels of loudness which ranged from 87dB - 91dB. There is no ability to tweak this in the app.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Video Quality

I've been using the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell for over one week, and I found that the video quality was hit and miss.

Daytime: The field of view is 135 degrees horizontal and 109 degrees vertical, and the resolution is up to 2K. This meant that I could work out faces at the gate, but not when someone was approaching. I could also see the floor in front of me when viewing through the lens of the video doorbell, making it a good measure for preventing porch pirates.

I found that the picture quality was a little grainy and jumpy at times, although this could be our internet connection. I had the option of a 10.8 zoom which I tried but the picture went pixelated. I couldn't read any details like the number plate of our car when it entered the (approx.) 20ft range, or any branding on the side of delivery boxes.

This video doorbell also survived lashings of rain throughout the testing phase, not affecting daytime footage, so kudos to the water-resistant design for that.

Nighttime: In the app, there are three nighttime mode settings to choose from. These modes are Infrared (black and white image), Doorbell (turns on spotlight when doorbell is rung) and Full Color (spotlight is on all night). For me, I found that Infrared Mode provided the most clarity with glare from the street lights reduced and a visibly clearer balance between light and dark. I could recognize faces in all modes, and motion was detected just as quickly as during the day.

This means that it is a good security measure for the house and, even though the nighttime vison wasn't the best, I could still make out enough to recognize any suspect activities occurring in front of the fence.

Dynamic light: The front of our house gets a lot of sun throughout the day which is balanced well; there is no beam of light behind a moving person, animal or vehicle and facial details are still clear. There is some glare from the sun in daytime footage though, almost like a halo was in the sky.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Audio Quality

There is constant interference to the audio quality when viewing live and playback, and it's tinny too. There is also some lagging when engaging in two-way conversation.

I can hear bird song, wind and traffic noise in the background of live and playback footage which sounds amplified. However, this doesn't affect two-way conversation because I can still decipher what is being said.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: App and Smart Features

The Tapo app is simple and intuitive to use. It can be downloaded by scanning the QR code found on the box and Quick Start Guide, or direct from Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS).

You can link it to Google Home and/or Amazon Alexa devices, such as the Echo Show, [on Amazon], as another smart home gadget that receives alerts when the video doorbell is activated.

It offers some customization. For example, you can choose to watch footage in 2K, 360p or Auto – although be mindful that while a higher quality video looks better it'll drain the battery more quickly. You can also adjust the spotlight brightness, night mode settings and on-screen display information.

From the app I could also talk to a person (or animal) and tap to play a default voice response, even when the doorbell wasn't rung.

A neat feature is Detection Tag. This uses AI to tag a person, animal, vehicle or package. It'll only work in live view and while I'm not 100% sure on the true benefit of this feature, it is a detail that I like.

It's also easy to view and/or download past events which are being stored in the Tapo Care Cloud as part of the 30-day free trial from set-up. If you opted to insert a MicroSD card then footage would be automatically stored.

What I feel is lacking from this app is the ability to set up privacy zones which Ring, for example, does brilliantly. This will prevent neighboring residents from activating the video doorbell, and will provide some privacy – especially if your video doorbell is unintentionally facing their front door. While the Tapo app does have "Privacy Mode", this is only to disable streaming and recording functions to protect your privacy.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Motion Detection and Notifications

The Tapo D210 Video Doorbell can detect people, vehicles, animals and packages. Each time any of these were detected with AI, I received a notification to my phone.

I didn't find the motion detection of this video doorbell overly sensitive, so I'm not getting an alert when a bird flies over or a leaf blows off the tree, for example. However, the notifications were somewhat relentless while my husband scurried between the parked cars and garage out-front. Notifications were then stored in Playback & Download of the app.

When the doorbell is activated it's like receiving a phone call (weird) – my phone actually "rings" when someone rings the bell, and the chime is making a noise. It feels a little over-the-top for a doorbell and, from what I can tell, I can not tweak this in the app.

There is a lag of a few seconds from when the bell is rung through to when my phone starts to ring. This is really frustrating because I'm used to an instant answer with my wired doorbell. And there's a lag of a few seconds when engaging in two-way audio, with some "rings" being missed altogether.

The D210 can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home to receive doorbell activations too but, as someone who has yet to set up a smart home, and isn't too confident with how voice assistants can be used, I won't be compromising on how I use the device.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Power and Battery Life

The Tapo D210 Video Doorbell is only powered by battery which makes it a good renter-safe home security option. The 6400mAh built-in battery is said to last for up to 180 days. Within 24 hours of using the D210 it had already used 14% of its battery so I'd be surprised if it lasts half this time.

In an attempt to preserve battery the video quality is set to "Auto", but other factors that can effect the runtime such as usage, environmental factors and router specifications are outside of my control.

You'll need to take the whole thing down and allow for 7 hours to fully charge it. The light will initially flash orange as its plugged in, and then it'll turn green when charging is complete. The D210 does come with a USB charging cable. but you will need to buy a USB charging plug [from Amazon] if you don't already have one.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Connectivity and Reliability

So far, I haven't had any issues with the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell or chime dropping out from the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. While the router is inside the house behind thick stone walls, as far as I am aware the connectivity has remained stable and consistent.

Over the one week of testing I have had over 50 detections to playback that I would have missed had it not been for this video doorbell. It has been especially helpful to playback past events, for example if I needed to remind myself what time I put the trash out. This may be what is draining the battery but there is no way to lower the level of sensitivity.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Privacy and Security

The only home privacy setting in the app is "Privacy Mode". This disables streaming and recording functions to protect your privacy. There is no ability to set privacy zones to block out a neighbor's property, which I feel would be of great benefit in terms of preserving the battery and not interfering with those across the street.

Data is stored in the Tapo Care Cloud Storage for free for the first 30-days and then you'll need to pay upwards of $3.49 / month after this time. If you'd prefer to not have the ongoing cost, local storage on a 512gB microSD card – like this SanDisk 512GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card (Amazon) – is another option.

Post-installation it is unclear how my data is handled with nothing obvious to read on the app. The app also doesn't support two‑factor authentication which would provide extra login protection.

Tapo D210 Video Doorbell: Price and Value

Everything you need is included in the box when you buy the Tapo D210 Video Doorbell on Amazon. The cost of this is just $57.99 although, at the time of writing, it was $47.48. A similar spec to the D210 is the Tapo D225. The only difference being that you can hardwire this one in to make it a more permanent fixture to the home. If you prefer this as an option, it's $99.99 on Amazon.

With either of these Tapo video doorbell options you can add voice control by combining with a screen Alexa device, such as the Amazon Echo Show 5 which costs $89.99 on Amazon.

The brand also has a suite of other smart home devices including robot vacuum cleaners, lighting and plugs.

An ongoing cost is the Tapo Care Cloud Storage which costs upwards of $3.49 / month when the free 30-day trial ends. For this you'll get 30-day video clip history, rich notifications with snapshots, AI detection and privacy zones. This is cheaper than the Ring subscription plans, starting at $4.99 for The Basic plan, which includes up to 180-days event history; person, package and vehicle alerts and video preview alerts.

However, Ring video doorbells are generally more expensive that Tapo. I have the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro installed next to my front door. This costs $229.99, when not on sale, at Amazon. The image quality is comparably crisper day and night, and the 1536p head-to-toe HD+ video means that I can see a complete person standing right outside our front door.

If you'd prefer to avoid paying any subscription fees altogether then either install a 512GB memory card for local storage or opt for the eufy E340 video doorbell instead. On test we found that the eufy footage is crisp, audio is clear and it's easy to install.

Installing a video doorbell is a good way to start improving your home security. Learn how else smart tech gadgets can help transform your home, and check out these home security tips to make your home safer and more secure.

The simple, human fact that we want to protect our homes and our belongings is why video doorbells have become so commonplace. But while they can certainly deter opportunists, their real value is in providing evidence after the fact.

That is, unless you opt for the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell (which is currently on offer for just $49.99), as its siren feature can actively deter intruders, alongside the usual benefits of a video doorbell.

This active deterrent makes the Arlo 2K one of the best video doorbells on the market, and if you're considering investing in your home security, you'll be happy to hear that I've never seen it discounted by this much.

The Arlo 2K Video Doorbell Helps to Proactively Protect Your Home

Video doorbells already do a lot to secure our homes. The presence of a camera (and often a night light) creates the psychological experience of being seen, which can be enough of a deterrent to ward off potential opportunists.

But for those who are more prepared – such as porch pirates who know to cover their face – a camera can easily be ignored. That's why the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell's siren feature deters intruders more proactively.

'The siren adds an active deterrent to a usually passive device,' shares Gene Petrino, lead advisor for Security.org. 'A standard doorbell camera only records the theft after it happens. A siren interrupts the thief in the moment, draws attention, and forces them to abandon the package quickly.

'Video alone relies on the thief being afraid of being recorded. Many aren’t. They cover their faces, move fast, and don’t care about footage. A siren is different: It creates pressure, noise, and unpredictability.'

This is why we've ranked the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell so highly as an anti-intruder home security tip. And to be able to grab one for just $49.99 – which is cheaper than our best budget video doorbell – that is a tiny cost considering the long-term peace of mind it can bring.

The siren can be made loud enough for neighbors to hear – just let them know in advance what the sound means – and you can also set it to activate automatically or manually, in case you're worried about it accidentally turning on while you're on vacation. You'll still get the alert and, if the person at the door looks unfamiliar, you can turn it on.

Outside of the siren feature and current rare low price, the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell also has a lot of other great selling points. For example, its 2K HDR resolution delivers clear footage, making it easy to see exactly who’s at your door and what’s been left behind, even at night.

In our full Arlo 2K Video Doorbell review, this clarity, paired with a 180-degree field of view, proved genuinely useful. Parcels were clearly visible in frame, faces were easy to identify, and nighttime footage was sharp enough to check delivery details.

It also has two-way audio that's clear in different weather conditions, and the Arlo app is very straightforward to use, not requiring much tech know-how to wrap your head around. All that's required is a little bit of patience and a screwdriver to mount it outside (or a drill, if mounting on brick).

So if you've been waiting for the right moment to invest in your home security, an easy-to-use video doorbell that proactively deters intruders for just $49.99 might be the perfect moment.

The Arlo 2K Video Doorbell is discounted to $49.99 for a limited time.

More to Shop

For more home security tips, explore our guide on how to improve your home security without a security system.

Smart homes bring tremendous upgrades to our convenience and efficiency at home – but new research reveals that the very devices designed to make life easier could also be putting our privacy at risk.

As homes become increasingly connected, vulnerabilities are growing faster than many homeowners realise. Recent reports show billions of cyber attacks happened just last year, and as our smart devices are so connected, every weak password in a home setup is an opportunity for hackers to access the entire smart home ecosystem.

Whether you're just beginning to set up your smart home or you already have AI working for you, I spoke with tech and security specialists to find out how to protect yourself from potential hackers.

How Hackers Could Be Targeting Your Smart Home Devices

Cybersecurity experts are warning that smart home attacks are accelerating. From TVs and printers to thermostats and wearables, each new device in your home adds another potential entry point – something we’ve previously explored when reporting on why robot vacuums are digital back doors for hackers.

A recent report from PlanetVPN highlighted a newly disclosed vulnerability, dubbed React2Shell, which can affect millions of connected home devices worldwide. Within days of being made public in December, security researchers observed hacker groups from North Korea and China actively exploiting the flaw, often long before manufacturers could roll out fixes.

At the same time, a recent report by Bitdefender and Netgear, which analyzed 58 million smart home devices across the US, Australia, and Europe, found 4.6 billion vulnerabilities and noticed 13.6 billion attacks in the first 10 months of last year.

IoT Analytics forecasts that the number of connected home devices will reach 21.1 billion this year, with double-digit growth expected to continue.

According to Konstantin Levinzon, co-founder of PlanetVPN, smart homes are becoming an increasingly attractive target. ‘When people think about cybersecurity, they often take care of their smartphones and forget about the rest,' Konstantin says. 'However, other devices connected to homes often have weaker security than our smartphones or laptops, making them a more lucrative target for cybercriminals.’

Once inside, the damage can be extensive – from stolen personal data and leaked private footage to full network takeovers.

Mike Halbouni, security camera and telecommunications expert at PoyntGuard, explains how easily one weak link can compromise an entire system: ‘Smart homes are smart ecosystems – if one device in that ecosystem is insecure or compromised, then the entire network can be exposed.’

With smart home trends showing a rise in passive technology, working in the background as it adapts to our behavior, understanding key tech security principles has never been more important – especially as, one day, AI humanoid robots could do our housework.

1. Strengthen Your Passwords

Weak or reused passwords remain one of the most common ways hackers gain access to home networks.

‘Hackers typically gain access to your network through weak passwords, outdated firmware, unsecured Wi-Fi networks, or poorly configured routers,’ says Mike Halbouni. ‘Once a single device on a personal home network is compromised, it can absolutely be used as a gateway to access other connected devices.’

That’s particularly concerning given how many households now rely on interconnected smart home must-haves, from lighting to improving indoor air quality.

Every device should have a unique, strong password, and default logins should always be changed during setup – and this includes your Wi-Fi router, along with any newer smart home gadgets that promise airtight privacy protection.

Eddy Abou-Nehme, owner and director of operations at RevNet Ottawa, recommends enabling multi-factor authentication wherever possible, ‘This adds an extra step, such as a code sent to your phone, which makes it much harder for someone to access your accounts even if they have your password.’

Using a password manager like the one on your phone can make it easier to maintain unique passwords across every device without relying on memory. Or, to really keep things off-grid, write them down in a notebook, like this A5 Notebook at Etsy that can be personalized.

2. Turn Off Features You Don’t Use

Voice activation, remote access, cameras, and always-on internet connectivity can all act as open doors if left unsecured, especially as smart appliances expand into areas like smart kitchen technology.

And what's more, these features are often enabled out of the box.

Amanda Seider Gentchev, VP of Commercialization & Engagement for Allstate Identity Protection, advises minimizing exposure wherever possible, ‘Turn off features you don’t use, like cameras, voice activation, or even internet connectivity. This closes a door that could be unlocked by hackers.’

When you consider the growing popularity of using voice assistants at home, with reports that more than half of all internet users in the US will use voice assistants in 2026, knowing which features to select will protect you against unnecessarily and unknowingly sharing private conversations with hackers.

Even popular devices like the best robot vacuums can pose risks if remote access or cloud features aren’t properly secured. If a device doesn’t need to be smart, perhaps reconsider whether it needs to be connected to the internet at all.

3. Keep All Devices Updated

You may think that software updates just bring in new features, but they're also introducing essential security upgrades to your device.

‘Keep all devices updated,’ says Eddy Abou-Nehme, adding, ‘These updates often fix known security weaknesses that hackers actively look for.’ This applies to routers, cameras, doorbells, phones, and just about any appliance that connects to the internet.

If you've invested in home security in 2026, this is especially important. The best video doorbells record your voice, film your face, and monitor every person coming in and out of your house. This information could be disastrous if leaked.

When improving your home security, look for cameras with local storage, not cloud-based. The eufy E340 Video Doorbell, for example, stores clips on its own hard drive, that neither eufy nor hackers can view without direct access.

Mike Coogan, chief information security officer at Brinks Home, also stresses the importance of configuration, ‘The biggest threat to consumers from smart home devices is default configurations. Be sure to update software to the latest version – just like a computer.’

For devices that unavoidably rely on cloud storage, making sure the latest software is installed will make sure your device has the most up-to-date security protection.

Next, learn the best security measures for a house and how to protect your porch.

With home security technology being the most reliable and accessible that it's ever been, protecting your home is no longer prohibitively expensive or difficult to install.

Simple, affordable gadgets can instantly give you eyes inside and around your home, and protect your packages from opportunistic porch thieves, a phenomenon that's on the rise, with one in four Americans experiencing such a theft.

I caught up with trusted home security professionals who revealed the three major reasons why 2026 is the year you should invest in your home security, from the best video doorbells to simple parcel protectors.

1. It's More Affordable Than Ever

Aside from home security tech becoming easier to install, more important, and more reliable, it's also more affordable than ever to improve your home security.

This can be attributed to the large and growing number of brands all competing for the lowest prices, and the fact that home security is no longer a niche set apart for the ultra-wealthy.

'Security technology has officially moved from “early adopter” territory into the mainstream,' shares Rebecca Edwards, lead safety reporter at SafeWise. 'Our research shows that more than 94 million US households now use some form of home security, and over half of all homes have at least one security camera,' she continues.

Even some of our best-on-test video doorbells can cost as little as $59.99, such as the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell, which is a breeze to install and delivers crisp audio and siren alerts to deter porch pirates.

'Technology and AI have made home security cheaper. It's more affordable than ever and easier to set up, with so many brands competing in this space,' explains Kevin Chen, CPP, security expert at Connextivity.

And because security tech has been around for some time now, those on tight budgets can install older models for a fraction of what they cost when released and still enjoy a wealth of great features to keep their home safe for less.

My recommendation as home tech editor here at Homes & Gardens is to start with a video doorbell. It'll give you eyes on your front porch, deterring package thieves and intruders. We've tested plenty that do the job well on a budget.

2. Porch Piracy Is on the Rise

Rod Sides, president and CEO at Loxx Boxx shares why it's more pressing than ever to invest in technology to protect your home. He says, 'Porch piracy now affects 250,000 packages a day (as per SafeWise), costing consumers over $15 billion annually.'

The pandemic and the rise of online retailers have resulted in more goods being delivered straight to your door and bypassing the need to go to a retailer in person. It is a protective measure you can easily take to prevent porch pirates with minimal installation and fuss.

As Jeff Ketelaars, co-founder of Security Guards Only, puts it, 'In 2026, homes have more valuable items, more people working remotely, more unattended deliveries, and families are often away at different times. Meanwhile, police resources are stretched, and response times in many areas are slower than they were 10 years ago.'

Even if you do call the police for a package theft, something fewer than one in four victims do, the emergency services will almost always arrive after the theft, limiting what they can do without evidence.

Video doorbells, especially the ones I mentioned above, are an effective deterrent against this crime, and they can capture detailed imagery even at night, detect movement across your property, and sound alarms or shine lights when unexpected intruders linger at the door.

An additional security measure you can install to help you receive deliveries while you're out is to install a parcel box. These allow couriers to drop packages in, but without anybody being able to take them out without the key.

'New categories such as secure parcel lockers are helping homeowners defend against one of the most frequent modern crimes,' Rod explains.

The Architectural Mailboxes Elephantrunk Parcel Drop Box at Amazon is one of the highest-rated options.

3. The Tech Is Easy to Set Up

Once upon a time, people needed to be tech-savvy to be able to set up security equipment, but now there are many ways to secure your home with minimal expertise or DIY know-how.

'Today’s systems are more affordable, don’t need complicated wiring or expensive installation, and can often be set up in less than an hour with simple tools,' shares Jeff.

A handy example is the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus at Amazon, one of our best-on-test video doorbells that can be installed without any screws, making it a great renter-friendly security option.

The Ring No-Drill Mount costs just $19.99 at Amazon, using a weather-resistant adhesive to stick to your front door. It works for most Ring models too, including the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro if you're looking for advanced radar detection.

And while outdoor cameras may seem fiddly to install, many of them, such as the Ring Outdoor Stick-Up Cam at Amazon, just need a few screws to mount on your home, powered by batteries and connecting wirelessly to avoid running cables through the house.

Then, you have a vantage point of the outside of your property to capture incidents with detailed clarity and timestamps.

'If you’re not very tech-savvy, look for security systems that focus on simplicity instead of lots of features. Brands like Ring, SimpliSafe, Google Nest, Eufy, Blink, and Wyze are known for being easy to use,' Jeff recommends.

Plus, once they're installed, these gadgets make your life easier at home. Our Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden, is disabled, with limited mobility and painful chronic conditions that flare daily.

Almost a quarter of adults in the US are living with chronic pain, so Punteha is not alone. She says adding one of the best video doorbells to her home has made daily life at home easier.

She explains, 'I work remotely from home, but my small home office is upstairs, as that is the only space we have for it. That means all the shopping I have to do online, as I am not able to get to the stores myself without injury, results in multiple deliveries a week, sometimes daily. Having a video doorbell means I do not have to go up and down the stairs multiple times a day, especially when my husband is out.'

Next, learn the best security measures for a house, and the common video placement mistakes to avoid.

Video doorbells have become one of the most effective ways to keep an eye on your front door – but only if they’re installed correctly. Get the placement wrong, and even the most advanced models will struggle with missed footage or poor connections.

As the best video doorbells are often the first line of defense against package theft and unexpected visitors, a poorly positioned camera can limit the security it offers.

So, I spoke with home security experts who revealed the three most common video doorbell placement mistakes they see, why they’re a problem, and what to do instead to get the clearest picture and sound possible.

3 Video Doorbell Placement Mistakes to Avoid

Installing a video doorbell at the wrong height, in a Wi-Fi dead zone, or under harsh lighting can impact its sound, vision, and reliability.

Getting it right ensures you’re making the most of your investment – whether you've been gifted the Blink Video Doorbell for Christmas, or you’re weighing up eufy vs Ring to upgrade your front door security.

1. Installing the Video Doorbell at the Wrong Height

Mounting a video doorbell at the wrong height is the most common mistake professionals encounter, and it has a direct impact on what the camera can actually see.

‘One of the biggest mistakes people make is mounting their video doorbell too high or too low,’ says Hooman Shahidi, chief product officer at SimpliSafe, adding, ‘It feels intuitive to place it above eye level for a “better” view, but you actually lose what matters most – a clear look at someone’s face.’

When installed too high, doorbells tend to capture the tops of heads or shoulders rather than facial detail. Too low, and motion detection can become unreliable, while visitors may move out of frame altogether. Either way, you’re compromising the reason many people invest in a video doorbell to improve their home security.

Mike Halbouni, security camera and telecommunications expert at PoyntGuard, agrees. ‘Mounting too high will cause the camera to miss facial details and produce awkward viewing angles, especially for package areas,’ he explains.

‘Optimal heights range from 40 to 48 inches from the ground,' he advises. Most professionals agree, recommending mounting your video doorbell around four feet from the ground. That height offers the best balance between capturing faces clearly and keeping packages in view.

It’s also worth checking how wide your doorbell’s field of view is and testing angles in the app before final installation. Models we've tested, such as the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus or Arlo 2K Video Doorbel,l have different fields of view, and need to be positioned to align naturally with how people approach your door.

2. Placing Your Video Doorbell Where the Wi-Fi Is Weak

Even perfectly positioned hardware can fall short if it’s installed outside of your reliable Wi-Fi zone. According to the experts, this mistake often isn’t discovered until homeowners start experiencing lag or missed notifications.

‘Another big issue is placing the doorbell where the Wi-Fi signal is weak,’ says Jimmy Lin, vice president of product management at ADT.

‘Wireless video doorbells rely on a strong connection for live streaming, alerts, and video history, so poor connectivity can lead to an unreliable experience overall,’ he continues.

Exterior walls, brickwork, and distance from the router can all impact signal strength at your front door, which can pose an issue when you’re relying on instant alerts to respond quickly to deliveries or prevent porch pirates.

Before installing your doorbell, test your Wi-Fi strength at the front door using your phone (just Google 'Wi-Fi speed test'). If the signal struggles, a Wi-Fi extender like the top-rated TP-Link AC1900 at Amazon can push your coverage outdoors.

Improving your Wi-Fi coverage also future-proofs your setup if you plan to expand with additional cameras later on. Reliable connectivity ensures smoother video playback, faster alerts, and clearer two-way audio – all essentials when your doorbell is part of broader security measures for a house.

Wi-Fi range can also be an issue if you and your mobile phone spend most of the time at home, away from your router. Head of Solved here at Homes & Gardens, Punteha van Terheyden, has tested Ring and Eufy battery-run video doorbells on her front door and has experience with this.

She says, 'My home office is upstairs, and even though I am in a room directly above my front door, my Wi-Fi signal reach here is poor. There is usually between 11-20 seconds of lag on my eufy app despite the instant doorbell alert, and sometimes that means the delivery driver has left by the time I am able to click into the live call and answer, or I miss the call entirely.'

Punteha recommends installing a Wi-Fi booster in poor-reach rooms if that is where you'll be most of the time at home so the lag is not an issue.

3. Positioning the Video Doorbell in Poor Lighting

While most modern video doorbells include night vision, security experts say that poor lighting can still compromise footage.

‘Installing the doorbell directly under a light source often results in glare, blown highlights, and loss of detail,’ explains Sam Griffiths, technical director at Ajax Systems, adding, ‘It leads to overexposure, backlighting, and degraded nighttime video quality.’

Bright porch lights and reflective surfaces can all cause glare, washing out facial features and even potentially confusing motion detection.

At night, harsh lighting can interfere with infrared sensors, reducing the clarity when light is limited. That is, unless you've got the eufy E340 that has a nightlight that turns on automatically when it detects motion.

Meet the Experts

Next, see what the experts recommend as the best renter-friendly home security options.

I've been a user and lover of Ring doorbells since I installed my first one two years ago, and recently upgraded to the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro

I couldn't wait to try the new Ring Battery Doorbell Pro, available at Amazon, and, since testing it, have enjoyed flawless sound and video quality, accurate notifications, and impressive battery life.

My only qualms would be that it's certainly expensive – priced at the higher end of the best video doorbells – and not a huge change to my previous model. Here's everything I've found after almost a month of testing.

My One-Minute Verdict of the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro

The first thing I really have to highlight is how much I truly appreciate the fact that newer Ring battery doorbell models fit straight onto the old mount, which means, even on my third upgrade, I've never had to make more holes in my walls or move anything about. Instead, the new model is so quick to install – I'm talking less than five minutes – if you already have a Ring doorbell.

Besides that, I've found, in usual Ring fashion, that the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro, available at Amazon, is easy to use, with seriously impressive video and sound quality, and an exceedingly long battery life, which I've found to be a reliable home security tip.

I always keep at least one battery fully charged, as the Plus and the Four both helpfully utilize the same battery, and then just simply swap it out whenever I need to, which tends to be roughly once every two months. This means I'm never without my Ring doorbell, but if you don't have a spare battery like me, expect a charge time of up to 10 hours. The cable you'll need for charging is provided.

Just like the Plus, the two-way audio feature, which allows me to communicate with whoever is at my front door without opening it, is amazing for feeling safe and secure at home. Though I find I rarely need it, it's certainly a comfort to know it's there if I need it.

And, as usual, setting up customizable privacy zones and motion detection zones was a breeze, and particularly important as I live on a busy road and right next to the riverbank, with walkers and cars often passing by all throughout the day and night.

Installation, as I've said, was super quick, but without previous experience with a Ring doorbell, I still find the instructions more than a little confusing; but luckily, my partner was on hand to help with some DIY tips that made it far simpler.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Specifications

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Installation and Setup

First things first, before installing, you'll need to charge up the video doorbell. As I already had one charged and ready to go from my old model, this was a step I could skip, but otherwise, you'll need to wait until the next day to get properly started.

That being said, the new battery did arrive 50 per cent charged when I checked, which is more than enough to get up and running for a week or two, depending on the specific doorbell settings you choose. For the long-term health of your battery, it's best to give it a full charge before use.

Once mine was ready to go, setting up on the app was seriously a breeze and took less than five minutes. It quickly and easily connected to my WiFi, and was ready for installation in next to no time.

When it comes to the actual installation, as I've touched on, I find the instructions for Ring doorbells pretty confusing. It's not that they're complicated, but more so that they're unclear, and with various envelopes filled with various different screws, anything that isn't completely obvious can become a bit muddled.

For example, while the screw envelopes are labelled A-D, I often find it still pretty confusing to work out exactly which screw I need to use when from the instructions. The instructions included in the box are more than a little brief, but you can scan a QR code on them to take you to more detailed steps with helpful images and videos, but still, it's not always obvious.

Whilst the instructions did mention the envelope letters in some places, in others it was less clear, with an image featured, but not a corresponding letter. Each envelope included a mix of screws, wall plugs, for example, but the pictures in the instructions weren't always illuminating.

This time, installation for me was slightly different, however, as I simply unscrewed my old Ring model (the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus), which was a little fiddly but very simple, and put the new one straight up, using the same screws as before (you'll need a screwdriver for this, which isn't provided).

It's definitely something to keep in mind if you don't already have a Ring doorbell.

You can also wire this model in, if you don't need or want to go for the renter-safe home security option like me.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Video Quality

Daytime: In the daytime, the quality of the 1536p HD live video is amazingly clear, with accurate colors, and more than enough clarity to make out faces from both far away and up close as they ring the bell.

The 150° horizontal, 150° vertical field of view also means I'm able to see packages on the porch and identify whether anything has been left there, which is extremely helpful for preventing porch pirates.

That being said, disappointingly, the video quality is actually no better than that of my old model, but the Pro does have the added benefit of color pre-roll, which begins recording video a few seconds before motion detection or a doorbell press. From a safety point of view, this is a real plus, making this particular model a smart-tech gadget that will transform your home. It can also be turned off if you prefer to do so.

Notifications: Like other Ring models, the app notified me quickly and accurately if there was a person or package detected at my door. And, while I have my motion detection zone set away from the road (this was easy to customize) so that passing vehicles don't constantly set off my doorbell, it is easy to identify them, but I can't read registration plates, as my house is set back. I also have the motion sensitivity adjusted on the easy-to-use sliding scale, so it doesn't constantly go off when dogwalkers walk past, and have 'Smart Alerts' enabled so I only get recordings and alerts if a person or package is detected on the porch, and not for any other motion, like squirrels or vehicles.

The ability to select 'live view' on the app and get a real-time view of the outside of my house has also been a security measure I've found both a comfort and extremely handy if I need to check up on anything, and it's also super quick and simple to view 'missed Rings,' even if I'm at work or not at home.

Nighttime: This doorbell features color night vision, just like my old Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, which is still just as good. It's just as easy to identify people as it is during the day, and the pre-roll feature works just as well, too. I also haven't noticed any delay in notifications at nighttime, which is handy if I ordered takeout late in the evening, or if parcels arrived after dark.

Dynamic light: There's been no issue with my doorbell balancing bright and dark areas, and faces haven't appeared washed out or difficult to identify, which also hasn't been affected by differing weather conditions.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Audio Quality

When people arrive at my door, I've never had any trouble hearing people clearly, particularly due to the noise-cancelling feature that impressively blocks out the traffic noise of the busy road in front of my house, any wind or rain sounds, or sounds of flights or trains passing overhead or nearby. In the recorded footage on the app, you can play back any motion alerts with excellent clarity, as the doorbell focuses in on the person's voice and blocks out all other audio.

The Two-Way Talk with Audio+ and advanced noise cancellation also means others can hear me clearly, without delay, if I can't make it to the door, or if I'm not even at home.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: App and Smart Features

Over the years of using Ring doorbells, I've always found the app simple and easy to use and navigate, and I have yet to encounter any issues, crashes, lags, or bugs.

All of the menus are easy to access on my iPhone, and now that I've got used to finding what I need, I never have any trouble finding the settings menu required, or clicking directly into 'Live View' from the main dashboard, as seen in the image above.

All the settings and buttons are clearly labelled, so it's simple even if you don't have experience with a Ring doorbell. You can also easily download past footage clips from the past 180 days from this dashboard.

Unlike the eufy e340 video doorbell, which works with Google Voice Assistant devices, the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro only works with Amazon Alexa, but this isn't a feature I've ever needed to use, so while it doesn't affect me, it's something to keep in mind if you rely more on the ways voice assistants can be used.

As with my old model, all real-time app alerts and notifications have been extremely accurate and punctual, and, again, I've appreciated the mini preview that pops up while my phone is still locked, meaning I can get an idea of who is at my door with just a glance. However, just like with my Plus, this feature isn't included in the basic subscription model. Read more about Ring subscription plans.

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro will also send alerts to your Apple Watch, which I find helpful if I'm in the middle of something, working at my desk, or away from my phone. You can send 'Quick Replies' on there, too, but for a full video, you'll need a phone or tablet.

Ring Doorbell Battery Pro: Motion Detection and Notifications

There are so many motion settings included for the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro, including adjustable motion sensitivity, customizable motion zones, where your camera will not detect motion outside of those areas, smart alerts, schedules, and further advanced settings. All of these I've found simple and easy to adjust and change.

Like my old model, I've set mine to 'regularly' check for motion, which prolongs the battery life of the model. Opt for 'periodically' to maximize battery life, and 'frequently', which stays active at all times, but will significantly affect how long your battery lasts on a single charge.

You can also snooze notifications altogether, not that I ever have, but that setting could certainly be useful if there's workmen working outside your home, or if you have an influx of guests for a party, for example. You can also set privacy zones to prevent any recording of your neighbour's property. My house is on the corner, so this isn't a setting I ever use, but it's handy to have.

I'm still yet to experience any false alarms with my doorbell, my phone notifications, and my Ring Chime, available at Amazon as an extra, always go off at the same time, meaning I always know if there's someone or something at the door, even if I'm away from my phone.

What sets this Ring model apart is the addition of the Birds' Eye Zones, which show you where visitors went on your property with an aerial map, using radar technology. While yes, this is an excellent way to secure your home without a security system, if, like me, you already have a security system, it's not wholly necessary, particularly if it's one of the only main differences I've spotted to justify the $49.99 price hike between my previous Ring Plus and the newer Ring Pro.

Like the regular motion detection settings, the Bird's Eye Zones feature also lets you set specific areas for your motion detection, so you can make sure you're only getting alerts from around your home on your property, not in surrounding streets or your neighbour's home.

As I said, with the accuracy and video quality of the regular camera view, this just isn't a setting I've needed or wanted, but I can see the appeal, particularly in terms of safety and security, and this certainly is a pretty impressive, cutting-edge feature.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Power and Battery Life

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro boasts a battery life of three to six months, according to Ring, which is a significant drop from my Ring Battery Doorbell Plus's six to twelve months window. I can only put this down to the added tech for the Bird's Eye Zones, but I still haven't had to even think about charging mine after three weeks, and in any case, having to do so every three to six months is no problem for me.

For comparison, I charged my Ring Battery Doorbell Four roughly every two months, but I live in a very busy household with lots of people and packages coming and going. If you wire it in or use solar power rather than using the battery, this isn't something you'll have to worry about.

Like both other Ring models I've used, it's effortlessly easy to recharge and replace the battery when necessary. I keep a spare battery on hand and fully charged at all times, and you can buy a Ring Rechargeable Quick Release Battery Pack at Amazon. The battery life can easily be checked on the app.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Connectivity and Reliability

Since upgrading to the newer Ring Battery Doorbell Pro, I've enjoyed the same reliable connectivity, and I haven't once experienced it disconnecting from the Wi-Fi. My connection is very strong at home, but either way, I've been impressed, and the same applies to getting notifications via 5G when I'm out and about.

All in all, this means I've never missed any motion, rings, or activity, whether I'm at home or elsewhere.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Privacy and Security

My app opens with my Face ID once my phone is unlocked, so I don't use a password, passkey, or two-factor authentication on the app, but it is possible to do so if you prefer.

As mentioned, you can also set privacy zones (you can set two per device) to block out your neighbour's property, and disable audio and video recording on your Ring device to prevent sound from being streamed or recorded. This can be toggled in the app with ease.

Like my other models, all videos are stored in the Ring Cloud, but you do need a subscription plan to access them (there's more on that below). Without one, there isn't any local storage, but you can still see a live view, letting you hear and talk to visitors in real-time.

As a family, we always share access to our current doorbell among ourselves, to ensure everyone is able to use all the features, and this was as easy as ever to do – you'll just need their email to send over an invite.

Ring is committed to transparency when it comes to their privacy and security practices, and features default video encryption, or optional end-to-end video encryption to give you even more control over who can view your videos.

With a Ring Protect plan, included in additional subscription prices, your videos are securely stored in the cloud and can be deleted at any time, which also deletes them from their servers according to the storage period in your plan​. In the app, under the 'Privacy information' menu, you can also click through to 'Data management' and request a copy of your data, and manage third-party access.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro: Price and Value

When not on sale, the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro comes in at $199.99 at Amazon, and $229.99 on Ring, which is certainly not cheap, and only becomes more expensive when you consider the added costs of a subscription plan.

I pay for the 'Home Standard' subscription, which comes in at $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a year, and covers all devices at one address, stores up to 180 days of history, and gives me access to extended live view, video preview alerts, multi-cam view, alarm cellular back-up, and doorbell calls.

In comparison, the Home Basic Plan ($4.99 a month of $49.99 for the year for one device) includes video recording, person and package alerts, 180-day history, and video previews, all of which are the necessary features I use day to day, while the Premium plan ($19.99 a month or $199.99 a year) includes all the advanced features of the Home Standard Plan, plus 24/7 professional monitoring if you have Ring Alarm, available at Amazon, and the ability to use smart video search.

As mentioned, without any subscription at all, your doorbell is still more than usable, but there's no local storage included.

In terms of value for money, I'd still be tempted to opt for the Plus over the Pro, which has plenty of smart-home features designers love, without any that I never use or feel are a little unnecessary, and drive up the overall price of the Pro. But, if you can nab the Pro on sale and would appreciate the added safety features like the Bird's Eye Zones, then I'd think that you won't regret the extra features, particularly if you feel that you can't put a price on safety, which I totally understand.

If you're really hot on home security, this Arlo model includes a siren feature to deter porch pirate thieves.

Philips may not be the first name you think about when considering video doorbells. The brand is more commonly known, at least in recent years, as the brand that pioneered the smart light bulbs.

I was quite excited about to test out the Philip 7000 Series Video Doorbell, mainly because it promised to be a solid upgrade from our eufy doorbell. The 2K video quality, Alexa and Google Home integration, and no subscription fee seemed promising to me.

After using the Philips 7000 Series for several weeks, I’m confident in saying it’s one of the best video doorbells, even if it’s a tad expensive.

Philips 7000 Video Doorbell: Specifications

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Installation and Setup

The Philips 7000 Series is incredibly easy to set up, even if the number of things in the box might seem a bit intimidating when you first open it up. It comes with the wireless door chime too, which you’ll need to get everything synced up.

The first step is to download the Philips Home Access app, as there are no proper instructions in the box. Thankfully, the app is straightforward and easy to follow, which is always a treat when setting up smart home gadgets. Just follow the steps, and everything should be connected in about 5 minutes.

Unfortunately, the wires for my doorbell got hidden somewhere in the door frame years ago, before we bought the house, so I’ve had to rely on battery power for my doorbell. On the bright side, it made the installation even easier. The process will be slightly more complex depending on whether you’re mounting it to wood or brick, but the idea is mostly the same.

If you’re installing into wood, all you’ll need is a screwdriver, although a power drill is preferred. If you’re installing into brick, you’ll need a masonry drill bit, which is easy to find at your local hardware store. Aside from that, Philips includes everything you need to install it, even a window sticker to let your neighbors and delivery drivers know they’re being filmed, and it's nice to see Philips prioritize privacy as well as home security.

I chose to add the included wedge to my mount because my door has a full 180º view of the street, and I wanted to make sure I capture just what was happening in front of the door. My favorite thing about the installation was the included alignment paper so I didn’t have to do any measuring. I just held it up to the door frame, marked the holes with a pencil, and went from there.

Start to finish, it took me about 20 minutes and was simple enough that I’m confident my completely non-tech-savvy parents could handle it.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Video Quality

Daytime: One of the selling points of the Philips 7000 Series is the optional 2K video feed, and I have to say it is certainly impressive. I never had any trouble seeing faces during the day, and the picture was much clearer than on my previous doorbell. Sadly, the 2K feed does drain the battery much faster than the standard feed, but the lower resolution feed is still good enough that we didn’t need to use 2K all the time. The 157º viewing angle meant I could see almost the entirety of my front yard, which was cool, albeit unnecessary for me.

The Philips 7000 Series actually has two cameras, similar to the eufy E340 that's one of our favorites on test. At the bottom of the doorbell, facing about 45 degrees downward, is a second camera that’s meant for packages. I really appreciated this feature as the main camera would let me see the people and delivery drivers as they approached the door, but once they dropped the package, I couldn’t see it anymore. It was nice to be able to see the package on the porch as well.

These two feeds are split by default, but you can enable picture-in-picture mode for them, which I ended up preferring because it didn’t have a huge black bar splitting the camera feed.

Night time: I was also quite happy with the night vision. It’s still perfectly easy to make out faces and uniforms at night, and the motion detection works great, too.

Dynamic light: Because my house faces due South, I don’t get too much direct sunlight on the doorbell, but even during the brightest part of the day, the camera never struggled with harsh lighting. I was always able to see whoever came to the door, which is helpful because most of our packages tend to arrive in the early afternoon.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Audio Quality

The two-way audio was perfectly fine for me. It didn’t blow me away, but it was good enough that I don’t have any issues with it. There is a bit of a delay each time, but it was never an issue. It could very well be because the doorbell is on the opposite side of the house from my router, and a good distance from the chime, but it was still perfectly usable.

There are some default auto responses you can use if you can’t talk at the moment (like when trying to put the kids down and the delivery driver feels compelled to ring the doorbell). My door is also far enough back from the road that I never pick up much traffic, but I can hear the weather on windy days. I was impressed that the audio was still clear enough that I could hear everything in detail, even with the wind.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Motion Detection and Notifications

The motion sensor on the 7000 Series is incredibly sensitive, so I would make sure you define a detection zone as soon as you install it, otherwise it will likely pick up the passing cars, as it did on the street that’s a good 15 yards from my front door. Once I more clearly defined the zone, the motion detection was more manageable.

You can also enable radar detection if you like to increase the detection accuracy, and you can have it detect all motion in addition to just humans if you prefer.

Keep in mind that if you set the motion sensitivity to the lowest setting, you will likely only record anyone right as they're approaching the door instead of a few steps away. I ended up using this setting most of the time to try to extend the battery life, but I do sometimes worry that a porch pirate with enough motivation might be able to grab something off my porch quickly enough not to be fully caught on camera.

The notifications are accurate. By default, it notifies you when someone rings the doorbell, for motion alerts, and when someone places a package. Thankfully, it seemed to be smart enough not to notify me twice when someone both approached and placed a package, so I appreciate that extra touch.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Power and Battery Life

Let me just say that if at all possible, I highly recommend wiring this doorbell up. Really the only frustration I’ve had with this doorbell has been the battery life. Philips claims it should last approximately 2-3 months, but I didn’t come close to that in my few weeks of testing. With HDR on, full motion detection and the highest sensitivity level, I had to charge it after about 2 weeks.

This is a major difference compared to other models like the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, with a battery that can last 6-12 months.

Granted, if you turned off everything except the most basic detection features, and set the sensitivity to the lowest settings, then you could possibly get close to 2 months.

However, that entirely defeats a lot of the purpose of having a camera like this, particularly the 2K, HDR video feed. And since the battery is built in, you have to take it off the mount to charge it every time. It does only take about 2 hours to fully charge, but unless you’re diligent about charging it regularly and immediately putting it back on, you could easily go a few days without it.

Philips does make it easy to take off either with the included pin, or in the app. There’s a quick-release button in the app which detaches the doorbell right from your phone. I would say that if you know you’re going to be relying solely on battery power for your video doorbell, there are probably more power efficient options available.

Philps 7000 Series Video Doorbell: App and Smart Features

If you’ve used other video doorbells before, the app will be familiar. The home screen shows your two most recent events, plus quick access to the Live feed, all Events, Settings, and a Snooze option.

In the Live view, you can manually record footage, edit clips, talk, mute audio, or use one of the Quick Response audio options. You can also change the resolution and rotate the app to landscape mode if you want a better view.

There are three main tabs I the settings to adjust the motion detection, notifications, and power management options. Overall, the app is quite thorough and I appreciate how many options you have.

And what's more – all of these features are available without a monthly subscription. While others charge anywhere from $3.99 to $19.99 a month to use the essential functions, everything's available without a fee.

The only annoying thing is that there are few translation issues in the app, which was a bit surprising to me, because I didn’t even realize Philips had been sold to Chinese owners until using this app (I’ve tested enough devices now to quickly recognize machine translation). It’s certainly not a deal breaker, and I only noticed one or two.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Privacy and Security

The only specific 'privacy' settings in the app are to always record audio by default and to set up zones where parts of the video feed will be invisible when recording. This is great if you have neighbors close by so you can respect their privacy.

You can also add users to the doorbell which can be great when you’re travelling so you can add a family member or trusted neighbor to just keep an eye on things.

There’s also an anti-theft siren that will sound a loud alarm if someone tries to manually remove the doorbell, a major feature recommended by security experts, and one that we love in the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell.

Just keep in mind that if you’re running on battery power, if you don’t detach the doorbell from within the app, you’ll want to turn this off before you physically remove it. Otherwise, it will trigger the alarm.

Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: Price and Value

There’s no getting around the fact that the 7000 Series is quite expensive. The retail price is $235.99 at Philips, which makes it one of the most expensive video doorbells around. However, I have seen it on sale for as low as $160 on Amazon, which makes it much more compelling. If you can find it for that price, then it’s worth it.

At that price, even with the higher resolution video and second package camera, it’s hard to recommend, especially when these same features can be found in the eufy E340 for $149.99, which also doesn't require a monthly subscription, but it doesn't include a chime.

Also, the fact that there’s no monthly subscription fee certainly offsets quite a bit of the cost as Ring, Blink, and several other popular video doorbells require a subscription to access the best features.

The downside of that is that there’s only 8GB of onboard storage with no option to expand beyond that, and if you’re using the higher resolution footage, that 8GB will fill up rather quickly. You can offload the footage manually, but that’s an extra step you really shouldn’t have to take (the eufy E340 automatically deletes the oldest footage that you don't want to save).

If you want just a basic video doorbell that nails the basics but doesn’t have any extra stuff, the Blink Video Doorbell is incredibly affordable. The Ring Doorbell Plus is a solid option from one of the biggest names in video doorbells, and it comes with swappable batteries. Just keep in mind the added subscription cost.

For more smart home upgrades that we've tested and love, see our guide to the best soundbars and the best robot vacuums.

Sharp resolution at day or night, easy installation and use, and the fact that there’s no subscription are just some of what make the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell an easy recommendation. Having reviewed my share of doorbells, I found a lot to like and a few things that I’ve preferred on other models.

Still, the positives vastly outweigh the negatives, and, for the right person, the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell should be considered among the best video doorbells for their needs.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: One-Minute Review

If there’s one thing that helps set the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell apart, it’s the fact that it doesn’t require a subscription. While there are some cheaper video doorbells out there (this one is still plenty affordable), not having a subscription saves up to $10 a month.

But price is just one factor to consider when choosing a video doorbell. With that in mind, I’ve looked at the various aspects of this model to see whether it’s worth recommending and there’s a lot to like. Along with skipping the subscription, it’s easy to install and use and can be used both wirelessly or hardwired – it took me about five minutes for installation and setup.

I always appreciate being able to use a voice assistant to improve my smart home, so the fact that the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell supports Alexa and Google Assistant is more than just a bonus, especially since it offsets the fact that this doorbell doesn’t come with an external chime.

Of course, the image quality is a sharp 2K as per the name. More importantly, it’s easy to see who’s at the door at night, especially when enabling its auto night vision mode, which allows for almost full color.

On the less positive side, there is a couple second delay when communicating through the video doorbell. And the fact that its field of view and aspect ratio don’t let me see any visitors at the door from head-to-toe does concern me and would be a dealbreaker if I lived in a different neighborhood.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Specifications

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Installation and Setup

Installing the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is simple, especially if you go the wireless route. You might need some DIY tools, but it’s a small list. I only needed a Philips head screwdriver, but you might also need a drill and a hammer depending whether you need to make holes for the screws and whether you need to use screw anchors.

Before doing anything else, I charged the doorbell with the included USB cable. Then I grabbed my handy-dandy Phillips-head screwdriver for the backplate. Lorex thoughtfully includes two angled plates that go behind the main backplate. One angles down, the other to the side. This way, if you have to place it in a higher location or off to the side, the doorbell will still face the doorway.

In my case, I chose the side-angled plate, put it behind the main baseplate and screwed them in using the two included screws.

I already had two holes from reviewing a few previous doorbells so I didn't need to drill new holes. But, if you don’t, Lorex also included the proper-sized drillbit to make the holes for the screws – much easier than trying to manually screw them in, especially when the door frame is solid wood like mine.

If you’re going to install the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell on drywall or material that won’t catch as well as wood, Lorex included screw anchors as well (don’t they think of everything?). Don’t worry though, this doesn’t require advanced DIY skills. Just possibly a hammer.

Once the base plate is secured, just push in the fully-charged doorbell until it clicks. There’s an included pin to press into a small hole at the top to disengage the doorbell from the baseplate if you need to remove it later.

Wired setup is more complicated only insofar that you’ll need to have the two leads from a previous doorbell to connect to the two terminals on the back of the video doorbell for continuous power. The included extension wires and caps will come in handy if the two leads aren’t long enough.

The software setup is about as easy as the quality of your internet connection (you should make sure to have your router set up in an ideal spot anyway). When I first went through the setup process, I was dealing with a deadzone in my place that I wasn’t aware of and the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell kept saying that my Wi-Fi password was wrong. But one Wi-Fi extender later, and setup took one try.

For the app, I had to download it, hold down the reset button until the doorbell talked (a few seconds), and then follow the instructions on the app. While on my phone, I had to connect to the doorbell like it’s a hotspot, then go back to the app, give it a password, and then enter the Wi-Fi password. After that, there are a few screens for customizing preferences. If you don’t have any network issues (you’ll see I’m not the only one who had this issue if you google it), the software setup will take less than five minutes.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Video Quality

I spent about two weeks with the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell. Here’s my experience during testing.

Daytime: There’s more to discuss here than just the resolution of the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell. Sure, the 2560 × 1920p aka 2K resolution is more than sharp enough to see the necessary details onscreen. I can easily make out the features and faces of anyone within range of triggering the camera (so about 13 feet). If someone is holding a package, I can make out where it’s from as long as the font on it isn’t too small.

But this video doorbell comes with a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is more limiting than other video doorbells with a taller view. The Lorex 4K Battery Doorbell (that I've previously tested for TechRadar) comes with a 9:16 aspect ratio that allows you to see a more inclusive picture when someone is standing at the front door, whereas the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell only shows from the chest up for anyone standing directly in front of it.

Nighttime: At default, the camera shows a mostly monochromatic image that, thanks to the 2K resolution, is legible and clear. I had no issue identifying anyone standing in front of the door after dark. Plus, turning on “Auto Night Vision” allows me to still see an almost full-color view of my front door even in the dead of night. This is pretty nifty and somewhat atypical. For comparison, consider that the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell’s night vision is only monochromatic (and adds some glare from the infrared LEDs).

Dynamic Light: During transitional times such as right before the sun sets, the area across the street from my house is pretty bright. When someone comes back into the house (less so when someone is waiting at the door), the camera obviously refocuses on the person walking in so that there’s a little delay in seeing them clearly. Outside of that moment of refocusing, what’s in front of the camera is clear.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Audio Quality

The audio quality on the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi ideo door bell is not pristine. You won’t necessarily want to serenade anyone through the doorbell (well, you do you) as the voice through the doorbell and through the phone is going to sound compressed. Think of what the audio quality of a phone call was ten or fifteen years ago. The sound is all mid-range with not a lot of nuance in volume with a little bit of distortion.

But, I was still able to hear the other person clearly regardless of which side of the doorbell I was on, and able to hold conversations through it.

As far as the doorbell chime, it’s loud, crisp, and easily notifies when the doorbell has been pressed. It’s too bad that it’s only heard at the front door and at the door. Being able to hear it in the rest of the house requires buying an additional chime (some video doorbells come with a chime that you can plug in an outlet in a shared area like a foyer).

Lastly, the siren sound that this video doorbell can produce is a good security measure, but is not all that loud – your neighbor from across the street would probably only hear if they were outside and looking in your direction. Still, it might be enough deterrence to an intruder that the video doorbell is doing something like calling the police (which it doesn’t do).

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: App and Smart Features

The layout of the app is such that navigating is intuitive. When I first open the app, I’ll see a boxout with the location name given to the doorbell during setup (“Front Door” in my case). Even before pressing on the boxout, there’s a slider for “privacy mode” as well as a button for settings.

Once the boxout is pressed, the full page for interacting with the video doorbell pops up. There’s a live preview that doesn’t always load that takes up a quarter of the screen here, a row of buttons that include refreshing the live view, showing this video doorbell next to other ones (selectable between one, three, and nine cameras), adjusting the resolution and volume, and expanding the live view.

Below, one can select to see previous recorded events, a timeline of events, as well as some icons for interacting with the camera. These include enabling a siren sound, a light, or privacy mode, as well as using automated responses, taking a snapshot or recording, and two-way talk through the doorbell.

There’s a tiny icon at the top to share access with other users, which I appreciate, as well as an ellipsis for access to deeper additional settings. There are quite a few different settings that can be adjusted here, most notably being able to adjust what part of the camera’s view triggers the motion detection. You can also turn on high dynamic range (HDR), Auto Night Vision, and add third party chimes.

The Lorex Classic App also has tabs for the smart home ecosystems it supports. I tested this with Alexa where I literally pressed one button for the setup – it took maybe ten seconds – though Google Assistant is supported as well.

Unfortunately, the only thing Alexa did was notify me when the doorbell was wrung. While I appreciate that and it somewhat mitigates the need for buying an additional chime if you have an Alexa-enabled speaker, I wish I could also use said device to communicate directly through the doorbell.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Motion Detection and Notifications

Once I installed the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell, I didn’t need to do any special testing of the motion detection and notifications. Why? Because with a household of five people and three pets, so many people go through the front door that I now have a complete timeline of the activity of the front door.

That is to say that the motion detection was almost immediately responsive and would start registering movement within 13 feet of the door. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the middle of the day or at night (though the doorbell needs some ambient light to register movement), it picked up everything.

Luckily, it never registered any cars passing by or animals crossing our yard (we get deer and I have yet to get a deer video notification), so it only registered what’s within that 13 foot range. It’s worth noting that it hasn’t distinguished whether it’s seeing a person or animal during testing.

That said, there is a little bit of a time lapse when it comes to actually notifying me. When just registering motion in front of the door, I found that it took up to eight seconds to let me know. That’s not terrible, but it’s not great.

When someone presses the doorbell, it takes about a second to notify me that there’s someone at the door (which is much better). Of course, that lag also bleeds into communication so that when one person speaks, the other hears it about two seconds later.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Power and Battery Life

The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell can be powered either through the included USB cable (it’s a micro-USB to USB cable, specifically) or through the terminals on the back via the leads from a previous hardwired doorbell. That latter route is a bit more complicated to set up, but has the benefit of never needing to be charged.

If you plan on using the wireless aspect for whatever reason (security options for renters are often different), you are somewhat limited by its battery life. If you plan on getting this video doorbell for a second home that you won’t see for months at a time, I would suggest hardwiring it especially if it will still get regularly triggered.

The battery life doesn’t get measured so much in hours as much as it does in events as it does generally lie somewhat dormant (of course, the live view is always going unless privacy mode is on). The 6200mAh battery can record up to 600 events on a single charge.

There are different battery performance modes available through the app. You can set it in power-saving mode to limit how much battery life is being used, but this also limits the recordings to a 480p resolution and only records for up to 15 seconds (with a 60 second interval between events).

The performance mode, which is what I had selected during testing, will record 2K video up to 60 seconds. The battery life on performance mode sat at 86% a week since the initial charge. That’s not bad, but does mean you’ll probably have to charge every month and a half or so.

When you charge, be prepared to have to wait a bit. When first installing this doorbell, I had to wait three hours for the battery to get to full and there’s no fast-charging available.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Connectivity and Reliability

As I mentioned in the installation and setup section above, the software setup is quick and easy if your Wi-Fi network is strong (there are ways to make your Wi-Fi faster if you need). This means that the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell’s performance and ease of use is directly related to how good your internet is. If you have a spotty connection, this doorbell won’t be able to overcome that – this isn’t CCTV, after all.

But the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell won’t be the weak link. I was able to access the live view along with all the past events and timeline, not to mention settings, right away through the app even if I was away. I can even send an automated response through the app while half an hour away by car and hear that the doorbell delivers the response in a few seconds.

As far as reliability goes, the video doorbell feels sturdy as it has a durable plastic shell. Its IP65 rating is good enough for just about weather conditions outside of being submerged in water (it’s water resistant but not waterproof). To that effect, the areas for the charging port and for the microSD port both have silicon covers that secure firmly in place.

And when it locks into the baseplate, it can’t be pulled out just by pulling on it. As long as the baseplate is screwed properly into place, the doorbell isn’t going anywhere until you use a pin to unlock it from the baseplate.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Privacy and Security

There are a couple things that reassure me about the privacy and security of the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell. First is the fact that there’s an easily findable and accessible privacy mode in the app that when enabled pauses the video feed and stops recording events.

Also worth noting on the privacy front is the fact that the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell uses a microSD card (32GB preinstalled, can put microSD card up to 256GB) instead of a subscription.

Not only does that save money in the long run, but it also means that whatever happens at your front door stays there (well, and on your phone). Nothing is getting beamed offsite. If you were to get a video doorbell that requires a subscription (consider the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, which has $4.99, $9.99, and $19.99 tiers), you’re not only incurring that extra cost, but you have to trust that your router and the manufacturer’s data center is secure.

On the security front, the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is tough to remove from the baseplate without the release pin, which makes it unlikely for anyone to try and steal it. Plus, you would get a notification and recording of the incident. Also, the reset button is completely hidden by the baseplate so that no one can reset the video doorbell while in its cradle.

The app itself can be set up to require a password, Face ID, and two-factor authentication, not to mention you set a password for the device when first setting it up. Lastly, if someone is harassing you through the doorbell, it does have a siren sound that you can trigger through the app. Now, it doesn’t do anything other than make an obnoxious sound, but it can be enough of a deterrence.

Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell: Price and Value

The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell is a good deal, in no small part due to the fact that there’s no subscription , which also run between $5 to $20 a month. If you want to buy direct from Lorex, its MSRP of $199.99 is discounted to what I believe to be the real price of $129.99. It’s similar on Amazon where the MSRP of $169.99 is slashed to $99.99. While that’s not the consistent discounted price, it gets discounted enough that you can find it more often than not at that price.

If you need a chime, Lorex sells one for $59.99 (well, technically $47.99 since it’s “discounted”) or a bundle with the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell with Chime, which has an MSRP of $229.99 / discounted price of $149.99.

Much of the competition is priced competitively (and often cheaper) such as the Arlo 2K Video Doorbell, which has a listed price of $59.99 on Amazon but is also seeing discounts, currently at $49.99. Still, the Arlo doorbell requires a subscription that will set you back $9.99 monthly ($7.99 a month if you pay for a full year at a time).

To compare to another doorbell that doesn’t need subscription, consider the eufy 340 video doorbell. It retails for $149.99 direct and on Amazon (currently discounted to $99.99 on the latter site). Basically, if you get the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell at any kind of a discount, you’re getting a competitive price that you should feel good about.

Next, learn the essential home security tips from the experts.

Ever since I was lucky enough to test the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus earlier in the year, I've been loving the simple, sleek design, easy-to-use app, and excellent camera quality.

For that reason, I'm so excited to see that the newest Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is now reduced for Black Friday, and I have decided to upgrade my model to make the most of the limited-time discount.

So, if you've been on the fence about investing in one of the best video doorbells, there's no time like the present. Here's why we think this one in particular is such a great model, and such a brilliant deal.

I'm Upgrading to the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

As I've already mentioned, I reviewed the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus back in September, after upgrading from an older model that I already had installed, and was supremely impressed by the camera quality, clever features, and user-friendly app.

And, after such a positive experience, I'm now upgrading to the brand new Ring Battery Doorbell Pro available at Amazon, snapping it up while it's reduced for Black Friday.

You may be thinking that this is an unnecessary purchase at this moment in time, as I love and recommend my Plus model so much, and you'd probably be right. But, after reading the specifications of the new Pro, I'd argue that my purchase is perfectly justified, and I'm sure you will too. In fact, I'm convinced this smart tech gadget will transform your home.

For starters, this new model offers some serious pro-level features with 1536p Head-to-Toe HD+ Video, 3D Motion Detection, and Bird's Eye Zones and Bird's Eye View, which amazingly allow you to configure Bird's Eye Zones up to 30 feet away on an overhead map of your property, so you can pinpoint movement specifically where it matters to you.

Like my current model, it also features person and package alerts, both of which I've found so useful. It is important to note that package alerts are not free to access, and are instead included as part of an upgraded Ring subscription feature. I pay for Home Premium, which costs $19.99 a month, or slightly cheaper at $199.99 a year if paid upfront, and the same applies to the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro, too.

Competitors such as the eufy E340 video doorbell, which our team has reviewed, include these features without any additional monthly subscription fees.

The new Ring video doorbell also boasts enhanced imaging sensors for improved low-light sight, to provide clear images and color, even after dark, and handily uses the same chargeable batteries and mount as my old model, so I don't need to reinstall that when I swap them out.

To find out more about whether this upgrade is worth my money this Black Friday, I spoke to our home tech editor and testing expert, Dan Fauzi.

'If you're wondering whether this is a worthy investment, I'd say yes, one hundred percent,' they say. 'It features some of the most advanced features in a smart doorbell I've ever seen, and at an impressive price point this Black Friday.

'Plus, if you have an Alexa at home, you can connect it to your doorbell to get instant alerts, control security features by voice, and even answer the door to visitors hands-free. It's easy to set up, too.'

I can testify to that – my last model, though I was initially a little confused by the installation instructions, took mere moments to connect to my phone and get up and running in the app.

As one satisfied shopper on Amazon, Dillion Baity, leaving a five-star review, put it: 'Finally, a smart doorbell that's actually smart.'

'This Ring Battery Doorbell Pro has exceeded all my expectations,' they explain. 'The standout features for me are the package detection and how it seamlessly calls my phone. It's a game-changer.

'The package notification is incredibly accurate. I've set up a specific zone, and every time a delivery driver places a box within that area, I get an immediate alert on my phone. The 1536p HD+ Head-to-Toe Video is fantastic for this, as it gives you a full view of the front door area, so you can see exactly where the package is placed. No more wondering if the package was left behind a planter or if it was ever delivered at all.

'And the best part? When someone rings the doorbell, my phone rings just like a regular phone call. I can answer it from anywhere – at work, at the grocery store, or even just in another room of the house. The Two-Way Talk with Audio+ is crystal clear, so I can speak with visitors or delivery people without any static or delay. This feature alone provides so much peace of mind and convenience.

'Between the precise package alerts and the phone-call feature, this doorbell feels less like a security camera and more like a true extension of my home. It's a top-tier product that delivers on its promises.'

So, with Dan's advice and Dillion's review ringing in my ears, I'm adding it to my cart immediately. I'll be reviewing it as soon as I've had a chance to test this brand new battery doorbell, which I'm already deeming one of the best security measures to have at home, so keep an eye out for that!

What to Shop

Meet the Expert

Next, why not bolster your video doorbell with security lights, particularly if you know the best places to put them.

I hate subscription-based services. Call me old-fashioned, but when I spend money on a product, I expect to be able to use it without an extra monthly fee. Nowhere do I feel more passionately about this than home security, and more specifically, my CCTV cameras.

As bills rise across the board, I finally decided to break free from the old subscription camera that I never really liked anyway and upgraded to the eufy Security Indoor Cam, from Amazon, now discounted to just $29.99 for Black Friday.

I wish I had made the switch sooner. Not only does it have twice the functionality of my old camera, but there is a fantastic subscription-free option that doesn't limit the functionality. It is an absolute home security must-have for the dark winter nights, especially while it is on sale for its lowest price ever – here's why.

This $29 Camera Elevated My Home Security Without Monthly Fees

Security cameras are one of the best security measures for a house, especially if, like me, you need renter-friendly home security options that don't require hard wiring or damage to the property.

Having grown up with a military father obsessed with home security picks, I am far more comfortable leaving the house for prolonged periods of time when I know I can regularly check in on the property. This is especially true in winter when the days are darker and potential thieves eye up homes with lush Christmas tree ideas in windows for the gifts that lie beneath.

So, when organizing my home before going on vacation last week, I decided to pick up the eufy Indoor Cam E220, also at Best Buy, to replace my monthly-subscription Blink camera. We have tested and reviewed several eufy products on Solved, including the eufy E340 video doorbell and the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro, and we have yet to be disappointed by their home tech, ease of setup, or app functionality, so I had high hopes.

I am thrilled to say the Eufy Security Indoor Cam E220 has met all of my expectations. Not only does the eufy camera offer a fully functional, subscription-free model, but it also provides full viewing control of my rooms, allowing for panning 360° horizontally and tilting 96° vertically through the easy-to-use app controls.

When securing your home without a security system, adding a mandatory monthly fee to record any activity in your home can be a serious roadblock to effectively protecting your property.

With the eufy pan and tilt camera, however, I had the option to subscribe monthly to store recordings in the cloud (with a 30-day free trial) or install a micro SD card, such as the Amazon Basics 128GB Micro SD Memory Card, to store recordings locally, which can then be manually transferred to a computer.

The eufy E220 box arrived with the camera, plug-in cable, quick start guide, and a wall mounting unit; however, I opted to set the camera on a table in the center of my open-plan living space for a damage-free setup.

From there, it was as easy as plugging it in, scanning the QR code on the base of the camera with the eufy home app, and entering my home WiFi password. It took me less than 10 minutes to set up, including downloading the app and making an account. You can also pair it with Apple and Alexa systems when setting up a smart home for easy control.

The camera also features an AI system that can detect what is in shot. For example, once set up, the camera picked up that I was walking around my home, and a notification was sent to my phone to tell me a person was in my living room. The camera can then follow that person around the room automatically, so no action is missed.

I don't have any pets to test this feature, but the E220 promises to distinguish between people and pets for accurate security notifications, and has a built-in microphone and speaker for easy communication, making it an ideal deterrent to prevent burglary, or talk to your pets when you are out.

My only gripe is that it was so eager to detect potential threats that while I was on holiday, it picked up a coat hanging by its hood on my entryway coat rack as a person several times. Luckily, panning the camera remotely through the app cut this coat from view, stopping the false alert notifications. There is also an option to set 'blind' spots – areas you do not want the camera to record – to eliminate these false alerts, too.

All in all, however, I love this new security camera so much that I am buying one for my security-mad dad as a Christmas present while it is on sale. It gets a certified 10/10 from me.

My Home Security Picks

There are several other smart home must-haves I recommend picking up to help secure your home – I wouldn't live without them.

All prices correct at time of publication.

If you are also going away on winter vacation, check out the things to clean before winter vacation and what temperature to set your thermostat on winter vacation to come back to a perfect home.

With daylight savings time over, evenings are suddenly darker, quicker – just in time for us to fill our homes with gifts for the holiday period. It's a small seasonal shift that potential burglars often take advantage of.

That's why experts recommend a simple yet effective fix: A TV mimic light from Amazon. For less than $20, you can make it look like someone's home whenever you are working late or out on winter vacation.

Here, they explain why it is one of the best affordable home security tips, and how to use one effectively to deter burglars this winter.

This $20 Gadget Helps Secure Your Home on Dark Nights

When picking the best security measures for a house, lighting ideas likely don't rank high on your list. However, according to Jeff Wenninger, founder and CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants, explains that visual cues like lighting can make 'all the difference' in dissuading a potential burglar.

'Anything that creates the perception that someone is home deters property crime. Lights that mimic the glow and movement of a television are particularly effective because they signal human activity. When placed on a smart plug [available for less than $10 at Walmart] or positioned upstairs, where no one can see the source, they create the illusion of someone going about their evening.

'It’s the same basic principle as the classic Home Alone scene where Kevin McCallister choreographs a fake party to trick burglars into thinking the house is full,' Jeff points out. 'It’s about manufacturing normalcy.'

The trick, he adds, is to pair a TV mimic light with other smart home must-haves, whether or not you have the best home security system or are trying to secure your home without a security system.

As you should not leave lights on when you go on vacation, Jeff suggests using smart lighting to help mimic presence at home. My prized Philips Hue Bulbs, from Amazon, for example, come with a mimic setting that replicates a typical usage pattern, differing from the activation and turn-off times every night to make it look like people inside my home are moving between rooms and getting ready for bed.

A more affordable option is to set up your existing lighting on smart plugs, such as the Alexa smart plugs, available at Amazon. With these, I set slightly different times in routines for each night I am not at home, so burglars will find it harder to spot patterns of behavior.

Jeff also suggests investing in garden security lighting with motion sensors to help deter burglars who may approach your home.

'Even simple background noise like a radio on a talk station can help,' he adds. 'During the winter and holiday season, when many homes sit empty for extended periods, these details can be the difference between being targeted or passed over. The goal isn’t to make your home look fortified; it’s to make it look lived in.'

Home Security Essentials

Meet the Expert

With your belongings secured, it’s time to protect your home from damage by setting your thermostat to the ideal temperature before your winter vacation, preventing burst pipes and flooding when you return.

Home security is technologically advancing, resulting in easier, more affordable access and increased protection against potential intruders.

But many of the products available can be a bit too tech-y looking, prominently standing out from homes that aren't designed with that aesthetic in mind. That's why I was thrilled to find the SwitchBot Lock Pro, a simple, minimalist device that can be installed without drilling for renters, while offering new chic ways to unlock your home – and you don't even need to take your keys when you head out.

It's perfect when paired with one of the best video doorbells.

The SwitchBot Lock Pro Can be Instantly and Securely Unlocked Without Your Keys

With their bulky designs and shiny aesthetics, you might think a smart lock is something only for the tech-savvy. But their benefits go far beyond integration with a smart home setup.

Smart locks let you open your door without a key while adding a layer of home security against potential intruders. You can use passcodes, a smartphone app, or even your fingerprint to get into your house, and you'll never again have to worry about forgetting your keys.

What's great about the SwitchBot Lock Pro is that it can be installed directly onto your existing lock, so there's no need to drill into your property. It's the perfect renter-friendly home security option. Instead of using any additional mechanisms, the SwitchBot Lock Pro simply turns the existing door lock.

The matte, minimalist design of my chic pick is ideal for easily blending into your home's exterior without a screen or any harsh lights drawing attention to it. This makes it a great way to embrace minimalism in a busy household.

It also means you can say goodbye to your key bowls or hooks that can make an entryway feel cluttered, and you won't have to carry around bulky keys in your pocket anymore.

The SwitchBot Lock Pro is compatible with single-cylinder deadbolts, jimmy-proof and mortise locks, with one reviewer at Amazon stating it was 'a breeze to install.' It uses adhesives to attach to your door, and two threaded screws to attach the smart lock to your existing lock, without drilling into or damaging anything.

It's supported by Apple, Google and Alexa, so you can use your phone or smart hub's voice commands to unlock it instantly. You can also use a remote, Bluetooth, NFC tags, and your Apple Watch, or simply add a widget to your phone's home screen.

Quick installation, easy unlocking, a chic and compact exterior, plus an extra layer of home security, explain why the SwitchBot Lock Pro is a best-seller for renters.

The SwitchBot Lock Pro is available for $69.59 with the code FLFL42, discounted from $119.99.

More to Shop

Next, learn the best security measures for a house, and these decorating tips to make your rental property feel like a home.

The best video doorbells do more than show you who is standing at the front door. A good one can tell you when a package has arrived, warn you when someone is approaching, help deter opportunistic thieves, and make everyday moments a little easier to manage. The tricky part is choosing the right one.

Ring is still the brand name many people think of first when securing their home, but it is far from the only option. What might be the most suitable choice for one home will not always be ideal for another. A busy street, a long driveway, a rented front door, or a dislike of monthly fees can all change what pushes a video doorbell into pole position for you.

To help you find the perfect match, we’ve tested the latest video doorbells for weeks at a time in our own homes, evaluating how easy they are to install, how quickly they send alerts, how clearly they capture visitors and packages, and how useful their security features are in daily use in comparison to the upfront costs, and where applicable, monthly fees.

Our One-Minute Verdict on the Best Video Doorbells

The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus we reviewed is our top pick if you are happy to pay for an ongoing subscription. It has the strongest all-round mix of clear head-to-toe video, colour night vision, responsive two-way audio, adjustable motion detection, and a straightforward app. Without a Ring plan, you still get live view, alerts, and two-way talk, but you will need a subscription to save and review recordings.

The eufy E340 is the best choice if you want to avoid monthly fees. It stores clips locally, has dual cameras so you can see both visitors and packages, and offers crisp day-and-night video without locking the most useful features behind a subscription. The E340 can be a little slow to load the live feed if your Wi-Fi signal is weak, but it is still the strongest no-fee option we’ve tested.

The Tapo D205 is our best affordable video doorbell. It's much cheaper than most of the models in this guide, but still gives you a proper step up in front-door security, with good video and audio quality, simple installation, and a renter-friendly feel. It is not as polished or feature-rich as the Ring or eufy, but for the price, it is an easy recommendation.

The Quick List

The 6 Best Video Doorbells, Tested by Us

The Best Video Doorbell with a Subscription

With clear head-to-toe video, reliable motion alerts, and a simple app, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is the best choice for most homes if you are happy to pay for a Ring subscription. It gives you a wide view of visitors and packages, works well in poor light, and makes it easy to check what is happening at the front door from your phone.

The 1536p HD+ camera is sharp enough to pick up faces, package details, and courier uniforms, while the tall field of view means you can see both visitors and parcels on the doorstep.

Motion detection is quick and easy to adjust. During our testing, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus picked up movement before visitors reached the door, and it could also catch cars passing on the road. That sensitivity is useful, but you will want to spend a little time setting your motion zones so you are not being alerted every time someone walks past your home.

The two-way audio is another strong point. Voices come through clearly, without the lag, echo, or background noise that can make some video doorbells frustrating to use. It held up well around traffic, bad weather, and other everyday outdoor noise, which makes it much more practical when you need to speak to a delivery driver or visitor in real time.

The Ring app is straightforward, with fast access to the live feed, clear previews in notifications, and easy clip downloads if you are subscribed. Installation is simple too, especially if you are replacing an older Ring doorbell, as it can use the same mount. For renters or anyone who does not want to drill, an adhesive mount is also available separately.

The main drawback is the subscription. Without a Ring plan, you can still use live view, motion alerts, and two-way talk, but you will not be able to save or review recordings. If you are already happy with Ring’s ecosystem, though, this is the most balanced model we have tested.

Read more in our five-star Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review.

The Best Subscription-Free Video Doorbell

If you want a capable video doorbell without adding another monthly subscription to your life, the eufy E340 is the strongest option we have tested.

The doorbell has crisp 2K video, free local storage, dual cameras for visitors and packages, and enough smart features to feel genuinely useful without paying for cloud storage.

The biggest advantage is the built-in 8GB local storage, letting the E340 save recent clips without a subscription, automatically deleting the oldest footage when the storage fills up. You can pay for extra storage if you want it, but unlike Ring, the core recording features are available without an ongoing fee.

The dual-camera design is especially useful for deliveries. One camera faces forward, while the second points down towards the doorstep, so you can see packages as well as visitors. Ring achieves a similar head-to-toe effect with a fish-eye lens, but eufy’s approach gives a more natural view, with the trade-off of a break between the two camera feeds.

Video quality is strong in daylight and at night, with colour night vision bright enough to pick up faces clearly. The E340 can also recognise people, packages, and vehicles, and you can name familiar faces in the app so it can identify them when they approach the door.

There are a couple of drawbacks we should mention. The live feed can be slow to load if the doorbell is far from your Wi-Fi router, and the optional privacy zones can also block more of the image than you might expect if you live close to neighbours.

Even so, the eufy E340 is the best choice here if you want a premium-feeling video doorbell without monthly costs.

Read more in our full eufy E340 Video Doorbell review.

The Best Value Video Doorbell

The Tapo D205 is the best choice if you want a solid video doorbell without spending Ring or eufy money. It is compact, easy to install, much cheaper than most of the models in this guide, but still gives you a clear view of visitors and lets you check in on your front door remotely.

We found it quick to set up, with the option to use screws or adhesive depending on where you want to place it, making it a practical choice for renters, or for anyone who wants to add a video doorbell without making a more permanent change to their home.

The video quality is impressive for the price. You can record in 2K, and the picture is clear enough in daylight and at night for basic front-door use. It does not have the more complete head-to-toe view you get from Ring, eufy, or Reolink, so it is not the best option if package visibility is your main priority.

Audio is another pleasant surprise. Two-way talk is clear and easy to use, with no obvious lag or echo during conversations. Background noise can sound more noticeable when watching live or stored footage.

The D205 can detect people and motion within its detection range, though this is one of the areas where you feel the lower price. It is useful for visitors and deliveries near the door, but it is not as strong for longer driveways or wider surveillance.

Storage is flexible. You can use Tapo Care cloud storage after the free trial, but you can also add a microSD card for local storage and avoid ongoing costs.

The main concern is the security of the device itself. The doorbell is easy to remove from its mount, which is helpful when it needs charging but less reassuring if you are worried about theft.

Read more in our full Tapo D205 Video Doorbell Mini review.

The Best Ring Alternative Video Doorbell

The Reolink Video Doorbell Battery is the best choice if you like the idea of a Ring doorbell but do not want to be pushed towards a monthly subscription. It's wireless, easy to install, and stores footage locally, giving you more control over your recordings without adding another ongoing cost to your home.

Its 2K camera gives a clear view of visitors, packages, and activity outside your front door. The 1:1 field of view is especially useful for deliveries, as it gives you a taller look at the doorstep than a traditional landscape camera.

Smart detection covers people, packages, and vehicles, which helps cut down on vague motion alerts and makes the Reolink more useful than a basic budget doorbell, especially if your front door looks onto a driveway or street.

The biggest advantage over Ring is storage. You can save clips locally on a microSD card, so you do not need a subscription for the main recording features. There is an optional cloud plan if you want it, but the Reolink makes much more sense for anyone trying to avoid monthly fees.

It does come with a few compromises. We found that fine facial detail could be sharper, especially compared with the best Ring and eufy models, and battery life was shorter than expected during testing. The doorbell also needs a strong Wi-Fi connection to perform at its best.

Still, as a Ring alternative, the Reolink is a strong offering. It gives you a strong mix of video quality, local storage, smart detection, and wireless installation, without locking its most useful features behind a subscription.

Read more in our full Reolink Video Doorbell Battery review.

The Best Video Doorbell for Motion Detection

The Philips 7000 Series is the best choice if you want your video doorbell to spot movement before someone reaches the front step. Its motion detection is the most sensitive we have tested, making it especially useful for driveways, longer paths, or homes where you want a nice early warning.

In our testing, we found that it could pick up cars passing on the road around 15 feet away, a level of sensitivity that could easily become annoying, but the settings are adjustable, so you can reduce unnecessary alerts while keeping useful coverage across the areas that matter.

It also has radar detection, with settings for human-only detection or all motion, giving it a more precise sense of what is happening outside your home, without needing a full security camera system.

The rest of the package is strong, too. Its 2K picture is sharp and colourful during the day and at night, and the dual-camera design gives you one view of visitors and another aimed down at packages.

You also get 8GB of local storage, so you do not need a monthly subscription for the main features. That gives it a similar no-fee appeal to eufy and Reolink, though Philips is better suited to people who care most about detection range.

The main drawback is battery life. It lasted around two months in testing, which is much shorter than the Ring or eufy. There can also be a little audio lag if the doorbell is far from your Wi-Fi router. Even so, for sensitive and adjustable motion detection, the Philips 7000 Series is the strongest model here.

Read more in our full Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell review.

The Best Anti-Intruder Video Doorbell

The Arlo 2K Wireless Video Doorbell is the best option here if you want your doorbell to act as more than a camera. Most video doorbells are built to show you what happened after the fact, but Arlo adds a built-in siren that can help deter porch pirates.

You can set the siren to sound automatically when someone approaches, which could be useful when you are away from home, on vacation, or worried about packages being left outside. You can also trigger it manually from the app.

The wide 180-degree view gives you a broad look at the area outside your front door, while the 2K video is crisp in daylight. Its object recognition is also more detailed than most, covering people, packages, vehicles, animals, and even fire.

There are a few trade-offs. The night vision is black and white rather than colour, unlike the Ring, eufy, or Philips. Our testing also found some audio interference during live streaming and stored footage, and the app could be more streamlined.

You will also need a subscription to unlock the most useful features, including cloud-based event history, 2K recordings, custom activity zones, advanced object detection, and interactive notifications.

Still, Arlo earns its place because of that active deterrent. If your biggest concern is opportunistic doorstep thieves, unfamiliar visitors, or adding an extra layer of visible security to your front door, the Arlo 2K Wireless Video Doorbell is the most reassuring pick in this guide.

Read more in our full Arlo 2K Wireless Video Doorbell review.

How to Choose the Best Video Doorbell

Choosing the best video doorbell starts with how your front door actually works.

A quiet porch, a busy street, a long driveway, and an apartment door all place different demands on a video doorbell, so it is worth thinking about your home's design and front door setup before focusing on the most impressive-looking spec sheet.

• Power and installation: Video doorbells are usually battery-powered, wired, or able to support both. Battery models are easiest for renters and anyone avoiding doorbell wiring, but they need recharging. Wired models take more work to install and may need a compatible transformer, but you do not have to worry about battery life. If your door is angled, look for a wedge or corner mount.
• Storage and subscriptions: This is one of the biggest differences between video doorbells. Some models, especially Ring and Arlo, need a subscription for saved recordings, event history, and advanced alerts. Others, including eufy and Reolink, offer local storage without monthly fees. Cloud storage can be convenient, but it should be part of your budget from the start.
• Detection and alerts: A video doorbell is only useful if it tells you about the right things. Basic motion detection can be enough for a quiet front path, but busier homes will benefit from person, package, and vehicle detection. Adjustable motion zones also help reduce unwanted notifications if your camera faces a road, sidewalk, or neighbor’s property.
• Field of view and package visibility: A wide field of view (FOV) shows more of the area around your front door, but height matters too. If you receive lots of deliveries, look for a taller head-to-toe view, a 1:1 aspect ratio, or a dual-camera design that shows both visitors and packages. A standard landscape view can miss parcels placed directly below the camera.
• Resolution, HDR, and night vision: Sharp video helps you recognise faces, read package labels, and understand what happened after an alert. For most homes, 2K or 1536p video is a strong sweet spot. HDR helps with awkward lighting, while good night vision is essential after dark. Color night vision is useful, but clear detail matters more than color alone.
• Audio quality and app reliability: Two-way audio should be clear enough for a quick conversation with a visitor or delivery driver. Lag, echo, and background noise can make this frustrating, especially if your front door faces traffic or wind. The app matters too: alerts should arrive quickly, live view should load reliably, and saved clips should be easy to find.
• Connectivity: Video doorbells rely on a strong Wi-Fi signal, and front doors are often further from the router than you might think. If your doorbell is slow to load or misses events, poor Wi-Fi may be the reason. Check whether your chosen model works on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or both, and consider a mesh system or extender if needed.
• Weather resistance: A doorbell lives outside year-round, so make sure it is built for rain, heat, and cold. Most good video doorbells have an IP rating, but placement still matters. A covered porch will be kinder to the camera and battery than a door fully exposed to sun, wind, and heavy rain.
• Smart home support: If you use Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home, or another smart home system, check compatibility before buying. A connected display can show who is at the door, while smart speakers can act as chimes around the house. It should not be the only reason to choose a model, but it can make your doorbell easier to live with.

How We Test the Best Video Doorbells

We test video doorbells in our own homes for long-term, real-world use so that our recommendations reflect performance you can rely on day-to-day.

We assess how straightforward it is to mount the doorbell using the instructions given, connect to existing chimes, and pair with the app. A well-designed setup should be quick and clear, with wedge plates, anchors, and terminals included where needed, without any advanced DIY skills needed.

Video quality is judged both in daylight and after dark, in all sorts of weather and lighting conditions. We check for face clarity, how easily visible details on packages or vehicle registration plates are, and any other details you wouldn't want to miss or may rely on for better security.

To test motion detection, we observe how quickly the doorbell and app alert you to people approaching or ringing the doorbell, and whether we're able to adjust sensitivity so that passing cars or neighbors don't unnecessarily alert you. We also measure how accurately the doorbell distinguishes people, packages, and vehicles, if those features are present.

Audio performance is reviewed by assessing the clarity of two-way talk, how well background noise such as wind or traffic is suppressed, and whether there are any echoes or delays.

We also look at how easy the app is to use. You shouldn't have to be tech-savvy to use a video doorbell, so a straightforward app with simple controls scores big points. And importantly, we evaluate what the doorbell offers against the price of purchasing and the ongoing subscription costs (if any). If the essential features like storing data aren't available if you don't pay monthly, this should be reflected in the upfront cost.

FAQs

Is It Better to Get a Wired or Wireless Video Doorbell?

A wireless video doorbell is usually better if you rent, do not have existing doorbell wiring, or want the simplest installation. You can fit most battery models yourself, although you will need to recharge them every few months.

A wired video doorbell is better if you already have compatible wiring and want a more permanent setup without worrying about battery life.

What Are the Downsides of a Video Doorbell?

The main downsides are cost, privacy, Wi-Fi reliability, and ongoing subscriptions. Some models are much less useful without a paid plan, while others need a strong signal at the front door to load live video quickly.

You should also think about where the camera points, especially if it faces a neighbour’s home, shared hallway, or public street.

Do Video Doorbells Need A Subscription?

Not always. Some of the best video doorbells, including models from eufy, Reolink, Tapo, and Philips, can store clips locally without a monthly fee. Others, including Ring and Arlo, need a subscription for key features such as saved recordings, event history, and advanced alerts. You can still use many subscription-based models without paying, but they are usually much more limited.

Can Video Doorbells See Parcels?

Some can, but it depends on the camera angle. A standard wide view may show visitors clearly but miss parcels placed directly below the doorbell.

If deliveries are one of your main concerns, look for a head-to-toe view, a 1:1 aspect ratio, or a dual-camera design with one lens pointed down towards the doorstep.

How Do I Stop False Alerts?

Start by adjusting the motion sensitivity and setting activity zones, so the doorbell only watches the areas that matter. This is especially useful if your camera faces a road, pavement, shared entrance, or neighbour’s property.

Person, parcel, and vehicle detection can also help, as the doorbell can ignore general movement and focus on more useful alerts.

For more home security tips, learn the best places for security lights and the home mistakes that make you a target for identity theft.

When it comes to the world of video doorbells, it really feels there is one brand that dominates the market. Most people I know with a video doorbell have a Ring model, and rave about the range of features it offers.

That said, I’m not one for jumping on a 'brandwagon', and I am a little dubious about paying for a ton of added features when I'd just prefer the basics done well. There are other video doorbell brands out there that are less expensive and have a reputation for being easier to manage; Blink being one of them.

Interestingly, the best video doorbells are being adopted across pretty much all age groups and demographics that I know of, often because they offer this additional layer when improving your home security. Hence my interest in purchasing one.

Blink doorbells are said to be among the simplest to use, so I was excited to put it to the test. Here's what I learned.

Blink Video Doorbell: Specifications

Blink Video Doorbell: Installation and setup

I tested the second generation Blink Video Doorbell with the Sync Module 2 [at Amazon] as a bundle. You can both individually, but you need the latter for it to work effectively, so it makes sense to buy them together.

I was impressed that the entire setup from start to finish took me less than 30 minutes. Even non-techy people can add this to their smart home setup stress-free.

Starting at the beginning, packaging was minimal and efficient, and everything was clearly labelled when I unboxed.

I was really pleased to find three batteries included with the doorbell; it’s one less thing to think about, and streamlines the setup having them on hand. Plus, they are said to last for two years, so that’s a bonus.

The next step was downloading the Blink app and creating an account, which was all straightforward.

I plugged in the Sync Module 2, which serves as a hub for the doorbell (and any other Blink devices you might choose to add) and connected this to our home Wi-Fi. Once this was up and running, I added it to my Blink account, which was quick as I've ensured my Wi-Fi router is positioned in the best place.

Then I added the doorbell device by simply scanning a QR code on the back of it. This was all seamless.

I will admit, I enlisted the help of my husband with the installation and mounting, as it involved drilling the doorbell to the outside of the house. We needed our power drill and two different screwdrivers to complete this, in addition to the kit included in the package (and some essential DIY skills).

We mounted the corner bracket onto the wall to get the angle we wanted. The trickiest thing was lining the holes up for the two screws, but once that was done and the bracket was in, it was super easy to fit the back plate into it and attach the doorbell with a satisfying click.

I followed the step-by-step instructions on the Blink website throughout the whole process, which were clear and fairly easy to follow.

One thing we did not do is wire the doorbell to our existing chime box, because we do not have one (more on this below). A wired installation will take longer.

The Blink Video Doorbell came with three AA non-rechargeable batteries, which it says will last two years. I will check back in 2027 to let you know if they lasted this long.

Blink Video Doorbell: Video quality

I’ve been using the second generation Blink Video Doorbell for more than three weeks now.

Daytime: In daylight the HD camera is super clear and faces are easily recognizable. Brand names on packages and delivery person uniforms are also clearly visible. The field of vision is 150 degrees both horizontal and vertical. The instructions advise on the best height to fit the doorbell from the floor – t seemed a little low to me at first, but any higher up and we wouldn’t have been able to see packages at the door.

Night time: The picture is still good in low light. The HD infrared night vision makes it entirely possible to recognize faces, and there didn’t seem to be any difference in motion detection from day to night. This is one of the best security measures for a house, and you can also adjust the night vision settings for your camera in the app, as well as the infrared intensity to help control glare.

Dynamic light: We get a lot of sun on the front of our house in the mornings, and this hasn’t affected the video quality. Faces and labels are still visible.

Blink Video Doorbell: Audio quality

The two-way audio is clear from both sides, and doesn’t lag or have any echoes that I can detect. It even picks up my cat meowing to be let in. Thanks to the live view, I can be sure that it’s him and not an intruder cat. He will usually sit on the doorstep and wait patiently, so he is benefitting from much shorter wait times since we installed this doorbell.

Since I began testing the doorbell I haven’t experienced the traffic or weather conditions coming through too strongly. You can hear traffic from the road, but this isn’t impacting the audio's clarity when hearing voices.

I will say that before someone begins to talk, or if you take a look on the live view when nobody is there to speak to you, there is a distinctive tinny, whistling noise, almost like a high frequency sound wave, that is a little off-putting.

Blink Video Doorbell: App and smart features

The app is simple to use and I’ve found it intuitive to a point. You can link it to an Amazon Alexa to receive alerts, such as the Amazon Echo Pop that can work as a hub for your other smart home gadgets.

Once you open the app you see the home screen where the front door view is visible from a short time ago. Clicking into that will give you the live view and allow you to speak to the person at the door.

You can switch between ‘disarmed’ and ‘armed’ from the home screen to start or stop the doorbell from tracking motion.

To check a past event you simply press on the ‘clips’ icon at the bottom of the screen and all your past data is available to scroll through. There, you can also filter your search by person, vehicle, motion or doorbell.

If you click on the three dots on the front door video view, you'll see an (almost hidden) option for 'device settings', where you can change audio settings, motion detection, and set activity and privacy zones.

Blink Video Doorbell: Motion detection and notifications

So far, the video and motion sensor hasn’t missed a trick. If anything, it was picking up too much motion from the moving tree branches in the garden. As such, I reduced the motion sensitivity down from 9 to 4, and this led resulted in fewer pings to my phone.

There is a two-second delay between someone pressing the doorbell and my phone buzzing with an alert, which is a little bit of an issue for me because we chose not to wire the doorbell to a chime box. We didn’t have an existing one, though I was presented with full instructions should I have tried to wire it in.

This presents a small issue because I might not always have my phone on 'sound' during the day, and when I am not home other family members want to be able to hear the doorbell.

To get around this, the Blink Mini [at Amazon] is an indoor camera that also works as a plug-in chime for the doorbell. So, with this inexpensive purchase, you can get real-time alerts when someone arrives at your house while also being a renter-safe home security tip.

All that being said, the Blink Video Doorbell records the seconds before someone presses the bell, and for as long as they are there afterwards, and the video opens straight away after tapping the notification on my phone.

Blink Video Doorbell: Connectivity and reliability

So far, I haven’t had any issues with the doorbell dropping out of the wifi connection. It’s stable and it does the job. Granted, the router is less than two meters away from the front door, but I plugged the Sync Module 2 in another room, with no issues at all.

Over the three weeks I’ve been testing it, it hasn’t crashed or missed anything. In fact, with almost 150 un-viewed clips, I decided to turn off the motion detector for a while, and will maybe only use this when I am away from home for a long period of time.

Blink Video Doorbell: Privacy and security

There are some nice home privacy features that you can enable from within the app. As is fairly standard these days, you can manage your account to activate ‘face ID’. You can also easily set up privacy zones to block out the next door neighbor’s property.

Data is stored in the cloud only, and there is a direct link to Blink’s privacy policy from the app, and it gives advice for data security from its website. You can also request all your personal data and manage third party access from it.

Blink Video Doorbell: Price and value

All the basics are included with the standard doorbell, but you need to make sure you're buying a Sync Module 2 in addition, otherwise nothing will work.

A wedge mount, which we needed, also costs extra. And if, like us, you don't have a chime box, there is also that to consider if you want this to work like a regular doorbell.

You can buy a Blink Mini for around $17-$30 at Amazon, which is a cute indoor security camera that also works as a plug-in chime box. I like the idea of this as an additional level of home security (you can also set up two-way audio on it to speak to your pets and family), so when Amazon Prime Day deals are here, you can get a bit of money off.

I was given a 30-day free trial of the Blink Subscription Plus Plan on setting up the doorbell. After that it's $11.99 a month. The plan gives you unlimited cloud storage, coverage for unlimited devices, AI-powered smart detection, extended live view for up to 90 minutes at a time within the Blink app, and access to Blink Moments, which is a feature that stitches together multiple events into one video.

There is also a Basic Plan at $3.99 a month. Of course you have the option of not paying for any additional subscription at all, but this means you won't have any cloud storage or be able to view hourly photo capture. There is a local storage option to store clips on the Sync Module 2, which I think is a good enough option for a lot of consumers who just want a basic video doorbell.

And therein lies my conclusion. Blink is a no frills option compared to the premium package, sleeker app, and professional-standard security features offered by Ring and eufy. As a rudimentary summery, take Blink's prices and double them for an idea of Ring's costs.

A more mid-market option would be the E340 eufy video doorbell, which also offers local storage if you don't want to pay for a monthly subscription, but I would argue has a better design and some nice extras such as built-in lighting to make it easier to identify faces in low light.

And, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus showed some of the brightest, clearest picture quality yet, and has all the features you could want if you're willing to pay a monthly membership.

The features and functionality offered by more premium models are undoubtedly smart and very popular, but for those of us who want a simple set-up and sleek design without hefty monthly costs, there is nothing wrong with choosing Blink.

Video doorbells, like the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus which we've also reviewed, are by no means the only way smart tech can improve our homes. From lighting and thermostats to whole security systems, there are certainly some smart home must haves to consider if you want your home to do more of the hard work for you.

As the nights grow longer in early fall, I am always very conscious of how much more I rely on indoor lighting. Those extra hours of brightness can quietly drive up energy bills, especially when lights are left on in empty rooms.

One of the best fixes I’ve found? Motion sensor lights. Not only do they prevent wasted energy, but they have made my home safer, too.

If you’re looking for a simple way to cut energy bills and boost efficiency, here’s where to put motion sensor lights inside your home.

Where to put motion sensor lights to reduce your energy bills

Although lighting ideas were not really on my radar for saving money at home in fall and winter, James Harrison at electrician firm Fusion Electrical, pointed out that small adjustments can make a surprising difference over the course of a year, and that includes lighting.

'Some of these cost very little to set up, but could save you money every single month,' he says. 'Installing a motion sensor means your lights will only come on when someone is in the room.

'It avoids wasted energy when a switch has been left on and removes the need to remember to turn them off.'

Locating motion sensor light bulbs in the high-traffic areas of a home, which are the areas you go in and out of constantly, can help to cut energy costs.

This is especially true if you are like me. I am particularly prone to forgetting to hit a switch on the way out of a room, or I often have my hands full, refusing to take two trips in or out of a room.

Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden adds, 'I often go upstairs and find that my daughter has left the hallway, bathroom, or her bedroom light on for hours, despite not using any of those spaces. Motion sensor lighting would be a great and easy fix for this.'

As a result, lights are left on when they are not rigged up to a timer system like my prized Phillips Hue smart bulbs starter kit, from Amazon, making my lights one of the vampire appliances secretly costing me money.

In my period home, where several rooms lack natural light, motion sensor bulbs also have the added benefit of not just improving functionality, but helping me to stay safe, too.

The motion light on my stairway, for example, has stopped me from tumbling down the staircase at any given opportunity (usually because I have put something on the stairs to be put away, and forgotten about it).

Similarly, my motion-sensor entryway lighting ideas help me lock up the house each night without jamming the key in the wrong way round again (yes, this did happen once, and my landlord was less than thrilled).

What to shop

When shopping for motion sensor lightbulbs specifically to save money, James advises, 'Always choose products in the top efficiency classes and make sure your electrical installations are in safe working order.

'If you suspect an issue, have an electrician check it. Saving money should never come at the cost of safety.'

FAQs

Can you put a motion sensor bulb in a regular socket?

Motion sensor light bulbs are designed to slot into your usual light fitting sockets, with no electrical adjustments needed. Simply replace the bulb and switch it on at the wall (leaving it switched on).

It isn't just your light bulbs that are draining your funds. There is one common appliance mistake that could be adding $100s to your energy bills each year that needs addressing ASAP.

Renting a home shouldn’t mean compromising on security. But without the freedom to drill into walls or install hardwired devices, many renters are left wondering what they can do.

The good news is our security experts have revealed four methods to boost your home’s protection without risking your deposit. From smart doorbells to better delivery habits, these renter-friendly ideas are low-effort, high-impact, and fully removable when it’s time to move.

The best security measures for a home are built around prevention – stopping opportunists before they make it to the door. We spoke to security experts about the best non-permanent tips for renters, so you can feel safer in your space, without getting on the wrong side of your landlord.

Home security tips for renters

1. Porch etiquette

It might sound obvious, but where you hide your spare keys matters more than many people think, and is the first step to securing your home without a security system.

‘Under a mat or plant pot might feel convenient, but these are the first places thieves check,’ says Edouard Rekko, a security expert at Verisure. If handing a spare to a trusted friend isn’t an option, invest in a lock box with a combination code – a safer bet that’s still renter-friendly.

Your trash is another easy-to-overlook mistake. ‘Leaving packaging from expensive items outside is like advertising what’s inside your home,’ Edouard warns. After buying gadgets or luxury goods, break down boxes and conceal brand names before disposal.

Even the way you manage deliveries can matter. Unattended parcels often signal that no one’s home, especially when paired with visible clutter or poor lighting – all of which are common signs burglars look for.

Keeping your front entry tidy, locking windows and doors (even when you’re in), and avoiding identity theft mistakes at home are all quick wins for renters. Small daily habits can be just as important as gadgets.

2. Peel-and-stick smart doorbells

To still have eyes on your front door without drilling holes into the building's exterior, Corey Birnstengel of Security.org says, 'I recommend wireless, DIY systems that use peel-and-stick sensors’.

They don’t require landlord permission and can be easily uninstalled when you move.

A video doorbell is a foundational step in setting up a smart home, and you can access the live stream remotely using your phone, or tell your Alexa or Google device to tell you when deliveries arrive. Combine with more smart tech gadgets to transform your home.

There are peel-and-stick mounts available online so that any video doorbell from the big brands can become renter-friendly:

3. Indoor security cameras

Indoor cameras are ideal for renters because they’re discreet, portable, and require no drilling. Some models even stand freely on shelves or attach with removable adhesives, offering clear footage and mobile alerts without touching the walls.

‘Stick to indoor devices unless you have landlord approval,’ says Corey. In shared buildings or house shares, a hallway camera can help monitor traffic in and out of your space – especially if paired with smart smoke detectors or motion-activated lighting for an extra layer of awareness.

Just be mindful of where your footage is stored. Some brands prioritize local storage over the cloud, which is a useful feature for anyone concerned about digital security risks from smart home gadgets.

4. No-drill mount for outdoor cameras

Just because you can’t drill outside doesn’t mean you can’t install cameras. You can find mounts that attach cameras to your home's exterior using adhesives, for whatever outdoor camera you're looking to buy.

We recommend a military dad's security picks when choosing your outdoor camera. And paired with intruder-proof hedge plants around low fences or windows, your home will be safe, private, and with no alterations on the building.

And if you’re heading out of town, check your system is ready for downtime – securing your home during the holidays takes a little forward planning, but renters can do just as much as homeowners with the right gear.

Home security has never been more advanced, and most homes have some form of recording technology. This begs the question: can my neighbour point their CCTV at my house?

From motion-sensor floodlights to Wi-Fi-enabled doorbells with live video feeds, surveillance technology has become a staple in suburban neighborhoods. While these devices offer homeowners peace of mind, they also raise complex questions about privacy, especially when a camera is pointed toward someone else’s property.

If you’re worried that your neighbor’s home security is capturing more than it should, you’re not alone. Here, we explore what federal and state laws say about your right to privacy and what actions you can take if a neighbor’s CCTV setup crosses the line.

Can my neighbour point their CCTV at my house?

In the US, the legality of home surveillance is generally governed by a combination of state privacy laws, local ordinances, and, in some cases, federal wiretapping laws.

Unfortunately, this means that there is no straightforward answer to this privacy question.

Broadly speaking, however, yes, your neighbor is within their rights to install the best security measures for a house, such as the Ring Doorbell from Amazon on their property – even if those cameras happen to capture parts of yours – so long as they’re not intentionally violating your reasonable expectation of privacy.

Security expert Kirk MacDowell explains, 'A reasonable expectation of privacy is a legal concept that plays a crucial role here. It typically applies to places like the inside of your home, bathrooms, or any area where you have a clear right to seclusion.

'For example, it would likely be unlawful for a camera to capture the interior of your home through a bedroom window. However, your front door, driveway, or exterior walls – areas generally visible from the street – are considered public view and are not typically protected in the same way.'

State laws can also vary considerably. In California, for instance, recording someone without their consent in a space where they expect privacy can be considered a criminal offense under California Penal Code § 647(j).

In Florida, using a hidden camera to record someone in a private space can also lead to criminal charges under Statute § 810.145.

Importantly, the presence of a CCTV camera does not automatically equate to a privacy violation. Courts often look at the intention behind the camera placement, whether any attempts were made to respect boundaries, and the degree to which your neighbor’s best home security system invades personal privacy.

What to do if your privacy feels invaded

If you feel that a neighbor’s camera is invading your privacy, you don’t have to simply live with it. Approach your neighbor calmly and express your concerns. Often, the issue can be resolved amicably – your neighbor may not even be aware their camera is pointed at your window or backyard.

If a friendly conversation doesn’t solve the problem, Gene Petrino, security expert at Survival Response and a retired SWAT commander, suggests further steps you can take:

• Document the situation: Take photos or video showing the location and angle of the camera, especially if it appears to be focused on areas like your bedroom window or backyard. Keep a log of any interactions or changes.
• Contact your local homeowners’ association (HOA): If you live in a community governed by an HOA, they may have specific rules about the placement of surveillance equipment and could intervene on your behalf, and issue an HOA fine if your neighbor is violating any local codes.
• Review local and state laws: Some municipalities have ordinances about where cameras can be placed. Check with your city or county’s planning department.
• Consult an attorney: If the issue escalates and you believe your privacy is being violated, a lawyer can help you understand your rights and determine whether you have grounds for a civil lawsuit.
• File a complaint: In cases where the surveillance is extreme, such as a camera zoomed into your windows or audio recording without consent, you may have grounds to file a police report. Laws on audio recording, in particular, are strict and can carry severe penalties if violated.

Gene adds, 'It's also important to know that tampering with or obstructing your neighbor’s camera, such as by pointing a laser at it or physically altering its view, can land you in legal trouble. Always pursue peaceful and legal avenues to resolve disputes.'

One suggestion you can make is for your neighbor to install a Philips door chime from Walmart as a clever decoy camera, which doesn’t record but will still deter unwanted intruders. Alternatively, invest in smart privacy barriers such as the best garden screening ideas and the best privacy hedges to create a natural barrier around your home.

What to shop

Meet the experts

The balance between home security and privacy rights is becoming a legal gray area that courts are still figuring out. The key for homeowners is to strike a balance between protecting their property and respecting the boundaries of others.

Ultimately, resolving CCTV conflicts often comes down to respectful communication and mutual understanding. Most people just want to feel safe in their homes and prevent burglary without feeling like someone’s watching.

After being harassed at home and feeling fearful when alone, we installed a Ring video doorbell. I liked almost everything about it, except the annoying monthly subscription fee needed to save videos or access all the security features.

Whilst paying between $4.99-29.99 a month wasn't breaking the bank, the cumulative cost over a number of years was adding up, and I grew weary of paying to store my Ring doorbell's footage.

I decided to switch to eufy’s e340 video doorbell, which has 7GB local storage, superior camera quality, far longer battery life, and crucially: no monthly fee. I’m totally converted. Here’s why.

eufy vs Ring

All prices and offers were correct at the time of writing.

The eufy e340, available at a discount on Amazon for under $100, is a little slower to access when a live event is going on, but on every other level, I rate the eufy over my previous Ring video doorbell. A video doorbell is also one of the best security measures for a house and has proven vital in mine.

The eufy has super crisp audio and visual, doesn’t need a monthly subscription to save video events or access its features, and has far superior night vision. It’s also the industry’s first color night vision camera. My street has no street lights, so this has been a welcome addition for clearer nighttime video recording and security.

It also gives you access to its person recognition technology as standard, a nice way to secure your home over the holidays, which, on the Ring battery doorbell, is only available to those who pay a monthly subscription.

Dan Fauzi, our home tech editor here at Homes & Gardens, says, 'I've seen first-hand at eufy's innovation conferences how well their video doorbells and outdoor cameras pick up details in the dark.

'At one such press event, I tried it in what was almost a pitch-black room, and a single eufy video doorbell camera was able to make out the colors and features of my face – something I'd never seen from a consumer security gadget.'

Why having a video doorbell is worth it

Having a video doorbell system has been crucial for me on multiple levels:

• I want to see who is at my door to avoid answering when needed for security reasons.
• Keeping an eye out for my cats, as we don’t have a cat flap and they like to sit outside and catch the breeze.
• I am disabled and work upstairs in our home office, and I cannot get downstairs easily, or at all when I am having a high pain day, and certainly can’t get to the door quick enough for delivery drivers who are always in a rush to go.

Whilst my Ring battery doorbell from Amazon was an affordable segue into the world of video doorbells, usually costing around $99, I’m thrilled to have been able to test the eufy e340 (it usually costs around $140-170 dollars but is currently discounted to $94.99 on Amazon for a limited time) at home and will be keeping it for good.

My verdict

Having used it for a month in my home, I’ve found the eufy e340 to be superior to the original Ring doorbell I had on multiple levels and a transformative bit of home tech.

On a single charge, the eufy can run on battery power for up to six months. Our Ring doorbell needed a charge every 4-6 weeks and we had to unscrew the device from its wall holder to get it off, which resulted in us losing one of the tiny screws over the course of the last two years. The eufy, however, clips on and off easily and is therefore quicker to get on charge, or back on the wall.

The eufy video doorbell also has dual cameras, allowing you to see who is standing at the door and what has been left on the ground. You can view both at the same time, expand one to the screen, or swap them around as standard.

We get a lot of home deliveries, and I’ve loved being able to use this function when expecting a parcel, or double-checking if the delivery person did leave the parcel on the ground as instructed over audio. You can set auto-answers as well, which is handy.

The ring doorbell released in 2024 allows visuals down to the ground in the main video, but it doesn’t track right down to where the ground meets your door. My Ring doorbell was pre-2024 release, so I couldn’t see any of the ground near the door, however the new Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, which we've also reviewed and given a 5/5, does provide a head-to-toe view.

Having a video doorbell is also a brilliant way to burglar proof your front door. As a teenager, my family home was twice broken into via the front door, with the burglars somehow cracking our thick hardwood door, so this is important for me.

Whilst my Ring video doorbell could be used without a monthly subscription, it wouldn’t save or store any footage it captured without that additional cloud cost. Running my security camera without videos being saved is a no-go in my book because if something happens and you need that door-side footage for the police, you won’t have access to it after the live event.

Having access to this video doorbell footage is one way experts recommend you secure a home without a security system.

Whilst the Ring monthly subscription costs were not astronomical – I had the cheapest one, costing around $100 a year – life is more expensive than ever, so finding ways to save money at home has become increasingly important for my family and our budget.

After testing it in my home for a month, the main draw for me on the eufy e340 is that it can store up to 7GB of footage locally. It’s easy enough to select all and delete old footage if it starts running low, but 7gb is a fair amount of storage and I’m yet to be prompted to do so. In a month of 24/7 operation, I’ve used just three per cent of that.

Whilst you can wire the eufy doorbell in, if like me, you are not electrically minded, you can run it off battery power, and simply affix it to your masonry. I hired a handyman to drill into our masonry and opted to install ours with the provided angle wedge, to allow more footage of the area in front of our home, and not any reflection of light on the close by masonry. You can also set privacy areas so it doesn't record neighbors' homes.

The only thing you can’t do without wiring on the eufy e340 video doorbell is enable the pre-recording, which captures four seconds of additional footage before a person rings your bell. The Ring doorbell I had could be wired or simply mounted for battery use too but needed a monthly subscription to allow access to a similar pre-recording function.

If you want cloud storage for further space, you can opt for a eufy monthly subscription or add a eufy Homebase for a further 16GB. Crucially, you don’t have to pay monthly to be able to save and store any videos captured.

Our home tech editor, Dan Fauzi adds, 'When you're buying tech as a long-term investment, it's worth it to spend that extra initial cost to make sure it's subscription-free. Subscription prices are always changing, and with something as handy as a video doorbell, you're likely going to become familiar with the convenience and peace of mind it brings and won't want to get rid of it any time soon.'

Now, I’ve gotten used to the eufy security app, I have found it to be more intuitive and easy to use than the Ring App. Most options are where you expect them to be. I also love that the eufy app allows me to integrate my eufy robot vacuums (I have two of those, they’re excellent and have reduced my canister use by 90%) into one space.

The only down side on putting a home security tip like this in play, is I cannot seem to connect my eufy doorbell to my existing plug-in chime, which I bought to work with my Ring doorbell previously. I will upgrade it at some point in the future, but the reality is, I almost always have my phone on me, and will always hear or see the eufy doorbell chime and alerts.

Dan adds, 'Even without installing a new chime, if you already have a Google or Alexa smart speaker, you can connect it to your eufy camera, then set a notification for if somebody approaches the door or rings the bell. It won't be as loud, but people at home will know when someone's at the door without having to keep their phones on them.'

What to shop

This is just one security measure I have in my home. Learn more about the ‘Fort Knox’ home security picks of our content editor’s military dad, and the home security mistakes making you a prime target for identity theft.

When we think about home security, we usually think about a good door lock, camera and an alarm. However, there are several smaller details from how we trash out mail to dealing with old credit cards that pose a threat to our safety at home.

Security experts warn that identity theft often starts at home, and is an issue that affects millions of people each year, leading to financial loss and credit damage.

Here, our pros break down the six mistakes you're making at home that are making you a prime target for identity theft and reveal the best security measures to have.

Home mistakes that make you a target for identity theft

While small details like adding privacy to your home might not seem like much, tackling them correctly is one of the best – and easiest – home security tips experts have to offer.

1. Tossing out mail without shredding

Organizing your mail should go beyond when you bring it into the house. How you get rid of old mail – especially sensitive mail such as bills and medical documents – can have an impact on your home security. It is why mail is one of the many things you should never store in an entryway.

Seth Geftic, cybersecurity expert and VP of product marketing at Huntress Labs explains, ‘It's surprisingly easy for thieves to collect personal information from discarded mail – old bills, credit card offers, even innocuous-looking bank statements. Without shredding, this information can give bad actors a clear path to accounts and ID details.

‘A home shredder or a quick tear-up of sensitive mail can go a long way. If you really wanted to cover your basis, you could also dispose of different parts of the torn-up paper in different bins. The same can be said about credit cards.’

All prices correct at time of publication.

2. Not securing your home WiFi

When we get new WiFi installed, our first concern is usually the worst places for your WiFi router. However, Joe Warnimont, security and technical expert at HostingAdvice warns that we should be thinking out the password first instead.

He says, ‘In terms of keeping your WiFi and overall home network secure, I mainly see mistakes that allow the average hacker to infiltrate your network without much work. It all starts when someone buys a router and sticks to the defaults.

'Default network names often reveal details about your router model, making it easier to hack. In addition, network names with personal details make it easier to guess your password or determine your location.

‘You should always change the default network name to something that’s not connected to your location or personal information (like your school or last name).’

3. Leaving personal information unsecured

You should never underestimate the importance of having a good quality safe in your home to keep personal documents locked away – especially when securing a home without a security system.

Paige Schaffer, CEO of Iris, an identity and cyber protection platform, urges that we secure everything important in a fireproof, waterproof safe. ‘This includes your family’s passports, credit cards, birth certificates, financial statements, and tax filings.’ she says. ‘If you have sensitive information stored on your laptop or computer, make sure to encrypt or password-protect the files and folders containing the sensitive data.’

Seth Geftic, a cyber security expert, adds that this treatment should extend to your passwords, too.

‘Writing down passwords or storing them in plain text on a home computer is a big mistake,' Seth explains. 'In many cases, visitors, repair personnel, or even kids playing on the computer can too easily access sensitive information.

'Using a password manager can keep credentials encrypted and out of reach from prying eyes, there’s so many free options out there now, I’d recommend 1Password or Last Pass.’

4. Not having mail forwarded when you’re out of town

When organizing your home before going on vacation for an extended period or moving home, arranging for your mail to be forwarded should be at the top of your priority lists, Paige Schaffer, CEO of Iris suggests.

She says, ‘If you go on an extended vacation or move out of the house while it’s undergoing renovations, have your mail forwarded, or ask a friend to pick it up and check on your home periodically. You should also visit your property frequently to ensure there aren’t any squatters or suspicious activity happening in your home.’

Keeping on top of your incoming mail while away stops two things. Firstly, it prevents a build-up of mail signaling that your property is empty and an ‘easy’ target. Secondly, it prevents ‘porch pirates’ from swiping mail with personal information.

5. Not updating home security systems

Having the best home security system is one thing, but keeping it up-to-date and secure is another.

Jeff Ketelaars, co-founder at Security Guards Only warns us that, ‘It's important to remember to keep home security cameras secure. Weak passwords or outdated software can leave cameras vulnerable to hackers, who may access live feeds to learn your routines and spot valuables. Regular updates and strong passwords help keep your cameras secure.’

Pairing a good home security system, such as the Ring 14-piece Security Kit from Amazon (rated H&G's best overall security system) with good garden security lighting will enhance your home and personal security further.

6. Giving information to door-to-door salespeople

While most door-to-door salespeople are only trying to make a living, there are some opportunistic individuals that run scams.

Erik G Schneider, senior investigator and owner at Executive Investigation And Consulting warns, ‘Canvassers and fake salespeople sometimes ask questions that seem harmless – like confirming your name or asking about household members – but this information can be pieced together with other data to compromise your identity. They may even ask about schedules such as work hours, which can also be a safety risk.’

Stacking these anti-identity theft measures with your regular home security is the best way to keep your household safe and prevent burglary – both of your physical belongings and your social information.

*Information Commissioner’s Office, Identity Theft

Solar lights have a deservedly bad reputation. Many of us will have bought cheap festoon lights on a whim only to find that they barely produce light and break within months.

Nowhere is this more apparent than on Amazon. The site is flooded with cheap lights listed under fake names with sketchy reviews, and it can feel like there are no solar lights out there worth your money.

However, as a product tester, I've found a handful of lights that are worth buying. A good set of lights for under $10 sounds too good to be true, but in a tiny number of cases it's actually a good deal. These products are still surrounded by some dicey business practices, but the actual lights themselves are great

What's the deal with solar lights?

Solar lights don't have 'brands', as such. Apart from Brightown and Brightech, solar light brands don't exist. Instead, solar light models are created in China (at least, almost always in China) and exported.

The importers, usually Chinese, but often small American operations, then put a fake 'brand' name onto their lights, typically a random string of letters. I've seen my favorite solar lights listed under dozens of names, originally as 'Usboo', but in this sales period, they're listed as 'LORRYET' and 'Cottone'. The importers slowly sell all of their stock and then remove the storefront from Amazon. They then repeat the process.

This means that the market is flooded with cheap lights that don't always work. It's technically above board, but it seems sketchy because the brand name shifts. It also means that there's no customer service if your lights break.

However, there are still some gems that are worth considering. While there are poor business practices around the lights, the underlying product is still good. It's as if the name of the iPhone changed every other week - it's a little shady, but there's nothing wrong with the phone itself.

I've tested several different models of solar lights, and some have lasted for years. I've seen the same product listed under dozens of names, but the actual lights are often surprisingly sturdy - and usually at a low price, especially around Prime Day.

Best Amazon solar light deals

When is the best time to get a solar light deal?

Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times to buy solar lights. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that the two events see the cheapest prices throughout the year more generally. The second is that garden equipment and decor see the lowest prices in winter, because demand is low but supply is high after the summer. Big brands want to get rid of their summer garden equipment to make way for new stock, so you often find the best prices on garden products during these fall and early winter sales.

How can you tell if you've found a good solar light deal?

Solar lights are already pretty cheap, so look for deals that give at least 30% off for the best value.

What's more important is to know how to buy good solar lights. Look out for lights with at least IP65 weatherproofing, but aim for IP68 for the best protection. Look for lights of at least 100 lumens to ensure they're bright enough to provide practical lighting.

What's a good price for solar lights?

There are lots of different types of solar lights. For string lights, aim to pay between $20-$40. For solar spotlights, expect to pay $30-$40 for a set of two lights. For solar security lights, pay between $30-$50

Solar lights are far from the only thing on offer for Prime Day. Our experts are all over a huge range of deals from the best bedding deals to the best vacuum deals.

If you're looking to give your home a seasonal refresh, look no further than Walmart. Known for affordable prices and a huge selection of offerings, it's quickly become a go-to for chic home decor and classic furniture, too. Perfect for a whole-home overhaul, a summer spruce up, and everything in between, I'm turning to Walmart for all my home decor needs this season.

With so much to choose from (and all at incredible prices), you're not alone if browsing makes your head start to spin. With summer sales now in full swing, now is the time to get the Walmart shopping process down once and for all.

As an interiors editor for H&G, I've spent quite a bit of time browsing Walmart's selection, and picking out the best of the best for you to bring home. Now, I'm sharing all I've learned along the way. These are my top six tips for shopping Walmart's site like a pro – here's all you need to know.

1. Draw up a wish list

Heading to the store (or site) with nothing specific in mind is a risky move – aimless shopping can be cathartic, but more often than not, you end up with loads of items you didn't really want or need. That's why going in with a plan is key, especially when the allure of a big sale is at play.

Note any interior design trends you're loving at the moment, and take stock of the items your home might be missing. Make a list of your must-haves, and keep them in mind every step of the way. Walmart likely has something that fits the bill, and setting your sights will make the shopping process calmer and less complicated.

2. Peruse the sales pages first

Despite its sprawling site, Walmart makes the shopping process quite simple – especially when it comes to sales. On the website's home page, you'll find 'flash deals,' and any special sales on offer. Sorted by themes like 'summer savings' and 'more splash, no splurge,' the best bargains are right at your fingertips.

Plus, when you start to search for a specific category or item, you'll be able to select the 'deals' filter on the left-hand side. That'll ensure you're getting the best deal possible from the get-go, without having to scroll through full-price items first.

3. Narrow down your search criteria

Aside from filtering out full-price picks, you'll also want to pay attention to the various ways you can narrow down your search. You'll find most of your home decor and furniture pieces under the site's category 'Home, Garden & Tools.' From there, browse everything from bedding, to patio sets, to curtains. Under each sub-category, Walmart makes it quite simple to narrow down your search.

While curtains and drapes are already organized by type, length, hanging style, and transparency for your convenience, you'll also be able to filter by color, space and more. Each category is organized with ease of access in mind, so take full advantage of Walmart's intuitive tools. You'll find your ideal piece in no time.

4. Filter by brand

One of the best perks of shopping Walmart is the wide range of brands you'll be able to access through one streamlined site. Offering Sofía Home by Sofía Vergara, Drew Barrymore's Beautiful collection, Cuisinart appliances, and so much more, Walmart is hooking us up with some of the best (and buzziest) home decor on the market. If you're looking for a specific brand, be sure to select it on the left-hand side of your screen. And if you like what you see while shopping, simply click the name of the brand to see all they have on offer.

5. Browse curated collections

If you have a general idea of the interior design style you're going for (or know which room you're looking to upgrade) but aren't quite sure what to purchase, Walmart's got you covered. The brand has curated countless collections on site – 'all your al fresco needs,' 'make the patio your happy place,' and 'your indoor oasis is here,' are just a few of the looks on offer now. From there, you'll be able to narrow down the search as normal, but you'll be off to a smashing start.

6. Don't delay

It's disappointing to have your heart set on something, then return to find it missing. And sales go incredibly quickly – if you look away for a moment, that stunning patio set might be gone. Whether the price increases or the item's suddenly sold out, you won't want to be left in the dust. Once you've found the perfect fit for your home, act fast.

The best Walmart deals right now

With these tips in mind, you'll be shopping Walmart with ease during the July 4th sale and beyond. Keep your mind clear and act fast for the best deals and most stylish home decor on the market.

With a surge of packages arriving around the holidays, there's an increasing risk of so-called 'porch pirates' or package thieves targeting homes. To avoid this issue it is essential to take precautions by implementing some safety and prevention methods to improve your home security.

To secure your home for the holidays it's all about creating obstacles that make your porch less appealing to thieves.

'With the holiday season upon us, millions of people will be sending gifts around the country. However, many will never make it to the intended person. The more we buy online, the more packages are getting stolen,' says Dan O’Toole, CEO of delivery and pickup company, Arrive. 'The good news is some things can be done to help protect the packages from porch pirates.'

How to prevent porch pirates

'Always request that delivery personnel place packages in a less visible spot on your porch,' advises Mohammad Ahmed, founder of The Home Guidance Blog. 'You could also design a part of your porch with decorative elements like large planters or outdoor furniture to create a hidden drop-off spot.'

1. Invest in a lockable dropbox

You can also establish a secure package delivery location, such as a lockable dropbox or a 'porch pirate-proof mailbox' where the packages are safely stored. In these, packages can be delivered but not retrieved, unless with a code or key. 

A metal mailbox with a lock, such as this VEVOR package delivery box, from Amazon can keep packages safe until you return and be incorporated into your front door design. 

Even if a determined burglar could open the porch pirate box, it would almost certainly be an effective deterrent.

For larger packages, that Genie BenchSentry coded lock box may be more suitable, however, these options are costly. While this may be the most effective method, other solutions are lower cost.

2. Install a smart doorbell

To enhance security, you can consider smart technology solutions such as installing a video doorbell or a porch camera that can act as a deterrent and provide you with real-time alerts when any activity is detected. There are dozens of these gadgets on the market, and they allow you to answer the doorbell or alarm from anywhere with mobile phone service.

While this is not a surefire way to avoid theft, it will help reduce it, with not only a camera but also a microphone so you can communicate with anyone approaching your porch. This can ward off porch pirates as well as meaning you can instruct delivery people where to securely place your package.

'Another benefit of using a security camera or a doorbell camera so you can receive an alert as soon as a package is delivered to your front door. Then, you can run home and put it inside or ask a friend or neighbor to grab it for you,' explains Rick Musson, a home security expert with Clearsurance. 

3. Use smart locks for secure delivery

'Some smart locks allow delivery services to place packages inside a secure location,' explains Mohammad Ahmed. 'This is a great way to keep your packages out of sight and secure.'

You can inform your delivery drivers of the code for your smart lock, allowing them access to a secure location. This could be a shed or side passage. These can be used in conjunction with security cameras with microphones so you can communicate with delivery drivers, ensuring they understand where to leave the package. 

Alternatively, some smart locks allow you to grant access remotely, allowing you to securely let them in from your location,' such as this eufy smart lock, from Amazon.

4. Landscape strategically

'Utilize landscaping to create natural barriers or to obscure the view of your porch from the street. Dense shrubbery or fencing can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional.'

Plant for home security with thorny plants, cover a fence or the delivery points with spiky climbers and avoid tall hedges that provide hiding spots. You can also incorporate stones that make a sound when walked on to further deter porch pirates.

5. Use strategic lighting

Use strategic garden security lighting to eliminate shadowy areas, removing the opportunities to be disguised. 

Consider installing motion-activated lights or stylish fixtures that serve the dual purpose of aesthetics and safety. These should ward off any unwanted visitors.

6. Implement package concealment furniture

'Consider adding a stylish bench with storage capacity or a large decorative box on your porch,' advises Mohammad Ahmed. 'These can serve as both aesthetic elements and functional spaces to conceal packages.'

We recommend this Maksville outdoor storage bench, from Target.

These can discretely conceal the packages. You can use a lock box inside a storage bench or table for an added layer of security.

FAQs

Scheduling deliveries for times you'll be home or using tracking apps to plan your day around the delivery can minimize the risk. You can also coordinate with neighbors to collect packages or set up a community locker. 

Whether you’re going away for just a couple of days or are planning a long vacation with the family, you’ll want to make sure you secure your home for the holidays. It’s no secret that homes that are empty are attractive to burglars, so what can you do to protect your property when you’re not there?

We’ve asked home security experts to give their pro tips on how to best secure your home while you're away. 

Fortunately, most of these tips are easy to implement and don’t require a complex home security system – although if you’re willing to go down that route, our experts offer useful tips for maximizing the effectiveness of smart security technology to protect your home.

How to secure your home for the holidays

Ultimately, though, securing your home for the holidays will require a thorough approach. The more of these tips you adopt, the better protected your property will be.

1. Create the illusion of an occupied home

All of our experts stress the importance of creating the illusion of a home that’s occupied. Burglars, in their vast majority, are opportunists and don’t want to encounter their target’s homeowners. Most will avoid entering homes that have what K. Campbell, Principal at Blue Glacier Security & Intelligence, calls ‘occupancy cues’. These include ‘cars in the driveway, lights turned on in the house, a loud television or music, and the absence of mail and packages piling up.’ 

A mailbox stuffed with uncollected mail is the Achilles heel of many homes during the holidays, as Kirk MacDowell, Home Security Expert at Batten Safe, points out: ‘It is common for burglars to look in mailboxes. If they look in your mailbox and can see 3-4 days of mail or see packages on your doorstep, it is a tell-tale sign that someone is out of town and away from their home.’

So, if you are going away, have a neighbor or friend pick up your mail and packages (which could also be stolen if they’re left out on your porch for several days). Doing this one thing will make burglars at least doubt whether someone might be at home, and they are less likely to try breaking in.

Of course, if you can get a friend to house-sit for you and turn on the lights and the TV in the evening, that’s even better. If you can’t, ask your mail delivery provider to hold your mail at the post office while you’re away (this is often called ‘vacation hold’ or ‘holiday hold’).

2. Secure all doors

This might seem too obvious a tip to list, but the data doesn’t lie. Many of us still forget to lock our doors, and Kirk MacDowell tells us that ‘most burglaries occur through a back door.’ 

Contrary to popular belief (and scenes we’ve all seen in movies), burglars don’t enjoy smashing windows: they’d much rather walk in through an open door. Filipp Shved, who is the Product Marketing Manager and consumer security systems expert at Aqara, reminds homeowners to ‘lock up properly before a vacation. Double check all locks, not just doors.’

An unlocked door is pretty useless at protecting your home from a burglar, and that includes a door that has old locks that are easy to pick or pry open with a credit card. As an experiment, try it yourself: if your lock is easy to tamper with, replace it.

Extra pro tip: don’t ignore your door hinges. Security expert at Survival Response and retired SWAT commander Gene Petrino recommends replacing ‘door hinges and lock screws with 3-inch screws. This makes doors nearly impossible to kick in.’ Other ways of burglar-proofing your front door include reinforcing strike plates and investing in smart locks.

3. Keep your yard tidy

Burglars prefer properties with overgrown shrubs in the yard because these give them excellent cover. Gene Petrino reminds readers that burglars like ‘to operate unnoticed’, and overgrown greenery allows them to do just that. This doesn’t mean you have to cut down all the trees and bushes in your yard, but you may have to rethink your planting scheme a little. Make sure that your plants do not conceal your front/back door: these should always be visible from the street.   

4. Don’t leave valuables on display

It may seem like an inconvenience, but removing that expensive vase/lamp from your window sill may make a difference in protecting your home from an intruder. Burglars particularly like homes that look like they belong to someone who’s older because, as Kirk MacDowell explains, ‘older generations tend to have more valuables and medications in their homes.’

While you can’t change your whole home decorating scheme, drawing the curtains and blinds if you have valuable furniture, artwork, or accessories on display is always a good idea. If you are likely to forget to close the blinds before you leave, invest in smart blinds that can be operated remotely from your phone.

5. Keep your social media accounts private

Gene Petrino cautions homeowners: ‘Do not post about going on vacation or post photographs of being on vacation until you return. Criminals monitor social media to find homes where people are on vacation.’ 

If you are on Facebook and related platforms, make sure you trawl through all your content settings so that any posts you do create are shared only between you and your family and close friends. Be especially careful around changing your location settings: make sure these are never shared publicly.

6. Be discerning when choosing a home security system

There are a few caveats with installing smart home security – or any type of home security, for that matter. The biggest is that a home security system alone may not deter burglars if the other precautionary steps haven’t been followed. K. Campbell goes as far as to say that ‘deterrence should never be the *primary* reason for installing any security system, including cameras.’  

It's also true some home security systems are better than others, and you have to be savvy about how you install and operate them. Gene Petrino, for example, stresses the importance of placing your security cameras ‘strategically’ ‘to cover entry points and vulnerable areas’. He also advises investing in a security system ‘with remote access capabilities’. This is important because having remote access to your surveillance cameras may give you a valuable opportunity to stop a break-in as it’s happening. 

Many modern security cameras (there’s a wide selection on Amazon) with remote access features come with speakers and even video streaming that will allow you to talk to whoever is outside your door even if you’re not there. Wireless doorbells such as Ring can also give you some protection, although it will be limited to the area around your front door. 

7. Use the 'concentric layers of security' rule

Kirk MacDowell recommends always opting for an alarm system that ‘combines cameras, video, and alarm’ so that you can create what he calls ‘concentric layers of security’. These are ‘multiple rings or layers of security starting with the exterior of your home’, with additional layers ‘added as you move inward through the home.’

The problem with more traditional home alarms is that they ‘can only detect the front and back doors of a home, and have a motion sensor.’ Such an alarm ‘will not detect a burglar coming in through the window, it would only detect them once they create motion within the house. Many burglars are aware of these systems and will use them to their advantage.’

The solution? Invest in alarm systems that prioritize early detection and allow you to interact with the burglar. ‘The faster you can detect someone, the sooner they are deterred,' emphasizes MacDowell. Some of the newest home security systems use AI technology to detect and analyze suspicious behavior, allowing the homeowner to act much sooner. These systems can even pass on information about an individual to law enforcement – which brings us to our next point.

8. Consider contacting your local law enforcement

If relying on AI and ultra-sophisticated security systems is not your style (or is outside your budget), you may be able to protect your home simply by contacting your local law enforcement, and asking them to put your home on ‘vacation watch.’ Gene Petrino explains that ‘most agencies offer this service where they will provide residents with a vacation check by a police officer for their home each day while they are away.’

This is a great option if you live in an area with good police presence and a regular community police patrol. Even if you don’t, you may be able to contact your local neighborhood watch group and ask them to look in on your property.

FAQs

Keep safe and enjoy your holidays! 

Securing your home without a security system is possible by implementing a
combination of practical measures and security hacks for when you're out of the house.

These home security tips should help you feel infinitely safer in your home, and more confident about leaving for longer periods of time.

Our experts have shared their top tips for securing a home without a security system. These ideas are mostly low-cost but can be highly effective at preventing a burglary.

How to secure your home without a security system

Securing your home without a security system involves implementing security measures in and outside your home to cover all points of entry and house observation, as well as some tricks to deter intruders.

1. Strategic landscaping and lighting

While it may not seem the most effective deterrent for intruders, in fact tactical landscaping and lighting, especially in your front yard, can make life more difficult for home invaders, preventing them from taking action.

'A well-thought-out landscape can serve as a natural deterrent to potential intruders.' advises Rich Mullins, interior designer and owner of H2O Plumbing.

Ben Gold, expert in home security and founder of Recommended Home Buyers says, 'Consider thorny plants as natural barriers to deter unwanted access.'

Rich Mullins adds, 'For instance, planting thorny bushes or dense shrubs beneath windows can create a formidable barrier. I once worked with a client who used carefully placed rose bushes near vulnerable entry points, effectively discouraging any unwanted visitors.' You can find rose bushes to plant in your front garden, such as this The Red Double Knock Out plant from Walmart.

Additionally, overgrown bushes can provide intruders with a valuable hiding spot, making it more challenging for you or your neighbors to spot suspicious activity. Ben Gold recommends that, 'Properly trimmed bushes and trees, especially around windows, eliminate hiding spots.'

When it comes to lighting, Pete Evering at Utopia Property Management says, 'Outdoor lighting is like a friendly watchdog for your home, whether you're inside or away. When it's dark, well-lit areas around your house send a strong message to would-be burglars that your place is not an easy target. It makes them think twice before getting too close.

'Bright lights create the impression that someone is watching or that your home is safeguarded by a security system. This makes burglars nervous and more likely to move on to an easier target. But outdoor lighting isn't enough.'

Be sure to avoid simply leaving your lights on when you go on vacation, however, as it could invite criminals in inadvertently.

2. Secure windows and doors

'Strengthening your doors and windows is crucial for home security. Install solid core or metal doors, reinforce door frames, and use deadbolt locks. Consider adding window security film or laminated glass to make it harder to break in,' suggests Dave Roebel of Northeast Mechanical Services. We recommend these 2 piece Deadbolt Strike Plates from Walmart, and this Clear Security and Safety Shatterproof Window Film from Amazon.

Omer Reiner, realtor and president of FL Cash Home Buyers, LLC warns, 'Be sure that your doors and their locks are strong enough to be a deterrent. Hollow-core wooden doors are fairly easy to break, and sliding glass doors can be removed from their tracks in a jiffy as well. For those, get a wooden dowel that has been cut to the length of the stationary portion of the door and place it in the track. That will help deter a criminal looking for a quick entry.'

3. Motion activated lights

Invest in movement-activated lighting to discourage intruders and decorate visibility, such as garden security lighting.

Fantastic Handyman's locksmith and home security expert, Ivelin Hristov says, 'Instead of having the lights outdoors constantly on, install motion-activated ones around your house. This is actually one of the home security solutions that have earned a significant reputation for its effectiveness. The sudden flash of bright lights can startle and deter an intruder because burglars prefer privacy and will be deterred by well-lit properties.'

'Motion detector lights can be an effective deterrent. Install them around the perimeter of your home, especially near entry points,' adds Dave Roebel.

4. Lighting timers

'Something I’ve recommended to many people are smart lights,' says Christenda Costa, CEO of Gadget Review. 'In addition to improving your home’s energy usage, smart lights can actually be used for security purposes. Say, for example, you are on a week-long vacation. You don’t want it to look like there is no one home, because that could make your home a target for burglary. So, your smart lights could be set up to automatically turn on at certain times to create the appearance of someone being home. Or, you could turn them on via your phone, even while away on vacation.'

You can even use this easy smart home feature for TVs and other electronic features that will create the illusion that you are home.

Find these plug timers and outlet with timer at Amazon to set up your lighting timers to automatically work when you are away.

5. Security cameras

Security cameras, whether real or fake, can be an excellent deterrent to intruders. Place security cameras strategically to cover vulnerable areas and deter intruders.

Home security expert, Ivelin Hristov says, 'While real security cameras are an excellent deterrent, they are often expensive. However, strategically placing some convincing fake cameras can also raise the suspicions of potential burglars. Usually, they wouldn’t be able to tell which ones are real and wouldn’t want to take the risk.'

6. Window dressing

Window covers are always an important home security measure in maintaining privacy since intruders are unable to assess the occupancies and weakness of the house, as well as meaning they don't spot your valuables.

Roman Smolevskiy, owner of A+ Construction & Remodeling says, 'Keep your valuable possessions out of sight using curtains or blinds. This not only adds privacy to your home, but also prevents potential burglars from window shopping.'

When I leave my home for longer periods of time, I keep the blinds tilted upwards to keep people from seeing in, but open enough so they don't look completely closed during the day and so the light from lights on timers will be visible from outside.

For ground floor windows you can also install privacy films on your windows such as this Coavas Frosted Glass Window Film from Amazon.

7. Security signage

'Displaying security signs and stickers can create the perception of security. Even without an active system, the mere presence of these signs can make potential intruders think twice,' suggests interior design expert, Rich Mullins. 'It's a cost-effective way to enhance your home's security. Remember, many burglars prefer easy targets, so the appearance of security matters.'

Even without having security cameras, you can suggest you have out of sight ones with signs (such as this Camera Video Surveillance System Warning from Walmart), or use dog theft prevention tips by using beware of dogs signs.

8. Build strong relationships with neighbors

Rich Mullins explains, 'A strong sense of community can be your first line of defense. Get to know your neighbors and build trust. Having someone you can rely on to keep an eye on your property when you're away is invaluable. I've seen close-knit neighborhoods where neighbors formed strong bonds and effectively watched out or each other. Building a strong rapport with neighbors can be an effective security measure. Neighborhood watch programs and mutual alert systems can enhance overall safety.'

Home security expert, Ivelin Hristov suggests, 'If you're away for an extended period of time, ask a neighbour or a friend to park their car in your driveway or in front of your house occasionally. This will suggest that there’s someone in the house. There has actually been a survey conducted among inmates serving time for burglary in which almost all of them said that they’d hesitate to enter a house with a car parked outside. Also, ask them to collect your mail because a build-up of letters and packages can indicate that you’re away.'

FAQs

Whether you opt to use one or all of these security measures, this should effectively contribute to deterring your home from intruders. Ensure you have a safe in your home for your most valuable items, too.

Garden security lighting may not be your go-to choice for those alfresco evenings with friends and loved ones underneath the stars. But that's not to say it isn't worth investing in.

595,000 garden thefts occurred in the UK last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. That's a 23 percent rise from 2017. What's more, this figure accounts for a staggering 90 per cent of all household thefts. Bikes and lawnmowers are the most commonly stolen items.

And it’s not just the two-wheeler you’ve got to keep your eyes on. A secure garden with well-positioned outdoor lighting ideas can also deter burglars from targeting your home.

And with the FBI reporting a home burglary every 25.7 seconds in the US, it pays to have every security measure covered.

What are the main types of garden security lighting?

FLOODLIGHTS

Floodlights are used when a brighter illumination is required (setting them apart from the usual lighting used in garden ideas), emitting a wide, powerful beam that is ideal for driveways, entrances, and pathways.

On all outdoor lighting, you should take note of the product’s Ingress Protection rating, which relates to its waterproofing capacity. The minimum you require is IP43, which protects against rain and spraying water.

SPOTLIGHTS

Spotlights are similar in brightness to floodlights, but cast a narrower beam of light, usually no wider than 45 degrees. This beam is more concentrated and easier to point and control.

WALL-MOUNTED LAMPS

Usually powered by a mains supply, you can position these lamps to the side of your front door, which is the number one spot for garden security lighting, making them a great front porch lighting idea.

MOTION-SENSOR LIGHTS

Motion sensor lights use a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor that is activated by heat and movement. A mainstay of garden security lighting, they save on energy as you don’t need to have them on all day, only when motion is detected.

SOLAR PIR LIGHTS

Solar garden lighting ideas will usually be an LED light source and can last between four to six hours, giving ample light to your outdoor space.

Are LED security lights any good?

When it comes to efficiency, LED security lights are an insider’s favourite. ‘Although they can be expensive to purchase, they will save on your energy bills in the long term as they are very energy efficient,’ says Matthew Currington, technical director at The Lighting Superstore.

‘Generally, they have an average life span of 30,000 hours, whereas a normal bulb lasts up to 2000, so they won’t need replacing as often.’

Adrienne Sharkey-Perves, senior marketing director at automated home security company Arlois also a fan. ‘They are long-lasting and deliver concentrated bright lights that can often be battery powered so even during a power cut, they are still able to function.’

Do note that with battery-powered lighting, you will sacrifice brightness compared to mains powered lighting, which can make them less effective when it comes to security.

How many lumens do I need for outdoor security lighting?

‘It really depends on how large your outdoor space is,’ says Sharkey-Perves. ‘The average halogen car headlight is around 1,200 lumens. So you can keep this in mind when selecting your lights.’

For the uninitiated, a lumen measures the amount of light that comes from a bulb. Motion sensors typically start at 300 lumens, with floodlights usually ranging from 700 to 1300. Anything over 2,000 is very impressive, and probably best suited to garden lights that have been put in place specifically for security purposes.

Don’t get too bogged down in the lumens though. Effective placement of your lighting is just as important.

What is the best way to control garden security lighting?

In the day it won’t make much sense to have your lighting on as they will be outshone by daylight. 

‘Leaving a light on permanently can be costly and no one wants to feel that they live in a sports stadium,’ notes Sharkey-Perves.

The easiest way to control your security lighting then is through a PIR sensor, which will turn the lights on when movement is detected. If you want your lights to be permanently on from the sun setting then look for lights with a built-in twilight detector, which will then turn off again when the morning is detected.

Do motion-activated lights deter thieves?

According to a 2017 report on ex-burglars, one of the main deterrents for thieves is motion-activated security lights.

‘The average break-in takes just eight minutes and criminals are looking for the easiest, low-risk houses to target,’ points out Sharkey-Perves. ‘Illuminating vulnerable areas makes it harder for a would-be thief to approach a property undetected. It's a simple and effective security solution.’

Currington says that while installing motion-activated lights is certainly one of the best things you can do to security-proof your home, they work best in tandem with other measures.

‘Ensure all doors and windows are locked. Set a timer for your lights to go on and off at times you normally would if you were at home. And, if you have the budget, install a home security system.’

Can you install garden security lighting yourself?

If you fancy yourself as a DIY aficionado or simply want to cut costs, then there are plenty of options that make installing garden lighting simple. You really don’t need to call out an electrician.

‘Choosing a product that is wire-free is the best option as it doesn’t require drilling through walls,’ explains Sharkey-Perves.

Solar lights are invariably wire-free. All you need to do is fix them in a spot that will see regular sunlight. If you have chosen mains powered lighting, then Currington advises you get a licensed, professional electrician to do the work for you.

‘They will ensure all wiring and electrical housing units are installed safely and correctly to prevent injury and weather damage.’

Finally, take note of which parts of your garden you wish to illuminate for security purposes. Above and to the side of your front door will give you a clear sight of callers. Make sure the light is not too high as that can put any caller’s face in shadow. This could make them hard to identify.

‘Always be responsible with your lighting and keep your neighbours in mind,’ concludes Currington. ‘Lights need to be placed and aimed in such a way that your neighbours won’t be bothered, but they still do the job. If you’re unsure, it might be worth hiring a landscaper.’