Even if you've never considered a smart video camera to watch over your property, you might be eyeing a smart video doorbell. Guess what? Those have cameras too, and the vast majority of them, especially the most popular ones like Ring, store all of your video footage in the cloud. If you're uncomfortable with this arrangement, or if you just want to know what your options are for the best smart video doorbells that store locally, then we've got you covered.
The Nest Doorbell from Google stands out from the crowd thanks to the Google Home app's excellent updates and nailing the basics. You can get it in four different colors so it fits right in with your home's paint job and while it's a bit of a drag that you need a subscription for all of the features, you do get local storage for enough time to stay in the know about who's been outside your house.
Keep your files locally with some of the best video doorbells
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Google's Nest Hello Doorbell has long been one of our favorite video doorbell options ever since we first reviewed it, though it's had a few major disadvantages. First, it was expensive. Second, it's old. And third, you pretty much needed to spring for a Nest Aware subscription to access any of the key features, including storage. But if you live in a Google Home/Nest ecosystem and want local storage, there's good news. The new Nest Doorbell (Battery) gives you this option, albeit on a somewhat limited basis.
The Nest Doorbell (Battery) gives its users three hours of event video history, but it won't save more than that on the device. If you want more storage, it will be in the cloud from a Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscription. In addition to that limited local storage, you also get AI detection and motion zones without a subscription, making this a perfect option for those who want to try a Made by Google device without committing to a recurring monthly or annual fee.
The Nest Doorbell (Battery) comes in four different colors (as opposed to the two options for the Nest Hello), including Snow, Linen, Ivy, and Ash. Because it's wireless, it's easy for anyone to install just about anywhere, though you will have to recharge the battery every few months.
Wait a second, the best cloud option? I thought these were the best video doorbells that store locally? Well, you're right, but this Arlo Video Doorbell offers you the best of both worlds if you want them. Not only can you store up to 2TB of video via an Arlo base station or Smarthub, but we also found during our review that Arlo also features one of the best cloud subscription services available, in case you want or need that as a backup.
As for tech specs, this doorbell is also one of the best. It records in HD with a super-wide 180-degree field of view. It features excellent night vision and is weather-resistant to withstand heat, cold, rain, or snow. Note that this doorbell is only available in a wired version, so you may need to call upon an electrician to help you install it.
If you're willing to do a little installation work, the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell is another strong contender. As we saw in our Kasa Smart Video Doorbell review, the camera is sharp with great resolution and you can store your footage locally. This camera even has strong night vision thanks to an IR LED and the footage is wide with 160° of viewing area.
This doorbell connects via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi so you shouldn't need to install any sort of extenders or smart home hubs as long as your Wi-Fi is strong. The only thing you'll need to pair is the included chime which can be placed in any socket inside your home with a simple pairing process to get it connected. You'll be able to install up to a 128GB microSD card for local storage in the back of the doorbell itself.
We noted in our review that this is a rather simple camera with its low price so some features, like integration with smart displays, aren't as strong as something from Google. Still, for a simple camera with clear night vision, a high resolution, and a free chime, the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell is an excellent budget option.
EZVIZ may not be the most recognizable brand on this list, but the company has a reputation for producing high-quality security cameras for very affordable prices. Its devices are feature-packed. This doorbell has human shape detection, night vision (up to 16 feet), and a wide 170-degree verticle field of view.
In addition, the doorbell is IP65 dust and water-resistant, works on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, and records in 1080p. But best of all, it comes with a microSD slot that supports up to 256GB of local, on-device storage.
Lorex makes several home security cameras and devices, and the company's first step into video doorbells looks to be a strong one. It features a 1080p HD camera with a wide 160-degree field of view and loads of on-device storage potential. For starters, you get a 16GB microSD card included with the purchase of your device, but you can also swap that up with a card of up to 64GB capacity.
While the Lorex Wi-Fi Video Doorbell works well with Android and iOS apps, it does not currently support Alexa, Google Assistant, or other smart voice assistant integration. There's also, unfortunately, no option for backup battery power with this device. However, just about everything else you'd expect from a device like this is here, including two-way talking, motion alerts, infrared night vision, and around-the-clock monitoring. If cost isn't a major consideration, a newer, 2K model is available for nearly twice the price.
Smart home security should not be limited to those who can afford premium devices, so thankfully, there are more affordable yet still versatile options like this video doorbell from ZUMIMALL. For under $100, you get a video doorbell that hits all the basics, including two-way audio, night vision, motion detection, and weatherproofing. Not too shabby if you ask us.
The ZUMIMALL is a battery-powered device, which means you can install it anywhere in minutes, though you will need to remember to recharge its batteries every couple of months. It has a microSD card slot and includes a 32GB pre-installed card in the box, but if you want, you can swap that out and expand its local storage up to 128GB. You also get a chime included, which can often be an additional expense.
The video quality tops out at 1080p, which is fantastic for the price. However, the camera has a reasonably wide field of view at 166 degrees and sports IP65 weather and dust resistance.
Choosing your new doorbell
Cloud storage isn't going anywhere, as it's a huge profit center and a great convenience to users, but recent data leaks and privacy scandals have shown there is a market for another approach. We expect more smart video doorbell manufacturers to start including on-device storage into their best smart doorbells to address market demand for greater personal control over user data. While it's not the perfect fit for everyone, the Nest Doorbell gets enough right to be one of the best video doorbells with local storage. While we would love to see more local storage options, it's nice that you get enough saved to stay in control of your home with the option to expand with cloud storage.
If you're looking for more on-device storage capacity or a more affordable alternative, there are other great options on this list as well. The key is that you, as a consumer, do have options, and hopefully, this guide will prove helpful as you shop for a smart video doorbell.
