4 Video Doorbells That Work Without A Subscription

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A video doorbell is often a useful addition to your home. It not only allows you to keep an eye on who's coming to your doorstep, whether you are at home or not, but also can help track your package deliveries and deter thefts. However, besides the various wired and wireless video doorbell categories on the market, you'll also come across doorbell cameras that require a subscription to access their key features. This makes you reliant on the company's cloud infrastructure to use your video doorbell's essential features. More importantly, the subscription is an extra monthly or yearly expense that will significantly increase your overall cost of ownership in the long term.

Fortunately, several manufacturers sell doorbell cameras that either don't require any kind of subscription for using their products or have an optional subscription that you don't need for the basics. That said, it's important to remember that some of the more value-adding features that require processing the camera hardware can't handle will also be done in the cloud and need you to pay for a subscription. However, these features are mostly nice-to-haves and don't take away from the basic functionality.

We have handpicked some of the best video doorbell options that don't need a subscription to help you get started. We considered both feedback from actual buyers and expert opinions when available to select our recommendations.

The TP-Link Tapo D130 is one of the most affordable video doorbell options. It's a wired model, so you'll need doorbell wiring to get it up and running; however, it can seamlessly work with any existing doorbell wiring your house might already have. That said, it won't work with your existing chime, but the company supplies a wireless chime in the box, which will alert the residents when someone is at the door and presses the doorbell button.

It has a built-in microSD card slot for local storage and supports up to 512 GB cards. However, you don't get a card in the box and will have to buy that separately. The optional cloud storage is available if you ever change your mind in the future. The doorbell camera is also rated IP65, meaning it can handle the elements. Other features include instant notifications, two-way audio, motion and person detection alerts, color night vision, activity zones, and a wide 180-degree diagonal field of view. It has a 2,560-by-1,920 video resolution and can record 24/7. 

Consumer Reports and Wirecutter like the video doorbell's video quality and alert delivery time, but claim there is a noticeable fisheye effect because of its wider field of view, and it lacks 5 GHz Wi-Fi support. The D130 carries a price tag of $57 and has garnered a decent average buyer rating of 4 out of 5 from Amazon shoppers. Buyers call it a good value-for-money offering and appreciate its easy installation and lack of any subscriptions. However, some customers point out issues with Tapo's after-sales support and the doorbell camera dying after a year.

The Eufy Video Doorbell E340, which is also one of our recommendations for doorbell cameras with local storage, can be a good choice if you're seeking a battery-powered option with built-in local storage. It also differentiates itself from our other recommendations by including two cameras. The primary camera, with its 2,048-by-1,536 resolution, focuses on the visitors, whereas the secondary downward-facing camera, featuring a 1,600-by-1,200 resolution, is designed to fill any gaps in the floor coverage and track packages. You get 8 GB of built-in storage, and you can optionally go with the company's Homebase hub for additional storage.

If you don't want to rely on battery or deal with any downtime caused when you're charging the battery, you have the option to go for a wired setup, including your existing doorbell wiring and chime. Other features include two-way audio support, motion-activated lights, and AI-powered human, package, and face detection. Experts from PC Mag, Gear Lab, and Trusted Reviews have a positive opinion of the E340 and appreciate its impressive night vision, package protection, and the availability of two cameras, but aren't massive fans of its pricing and not-so-elegant design.

The Eufy doorbell camera will cost you $150, or you can opt for combos featuring a chime or an extra battery for $220 and $200, respectively. Amazon shoppers have rated it 4 out of 5 and highlight relatively easy installation, good video quality, and the lack of any subscriptions. However, some buyers say it has poor battery life and has problems with Wi-Fi connection and detection. A few folks are also not happy with the customer service.

If you have an Ethernet-wired home or prefer a PoE-powered video doorbell solution, Reolink's Video Doorbell PoE is worth considering. It has a 2K (2,560-by-1,920) resolution and 180-degree diagonal field of view. It also supports custom activity zones, two-way audio, and IR night vision. You'll need some ambient lighting if you want color night vision. Moreover, you get a bundled wireless chime; however, unfortunately, your existing chime can't be used.

In other features, you can use the built-in microSD card, Reolink Home Hub Pro, the company's NVR, or FTP/NAS for video recordings, and access them anywhere using the Reolink app. It also works seamlessly with Home Assistant, Amazon smart displays, and Google Assistant. Moreover, there is a built-in smart detection feature that can alert when it detects people and packages.

The video doorbell carries a price tag of $120 and received positive feedback from Amazon shoppers, who have given it an average buyer rating of 4.3 out of 5. Buyers highlight the intuitive app, lack of false alerts, wide-angle camera view, and its reliability. That said, there are some concerns about the level of the doorbell camera's IP65 weather resistance, chime connectivity, and after-sales support experience.

TP-Link's Tapo D205 is another video doorbell that you can consider. It sits above the D130 in the company's portfolio and has a built-in battery for a wireless installation, which the company says can last up to six months on a single charge. However, the battery life will depend on the number of detections and other usage. The camera has a built-in microSD card slot for local storage; however, if you want, you can leverage the company's optional paid cloud storage solution for video recordings in the future.

It has a 2K (2,304-by-1,296) resolution and comes with color night vision, IP65 dust and water resistance, two-way audio, custom activity zones, and a 160-degree diagonal field of view. The doorbell camera is also capable of AI-powered person detection, comes with a bundled chime for alerts, and supports Amazon and Google's smart home ecosystems. Notably, you can pair the video doorbell with Tapo's A201 solar panel if you don't want to deal with charging the battery.

The Tapo D205 will set you back just $50 at list price and is often discounted. It's also rated pretty well by Amazon buyers, with an average buyer rating of 4.4 out of 5. Buyers are happy with its affordability, build quality, simple setup process, and good customer support experience. Experts from Consumer Reports and Homes & Gardens also have good things to say about the Tapo D205, and note that it sends alerts quickly and has good video quality, but has a limited motion detection range. Moreover, some Amazon shoppers note battery life issues and motion detection reliability concerns.

Not everyone is a fan of adding yet another monthly or yearly subscription to their budget, which is where video doorbells that don't require any subscription for their essential features come into play. Fortunately, several manufacturers, like Anker's Eufy brand, Reolink, TP-Link's Tapo brand, and Wyze, offer video doorbells with local storage and subscription-free functionality. While looking for our subscription-free doorbell camera recommendations, we focused on reputable brands and options that have received positive feedback from both verified buyers and experts when available. This is why all our recommendations are rated at least 4 out of 5 by Amazon shoppers. Finally, we included options with different power modes to cater to different needs.