The best doorbells that support Google Assistant

Today, doorbells are better than they’ve ever been before. Thanks to the rise of smart video doorbells, you no longer have to stress about who might be showing up to your home when you weren’t expecting anyone. Instead, you can look on your phone, see who it is, and even talk with whoever’s at your door. If you rely on Google Assistant for controlling all of your smart things, these are the doorbells you’ll want to check out.

Best Overall: Arlo Video Doorbell

It took Arlo a little longer than some other companies to get into the Video Doorbell business. Still, the company has used its expertise with security cameras to build the best video doorbell around. While it didn’t launch with Google Assistant compatibility, that all changed in June of this year. Now you can control your doorbell camera with Google Assistant and even cast the video to a Chromecast or other smart display.

On top of being easy to control with just your voice, the Arlo Video Doorbell out-classes nearly every video doorbell on the market on specs alone and does it all from a lower entry price point, too. At $150, it’s cheaper than Ring and Google’s own video doorbells. It even comes in at just under the price of the Eufy Security Video Doorbell’s normal price. Arlo packs in a unique 1:1 square aspect ratio camera with a high 1538 x 1538 resolution. The camera also has HDR video support for crystal-clear imagery.

While there are many amazing features on the Arlo Video Doorbell, my favorite has to be the one-touch pre-recorded message responses. With these, you can easily respond to doorbell presses during meetings or other places where it would be less-than-advantageous to talk into your phone. Arlo now even supports local storage if you’ve got an Arlo home base, which comes with Arlo’s security cameras.

On the downside, you’ll need a subscription for cloud storage. At $3 per month, though, it’s highly affordable. It also enables the AI object detection feature and customizable motion zones. These features help better detect actual problems rather than insects buzzing by or trees blowing in the wind. The Arlo Video Doorbell also has to be wired into your home’s power and doesn’t have the option to run on battery, which might be a deal-breaker for some folks.

Pros:

• Beautiful video quality
• Ultra-wide 180-degree video
• One-touch pre-recorded message responses
• Advanced AI-based motion detection
• Built-in siren to ward off intruders
• Continuous recording options

Cons:

• Requires a subscription for advanced features
• Needs an Arlo hub for local storage
• Needs to be hard-wired for power

Best Overall

Arlo Video Doorbell

• $150 at Amazon
• $150 at Best Buy
• $150 at Walmart

An amazing experience

The Arlo Video Doorbell has high-quality HDR video, AI smarts, and even one-touch pre-recorded responses.

Free and local storage: Eufy Security Wi-Fi 2K Video Doorbell

Eufy Security cameras got a big upgrade in 2020 with full Google Assistant support. That means easy casting to Chromecasts and Google-powered smart displays by just asking Google to show you the camera. You’ll find the Eufy Security Wi-Fi 2K Video Doorbell right in your Google Home app and will even get alerts on your devices when someone rings the doorbell. It’s a great experience that’s only held back the lack of two-factor authentication in most counties.

That’s a shame too because, otherwise, the Eufy Security Video Doorbell is an incredible product with a high-value proposition. While it requires hard-wired power to operate, it offsets that requirement with high-quality 2K HDR video recording and the ability to record to local storage without the need for a subscription. On top of that, you’ll find a two-way talk feature, motion alerts with people recognition, weather/water resistance, and more.

Pros:

• No monthly subscription required
• Very affordable
• High-quality 2K HDR video
• People recognition helps reduce false alerts
• Customizable motion zones
• Includes Chime in the box

Cons:

• Needs to be hard-wired for power
• Two-factor authentication not available in most countries

Free and local storage

Eufy Smart Wi-Fi 2K Video Doorbell

• $160 at Amazon
• $160 at Walmart
• $160 at Best Buy

A great long-term buy

Eufy provides some of the best value home security products on the market, and the video doorbell is their best yet.

Best Totally Wireless: Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell

Arlo announced the Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell in Fall 2020 and launched it in February 2021, making it the newest contender on this list. Despite being wire-free, Arlo Essential provides almost every single feature from the wired version — the biggest difference is the lack of always-on video recording. What you’ll be getting instead is battery life that’ll last months and is easy to quickly recharge thanks to a removable, rechargeable battery pack inside.

Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell is a bit thicker than the wired version — because of the battery packed inside — but remains an attractive design that fits well on any front door. That same 2K HDR video quality and superb AI-based object detection from the wired version are here in all their glory and deliver one of the best experiences you’ll find on any video doorbell on the market. You’ll need an Arlo Smart subscription to get those advanced object detection features. Still, that affordable $3-per-month charge also nets you plenty of cloud storage, as well.

Best yet, since it’s a fully-wireless video doorbell, you can install it in just a few minutes and don’t have to mess with any kind of electrical wiring. That’s great for renters who want some added security and homeowners that either don’t like messing with electricity or don’t have an existing doorbell wire to use. Pair it with an Arlo hub for local storage if that’s important to you.

Pros:

• Beautiful video quality
• Ultra-wide 180-degree video
• One-touch pre-recorded message responses
• Advanced AI-based motion detection
• Built-in siren to ward off intruders

Cons:

• Requires a subscription for advanced features
• Needs an Arlo hub for local storage

Best Totally Wireless

Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell

• $150 at Amazon
• $150 at Best Buy
• $150 at Walmart

No wires needed

Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell delivers all the best features from the wired version, just without all the wires.

AI Genius: Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell

As Google’s own brand of smart devices, the Nest Hello Video Doorbell is an easy choice for folks trying to use Google Assistant as much as possible in their lives. It easily integrates with Google Assistant and has deep ties in with Google Home, all without going through a separate setup process. You can even cast the video to your Chromecast or favorite smart display.

The Nest Hello is at the top of our list for a good reason. Its camera records video at a resolution of 1600×1200 in HDR and with up to 30 frames-per-second (FPS), giving you a crystal clear view of everything. It also has night vision, supports 24/7 continuous recording, pre-recorded messages for quick door answering, and can even detect specific faces when you buy a Nest Aware subscription. It also boasts 128-bit encryption with support for intelligent two-step verification!

Pros:

• Crystal-clear HDR video
• Continuous recording options
• Familiar faces detection
• The most secure account options
• One-touch pre-recorded message responses

Cons:

• No local storage options
• Subscription required for advanced AI options
• Needs to be hard-wired for power
• Costs more

AI Genius

Google Nest Hello Video Doorbell

• $163 at Walmart
• $230 at Best Buy
• $230 at Home Depot

An easy choice

While it costs more, Nest Hello Video Doorbell is an easy way to stay in the Google ecosystem and get lots of advanced features.

Best Value: EZVIZ DB1 Wi-Fi 3MP Smart Doorbell

This affordable video doorbell from EZVIZ features a wide 180-degree field of view, IP65 weather-resistance, two-way audio, and night vision out to 16 feet. Along with 24/7 streaming, you also get free recordings for up to three hours of motion detection, or you can store footage on a built-in microSD card. Additional cloud subscription plans are also available if you’d rather not deal with local storage.

EZVIZ includes three different color faceplates in every box to better help you match your home’s style and color. It’s even got deep integration with IFTTT, which makes it a viable addition to any smart home, no matter what products you use. The biggest setback is the inability to cast video from your EZVIZ DB1 to a Chromecast or other smart display in your home, so you’ll have to use the smartphone app to see live video.

Pros:

• No monthly subscription required
• Easy local storage via removable microSD card
• Very affordable
• Ultra-wide 180-degree video
• Three color faceplates included
• Customizable motion zones with thermal detection

Cons:

• Can’t cast video to Chromecast or smart displays
• Needs to be hard-wired for power

Best Value

EZVIZ DB1 Wi-Fi 3MP Smart Doorbell

• $90 at Best Buy
• $90 at Walmart
• $90 at B&H

All local, all the time

The EZVIZ DB1 focuses on value by offering all the features you need without the need for a cloud storage subscription.

Two-in-one: Maximus Answer DualCam Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell

This smart video doorbell can detect motion up to 30 feet away, and it records with a 180-degree field of view in 1080p HDR on its primary camera. Main camera? Yep, you read right. This device also features a 720p camera at the bottom of the unit to eliminate potential blind spots. That camera is also used to help better detect package deliveries, so you’ll always know if there’s a box of goodies waiting for you outside your door.

You also get advanced motion detection and motion-based alerts, infrared night vision, and two-way audio communication on top of excellent hardware design. You’ll have to pay a monthly subscription fee to get the advanced KunaAI and cloud storage features, though, and there’s currently no way to cast video to a Chromecast or smart display in your home via Google Assistant.

Pros:

• AI-based object and package recognition
• Dual cameras eliminate blindspots
• Customizable motion zones

Cons:

• Subscription required for advanced detection options
• Can’t cast video to Chromecast or smart displays
• Needs to be hard-wired for power

Two-in-one

Maximus Answer DualCam Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell

• $134 at Amazon

See it all at once

The Maximus Answer features two cameras, so you’ll never miss a single spot (or package) on your porch.

Free cloud storage: RemoBell S

The RemoBell S just might be one of the best video doorbell deals you can find. At $99, it’s cheaper than every other video doorbell on this list. It also comes with 3-day free cloud storage, so you’ll be able to see any motion alerts or doorbell presses for the past three days without having to deal with local storage yourself or paying for a subscription. It captures HD video, supports two-way talk using its microphone and speaker, has an impressive 180-degree field of view, night vision, and motion alerts.

The downside is that it doesn’t integrate as deeply with Google Assistant as some other video doorbells on this list. You can ask Google Assistant when the last motion alert or doorbell press was, but you won’t be able to view the video on a TV connected with a Chromecast or cast the video to a smart display in your home.

Pros:

• 3-day free cloud storage
• Very affordable
• Customizable motion zones
• Ultra-wide 180-degree video

Cons:

• Only supports 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi networks
• Can’t cast video to Chromecast or smart displays
• Needs to be hard-wired for power

Free cloud storage

RemoBell S

• $80 at Amazon
• $99 at Lowes
• $80 at Walmart

Don’t pay for more than you need.

The RemoBell S covers all the basic needs of a good video doorbell, including free 3-day cloud storage.

Bottom line

Video doorbells have gotten significantly more advanced over the years, and the best video doorbells integrate deeply with Google Assistant. The Arlo Video Doorbell is the best video doorbell you can buy right now. While it requires a $3 monthly subscription to get the most out of the product, you’ll find that Arlo’s cloud-enabled smarts and storage are an incredible advantage over most video doorbells on the market. If you’ve already got Arlo cameras around the home, this one seamlessly integrates with that Arlo homebase for whole-home security coverage. If you can’t (or don’t want to) wire it up, Arlo’s wire-free option is almost the same amazing product.

If local storage is a more important trait, the Eufy Security Wi-Fi 2K Video Doorbell is your next best bet. At only $10 more than the Arlo Video Doorbell, you’re getting the ability to store all recorded footage locally without having to buy a homebase or subscribe to a cloud storage plan. Eufy even offers intelligent human detection that can help differentiate between a person on your porch or a possum, which can cut down on the number of false alarms without the need for a subscription plan.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Nick Sutrich Nick is a news writer and contributor to Android Central. He’s been writing about tech since 2011 and loves robot vacuums, home automation, virtual reality, and any kind of gadget that’s connected to the Internet. Find him on Twitter at @Gwanatu.

Jeramy Johnson Jeramy is proud to help Keep Austin Weird and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. When he’s not writing about smart home gadgets and wearables, he’s defending his relationship with his smart voice assistants to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.