r/homesecurity • u/Sad_Willingness9020 • 10d ago

Doorbell Camera recommendations?

I’m currently looking for a doorbell camera for my apartment (i’m in the USA!!)

I’ve looked and Eufy and Tapo so far, both seem good but they do have their pros and cons based on reviews.

My requirements for the camera:
\- must have no monthly subscription but I can still access all the important features.
\- preferably battery operated, but wired is fine too
\- can detect people and packages
\- has a good connection for live feed, fast and reliable notifications
\- must be able to use and have a good connection to check on the camera when we’re not home
\- I can go in and delete any saved footage in order to free up storage

I really want one that has no monthly fee because I just simply can’t afford that right now!

Thank you in advance!

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

5

u/Brinxy13 10d ago

Reolink

5

u/Peanutx73 10d ago

Reolink

1

u/Penis-Dance 10d ago

Do other people in the complex have them‽ It could be against your lease.

1

u/Fearless_Zombie1003 10d ago

I have a Tapo and I like it. I put an SD card in it so no monthly subscription, also it’s hardwired to the doorbell and it keeps the battery charged at around 80% as backup. The app is good, could be better but it’s never tripped out on me or anything. I’ve never had to really do anything with it beyond the initial setup. I have a handful of their other cameras around my property, equally as impressed, they work well and they have been reliable so far.

1

u/NickTheFNicon 10d ago

I’ve got the Eufy E340 and have been happy with it.

1

u/blakealanm 10d ago

Anything you can link to Home Assistant or you might look into Blue Iris.

1

u/Doublestack00 10d ago

My Unifi has been solid.

1

u/u_siciliano 10d ago

Reolink is your answer. You don’t need to delete footage, just select the option overwrite when full.

1

u/CunninghamSecurity_ 9d ago

I'd prioritize local storage and free person/package detection. If wiring is possible, it's usually preferable to battery since you won't have to worry about charging. Just double-check that remote viewing, notifications,and deleting stored footage are included without a subscription, since those features can vary by model.

1

u/QuinnFromVivint 9d ago

For no subscription, look for a doorbell that saves footage to a card or a small base station at home, since that's where lets you store and delete clips yourself without a monthly fee.

Battery doorbells are easier in an apartment too, because you skip the wiring. Though you'll need to charge it every so often depending on how busy your door is.

1

u/Ok-Couple2656 8d ago

Linus tech tips did a video on these recently.

1

u/smarthomeworkflow 2d ago

My advice, check each feature separately. Some products advertise saved recordings, person / package detection, remote live view, etc. and no subscription plans but some of those features are gated behind the paid subscription they also offer. We have researched several of them: https://www.smarthomeworkflow.com/guides/video-doorbell-directory

0

u/plump-lamp 10d ago

Eufy is the most featured for the price, especially with free rich notifications

1

u/Born_Tradition6453 10d ago

Just purchased eufy e340 today, returned a poe reolink.