Yes, you can have a smart video doorbell and keep your videos local!
Even if you've never considered a smart video camera to watch over your property, you might be eyeballing 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 storing your video footage locally, then we've got you covered. Out of all of the smart video doorbells on this list, we like the Eufy Video Doorbell best because of its top-quality construction, excellent video capabilities, built-in eMMC storage, high-end encryption, and included doorbell chime.
Best Overall: Eufy Video Doorbell
Eufy is easily the most well-known brand name on this list. Still, just in case it's flown under your radar: The company is one of Anker's sub-brands and is known for making high-quality connected home devices like smart cameras and lighting, robot vacuums, smart plugs, and even scales and baby monitors.
The Eufy Video Doorbell is one of the top products on several of our best smart video doorbell lists for many reasons, including the fact that you can store all of your video recordings locally - up to 4GB thanks to built-in eMMC flash storage. On top of that, you get 2K HD imaging, high dynamic range and distortion correction, and all of the connectivity you'd expect from a smart device. Eufy also includes a door chime with the doorbell, which is something you often have to pay extra for with other providers such as Ring. This inclusion is a good thing, too, because your existing doorbell chime likely isn't compatible with the Eufy Video Doorbell.
The picture quality is excellent not just because of the resolution, but because it records and displays at a 4:3 aspect ratio, which shows more in the frame than other similar cameras with a 16:9 aspect ratio. You can view up to three seconds of footage before an alert, and you can customize smart detection zones, so your camera isn't tripped by every loose branch or squirrel. You can control your Eufy Video Doorbell with Amazon's Alexa or the Google Assistant, and you know your video will be safe thanks to Eufy's military-grade AES-256 encrypted chip. The device is powered over your existing doorbell wiring, but that means there is no battery backup option.
This is one of the pricier devices on this list, so don't forget to check out some deals that might be going on.
Pros:- Built-in eMMC storage
- Doorbell chime included
- 2K HD camera and 4:3 aspect ratio
- Military-grade AES 256 encryption
- More expensive than others on this list
- No battery-powered option
- Not compatible with existing doorbell chimes
You get your money's worth
The Eufy Video Doorbell is a one-time purchase, with no need for subscriptions or additional equipment purchases.
Most Versatile: ZUMIMALL Video Doorbell
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. The camera also has a reasonably wide field-of-view at 166 degrees, however, and sports IP65 weather and dust resistance.
Pros:- Wide field-of-view
- Battery-powered
- Rechargeable batteries
- Pre-installed 32GB local storage
- Expandable up to 128GB
- Chime included
- Doesn't work on 5GHz Wi-Fi networks
It has it all
This doorbell includes a ton of great features for a very reasonable price.
Cheapest Pre-Installed Storage Option: MECO Video Doorbell
A caveat for most of the cameras on this list (aside from the Eufy) is that yes, they have the option for on-device storage, but most don't include it. Not so with the MECO Video Doorbell, which comes with a pre-installed 32GB microSD card. True, it's not the cheapest on this list, but it still sits in the affordable-to-moderately-priced range (when compared to similar devices), and the fact that it comes with the microSD card in the box is one less hassle for you to deal with when ordering and setting up your new doorbell.
Pre-installed storage isn't the only thing this doorbell has going for it. MECO includes a doorbell chime (like Eufy does) and can record at 1080p with a 166-degree wide-angle field-of-view. It sports two-way audio, IP65 weather resistance, and the ability to record 30-second voice messages to respond to visitors when you are not around (similar to the Nest Hello). While the batteries come in a rechargeable pack, many customers complained they didn't last as long as advertised, so you might find yourself recharging every few weeks instead of every few months as promised. Also, it doesn't seem to support virtual assistants, so you'll have to be content viewing your footage through the app.
Pros:- 32GB microSD card included
- IP65 weather resistance
- Door chime included
- A hood over the camera to shield from sun and elements
- Batteries must be recharged frequently
- No official support for Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant
Important hardware included
Pre-installed storage, weather resistance, and included door chime make this doorbell worth a second look.
Best Storage Capacity: Amcrest SmartHome Video Doorbell
We've talked about storage capacity already, but this Amcrest (no, not armrest) Video Doorbell stands above the rest with the highest internal storage capacity of any device on our list.
While the field-of-view isn't bad at 140 degrees, it's smaller than the 160-degree-plus ranges we've seen from others on this list. It does feature IP55 weather-resistance, and can operate in temperature ranges from -22-122 degrees Fahrenheit, which should hopefully cover most of our readers, most of the time. This device can be configured with your existing doorbell wiring, but there is no battery-powered backup option. There is an Alexa Skill, so this doorbell will work with your Echo Show devices, but it doesn't have Google Assistant support at this time.
Pros:- Can store up to 128GB of video on microSD
- IP65 weather-resistance
- Night vision and motion-detection
- Alexa support
- Smaller field-of-view than others on this list
- No battery-powered option
- No Google Assistant support
Tons of local storage
Save as many recordings as you like with up to 128GB of on-device storage.
Best Cloud Option Arlo Video Doorbell
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 Arlo alo 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. If features excellent night vision, and is weather-resistant to stand up to 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.
Pros:- Store up to 2TB locally on Arlo base-station or Smarthub
- Excellent cloud storage plans available
- 180-degree field of view
- HD, HDR, and night vision
- Wired option only
- A tad on the expensive side
Multiple storage options
Not only can this video doorbell store up to 2TB of video locally, Arlo offers one of the best cloud storage solutions.
Security Chops: Lorex Wi-Fi Video Doorbell
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 does work 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.
Pros:- Ultra-wide 160-degree field of view
- 1080p HD resolution
- 16GB microSD card included
- Supports up to 64GB of on-device storage
- No battery-powered option
- No official support for Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant
Affordable abundance
This pint-sized portal packs a lot of storage space for the price, along with an included microSD card.
Bottom lineCloud 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 building in on-device storage to their products to address market demand for greater personal control over user data. Even though the doorbells on this list all offer local storage options, our top pick has to be the Eufy Video Doorbell. Not only does the brand have a solid reputation in the smart home space, but it packs tons of great features into the device to give consumers a great experience.
If you are 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.
Credits - The team that worked on this guide
Jeramy Johnson is proud to help to 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 Amazon products and services, he's defending his relationship with his side-chick Alexa to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.