Curated by Quick picks
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Show all 9 picks
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Best for weak Wi-Fi at the doorCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
6. eufy C30 + Chime 2
Best for: Homes with poor 2.4 GHz signal at the front door
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Most video doorbells are cheap to buy and then quietly ask for a monthly fee to save your clips. The ones on this list record without a subscription: to a microSD card, built-in storage or a box indoors. For each pick I’ve said exactly what’s free, where the clips go, and whether it works with an existing chime, using each maker’s own pages rather than the Amazon listing. microSD cards are sold separately for every doorbell here that uses one. (Here’s how we choose products.)
- Best budget: Tapo D210 (#1)
- Best all-rounder: Tapo D235 (#2)
- Best for parcels: eufy Video Doorbell E340 (#3)
- Best for clips kept indoors: Tapo TD23 (#4)
- Best wired, 24/7 recording: Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi (#7)
[JOE: if you have a doorbell at home – what you actually use (alerts vs recordings), and whether a subscription ever felt necessary.]
Compare all 9 picks
| # | Product | Best for | Key spec | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tapo D210 2K Battery Video Doorbell (chime included)Best budget | Renters and anyone without doorbell wiring | 2K 3MP · 160° · free AI person detection · microSD up to 512 GB · chime in box (TP-Link UK) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 2 | Tapo D235 2K 5MP Battery or Wired Video DoorbellBest all-rounder | Most homes, wired or not | 5MP · 180° · free person, vehicle, pet and package alerts · 24/7 when wired (TP-Link UK) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 3 | eufy Video Doorbell E340 (dual camera)Best for parcels | Homes that get lots of deliveries | Front + downward camera · 8 GB on board · battery or 8–24 V wired · works with existing chime (eufy UK) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 4 | Tapo TD23 2K 5MP Battery Video Doorbell + HubBest for clips kept indoors | People worried about the doorbell being stolen | 5MP · microSD in the indoor hub, up to 512 GB · hub with Ethernet and 100 dB siren (TP-Link UK) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 5 | Tapo TD21 2K Battery Video DoorbellSimplest no-hub setup | A cheap doorbell with local storage | 2K 3MP · 160° · microSD in the doorbell, up to 512 GB (TP-Link UK) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 6 | eufy Video Doorbell C30 + Chime 2Best for weak Wi-Fi at the door | Homes with poor 2.4 GHz signal at the front door | 2K · 2.4 + 5 GHz Wi-Fi · microSD up to 128 GB · "No Monthly Fee" (eufy UK) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 7 | Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi (5MP, chime included)Best wired, 24/7 recording | Wired homes that want 24/7 recording | 5MP · human detection · microSD up to 256 GB, NVR or NAS · 24/7, motion or scheduled recording (Reolink) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 8 | Reolink Video Doorbell PoE (chime included)Most reliable connection | Homes with an Ethernet cable to the door | 5MP · 180° · humanoid detection · microSD up to 256 GB (Reolink) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 9 | Aqara Video Doorbell G4 (with chime repeater)Best for iPhone households | Apple HomeKit users | 1080p · 162° · 6 × AA or wired · 7 days free event cloud · microSD in the chime repeater (Aqara) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
1. Tapo D210 2K Battery Video Doorbell (chime included)
by Tapo
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Renters, or anyone who wants a doorbell on the door this weekend with no wiring.
Verdict: Our budget pick. It runs on a 6,400 mAh battery, records to a microSD card in the doorbell, and TP-Link says its AI person detection needs “no additional fees or subscription”. A chime comes in the box. The trade-off is that free AI only covers people, not parcels or vehicles, and it uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
What we like
- Free AI person alerts, per TP-Link
- Chime included
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Person detection only, no package or vehicle alerts
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
Key specs
- Video
- 2K 3MP, 160° (TP-Link UK)
- Power
- Battery, 6,400 mAh (TP-Link UK)
- Clips without a plan
- microSD in the doorbell, up to 512 GB (sold separately)
- Free AI
- Person detection (TP-Link UK)
- Weather
- IP65 (TP-Link UK)
Source: TP-Link UK's Tapo D210 page (checked 11 October 2026).
2. Tapo D235 2K 5MP Battery or Wired Video Doorbell
by Tapo
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Most people: it works on battery or existing 8–24 V doorbell wiring, and has the widest free AI here.
Verdict: The all-round pick. TP-Link lists free person, vehicle, pet and package alerts, microSD storage up to 512 GB, and 24/7 recording when it’s hardwired. The UK chime version is listed. Two honest catches from TP-Link’s own spec table: 24/7 mode doesn’t support an existing chime, and snapshots in notifications need a Tapo Care plan.
What we like
- Widest free AI alerts on the list (TP-Link UK)
- Battery or wired, with 24/7 recording when wired
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- 24/7 mode doesn’t work with an existing chime
- Notification snapshots need Tapo Care
Key specs
- Video
- 5MP, 180° (TP-Link UK)
- Power
- Battery or 8–24 V wired
- Clips without a plan
- microSD up to 512 GB (sold separately); 24/7 when hardwired
- Free AI
- Person, vehicle, pet, package (TP-Link UK)
Source: TP-Link UK's Tapo D235 page (checked 11 October 2026).
3. eufy Video Doorbell E340 (dual camera)
by eufy
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Anyone worried about parcels left on the step, because the second camera looks straight down.
Verdict: The parcel pick. A second camera points down at the doorstep, and there’s 8 GB of storage built in, which eufy says saves “up to 60 days of event-based recordings” with no subscription (eufy UK). It runs on battery or existing doorbell wiring and works with an existing chime. It’s the dearest pick here, and sold by Anker’s own store.
What we like
- Downward camera for parcels
- 8 GB built in – no card to buy
- Works with an existing chime (eufy UK)
Worth knowing
- The most expensive pick
- Sold by AnkerDirect UK rather than Amazon
Key specs
- Cameras
- Front + downward (eufy UK)
- Power
- Removable 6,500 mAh battery or 8–24 V wired (eufy UK)
- Clips without a plan
- 8 GB on device, up to 60 days of event clips (eufy UK); optional HomeBase S380
- Free AI
- Human, package, face (eufy UK)
- Seller
- AnkerDirect UK
Source: eufy UK's E340 page (checked 11 October 2026).
4. Tapo TD23 2K 5MP Battery Video Doorbell + Hub
by Tapo
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Anyone who doesn’t want their recordings on the door, where a thief could take them.
Verdict: The microSD card goes in the indoor hub, not the doorbell, so the footage stays inside if someone rips the doorbell off. The hub also has Ethernet and a 100 dB siren, per TP-Link. The catch is that the hub needs a socket, and the Amazon title gives an IP54 rating.
What we like
- Recordings kept indoors on the hub
- Hub has a 100 dB siren (TP-Link UK)
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Hub needs a mains socket
- IP54 per the Amazon title
Key specs
- Video
- 5MP (TP-Link UK)
- Power
- Battery (TP-Link UK)
- Clips without a plan
- microSD in the indoor hub, up to 512 GB (sold separately)
- Free AI
- Check TP-Link's page
Source: TP-Link UK's Tapo TD23 page (checked 11 October 2026).
5. Tapo TD21 2K Battery Video Doorbell
by Tapo
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Someone who wants local storage with nothing else to plug in.
Verdict: A simple battery doorbell with free local storage on a microSD card, and no hub needed. TP-Link’s page we read didn’t list which AI alerts are free, so if smart alerts matter, the D210 (#1) is the safer budget pick.
What we like
- Free local storage, no hub needed
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Free AI alert types not listed on TP-Link’s page
- Chime not confirmed on the page we read
Key specs
- Video
- 2K 3MP, 160° (TP-Link UK)
- Power
- Battery (TP-Link UK)
- Clips without a plan
- microSD in the doorbell, up to 512 GB (sold separately)
- Free AI
- Not listed – check
Source: TP-Link UK's Tapo TD21 page (checked 11 October 2026).
6. eufy Video Doorbell C30 + Chime 2
by eufy
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Someone whose router is far from the front door, because it can use 5 GHz Wi-Fi as well as 2.4 GHz.
Verdict: The only dual-band Wi-Fi pick, which helps if 2.4 GHz is crowded at the door. eufy says “No Monthly Fee”, with clips on a microSD card up to 128 GB, and the bundle includes the Chime 2. The trade-offs, from eufy’s own comparison table: it’s battery only, with no pre-roll and no 24/7 recording, and it doesn’t work with an existing chime.
What we like
- 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi
- Chime 2 in the bundle
- Sold by AnkerDirect UK
Worth knowing
- Not compatible with an existing chime
- No pre-roll or 24/7 recording
Key specs
- Video
- 2K (eufy UK)
- Power
- 5,000 mAh built-in battery (eufy UK)
- Clips without a plan
- microSD up to 128 GB (sold separately)
- Wi-Fi
- 2.4 + 5 GHz (eufy UK)
- Seller
- AnkerDirect UK
Source: eufy UK's C30 + Chime 2 page (checked 11 October 2026).
7. Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi (5MP, chime included)
by Reolink
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: A home that already has doorbell wiring and wants continuous recording with no battery to charge.
Verdict: The pick for 24/7 recording. It’s wired, so there’s no battery to charge, and Reolink offers “No Monthly Fees For Local Storage” on a microSD card, a Reolink NVR or Home Hub, or FTP/NAS. A plug-in chime is included. One catch from Reolink’s quick-start guide: when it’s powered from existing doorbell wiring, the old mechanical chime stops ringing.
What we like
- 24/7, motion or scheduled recording (Reolink)
- No battery to charge
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Old mechanical chime stops ringing when powered from doorbell wiring
- Needs wiring or the plug-in adapter
Key specs
- Video
- 5MP (Reolink)
- Power
- Wired, plug-in adapter included (listing)
- Clips without a plan
- microSD up to 256 GB, Reolink NVR/Home Hub, FTP/NAS (Reolink)
- Free AI
- Human detection (Reolink)
Source: Reolink's Video Doorbell WiFi page and quick-start guide (checked 11 October 2026).
8. Reolink Video Doorbell PoE (chime included)
by Reolink
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Someone who has, or is happy to run, an Ethernet cable to the front door.
Verdict: No Wi-Fi to drop out and no battery: power and data come down one Ethernet cable. The listing says there’s “NO monthly fee for local storage”, and Reolink’s support page gives 256 GB as the microSD maximum. The catch is obvious: you need PoE wiring to the door.
What we like
- Power and data on one cable
- No monthly fee for local storage (listing)
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Worth knowing
- Needs an Ethernet run to the door
Key specs
- Video
- 5MP, 180° (listing)
- Power
- PoE
- Clips without a plan
- microSD up to 256 GB (Reolink support)
- Free AI
- Humanoid detection (listing)
Source: Amazon UK product listing (seller-provided details), checked 11 October 2026.
9. Aqara Video Doorbell G4 (with chime repeater)
by Aqara
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: An iPhone or HomeKit household that wants the doorbell in the Apple Home app.
Verdict: The HomeKit pick. Aqara includes 7 days of free event cloud storage and a microSD slot (up to 512 GB) in the indoor chime repeater, with 24/7 recording only when wired. It runs on six AA batteries or doorbell wiring. Honest limits: it’s 1080p only, AA batteries rather than a rechargeable pack, and HomeKit Secure Video needs an iCloud subscription.
What we like
- Free 7-day event cloud plus local microSD (Aqara)
- Works with Apple HomeKit
- Sold by Aqara Official UK
Worth knowing
- 1080p, the lowest resolution here
- HomeKit Secure Video needs an iCloud subscription
Key specs
- Video
- 1080p, 162° (Aqara)
- Power
- 6 × AA or wired, 8–24 V DC / 12–24 V AC (Aqara)
- Clips without a plan
- 7 days free event cloud + microSD up to 512 GB in the chime repeater (Aqara)
- Free AI
- Local face recognition (Aqara)
- Seller
- Aqara Official UK
Source: Aqara's Video Doorbell G4 pages (checked 11 October 2026).
FAQ
Do Ring doorbells need a subscription?
Not to work, but you won’t get recordings without one. Ring’s plan page says its products “provide certain features without a plan” and recommends a plan for video recording; a free 30-day trial starts when you set one up (Ring Protect plans).
Can a Blink doorbell record without a subscription?
Yes, with extra kit. Blink says that without a plan you can save clips locally to a USB drive in a Sync Module 2, or a microSD card in a Sync Module XR, both sold separately. Without storage you still get Live View, motion alerts and two-way audio (Blink storage options).
Which video doorbells record to an SD card?
Every Tapo pick, the eufy C30, both Reolinks and the Aqara G4 (in its chime repeater). The eufy E340 has 8 GB built in instead. See the table above for where each one keeps its clips.
Will a video doorbell work with my old wired chime?
Some will. eufy says the E340 works with existing chimes. The Tapo D235’s 24/7 mode doesn’t support one, and Reolink’s guide says the old mechanical chime stops ringing on the WiFi model when it’s powered from doorbell wiring. The eufy C30 isn’t compatible with an existing chime.
Is 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi a problem?
Only if your 2.4 GHz signal is weak or crowded at the door. The eufy C30 (#6) also supports 5 GHz; the Tapo spec tables list 2.4 GHz.