What "no subscription" really means
Most video doorbells show live video and send motion alerts for free. The difference is what happens to the recordings. Some brands keep your clips only in their cloud, so without a monthly plan you can't watch what happened while you were away. Every doorbell in this guide can save recordings locally, on a memory card, built-in storage or a home base, so you can review past events without paying anything each month.
Some extras can still cost money. Cloud backup, snapshot previews in notifications, and professional monitoring are usually paid add-ons. We list exactly what each maker says is free and what is optional.
How we chose
This guide is based on desk research. We have not tested these doorbells ourselves. We compared each maker's official product pages, spec sheets and FAQs for the US market, as of November 2026, and checked:
- where video is saved without a plan
- how it is powered (battery, wiring or both)
- video resolution and field of view
- which features the maker says are free, and which need a paid plan
- smart home support and what chime you need
We left out models where recording depends on a subscription. Specs change, so check the maker's page before you buy.
Comparison at a glance
| Doorbell | Saves video to | Power | Resolution | Works with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reolink Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) | microSD up to 512 GB, or Reolink Home Hub or NVR | Battery or wired | 2048 x 2048 (4 MP) | Alexa, Google Assistant, Home Assistant |
| Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi | microSD up to 256 GB, or NVR, Home Hub, NAS | Wired only | 2560 x 1920 (5 MP) | Alexa, Google Assistant, Home Assistant |
| eufy Video Doorbell E340 | 8 GB built in, optional HomeBase | Battery, or wired with battery installed | 2K, two cameras | Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 | microSD up to 512 GB in the indoor chime | Six AA batteries or wired | 1080p | Apple Home, Alexa, Google |
| Tapo D235 | microSD up to 512 GB | Battery or wired | 2560 x 1920 (5 MP) | Alexa, Google Assistant |
Reolink Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen): best overall
This is the most flexible option here. It runs on its built-in battery, which Reolink rates at up to 300 days with about five minutes of recording a day, or on existing doorbell wiring. On wiring it adds 24/7 recording. Video goes to a microSD card of up to 512 GB, and you can add a Reolink Home Hub or NVR later if you want everything in one place.
Reolink says you don't need a subscription for this doorbell. Person, vehicle, animal, package and visitor detection are listed as standard features. Reolink Cloud is optional and only available in some countries.
Trade-offs: no chime comes in the box. You can use your existing mechanical chime in battery mode, or buy the Reolink Chime Plus. Using a mechanical chime in wired mode needs a separate power kit.
Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi: best for wired 24/7 recording
If you already have doorbell wiring, this model records around the clock to a microSD card of up to 256 GB, or to a Reolink NVR, Home Hub or network storage. Reolink states it does not require a monthly subscription, and 24/7 recording is a free core feature. It supports dual-band Wi-Fi, and it also works with ONVIF and RTSP, which matters if you use other camera software.
Trade-offs: there is no battery, so it needs wiring or the included power adapter. It comes with its own Reolink chime and does not work with an existing mechanical chime.
eufy Video Doorbell E340: best for package deliveries
The E340 has two cameras: one faces forward and one looks down at the ground in front of your door, which helps you see packages left on the doormat. Recordings go to 8 GB of built-in storage. eufy estimates that holds about 90 days of video at around 30 short clips a day. You don't need a memory card, and a HomeBase is optional.
eufy lists human, package and face recognition as features. Its eufy Plus membership, at USD 15 a month or USD 135 a year, adds cloud backup but isn't required.
Trade-offs: it only connects to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and does not support Apple HomeKit. Even when wired, the battery must stay installed.
Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4: best for Apple Home
The G4 is the pick for iPhone households. It supports Apple HomeKit Secure Video, and also streams to Alexa and Google smart displays. Video is saved to a microSD card of up to 512 GB that sits in the indoor chime repeater, not in the doorbell outside. Aqara also lists 7 days of free Aqara cloud storage. Face recognition runs locally and can learn up to 30 faces.
Trade-offs: resolution is 1080p, lower than the others here. On batteries it uses six AA cells, and 24/7 recording only works when it is wired. iCloud storage for HomeKit Secure Video is managed by Apple, so check your iCloud plan if you want to use it.
Tapo D235: best value pick
The Tapo D235 combines a 5 MP camera with a wide 170.6-degree horizontal view, so it can show more of your porch from head to toe. It has a built-in 10,000 mAh battery, which TP-Link rates at up to 365 days depending on use, or it can be wired. Video goes to a microSD card of up to 512 GB (sold separately), and a chime is included.
TP-Link lists person, pet, vehicle and package detection with activity zones. Its Tapo Care plan is needed for cloud storage and for snapshot images in notifications.
Trade-offs: pre-roll video, which captures the moments before motion, only works when wired. The microSD card is extra.
Wired or battery?
If your door already has doorbell wiring and a working chime, a wired doorbell never needs charging and usually unlocks extras such as 24/7 recording or pre-roll. Renters and homes without wiring are better served by a battery model. Every battery model here can switch to wiring later.
Privacy basics
Local storage keeps your recordings in your home rather than on a company's servers, but the doorbell still connects to the maker's app. Turn on two-step login for the app, keep firmware updated, and read the maker's privacy page to see what is sent to the cloud. For example, eufy notes that notification thumbnails are temporarily stored in its cloud.
FAQ
Can I use these doorbells without paying anything each month?
Yes. Each maker says recording and core alerts work without a plan. Paid plans add extras such as cloud backup.
What happens when the memory card is full?
Most local-storage cameras overwrite the oldest recordings. Check your model's manual to confirm how it handles a full card.
Do they work with Alexa and Google?
All five list Alexa and Google support. Only the Aqara G4 supports Apple Home in this list.
Do I need a hub?
No. The Reolink models, Tapo D235 and eufy E340 work on their own. A hub or NVR is optional.
