Home Security

Here’s What You Need to Know About Video Doorbells

By Ring on March 14, 2024

Since Ring invented the video doorbell a decade ago, you’ve probably noticed more and more homes swapping out their traditional doorbells — and for good reason. Video doorbells add essential protection to your front door and make it easier to keep track of what’s happening at home when you’re away.

Are you considering making the switch to a smart video doorbell? Here are some in-depth answers to your most pressing questions about everything from their capabilities and benefits to installation and cost.

How Do Video Doorbells Work?

A video doorbell replaces your traditional doorbell, but instead of just making noise inside your home when someone presses it, a video doorbell also lets you see and speak with who’s there — even if you’re nowhere near home.

In addition to a button guests can press, video doorbells have a motion-activated video camera that detects when people are outside your door and begins recording. Using your wifi signal, they send a notification to your phone, where you can view real-time footage and even talk to your guests, whether you’re stuck in the kitchen or pulling a late night at the office. And if you can’t check in when you get a notification, Ring doorbells can play a pre-recorded message and capture your visitor’s response for you to see later.¹

What Are the Benefits of Video Doorbells?

A traditional doorbell can let you know when someone’s at your house — but only if you’re there, too. With a video doorbell, you can:

Remotely answer the door from anywhere: From delivery drivers to neighbors coming to return a borrowed tool, you can communicate with anyone at your front door from anywhere. Two-Way Talk enables you to tell a visitor you’ll be back in five or say thank you for a special delivery.

Get notifications when someone arrives and see who comes and goes: Visitors don’t have to ring the bell for you to know they’re at the door. After detecting motion, your video doorbell will send a notification, so you can check who’s there using Live View. With a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately, you can also look back on footage from the past 180 days on the Ring App to see who arrived if you missed a notification.¹

Know when a package is delivered: With any Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Protect subscription, sold separately, you can get Package Alerts when a delivery is detected on your front porch. That way, you won’t have to check your doorbell’s footage when you get a motion notification — you’ll know that the activity around your door was a delivery.

Save valuable footage: Video doorbells can capture a lot more than deliveries and your kids leaving for school. From a video of your car getting damaged in an ice storm to your grandson saying hello, you can save and use clips for family group chats or insurance claims with a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately.¹

How Do I Install a Video Doorbell?

The installation process for your video doorbell depends on the type you buy. A wireless battery doorbell from Ring only requires a mount, which you can attach with screws or removable adhesive. Once you click the battery pack into place, you slide the doorbell into the mount, and you’re done. If you want to hear your doorbell inside your home instead of just getting a notification, you can plug in an electronic Chime and connect it to your doorbell using the Ring App.

Wired video doorbells replace your existing doorbell and connect to your home’s wiring. Before installation, you need to shut off power at the breaker. Then, you connect a jumper cable to your existing chime system, enabling your video doorbell to sound inside your home. Outside, you’ll connect your old doorbell’s wires to your video doorbell and screw it into the wall next to your door. Once you turn the power back on, you can set everything up in the Ring App. If you choose a Power over Ethernet option, you’ll need to connect an ethernet cable along with the electrical wiring.

Ring offers all the resources you need to install a video doorbell, from written setup guides and videos to step-by-step instructions in the Ring App. But you can also schedule an appointment with our professional installation team if you prefer a hands-off approach.

Are Video Doorbells Worth It?

Whether you’re a frequent traveler, online shopper, or someone who doesn’t always hear people at the door, a video doorbell is a worthwhile investment. It’s simple to replace your existing device, and there are plenty of options to fit any budget.

Ring Has a Video Doorbell Option for Any Home

Since Ring brought the very first video doorbell to consumers in 2013, we have never stopped innovating in a mission to create safer neighborhoods. Today, we offer several wireless and wired doorbell models to fit nearly any budget and home, from a non-invasive Peephole Cam to a professional-grade Video Doorbell Elite. Our DIY-friendly installation instructions and easy-to-use Ring App make it easy to enhance protection at your front door — and around your home.

Need help deciding which Ring video doorbell is the best fit for your home? Compare all your options by price and features, or take a quick quiz to get personalized recommendations.

¹ Your Ring videos in the cloud are stored temporarily, up to 180 days. Changing your video storage time will only affect videos that are recorded after you adjust your storage time setting. Check Ring Protect Subscription Plans for more information.

² eero mesh wifi router provides up to 1500 sq. ft. of coverage. Adding eero Extenders expands coverage in larger homes. Internet connection speeds depend on your internet service provider. Maximum wireless signal rates are derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specification. Specifications assume wired ethernet connection, experienced speeds may vary based on network configuration. Coverage estimates are based on normal use conditions. Actual range and performance can vary, including due to factors such as interference, connected devices, device usage, building materials and obstructions. Specifications are based on use of a Wi-Fi 6 or later generation client device. Use of eero products and services, including the eero wifi router, requires creation of an eero account and agreement to eero’s Terms of Service, found at eero.com/legal. You can review eero’s Privacy Notice at eero.com/legal/privacy.

³ Ring Alarm and all Ring Alarm accessories require a subscription for in-app features and digital notifications, including digital arming / disarming and integration with other Ring, Echo, Alexa, and third party products. Subscription sold separately. View ring.com/protect-plans for pricing and details.