Video doorbells are half doorbell, half security camera. They work by sending real-time alerts to your phone and giving you access to a live video feed of who's ringing the bell. A built-in microphone and speaker allows you to chat with your guest, and in some cases, the device will also work with smart locks so you can let the person in without physically opening the door yourself. 

Most candidates for best video doorbell camera today are Wi-Fi-enabled and offer features such as a rechargeable battery, two-way communication, a video feed and recording, along with the traditional doorbell button. But the designs, video quality, video storage subscriptions and installation process for each doorbell cam can vary.

We've highlighted our favorite models below, and we've explained exactly how we test video doorbells. So if you're looking for the best video doorbell, chances are it's among those we've tested. We update this list periodically.