Amazon's Blink released a sizable upgrade to its affordable video doorbell with a 2026 version that boosted the resolution to 2K, making this one of the only affordable doorbells with such a high resolution. It's available as both wired and battery models, but I prefer the battery model more, and Blink's batteries can last for up to two years. It also comes with a plug-in Wi-Fi hub included in the $70 price (and I've already seen it on sale).

I'm also a fan of Blink's app, which is pretty easy to pick up and use for newcomers while also being full of features like privacy zones, sensitivity settings and smart alerts.

Speaking of smart alerts, Blink also recently released AI options, starting at around $7 per month if you want video descriptions every time you get an alert and similar features. Otherwise, smart alerts and cloud video storage cost around $4 per month, cheaper than basically any other security camera subscription. If you want to dodge fees altogether, upgrade to a Blink Sync Module 2 or similar hub that can support local video storage for one initial fee.

If you’re interested in savings more than anything, this Kasa video doorbell starts at $40, so it’s your best option for saving a lot of money. That makes the high 2K resolution even more impressive, especially because video doorbells don’t often go so high for video quality. Kasa also has the welcome addition of subscription-based video storage and a local storage option (although you’ll need to buy a microSD card for the latter).

The doorbell works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and comes with its own chime accessory to set up a separate, in-house chime noise. Because this doorbell is wired in, that’s not always necessary but it’s a nice addition to have, especially if there are parts of your home where you can't hear the doorbell. The 160-degree diagonal field of view is also very good, making this a good option for large front yards. Person detection is free but we do wish the model had package detection as well.

It’s more expensive than some of our other picks but this Arlo Doorbell is still less than $100 even at full price. We’re choosing a battery model for this pick because we like the versatility it offers, especially if your previous doorbell location wasn’t a great place for a camera. However, there is a wired model available for much less. On the other hand, if you don’t mind paying about $20, you can upgrade to the second-gen model with more advanced features, but we think the first-gen model is a good balance for a budget pick.

In addition to two-way audio and night vision, this camera has an unusually large horizontal field of view at 180 degrees, so it can safely double as a front yard security camera in the right spot. While Arlo does offer person, package, vehicle and animal detection, those features are unfortunately locked behind a subscription, which starts at $8 per month.

Reolink’s wired doorbell is on the more expensive side of “cheap” (although we have frequently found it on sale, so don’t give up if you want to save more). But you also get an excellent 2K resolution and built-in person detection plus animal/vehicle ignoring at no extra charge. It’s another cam with a broad 180-degree field of view and uses infrared night vision to help out in the dark. If you connect it to a Reolink product like a smart floodlight, the two can also work in concert via motion detection.

While the doorbell can work with Reolink’s network video recorders, or NVRs (which are like DVRs, but internet-connected to help store camera footage and other things), it's also compatible with a cheaper microSD card for local storage, although you'll have to buy that separately. Reolink additionally offers an alternative cloud service subscription.

If you have existing doorbell wiring, this Ring doorbell, at $50, is one of the most affordable replacements. It will net you a bunch of smart features, including HD video, two-way audio, motion detection and (because Ring is an Amazon company) lots of compatibility with Alexa. Plus, doorbell installation isn't hard at all as long as you can safely connect a few wires.

This is also an excellent budget doorbell if you think you might want a subscription. Ring's subscription starts at $5 per month (a lot less than Netflix) and includes cloud video storage, object recognition with advanced alerts, motion zones, quick replies and more useful add-ons.