Able to send an alert to your smartphone whenever the doorbell rings, or when it detects somebody on your property, the Nest Hello smart doorbell is a great addition to any home security system and perhaps the best choice for the real security-conscious.

One of its selling points is that it can tell the difference between a person and something else. A lot of doorbell camera fans state that it can be annoying to constantly get motion notifications due to things such as the washing blowing in the wind or a cat going past, so this ability is welcome.

It gives you a full view of the area, from head to toe. This lets you see if any parcels have been left on your doorstep, or if something such as a charity bag has been collected. Through the Nest app, you can have a two-way conversation with visitors as well. Or, select a choice of pre-recorded greetings.

For an added extra each month, a Nest Aware subscription can further tell the difference between regular guests and strangers. If you have a Google Home smart speaker, this could come in handy as it can announce who is at the door without you checking the video footage.

There is live stream ability, so you can always check in on the camera should you be away and want to see if everything outside is still okay. Thanks to night vision and three-hour event history snapshots, you are on top of it all whatever the time.

The Nest Aware plan can also record and store up to 30 days worth of history, in case you have missed anything or want to revisit something suspicious. Unlike some other doorbells which only turn on when there’s motion or the bell is pressed, the Nest records and saves footage 24/7, and can tag clips based on movement or people.

The Ring range of doorbells are perhaps the best-known, and this model is one of the leading varieties regarding the combination of price, ease of use and the features available straight out of the box.

There is 1080p HD video footage, so there will be no difficulty in working out who everyone is who comes to the door. There is also two-way conversation ability, allowing you to ask all the questions and leave the instructions you could wish.

It comes with motion sensors too, so you can get a notification if there is anyone on your property before they ring the doorbell. This can be adjusted to focus on particular zones to let you see movement in the most important areas of your property.

Thanks to the night-vision sensors, security is made 24/7. And it is weather resistant too, so you can still see if anyone happens to be on your property on the darkest, stormiest nights.

Whether you are halfway around the world or just upstairs with the kids, receiving notifications and checking on the comings and goings in your home has never been easier.

If you would like to record and securely store all the footage it has taken, you can purchase the Ring Protect Recording Plan from an extra £2.50 per month. You get a free 30-day trial of this cloud service to see if it really will come in handy.

It is supplied with a quick-release rechargeable battery pack so you can give it a boost without removing the entire item, or simply connect it all up to the wiring. Charges last around a month.

There is the option to purchase with a chime for an extra cost, or with an Echo Dot.

Arlo is a strong name when it comes to smart home security, so we were excited for the release of their first foray into the doorbell market.

The most important thing to mention here is that this is purely for existing users of Arlo camera systems, or anyone looking at buying the whole collection. You need a camera already pointing at the outdoor area, as this is only the doorbell part of the setup.

It is going to be a winner for a lot of people out there for several reasons. The app is compatible with iOS and Android, it’s battery operated to reduce wiring, weatherproof, and gives pretty instant alerts straight to your phone.

Perfect for a household, a notification will let you know if another family member gets to the call first. You can even remotely select a pre-recorded message to answer the door for you if you’re too busy to speak. There is two-way audio in case you need to speak to whoever has rung the bell to ask them to wait or leave a parcel somewhere.

You can use an existing chime with it if you don’t want to be too reliant on your smartphone to give you the alerts. Or, you can buy the dedicated Arlo Chime. A rolling seven day Cloud storage system will keep your data there for long enough to check up on anything suspicious. It can also operate in temperatures between -20°C to 45°C. So, it is perfectly safe for use in the UK no matter how extreme the weather gets.

It currently only works with Alexa, not Google Home or Apple HomeKit. You do need the Arlo SmartHub for it all to work which you should already have if you own the cameras in the range.

We had a few issues with it. The battery life didn’t last anywhere near as long as stated, first of all. Obviously, this can depend on how sensitive it is and how busy things are, but it is still disappointing and changing settings to lower quality seemed to make little difference. If they happen to go offline, you need to basically start again and reinstall, so there may be issues with connectivity.

Having said this, it is a great addition to an existing Arlo setup and comes in at a reasonable price.

If you’re after a smart doorbell camera under the budget category, takes things back to basics but is still worthwhile, then the original first generation Ring is a great bet. It doesn’t even seem that dated despite the range of latest models.

It has most of the features which are seen as a must. You can view or speak to visitors using your smartphone, and there are motion sensors to take care of anybody who doesn’t ring the doorbell, but you want to keep an eye on.

The removable rechargeable battery means a quick and simple set-up, or you can install it to your pre-existing wired doorbell for use with an audible bell.

There are four finishes available – Venetian Bronze, Polished Brass, Antique Brass and Satin Nickel – so you can choose the one which fits your decor and general look the best.

Concerning the negatives, there are a few signals which suggest it is an early model. Connectivity was a bit unpredictable even when tested with high broadband speeds, and there was sometimes a bit of a delay between receiving the notification that someone was at the door and them actually arriving. Not great if you’re getting a parcel delivered and you only catch them as they’re leaving when they think nobody is in.

If crystal-clear picture quality, ultra-reliability and a slimline design are a must then going with a later Ring model will be the best bet. But for something under £100 and having a doorbell camera for those ‘just in case’ moments is a priority, then it is a great budget bet. And, it is a well-known brand if you’re bothered about that kind of thing.

Complete with a chime so you can’t miss the notifications if somebody is at the door, this Ring package has everything you need to get started. Plus, it is much more sleek than the original or Ring 2 models.

Firstly, the camera covers a full 180° view which is slightly more generous than a lot of others which usually sit at about 160°, so you have a complete view from side to side. The full HD 1080p recording quality also allows you to look back at all of the footage clearly, and there will be no confusion as to who is stood on your doorstep.

There is an IR LED sensor so it will still work perfectly when it is dark. It is also weather resistant, so a bad shower of rain won’t see it become entirely useless.

The chime can connect to the doorbell wirelessly which is great to cut down on the amount of installation and wiring needed. Through the app, you can adjust the volume and switched to ‘do not disturb’ if you have a sleeping little one or a pet who is easily startled.

It requires an existing hardwired doorbell or professional installation from an electrician, so it isn’t for anyone who wants an easy process.

A smart doorbell which has pretty much everything you could want out of a product of its type. It is actually overall designed to replace a peephole in terms of placement as opposed to a traditional doorbell.

Three metres of night vision will have you covered even when it is dark outside, so you can still clearly see who is ringing or what is going on outside. The motion alert option can give you a notification when something sets it off, so you can investigate if necessary.

There is also two-way audio, so you can speak out and ask somebody who they are and what they want before going to the door. Or, ask your postman to leave your parcel around the side of the house if you are in the supermarket.

With the purchase comes a Smart Video Viewer, which technically acts as the other end of the peephole to be placed on the back of the door. So if it’s easier to see rather than grab your phone, you don’t have to open the door. It is also touch screen, so you can record what it sees and view previously recorded data. You can also change the settings such as the brightness and sensitivity to adapt it to your particular environment.

Unlike with a lot of other options, there is also a built-in chime so you shouldn’t miss a thing. The body of the camera is also very durable so it should be protected from vandalism or the weather.

It works with Alexa and Google Home, but not Apple HomeKit at the moment. The free EZVIZ app needs to be downloaded to get it up and running. It is compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems. Recordings can be stored both on a microSD and a cloud system, but the latter does cost.

We love how discreet it is and how it is pretty vandal proof. And how it gives you many ways to view what is going on. It is one of the more advanced options out there (with a price tag to show this). While it isn’t great for any renters because of how much drilling and setup it takes, it is a top choice for anyone who can indeed adapt their door to install it.

The video doorbell market is ruled by a couple of strong names, so we were very excited to try this option from a well-loved doorbell brand and see how it matched up.

There is a lot to shout about too. You can purchase it as rechargeable or wired, to suit your home and lifestyle. It gives you the option to see, hear, speak and record any visitors from wherever you are in the world. These recordings can be stored completely free on Google Drive, Dropbox or by adding a micro SD card.

The free storage is a huge point as many cameras require subscriptions as extra. If you really want to keep a record of all instances, perhaps because there has been a rise in crime in the area or you just like to be able to check out anything suspicious, then this is going to be very welcomed.

It is weatherproof so if you don’t have a closed porch, don’t be put off. The camera quality is high, and you can choose from three different melodies.

There is no internal chime for your home, so it only notifies your phone that someone has pressed the bell. But this is an issue with many products of this type so we can’t say it is particularly disappointing. We found a few problems with connecting to WiFi and our phones, but once it was done, the connection didn’t seem to drop which is good.

The big thing it lacks, however, is motion detection. Unfortunately, not every unwelcome guest will ring the doorbell.