Finding The Best HomeKit Doorbell For Your Home
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An important consideration when building out smart homes is getting all your devices working under a single user interface and app. This not only makes things easier to manage, but ensures you can leverage all of these capabilities in automation rules and scenes.
Apple HomeKit is no different and I certainly love to get everything working in the Home app properly. Video doorbells have historically been a bit tricky for the simply due to the lack of options. This is especially true if you don’t have doorbell wiring available and need a battery option.
I’ve looked at all six video doorbells that have some kind of native Apple HomeKit support (yes, that’s all of them) and found the Logitech Circle View Doorbell still comes out on top, although the new Aqara G4 is finally offering a real challenger.
I’ve also included some DIY options that allow you to integrate a whole lot of other video doorbell models with your HomeKit setup if you’re willing to get a bit more technical.
Top HomeKit Doorbell Picks
Best Overall
Logitech Circle View
✔ Best Camera
✔ Dual Band Wi-Fi
✔ Best Performance
Best Battery Doorbell
Aqara G4
✔ Battery or wired power
✔ Local storage option
✔ Includes remote chime
Widest Viewing Angle
Wemo Smart Doorbell
✔ Wide vertical and horizontal view
✔ Dual-band Wi-Fi
✔ Easy install
What to look for in a HomeKit Doorbell
When it comes to Apple HomeKit support for cameras like this all of the software features like person detection, motion activity zones, and notification preferences are handled by the Apple Home app. This means there is nothing to really differentiate video doorbells from a smart feature perspective. As such, we'll need to consider some other factors when deciding between models.
Where do you want to record video?
One of the real benefits of using Apple HomeKit for any kind of security camera is using HomeKit Secure Video for storing your recordings. This allows for cloud-based video storage with a privacy-first security model that surpasses any other cloud storage offering.
This does, however, require you to have a Home Hub (an Apple TV or HomePod) and a paid iCloud subscription. If you don’t want to go with that expense, then you’ll need to consider a model that provides secure local storage of videos in some form, be it on a MicroSD card or a base station. Keep in mind that those solutions won’t make the videos available in the Home app, though, so you’ll need to use another app to access them.
Are you willing to pay a subscription?
Full HomeKit Secure Video support will require an iCloud subscription, but it’s not a bad deal as you get the iCloud storage for photos, app data, backups, and the Files app for storing anything you like, while the camera recordings don’t count against that limit. you need only pay for a subscription level that gives you the number of cameras you want to support.
A 50GB plan gets you 1 camera, 200GB gives you 5, and the top 2TB plan gives you an unlimited number. If you’re only looking at a doorbell, then the cheapest plan will suffice, and give you more space for iPhone backups as well.
If you don’t go with a model that supports HomeKit Secure Video, you’ll possibly need to pay for a third-party cloud plan anyway, but there are local storage options available in some models. Alternatively, you can check out our guide on video doorbells without a subscription.
Battery or hard wired?
Unlike other accessories, most smart cameras with official HomeKit support require a permanent power supply of some kind. Smart video doorbells in particular have been limited to those who have existing doorbell wiring or Power over Ethernet to their front door.
There is now a battery-powered model in the Aqara G4, and if that doesn’t grab you there are third-party solutions that allow for other battery-powered models to be integrated with HomeKit.
These solutions will generally require some technical knowledge and the willingness to get a bit more hands-on.
The Best HomeKit Video Doorbells
Best Overall - Logitech Circle View Doorbell
Best Battery Model - Aqara G4
Best Vertical Field of View - Wemo Smart Video Doorbell
Best Smart Home Support - Arlo Essential Doorbell
Best No Subscription Model - Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell
Best Power over Ethernet - Robin Pro Line Compact
best overall HomeKit Video Doorbell
Logitech Circle View Doorbell
★★★★✩
Key Features:
• HomeKit Secure Video support
• 1200x1600 HDR camera
• 160-degree FoV
• Dual band Wi-Fi
• Color night vision
• Built-in nightlight
• IP65 weather rating
What I Like
Deciding on the best overall doorbell for HomeKit has been tough, but I've settled on the Logitech Circle View Doorbell for a few reasons. Namely, great HD visuals, mounting options, support for existing chimes, better motion detection performance and HomeKit Secure Video.
Starting with the camera we see a 1200 x 1600 HDR camera with an unusual 3:4 aspect ratio, so that HD resolution is in portrait instead of the usual landscape orientation. This means you get a very good view of the porch and whatever is in front of the door rather than looking over the top as with most doorbell cameras. It has a 160-degree field of view, but that's diagonal so it's not very informative.
Rather than the usual black and white infrared night vision Logitech has gone exclusively with a 'color night vision' feature that works with a built-in LED night light to provide full color video within 6 ft of the camera. Color night vision basically just means the camera handles low light better, so this can also work further out with some exterior lighting. You can link this to some outdoor smart lighting via a HomeKit automation to take care of things.
I'm a sucker for a good modern design, and Logitech have delivered with quality materials and a sleek profile. Even the included wedge mount adds to the modern industrial feel, and the backlighting of the doorbell button along with the clean placement of the nightlight strip add to the visual appeal.
Of course, you may not care about that, so on a more practical level, the Circle View Doorbell is one of only a few in this category that can use an existing wired chime. Logitech provides a chime adapter kit that allows these to be wired in and used in conjunction with smart notifications and chimes on your HomePods. Be sure to run their compatibility checker to confirm this will work with your existing chime.
Potential Concerns
As with most camera products with official HomeKit support, the Logitech Circle View is a purely hard wired doorbell. You'll need doorbell wiring to be able to install it, and this can be a bit trickier than other doorbell models due to the design of the mount, and the somewhat lack luster wiring instructions.
More concerning is the devices propensity for overheating. Logitech even includes a warning about direct sunlight on their product page, and while this has been improved over several firmware versions, it's still an issue if the video doorbell gets direct sun or high ambient temperatures.
This issue gave me pause in ranking this one the best overall, but it does have the best feature set, camera performance, and is a pure HomeKit device in that there is no third-party app or account required, unlike most other devices. You'll need to decide if your installation location can avoid the heat issue.
✔ High build quality
✔ Color night vision
✘ Can overheat in full sun
✘ Install could be simpler
best battery HomeKit Video Doorbell
Aqara Video Doorbell G4
★★★✩✩
Key Features:
• HomeKit Secure Video support
• 1080p camera
• 160-degree FoV
• Black or gray options
• Remote chime included
• Battery or wired power
• IP44 weather rating
What I Like
On paper the new Aqara Video Doorbell G4 is a strong contender for best HomeKit doorbell overall, but it's too new for me to be comfortable handing it the crown at this point. The jury is still out on how it performs in the real world, and I prefer to get a wider view on the edge cases before recommending a product. I'm seeing a lot to like here, but there are also significant concerns at the moment.
From a HomeKit perspective, there are a few distinctive features that stand out, the most significant being the option to run it on batteries and still support HomeKit Secure Video. More than that, the 6 batteries it uses are regular AA (LR6). Aqara claims 4 months of life from these, although that's an optimistic estimate based on fairly low usage, and not using HomeKit.
The inclusion of privacy zones, where you can black out parts of the camera's view is also a nice inclusion that is lacking on most HomeKit doorbells. This feature is useful if you have areas where you don't want to record video, such as the neighbors windows.
Outside of HomeKit we have some novel features, like a voice changer, and additional alarms for things like loitering and tampering that can be set to trigger a 95bD alarm from the device. These features work through the Aqara app, however, and not in HomeKit.
Video clips are captured by a pretty standard 1080p HD video camera with infrared night vision, and can be stored in either HomeKit (with an iCloud subscription), or on a MicroSD card that can be optionally installed in the included chime. The card can be up to 512GB, and supports 24/7 recording if you use wired power for the doorbell. If you don't plan to record video in iCloud using HomeKit Secure Video then this is a pretty compelling feature.
The chime isn't so much an option as it is part of the doorbell. The two are paired in the factory and the doorbell uses the chime as a Wi-Fi repeater, so the chime is what you connect to your Wi-Fi rather than the doorbell itself. The Chime runs off a regular USB-C cable, so you can place it wherever.
Potential Concerns
It's early days and not only do we not have a lot of real-world reviews to draw out any build quality or performance issues, but the G4 looks to be having teething issues out of the gate. There are mixed reports from customers about issues with Wi-Fi connectivity and very poor battery life, with little meaningful support from Aqara.
The camera doesn't hold up as well as the Logitech Circle View. There's no HDR, and it's a less useful 16:9 aspect ratio with no color night vision. Some have complained the camera is useless in the dark, but from what I've seen the infrared night vision looks fine.
It's interesting that Aqara is advertising the ability to withstand full sun on a hot day given the primary issue with the Logitech Circle View above, but they also state that it's recommended to install their version under cover anyway, and don't give the IP rating.
✔ Local storage option
✔ Includes remote chime
✘ Battery life is not great
✘ Many features only in Aqara app
best Vertical Field of View
Wemo Smart Video Doorbell
★★★✩✩
Key Features:
• HomeKit Secure Video support
• 1200x1600 HDR camera
• 178-degree vertical FoV
• Dual band Wi-Fi
• Supports wired chimes
• Easy install
What I Like
If you want to cover a wide area outside your door, then the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell could be it. Wemo was actually the second device maker to provide a video doorbell with HomeKit Secure Video Support after Logitech, and they've gone with a very wide-angle lens sporting a 178-degree field of view for complete vertical coverage of the doorstep and porch and avoid blind spots, plus a 140-degree horizontal view for reasonable coverage to the sides.
What I like about this is that it also has the 3:4 portrait format 'head-to-toe' view of the Logitech Circle View and can cover a decent space either side. This does mean they've used a very severe fish-eye lens to fit all that space into a portrait image, though, which isn't for everyone.
Also like the Logitech offering, the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell is a purely wired doorbell and supports dual-band Wi-Fi, making it the only other HomeKit video doorbell to do so. If you're running a dual band router (and you should be) this could help with better streaming performance in some set ups.
As this is a wired doorbell it’s noteworthy that the wiring set up for this one is actually much simpler than the Logitech model, and its ease of installation is frequently lauded in customer reviews. It's also able to handle multiple chimes on your existing doorbell wiring, so long as your doorbell transformer can handle the load.
Potential Concerns
I'm not a huge fan of aggressive fish-eye lenses, and this one is particularly severe. The result is that the usable portion of the image is quite limited due to extreme visual distortion around the edges, which also means night vision is restricted to the center portion of the image where the IR LEDs are pointing.
The camera doesn't seem to be as sharp as others, and coupled with the limited night vision range impacts motion detection at night. This is more a HomeKit issue as the camera will simply tell your Home Hub that motion is detected and send a video stream. The Home hub will decide if it's worth doing something with, which is based on the video.
The final issue that crops up regularly is connection reliability. I've seen many reports of the dreaded 'No Response' in HomeKit requiring the doorbell to be rebooted. It's hard to say how widespread this is, though, and how much it's down to individual Wi-Fi networks. There are plenty more reports that say this isn't a problem, but it needs to be noted.
✔ Dual-band Wi-Fi
✔ Easy install
✘ Extreme fish eye lens
✘ Connection reliability issues
Best Smart Home Support
Arlo Essential Doorbell
★★★★✩
Key Features:
• 1536x1536 HD camera
• 180-degree FoV
• 4-month removable battery
• Person and package detection
• Two-way audio and quick responses
• Battery power optional
• Supports Alexa, SmartThings, Google Assistant, IFTTT, HomeKit
What I Like
If you want to hedge your smart home bets, then the Arlo Essential Doorbell is the clear winner in terms of the number of smart home platforms it supports. While HomeKit is technically one of those, you need to pair it with an Arlo Smart Hub or Base Station in order to get that integration. If you go for the wire-free model it’s also the only other battery-powered option with any HomeKit support.
With the hub you get native support for standard HomeKit camera functionality. That is, basic motion notifications, doorbell notifications, snapshots in the Home app, and live video. Any video clips will need to be recorded in either Arlo's cloud or on the base station.
Arlo has gone with a 1:1 aspect ratio and a 180-degree field of view, so you get decent coverage both horizontally and vertically, but HomeKit will downscale this to 1080p anyway.
You can use it with either wired power, or with the internal removable battery pack. This is good for a maximum of 4 months, but that's optimistic for most people. You can remove it and have a spare on hand for quick change overs if you go that way, though, which is better than most battery video doorbells.
If you're not concerned with HomeKit Secure Video support, this is a good quality option that gives you some flexibility later on if you choose to expand your camera setup outside of HomeKit.
Potential Concerns
I have some gripes with Arlo's cloud platform. Their app is a bit dated in its design, and settings can be hard to find in some cases. They also time out your log in, so you can go to check an event and have to log in again first. It would be more convenient if they took the more modern approach of having a device-specific authentication token that can remain valid for a longer period.
If you want to record video with this one, you're realistically going to need to spring for Arlo's subscription plans. While you can store clips on the base station, you can't access them from the app, you have to pull the USB drive and view them on a computer. That's not really a viable alternative in my book, and is intended more as a backup solution.
✔ Good camera
✔ Supports most other platforms
✘ Arlo subscription required
✘ Must be removed to charge
Best No Subscription HomeKit Doorbell
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell
★★★✩✩
Key Features:
• 1080p portrait camera
• 140-degree FoV
• Local storage - MicroSD
• Private cloud - FTP or Dropbox
• IP 44 weather rating
• No subscription required
What I Like
If you’re not interested in paying for an iCloud storage plan, then the Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell could be an option. Using an onboard MicroSD card for secure local storage, or with support for DropBox of FTP as a ‘personal cloud’ you can retain control over your data without any subscription fees.
The design of the doorbell has a modern design with an industrial style which stands out a bit from the competition, and is suitable for use with existing wiring to a doorbell chime, or with an optional Netatmo transformer if you don’t have an existing chime.
The camera is a standard 1080p HD video resolution with a 140 degree field of view, although that’s diagonal. As such that’s narrower than many other doorbells and is suitable for monitoring the outside of your door more than the surrounding area.
Potential Concerns
There’s no HomeKit Secure Video here, it’s basic HomeKit live camera support only. You’ll be relying on the Netatmo app to provide person detection and motion zone filtering, and to access the recordings.
More concerning are the numerous reports of short lifespans, poor motion detection performance, and poor Wi-Fi support. The latter extends to issues with mesh networks, which is a bit laughable at this point.
This is particularly galling given the high price tags on Netatmo gear. If you really want to avoid subscriptions, you’d be better off with other options.
✔ Smart modern design
✔ Supports chimes with option transformer
✘ Poor motion detection
✘ Issues with mesh networks
best Power over Ethernet HomeKit doorbell
Robin ProLine Compact
Key Features:
• HomeKit Secure Video
• 720p camera
• 130-degree FoV
• Power over Ethernet
• Backlit name plate
• IP 53 weather rating
What I Like
Dutch company Robin exclusively makes HomeKit compatible doorbells and were one of the first products to support HomeKit. Unfortunately, they haven’t really improved on their offering since then. I include this one in the list as it’s the only HomeKit option that supports Power over Ethernet (PoE).
Using PoE means continuous power and no issues with Wi-Fi signal as it uses the wired Ethernet connection for both. This affords a level of reliability that is unmatched by most video doorbells, so it’s a notable advantage.
The Robin ProLine Compact comes in three color options in both flush mount and surface mount models, all with an anodized aluminium front panel, and a backlit name label next to the button. That’s wrapped in a weatherproof case with an IP53 rating, which is good for light rain and should hold up well in direct sun. They also have a slightly larger flush mount option for about the same price.
Potential Concerns
These things are super pricey and, frankly, look a bit dated in their design. They actually remind me of home-grown electronics kits with their basic rectangular housing and plain finishes. Maybe that’s for you, though.
You only get a 720p camera and , while technical HD video, is not great for the price you’re paying here., You obviously need to hard wire ethernet into the mounting location as well. That’s not something most people are going to have. If you’re doing a new build it could be worth considering, perhaps more so because there are a few other brands offering PoE doorbells now, but not with HomeKit support.
✔ Backlit name plate
✔ Three color options in flush or surface mount
✘ Basic visual appearance
✘ No wired chime support
third party integration tools
There are effective DIY options available to integrate other video doorbells into HomeKit, so if you’re not averse to getting your hands dirty and have a preference for other models there are definitely options on the table.
Homebridge
The popular Homebridge open-source software is a community driven project to provide Apple HomeKit integration for a huge variety of smart devices and services. You can run the software on a wide variety of devices, from Windows to Raspberry Pi and even on a supported NAS, so it’s easy to find a way to host one for your HomeKit setup.
This used to be a very hobbyist solution that needing a level of technical knowledge and willingness to tinker, but it has matured considerably over the years and can be easily installed by most people using the well supported HOOBS.
I’d highly recommend giving this a go, with over 3000 plug-ins now available there’s bound to be plenty of things you can add to enhance your HomeKit experience. The only catch is that most doorbell and camera plug ins don’t give you HomeKit Secure Video.
Starling Home Hub
For using the Google Nest Doorbell in particular, you might just go for a Starling Home Hub. This is a relatively inexpensive commercial product that’s essentially a Raspberry Pi running a Homebridge install using the Google plug-ins, and with some extra enhancements for user friendliness. The new Google Nest Doorbell is a good quality product and using this solution allows you to get it working with full HomeKit support for it as well as with Google’s ecosystem if you wish.
Scrypted
If you want full HomeKit Secure Video support for just about all major video doorbell or camera companies, the new open-source project called Scrypted is the answer. This is similar to Homebridge in that it’s a small server solution that runs on a wide variety of hardware and operating systems, and uses plug-ins to provide support for specific products and services.
Scrypted offers integration with various smart home devices and allows for custom script-based automations as well, but its primary focus is on IP cameras. Using this tool you can integrate Arlo and Ring doorbells, for example, as well as anything that uses RTSP from names like Reolink and Amcrest. These wired options can actually be better from a performance perspective.
My Recommendations
When it comes to the best HomeKit video doorbells we have to look for those that support HomeKit Secure Video and all the extra functionality that comes with it. Unfortunately, not all video doorbells that support Apple HomeKit have this important feature, and there are only a handful of devices with official support to begin with.
If you don’t want to pay for an iCloud subscription then some of these other models may be OK for you, but generally they don’t have the same level of quality or features, and the better models can be used without a subscription as well, albeit with the possibility of not having video recording of events.
The best HomeKit doorbell is still the Logitech Circle View, in spite of some technical issues that may make it unsuitable for some installs. It still tops out the competition in terms of features, video quality and performance. Hot on its heels, however, is the new Aqara G4, and this may take the top spot once we have some more retail world usage data to go on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a HomeKit video doorbell?
A HomeKit video doorbell is a smart doorbell that allows homeowners to remotely monitor and control access to their homes using the Apple HomeKit smart home platform. It typically includes a camera, microphone, speaker, and motion sensor to detect visitors and allow homeowners to receive alerts on their mobile devices.
How does a HomeKit video doorbell work?
A HomeKit video doorbell connects to a home's local network and sends notifications to a homeowner's iPhone or iPad when someone approaches the front door and when the doorbell rings. The homeowner can see and hear the visitor through the doorbell's camera and speaker, and communicate with them through a two-way audio system from their personal device, be it an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
What are the benefits of using a HomeKit video doorbell?
HomeKit video doorbells offer several benefits, including increased data security, convenience, and peace of mind. They can help improve security by allowing homeowners to monitor and control access to their homes remotely, view and communicate with visitors from anywhere, and receive alerts when someone approaches the front door.
Models that support HomeKit Secure Video are able to take advantage of several advanced features to greatly reduce false alerts such as facial recognition, custom activity zones, and filtering of motion events by human, animal, vehicle, or packages.
Are HomeKit video doorbells easy to install?
HomeKit video doorbells are relatively easy to install and typically require only a few basic tools. Most models come with step-by-step instructions and can be installed by homeowners themselves. However, some models may require professional installation.
What HomeKit-compatible devices can be used with a HomeKit video doorbell?
HomeKit video doorbells can be used with other Apple HomeKit smart home devices, such as smart locks, security cameras, and home automation systems. This allows homeowners to create a comprehensive smart home ecosystem that can be controlled through the Home app on their Apple devices.
Can I use a HomeKit video doorbell with Android devices?
No, HomeKit video doorbells are designed to work exclusively with the Apple HomeKit platform and iOS devices. Android users will need to use a different smart video doorbell or smart home platform that is compatible with their devices.
What is the cost of a HomeKit video doorbell?
The cost of a HomeKit video doorbell can vary depending on the model and features. Prices typically range from $150 to $500. Additionally, there may be additional costs associated with professional installation or subscription services for cloud storage and advanced features.
How secure are HomeKit video doorbells?
HomeKit video doorbells are designed to be secure and offer several features to protect homeowners' privacy and data. They use end-to-end encryption and local data processing to ensure that data is transmitted securely, and allow homeowners to control access to their cameras and recordings.
However, it is important to use strong passwords and two factor authentication on your iCloud logins, and keep your firmware up to date to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
