The 5 Best Wireless Doorbells, Tested by BHG

A wireless doorbell is a tiny device with a big job: it has to announce visitors, deliveries, neighbors, and the occasional
“wrong house, sorry” with the confidence of a Broadway lead. And it has to do it without getting stage fright from weather,
Wi-Fi drama, or the fact that your dog thinks every ding-dong is a personal challenge.

Better Homes & Gardens (BHG) tested 13 wireless doorbells over six months and narrowed them down based on setup, features,
sound clarity, range, durability, smart performance, and value. Below are the five standout picks from that testingplus a
practical buying guide so you can choose the right kind of “someone’s at the door!” for your home.

How BHG Tested Wireless Doorbells (and Why It Matters)

Wireless doorbells look simple, but small differences change everything: a louder chime, a stronger signal, a better camera angle,
fewer false alerts, or not having to pay a monthly fee just to see what happened yesterday.

BHG’s testing process evaluated each doorbell at home for six months, timing setup, judging instruction clarity, measuring audio
clarity and volume, checking range and reliability, and (for smart models) assessing app pairing, motion accuracy, night vision,
two-way talk performance, and smart home integrations. They also checked how each device held up over timerevisiting performance at
three months and again at six months.

Quick Comparison: The 5 Best Wireless Doorbells

The 5 Best Wireless Doorbells (BHG’s Tested Picks)

1) Best Overall: Honeywell Home RDWL313P2000 (3 Series Plug-In Wireless Doorbell)

If you want the “set it and forget it” optionno app, no Wi-Fi handshake, no subscription pop-upsthis is the one. BHG’s top pick
delivered an easy setup, a durable feel, a loud chime with volume control, and a useful flashing light alert.

Why it stands out

• Fast setup: Plug in the receiver, power the button, pick a chime, stick it up. That’s basically the whole plot.
• Reliable signal: A solid stated range that works well for typical homes.
• Useful accessibility features: Visual flashing alerts help in loud homes or for anyone who’s hard of hearing.
• Expandable: You can pair accessories for broader coverage and customized alerts (handy if you’ve got multiple entrances).

Best for

Homes that want a dependable wireless doorbell chime without turning the front porch into an IT department.

Keep in mind

It’s not a doorbell camera. If you want to see packages or talk to visitors from your phone, skip to the smart picks below.

Real-life example

If you work in a back bedroom with the door closed (aka the “do not disturb unless it’s a delivery” zone), the adjustable volume
plus visual alert can keep you from missing a knock-and-run.

2) Best Budget: AVANTEK Wireless Doorbell

This is the budget-friendly crowd-pleaser: long range, lots of chime choices, and enough volume to cut through a busy household.
BHG’s testing notes that the wide selection of chimes can be a bit muchbut if you like options, you’ll feel like you just walked
into a ringtone buffet.

Why it stands out

• Strong range for the money: Great for larger homes, multi-story layouts, or detached garage situations.
• Big chime library: Plenty of sound choices and multiple volume levels.
• Simple basics done well: No Wi-Fi required for core doorbell function.

Best for

Anyone who wants a low-cost wireless doorbell that still reaches the far corners of a homewithout paying for features they won’t use.

Keep in mind

Too many chimes can feel overwhelming. The practical move: pick one tone that’s distinct, not startling, and not “haunted carnival.”
(Your pets will thank you. Your neighbors might also thank you, but less directly.)

Real-life example

If your living room TV volume is permanently set to “stadium,” a louder wireless chime and a clear tone can be the difference between
answering the door and discovering your package has moved on to a better life.

3) Best Smart: Eufy Security Video Doorbell S330 (Dual Cam)

If you want the advantages of a video doorbellseeing deliveries, getting smart alerts, checking the porch at nightwithout paying a
monthly subscription just to unlock the good stuff, this pick is a standout. BHG highlighted the dual-camera design for better porch
coverage and praised its package detection and local storage approach.

Why it stands out

• Dual-camera coverage: Helps reduce blind spots, especially for packages placed close to the door.
• Smart detection features: Package detection, facial recognition, loitering alerts, and motion zones.
• No required monthly fee: Local storage can be a huge value win versus cloud-only models.
• Battery or wired: Flexible installation based on your home’s existing setup.

Best for

Homes that get regular deliveries and want a smart video doorbell that’s serious about porch securitywithout an ongoing subscription
bill quietly moving into your budget like it pays rent.

Keep in mind

Two-way audio can have a slight delay. It’s usually not a dealbreaker, but it can make fast conversations feel like you’re starring in a
space movie.

Real-life example

If your “delivery instructions” are basically “please don’t leave it directly in the rain,” the extra porch visibility and package alerts
can help you grab items quicklyespecially with time-sensitive deliveries like meal kits or medication.

4) Best Weather-Resistant: Google Nest Doorbell (Wireless)

This pick is for people who want a polished smart-home experienceclear app controls, real-time video, and smart alerts that can be tuned
so your phone doesn’t panic every time a squirrel runs past your porch. BHG noted straightforward installation and highlighted features like
night vision and facial recognition.

Why it stands out

• Strong smart alerts: Helpful motion/event notifications and an overall refined ecosystem.
• Night vision: Better visibility after dark for checking the porch.
• Optional “familiar faces” style features: Great for households that want smarter identification (note: advanced features can require a subscription).

Best for

People who value smart features and app usabilityand who don’t mind charging a battery-powered doorbell more often in busy, high-traffic
households.

Keep in mind

Battery life is highly dependent on how many events it records per day and your settings. If your front porch is “the neighborhood’s main
sidewalk,” expect more frequent charging than a quiet cul-de-sac setup. Some advanced features (like familiar face alerts and extended video
history) may require a paid plan.

Real-life example

If you travel or work long hours, real-time video and smart alerts can let you handle “doorstep moments” from anywherelike telling a delivery
driver (politely!) where to place a package when rain is coming in sideways.

5) Best Portable: Honeywell Home RDWL917AX2000/E (Series 9 Wireless Portable Doorbell)

This is the chime-only pick that behaves like a smart device in one very important way: it adapts to your actual life. BHG liked the portability,
strong audio clarity, and bright visual alerts that can be seen from far away. It’s especially handy for households that need flexible placement
(nap schedules, noisy rooms, or a family member who benefits from visual notifications).

Why it stands out

• Portable chime unit: Move it where you areoffice, kitchen, garageso you don’t miss visitors.
• Visual alerts: Bright lights help when you’re wearing headphones or the house is loud.
• Custom tones: Multiple tone options, and some models allow custom audio via MP3 upload.
• Power flexibility: Plug-in (USB) or batteries for true portability.

Best for

Families with kids, anyone working from home, households with hearing needs, and people who want a reliable doorbell without Wi-Fi.

Keep in mind

The bright lights can be intense. Useful? Absolutely. Subtle? Not especially.

Real-life example

If you’re bouncing between rooms while cooking, studying, or doing laundry, a portable doorbell chime that follows you around can feel like a
superpower. Or at least like an extremely practical wizard spell.

How to Choose the Best Wireless Doorbell for Your Home

The best wireless doorbell isn’t always the fanciest. It’s the one that fits how your home actually workswhere people enter, how far the signal
has to travel, and whether you need video or just a chime.

1) Decide: Chime-only vs. video doorbell camera

• Chime-only wireless doorbells are simpler: transmitter outside, receiver inside, no Wi-Fi needed. Great for rentals, seniors, and
  anyone who wants minimal fuss.
• Video doorbells add motion alerts, live view, recordings, and often two-way talk. They usually need Wi-Fi and can involve subscriptions
  for cloud storage or advanced AI features.

2) Check range (and remember walls are range villains)

Wireless range claims are typically measured in open space. Real homes have walls, appliances, plumbing, and that one mysterious corner where Wi-Fi goes to
give up. If you have a large home, prioritize models known for strong range and consider placing the receiver strategically.

3) If it’s a video doorbell, test your Wi-Fi at the door

Before you buy, stand at your front door with your phone and check signal strength. If you’re barely hanging onto a connection, you may need a Wi-Fi extender
or mesh node near the entryway. The best video doorbell in the world can’t stream through a dead zone.

4) Think through power: battery convenience vs. wired stability

Battery doorbells are easier to install, but you’ll recharge them more often with high activity and higher sensitivity settings. If you have existing wiringor
can use an adapterwired power can reduce maintenance and help video doorbells stay consistently responsive.

5) Subscription reality check

Some doorbell cameras work well without a monthly plan, especially models designed around local storage. Others lock premium featureslike extended video history
or certain AI alertsbehind a subscription. If you’d rather pay once and be done, prioritize subscription-free or “no required fee” systems and read the fine print.

6) Accessibility features matter more than people expect

If someone in your household wears headphones, has hearing loss, or you simply live in a lively, noisy home, look for visual alerts, adjustable volume, and a tone
that cuts through background sound without being obnoxious.

Installation Tips That Prevent 90% of Regrets

• Mount at typical doorbell height: Doorbell cameras are designed for that placement; higher isn’t automatically better.
• Angle matters: Use wedges if needed so you capture faces and packages, not just the side of someone’s shoulder and your doormat’s best angle.
• Reduce false alerts: Set motion zones to avoid busy streets, swaying trees, or reflective surfaces that “move” at night.
• Change default settings: Strong passwords and up-to-date firmware are the unglamorous heroes of smart home security.

Hands-On Experiences (Extra ): What Living With These Doorbells Is Actually Like

Here’s the funny thing about doorbells: you don’t realize how much they shape your day until you upgrade one. A basic wireless chime-only modellike the Honeywell
RDWL313P2000 or the budget AVANTEKdoes something beautifully old-school. It rings. It rings reliably. And it doesn’t ask you to sign into anything, approve permissions,
or update an app because someone at headquarters decided the “ding” experience needed a rebrand.

In real life, that simplicity has a calming effect. You stop missing visitors because the sound is clearer, the volume is adjustable, and the receiver can be placed
where you actually spend time. It’s especially noticeable in larger homes: the “I didn’t hear it” excuse starts disappearing, which is either helpful or mildly terrifying
depending on how much you enjoy dodging unexpected conversations.

The AVANTEK experience is basically: “Wow, this is loud.” That’s not a complaintit’s a feature. The chime list, though, can feel like scrolling streaming services for
20 minutes and then rewatching the same sitcom anyway. Most people end up choosing one simple tone that’s distinct and sticking with it. Bonus tip from the school of
hard knocks: avoid anything that sounds like a siren unless you want your household to sprint like it’s a fire drill every time the mail arrives.

Video doorbells shift the experience from “someone is here” to “someone is here and I have receipts.” That’s a big jump. With a smart option like the Eufy S330, you start
thinking in scenes: package placed, notification arrives, quick check, grab delivery. The dual-camera design is especially satisfying if you’ve ever opened your app and
thought, “Great. I can see the visitor’s hat. But where did the box go?” Porch visibility becomes a quality-of-life thing, not just a security feature.

The other huge day-to-day difference is subscription psychology. If your doorbell stores video locally and doesn’t require a monthly plan, you’re more likely to actually use
the features you paid for. You review clips because you can. You adjust settings because you’re not being upsold mid-swipe. For busy households that get lots of deliveries,
that feels less like a gadget and more like a practical home tool.

The Google Nest experience tends to feel polished: notifications are helpful, the ecosystem is well designed, and the app can make it easier to distinguish “mail carrier”
from “random motion.” But battery-powered smart doorbells come with a real-world habit: charging. If your porch gets a lot of actionneighbors walking dogs, traffic, deliveries,
kids sprinting in and outyour doorbell might record enough events that charging becomes a recurring task. It’s not hard, but it’s one more item in the invisible mental checklist.
The best workaround is thoughtful settings: tighter motion zones, reasonable sensitivity, and (if possible) using existing wiring or a compatible adapter to reduce battery stress.

Finally, the portable Honeywell Series 9 is one of those products that makes you think, “Why didn’t we always do it this way?” Being able to move the chime to your office
during work hours, then to the kitchen while cooking, then away from a sleeping baby’s room is genuinely useful. The bright visual alerts can be a lifesaver when you’re wearing
headphones or vacuuming, even if they’re not exactly subtle. It’s the kind of everyday convenience that feels smalluntil it prevents the 17th “I didn’t hear the door!” moment.

Conclusion

The best wireless doorbell is the one that matches your life: simple and loud if you just need a dependable chime, or smart and feature-rich if packages and security are your
daily reality. BHG’s testing highlights a strong mixfrom no-fuss Honeywell chimes to advanced dual-camera coverageso you can pick based on what you’ll actually use, not what
looks coolest in a product photo.