Blink Video Doorbell

Should you buy the Blink Video Doorbell?

The Blink Video Doorbell is the cheapest name-brand video doorbell you can buy, and at $30.99 it scores 75, just clearing our buy line. It is aimed at renters and first-time buyers who want to see who is at the door and are not fussy about resolution. The sticker is misleading, though: you need a Blink Sync Module, sold separately, and person detection and cloud clips need a plan at about $3 a month. If you can stretch to $39.99, the Ring Battery Doorbell 2K (77) is the better basic doorbell.

Where it earns its score

• Reliability is the top factor at 88. More than 16,000 reviews and a simple feature set mean there is not much to go wrong.
• Two-year battery life. Three AA lithium batteries are included and Blink rates them for up to two years, the longest of any doorbell here.
• Flexible install. Wire-free, or wire it to an existing chime so the old bell still rings.
• Value is 86. Even after the Sync Module and a plan, it is still the lowest total cost in the category.

What to know first

• The Sync Module is required and not included. Budget for it before you count on the $30.99 price.
• Features score 62 and Quality 64. HD video, infrared night vision only, no package detection, no color at night. This is the lowest-spec doorbell we rank.
• Warranty is the weakest factor. One year, scoring 55.
• Cloud clips need a plan. Person detection and cloud storage require the Blink subscription at roughly $3 a month.

Questions buyers ask