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Doorbells · Head to head

Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) vs Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera

Full Smart Doorbells comparison in 2026

Updated September 2026
Data from Amazon and official Arlo and Ecobee sites.
2026 verdict
Wire-free flexibility against Apple polish: the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) edges out the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera on the scoring, with broader platform support, more alert types and a lower price.
Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
Winner
Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
$34.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It works with Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant and can run on battery or wired power, but its recording and alerts are behind an Arlo Secure plan. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera answers with native Apple Home support, HDR, 5 GHz Wi-Fi, a three-year warranty and motion zones that need no subscription, though it is wired only and locks video history behind ecobee's own plan. Choose the Arlo for a mixed-platform home, and the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera for Apple Home, especially next to an ecobee thermostat.
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FeatureArlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)Ecobee Smart Doorbell CameraWinner
Price$34.99$109.99Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
Rating4.24.1Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
Warranty1 year3 yearsEcobee Smart Doorbell Camera
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFiEcobee Smart Doorbell Camera
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home AssistantAlexa, Apple HomeKitArlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
AlertsMotion, People, Packages, Animals, VehiclesMotion, People, PackagesArlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
Customizable Motion ZonesSubscription requiredYESEcobee Smart Doorbell Camera
StorageCloudCloudTie
Voice ChangingNONOTie
Automatic RepliesNONOTie

What the differences mean

Power

The Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) runs on a rechargeable battery rated for 4 months or on wiring. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera is wired only, with no battery, and owners say it can need a stronger transformer.

Apple Home and other platforms

The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera supports Apple Home directly and works with Alexa, but not Google Home, SmartThings or Home Assistant. The Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) supports Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant, with Apple Home only through an Arlo SmartHub.

Picture

Both are 1080p. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera adds HDR and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and covers 175 degrees vertically and 187 diagonally. The Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) covers 180 degrees diagonally and adds privacy zones.

Alerts and zones

The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera lists people alerts and customizable motion zones with no subscription. On the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) people, package, animal and vehicle alerts and motion zones all sit behind Arlo Secure.

Warranty

The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera carries 3 years, against 1 year for the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen).

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both doorbells like a clear head-to-toe picture and a premium build, and both groups object to what happens to recordings: they sit behind a plan on each. Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) owners praise the simple 15 minute install, the wide view and the integrated siren, and complain that after the trial only live view and alerts remain, that the battery can drain within days for some, that pairing to Wi-Fi fails for a few and that motion detection is slow or over-sensitive. Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera owners single out Apple Home integration with instant notifications, the link to ecobee thermostats and reliability in extreme cold. They complain that HomeKit Secure Video is disabled, notifications can lag, the indoor chime does not always ring, it can need a stronger transformer and it is physically large.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)
  • Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) or Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera?

The Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) in the page's scoring, on integrations, alert types and price, and because it can run on battery. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera is the better Apple Home doorbell.

What is the biggest difference between the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) and the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera?

The ecosystem and the power. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera is a wired Apple Home doorbell that pairs with ecobee thermostats, while the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) works with several platforms and can run on battery.

Do the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) and the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera need a subscription?

For recordings, yes, both. The Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) needs Arlo Secure, and the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera needs ecobee's own plan and has no local storage.

Does the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) or the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera work with Google Home?

The Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen) does. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera lists Google Home as unsupported and works with Alexa and Apple Home.

Who should buy the Arlo Video Doorbell HD (2nd gen)?

Buyers who want a wire-free option that works with Google Home, SmartThings or Home Assistant and are ready to pay for Arlo Secure.

Who should buy the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera?

Apple Home households, especially those with an ecobee thermostat, who have doorbell wiring and want HDR video and a long warranty.

Full comparison table

Compare all 42 Doorbells side by side

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