Video doorbell vs a proper CCTV system: do you need both?
3 min read
A video doorbell feels like it covers home security on its own, and for a specific job, it does. It just isn't the same job a CCTV system does.
What a video doorbell is actually good at
A doorbell camera covers one thing well: the front door. You get an alert the moment someone approaches, can speak to them remotely, and see who's there before opening the door. It's not designed to monitor a driveway, garden, side entrance, or the rest of the property.
What it doesn't cover
Anything outside the doorbell's narrow field of view is a blind spot, side gates, back doors, parked cars, and garden access are all invisible to it. Most doorbell footage also has a shorter retention window than a proper NVR-based system.
Our honest answer
For full property coverage, a doorbell camera is a good addition to a CCTV system, not a replacement for one. If budget only allows one right now, we'll help you decide based on which entry point actually matters most for your specific home.