Front Door Cameras: How to Choose, Top picks 2020 & Reviews

According to statistics, 34% of burglars enter through the front door, ranking as the most common entry point for thieves.

The front door camera is absolutely a big necessity in home security.

With a front door camera, you can be alerted when someone arrives, check out who they are, speak to them via your phone, and most importantly, keep your home protected from break-ins!

It is a tough task, though, to choose from various types of front door cameras.

For example, the front door WiFi camera with easy installation; the front door motion detector camera that sends you alerts; and the camera to see who is at the front door.

But there is much MORE a front door camera can do for you, like covering a wider area to keep an eye on your front door entryway and the porch.

If you’re interested, continue reading and I’ll show you the best front door camera to match your requirements, without forcing you into subscriptions and monthly fees.

#1. How to Choose a Front Door Camera

#2. Best Front Door Video Camera (with Reviews & Videos)
#3. Front Door Camera for Peephole & Front Doorbell Camera
#4. FAQs About Front Door Camera (Where to Place & More)

Before we start diving into the different types of door IP cameras, let’s make it clear that a quality front door camera can integrate all the desired features below, and you don’t have to compromise between your diverse needs.

You may check the recommended home front door camera for the apartment and home.

Burglar’s Bane: HD Motion Activated Front Door Camera

A front door camera is proven to be the most effective way to enhance home security.

The presence of front door camera already comes as deterrence to vandals, and that’s why some people choose to install fake front door cameras.

To make it more effective, the 1080p HD motion activated front door security camera can record the burglar’s face and activities, send alerts to you immediately, and help with the investigation with clear evidence when needed.

Better still, if you got a front door camera with a speaker, you can warn the burglar verbally instead of doing nothing while you are miles away.

Pro tips:

  1. Go for an HD main door camera with 1080p or higher resolution for clear identification of people’s faces and the plate numbers.
  2. And generally, the motion-activated entrance door security runs on batteries and will only wake up when the motion is detected, instead of doing 24/7 continuous recording.

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Kids’ Guardian: Front Door Camera with App

A front door camera for apartment could also be useful to kids.

Do you occasionally leave your children alone at home? Picture this: A stranger comes to your house and your children could not tell who it is by a single doorbell and opens the door or make the wrong judgment by pretended voice.

If this is your concern, a smartphone front door camera with monitor will be your right choice.

With the front door camera linked to cell phone/iPad, children will be able to get the live view easily and see the visitor before answering the door.

And parents could also take good advantage of the front door camera.

After connecting your entry door camera to the phone, you can check the camera footage to learn who has dropped by and whether your kids have arrived home safely from school even when you are not at home.

Extra Tip: It’s advised to choose an Andriod/iPhone front door security camera with companion software (like the ZOSI camera and ZOSI client) so that you can fully play all the front door security camera features without compatibility issues.

Life Manager: Front Door Camera Intercom with Monitor

The front door CCTV camera is also a good way to manage the package delivery and other services.

There could be times when the doorbell keeps ringing and you just want to sleep in. And when you struggle to open the door only to find a salesman there.

If this is your nightmare, the front door camera with monitor and speaker (two-way audio) can save your day.

The front door security camera intercom with monitor enables you to speak to the one coming up to your doors. Now, you can give instructions to the courier and send the salesman away by talking to them directly via your phone.

With the home front door camera, you will now know whether the postman cuts across your garden from next door or walks up to the doorway, wherever you are. Another piece of trifles gets off your mind.

Renter’s Rescuer: WiFi Front Door Camera

Considering adding a residential front door security camera but hesitate at the second thought of the rental agreement?

Now, a completely wireless front door camera could get you out of the dilemma.

Here I’m talking about the wire-free WiFi front door cameras, powered by batteries or solar panel. This kind of wireless front door video camera needs NO wires at all to work, so there will be no wiring hassles and no drilling for the wires to come through.

Note that the typical wireless entry door camera still needs a cable for power. So if you are renting a house and want to avoid any argument with the house owner, a wireless front door security camera with intercom is the best way to go.

DIYer’s Helper: PoE Front Door Security Camera

Have wasted a lot of time waiting for the front door camera installation due to the slow response of the security company? It’s time to switch for a DIY front door security camera system.

The PoE front door camera is plug and play and easy to install even for beginners.

Compared with analog cameras, the PoE front door viewer camera can extend to a long distance like 240 feet before the signal gets down.

Compared with non-PoE cameras, the PoE front door CCTV only needs one cable to work for both power supply and data transmission.

Compare with the Non-PoE System and PoE System

For example, ZOSI 8EN-2615W is the one that allows you to DIY your own security solution in a simple & efficient way.

Or you may just turn to the battery-powered front door webcams with NO cable at all.

Best Front Door Security Cameras 2020

Want to have all the conveniences of CCTV front door in one camera?

Here are top 3 front door camera options for you to deter and catch burglars, keep an eye on your kids, manage your life, and give you real peace of mind.

Don’t miss out the front of house camera for sale in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and other countries here (the list will keep updating).

Battery Operated Front Door Camera: ZOSI C306

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Compared with the traditional wireless front door video camera, the wire-free ZOSI C306 goes a step further with NO wires at all.

You can never find a front door security camera that is easier to use and install.

Having a camera above front door like ZOSI C306 gives you a 130° wide viewing angle with 6X digital zoom so you can monitor the whole front door area with close details.

And another bonus of this camera at front door is that it works with Alexa, so you can literally ask Alexa to show the front door camera on living room TV!

Resolution 1080p (best in the battery-powered camera world)
Motion detection PIR motion sensor to distinguish between natural elements and burglars
Audio Two-way audio allowing you to speak directly to the postman and visitors
Remote access Front door camera with Android phone & iPhone access via a free app
Weatherproof IP65 weatherproof rating, suitable for outdoor use to stand rain, snow, heat & cold
Flexibility Battery-powered with no wires at all, free to move it anywhere
Installation No drilling holes, no wires, and no configuration

The video below shows the incredible clear 1080p image of this over the door security camera:

Awarded as the Innovative Product by Indiegogo, the front door entrance camera is featured in many top-tier tech media, like Tech Radar and PCMag, with great comments:

“Easy installation, sharp day and night video quality, and local recording make the ZOSI C306 a solid choice for a wireless indoor/outdoor home surveillance camera.” – PCMag ZOSI C306 front door camera review

If you are looking for an unnoticeable front door camera, the ZOSI C306 is also a good choice. You may also DIY your own discreet front door camera like the user shared:

Front Door PTZ Camera: ZOSI C289

The WiFi security camera would be the best front door camera for recording the apartment door.

But what if your front door area surveillance is extensive, or if you just want to save money on the front door IP security camera?

The PTZ front door home security camera is here for you.

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This camera is a pan tilt zoom Camera. It is a wireless security camera with an SD card slot, which is favored by many customers. In PCWorld and TechHive, Michael, a professional reviewer and tester, says it is an excellent security camera at an affordable price (under $100 dollars) (read more). It can be used independently or as part of a more comprehensive surveillance system.

Wired Camera System Above Front Door: ZOSI 8EN-2615W

If you want to go with the wired solution, meaning no WiFi issues involved and 100% stable connection, the camera near the front door IPC-2612D is the best budget pick.

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But don’t worry too much about the installation. The PoE camera has made the installation much easier to just plug and play.

Bonus: This outdoor front door security camera is 3rd-party compatible, meaning you can run this front door security camera with audio on the 3rd party software like the Blue Iris or iSpy together with other brands.

Mentioned in:

“Excellent performance, affordable price” —— TechHive front door camera review

Front Door Camera for Peephole & Front Doorbell Camera

During your research on front door cameras, you’ll find various kinds of front doorbell cameras that are installed on the door just like a peephole, or the front door camera light that disguised as an outdoor light.

These front door peephole cameras allow you to see and talk to who is behind the door, and notify you when on the phone when someone approaches.

If you are interested in purchasing a front doorbell camera, make sure to check out their installation requirement. For example, the Ring video front door spy hole camera will require existing doorbell wiring.

And some doorbell security camera requires monthly subscription on top of the initial setup to save the camera recordings to the cloud. So do your research to find the best peephole front door hidden camera and plan that works for your needs.

If your condo doesn’t have wring for an electronic wireless front doorbell camera or you are looking for a more affordable front door camera to phone (without cloud subscription), you may check out the professional front door security camera that can do the same thing with no brainer installation.

Hottest Questions About Front Door Cameras

You could have other concerns before buying a front door smart cameras. Check out the frequently asked questions about the front door entry camera and get quick answers here:

#1. Front Door Camera Placement 

So what’s the best front door camera position that can view the front door activity with best clarity and prevent it from being tampered with at the same time?

Typically it’s suggested to put the camera above the door or window frame, facing downward so that it covers the area a few feet in front of the opening.

And the door entry camera height of 9 feet above the ground is enough to stop a person of around 6 feet (1.82 meters) tall or less from bashing a camera – a front door window camera is a good choice.

To learn more about the best location for front door camera and where to place front door security camera systems around your home, continue to read this post.

#2. Front Door Camera Installation

The residential front door security camera installation steps vary among different camera types. Some involve pre-wiring and some only require simple screwing.

Here I’ll show you how to install the portable front door camera ZOSI C306 in minutes:

Step 1. Screw the security mount into the wall

Step 2. Screw the camera over front door into the security mount.

Step 3. Adjust the camera direction and tighten the knob to fix it.

This could be the best outdoor front door camera if you are looking for easy installation, since you don’t need to deal with the confusing wiring for power and connection to the front door camera recorder (it saves to the SD card on board).

If you prefer the wired front door mini camera, check out this post for detailed wiring instructions.

#3. Front Door Camera Viewing Field

The front door cameras for apartment (hidden or not) are generally come with fixed lens, meaning it will target a specific space, offering like 80° to 130° field of view.

How does that sound like? Check out the front door camera footage from ZOSI C306 (130° diagonal field of view) for more details:

Note that most of the front door dome camera also uses a fixed camera lens with a similar angle of view as others. A front door fisheye camera may offer you even wider range of view but notice that the image will get distorted under the fisheye view.

#4. Front Door Camera Connected to TV

Connecting your home front door camera to TV allows you to monitor what’s going on directly from the big screen.

We’ve talked about the easiest way to connect security cameras to TV in our previous post, be sure to check it out before you try other confusing methods.

And another idea to have your front door camera connected to TV is by using the front door camera that works with google home, like the Argus 2. That way, you can speak to Google to stream the camera live on TV after you enable the smart home feature in simple steps.

#5. Want a Hidden Front Door Camera?

A discreet front door camera can be comfortable for your visitors and help you capture the evidence without being noticed.

And you don’t need to compromise on the video quality and other advanced features to buy a covert front door camera like those peephole mini front door camera.

You can build have a front door secret camera with these simple DIY tricks.