Launched in 2015, the Skybell video doorbell sends a live video feed to your smartphone when somebody presses the button, and allows you to initiate a two-way conversation with the person at your door. It installs in minutes and offers motion detection and on-demand video, but otherwise falls far short of the Ring. The SkyBell is missing a few important features such as cloud-based recording of calls and motion events, and its picture quality is barely adequate.
Ring is a more comprehensive and fully contained home security setup. Ring’s video doorbells also come with a customizable motion sensor, which is not available with Skybell. Whereas the Ring doorbell can be powered by either internal batteries or a low-voltage doorbell transformer, the SkyBell must be wired to a doorbell transformer using the two wires protruding from the back of the device. If your home is not currently wired for a doorbell you’ll have to run wires and install a transformer to use it.
