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You Can Use Roku's Video Doorbell With No Subscription, But There's A Catch

Roku offers two video doorbell models that function without a monthly subscription, though users face significant feature limitations and recording delays compared to those on paid plans.

Key Points

  • Roku sells the $90 Wired Video Doorbell and the $120 Wire-free Video Doorbell & Chime.
  • Non-subscribers face a five-minute delay between event-triggered recordings, whereas paid users experience no gap.
  • The devices lack local storage, meaning users cannot save event recordings without an active subscription.
  • Paid plans provide AI-powered detection for people, pets, vehicles, and packages, plus event filtering.
  • Free users retain access to live video feeds, motion alerts, and smoke or carbon monoxide alarm notifications.

Why it Matters

This subscription model highlights the growing industry trend of gating essential security features behind recurring monthly fees. Consumers must weigh the lower upfront hardware costs against the long-term loss of critical functionality like continuous recording and advanced motion detection.
BGR Published by staff@bgr.com (Michael Bizzaco)
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