All four of these doorbells save video in the doorbell itself, on a microSD card or built-in memory, so you can watch recordings without a monthly plan. Pick by the wiring at your door:
- eufy Video Doorbell E340 if you want a second camera pointed at packages. It runs on battery or doorbell wiring.
- Tapo D225 if you want battery or wired power, a microSD slot up to 512GB and a chime in the box.
- Tapo D130 if you have doorbell wiring and do not mind replacing the old chime with the plug-in one it includes.
- eufy Video Doorbell C31 if you want a relatively inexpensive doorbell and only need person alerts.
This guide is AI-generated from the makers' specifications and support pages and from Consumer Reports' lab results. GearExplained did not test these doorbells. The product cards at the end link to Amazon, and GearExplained may earn a commission. That does not decide which doorbells appear here.
Check your transformer and chime first
A wired video doorbell takes its power from the low-voltage transformer that already runs your doorbell. The transformer's label lists its voltage and VA rating. Compare both numbers with the doorbell you want before you buy.
| Doorbell | Wired power the maker asks for | Your existing chime | 24/7 recording |
|---|---|---|---|
| eufy E340 | 16-24V, 10VA on its spec sheet | Mechanical chime works. Digital chime does not. | Not documented |
| Tapo D225 | 8-24V AC, 10VA minimum | Works when Always-On Mode is off | Needs Always-On Mode, which bypasses the existing chime |
| Tapo D130 | 8-24V AC, 10VA minimum | Does not ring it, per Consumer Reports. A plug-in chime is included. | Yes, to the microSD card, per Consumer Reports |
| eufy C31 | 16-24V AC, 10VA minimum and 40VA maximum | Works, but the battery only trickle-charges | Needs a 30VA transformer and a bypassed chime |
Two details in that table matter more than they look.
First, eufy's own documents disagree on power. The E340 spec sheet lists 10VA, but eufy's general wired-doorbell article asks for 16-24V AC at 30VA or more. If your transformer is rated between 10VA and 30VA, ask eufy which figure applies before you rely on wired power.
Second, keeping the old chime often costs you features. Tapo's install guide says the D225's 24/7 mode needs a jumper wire that bypasses the existing chime. eufy says the C31 only trickle-charges when it rings the existing chime, taking 6 to 7 days for a full charge, and that heavy foot traffic can still drain it.
1. eufy Video Doorbell E340: for package deliveries
The E340 has two cameras: a 2K main camera and a 1080p camera aimed down at the doorstep. It stores video on 8GB of built-in memory, and eufy estimates that holds 90 days of 30 twenty-second clips a day.
Consumer Reports lists it among its best wireless doorbells without a subscription, with free alerts for packages, people and faces. It runs on its battery or on doorbell wiring, and the battery has to stay in place when wired.
The tradeoffs start with Consumer Reports' own scores. It earned strong scores for nighttime video but a subpar score for daytime video, and midlevel scores for smart features and data privacy. Add the power question above and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only. eufy also says push notifications with thumbnail previews store those thumbnails in the cloud temporarily.
2. Tapo D225: battery or wired, with a 512GB card slot
The D225 records 2K video to a microSD card up to 512GB, which you buy separately. It has a 10,000mAh battery, can be hardwired, and comes with a plug-in chime.
Consumer Reports names it a cheaper alternative to Tapo's TD25 with similar performance in its lab tests. TP-Link lists person, pet, vehicle and package detection. Its Tapo Care page says the doorbell works without a subscription, while snapshot notifications, smart filters and facial recognition are part of the paid plans.
Choose the D225 if you want 24/7 recording and are happy to hear the doorbell through the Tapo chime instead of your old one.
3. Tapo D130: small and wired only
The D130 is a hardwired-only doorbell with 2K video and a microSD slot up to 512GB. Consumer Reports calls it one of the smallest doorbell cameras you can buy. The box includes a Tapo chime and jumpers for the existing chime.
Consumer Reports gives it excellent scores for response time and smart features and very good daytime video, with 24/7 recording and free detection of people, vehicles, packages and pets. Its nighttime video scored decent, and CR calls data privacy its weak spot.
It needs doorbell wiring. If you rent or have no transformer, look at the battery options above.
4. eufy Video Doorbell C31: the budget pick
The C31 records 2K video to a microSD card up to 128GB and runs on a removable 6,500mAh battery or doorbell wiring. eufy's power FAQ lists 16-24V AC at 10VA minimum and 40VA maximum.
Consumer Reports calls it relatively inexpensive and rates its smart features midlevel because it is limited to basic person and motion detection. Wiring it in matters more than on the others. Pre-roll and 24/7 recording need a 30VA transformer and a bypassed chime, and with the old chime connected the battery only trickle-charges.
Pick it when person alerts are enough.
How they compare
| Doorbell | Power | Local storage | Video | Chime in the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eufy E340 | Battery or wired | 8GB built in | 2K plus 1080p package camera | Not stated |
| Tapo D225 | Battery or wired | microSD up to 512GB | 2K | Yes |
| Tapo D130 | Wired only | microSD up to 512GB | 2K | Yes |
| eufy C31 | Battery or wired | microSD up to 128GB | 2K | Not stated |
Which doorbell to buy
Start at the transformer. If it is rated 10VA and you want to keep the old chime, the D225 with Always-On Mode off is the clearest documented fit. The E340's spec sheet also lists 10VA, but check eufy's conflicting 30VA figure first. If you would rather have 24/7 recording, TP-Link documents it on the D225 from a 10VA supply once the old chime is bypassed, and Consumer Reports lists it on the D130, which never rings the old chime.
If you have no doorbell wiring, the E340, D225 and C31 all run on battery. For package alerts and a second camera on the doorstep, choose the E340. For the largest card slot of the three, choose the D225.
Sources
- Consumer Reports, Best Video Doorbell Cameras Without a Subscription
- eufy, Video Doorbell E340, E340 specifications and wired doorbell transformer and chime guide
- eufy, Video Doorbell C31, C31 power FAQ and C31 power modes
- TP-Link, Tapo D225, Tapo D130 and Tapo doorbell compatibility
- Tapo, doorbell installation guide and Tapo Care plans
All sources were checked on October 9, 2026.
