ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera (wired): problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-05
Summary
The wiring and detection hardware hold up, but the software alert logic is the weak point: when a package already sits on the step, the doorbell suppresses the person alert, which is the one alert porch-pirate buyers want. Keeping recorded video costs $50 a year on the Plus plan or $100 a year on Advanced, because there is no local storage and HomeKit Secure Video is not supported. At the $119.99 sale price from ecobee.com, checked 2026-10-04, it is reasonable for a household that already runs an ecobee thermostat; at the $159.99 regular price it is hard to justify.
Common problems and fixes
- A package on the step suppresses the person alert — The Verge lost the clip of a FedEx driver lifting a package because the software prioritises the package over the approaching person; the only workaround is turning package alerts off, and package detection itself needs the paid plan. It is a software behaviour, not a hardware fault, so the 3-year warranty does not fix it. [2]
- No recorded video without a subscription — live view, two-way talk, siren, person alerts and one activity zone are free, but recorded video, 30-day event history, package detection and rich notifications need Smart Security Plus at $5 a month or $50 a year for one camera, or Advanced at $10 a month or $100 a year for unlimited cameras. There is no local storage and no HomeKit Secure Video. [1][2][4]
- A power cut disables the doorbell completely — there is no battery in the camera body, only a small lithium-polymer cell in the chime adapter, so an outage takes it offline. No workaround. [1][2]
- The app is a thermostat app, not a security app — about 10 seconds to bring up a live feed on 2.4 GHz, and recorded clips cannot be filtered by activity or time, only scrolled. [2]
- Motion recording is unreliable — a car passing at the maximum 30-foot range was not recorded, and someone stepping just outside the front door was neither detected nor recorded. Whether later firmware fixed it is unverified, so test it yourself. [2]
- Motion-only alerts did not exist at launch — ecobee said they would follow shortly after launch; no public changelog confirms they shipped. [2]
- 1080p pixelates as soon as you zoom — the 5MP sensor helps colour, but the resolution is behind price-comparable rivals; zoom-and-track was in beta and framed a chest instead of a face at close range. [2]
- The chime adapter is a required install step — in a mechanical chime box, ecobee says skipping it delivers incorrect power to the doorbell. [1][2]
Parts and consumables
- Chime adapter lithium-polymer battery (3.7 V, 350 mAh, 20C) — the only documented replaceable cell in the system, carried in the chime adapter rather than the camera; no published spare price or replacement interval was found. [1]
- ecobee SmartSensor for doors and windows — $79.99 for a 2-pack at ecobee.com, checked 2026-10-04; an add-on to the Smart Security system rather than a wear item. [3]
Yearly running cost
Recorded video is the only recurring cost. Smart Security Plus is $50 a year for one camera (or $5 a month); Advanced is $100 a year for unlimited cameras (or $10 a month); the Total Protection professional-monitoring add-on is a further $100 a year (or $10 a month). A buyer who never subscribes pays nothing after the hardware but has no recorded video at all, and setup includes 1 month of Smart Security with professional monitoring free. Electricity is mains-powered and no figure was published. [2][4]
When it is a good buy
ecobee.com listed the camera at $119.99 against a stated regular price of $159.99 on 2026-10-04. At $119.99 it is defensible if you already run an ecobee thermostat and can stream to its screen for free, or if you accept $5 a month for cloud recording; the 187° diagonal and 175° vertical field of view is the strongest hardware argument. At $159.99 it is hard to justify, because every price-comparable option uses more pixels and some rivals include free clips. Do not buy it for package-theft deterrence at any price, because the package-priority behaviour defeats that exact job. [1][2]
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired) — The Verge’s own pick over this model on video quality, alert variety and 24/7 recording, and it offers some free clips; the better choice if you are not already in the ecobee ecosystem. [2]
- Aqara G4 or another $200-plus doorbell with HomeKit Secure Video — the better choice when you want recordings without a permanent monthly fee, since Apple’s storage is free; it costs more upfront. [2]