Kim's pick: My favorite video doorbell to keep an eye on what's happening out front

If you want to secure your home, video doorbells are a no-brainer. They’re a great way to get a little extra peace of mind. You can check in to ensure your front porch is safe if you’re at the office or the grocery store.

It’s no wonder this type of surveillance tech is all the rage these days. Video doorbells are easy to set up and use, but you shouldn’t skip essential security steps. Tap or click here to make the most out of your video doorbell and home security system.

When you’re shopping around for the best doorbell camera, two of the biggest brands are SimpliSafe and Amazon’s Ring. While both have a lot to offer, we found three great features that make our sponsor, SimpliSafe, stand out.

1. Need time to commit?

You’re usually not making a lifetime commitment from the jump when you buy home protection. If you’re not happy, you have a grace period to get your money back. But one company gives you more time for the warranty.

If you sign up for Ring, you have 30 days to change your mind. But if you sign up for SimpliSafe, you get a more generous grace period.

SimpliSafe offers a 60-day guarantee, so you have more time to find the correct setup. There’s less pressure to make a decision weighing down your shoulders. It’s just another way to lessen the stress of home security.

SimpliSafe offers a long warranty as well, 3 years compared to Ring’s 1-year warranty.

2. All the sensors you could want

Outfitting your home with a home security kit means going beyond just a doorbell. More than likely, you’ll add on some cameras and sensors, too. Both companies offer packages. Amazon’s Ring Alarm kits come with up to 14 pieces. But SimpliSafe’s Build My System feature offers more flexibility to find exactly what you need for your home.

This option lets you create a custom package to fit your specific needs. You can mix and match these products:

Entry sensors  Motion sensors  SimpliCam  Glassbreak sensor 
Panic button  Smoke detector Carbon monoxide sensor  Temperature sensor 
Water sensor  Extra keypad Key fob Extra 105 dB Siren 

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