Do You Need a Chime With a Video Doorbell?

On this page (7 sections)

1. Who needs a video doorbell with chime?
2. Will your existing doorbell chime work?
3. What should you check before buying a separate chime?
4. Which plug-in chime fits your doorbell?
5. How should you set up and place an indoor chime?
6. What mistakes cause missed or unwanted alerts?
7. Which video doorbell with chime setup should you choose?

A video doorbell with chime makes sense when you want an indoor sound that everyone at home can hear. You don't need a separate accessory if phone alerts meet your needs or your doorbell can ring an existing indoor chime.

The first buying decision is compatibility, followed by the alerts you want and where you need to hear them. These accessories add indoor sound to a supported system; they don't replace the outdoor camera doorbell.

Who needs a video doorbell with chime?

An indoor chime suits households that shouldn't depend on one person's phone to hear visitors. It's useful when you leave your phone charging, work in another room, or share the home with someone who doesn't use the doorbell app.

You can skip it if you reliably notice phone alerts and nobody else needs an indoor announcement. Some systems also support compatible smart speakers, which may already provide the sound you need.

Decide whether you want notice of every approach or only an actual visitor pressing the button. Motion sounds can be useful near a quiet entrance but distracting beside a busy sidewalk.

If you're choosing the outdoor camera too, start with our best video doorbells guide. Choose the doorbell that meets your camera and power needs before selecting its chime.

Will your existing doorbell chime work?

Your old chime can stay only if the exact doorbell model supports it and the wiring meets its requirements. A wired power connection doesn't automatically mean the indoor bell will ring.

Identify whether your current chime is mechanical or digital, then check the doorbell's wiring instructions. Some installations require an adapter or a different connection at the chime box.

Turn off power before changing doorbell wiring, and get qualified help if you can't identify the circuit or connections. Our guide to how to wire a video doorbell explains the planning involved.

Also check the required power supply in our doorbell transformer guide. Buying a plug-in chime won't correct an outdoor doorbell's unsuitable power supply.

Battery power doesn't settle the chime question either. Compare battery and wireless video doorbells with your preferred indoor alert setup in mind.

What should you check before buying a separate chime?

Confirm model compatibility before comparing sound options. A same-brand accessory can still exclude your doorbell, especially when wired and battery versions share similar names.

Check these details in order:

• Exact model: Include any wired, battery, or generation label.
• Extra equipment: Find out whether a HomeBase or another device is required.
• Connection: Check Wi-Fi bands and shared-network rules.
• Trigger: Choose button presses, motion alerts, or both.
• Controls: Decide whether you need adjustable volume, tones, or snooze.
• Location: Choose an accessible outlet where sound and Wi-Fi can reach.

If a doorbell bundle includes a chime, check which accessory comes with it before ordering another. Buy a second unit only after confirming that your system supports multiple chimes.

How does Wi-Fi affect a video doorbell with chime?

A compatible chime still needs the right network connection at its outlet. A location where the sound carries well may have a weak Wi-Fi signal, so check both before settling on placement.

Dual-band support gives you a choice of Wi-Fi bands, but it doesn't remove model-specific network rules. Bluetooth pairing can help with setup without replacing the chime's required Wi-Fi connection.

Don't assume a wireless chime will keep ringing during an internet or router outage. Check the system's offline behavior if that matters to your household.

Which plug-in chime fits your doorbell?

Choose within your doorbell's supported accessories, then compare sound controls and alert behavior. The four options below serve different systems and aren't interchangeable.

Ring Chime: for households that want sound controls

Ring Chime suits a compatible Ring setup when you want to adjust indoor alerts around your daily routine. It supports notifications for camera motion and doorbell presses, with customizable tones, volume, and snooze.

It plugs into a standard wall outlet, so you don't need to wire this accessory into an old chime box. Choose a spot where you can hear it during ordinary household noise.

Skip it for a Blink or eufy doorbell, and confirm support for your exact Ring device. If phone alerts already cover your needs, sound controls alone aren't a reason to add another device.

Blink Chime: for homes with a Blink doorbell

Blink Chime is the straightforward choice for a household already using a Blink doorbell. It works with all Blink doorbells and provides indoor sound for motion detection and button presses.

Setup uses the Blink app and a standard outlet. It suits shared spaces where visitors should be heard even when the person with the app is elsewhere.

Skip it if your doorbell belongs to another brand. If a busy entrance makes motion sounds undesirable, check the available alert settings before deciding how you'll use it.

eufy Add-On Chime: for E340 users who want indoor storage

The eufy Add-On Chime suits an E340 household that wants indoor ringing and a place to store doorbell footage. It uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and has adjustable volume plus 8 tones.

A separately bought microSD card, up to 128 GB, lets it store footage indoors. That keeps stored video away from the outdoor doorbell if the doorbell is damaged or lost.

Choose it if those storage and sound features match your setup. eufy's compatibility guidance conflicts beyond the E340, so confirm support directly with eufy for another model before ordering.

Skip it if you need a 5 GHz connection. For E340 setup, eufy describes binding the chime first and then the doorbell, or linking them after binding each separately.

eufy Video Doorbell Chime 2: for supported eufy households

Chime 2 suits supported eufy systems that want dual-band Wi-Fi and button-press alerts only. It offers 10 tones, Bluetooth auto-pairing, and adjustable volume up to 80 dB.

It supports S4, S330, E340, C30, and C31 doorbells directly. S220, C210, and Battery Doorbell 1080p require HomeBase 2 or 3.

Only C30, C31, and E340 support connecting across different networks. Other supported models need the doorbell, chime, and HomeBase on the same local Wi-Fi network.

Skip it for motion sounds or the incompatible wired 2K, 2K Pro, 1080p, and S330 doorbells. Check the wired or battery designation carefully when comparing model names.

Before pairing, update the app and any required HomeBase software to supported versions. Enable phone Bluetooth, plug in the chime, hold Sync until it beeps and flashes blue, then follow the app prompt.

How should you set up and place an indoor chime?

Pair the chime before choosing its final outlet, then check that you can hear a button press from your usual rooms. Follow the model's app instructions and link the correct doorbell if your account has several devices.

Start near the router if setup is difficult, then move the chime to a useful location. Our video doorbell installation guide covers the wider setup process.

Try a central hallway or a room where someone usually spends time. Avoid putting the chime behind furniture or beside a loud appliance.

Check the sound with interior doors closed and normal background noise present. Raise the volume only as far as needed; a louder setting near the outlet doesn't guarantee clear sound upstairs.

For shared homes, let everyone hear the chosen tone so they recognize it. Recheck the arrangement after moving furniture or changing where you work.

What mistakes cause missed or unwanted alerts?

Check settings and connections before replacing a quiet chime. Start with outlet power, the linked doorbell, volume, and any snooze setting.

Motion alerts and button presses are different events. If the chime rings too often, review the event settings instead of silencing every alert and forgetting to restore them.

After changing a router or Wi-Fi password, check that the chime reconnects and rings. Our guide to whether video doorbells need Wi-Fi explains the connection questions to consider.

Keep the accessory dry, leave it uncovered, and remove surface dust with a dry cloth while unplugged. Check operation after software changes, especially if alerts have changed.

Treat ringing and saved video as separate buying decisions. Our guide to Ring doorbells without a subscription explains what to check if recording access also matters.

Which video doorbell with chime setup should you choose?

Choose a video doorbell with chime when visitors need to be heard by the household without relying on a phone. Keep a supported existing chime if it already provides that sound.

For an add-on, choose Ring or Blink according to your doorbell system. E340 users can consider the eufy Add-On Chime for indoor footage storage, while Chime 2 suits supported eufy setups wanting dual-band connectivity and press-only ringing.

If phone alerts already work for everyone, skip the accessory. If you're still choosing the camera, use our video doorbell guide and confirm the complete doorbell-and-chime combination before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Do video doorbells work without an indoor chime?

Yes, many video doorbells can send phone alerts without a separate indoor chime, provided the app and connection are set up correctly. Add a compatible chime when other household members need to hear visitors or you often leave your phone somewhere you can't hear it.

Can I use my old doorbell chime with a video doorbell?

Sometimes, but your video doorbell must support the existing mechanical or digital chime and its wiring setup. Check the exact doorbell model's instructions for power requirements, any required chime adapter, and connection steps before deciding whether to keep the old chime or use a compatible plug-in accessory.

Does a video doorbell chime ring for motion?

Some models support motion alerts, while others ring only for a button press: Ring Chime supports camera motion and doorbell presses, and Blink Chime supports both from Blink doorbells. eufy Video Doorbell Chime 2 rings for presses only, so choose according to which events you want announced indoors.

Do I need Wi-Fi for a plug-in video doorbell chime?

Many smart plug-in chimes require Wi-Fi, so an available outlet alone isn't enough to complete setup. The eufy Add-On Chime requires 2.4 GHz, while Chime 2 supports both bands; also check any shared-network requirements before choosing an outlet far from your router or on a separate network.