Let’s clear up the confusion about connecting your Ring, Aqara, or other video doorbells to your new smart thermostat.

You just unboxed a brand new Ecobee Premium thermostat, and you’re already dreaming of the smart home possibilities. One of the coolest features you’ve probably heard about is its ability to show you who’s at the front door. But this brings up a really important question, especially if you’re not keen on running new wires: what’s the real story with Ecobee doorbell compatibility? Can you get that video feed using a different brand, like a battery-powered Ring or Aqara doorbell?

I’ve been down this exact rabbit hole, and the answers can be a bit confusing. You’ll see mentions of chimes and notifications, but getting a straight answer about the video feature is tough. So, let’s grab a coffee and sort this out. The truth is a little different than you might hope, but don’t worry—you still have great options.

Ecobee Doorbell Compatibility: The Hard Truth

Let’s get right to the point. Can your Ecobee thermostat display the video feed from a Ring, Aqara, Google Nest, or any other third-party doorbell?

The short answer is no.

The on-thermostat video stream is an exclusive feature designed to work only with the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera (Wired). This is a classic case of a “walled garden” or a closed ecosystem. Tech companies like Ecobee, Amazon (Ring), and Google (Nest) create these special features to encourage you to stay within their family of products. It ensures a seamless experience, but it also limits your choices. So, while your Ecobee thermostat can do amazing things for your home’s climate, it won’t act as a universal video screen for just any camera you throw at it.

What About Wireless Doorbells and Your Ecobee?

This is where things get tricky, especially since you’re trying to avoid drilling and running new wires—a completely understandable goal. You might be looking at fantastic wireless options like the Ring Peephole Cam or a sleek Aqara doorbell. These are excellent products, but they are built to talk to their own systems.

• Ring Doorbells: These are designed to integrate perfectly with the Amazon Alexa ecosystem. You can get live video feeds on an Amazon Echo Show, your phone, or a Fire TV.
• Aqara Doorbells: These are often favored for their deep integration with Apple HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video.

While you might be able to set up a notification chime on your Ecobee for some systems through platforms like IFTTT (If This Then That), the core video feed feature remains exclusive. The bottom line is that the dream of buying a battery-powered doorbell and having its video pop up on your new Ecobee screen isn’t possible right now. The official Ecobee doorbell that unlocks this feature is, as the name implies, a wired-only device.

So, What Should You Do? Your Real-World Options

Okay, so the direct path is blocked. This isn’t a dealbreaker! It just means you need to choose a slightly different path based on what’s most important to you.

Option 1: Run Two Separate, Happy Systems

This is the most common and often the easiest solution. Your Ecobee thermostat is still arguably one of the best smart thermostats on the market. Let it be great at that.

Then, choose the best wireless doorbell for your needs. If you want a peephole camera to avoid drilling, the Ring Peephole Cam is a fantastic choice. You’ll simply use the Ring app on your phone or an Amazon Echo Show device to see who’s at the door. The two systems won’t talk to each other for video, but that’s okay. Your house, your rules.

Option 2: Choose Your Ecosystem Center

If seeing your doorbell feed on a smart display is a non-negotiable, must-have feature for you, then you might want to center your smart home around an ecosystem built for that.

• For Amazon Fans: A Ring Doorbell (they have many battery-powered models) paired with an Amazon Echo Show gives you that instant video screen.
• For Google Fans: A Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) works seamlessly with a Google Nest Hub display.

In this scenario, the Ecobee still functions as your thermostat, but the “hub” for your door security would be a different device. Many smart homes are a mix of different brands, and that’s perfectly fine. You can learn more about how these different ecosystems compare on tech sites like The Verge.

Option 3: Embrace the Ecobee Way

The final option is to go all-in with Ecobee. This is the only way to get that video feed directly on your thermostat screen. It means committing to the Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera, which would involve tackling the wiring. While you’ve said that’s a “hard no” now, it’s good to know it’s the only path to that specific feature.

Ultimately, building a smart home is a series of these little decisions. The limited Ecobee doorbell compatibility for video is a perfect example. Instead of getting frustrated, see it as an opportunity to decide what you really want from your setup and build a smart home that truly works for you.