Do I need a subscription to use a wired video doorbell?

It depends on the brand. Ring and Nest both gate event history and many smart features (package detection, familiar-face alerts, recorded clips beyond a short window) behind monthly subscriptions, though Nest does offer a free three-hour clip rolling window. Reolink and Tapo are the standout no-subscription options in this set, recording locally to a microSD card or NVR with full event history at no recurring cost.