5 Best Video Doorbell for Apartment – No Drilling

Video doorbells are super convenient devices that connect directly to your smartphone. If you live in an apartment, there are usually several restrictions on what changes you can make. Landlords typically do not allow permanent modifications to their property. And even temporary modifications can involve a lengthy approval process. This is why you need to check for suitability before selecting a video doorbell for your apartment.

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: eufy Security, Wi-Fi Video Doorbell, 2K Resolution
Runner up: WUUK Smart Video Doorbell Camera
Best under $50: SSYING Video Doorbell for Apartment – HD Night Vision
Under $100 Option 1: XTU Wifi Video Doorbell with Chime and 32GB MicroSD Card
Under $100 Option 2: VANBAR Wireless Video Doorbell

How to Choose a Video Doorbell for Apartment

Easy installation without any permanent modifications: Apartment video doorbells need straightforward installation. No drilling or mounting is allowed and the doorbell needs to be inconspicuous.

Mounting angle: Apartments are usually close to each other and you don’t want your doorbell camera pointed towards your neighbours’ door. Unless you want a potential conflict because you recorded directly into their apartment, try and find an angled position to install the device.

Easy removal: These devices aren’t cheap. If and when you move somewhere else, you would want to take the video doorbell to the new apartment. Keep this in mind when you install so you can make it easy for your future self to remove it.

Price: This brings us to price. You don’t want to or even need to spend a ton to get the most important features. All you need is a wireless video doorbell that notifies you when someone presses the button or if there is motion detected at your front door. There is usually no need to record and store video. You can spend a little extra to get the features that you need – like two-way talk for instance.

Best Video Doorbell for your Apartment

eufy Security, Wi-Fi Video Doorbell, 2K Resolution

eufy is the sister company of Anker and comes with their famous reliability, product quality, and excellent customer service. This slim doorbell will fit on most door frames. It does not come with backing tape. We highly recommend the 3M mounting tape – easy to apply and comes off without leaving any residue. Use the tape on the mounting hardware rather than the device itself.

You do not have to pay a monthly cost to use the 128GB microSD card local storage but the card needs to be purchased separately.

Many video doorbells will boast of a host of features but few will deliver on the quality. It’s not enough to have 1080P video quality if the video is compressed during transmission.

eufy delivers on each of the benefits it lists on the box. You get motion detection that is PIR supported and works flawlessly every time. Video quality is great even during the brightest and darkest hours. And most importantly, the device works reliably in inclement weather conditions.

Smart human detection and customized activity zone detection means you will not get irrelevant motion notifications. You can set the area where you want the motion to be detected – avoid tree leaves blowing in the wind and cars passing by on the street.

Also, unlike Ring, the local storage is free of any monthly charges and you also get free 7 days of cloud storage.

Pros:

No monthly cost for local storage.
128 GB expandable MicroSD (purchased separately).
PIR motion and customized activity zone detection.
Excellent video quality.

Cons:

No removable battery. Have to remove the doorbell to charge for ~6 hours.
No live feed to Alexa or Google Home monitor. Commands still work.

WUUK Smart Doorbell Camera

WUUK is supplied with double sided backing tape so there is no need to drill screws into the door frame. The tape is strong enough to hold the device securely.

Despite the relatively low price point, the doorbell is feature packed with the most essential benefits and then some. It is compatible with Alexa and Google Home voice commands. There is an included chime with different tunes and volume levels. The chime is where the MIcro SD card is housed. So in the rare event that you lose the doorbell, you will still have your stored data and a beautiful photo of the thief that you can pass on to the authorities.

And it’s not easy to steal. If someone tries to remove the device from the wall mount without turning off the anti-theft alarm, the device will emit a loud beep and start recording. Your smartphone will be notified as well. All data is stored locally on the SD card. The maximum capacity is 64GB and you need to purchase this card separately.

The doorbell has adjustable motion sensitivity levels so you only get notified when necessary. And the two-way talk helps you communicate with visitors without getting off your couch.

All these features make this device bulkier than we would like. So it will not fit on all door frames. Please check the dimensions of your doorframe before hitting the buy button. The device does not have removable batteries so you will have to remove it from the wall mount for the recharge. If you have existing wiring, you can wire this doorbell for perpetual power.

Pros:

Easy installation.
No monthly cost.
Two-way talk
5 levels of motion sensitivity

Cons:

No removable batteries.
Bulky device.

SSYING Video Doorbell for Apartment – HD Night Vision

Another video doorbell that includes easy backing tape for installation. When you install the device, add some washers so it is not connected directly to the wall. This is because there is a button at the back that you need to depress to remove the device and you won’t be able to do this if you follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions. This is a serious design flaw that inexplicably got through quality control.

SSYING does not have local storage but does provide free 7 days cloud storage. The storage is cyclical – it will delete previous data to make space for new footage. This is very convenient but we still miss local storage capability. Having the control of downloading video directly from the SD card and storing for future use cannot be compared to 7 days of cloud storage.

Some reviewers have reported that the motion detection is delayed and starts recording a few 1-2 seconds late. Sometimes those 2 seconds could be crucial in identifying a person. If you use your doorbell for motion notifications, there might be a delay of a few seconds. This is a serious issue that needs immediate rectification.

If you need a chime, the SSYING device only works with their proprietary chime which is sold separately. The chime is an excellent add-on if you like any audible feedback when someone is at the door. The chime does not notify on motion detection – only if someone rings the doorbell.

Pros:

Backing tape for installation
Free 7 days cyclic storage.
Excellent value for price.
160 degree wide angle view and two-way talk.

Cons:

No local storage.
Need to be removed for recharging.
Motion detection needs improvement.
Chime sold separately.

XTU Wifi Doorbell with Chime and 32GB MicroSD Card

This IP65 rated video doorbell is great for your apartment because of the easy installation process and reasonable price. Download the CloudEdge app and it will walk you through the installation which will not take more than a few minutes. It comes with backing tape for a no-drill install.

You get PIR motion detection within a wide 166 degree angle view so you can view in those pesky corners around the corridor. The video quality is 1080P HD and it has excellent night vision as well.

A 32GB SD card is included and it supports 128GB MicroSD card storage locally in the chime. Two-way real time talk feature lets you communicate with visitors. You can let the delivery people know where to leave your package.

The device is backed by a 12 month warranty and the customer support is well trained and helpful. In case you face any issues with the doorbell, you will receive a swift resolution.

Pros:

Excellent value for money
1080P HD and Night Vision
Supports upto 128GB local storage
Live Feed via Cloud Edge app (may involve extra charges).

Cons:

Battery lasts ~2 weeks before requiring a recharge.
No Alexa or Google Home compatibility.
Does not support 5Ghz Wi-Fi.

VANBAR Wireless Video Doorbell for Apartments

The best budget option on the list. If you want a no-frills video doorbell for a reasonable price, you cannot beat the versatility of this VANBAR device.

You won’t believe what we’re about to say next – for this price you get free lifetime cloud storage. That’s right; no monthly subscription fee. Now we know what you’re thinking – a Chinese device with free cloud storage? That is a valid concern, especially with reports that companies in China have been using electronic devices as trojan horses. But your video is only stored for 3 days before it’s overwritten for new data.

The installation is as easy as it gets and you can use 3M mounting tape instead of screws. Mounting tape is not included in the package.

This video doorbell has all the bells and whistles you would expect including motion notifications, 2-way audio, PIR human detection, 1080P full HD video and excellent night vision. The video quality is slightly compressed during transmission but you can still identify faces and take a snapshot.

You can even share the features of this device with up to 8 family members. Once you share access, they will get the same notifications and they can view stored video on the cloud.

Pros:

Easy Installation (mounting tape not included).
Excellent customer service.
Free lifetime cloud storage – 3 days of footage.
Great video quality.

Cons:

Lag time between motion and notification.
No local storage.
Subpar build quality.
Does not support 5Ghz Wi-Fi.

Final Words

Video doorbells have become an indispensable tool in the modern world. Who wants to walk to the door and use the peephole to find out who the visitor is?

And not just that. Unfortunately online shopping and package thieves have made it impossible to leave packages outside the door for too long. A video doorbell for your apartment will let you know as soon as you have a visitor or a package.