Video Intercoms for Apartments, Houses and Old Buzzers
Ring Intercom by Amazon adds remote unlock and two way talk to an existing apartment buzzer system. Larger single family homes do well with the Commax CDV-70K and its 7 inch monitor. Anyone wanting wired reliability without a subscription should look at the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE.
Renting an apartment with a buzzer system narrows the field before price ever matters. Ring Intercom by Amazon wires into what already exists and adds remote unlock from a phone. Homeowners wanting a full wired monitor lean toward the Commax CDV-70K instead, and the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE suits anyone who wants local recording with no monthly fee.
Video intercom is a confusing category, since the term covers everything from an add on for an apartment buzzer to a full wired door phone with its own screen. Wiring compatibility rules out most options before price or features even matter. We compared these seven by wiring type, screen and app options, night vision range and owner reports on installation difficulty.
What matters most
What to look for in a video intercom system Wiring decides everything else here. A system built for an existing two wire buzzer will not suit a home with no wiring at all, and the reverse holds too. Screen size matters for indoor use, while phone app access matters for answering remotely. Storage is the other split, since some systems need a subscription for clips while others save locally or include built in memory. Match those four factors to a building before comparing features.
Wired video intercoms versus WiFi video doorbells Wired systems like the Commax CDV-70K and Aiphone JOS-1V run a dedicated cable to a door station and indoor monitor. That wiring gives a stable picture with no WiFi dropouts. WiFi doorbells such as the Zmodo Greet Pro or eufy E340 install faster and add phone alerts from anywhere. Homes with existing low voltage wiring often stick with wired gear, while renters and quick installs favor WiFi.
Best video intercoms for apartments and multi-unit buildings Apartment buzzers rarely allow rewiring the whole entry panel. Ring Intercom by Amazon solves that by connecting to the existing buzzer wiring and adding smart features on top. The Commax CDV-70K instead supports two monitors and two door cameras, which suits a duplex or a home with a side entrance. Either route avoids replacing the building’s original intercom wiring.
Replacing an old wired doorbell or buzzer A doorbell already wired for a mechanical chime often reuses that same wiring for a smart model. The EZVIZ DB1C connects straight to a 12 to 24V transformer already in the wall. Reolink’s PoE doorbell instead needs a single ethernet run for both power and data. Check the existing transformer voltage before ordering, since a mismatch is the most common return reason.
The shortlist, ranked
Ring Intercom by Amazon
This add on wires into an existing apartment buzzer panel instead of replacing it. Once installed, residents get two way talk and remote unlock through the Ring app. Alexa users can open the door by voice, and Echo devices announce visitors.
Pros
- Turns an existing buzzer panel into a smart system
- Remote unlock lets guests in from anywhere
- Works with Alexa and the Ring app ecosystem
Cons
- Needs a compatible existing intercom to install
- Saved recordings require a paid Ring plan
Commax CDV-70K Fine View 7 Inch Video Door Phone
A 7 inch color screen sits inside, wired to a door camera over four conductor cable. The system expands to two monitors, two door cameras and two interphones for a home with more than one entry. PAL and NTSC video support makes it compatible with older camera stock in many regions.
Pros
- Large 7 inch screen shows visitors clearly
- Expands to two doors and two indoor monitors
- Works on both PAL and NTSC video standards
Cons
- Requires a dedicated 4 wire installation
- No smartphone app or remote access
Reolink Video Doorbell PoE
One ethernet cable carries both power and video, skipping WiFi interference entirely. The 2K camera covers a 180 degree diagonal view of the porch. Recording saves to a local microSD card or NVR, so live viewing and playback need no monthly fee.
Pros
- Single cable handles power and network reliably
- Records locally with no monthly fee
- Bundled chime adds two way talk indoors
Cons
- PoE wiring is less common in existing homes
- No dedicated indoor wall monitor
eufy Security Video Doorbell E340
Two cameras cover this doorbell: a 2K unit facing forward and a lower resolution one angled down at the porch floor. That second lens catches packages a single camera would miss. Eight gigabytes of built in storage hold roughly sixty days of clips without a subscription.
Pros
- Downward camera confirms packages on the porch
- Built in storage skips a monthly plan
- Runs on battery power or hardwired
Cons
- WiFi connects on 2.4GHz only
- Video calling stands in for a true indoor monitor
Aiphone JOS-1V Hands-Free Video Intercom Kit
This boxed kit pairs a hands free master station with an aluminum door station over a simple two wire run. Conversations start hands free and switch to push to talk if the entry area gets noisy. A white LED lights the visitor’s face for identification after dark.
Pros
- Two wire run simplifies most retrofits
- Hands free mode switches to push to talk in noise
- Aluminum door station resists weather and tampering
Cons
- No app or remote smartphone access
- Expands to only two indoor stations
EZVIZ DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell
Existing doorbell wiring feeds this unit directly, using the same 12 to 24V transformer already in the wall. AI based human detection cuts down alerts triggered by cars or shadows. Dual band WiFi keeps the live view steady even in a crowded 2.4GHz household.
Pros
- Reuses existing doorbell wiring and chime
- Human detection cuts down false alerts
- Dual band WiFi keeps the connection stable
Cons
- Needs a transformer in the compatible voltage range
- No dedicated indoor monitor screen
Zmodo Greet Pro Smart WiFi Video Doorbell
A 180 degree lens and PIR motion sensor watch the porch and send alerts to a phone. Free motion clips save for 36 hours with no subscription attached. Dual band WiFi and two way audio round out a setup that is simpler to install than most wired kits.
Pros
- Simpler to install than most wired intercom kits
- Free motion clips need no subscription
- Dual band WiFi keeps setup flexible
Cons
- IP51 rating tolerates less rain than rivals
- No digital chime compatibility out of the box
How they compare
| # | Model | Power | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ring Intercom by Amazon | Rechargeable Quick Release battery pack | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Commax CDV-70K Fine View 7 Inch Video Door Phone | 7 inch color LCD, wall mounted | Best for apartments and multi-unit homes | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Reolink Video Doorbell PoE | 2K, 5MP sensor | Best for wired PoE with local storage | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | eufy Security Video Doorbell E340 | 2K front camera plus a downward facing package camera | Best for package detection | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Aiphone JOS-1V Hands-Free Video Intercom Kit | Master station, door station, power supply | Best for simple two-wire installation | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | EZVIZ DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell | 1080p with AI human detection | Best for replacing an existing wired doorbell | 8.4 | Check price |
| 7 | Zmodo Greet Pro Smart WiFi Video Doorbell | 1080p | Best budget | 8.0 | Check price |
Common questions
What is a video intercom system?
It pairs a camera and speaker at the door with a screen or app inside. Visitors press a button, and the resident sees and talks to them before opening up. Some systems add remote unlock, so a resident can let someone in from anywhere.
Can a video doorbell replace an apartment intercom?
Only if it is built to wire into the building’s existing intercom line. Ring Intercom by Amazon is designed for exactly that, adding two way talk and remote unlock without touching the panel wiring. A standalone video doorbell will not connect to a shared building buzzer.
Do video intercoms need WiFi to work?
Wired systems like the Commax CDV-70K and Aiphone JOS-1V work over their own cable and need no WiFi at all. WiFi based doorbells need a stable connection for phone alerts and remote video, so a weak signal at the door hurts performance.
How is a video intercom different from a video doorbell?
A traditional intercom pairs a door station with a dedicated indoor monitor, often over a wired connection. A video doorbell usually skips the indoor monitor and sends alerts straight to a phone app instead. Newer products, like the EZVIZ DB1C, blur that line by offering both wiring options.
Is a video intercom system worth it for a single family home?
It depends on whether wiring already exists at the door. Homes with an existing two wire run make a wired system like the Aiphone JOS-1V simple to add. Homes without that wiring usually do better with a battery or plug in WiFi doorbell instead.
Can I connect a new video intercom to old two-wire wiring?
Many wired kits, including the Commax CDV-70K and Aiphone JOS-1V, are designed around a standard two or four wire run. Confirm the wire gauge and voltage against the product manual first, since older buildings sometimes used undersized wire that limits cable length.
Do video intercoms record without a subscription?
Some do. The eufy Security Video Doorbell E340 includes 8GB of built in storage, and the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE saves to a local microSD card or NVR. Others, including Ring Intercom by Amazon, need a paid plan for saved clips beyond live viewing.
Which video intercom works best for a multi-unit building?
The Commax CDV-70K supports two monitors and two door cameras from one system, which suits a building with more than one entry point. Ring Intercom by Amazon is the simpler add on for a building that already has a working buzzer panel.
Does a video doorbell work without existing wiring?
Battery powered models like the eufy Security Video Doorbell E340 and Zmodo Greet Pro need no wiring at all, running instead on a rechargeable pack. That flexibility suits rentals and homes without a doorbell circuit, though battery units need periodic recharging.
Our pick
Match the wiring first, then compare features. Ring Intercom by Amazon is the easiest upgrade for an apartment buzzer that already works. Homeowners planning a full replacement get more screen and expansion from the Commax CDV-70K. Anyone wanting wired reliability without a subscription should look at the Reolink Video Doorbell PoE.
