Best Video Doorbell for an Apartment (No Drilling, Renter-Friendly)
The best video doorbell for an apartment with no drilling: peephole cams, adhesive mounts and over-door brackets compared, plus Ring, eufy and Blink picks.
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In this article
- 3 ways to install a video doorbell without drilling
- Compared at a glance
- The picks
- Before you buy: 6 apartment checks
- Can you record your apartment hallway?
- FAQ
- Can renters install a Ring doorbell?
- Will an adhesive doorbell mount damage the paint?
- Do I need a doorbell chime inside?
- Can I use a doorbell camera without a subscription in an apartment?
Looking for a video doorbell for an apartment with no drilling? Your lease may not allow screw holes in the door or frame, and your unit may have no doorbell wiring to power a wired doorbell. The good news: you can still see who’s at the door, get alerts on your phone and talk to delivery drivers, then take everything with you when you move out.
Quick answer: if your door has a peephole, the Ring Peephole Cam 2K is the cleanest install: it replaces the peephole, so nothing is stuck to the door at all. Otherwise, get the Ring Battery Doorbell with Ring’s official No-Drill Mount. If you don’t want a monthly plan, pair the eufy E340, which records to built-in storage, with an over-the-door bracket. On a tight budget, the Blink Video Doorbell runs for up to two years on batteries.
These picks are based on manufacturer specifications and Amazon listings, not our own testing.
3 ways to install a video doorbell without drilling
Pick your doorbell based on which of these fits your door.
- Peephole replacement. A peephole camera unscrews your existing peephole and fits through the same hole, with a camera outside and a battery unit inside. Nothing is glued or drilled, and you reinstall the original peephole when you leave. It only works if you have a standard peephole and a door within the supported thickness.
- Adhesive mount. A plastic plate sticks to the wall or door frame with strong double-sided tape, and the doorbell clips onto it. It’s the most flexible option, but it needs a smooth, clean surface. Ring, for example, advises against brick, rough stucco, shingles and glass. Adhesive is also the easiest for a thief to pull off.
- Over-the-door (clamp) bracket. A metal bracket hooks over the edge of the door, held in place by the door itself when it’s closed. The doorbell sits on the outside face of the door. They are harder to pull off than adhesive, because the bracket can’t be removed while the door is shut, but your door needs a small gap at the hinge or latch side for the bracket to pass through.
Compared at a glance
| Product | No-drill method | Power | Video | Saving recordings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peephole doorsRing Peephole Cam 2KCheck price | Replaces your peephole | Quick-release battery | 2K, 140°×140° head-to-toe | Paid Ring plan |
| Best overallRing Battery Doorbell + No-Drill MountCheck price | Official adhesive mount | Built-in rechargeable battery | 2K, 173° diagonal | Paid Ring plan |
| No subscriptioneufy E340Check price | Third-party over-door or adhesive mount | Battery or wired | 2K, dual camera | 8 GB built in, free |
| BudgetBlink Video Doorbell + Wasserstein mountCheck price | Adhesive mount | AA batteries, up to 2 years | HD, up to 1440p | Blink plan, or Sync Module 2 + USB |
The picks
Ring Peephole Cam 2K
This is the most landlord-proof option, because there’s no adhesive residue and no bracket. Ring says setup takes under 10 minutes. Live view, two-way talk and motion alerts work without a subscription; saving and replaying video needs a paid Ring plan. Before you buy, check your peephole size and door thickness against Ring’s compatibility requirements.
- Pro: Installs through your existing peephole – nothing stuck on the door
- Pro: Sharp 2K video with a tall 140°×140° head-to-toe view
- Pro: Removes cleanly when you move out, per Ring
- Con: You can no longer look through the peephole itself
- Con: Video recording and playback need a paid Ring plan
Ring Battery Doorbell (newest model)
Ring’s newest battery doorbell is the most polished choice if you can’t use a peephole cam. Pair it with the official Ring No-Drill Mount, an adhesive plate that comes with spare tape, designed for the newest Battery Doorbell, Battery Doorbell Plus and Battery Doorbell Pro. Clean the surface well and mount it vertically, as Ring instructs. Without a subscription you still get live view, two-way talk and alerts; saving video needs a paid Ring plan.
- Pro: Official Ring No-Drill Mount made for this model
- Pro: 2K video (1920×1920) with a wide 173° view
- Pro: Live view, two-way talk and motion alerts free without a plan
- Con: Built-in battery: you take the doorbell down to recharge it
- Con: Adhesive mounting needs a smooth surface; recordings need a paid Ring plan
eufy Security Video Doorbell E340
If you don’t want to pay every month just to replay who knocked, the E340 keeps recordings on the doorbell itself. Its second, downward-facing camera is useful in apartment hallways, where packages are left right at the door. eufy doesn’t make a no-drill mount, but there are many over-door anti-theft brackets for the E340. Check the stated door thickness and gap before ordering. Our video doorbells without a subscription guide covers more local-storage options.
- Pro: Records to 8 GB of built-in storage with no monthly fee
- Pro: Second downward camera watches packages at your door
- Pro: Battery or wired power
- Con: No official no-drill mount – you buy a third-party bracket
- Con: Built-in storage is modest
Blink Video Doorbell
Blink’s doorbell is the low-cost way in, and its long battery life suits an adhesive mount, since you won’t be pulling it off to charge. Pair it with the Wasserstein No-Drill Mount, an adhesive bracket for Blink Video Doorbell 1st and 2nd Gen. One catch: Blink’s support pages say the Sync Module Core in this bundle doesn’t support local storage. To save clips you’ll need a Blink subscription, or a separate Sync Module 2 with a USB drive.
- Pro: Battery life up to two years, per Blink, so you rarely touch it
- Pro: Sync Module included in this bundle
- Pro: Several third-party no-drill mounts are made for it
- Con: The included Sync Module Core can't store video locally
- Con: Needs a separate Blink Mini or Blink Chime for an indoor chime
If packages go missing from your hallway, a doorbell camera helps you see what happened. Our guide to stopping package theft covers apartment lockers and pickup points that prevent it.
Before you buy: 6 apartment checks
- Read your lease and ask. Even a no-drill doorbell can break a building rule about hallway cameras or changes to the door. A short email to the landlord avoids arguments later.
- Check the surface. Adhesive needs smooth, clean, dry paint or metal. Textured or freshly painted surfaces are where mounts fail.
- Measure the door. Over-door brackets list a supported door thickness and need a small gap between door and frame. Peephole cams list supported peephole diameters and door thicknesses.
- Test the Wi-Fi at the door. Your router may be far from the front door, and the door itself can weaken the signal. Stand outside with your phone on Wi-Fi before buying. If the signal is weak, a mesh point or extender near the entry helps.
- Think about charging. With a built-in battery (like the newest Ring Battery Doorbell) you remove the whole doorbell to charge it. Quick-release battery packs (Ring Peephole Cam) or long-life AA batteries (Blink) are easier.
- Plan for theft. In shared hallways, an adhesive-mounted doorbell is easy to pull off. Over-door brackets and peephole cams are harder to remove.
Can you record your apartment hallway?
Video and audio are treated differently. Federal law allows recording a conversation if one party consents, but some states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts, require everyone in a conversation to consent to audio recording. Building rules can also restrict cameras in common areas. Point the camera at your doorway, not a neighbor’s door, and turn off audio recording if you’re unsure. Check your state law and lease, as this is general information, not legal advice.
FAQ
Can renters install a Ring doorbell?
Yes. Use the Ring Peephole Cam 2K if you have a peephole, or a battery Ring doorbell with Ring’s No-Drill Mount. Neither needs screws or wiring, and both come off when you move.
Will an adhesive doorbell mount damage the paint?
It can, depending on the paint and the tape. Follow the mount maker’s removal instructions. If you’re worried about your deposit, a peephole cam or over-door bracket avoids adhesive altogether.
Do I need a doorbell chime inside?
Not necessarily, as your phone gets an alert when someone presses the button. For a sound indoors, Blink says a Blink Mini camera, Blink Chime or compatible Alexa device can act as the chime, and Ring sells a plug-in Chime.
Can I use a doorbell camera without a subscription in an apartment?
Yes. The eufy E340 records locally for free. Ring doorbells give you live view and alerts without a plan, but can’t save video. See our full video doorbells without a subscription guide.
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