Smart Home Pick Pro

Best Video Doorbells for Renters and Apartments

By the Smart Home Pick Pro Editorial Team · How we test & rank

As an Amazon Associate, Smart Home Pick Pro earns from qualifying purchases.

Most video doorbell buying guides assume you can swap out whatever is wired into your doorbell button. Renters usually can't — many leases ban touching existing low-voltage wiring, and plenty of apartment entries don't have doorbell wiring at all, just a shared building door or a plain peephole.

Every pick below runs on battery power or mounts over an existing peephole, so there's no wiring to touch and nothing left behind when you move out. We also flagged which ones need a paid plan to keep recorded video, since that's an easy cost to overlook when you're already paying rent.

New to this category? Start with our home security camera & video doorbell buying guide before diving into the picks below.

How we picked: We only included doorbells that install without any wiring — battery-powered mounts or a strap/adhesive over an existing peephole — and that can be fully removed and reinstalled at a new address with no drilling or residue. We also noted standalone Wi-Fi vs. Bluetooth-only range, since some apartment layouts make a difference.

At a glance

#PickWhy it stands outPrice
Ring Peephole CamTop Pickdoors with an existing peephole - Straps over an existing peephole with no drilling, so it fits doors with no doorbell wiring at allCheck Amazon
Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340Runner-upavoiding a monthly fee - Battery-powered with no doorbell wiring neededCheck Amazon
Google Nest Doorbell (battery)Best Valueif you're already in a Google Assistant household - Fully battery-powered install with no wiring or hub required to get startedCheck Amazon
Wyze Video Doorbell ProAlso greatbudget pick - One of the cheapest battery doorbells with real local storage, not just a free trialCheck Amazon
Blink Video DoorbellAlso greatbattery life between recharges - Battery life that often stretches months between charges, so it's less to remember when you're already juggling a moveCheck Amazon

The picks in detail

Ring Peephole Cam

Top Pick

9.6/10Editor’s score

Best for doors with an existing peephole

  • Straps over an existing peephole with no drilling, so it fits doors with no doorbell wiring at all
  • Compact and discreet — doesn't scream 'camera' to building management or neighbors
  • Removes cleanly in minutes when it's time to move

Watch out Only fits doors with a standard peephole in range, and still needs a Ring Protect subscription to keep recorded video history.

Check price on Amazon

Eufy Security Video Doorbell E340

Runner-up

9.3/10Editor’s score

Best for avoiding a monthly fee

  • Battery-powered with no doorbell wiring needed
  • Local storage via the Eufy HomeBase means no required subscription, which matters when you're already paying rent
  • Dual-camera view shows both the visitor and anything left on the ground

Watch out The HomeBase is a separate accessory to buy and pack when you move, and it's one more thing to find space for.

Check price on Amazon

Google Nest Doorbell (battery)

Best Value

9.0/10Editor’s score

Best if you're already in a Google Assistant household

  • Fully battery-powered install with no wiring or hub required to get started
  • 3 hours of free event video history included with no subscription
  • Clean mounting bracket that unscrews from the wall, not the door, in apartments where that's allowed

Watch out Full event history and smart alerts beyond the free tier still require a Nest Aware subscription.

Check price on Amazon

Wyze Video Doorbell Pro

Also great

8.7/10Editor’s score

Best budget pick

  • One of the cheapest battery doorbells with real local storage, not just a free trial
  • microSD card storage avoids a subscription entirely
  • Small enough footprint to mount with the included adhesive strips instead of screws

Watch out Wyze has had past app and security incidents worth knowing about before relying on it as your only way to see who's at the door.

Check price on Amazon

Blink Video Doorbell

Also great

8.4/10Editor’s score

Best battery life between recharges

  • Battery life that often stretches months between charges, so it's less to remember when you're already juggling a move
  • Simple mounting bracket detaches in seconds, with no exterior wiring to disconnect first
  • Deep Alexa integration if you already have Echo devices from a previous apartment

Watch out Free local storage requires buying the separate Sync Module 2 — some live-view and alert features still work best with a paid Blink plan.

Check price on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to tell my landlord before installing a battery video doorbell?
A battery-powered doorbell that mounts with adhesive or an unscrewed bracket usually doesn't require permission the way drilling into a door frame would, but check your lease first — some buildings restrict any camera at a shared entrance, not just wired ones.
Will a video doorbell work on my apartment door with no existing wiring?
Yes, as long as you pick a battery-powered or peephole-mount model like the ones above. None of them depend on existing low-voltage doorbell wiring, which many apartments and shared building entries simply don't have.
Can I take the doorbell with me when I move?
Yes — every pick here unmounts without leaving permanent damage: the Ring Peephole Cam unstraps, the battery doorbells come off their adhesive or screw-in brackets, and you just factory-reset the app before reinstalling at your new address.
Can I avoid a subscription entirely as a renter?
Eufy and Wyze both offer local storage with no required monthly fee, and Google's Nest Doorbell includes a modest free rolling history. Ring and Blink's full history still requires a paid plan, though Blink's optional Sync Module 2 adds free local storage if you buy it separately.

Keep reading

Category

Video Doorbells Buying Advice

Guide

Home Security Camera & Video Doorbell Buying Guide