Ring Intercom: Smart Home Security for Apartment Renters

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Ring’s Intercom brings video doorbell features to apartment dwellers with existing intercom systems — no drilling, no wiring, renter-friendly. Here’s how it works and whether it’s worth it.

Ring Intercom: Smart Home Security for Apartment Renters

One of the biggest frustrations in smart home security is that most video doorbells require drilling, wiring, or permanent modification — things you can’t do in a rental apartment. Ring’s Intercom solves this by turning your building’s existing intercom system into a smart video doorbell, no tools required. You can find the Ring Intercom on Amazon, along with the rest of the Ring ecosystem.

Launched globally in 2026 and now available in Australia for AU$189, the Ring Intercom is designed specifically for apartment residents who want smart home security without breaking their lease.

What Is the Ring Intercom?

The Ring Intercom is a small device that connects to your apartment’s existing intercom system — the one that buzzes when someone is at the building entrance. Instead of just hearing a buzz and pressing a button to let them in, you get:

• Live video view: See who’s at the building entrance in real time
• Two-way talk: Speak to visitors through the Ring app, whether you’re on the couch or overseas
• Remote unlock: Grant building access from anywhere
• Visitor snapshots: Automatic photos of every intercom buzz
• 180-day video history: A record of all visitors (with Ring Protect subscription)
• Quick Replies: Pre-set messages for when you can’t answer

How It Works

The Ring Intercom installs in about 45 minutes with no structural Changes to your home. It connects to your existing intercom handset — the device already mounted in your apartment that lets you buzz visitors in. The Ring Intercom taps into the audio and video feed from your building’s entrance camera and streams it to your phone.

Key features in practice:

See who’s there, anywhere: Whether you&#82

17;re in bed or on vacation, you can open the Ring app and see a live video feed of your building entrance. Talk to the person, then remotely unlock the door if you want to let them in.

Never miss a delivery: The Ring Intercom integrates with Amazon delivery drivers — you can grant automatic, temporary building access so drivers can leave packages inside your building. No more “delivery attempted” notices because you weren’t home to buzz them in.

Quick Replies: When someone buzzes and you can’t answer, preset messages like “Leave packages by the door” or “I’ll be back in 10 minutes” are sent automatically. This is especially useful for delivery drivers.

Echo Show integration: If you have an Amazon Echo with a screen, like the Echo Show, you can use it as a hands-free intercom screen — see and talk to visitors without opening your phone.

Ring Intercom Video vs. Audio

Ring offers two versions of the Intercom:

• Live video feed: Video version only — the Audio version does not include video
• Two-way talk: Both versions
• Remote unlock: Both versions
• Visitor snapshots: Video version includes them; Audio version requires a Ring Protect plan
• Video history: Video version includes 180 days; Audio version does not support video history
• Quick Replies: Both versions
• Amazon delivery access: Both versions
• Price: Video version approximately AU$189 / 65 euros; Audio version approximately AU$129 / 50 euros

Recommendation: Get the Video version. The ability to actually see who’s at your building entrance is the entire point of a smart intercom. The price difference is small for the added security.

Ring Protect Subscription

Basic features (in-app calls, Quick Replies) come free with the Ring Intercom. But to unlock the full feature set, you’ll need a Ring Protect plan:

• Video History (180 days): Record and store all visitor video
• Visitor Snapshot: Automatic photos of every intercom buzz
• Voicemail: Let visitors leave a message when you can’t answer

Ring Protect starts at about AU$4.95/month — a reasonable cost for continuous video recording and the peace of mind that comes with it.

Is the Ring Intercom Worth It?

Who should buy it:

• Apartment renters who can’t install a traditional video doorbell
• Frequent travelers who want to manage building access remotely
• Amazon Prime members who want guaranteed delivery access
• Anyone with an existing intercom system who wants smart features

Who should skip it:

• House owners — get a Ring Battery Doorbell instead, it’s cheaper and more capable
• Anyone without an existing intercom system — the Intercom only works if your building already has one
• Privacy-conscious users who don’t want video of every visitor stored in the cloud

How It Compares to Other Smart Intercom Solutions

The Ring Intercom isn’t the only option for apartment dwellers:

• ButterflyMX: Building-wide system installed by landlords — not a DIY solution
• Aiphone Smart Intercom: Professional-grade, expensive, requires installation
• Google Nest Doorbell (battery): Can work in some apartment setups but requires a surface to mount to

The Ring Intercom’s key advantage is that it’s the only major DIY smart intercom that works with existing building intercom systems. No landlord approval needed, no permanent installa

tion, and it integrates with the Ring/Alexa ecosystem you may already have. Pair it with a Ring Battery Doorbell for full coverage, or add a Ring Alarm system for whole-home security.

The Bottom Line

The Ring Intercom is the best smart home solution for apartment renters who want video doorbell features without modifying their building. At AU$189 (or around €65 in Europe), it’s affordable, renter-friendly, and integrates seamlessly with the Ring ecosystem.

If you live in an apartment with an existing intercom and you’re tired of missing deliveries or not knowing who’s buzzing your door, the Ring Intercom is an easy recommendation.

For added peace of mind, consider pairing your Ring Intercom with an Amazon Echo and an Alexa Together subscription for 24/7 emergency monitoring.
Do you live in an apartment? Would you install a Ring Intercom, or do you prefer a different smart security setup?