A video doorbell is one of the easiest upgrades to feel safer at home, but renters get squeezed twice. First, you usually cannot drill into your landlord’s door frame to mount a wired unit. Second, a lot of doorbells only feel complete with a monthly cloud subscription, so the cheap gadget becomes a recurring bill. Ring popularized the category, but it leans hard on both wiring and its subscription, which makes it an awkward fit for a rental. The good news is that plenty of alternatives run on a battery, store video locally with no monthly fee, and mount without a single hole.
Here are the best Ring doorbell alternatives for renters, chosen for two things: they install without drilling, and they work without a subscription. As always, check your lease first, and confirm current prices and features, since both change.
The short version
For a rental, you want a battery-powered doorbell with local storage and a no-drill mount. Eufy is the standout for storing video on a local base with no monthly fee, while Tapo and Blink offer cheap battery doorbells that save clips to a card or a local hub. Aqara is the pick if you live in Apple’s ecosystem, since it works with HomeKit Secure Video and pops off its mount in seconds when you move. Google’s Nest doorbell gives you a few hours of free event history without paying, and Wyze is a budget option, though it pushes a subscription for the good features. For the door itself, a peephole camera needs no screws at all, and no-drill adhesive or over-the-door mounts let you hang almost any battery doorbell without touching the frame. Pick local storage plus a battery, and you skip both the drill and the bill.
Table of Contents
1. Eufy Video Doorbell, for no-fee local storage
Eufy is the brand most associated with skipping the subscription, which is exactly what a renter wants. Its battery doorbells store recordings locally, often on an included base station, so you get event video without paying a monthly cloud fee. Battery power means no wiring, and you can pair it with a no-drill mount. The trade-off is that some of its extra features and cloud backup are optional add-ons, and you are responsible for the local storage, but for keeping footage off a subscription while renting, Eufy is the natural first look and a frequent top pick for apartments.
2. Tapo Video Doorbell, for the budget pick
TP-Link’s Tapo line has become a favorite for cheap, capable doorbells that record to a microSD card or a local hub with no subscription, and often include free person detection. Battery versions run for months and install without wiring, so a renter can be up and running for a modest price and no recurring cost. The app and ecosystem are less polished than the big names, and support can be more basic, but if your priorities are a low upfront price, local storage, and no monthly fee, Tapo delivers a lot of doorbell for the money.
3. Blink Video Doorbell, for long battery life
The Blink Video Doorbell is a renter-friendly staple: it runs on batteries that can last a very long time, sets up without drilling, and can store clips locally when paired with Blink’s local sync hub, so you avoid a subscription. It also works with Alexa, which suits an Amazon-centric home. The catch is that local storage requires that extra hub accessory, and some features still nudge you toward Blink’s cloud plan, so read what you actually get for free. For long battery life and easy setup at a low price, though, it is a solid choice.
4. Aqara Video Doorbell G4, for Apple homes
If you live in Apple’s world, the Aqara Video Doorbell G4 is the standout, because it supports HomeKit Secure Video and stores footage without a mandatory subscription, often to a card in its chime. It runs on AA batteries or USB power, so no wiring is needed, and reviewers note it unbolts from its mounting plate in seconds, which is ideal when your lease ends and you want to take it with you. HomeKit Secure Video does route recordings through your iCloud storage, so factor that in, but for a renter in the Apple ecosystem it checks every box.
5. Google Nest Doorbell, for some free history
Google’s battery Nest doorbell is worth a look because it offers a few hours of free event history without any subscription, so you are not completely dependent on Nest Aware to see recent activity. Being battery-powered, it installs without wiring and pairs with a no-drill mount, and it fits naturally into a Google or Android household with smart displays. The free history is limited compared with true local storage, and the richer features and longer history do require the paid plan, but if you want a polished, well-supported doorbell with a usable free tier, Nest is a strong option.
6. Wyze Video Doorbell, for the tightest budget
Wyze makes some of the cheapest video doorbells around, and its battery models install without wiring, which suits a rental. It is the honest budget entry here, but with a caveat: Wyze leans on its Cam Plus subscription for the best experience, and the free tier is more limited, sometimes offering only short event clips. If you are comfortable working within the free features or adding local storage where supported, it is a lot of hardware for very little money. Just go in knowing the subscription pressure is real, and decide whether the free tier is enough for you.
7. A peephole camera, for zero modifications
If you cannot mount anything to the door or frame at all, a peephole camera is the renter’s secret weapon. These replace or attach to your existing door peephole, so they need no screws and no adhesive on the frame, and they come out just as cleanly when you leave, restoring the original peephole. Several brands make them, and some support local storage or work without a mandatory subscription, so shop for those. The view is narrower and the features simpler than a full doorbell, but for a truly no-modification setup in an apartment, nothing beats using the hole that is already there.
8. No-drill mounts for any battery doorbell
Finally, the accessory that makes most of this work: a no-drill mount. Because the doorbells above are battery-powered, they do not need to sit on wiring, so you can hang them without touching the frame. Strong adhesive mounting plates, over-the-door brackets, and anti-theft no-drill mounts let you attach almost any battery doorbell to the wall or door trim and remove it cleanly later. Match the mount to your doorbell model and your surface, and test the adhesive on a hidden spot first. With the right mount, the choice of camera opens up, and your deposit stays intact.
How to choose as a renter
Start with your two non-negotiables and work backward. For no drilling, choose a battery-powered doorbell and a no-drill mount, or a peephole camera if you cannot touch the frame at all. For no monthly fee, choose a model with genuine local storage, Eufy, Tapo, Blink with its hub, or Aqara, rather than one whose useful features hide behind a subscription. Then match the ecosystem you already use, Apple, Google, or Alexa, and check battery life and video quality for your situation. Read your lease for any camera or door rules, and confirm the current price and free features before buying. Our checklists on renter-friendly smart locks and local-control thermostat alternatives follow the same no-damage, no-lock-in thinking.
This article is general information to help you compare options, not a security recommendation for your specific situation. Products, prices, features, and subscription terms change often and vary by model and region, so verify the current details with the manufacturer, and check your lease and local rules before installing any camera at your rental.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best video doorbell for renters with no subscription?
Eufy is the most common pick, because its battery doorbells store video locally with no monthly fee. Tapo and Blink are cheaper alternatives that also avoid a subscription by saving clips to a card or a local hub, and Aqara suits Apple households through HomeKit. All are battery-powered, so they install without wiring, and pair well with a no-drill mount for a rental.
Can I install a video doorbell without drilling?
Yes. Choose a battery-powered doorbell so you do not need to wire it, then mount it with a no-drill option like a strong adhesive plate or an over-the-door bracket. If you cannot attach anything to the door or frame, a peephole camera uses your existing peephole and needs no screws or adhesive at all. Test any adhesive on a hidden spot and keep the original hardware to reinstall when you leave.
Do any video doorbells work completely without a monthly fee?
Several do, if you use local storage. Eufy records to a local base, Tapo saves to a microSD card, Blink stores clips with its local sync hub, and Aqara can record to its chime and to HomeKit Secure Video. You own and manage the footage instead of renting cloud space. Some brands still sell optional cloud plans, but you are not required to pay one to get event recording.
Are peephole cameras good for apartments?
They are excellent for renters who cannot modify the door, since they use the existing peephole and leave no marks. They are simpler than a full doorbell, with a narrower view and fewer features, and you should pick one that supports local storage or works without a mandatory subscription. For a true zero-modification setup where drilling and adhesive are off the table, a peephole camera is often the best fit.
Will a battery doorbell work with Alexa, Google, or Apple?
Many do, but support varies by brand, so match the doorbell to the system you already use. Blink and several others work with Alexa, Nest fits Google and Android homes, and Aqara supports Apple’s HomeKit, including HomeKit Secure Video. Check the specific model’s compatibility before buying, especially if you want to see the feed on a particular smart display or phone, since not every doorbell supports every platform.
The bottom line
Renting does not mean settling for a doorbell that drills your frame or drains your wallet monthly. Pick a battery-powered model with real local storage, Eufy, Tapo, Blink, or Aqara, add a no-drill mount, or use a peephole camera when you cannot touch the door at all, and you get the security of a video doorbell without the wiring or the subscription. Match it to your ecosystem, check your lease, and confirm the free features before you buy. For more on upgrading a rental without losing your deposit, browse The Other Stream’s Home Improve section.
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