Video intercom vs video doorbell: what's the actual difference?
3 min read
These two products get confused constantly because they do overlapping things, see who's at the door, but they're designed around different types of entry.
Video doorbells suit a single front door
A video doorbell replaces or sits alongside a standalone home's front doorbell, sends alerts to your phone, and usually runs on battery or existing doorbell wiring. It's a simple, self-contained upgrade.
Video intercoms suit gated properties and apartment entry systems
A video intercom typically connects to a gate, building entrance, or communal access point, often with an indoor wall-mounted screen in addition to app access. It's built for situations with a visitor at a gate or building entrance, separate from your actual front door.
Which one you need
A standalone villa with just a front door usually only needs a doorbell. A villa with a gate, or an apartment with a building entry system, usually benefits from an intercom at that access point in addition to, or instead of, a doorbell at the actual front door.