Video doorbells and intercoms let you see and speak to whoever is at the door from a phone or a monitor. The category covers Wi-Fi smart doorbells for homes and network intercoms for professional entrances, with SwitchBot, TP-Link and AXIS in our range. It suits households, small offices and installers who want door access with a video record.
How to choose a video doorbell or intercom
Power supply. Battery doorbells need no cabling and can be fitted in rented homes, but they must be recharged every few months, depending on how busy your door is. Wired models run from a low-voltage doorbell transformer, while professional intercoms are often powered over Ethernet (PoE), which carries power and data in one cable.
Connection and app. Most smart doorbells connect over Wi-Fi, so check the signal at your front door before buying. Some need a separate hub or indoor chime to ring inside the house, so confirm what is in the box. If you already run a smart home app, choose a doorbell that works with it.
Video quality and field of view. Look for at least 1080p resolution and a tall field of view that shows a visitor from head to toe as well as parcels left on the step. Night vision and HDR help when the porch is dark or the sun is behind the visitor.
Storage and privacy. Some doorbells record to a microSD card or a local hub, while others rely on cloud storage that may come with a monthly plan. Check which features, such as person detection, sit behind a subscription. Professional systems normally record to your own server or network storage.
Home or business use. A home doorbell is built for quick setup through an app. A business entrance often needs an intercom that works with access control, electric door releases and video management software, so check that the model supports open standards.
Video doorbell and intercom brands we carry
- SwitchBot: known for retrofit smart home devices such as the SwitchBot Bot, which presses existing switches, and its video doorbell sits in the same app as its other products.
- TP-Link: best known for networking equipment, and its Tapo smart home line extends that experience to cameras and doorbells managed from one app.
- AXIS: the Swedish company credited with launching the first network camera in 1996, now making network intercoms and door stations for professional installations.
Together they cover everything from an affordable home doorbell to a professional network intercom.
Video doorbells and intercoms: frequently asked questions
Do video doorbells need Wi-Fi?
Most smart video doorbells need Wi-Fi to send video and alerts to your phone. A weak signal at the door causes delays and dropped clips, so test the signal there first. Professional intercoms are often wired by Ethernet instead, which does not depend on Wi-Fi.
Can I fit a video doorbell without wiring?
Yes, battery-powered video doorbells can be fitted with screws or adhesive mounts and need no electrical work. You will need to recharge or swap the battery from time to time. A wired model avoids this but needs a suitable power supply at the door.
Do I have to pay a monthly subscription?
Not always, but it depends on the model. Doorbells that record to a microSD card or local storage can work without a plan. Cloud video history and some smart alerts may need a subscription, so check the features before you buy.
What is the difference between a video doorbell and an IP intercom?
A video doorbell is a consumer device aimed at one household door, usually set up through a phone app. An IP intercom is a network device that connects to a building's wider system, often powered over Ethernet and linked to door locks and access control. Choose an intercom when several users, entrances or security rules are involved.
