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Video Doorbells

Ring Doorbells for Apartments: What Renters Should Know

Whether a Ring makes sense in a rental, the no-drill mount that makes it renter-safe, and the honest subscription math to do before you buy — with a no-fee alternative.

By Stephen V.Updated How we pick

Ring is the doorbell your neighbors have, and there’s a real reason for it: the 2K head-to-toe view is sharp, the app is the most polished in the category, and the whole thing runs on a rechargeable battery that needs no wiring. For a renter, the install is genuinely fine — pair it with a no-drill adhesive mount and it goes up with zero holes and lifts off clean at move-out. The hardware was never the problem.

The catch is the subscription, and it’s worth being honest about before you buy. Ring’s battery doorbell has no local storage, so recorded video lives only in the cloud behind a Ring Home plan — a bill that follows you for as long as you rent. This page lays out three things: the Ring pick itself, the mount that makes it apartment-safe, and the no-subscription alternative to weigh against it, so you choose Ring on purpose rather than by default.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked on renter fit, no-fee recording and how cleanly each one comes off the wall. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forLease-SafePrice
1
Ring Battery Doorbell (newest model)

Ring Battery Doorbell (newest model)

The one your neighbors have. The 2K head-to-toe view and the Ring app are genuinely good, and a no-drill adhesive mount makes it renter-safe — but recorded video is locked behind a Ring subscription, so budget for that before you buy.

The Ring pickLease-Safe: Good
$99.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
LOCKA No-Drill Adhesive Doorbell Mount

LOCKA No-Drill Adhesive Doorbell Mount

The ten-dollar accessory that turns a screw-mount doorbell into a renter-safe one. A thick adhesive plate holds the doorbell's bracket so you drill zero holes — and it peels off at move-out. Buy it with whatever battery doorbell you pick.

The mount that makes it renter-safeLease-Safe: Excellent
$9.99 · View on Amazon

$12.9923% off

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
eufy Video Doorbell E340 (Dual Camera)

eufy Video Doorbell E340 (Dual Camera)

The no-subscription pick. Two cameras (one aimed at the ground for packages), 8GB of local storage built in, and no monthly fee to record — you own the footage, which is exactly what you want when you're renting.

The no-subscription alternativeLease-Safe: Good
$149.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of July 25, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1The Ring pickLease-Safe: Good

Ring Battery Doorbell (newest model)

The one your neighbors have. The 2K head-to-toe view and the Ring app are genuinely good, and a no-drill adhesive mount makes it renter-safe — but recorded video is locked behind a Ring subscription, so budget for that before you buy.

What we like

  • 2K video with a head-to-toe view
  • Huge, polished app and neighborhood features
  • Works with an inexpensive no-drill adhesive mount

Trade-offs

  • No local storage — recorded video needs a Ring Home subscription
  • The subscription cost adds up over the years you rent
Installs byScrew bracket in the box; pairs with a no-drill adhesive mount
PowerRechargeable battery pack
SubscriptionNeeded for core features
Connectivity2.4GHz / 5GHz Wi-Fi
Video2K, head-to-toe
RecordingSubscription (no local storage)

Lease-Safe: Good. Battery power avoids any wiring, and with an adhesive mount there are no holes. The unit lifts off cleanly at move-out. The catch is the subscription, not the install.

Spec note. Ring publishes 2K video and a head-to-toe aspect ratio. There is no local-storage option on the Battery Doorbell, so recorded clips depend on a subscription — the single biggest cost difference versus eufy or Blink.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2The mount that makes it renter-safeLease-Safe: Excellent

LOCKA No-Drill Adhesive Doorbell Mount

The ten-dollar accessory that turns a screw-mount doorbell into a renter-safe one. A thick adhesive plate holds the doorbell's bracket so you drill zero holes — and it peels off at move-out. Buy it with whatever battery doorbell you pick.

What we like

  • Removes the need to drill your door frame entirely
  • Cheap — usually under $15
  • Peels off cleanly when your lease ends

Trade-offs

  • Adhesive holds best on smooth, clean surfaces (not rough brick)
  • Model-specific — buy the version that fits your doorbell
Installs byPeel-and-stick adhesive plate (no drilling)
PowerN/A (accessory)
SubscriptionNot published
ConnectivityNot published
InstallAdhesive, no drilling
Removes cleanYes

Lease-Safe: Excellent. Its entire purpose is a no-hole install: a strong adhesive plate that carries the doorbell and removes cleanly. This is the accessory that makes a screw-mount doorbell deposit-safe.

Spec note. An adhesive doorbell plate. Check that the version you buy matches your exact doorbell model — mounts are shaped per doorbell.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#3The no-subscription alternativeLease-Safe: Good

eufy Video Doorbell E340 (Dual Camera)

The no-subscription pick. Two cameras (one aimed at the ground for packages), 8GB of local storage built in, and no monthly fee to record — you own the footage, which is exactly what you want when you're renting.

What we like

  • Records to 8GB of built-in local storage — no subscription for video history
  • Dual cameras: a face view and a dedicated package/porch view
  • Runs on battery or existing doorbell wiring

Trade-offs

  • Pricier up front than a single-camera Wyze or Blink
  • Local storage means footage lives on the device, not the cloud
Installs byScrew bracket or existing doorbell wiring; angled wedge in the box
PowerRechargeable battery or existing doorbell wiring
SubscriptionNot required
Connectivity2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Storage8GB local, built in
Cameras2 (face + package view)

Lease-Safe: Good. Battery mode needs no wiring, and the unit unclips from its bracket cleanly. Local storage means nothing about the install ties you to a subscription you'd cancel on move-out.

Spec note. eufy publishes 8GB of built-in local storage and a dual-camera design. The second camera is aimed downward specifically for packages left on the ground.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

The subscription math

Here’s the part Ring’s box doesn’t spell out. Live view and real-time alerts are free, but the moment you want to play backwhat the camera recorded — the package that vanished, the knock while you were out — you need a Ring Home subscription. On a doorbell you keep for the length of a lease, that recurring fee quietly becomes the biggest line in the total cost, and it never ends as long as you want your clips. A local-storage doorbell pays for its hardware once and records for free after that; Ring rents you the recording for as long as you own the device. That’s not a reason to rule Ring out — it’s the number to run first. Our no-subscription doorbell roundup shows what “record for free” looks like in practice.

Ring or eufy?

Choose Ring if you value the ecosystem: the best app, neighborhood features, tight Alexa and Echo Show integration, and the reassurance of the mainstream option — and you’re comfortable paying monthly for recorded video. Choose the eufy E340 instead if a recurring bill is the thing you most want to avoid; it records to storage built into the doorbell with no fee, adds a second camera aimed at packages on the ground, and installs just as reversibly. Either way, keep the install renter-safe with a no-drill adhesive mount so nothing goes into the frame — see our no-drill mounts guide for the plate that fits.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a Ring doorbell in an apartment without drilling?

Yes. Ring's battery doorbell needs no wiring, and paired with a no-drill adhesive mount it goes up with zero holes and peels off clean at move-out. The install is genuinely renter-safe — the thing to plan for with Ring isn't the mounting, it's the subscription for recorded video.

Does a Ring doorbell require a subscription?

For recorded video, yes. Ring's battery doorbell has no local storage, so playing back clips and event history needs a Ring Home subscription. Live view and real-time alerts are free without it, but if you want to scroll back through what the camera caught, that's a monthly fee for as long as you keep the doorbell.

Is Ring or eufy better for a renter?

It depends on the fee. Ring wins on app polish, neighborhood features and Echo Show integration, but charges monthly for recorded video. The eufy E340 records to built-in local storage with no subscription and adds a package-view camera. If avoiding a recurring bill matters most, pick eufy; if you want the mainstream ecosystem, Ring.

Will a Ring doorbell get my landlord's attention?

On an adhesive mount, usually not — there's no wiring changed and no holes left behind, so it's reversible. Still, check your lease, aim the camera at your own door and the shared hallway rather than a neighbor's unit, and take it with you when you leave. A battery doorbell on a stick-on mount is one of the least intrusive upgrades there is.

Sources

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