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Best Apartment Security Cameras & Doorbells (No Drilling)
You can protect an apartment without drilling a single hole. Plug-in indoor cameras and battery doorbells with adhesive mounts keep your deposit safe, and many skip the monthly fee too.
- Best overall: Tapo C120. 2K, microSD, no plan required.
- Privacy first: Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) has a physical cover.
- Door, no drilling: Wyze Battery Video Doorbell with adhesive mount.
- Check your lease and local audio-recording laws before pointing a camera at shared spaces.
The best renter-friendly cameras
TP-Link Tapo C120
Sharp 2K video, free smart alerts and microSD storage, so no plan is required.
- 2K video
- microSD storage
- Alexa · Google
- Indoor or outdoor (IP66)
Best for: Most renters who want to skip monthly fees
- Records to microSD, no subscription needed
- Magnetic base plus adhesive mount in the box
- Weatherproof enough for a balcony
- No Apple HomeKit
- No physical privacy shutter
Wyze Cam v4
A tiny 2.5K camera that records to a microSD card.
- 2.5K video
- microSD storage
- Alexa · Google
- Magnetic or adhesive mount
Best for: Watching a pet, an entryway or a package spot
- Very sharp for its size
- Local recording without a plan
- Stand, magnet or adhesive mount
- Best features need Cam Plus
- No Apple HomeKit
Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen)
A physical cover shuts off video and audio when you’re home.
- 1080p video
- Physical privacy cover
- Alexa
- Plug-in
Best for: Ring and Alexa homes that want a real off switch
- Hardware cover cuts video and audio
- Simple setup in the Ring app
- No local storage, so recordings need a Ring plan
- Alexa only
The best no-drill video doorbells
Wyze Battery Video Doorbell
Sticks to your door frame with included heavy-duty adhesive.
- Battery powered
- Adhesive mount included
- Cam Plus for cloud video
Best for: Renters who can’t drill into the door frame
- No drilling or wiring
- Comes off cleanly when you move
- Cloud recording needs Cam Plus
- Battery needs recharging
Eufy Video Doorbell E340
Dual cameras and built-in storage, with no monthly fee required.
- 2K dual camera
- 8 GB built in
- Battery or wired
Best for: Seeing packages at your feet without paying monthly
- Records locally, no plan needed
- Second camera watches packages
- Battery life varies a lot by use
- Some users report delayed alerts
- Check mounting options for your door
Ring announced a Peephole Cam 2K that replaces your door’s peephole with no drilling. Check availability before you buy.
Subscription or local storage?
Cloud plans add longer history and smarter alerts, but they’re a recurring cost. Cameras with microSD or built-in storage keep footage at home and work without a plan.
Renter rules: hallways, audio and your lease
Video of your own doorway is common, but many buildings require written permission for cameras covering shared hallways. Recording audio can fall under wiretap laws that vary by state, so switch it off unless you’ve checked.
Ring’s Community Requests feature lets police ask users for footage. You can ignore or decline these requests, and you can review Ring’s search features in the app’s settings.
FAQ
Can my landlord stop me from installing a camera?
Inside your unit, usually not, but leases often ban permanent changes and cameras in shared areas. Use no-drill mounts and get written permission for anything outside your door.
Do I need a subscription?
Not with the Tapo C120, Wyze Cam v4 or Eufy E340, which record locally. Ring cameras and the Wyze doorbell need a plan for recorded video.
Will adhesive mounts damage paint?
Heavy-duty adhesive can pull paint if removed quickly. Warm it with a hair dryer and peel slowly when you move out.
Start with a Tapo C120 inside, and add a Wyze Battery Doorbell if you can’t drill. Both are renter-safe and portable.
