Both let you see who is at the door before you open it, but they are built for different jobs. A video doorbell is a phone-first gadget for a single front door; a video intercom is a dedicated system with indoor screens that can also open a gate or door lock.
Ring 0421 772 661 to talk through your entry, cabling and power. We hold NSW Security Licence S00014414 as well as Electrical Contractor Licence 332956C.
A video doorbell is a single unit at the door with a camera, button, speaker and microphone. When someone presses it, the alert goes to an app on your phone over Wi-Fi. Many models also record motion events to the cloud, usually through an optional subscription. There is normally no indoor screen unless you add a compatible chime or smart display.
A video intercom is a system: an outdoor door station plus one or more indoor monitors, connected by cable. You answer on the wall screen, talk to the visitor and, on most systems, press a button to release an electric strike, magnetic lock or gate motor. Many modern intercoms also push calls to a phone app, but the indoor monitor works even when the internet is down.
Neither is better across the board. The right choice depends on how far the door is from where you spend your time, whether there is a gate, who needs to answer, and how much cabling the building will allow.
A video doorbell usually suits. It is compact, works with a phone you already carry, and wiring is light or not needed at all for battery models.
An intercom tends to suit better, especially if you want to release the gate lock remotely. A doorbell at the gate often struggles with Wi-Fi range and power.
An indoor screen is easier for people who don't want to rely on an app. Intercoms win here.
A battery doorbell can come off when you leave with almost no trace. An intercom is a fixed installation.
Buildings with a shared entry usually need a multi-unit intercom system. Changes typically need strata approval.
A cabled intercom keeps working without the network. A doorbell depends on a solid signal at the door.
Wired video doorbells need a low-voltage supply, usually from a doorbell transformer or plug-in adaptor. Many Inner West homes have never had a wired bell, so the work is often a new transformer near the switchboard or a convenient power source, plus a small cable to the door. Battery models skip this, but need recharging.
Intercoms are cabled between the door station and each monitor. Some use two-wire systems, others run over network cable with PoE (power over Ethernet), which keeps one cable per device. If you want gate or door release, the lock needs its own suitable power supply and wiring back to the intercom. In a terrace with a short front yard this is straightforward; a long driveway or a gate set into a sandstone wall takes more planning.
The low-voltage cabling for intercoms and cameras is security work in NSW, and any new 230 V outlet or transformer circuit is electrical work. We do both under the one visit, test it, and issue a Certificate of Compliance where the electrical work needs one. Our video doorbell and intercom installation guide goes into more detail on the install itself.
Who answers the door most often, and do they use a smartphone comfortably? Is there a gate you want to open without walking out? How strong is Wi-Fi at the front of the house? Are you happy paying an ongoing subscription for recorded clips, or would you prefer local recording? And will you still be in this home in a few years?
If the answers point both ways, a hybrid is common: an intercom for the gate and a camera or doorbell at the front door. We are happy to quote either option, or both, so you can compare.
Some can be linked to smart locks or gate controllers through apps, but it is not their core job. If remote gate release matters, an intercom built for door release is usually more dependable.
A battery doorbell can be self-installed. A wired one needs a low-voltage supply, and if that means a new transformer or circuit, it is licensed work.
Yes. The door station and indoor monitors talk over their own cabling. Only app notifications need the internet.
Usually only with a monitor compatible with the building's system, and often with strata approval. We can check what is installed and what will work with it.
Yes. Blue Link Electrical holds NSW Security Licence S00014414 for intercom and camera work and Electrical Contractor Licence 332956C for the power side.
NSW Electrical Contractor Licence 332956C · Fully insured · Since 2016 · Based in Hurlstone Park
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