Ring Intercom Review UK — 5 Essential Things to Know

If you live in a UK flat or apartment with an existing intercom system, the Ring Intercom might be exactly what you've been looking for. It's not a video doorbell in the traditional sense — it's a smart upgrade for the intercom handset already on your wall, turning it into a remote-controlled, app-managed access system.

The short answer: Ring Intercom lets you speak to visitors, see who's at your building entrance (Video model), and buzz them in from anywhere using your smartphone — without replacing your existing intercom, drilling new holes, or getting your landlord involved. At £79.99 (Audio) or £99.99 (Video), it's one of the most practical smart home upgrades for UK renters.

Ring sells two versions: Ring Intercom Audio (speak and buzz in only) and Ring Intercom Video (see, speak and buzz in). This review covers both — what they do, what they don't, and whether they're worth buying for your UK home in 2026.

Quick Summary

What Is Ring Intercom — and Who Is It For?

Ring Intercom is designed for one specific type of UK home: flats and apartments with an existing audio or video intercom system. If your building has an entry phone in the hallway — the kind where someone buzzes from the front door downstairs, you pick up a handset, speak to them, and press a button to let them in — Ring Intercom replaces (or rather, upgrades) that handset.

Before buying, you must check compatibility using Ring's official compatibility checker. Ring Intercom works with most intercoms currently in use in UK apartment buildings, but not all — and compatibility varies by brand and model.

Ring Intercom is not a standalone doorbell. It does not work without an existing compatible intercom system. If you live in a house without an intercom, this product is not for you — see our guide to the best video doorbells for UK homes instead.

For UK renters in flats — which describes millions of people in London, Manchester, Birmingham and beyond — Ring Intercom fills a genuine gap. Traditional video doorbells can't be installed on communal building entrances. Ring Intercom works with what's already there.

What's in the Box

Both Ring Intercom Audio and Ring Intercom Video include:

• Ring Intercom unit × 1
• Rechargeable Quick-Release Battery Pack × 1
• One cable (for connecting to existing intercom)
• Reversible screwdriver
• Installation tools and screws
• USB Charging Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• User Manual

Everything needed for a DIY install is included. No additional tools required.

Ring Intercom Audio vs Video — Which Should You Buy?

The core difference is simple:

Ring Intercom Audio (£79.99):

• Hear visitors and speak to them via two-way audio
• Buzz them in remotely from the Ring app
• Works with audio intercom systems

Ring Intercom Video (£99.99):

• See visitors on a live video feed in the Ring app
• Hear and speak via two-way audio
• Buzz them in remotely
• Works with video intercom systems (connects to your building's existing entrance camera)

The £20 price difference is straightforward: if your building already has a video intercom system with a camera at the entrance, the Video model gives you that live feed on your smartphone. If your building only has audio (no entrance camera), the Audio model is the right choice.

One important limitation: if you connect Ring Intercom Audio to a video intercom system, you will only get audio — no video streaming. Check your building's intercom type before buying.

Ring Intercom Setup and Installation

Ring Intercom is marketed as a DIY install that takes under 45 minutes — and that claim holds up in practice for most UK intercoms. The process:

1. Check compatibility at ring.com/intercom-compatibility-checker
2. Remove your existing intercom handset from the wall
3. Connect Ring Intercom using the included cable (no special wiring knowledge needed)
4. Mount Ring Intercom in place of — or alongside — your existing handset
5. Download the Ring app and complete setup

Crucially for UK renters: Ring Intercom installs without any permanent modifications to your building's intercom system. The original handset remains functional. If you move out, you simply uninstall Ring Intercom and take it with you. No structural changes, no damage to walls, no landlord conflict.

This is the key advantage over traditional video doorbells for flat-dwellers. You cannot install a Ring Battery Doorbell on a communal apartment entrance — but you can install Ring Intercom on your own handset inside your flat, without touching shared infrastructure.

For more on the legal position of installing smart devices in rented properties, see our guide on whether your landlord can stop you installing a video doorbell.

Key Features

Remote Unlock

The headline feature: buzz visitors into your building from anywhere using the Ring app. Whether you're at work, in the supermarket, or in another city, you can let in family members, trusted guests, or delivery drivers without being physically present. The unlock works via the Ring app in real time when someone buzzes your intercom.

Virtual Guest Keys

Virtual Guest Keys let you share access with specific people — family members, a cleaner, a dog walker — on a set schedule. You control the days and times they can enter, and you can revoke access instantly from the app. This is particularly useful for regular visitors who previously needed to call you every time they arrived.

Auto-Verified Amazon Deliveries

Ring Intercom integrates with Amazon to give delivery drivers time-limited, verified access to your building entrance. The driver is authenticated before access is granted, and you receive a notification when they enter. This addresses one of the most common frustrations for UK flat-dwellers: missed deliveries because the driver couldn't get past the building entrance.

Alexa Integration

Works with Alexa-enabled devices. You can receive intercom call announcements on Echo speakers, use Alexa routines to trigger actions when someone buzzes (pause music, turn on lights), and control the intercom hands-free when your phone isn't nearby.

Smartwatch Control

Ring Intercom can be managed directly from compatible smartwatches — useful when your phone is across the room or your hands are full.

Ring Protect Subscription — What You Get Without It

Ring Intercom works without a Ring Protect subscription. Standard features available for free:

• Real-time alerts when someone buzzes
• Two-way audio (Audio model) or video (Video model) during live calls
• Remote unlock
• Virtual Guest Keys
• Alexa integration

With Ring Protect (subscription required):

• Audio and video call history saved to the cloud for up to 180 days
• Voicemail — missed calls saved and reviewable in the app
• Audio/video saving and sharing

For most users, the free tier is sufficient. The subscription is useful if you regularly miss calls and want to review who visited. Ring Protect starts from £3.49/month — see ring.com for current UK pricing.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Designed specifically for UK flat-dwellers with existing intercoms
• Removable — takes under 45 minutes to install and uninstall, ideal for renters
• Both models include battery pack in the box
• Virtual Guest Keys with custom schedules — excellent for regular visitors
• Auto-Verified Amazon deliveries — solves a real problem for flat residents
• Original intercom remains functional even without internet
• No permanent modifications to building infrastructure
• Alexa integration and smartwatch control

Cons:

• Requires existing compatible intercom system — check before buying
• IP rating not stated — not weatherproofed for outdoor use (installs indoors)
• Subscription required for call history and voicemail
• 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only — no 5GHz support
• Operating temperature 0°C to 35°C — handset installs indoors so not a practical concern
• Audio model cannot stream video even if building has a video intercom
• No Apple HomeKit support

Ring Intercom vs Traditional Video Doorbells

The comparison isn't really Ring Intercom vs video doorbell — they solve different problems. A video doorbell is for houses and ground-floor flats with their own front door. Ring Intercom is for flats with a shared building entrance and an existing intercom system.

If you're in a flat and your building has a communal intercom, Ring Intercom is often the only practical smart access solution available to you. Our roundup of best video doorbells for flats and apartments UK covers both options in detail.

Who Should Buy Ring Intercom?

Buy Ring Intercom Audio (£79.99) if:

• You live in a UK flat with an audio-only intercom system
• You regularly miss deliveries or visitors while out
• You want to give trusted visitors access without being home
• You're a renter and need a reversible, no-damage install

Buy Ring Intercom Video (£99.99) if:

• Your building has a video intercom system with an entrance camera
• You want to see as well as speak to visitors remotely
• The £20 extra for visual verification is worthwhile for your situation

Skip it if:

• Your building's intercom isn't compatible (check first)
• You live in a house with your own front door — a video doorbell is more appropriate
• Apple HomeKit is essential to your smart home setup

My Verdict — 8/10

Ring Intercom addresses a real problem that most video doorbells simply ignore: the millions of people in UK flats who have no way to add smart access to a communal building entrance.

The Audio model at £79.99 is well-priced for what it delivers — remote unlock, Virtual Guest Keys, Auto-Verified Amazon deliveries, and Alexa integration, all without permanent installation. For renters, the ability to take it when you move is particularly valuable.

The Video model at £99.99 is worth the extra £20 if your building has a video intercom — seeing visitors before buzzing them in is a meaningful improvement over audio only.

The main limitations — no HomeKit, 2.4GHz only, subscription for call history — are real but minor for most users. If you're in a compatible UK flat and you're tired of missing deliveries or buzzing visitors in by phone, Ring Intercom is the most practical solution on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ring Intercom work in UK flats? Yes — Ring Intercom is designed for exactly this use case. It connects to your existing flat intercom handset, letting you speak to visitors and buzz them into the building from anywhere using the Ring app. Check compatibility at ring.com/intercom-compatibility-checker before buying.

Does Ring Intercom need a subscription? No. Core features — real-time alerts, two-way audio or video, remote unlock, Virtual Guest Keys, and Alexa — are all free. A Ring Protect subscription (from £3.49/month) adds call history storage for up to 180 days and voicemail.

Can my landlord stop me installing Ring Intercom? Ring Intercom installs without any permanent modifications to your building's intercom system. The original handset remains functional and Ring Intercom can be fully uninstalled when you leave. However, your tenancy agreement or building rules may have specific clauses — always check. See our full guide on landlord and video doorbell rules UK.

What's the difference between Ring Intercom Audio and Ring Intercom Video? Ring Intercom Audio gives you two-way voice communication and remote unlock. Ring Intercom Video adds live video streaming from your building's entrance camera (requires a video intercom system). Both are the same dimensions and include a rechargeable battery pack.

Does Ring Intercom work if the internet goes down? Yes. Your original intercom system remains fully functional without internet. Ring Intercom is designed to work alongside your existing controls — you simply lose the remote app features during an outage.

Is Ring Intercom compatible with all intercoms? Ring Intercom is compatible with most intercoms currently in use in UK buildings, but not all. Use the official compatibility checker at ring.com/intercom-compatibility-checker before purchasing.