Mobile App vs. Indoor Monitor: Which Is Better for a Multifamily Intercom?

Until recently, an indoor monitor was a standard part of a video intercom system: a visitor called from the entrance panel, and the resident answered on a device inside the apartment. Today, that same call can be answered on a smartphone – at home, at work, or on the go.

Multifamily owners and property managers now have a choice: install a monitor in every apartment, use only a mobile app, or combine the two at the same property. At first glance, the app seems like the more modern and economical option because it eliminates dozens of in-unit devices and costs less than installing a monitor in every apartment.

Once the system is in use, however, issues that seemed minor during planning can become important. A phone may be dead, left in another room, or set to silent. Children and older residents may not have smartphones. When a tenant moves out, mobile access must be revoked and reassigned. And if the property loses its external connection, the app and the monitor behave differently.

The choice is not between an “old” and a “modern” way to answer. It is between different operating models. Below, we compare them without declaring a universal winner and show how the decision affects residents, property management, and the budget.

Short Answer

Three Ways to Answer Intercom Calls

With an app-only setup, there is no separate intercom device inside the apartment. Calls from the entrance panel go only to licensed smartphones with the app installed. Residents can answer from another room, from work, or while away, as long as their phones have internet access. Property management must add and remove users, track licenses, and help residents configure the app.

With an indoor-monitor-only setup, each apartment has a fixed device for speaking with visitors and unlocking the door. Residents do not need to find a phone, check its battery, or troubleshoot notifications. The monitor stays in the apartment when tenants change, but it must be purchased and installed.

The third option is a hybrid setup: an indoor monitor plus the app. Residents answer from the monitor when they are home and from a smartphone when they are away. This is the most flexible approach.

BAS-IP also supports a mixed setup within a single property: monitors can be installed in some apartments, while other apartments use only the app. Apartments without a compatible monitor require separately purchased mobile app licenses, calculated on a per-apartment basis.

The Key Difference Appears When the External Connection Goes Down

In an app-only setup, the smartphone is the apartment’s only way to receive an intercom call. If the connection to the external platform is unavailable – for example, during an internet outage – the call will not reach the phone. An apartment with an indoor monitor retains a local connection to the entrance panel as long as the devices and the property’s network remain operational.

What Happens If the External Connection Goes Down

In an apartment with an indoor monitor, calls from the entrance panel continue over the building’s local network as long as the network and devices are operating. The resident can see the visitor and unlock the door.

With an app-only setup, the resident cannot receive the call until the connection to the external platform is restored. This is one of the main differences between the two configurations: the monitor remains a local communication device inside the apartment, while the app depends on both the smartphone and an external internet connection.

Now let’s compare costs. We will use the same 50-unit property in both scenarios: two main entrances, two additional access points, and two mobile devices per apartment. Entrance equipment is identical in both options; the difference is at the apartment level.

The entrance equipment totals $4,310. Installation, cabling, locks, power supplies, network switches, and local partner services are not included.

In the app-only option, each apartment requires a separate Link Cloud Basic package with five mobile app licenses. The package is assigned to the apartment, so licenses from different apartments are not pooled. A 50-unit property requires 50 packages: $600 for one year or $4,800 for ten years.

In the monitor option, 50 AZ-07LL units are added at $384 each, for a total of $19,200. Each compatible monitor includes two Link Cloud Basic mobile app licenses for its apartment for ten years. Each smartphone uses one license: signing in to the same account on two smartphones consumes two licenses.

In the first option, core equipment costs $4,310, and licenses are purchased separately for each apartment. In the second, the main cost difference is the 50 physical monitors, while two mobile app licenses per apartment are included for ten years. These figures should not be read as a comparison of two equivalent systems: the higher-cost option adds a dedicated device to every apartment and preserves a local way to answer calls.

Five Questions to Help You Choose a Configuration

1. Are all residents comfortable using a smartphone as their only intercom? If children, older adults, or residents without reliable mobile internet live at the property, the app should not be the only way to answer. A monitor removes dependence on a personal phone and its settings.
2. Do residents need to answer calls while away from home? The app’s main advantage is mobility when dealing with deliveries, guests, and service providers. A standalone monitor without the app cannot provide this capability.
3. What must keep working during an external internet outage? Calls to smartphones are unavailable during the outage. The monitor continues communicating with the entrance panel over the local network. In a self-hosted configuration with a local SIP server, internal SIP calling may also remain available.
4. How often do residents move in and out? With high turnover, the app allows users to change without replacing hardware, but property management needs a clear process for revoking old access and assigning new licenses. The monitor stays in the apartment and does not need to be reinstalled.
5. What is the upfront budget? The app reduces the amount of in-unit hardware and generally costs less. Monitors require a larger initial investment but provide a fixed way to answer calls, include two mobile app licenses per compatible monitor, and continue operating locally when the external connection has problems.

For a new rental property with digitally savvy residents, the app may be the primary option. In a property with residents of different ages and comfort levels with technology, a monitor or a monitor-plus-app setup is often a better fit. When upgrading an existing building, also consider wiring, the condition of the local network, and whether work can be performed inside apartments.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Choose the app when mobility and lower upfront costs matter most, and residents are comfortable using smartphones as their primary intercom. Choose indoor monitors when each apartment needs a dedicated way to answer and a local connection to the entrance panel. A mixed setup avoids equipping every apartment the same way, but apartments without monitors require a separate license calculation.

Base the decision on how the property actually operates: who will use the system, which functions must remain available without an external connection, how often residents change, and who will support the in-unit devices and mobile access.