An automated gate without a good intercom is only half a solution. The intercom system determines how you, your family, and your visitors interact with the gate every single day. This guide compares the main options for London residential properties in 2026.
Video vs Audio-Only Intercoms
Audio-only intercoms were the standard for residential gate installations throughout the 1990s and 2000s. They remain a viable budget option today, with basic wired audio intercom systems available from £100 to £200 supply and fit. You hear the visitor, they hear you, you press a button to open the gate.
The limitation is obvious: you cannot see who is at your gate. Video intercoms have dropped dramatically in price and now represent the clear value choice at any budget above £300 for supply and installation. A basic wired video intercom with a gate-side camera, an indoor monitor with colour display, and gate release button costs £250 to £500 fitted. Mid-range systems with HD cameras, night vision, and motion detection start from £400 to £700 fitted.
For secure gate installations in London, video intercoms have become the default specification — the question is now which system type, not whether to include video.
GSM Intercoms vs Hardwired Systems
A GSM gate intercom uses a SIM card and the mobile network to connect gate visitors to your smartphone, wherever you are in the world. The caller presses the gate button, your phone rings with a notification or call, and you answer it to see the camera feed and press a button on your phone screen to open the gate. No hardwired connection between the gate post and the house is required beyond power to the gate post unit.
Hardwired systems connect the gate camera and button to an indoor monitor via a dedicated cable. They are independent of any network, mobile signal, or internet connection. If the power is on and the cable is intact, the system works.
The best of both approaches is a combined system: a hardwired video intercom for indoor use at home, paired with a GSM module that routes calls to smartphones when the indoor monitor is not answered. This is increasingly the standard specification for London residential properties and costs £500 to £900 fitted for a quality combined system.
Smart Home Integration: Ring, Google Home, and Control4
Smart home integration has become a significant consideration for London homeowners who are already using smart home platforms. Ring Video Doorbell products include gate-specific models designed to mount at gate posts and integrate with the Ring app ecosystem. If you already use Ring cameras or doorbells, a Ring gate intercom offers seamless integration.
For Google Home users, several intercom manufacturers offer Google Assistant integration, allowing voice commands to check who is at the gate and open it via a connected speaker. Control4 and other dedicated smart home automation platforms support deep integration with commercial-grade gate intercom systems.
Access control can be upgraded at any time — you do not need to install the full intercom system at the same time as the gate if budget is a constraint. Leave your phone number in the form above and our team will call back quickly to discuss which intercom system suits your gate setup and smart home platform.
