One-Time Investment
Last updated September 2026 by the Douglas Security System team, licensed and insured NYC intercom specialists with over 35 years of experience.
A no monthly fee intercom is a system you pay for once. After it’s installed, you own it, and there’s no subscription to keep the door working, the app ringing, or the video running. For building owners and co-op boards, that means one clear price and no surprise bills years later.
Douglas Security System (DSS) installs Comelit video intercom systems that are a one-time investment with no monthly payment. Tenants still get HD video, two-way talk, and door release from their phones. We’ve been installing and repairing intercoms in New York for over 35 years, from our office at 1541 E 46th Street in Brooklyn. Call (212) 262-2820 for a free quote.
Many newer cloud-based intercoms are sold like software. The installation price is only part of the cost. Depending on the brand and plan, you may pay:
Cloud systems can offer useful remote-management features, and for some buildings they’re the right fit. But the fees continue for as long as you use the system, and in some cases features stop working if the subscription lapses. Before you sign, ask for the total cost over five and ten years, including every recurring fee.
A one-time system runs on equipment installed in your building instead of a paid cloud service. A typical Comelit setup includes:
The Comelit Ultra Touch VIP Kit bundles the entrance panel, power supply, gateway, power cord, and mounting rail. App licenses are purchased separately. The Ultra Touch entrance panel includes 15 app licenses. Property management software and call-log servers are optional and sold separately.
No monthly fee doesn’t mean fewer features. With a Comelit system, tenants and managers get:
This is one of the most practical differences between system types. With a Comelit system installed in your building, calls from the entrance panel to wired apartment units don’t depend on an internet connection. Tenants with apartment units can still see, talk to, and buzz in visitors during an internet outage.
Phone app calls do need an internet connection at the building, because the call travels from the gateway to the tenant’s phone. With many fully cloud-based systems, more of the system relies on the internet and the vendor’s servers. If reliability during outages matters to your building, ask every vendor what still works when the internet is down.
The easiest way to compare is to add up the total cost of ownership. For a subscription system, multiply the recurring fee by the number of doors or units, then by 12 months, then by the number of years you plan to keep the system. Add the installation price on top.
Example, for illustration only: if a system charged $30 per door per month for a building with two entrances, the software fees alone would be $720 a year, $3,600 over five years, and $7,200 over ten years, on top of installation. Your actual numbers depend on the vendor and plan you’re quoted.
With a one-time system, the five-year and ten-year cost is the installation price plus any repairs you choose to make. That’s why many owners who plan to keep a building for years prefer a system they own outright. For typical installation prices, see our intercom system cost NYC guide.
| One-time system (Comelit) | Typical subscription system | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Equipment and installation | Equipment and installation, sometimes lower |
| Monthly or yearly fees | None required | Per door, per unit, or per user |
| Who owns the equipment | The building | The building, but key features depend on the plan |
| Phone app | Yes, licenses bought up front | Yes, usually tied to the subscription |
| Works during an internet outage | Calls to wired apartment units, yes | Depends on the system |
| Reuse existing apartment units | Often, yes | Usually no |
| Remote management | Through the app, plus optional software | Through the vendor’s portal |
| Locked into a contract | No | Often, for the length of the plan |
Every vendor and plan is different, so treat this as a starting point and ask each installer to fill in the details for your building.
A one-time system is usually a good fit if:
A cloud system may make more sense if you manage many buildings from one dashboard and want features that depend on a vendor’s cloud platform. We install both, and we’ll explain the real costs of each so you can choose.
We’ll recommend a setup after we see the property, and we’ll explain what each part costs.
Whichever system you choose, these questions help you compare quotes fairly:
A good installer will answer all of these in writing. We include this information in every DSS quote.
In many buildings, yes. Our Comelit video intercom works alongside your existing intercom units, so tenants keep their apartment units and can also answer the door from their cellphones. That can save a large part of the cost of a full replacement, because we don’t have to replace every unit or rewire every apartment.
If your wiring is damaged or too old to carry the new system, we’ll tell you before you commit, and we’ll quote only the wiring that actually needs replacing. Learn more about converting an audio intercom to video.
Yes. A no monthly fee intercom can be combined with a keypad like the Aiphone AC-10S, key fob readers, and security cameras at the entrance. Adding them during the intercom project saves a second visit and lets us run all the wiring at once. We’ll give you a separate price for each item, so you only add what your building needs. See our security cameras.
On Comelit video intercom installs, we offer a 3-year guarantee on Comelit material and a 1-year guarantee on service and labor. After that, you still own the system, and you can call us for repairs whenever you need them. There’s no contract that forces you to keep paying us to keep the system running.
A one-time system doesn’t require a paid service plan, but like any building system, it lasts longer with a little care. Keep the entrance panel clean and dry, make sure the door closes and latches properly, and test a few apartments and the door release every month. When something needs attention, like a worn door strike or a damaged cable after construction, call us for a repair. There’s no contract, so you pay only for the work you need, when you need it.
Keeping a simple log of problems and repairs also helps. It shows patterns, speeds up troubleshooting, and gives your board or ownership a clear record of what’s been done.
In most NYC buildings, the owner or co-op pays for the intercom as a building improvement. With a one-time system, that’s one expense you can budget and plan for. With a subscription system, the building takes on an ongoing operating cost, and some platforms charge extra for features like video storage. For rent-regulated buildings, the rules about passing costs to tenants are complicated, so owners should check with their advisors before planning to recover costs. Either way, knowing the full cost up front makes the decision easier for owners, boards, and managers.
We also install and repair DNAKE, Akuvox, ButterflyMX, Aiphone, and DoorKing systems. Some of these include cloud features, and some plans come with ongoing fees. If you’re considering one of them, we’ll tell you up front which features need a subscription and what it costs, so you can compare fairly. Learn more about the Comelit systems we install, or browse our intercom products.
We install no monthly fee intercom systems in apartment buildings, co-ops, condos, offices, storefronts, and private houses across Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Long Island. Whether you manage one walk-up or a large complex, you get the same DSS technicians and a free quote. See all of our intercom and security services.
Yes. Our Comelit systems are a one-time investment with no monthly payment. Property management software and call-log servers are optional and sold separately.
Yes. With the Comelit app, tenants see visitors in HD video, talk to them, and open the door from anywhere. App licenses are purchased up front.
The Comelit Ultra Touch entrance panel includes 15 app licenses. Additional licenses can be purchased if you need more.
Many cloud-based intercoms are sold like software, with ongoing fees per door, per unit, or for cloud features. The fees continue for as long as you use the system.
Sometimes. If you manage many buildings from one dashboard and want features that depend on a vendor’s cloud platform, a subscription system can make sense. We’ll explain the costs of both.
In many buildings, yes. Our Comelit video intercom works alongside your existing intercom units, so you don’t have to replace every unit or rewire the building.
On Comelit video intercom installs, we offer a 3-year guarantee on Comelit material and a 1-year guarantee on service and labor.
No. You own the system. If you need a repair later, you can call us, but you’re not locked into a contract.
Calls from the entrance panel to wired apartment units don’t depend on the internet. Phone app calls need an internet connection at the building.
You do. With a one-time system, the equipment belongs to the building once it’s installed and paid for.
No service plan is required. We recommend simple monthly checks by your super, and you can call us for repairs whenever you need them.
Yes. We can replace a subscription system with a Comelit system and reuse wiring where it’s in good shape. Check your current contract for any cancellation terms first.
Yes. We install video door stations and indoor monitors for private houses as well as apartment buildings, offices, and storefronts.
Call (212) 262-2820 or use the form on this page. We inspect your building and give you one clear price with no monthly fees built in.