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Dec 30, 2023

How Much Does a Ring Subscription Cost?

A Ring subscription can cost from $3.99 to $20 per month, depending on the plan

A Ring subscription can cost from $3.99 to $20 per month, depending on the plan level the customer chooses.

The amount a customer will pay for their Ring subscription depends on whether they choose an annual or a monthly subscription, how many cameras they have, whether they want cellular backup and cloud storage, and whether they prefer professional monitoring or self-monitoring.

Ring has three subscription plans for customers to choose from depending on their needs: Protect Basic, Protect Plus, and Protect Pro.

A Ring subscription plan has numerous benefits, including remote arming and disarming, video saving and sharing, Alexa voice control, potential crime prevention, and peace of mind.

Ring was the first doorbell camera to really take off in the popular DIY home security market. Simple to install, easy to use with the free mobile app, and easily transferred from one home (or door) to another, the Ring doorbell works well for homeowners, renters, and businesses. Ring doorbells cost an average of $99.99, depending on the power choices, lighting options, and bundled products. The Ring network options have expanded into a full-blown DIY security system. Praised by many for the intuitive and simple controls and ease of use, Ring surged to the front of the market and has worked to maintain its spot.

Initially, Ring was just a doorbell camera that showed the owner a live-feed video of the area that the camera covered—usually places that enhanced front door security. Over time, the cameras developed, adding lighting; speaker capability so the user could speak to the person at the door through the device from a cell phone; movable-focus cameras; a Ring peephole camera; and video recording and storage. The lighting and video storage functions have been helpful in deterring and solving crimes such as package theft and car break-ins, as Ring doorbell owners share captured video on social media and with law enforcement to increase the likelihood that thieves will be captured. These functions, however, do require a Ring Protect subscription. While users can still view live video without any of the Ring subscription plans and speak with guests through the doorbell, the additional features that make Ring so helpful are part of a paid plan. According to Ring, the Ring pricing plans range from $3.99 to $20 per month, depending on the scope of services the user selects. Understanding the options can make it easier for customers to decide which is the best plan for their needs.

Get a Ring subscription or see all Ring products

Photo: ring.com

So how does Ring work? The Ring doorbell itself works without a subscription: Users can view live video, speak through the camera, and receive motion alerts. With a plan, however, the doorbells, cameras, alarms, and lights become much more useful tools and can be used to build a fairly comprehensive security system. Video can be saved and shared, and the camera can be set to capture snapshots, provide notification of people nearby, and provide tailored alerts for motion in zones around the yard. In addition, the app's features are enabled with a subscription, including home and away modes for the camera, the ability to connect a Ring alarm and arm and disarm it through the app, and other security and smart-home automation features. Payments can be made monthly or annually.

There are three tiers of Ring Protect subscriptions: Basic, Plus, and Pro. Each tier adds services on top of those included in the previous tier at a slightly higher cost. How much is a Ring subscription? Basic costs $3.99 per month, Plus bumps the cost up to $10 per month, and Pro tops it out at $20 per month. Users can save on costs by choosing an annual subscription, which costs less than the per-month price at all three tiers.

Ring doorbell systems and security systems can do a lot more than many people know. The Ring Bridge allows cameras, smart lights, smart devices, solar chargers, and alarms to be connected and controlled through an app. Settings can be adjusted to control the sensitivity of motion detectors, the brightness of lights, and the time of the prerecording phase based on the suggestion of motion. However, not all of these services are available at every tier, and not all customers need all of these options. There are a number of factors that affect the choice of tiers and the overall cost of home security.

Monthly subscriptions offer flexibility: Should a subscriber realize they aren't using all of the features included in their plan, they can downgrade their service the following month. Or if they realize they want more capability, they can easily upgrade. The convenience comes at a price, however: Each tier has a Ring annual subscription cost that amounts to a savings of about 2 months’ cost on the monthly plan. The Basic plan's $3.99 monthly cost comes out to $39.99 annually, the Plus plan's $10 per month costs $100 per year, and the Pro plan's $20 per month reduces to $200 per year. For new users, it might make sense to start with a monthly subscription until they’re certain of the services they plan to use, then sign up for an annual plan to take advantage of the savings.

Ring Subscription Plan

Monthly Cost

Annual Cost

Basic

$3.99

$39.99

Plus

$10

$100

Pro

$20

$200

The first determining factor in deciding which plan is most appropriate is the number of cameras a user plans to install. Ring Protect Basic supports one doorbell or home camera. So for users who need only a doorbell or a standalone camera, the Basic plan is fine: Ring doorbell subscription cost for a single device on the Basic plan is quite low. Upgrading to Protect Plus allows an unlimited number of doorbells and home cameras, as long as the devices are all at one location (increasing the number of cameras may also require the purchase of a Ring Bridge for connection purposes). Protect Pro services all of the doorbells and cameras at a location, in addition to other compatible home devices such as alarms, smart lighting, Amazon Echo, and other accessories.

Ring systems operate through a home's Wi-Fi system; there is no hardwire communication option. This is great from a data standpoint, but it also means that in the case of a power outage, router problems, or internet failure, the Ring system can't function. An upgrade to the Protect Plus plan includes cellular backup for the system until the Wi-Fi becomes available again. Those who live in areas with frequent service interruptions will need to consider the upgrade to the most expensive plan to ensure consistent system function.

While Ring users can view live video without a subscription, saving the videos for future viewing isn't possible without one. All three tiers of Ring Protect offer video history, saving, and sharing for 180 days. Snapshot captures are available in the cloud for up to 7 days. Often, the realization that someone needs to check the video to see if the camera captured a package thief, car accident, or break-in nearby doesn't come until several days or weeks after the incident has occurred, so choosing to pay for a Protect plan—even the lowest-cost option—provides an extra layer of security if the user wants to be able to check on video after the live view has ended.

Many critics dismissed Ring's initial approach to home security because it was a completely DIY system: There were no expert installers, technicians, or monitors, and customers were expected to monitor their own video feeds and call law enforcement if they needed help. When the Ring Alarm was added to the catalog of Ring security options, it came with an option of 24/7 professional monitoring: The company will immediately request emergency response from police, fire, or medical services if the Ring alarm is activated. This additional service is available only at the Protect Pro level, so while it's a more expensive option than the other Ring plans, it's also relatively affordable when compared to other monitored security systems, which customers will notice if they’re comparing Vivint vs. Ring or other similar systems.

Ring was acquired by Amazon.com in 2018, at which time Amazon began offering a discount on Ring products that were sold on the Amazon website. Amazon and Ring now offer a 10 percent discount on select products at each of their websites to their subscribers at any tier. It's worth noting that the discount doesn't apply until the customer is a subscriber, so if they haven't subscribed before making a Ring purchase but are planning on purchasing a few components, it's a good idea for them to purchase the first piece of equipment and subscribe, then use the discount to purchase the rest of the planned system for 10 percent off the sticker price.

All Ring products purchased at Ring, Amazon, or another approved vendor include a standard one-year warranty. Those customers who would like additional warranty coverage after the original warranty expires can consider choosing the Protect Plus or the Protect Pro plan, both of which include an extended warranty, so long as the extended warranty was added while the device was still under the original manufacturer's 1-year warranty period. The extended warranty will add value to the cost of the Protect plans if the devices should fail or become faulty during the period just after the initial warranty releases.

Photo: ring.com

With plans ranging from $3.99 to $20 per month, there's a lot for customers to consider when selecting the ideal plan for any home's needs. While it's important to maximize the benefits of the service, it's also preferable to avoid spending more money than is necessary to secure the home to a level of comfort. Each plan builds on the previous one, so customers can choose the level of service they need in order to use the simplest features and then upgrade if and when they add components of the system or have more specific needs.

For many users, Protect Basic will include all of the coverage they need. Basic is the simplest plan and has the lowest Ring camera subscription cost. The plan includes video history, saving, and sharing for up to 180 days from one camera or doorbell, along with snapshot capture. Notifications in the Basic plan are more robust: Rich notifications show a preview photo in the push notification so the user can get a glimpse of what triggered the alert without opening the Ring app. This level of Plan also includes Home and Away modes for doorbells and cameras, home security automation, and manual arming and disarming of the alarm. Alarm notification and event history are also available at this level, allowing the user to check through the reported alarms and seek out patterns. Finally, the Basic Plan, as all of the tiers do, garners the user and subscriber a 10 percent discount on Ring devices purchased through Ring.com and Amazon.com.

For $6 more per month, Ring Protect Plus begins with the Protect Basic plan as a foundation, then adds one service: This plan offers all of those services on every device that's compatible on the network. It may appear that there's a significant jump in cost from Basic to Plus, especially since there's only one additional service, but users can consider that the plan extends all of the services to every compatible device: For those using just one camera, the Plus plan may seem like overkill—but the single-camera feed may not be enough for a home to feel as secure as the owner may prefer. The plan costs the same whether the user has 2 cameras or 16, so it's quite a good deal for those who plan to add many components to the system.

The Protect Pro Plan begins with the Plus plan and adds features aimed at users who are installing Ring alarms as well as those who plan to use accessories such as Amazon Alexa and eero devices. Ring's 24/7 professional monitoring and alarm cellular backup so the alarm is always on, even in case of Wi-Fi outages, increases the effectiveness of a Ring alarm system and will also likely reduce the user's homeowners insurance bill, as insurers often provide discounts for monitored security systems that protect their interest in the home. This tier also includes 24/7 backup internet to keep the Wi-Fi running for all devices (in addition to the specific alarm outage coverage) during a power or Wi-Fi failure. Those with a Ring Pro device and an eero system on this tier enjoy a robust digital security package as well, along with local video storage (rather than the cloud storage offered in other plans). These additional services are ideal for those who are building a larger security plan including several devices, alarms, and third-party components: The Ring subscription cost per device does not change. The Basic plan covers one device, but the other two tiers cover unlimited devices for the same cost.

Why not just stick with the live streaming option of a Ring doorbell? Why choose a subscription at all? Ring customers who have a single doorbell camera in place and only want to see who is at the door when the bell rings—or those who are only concerned if the alarm goes off when they are home— are well served by the subscriptionless option. However, there are excellent reasons to consider upgrading to a subscription package, even if it's only at the Basic level.

Get a Ring subscription or see all Ring products

For Ring users away on a long-awaited vacation, a cell phone alerts with the news that the alarm has triggered back at home. Unfortunately, without a subscription, the user can't disarm or rearm the alarm system, so it will continue to pulse until the battery dies. Similarly, for a homeowner who has reached a vacation spot and suddenly fears that they forgot to set the alarm in the rush out of the home, there's no easy way for them to check or simply reset the alarm. All three tiers of Ring alarm subscription costs include remote arming and disarming of the alarm system through the app.

The live feed function on the Ring app is great—if the user happens to be looking at their phone when the alert comes in and is able to immediately look. If the user doesn't see the notification in real time, there's no way for them to go back and view the footage to see if it's important. Video saving in the cloud allows users to look back 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 weeks, or 5 months to see what triggered the doorbell camera.

Ring's shared neighbor network is an option that users do not have to use, but it has essentially become a digitally based neighborhood watch. The Ring network is a hotbed of posted and shared videos from Ring cameras highlighting package thieves on the move through a neighborhood, warning neighbors while providing high-quality video of the porch pirate's clothes and distinctive features, hopefully helping neighbors protect their own property and possibly helping law enforcement catch the offender. The network also provides a forum for law enforcement to make specific requests of Ring owners to check their footage: If a break-in or accident occurred on the street, the police may request that neighbors check back through the footage to that date and determine if their cameras captured anything related to the crime.

Because Ring is owned by Amazon, all recent models of Ring are compatible with Amazon's Alexa devices, which can then be used to automate the functions of the Ring. Vocal commands may be used to display the Ring's camera feed on an Echo show device. Arming and disarming the alarm, adjusting settings on cameras and lights, and managing alerts can be conveniently handled with a paired Alexa device. While this may seem unnecessary to those who are comfortable with technology, those who aren't as familiar with tapping through the menus on an app may find that Alexa's assistance makes the Ring system a usable perk instead of a constant frustration.

When they first hit the market, Ring devices may have seemed like a quirky convenience—why get up to answer the door when a tap on a cell phone screen can display the person standing on the front step and allow the user to tell them to leave? That capability is still convenient, but Ring's suite of devices and alarms along with the potential for professional monitoring with subscription coverage makes it one of the best home security systems at a much lower cost than the cost of most other full-service security options. The value of knowing that a home is safe, that lights can be flipped on with a tap on a phone screen, and that a nervous resident can click around and view live camera feeds to ease anxiety and reassure themselves that the home is secure can't be overstated.

Walk down the street one night after dark, and look to see how many little blue Ring doorbells are winking at passersby. Even the least-savvy criminal is going to avoid approaching doors that are obviously about to record their clothes, features, and crimes. Much is made of a security system's ability to reduce crime by interrupting crimes with well-timed law enforcement arrival or with photos or videos provided to law enforcement after the fact. Ring can assist with that process. However, one of Ring's other powerful abilities is that Ring devices can deter crimes simply by being installed.

Photo: ring.com

Ring is considered one of the best apartment security systems, because the devices can be installed easily (even by a customer who doesn't know how to install security cameras) and removed with minimal damage. They work well hooked up to any Wi-Fi, so they can easily transfer data and be moved from one rental unit to another. The system is also ideal for younger homeowners who know they need security but balk at the prospect of paying the fees and charges incurred by more traditional security companies that will send in experts to measure, then choose the equipment that they believe fit. Older residents will also benefit; the automatic summons of help in an emergency situation is reassuring. Finally, a Ring subscription offers a gentle way to install a high-quality performance security system without the cost and fuss of a full-service security company, and it also provides users with the option to fully customize and DIY the components. When comparing SimpliSafe vs. Ring, customers may find that one DIY system is a better fit than another, so it's important to do research and take all components of a system into account.

Get a Ring subscription or see all Ring products

Ring subscription costs may look a little steep, but it's key for customers to remember that they are significantly less overall than the cost of larger systems. However, there are some easy ways to save a bit on the overall cost of the system.

Pay annually. Regardless of which tier is right, choose to pay the upfront annual subscription cost instead of the Ring monthly cost. It's like getting two months of service free.

Buy more equipment later. Subscribe before purchasing all of the components of the system so that you can take advantage of the 10 percent discount on Ring products at Amazon and Ring.

Buy only the necessary equipment initially. Purchase components slowly over time as you decide you need them: You don't need to buy everything at once until you see how well the system works with your living style.

Ask about homeowners insurance discounts. Check with your homeowners insurance company, especially if you’ve chosen Protect Pro, which can include monitoring services and an alarm. You may be eligible for a significant discount on insurance because you have a monitored alarm system to protect your home.

Still not sure you need a Ring subscription? It's tough, because a single camera will function just fine without one, and the Basic plan covers many needs. The following commonly asked questions and answers about Ring and Ring products will help customers feel more comfortable making choices and adding services.

Ring's devices are water-resistant but not waterproof. These two states sound similar, but anyone who has ever ended up in a deep puddle of rain wearing a pair of water-resistant but not waterproof boots knows that the difference is wet feet. Ring devices can handle normal rain, snow, and wind, but it is preferable to mount them under an overhang if possible for extra protection and to avoid direct spray or power washing to extend the life of the devices.

It's a camera connected to the internet, so yes, the possibility is there. Ring has recently begun upgrading and rebuilding their safety protocols to require two-factor authentication and to put other firewalls in place, but there are still quite a few loopholes that could be exploited. Amazon discovered that some of their employees were watching customer video feeds and immediately terminated the employees and provided retraining for their other employees. Since it happened once, there is a sense that the companies will be on guard against a repeat. The user can protect themselves by setting robust passwords.

Almost anything can be hacked, so yes, in theory. Following a small series of incidents in 2019, Ring and Amazon took steps to beef up their security, but there are a number of ways the user can enhance their own security to protect their privacy. Never place a camera in a bathroom or, for the most part, in a bedroom. Use as many of the inherent security features within the system as possible (strong passwords on the router, the Wi-Fi system, and the Ring account), and turn on two-factor authentication when possible. Check to make sure there are physical and software firewalls surrounding the network and the devices on it. These measures will make it as unlikely as possible for someone to hack the system.

The rechargeable battery included with most Ring devices will last approximately 1,000 activations before needing a recharge. How long is this? It depends on the sensitivity settings on the motion detector: If the sensitivity is very high, the Ring will alert more often and wear the battery down faster. Some Ring devices are compatible with Ring solar panels, so the batteries can be recharged consistently by the sun, increasing the overall health of the battery and reducing the need for the user to climb ladders to trade out batteries.

Most Ring doorbells and cameras have a rough range of 5 to 30 feet. The focal point can be adjusted in the app.

No, Ring cameras are not perpetually recording. Some devices record what is called a pre-roll, where the motion sensors detect something small that suggests larger motion is approaching and the system begins recording in anticipation. For example, when a car turns onto a street, the sensors will detect its presence and turn on the video recording so as not to miss the approach.

Sources: Ring