Anyone shopping for a DIY home security system has probably stumbled upon Ring. The company has an ever-growing lineup of cameras and video doorbells that are consistently ranked among the best available — and since they’re easy to set up and offer tons of functionality, it’s no surprise they’re so popular.
One thing to keep in mind when looking at Ring products is that you’ll be on the hook for more than just the sticker price. Ring offers a monthly subscription service known as Ring Protect. Many of the best features for its cameras and video doorbells are locked behind this subscription plan, meaning owners who don’t sign up will be missing out on important functionality.
But is a Ring subscription required to use Ring cameras or doorbells? And how much do these plans cost? Here’s a closer look at the service to help you decide if signing up is a wise decision.
Do you need a subscription for Ring?
We’ll cut to the chase — a Ring Protect subscription is not required to use Ring products. That means after installing your video doorbell or camera, you can dive right in and start monitoring your home. However, that’s not the end of the story. Ring locks heaps of functionality behind a paywall, meaning some of the enticing features that made you purchase your Ring product might only be available to Ring Protect members.
Without a Ring Protect plan, you’ll have access to the following features:
- Instant Alerts
- Live View
- Two-Way Talk
You might gain additional functionality based on your specific product, but the three features above are available on most Ring products without a Ring Protect plan. But for most additional features, you’ll need to join a Ring Protect plan.
What is Ring Protect Basic?
Ring Protect Basic costs $4 per month or $40 per year for a single doorbell or camera. That pricing is changing on March 11, with a monthly plan costing $5 and a yearly plan costing $50.
As a subscriber, you’ll gain the following abilities:
- Video history (180 days)
- Video saving and sharing
- Snapshot capture
- Person alerts
- Rich notifications
- 10% off select Ring products
- Download 50 videos at once
We’d recommend opting for this plan, as it’s reasonably priced and offers tons of useful features (especially the 180-day video history). If you don’t join this tier, you simply won’t be getting much value out of your Ring doorbell or camera.
The devices are expensive on their own — and it’s unfortunate you need to pay to access all these features — but it’s worth budgeting an extra $4 per month if you really want to benefit from everything your Ring product has to offer.
What is Ring Protect Plus?
Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year. It gives you video recording rights for all your Ring devices, making this a great option for homes with multiple Ring cameras on the property. Aside from all the features in Ring Protect Basic, you’ll also benefit from extended warranties for all your devices.
What is Ring Protect Pro?
Ring Protect Pro costs $20 per month or $200 per year. It offers many features that probably aren’t necessary for the average household, although it does turn your hardware into a more robust security system. Here’s what Ring Protect Pro brings to the table, beyond everything listed above:
- 24/7 professional monitoring
- Alarm cellular backup
- Alexa Guard Plus
- 24/7 backup internet with optional extra data
- Digital security by eero Secure
- Ring Edge with local video storage
- Home insurance savings (Up to $100)
If you need robust home security, but don’t want to spring for a professionally installed system, then this could be a great alternative. But for most homes with a few security cameras or a video doorbell, you might not need all these extra features.
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