With reports of rising crime rates and porch pirates on the news every night, home security systems have become more important than ever. The best home security systems deliver enhanced security and peace of mind – but, they are not one-size-fits-all. One of the most popular companies for offering customized security solutions is Ring.
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Ring LLC is a pioneer in the home security industry, offering both self and professional monitoring services. Homeowners enjoy the affordably-priced equipment and contract-free flexibility to DIY their security system. But, just how does Ring stack up against its competitors?
Ring: Company Overview
For about a decade, Ring has been manufacturing home security and smart home devices. The brand began as a startup that sold the best doorbell cameras. Since being acquired by Amazon, the company has grown substantially.
Pros
- Devices are easy to install
- Offers affordable home security solutions
- No contract required
Cons
- Some customers have raised concerns about privacy
- Touchpad can be confusing
- If your internet goes down, some features might not work
Today, Ring has expanded to offer full home security kits, including their own product lineup of security cameras, alarm systems, and smart home equipment. The home security company also provides optional 24/7 professional monitoring services.
Quick Facts:
- BBB rating: B
- Year founded: 2013
- Areas served: All 50 U.S. States
- Installation: Both
- Contract required: No
Why We Chose Ring
Most people associate Ring with smart video doorbells. However, the Amazon-owned home security company has recently branched out to deliver a wide range of affordable, quality home security and smart home equipment.
Ring Alarm is an especially attractive option for homeowners who want a fully customizable, hassle-free home security system they can set up themselves. Homeowners who want to save on monthly costs will also appreciate the freedom Ring gives customers to choose between self or professional monitoring services.
Plans
Ring offers six total starter kits. Additional home security or smart home equipment can be added to any of these packages. Alternatively, customers can build their own security system entirely from scratch.
Here's a data table summarizing the Ring Alarm Security Kits:
| Kit Name | Price | Coverage Area | Equipment Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Alarm, 5-piece | $199.99 | Up to 1,000 sq ft | Alarm Base Station, Keypad, 1 Door/Window Contact Sensor, Motion Detector, Alarm Range Extender |
| Ring Alarm, 8-piece | $259.96 | Up to 1,500 sq ft | Alarm Base Station, Keypad, 4 Door/Window Contact Sensors, Motion Detector, Alarm Range Extender |
| Ring Alarm, 10-piece | $309.94 | 1,000-2,000 sq ft | Alarm Base Station, Keypad, 5 Door/Window Contact Sensors, 2 Motion Detectors, Alarm Range Extender |
| Ring Alarm, 14-piece | $419.90 | Over 2,000 sq ft | Alarm Base Station, 2 Keypads, 8 Door/Window Contact Sensors, 2 Motion Detectors, Alarm Range Extender |
| Ring Alarm Pro, 8-piece | $299.99 | Up to 1,500 sq ft | Alarm Pro Base Station (with eero Wi-Fi 6 router), Keypad, 4 Door/Window Contact Sensors, Motion Detector, Alarm Range Extender |
| Ring Alarm Pro, 13-piece | $389.99 | Up to 3,000 sq ft | Alarm Pro Base Station (with 2 eero Wi-Fi 6 routers), Keypad, 8 Door/Window Contact Sensors, 2 Motion Detectors, Alarm Range Extender |
Ring Alarm Security Kit, 5-piece – $199.99
The 5-piece kit is a solid starter kit for apartments, condos, or small homes up to 1,000 sq ft. It includes an Alarm Base Station, Keypad, Door/Window Contact Sensor, Motion Detector, Alarm Range Extender, and a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Pro.
Ring Alarm Security Kit, 8-piece – $259.96
The 8-piece kit includes an Alarm Base Station, Keypad, 4 Door/Window Contact Sensors, Motion Detector, Alarm Range Extender, and a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Pro.
Ring Alarm Security Kit, 10-piece – $309.94
The 10-piece kit is designed to cover 1,000-2,000 sq ft, making it an ideal choice for 1-2 bedroom homes. Equipment includes an Alarm Base Station, Keypad, 5 Door/Window Contact Sensors, 2 Motion Detectors, an Alarm Range Extender, and a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Pro.
Ring Alarm Security Kit, 14-piece – $419.90
The 10-piece kit can protect over 2,000 sq ft and is a solid option for houses with 3 or more bedrooms. Equipment includes an Alarm Base Station, 2 Keypads, 8 Door/Window Contact Sensors, 2 Motion Detectors, an Alarm Range Extender, and a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Pro.
Ring Alarm Pro Kit, 8-piece – $299.99
The Ring Alarm Pro Kit includes a built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 router to provide whole home security and network protection. The 8-piece kit is designed for spaces up to 1,500 sq ft.
Equipment includes an Alarm Pro Base Station, Keypad, 4 Door/Window Contact Sensors, a Motion Detector, an Alarm Range Extender, and a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Pro.
Ring Alarm Pro Kit, 13-piece – $389.99
The Ring Alarm Pro Kit includes two built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 routers to deliver whole-home connectivity and network security. This 13-piece kit protects up to 3,000 sq ft.
Equipment includes an Alarm Pro Base Station, Keypad, 8 Door/Window Contact Sensors, 2 Motion Detectors, an Alarm Range Extender, and a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Pro.
Products
Ring Alarm sells a broad range of home security and smart home hardware. Devices can be purchased as part of an equipment package, or à la carte.
Most Ring equipment can be integrated seamlessly with Amazon and Alexa devices, but compatibility is limited with smart home devices outside the parent company. A few examples of devices that are supported include the Chamberlain smart garage control, Yale & Schlage smart lock, and Honeywell smart thermostat.
Outdoor Cameras
| Camera Model | Price | Type | Power Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stick Up Cam Battery | $99.99 | Outdoor | Battery |
| Stick Up Cam Pro | $179.99 | Outdoor | Battery or Plug-In |
| Spotlight Cam Plus | $199.99 | Outdoor | Battery or Plug-In |
| Spotlight Cam Pro | $229.99 | Outdoor | Battery or Plug-In |
| Floodlight Cam Plus Plug-In | $219.98 | Outdoor | Plug-In |
| Floodlight Cam Pro Plug-In | $269.98 | Outdoor | Plug-In |
Indoor Cameras
| Camera Model | Price | Type | Power Option | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor Cam, 2nd Gen | $59.99 | Indoor | Plug-In | N/A |
| Stick Up Cam Plug-In with Pan/Tilt | $99.99 | Indoor | Plug-In | Pan/Tilt |
| Stick Up Cam Plug-In with Pan/Tilt | $129.99 | Indoor | Plug-In | Pan/Tilt |
The Ring product lineup includes a diverse variety of affordable outdoor and indoor security cameras, video doorbells, alarms, sensors, locks, panic buttons, smart lighting, smart thermostats, and more. Many of these devices can be bundled to save on overall costs.
To browse Ring's full selection of equipment and bundles, visit the Shop page on their website.
Video Doorbells
Ring sells both wired and wireless video doorbells:
| Video Doorbell Model | Price | Type | Power Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Doorbell, 2nd Gen | $99.99 | Wired / Wireless | Battery |
| Battery Doorbell Plus | $149.99 | Wired / Wireless | Battery |
| Video Doorbell Wired | $49.99 | Wired | Wired |
| Wired Doorbell Pro | $229.99 | Wired | Wired |
Alarm Accessories
Ring has a range of accessories available for purchase, including sensors, alarms, sirens, and more.
Alarm Accessories
| Accessory Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Panic Button, 1st Gen | $20.99 |
| Panic Button, 2nd Gen | $29.99 |
| Alarm Pro Base Station | $249.99 |
| Alarm Keypad, 2nd Gen | $49.99 |
| Alarm Range Extender, 2nd Gen | $24.99 |
| Alarm Window and Door Contact Sensor | $19.99 |
| Alarm Motion Detector | $29.99 |
| Glass Break Sensor | $39.99 |
| Flood & Freeze Sensor | $34.99 |
| Smoke and CO Listener | $34.99 |
Lighting
Ring has a wide selection of walkway and overhead lighting, both wired and wireless.
| Lighting Model | Price | Type | Power Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pathlight Battery | $29.99 | Outdoor | Battery |
| Solar Pathlight | $34.99 | Outdoor | Solar |
| Solar Steplight | $29.99 | Outdoor | Solar |
| Spotlight Battery | $39.99 | Outdoor | Battery |
| Wall Light Solar | $59.99 | Outdoor | Solar |
| Floodlight Wired | $69.99 | Outdoor | Wired |
| Solar Floodlight | $89.99 | Outdoor | Solar |
Services
Unlike many home security companies, Ring Alarm gives customers the choice of self-monitoring or full-service professional monitoring. While self-monitoring is free, customers must sign up for a monthly monitoring plan to use video recording on their security cameras or video doorbells.
Ring Monitoring Plans
There are three Ring Protect plans to choose from: Basic, Plus, and Pro.
| Plan Name | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Protect Basic | $3.99 | $39.99 | Video recording for one Ring doorbell or camera. Essential digital features for one Ring alarm. |
| Ring Protect Plus | $10 | $100 | Digital, notification, and video features for all Ring doorbells, cameras, and alarms. Video storage included. |
| Ring Protect Pro | $20 | $200 | Includes all Plus benefits plus 24/7 professional alarm monitoring services. |
Ring Protect Basic – $3.99/month or $39.99/year
The Basic plan gives customers video recording for one Ring doorbell or home security camera. Or, customers can get essential digital features, such as arming/disarming your security system remotely, for one Ring alarm.
Ring Protect Plus – $10/month or $100/year
The Plus plan includes digital, notification, and video features, including video storage, for all of your Ring video doorbells, security cameras, and alarms.
Ring Protect Pro – $20/month or $200/year
The Pro plan is Ring's most comprehensive monitoring service. It includes 24/7 professional alarm monitoring services, plus all the benefits of the Plus plan.
Professional Installation – from $109.99
Ring Alarm is designed for DIY installation and makes it simple. Most equipment is wireless and uses double-sided adhesive tape to stick to surfaces. There are no tools or drills required to self-install.
That said, professional installation services are also available. Ring has partnered with OnTech to provide professional installation. Basic installation starts at $109.99. Customers can book a technician to install their Ring security system by visiting ontechsmartservices.com.
How To Sign Up for Ring
Signing up for a Ring Alarm system is easy. To purchase a home security kit or build your own system, simply visit the Shop page on Ring's website. Choose from one of the pre-configured kits or build your own system by adding specific equipment to your cart. Simply select your add-ons, create a Ring account, and check out.
Your Ring equipment will be shipped to your home. You can self-install your devices when they arrive, or book an appointment with OnTech for professional installation.
Without a monthly subscription, you can still view live feeds and access all the basic features of your security equipment. But, you will need to sign up for a plan if you want video storage, advanced features, and/or 24/7 professional alarm monitoring.
To sign up for a Ring Protect plan, log in to your Ring account on your web browser. Select the Protect Plan tab and click on ‘Unsubscribed Devices.' From here, you can subscribe to a Protect plan for each Ring device you have purchased.
How To Contact / Get Tech Support
If you need assistance with your Ring Alarm security system, check out the Ring Help page. It is full of useful information and solutions to common problems you may encounter.
If you still need help, you can get in touch with Ring customer service in a variety of ways.
Ring customer service agents are available to live chat every day from 5 AM-9 PM MT. Or, you can call the phone number 800-656-1918 to reach customer service 24/7.
There is also a Community forum that customers can take advantage of to get answers from Ring representatives and fellow Ring Alarm users.
How To Cancel Ring
There are no contract requirements with Ring Alarm, so you are free to cancel your monthly services for any reason, at any time.
To cancel your Ring Protect subscription, just log in to your Ring account, visit the Protect Plan tab, and choose which plan you wish to cancel. From here, you can choose when you wish to cancel services (now or at the end of your current billing cycle) and confirm the cancellation.
You can also use your Amazon account to cancel Ring services. Just head to the Your Memberships & Subscriptions page on Amazon, then select the ‘Cancel Subscription' option next to the Ring Protect plan you wish to cancel.
Keep in mind that once you cancel your subscription, all of your stored video recordings will be deleted. So, be sure to download any recordings you wish to save before canceling.
Ring Mobile App
The Ring mobile app allows you to control and monitor your Ring home security and smart home devices, all in one place. It acts as the central command center for all of your Ring devices.
From the app, you can get notifications, view live or recorded video feeds, greet visitors with two-way talk, set up lighting schedules, and much more.
The Ring app is available to download for free on Google Play or the Apple App Store. You will need to log in to your Ring account and set up each device by scanning a QR code.
Is Ring Home Security Right for Me?
With its budget-friendly, easy-to-use equipment and no-contract monitoring services, it's easy to see why Ring Home ranks among the best home security companies. A Ring Alarm security system makes a great match for a homeowner who values freedom and flexibility when it comes to protecting their home.
On the other hand, if you would prefer a full-service home security system that takes all of the work out of your hands, you may want to look elsewhere into professional security companies like Vivint.
Choosing the right home security system to protect your loved ones and belongings isn't a decision that should be made lightly. Be sure to take some time to compare the best home security companies to decide on the best fit for your home.
