Not so long ago, you had to be at home to answer the doorbell. However, that changed in 2013, when the Ring Video Doorbell came on the market. Customers have taken to the product quickly, thanks to its ease of use and the peace of mind it offers.
So, If you’re interested in what makes Ring doorbells so appealing, then check out our guide to see what we learned about this product!
Ring is a home security company owned by Amazon. It manufactures products that incorporate outdoor surveillance cameras, notably a line of video doorbells. Ring offers 8 types of video doorbells, including both hardwired and wireless options as of 2022. Prices range from $59.99 for the Wired Ring Video Doorbell to $349.99 for the Ring Video Doorbell Elite.
If you want to know more about Ring’s features and what you can expect to pay, then keep reading for useful facts and information!
What is the Purpose of a Ring Doorbell?
Unlike traditional doorbells, whose functionality is limited to alerting you that someone is at your door and needs to talk to you, Ring doorbells include a video camera and 2-way audio.
These features allow you to see who’s at your door and decide whether they’re someone friendly or someone suspicious.
Whenever someone comes to your door, you’ll receive a notification from the Ring app on your phone, which allows you to keep tabs on your house no matter where you are.
Ring doorbells can also record footage when motion is detected. You can access, save and share this footage with neighbors or the police.
Many Ring customers find their device helpful for making sure kids get home safely, having packages delivered securely and deterring suspicious activities.
How Good is a Ring Doorbell?
Based on Ring’s sales numbers, it seems like a lot of consumers are happy with what the company is offering, and don’t consider the Ring doorbell to have many issues.
In fact, a 2020 study of more than 1,000 participants found that 4 out of 10 respondents chose Ring over other smart doorbell companies like Google’s Nest.
This study also found that 65% of respondents were satisfied with their purchase, noting that the doorbell was easy to use, made them feel more secure and gave them peace of mind.
Professional tech reviewers praise Ring for its outstanding video quality, excellent field of vision and near-perfect 2-way talk functionality.
However, Ring does have some detractors. Critics chide Ring for the lack of local video storage options (only cloud storage is available) and inadequate privacy protection.
All of that said, Ring is a solid choice if you’re looking to invest in a video doorbell, but bear in mind that other options are available that might suit your life better. Therefore, we recommend doing your research and choosing a device that fits your home, lifestyle and budget.
How Much Does a Ring Doorbell Cost?
There are two separate costs to consider when buying a Ring doorbell- the cost of the equipment and the cost of the protection plan. Let’s look at both in more detail.
Ring currently offers 8 different doorbell models, all of which have different features and come in different finishes. Some are hardwired into your home’s wiring, while others are wireless.
Given the wide range of options, it’s not surprising that prices vary between models. Here’s what you can expect to pay for each kind of doorbell.
| Model | Price |
| Ring Video Doorbell Wired | $59.99 |
| Ring Video Doorbell | $99.99 |
| Ring Peephole Cam/ Chime Bundle | $149.99 |
| Ring Video Doorbell Pro | $169.99 |
| Ring Video Doorbell 3 | $179.99 |
| Ring Video Doorbell 4 | $199.99 |
| Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 | $249.99 |
| Ring Video Doorbell Elite | $349.99 |
In addition to the up-front equipment cost, Ring also offers 3 different monitoring plans that are charged monthly. They are Protect Basic, Protect Plus and Protect Pro.
Subscription to these plans can be paid monthly or annually, and here’s what you’ll pay for each:
| Subscription Plans | Protect Basic | Protect Plus | Protect Pro |
| Monthly Plan | $3 | $10 | $20 |
| Annual Plan | $30 | $100 | $200 |
Can I Use a Ring Doorbell Without a Subscription?
Ring’s monitoring plans are optional. That means you can use your Ring doorbell without subscribing to any of the monthly monitoring plans.
Without a subscription plan, you’ll be able to use the doorbell to see a real-time live view of your front door. You’ll also be able to talk with the person at your door via the 2-way audio system.
In addition, you’ll receive push notifications on your phone when the doorbell detects motion. These features may be enough for some users, but without a monitoring plan you’ll be missing out on a lot of what makes Ring’s products so noteworthy.
For example, you won’t be able to record, store or access footage.
That means even if your system gets triggered by a doorbell press or the Ring alarm, you’ll have to view the live stream then and there or risk missing the event.
Seeing as most burglaries happen between 1 AM and 4 AM, you’ll either have to keep your phone’s volume turned up (and risk getting woken up for a false alarm) or miss the event and have no way to access the footage.
With that in mind, it’s a good idea to invest in a monitoring plan, especially given how inexpensive they are.
How Much Does Ring Monitoring Cost?
Ring Protect Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year for each enrolled device. This plan allows you to store and share videos for up to 60 days.
Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers all of your devices. It provides the same coverage as the basic plan, with the addition of extended device warranties and a discount on future Ring purchases.
Pro costs $20 per month or $200 per year for all devices. It includes 24/7 professional monitoring and backup internet in case your Wi-Fi goes down.
How Far Can a Ring Doorbell See?
Ring Doorbells can pick up movement anywhere between 5 and 30 feet away from where it’s installed. That being said, video clarity starts to drop off after a certain point. You can use the Ring app to customize how far you want your Ring to detect motion.
Customizing the settings in the app allows you to get accurate information while avoiding alerts for non-threatening movement like passing cars or animals.
Does the Ring Camera Record All the Time?
Ring doorbell cameras do not support round-the-clock recording. Rather, they support an on-demand live view and motion-activated recording.
What that means is Ring’s camera is always on, but it won’t collect footage unless an event (e.g. a doorbell ring or a package delivery) triggers the recording feature.
Ring does offer the Snapshot Capture feature, which, while far removed from 24/7 recording, does allow you to monitor activity around your house throughout the day.
This feature allows you to choose how often pictures are taken (e.g. every 30 seconds, every 1 minute, every 3 minutes) in the Ring app. These images are stored in the cloud and you can access them if need be.
Finally, Ring’s Protect Pro plan comes with 24/7 professional monitoring, meaning you’ll be able to dispatch emergency responders in the event of a security threat or break-in.
How Long Do Videos Stay on Ring?
Videos from your Ring device can be stored in the cloud for a maximum of 60 days. You can also adjust storage time if you’d like to delete videos more often. Here are the intervals you can choose from:
- 1 day
- 3 days
- 7 days
- 14 days
- 21 days
- 30 days
As well, you can download videos to your computer or mobile device if you want to keep them longer. However, keep in mind that you’ll need an active Ring Protect Plan subscription to be able to store, access and download videos from your device.
How Long Do Ring Doorbell Batteries Last?
Ring states that doorbell batteries typically last anywhere from 6 to 12 months between charges and under normal conditions.
While some users may only need to charge their doorbells a couple of times a year, many report charging their doorbells every 2 to 3 months.
These differences can be attributed to a number of factors. For example, if you have all of the features enabled (e.g. motion detection or quick live view access), your doorbell’s battery won’t last as long.
Similarly, battery life is reduced if your Ring is capturing a large amount of motion events daily, if it’s in a cold climate (less than 40°F) or if the Wi-Fi connection is weak.
How Long Does it Take to Charge a Ring Doorbell?
Your Ring Doorbell will take between 5 and 10 hours to fully charge. Use the micro-USB cable included in your Ring box for charging, as this cable can be plugged into any USB power source.
If you are looking to learn more, you can also check our posts about the Amazon Alexa warranty, if Amazon owns Ring, and Amazon protection plan.
Conclusion
Ring doorbells are popular for a reason, as they solve a lot of everyday problems, are available at several different price points and they’re easy to use. So, if you’re looking for a reliable video doorbell, it’s definitely worth checking out Ring.