Ring Subscription Cost Calculator
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How It Compares
| Ring Home Basic | Ring Home Standard | Ring Home Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99/mo | $9.99/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Max Devices | 1 device | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Video History | 180 days | 180 days | 180 days |
| Smart Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cellular Backup | No | Yes | Yes |
| SOS Emergency | No | No | Yes |
| Professional Monitoring | No | + $10/mo | + $10/mo |
Many people buy a Ring doorbell or camera thinking they can use it for free-just plug it in, check the live feed, and call it a day. But here’s the truth: Ring doesn’t charge you to use the device itself, but it absolutely charges you to use the features that actually matter.
Ring Doesn’t Charge for the Device, But It Charges for Everything Useful
You can install a Ring Video Doorbell or Indoor Cam and see live video without paying a cent. That’s true. But if you miss a delivery because you weren’t home, or you can’t review who rang your bell last night-because there’s no video saved-you’re not getting the value you paid for. The device is just a camera. The real power comes from the cloud, and that costs money.
Before November 2024, Ring had a plan called Ring Protect, which let you pay $3/month for one device or $10/month for unlimited devices. That was simple. Then came Ring Home. The old plans disappeared. Now, you’re forced into a new structure that bundles features you might not want.
The Three Ring Home Plans in 2025
As of 2025, Ring offers three subscription tiers under the Ring Home brand. Each one gives you more than just video storage-but they also come with price hikes and forced upgrades.
- Ring Home Basic: $4.99/month or $49.99/year. Covers one device. Gives you 180 days of video history, smart alerts for people, packages, and pets, and the ability to preview video before playing it. This is the only plan that lets you pay for just one camera without needing an alarm system.
- Ring Home Standard: $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Covers unlimited devices at one location. Adds cellular backup for your Ring Alarm, mobile arming/disarming, and multi-camera live view. This plan also includes professional monitoring if you add it ($10/month extra).
- Ring Home Premium: $19.99/month or $199.99/year. Everything in Standard, plus AI-powered video search (like “show me all packages delivered after 8 PM”), 24/7 backup internet for your alarm, and SOS emergency response that connects you directly to police, fire, or medical services through the app.
Notice something? The cheapest plan now costs nearly double what the old Basic plan did. And if you had Ring Protect Plus before, you’re getting rolled into Home Standard automatically when your subscription renews after April 8, 2025-no choice, no opt-out. That’s a $10 monthly increase for people who just wanted video storage.
What You Lose Without a Subscription
Without paying for any Ring Home plan, here’s what you get:
- Live video feed (only while you’re watching)
- Two-way audio
- Basic motion notifications (but no smart alerts)
That’s it. No saved clips. No way to review past events. No alerts that tell you if it’s a person, package, or dog. If someone steals your porch package and you weren’t watching live? Tough luck. The camera recorded it-but you can’t see it. That’s like buying a security camera that only works when you’re home.
Professional Monitoring: Is It Worth It?
Ring’s professional monitoring isn’t built into the Standard plan-it’s an extra $10/month. That brings the total to $19.99/month for unlimited cameras + alarm monitoring. Sounds steep? Compare it to the competition.
ADT Command: $36.99/month
SimpliSafe Interactive: $29.99/month
Ring Home Standard + Monitoring: $19.99/month
Ring wins on price. But here’s the catch: you’re not just paying for monitoring. You’re paying for the whole package-cloud storage, smart alerts, cellular backup, SOS features. If you only want monitoring and don’t care about video history, you’re overpaying. But if you want a full system that works together? Ring is still the cheapest way to get it.
Why People Are Angry About the Price Changes
On Reddit, users are furious. One person wrote: “My Protect Plus plan was $10/month for 8 cameras. Now it’s $20/month for the same thing, plus alarm monitoring I didn’t ask for.” That post got over a thousand upvotes.
Trustpilot ratings dropped from 3.8 to 3.2 stars after the November 2024 changes. Sixty-eight percent of recent complaints say: “I didn’t sign up for this.”
Ring’s argument? They’re offering more value. And they’re right-if you want the full system. But they removed the option to pay for just what you need. That’s what’s hurting long-time users. You used to be able to pay $3 for one camera. Now, you pay $5 for one camera, or you pay $10 for everything. No middle ground.
Who Still Gets Good Value From Ring?
Amazon Prime members. If you’re a Prime subscriber, you get 10% off Ring devices and all Ring Home plans. That makes the Standard plan $8.99/month instead of $9.99. It’s not huge, but it helps.
People with multiple cameras. If you’ve got five doorbells and outdoor cameras, the Standard plan is a steal. You’d pay $25/month with other brands just for storage. Ring gives you 180 days of footage-twice as long as Google Nest’s $8/month plan.
People who want emergency response. The SOS feature on Premium is unique. If you’re elderly, live alone, or worry about break-ins, being able to tap one button and connect to 911 through your phone is worth the $19.99.
What Ring Doesn’t Tell You
There’s no local storage option. Unlike Eufy or Arlo, Ring doesn’t let you plug in a hard drive to save video. Everything goes to the cloud. Even the Ring Alarm Pro-which has a built-in base station with local storage-only saves 3GB of video per month. That’s about 30 minutes of 1080p footage. Not enough for most users.
Video quality is 1080p max. Competitors like Arlo Pro 5S and EufyCam offer 2K resolution. If you need to read license plates or看清 faces from far away, Ring’s video might not be sharp enough.
Setup isn’t always easy. Over 60% of new users report trouble getting cellular backup working on the Standard and Premium plans. Ring’s support docs are confusing now that they’ve mixed old Protect terms with new Home terms.
Should You Pay for Ring in 2025?
If you want just one camera and don’t care about saving video? Skip it. Wait for a sale and use it live only.
If you’ve got multiple cameras, want to review past events, and care about security? Go with Ring Home Basic. $5/month is still cheaper than most competitors for one device.
If you have a Ring Alarm and want professional monitoring? Standard plan is your only real option-and it’s the cheapest on the market. Just know you’re paying for storage, backup, and SOS features too. If you don’t need them, you’re paying for extras.
If you want the best possible system with AI search and emergency response? Premium makes sense. But only if you’re okay with $20/month and Amazon’s ecosystem.
The bottom line: Ring isn’t free. But it’s still the most affordable full-featured system on the market. The problem isn’t the price-it’s that they took away your choices. You can’t pick and choose anymore. You get the bundle, or you get nothing.
What Comes Next?
Ring’s parent company, Amazon, is pushing hard into home security. In 2025, they’re testing AI-powered intrusion detection on the Premium plan-meaning your camera might alert you if someone is breaking in, not just moving. They’re also expanding integration with Amazon Sidewalk, which helps extend your Wi-Fi range without extra hardware.
But competitors are watching. Eufy, with its local storage and no-subscription model, is gaining ground. Arlo’s 2K cameras and flexible plans are tempting users who want quality without the cloud.
Ring’s future depends on whether Amazon can keep its loyal customers-or if enough people walk away because they don’t like being forced into a plan they didn’t ask for.
Is there a monthly charge for Ring?
Yes, but only if you want to use features like video recording, smart alerts, or professional monitoring. You can use your Ring device for live video without paying, but you won’t be able to save clips, review past events, or get alerts that distinguish between people, packages, or pets. Ring Home subscription plans start at $4.99/month for one device.
What’s the cheapest Ring subscription plan?
The cheapest plan is Ring Home Basic, which costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. It covers one device and gives you 180 days of video history, smart alerts for people, packages, and pets, and video preview. This is the only plan that doesn’t require you to buy a Ring Alarm system.
Do I need to pay for Ring if I only have one camera?
You don’t need to pay to use your camera for live viewing, but you won’t be able to save recordings or get smart alerts. If you want to see who came to your door yesterday, you’ll need Ring Home Basic. At $4.99/month, it’s the most affordable way to get video history for a single device.
Is Ring Home Standard worth it for multiple cameras?
Yes, if you have more than one Ring device. The Standard plan at $9.99/month covers unlimited devices at one location. You get 180 days of video history for all of them, plus cellular backup for your alarm and mobile control. Compared to other brands that charge per camera, Ring’s pricing is the best value for multi-camera setups.
Why did my Ring price go up?
Ring retired its old Protect plans in November 2024 and replaced them with Ring Home plans. If you had Ring Protect Plus ($10/month for unlimited devices), you were automatically moved to Ring Home Standard ($9.99/month) plus mandatory professional monitoring ($10/month) when your subscription renewed after April 8, 2025. That’s why your bill jumped from $10 to $19.99. Ring says it’s offering more features, but many users feel forced into a plan they didn’t want.
Can I use Ring without a subscription?
Yes, but only for live video and two-way audio. You won’t get saved recordings, motion alerts that distinguish between people and pets, or the ability to review past events. If you’re okay with only seeing what’s happening right now, you can skip the subscription. But if you want security that works after you’ve left the house, you’ll need to pay.
Is Ring better than Nest or Eufy?
It depends. Ring is cheaper for multi-device setups and integrates best with Alexa and Amazon Key. Nest offers better video quality (2K) but charges more for storage (30-day plan at $8/month). Eufy doesn’t require a subscription and stores video locally, but lacks professional monitoring and Alexa integration. Ring wins on price and ecosystem; Eufy wins on privacy and no monthly fees.
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