Ring Subscription Cost: What You Pay for Video Doorbell Features

When you buy a Ring Doorbell, a smart video doorbell that records visitors and sends alerts to your phone. Also known as a video doorbell, it’s designed to give you peace of mind—but it doesn’t work fully without a Ring Protect plan, a paid subscription service that stores video history and unlocks advanced features. Without it, you only get live view. No recordings. No alerts for motion unless you’re watching in real time. That’s not a bug—it’s how Ring makes money.

Most people don’t realize the Ring subscription cost isn’t just one price. It varies by device count and features. The basic plan, Ring Protect Basic, runs about $4 per month or $40 per year for one device. That gives you 60 days of video history, custom motion zones, and package detection. If you’ve got multiple Ring cameras or doorbells, you’ll need Ring Protect Plus at $10 per month or $100 per year. That covers unlimited devices at one location, extended warranty, and 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for Ring Alarm systems. Some users think they can skip the subscription, but without it, your doorbell becomes a live webcam with no memory. You won’t get alerts for packages left at your door, or see who knocked while you were in the shower.

It’s not just about cost—it’s about control. If you’re worried about privacy, you can turn off recording and use live view only. But then you’re trusting your safety to being home at the right moment. If you travel often, or work odd hours, you need the recordings. And if you’ve had a package stolen or a suspicious person loitering, that footage is your only proof. Ring Protect also ties into your Ring Alarm system—if you have one—giving you professional monitoring that can call police automatically. Without the plan, your alarm just makes noise. With it, someone answers.

There are alternatives. Some brands like Eufy and Arlo offer local storage with no monthly fees. You can record directly to a microSD card or a home hub. But those systems don’t integrate as smoothly with Alexa or Google Assistant, and they lack Ring’s wide network of neighbors and community alerts. Ring’s real value isn’t just the hardware—it’s the ecosystem. The subscription pays for servers, customer support, and the app updates that keep your doorbell working through firmware changes and new threats.

So what’s the real Ring subscription cost? It’s not just dollars. It’s about whether you value proof over guesswork. If you want to know who’s at your door when you’re not there, you need the plan. If you’re okay with missing the moment, you can skip it. But most people who skip end up buying it later—after something happens. And by then, it’s too late to see what went wrong.

Below, you’ll find real guides on what happens when your Wi-Fi goes down, how long Ring devices last, whether they attract burglars, and how to avoid paying for features you don’t use. No fluff. Just what works.