Ring Dwelling house Security Arrangement Review

We tested the no-frills Ring alert system in our habitation to give you the lowdown on all the equipment.

Ring

3.8 out of 5 stars

three.75

  • Pros

    Contract-costless

  • Pros

    Easily expandable

  • Pros

    Professional or self-monitoring

Katie McEntire

Staff Writer, Safety & Security

Looking to learn more than near Ring? Here's our take.Ring Security has the best security cameras, bar none. Plus, it's affordable. You can snag starter equipment for nether $200, and pro monitoring costs $20/month.

It'due south besides easy to get together, attentive with its alerts, and expandable so it can grow with your family. Amazon owns Band, so it integrates well with your Alexa as well.

Check out this week's Ring deals!

  • The Ring Alarm Pro 8-piece arrangement is xx% off.
  • The Ring Alarm Pro 14-piece system is 21% off.
  • Band is taking 20% off of select products for military, veterans, showtime responders, students, and teachers. There are dozens of items to choose from.

Pro Heading

Pros

Pro Bullet Affordable price

Pro Bullet Huge range of cameras

Pro Bullet Clever Neighbors app

Pro Bullet No contract required

Con Heading

Cons

Con Bullet Confusing keypad

Con Bullet Tough features to reset

Con Bullet Protect Plus plan requires i-year commitment

How much does a Band security organisation cost?

The Band security system costs peanuts compared to other self-installed systems like it. The base price for the starter security kit is under $200. Cocky-monitoring is gratuitous without video, or you tin can add a Ring photographic camera with video recording for $iii. Ring's professional person monitoring is $twenty per calendar month.

We see the costless plan equally best for singles and couples. Band Protect Basic is great for pocket-sized families, and Protect Plus can accommodate large families.

Ring Protect Pro is the newest subscription service from Ring. It includes a lot of features not found with the other packages:

  • Cloud video storage for cameras
  • Local video storage
  • Professional monitoring
  • 24/7 backup internet
  • Cybersecurity features with eero Secure
  • Hands-gratuitous emergency helpline with Alexa Guard Plus

Compare Ring Alarm monitoring prices

Info electric current every bit of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject field to alter. Total Amazon disclaimer

Video: Is Ring alarm right for you?

With few frills, large camera selection, and affordable equipment prices, Band Alarm is best for people looking for standard security. And the pick to monitor the system yourself or have the pros help out for only $20 a month lightens the burden of buying equipment up front.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn how to protect your home, loved ones, and belongings.

Ring security tech and equipment

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Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise

All of Band'due south standard tech has a simple white embrace with the signature blue LED ring. The ring of low-cal on the sensors illuminates when they catch motion or the system is armed.

We similar the minimalist await of Ring'due south equipment (you probably recognize its popular doorbell), and the chinkle feature on the door/window sensor is comforting to hear when you lot come up home.

In the outset, Ring offered roughly the same packet in 3 sizes that but offered a basic base of operations, keypad, range extender, and differing amounts of sensors.

The company at present has a wider option of security options since it introduced the Pro serial of security systems in the 2nd one-half of 2021.

The Ring Alert Pro series features a TrueMesh Eero Wi-Fi6 router and 24/7 fill-in internet to keep your Ring security system working when your internet is disconnected, and local storage for your security cameras.

Some Pro and not-Pro packages besides come up with an Alexa device, Ring Video Doorbell, or a Ring camera.

Compare Ring Alarm security kits

What it looks similar

Equipment price*

Estimated household coverage

Included equipment

Acquire more than

Ring Alarm 5-Slice Ring Alarm 2nd gen 5-piece kit Upwards to one,000 sq. ft. Base of operations station, Keypad,
Contact sensor,
Motion detector,
Range extender
Ring Alarm viii-Slice Ring's 2nd gen 8-piece Alarm system Upwardly to 2,000 sq. ft. Base station, Keypad,
Contact sensor (three),
Motion detector (ii),
Range extender
Ring Alarm 14-Piece Over 2,000 sq. ft. Base station,
Keypad (ii),
Contact sensor (viii),
Motility detector (two),
Range extender
Band Alarm Pro eight-piece Ring Alarm Pro, 8-piece Up to 1,500 sq. ft. Pro base station,
Keypad (1),
Contact sensor (4),
Motion detector (1),
Range extender,
Eero WiFI router
Band Warning Pro fourteen-piece Upwards to i,500 sq. ft. Pro base of operations station,
Keypad (2),
Contact sensor (8),
Movement detector (2),
Range extender,
Eero WiFI router

Amazon cost every bit of mail date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject area to change. Full Amazon disclaimer

Video: Ring Virtual Security Guard

Need a little more than security? Y'all tin can likewise opt into the Ring Virtual Security Guard service. With this service, you can have security professionals cheque in on cameras when motion is detected to run into if there is a trouble or a threat. This service can be just for one of your cameras, like the one watching over your car, or for all of them.

What happens when a problem is detected? The security professional will work to scare off intruders with the two-style talk feature and siren. If that doesn't work, they can dispatch emergency services.

You tin can acquire more about this service and another new goodies Ring now offers in the video beneath.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn how to protect your home, loved ones, and belongings.

Ring Alarm security arrangement equipment

Ring Alarm 2nd gen base station

Base station

This is the core of the organization. The base of operations station connects all Band Alarm devices. The Ring siren is besides located within the base of operations station.

Ring Alarm 2nd gen keypad

Keypad

The keypad gives you concrete control of your security arrangement. You can arm and disarm the organisation and view the organization status.

Contact sensor

This functions as either a window or door sensor. The contact sensor monitors when doors and windows are opened.

Ring Alarm 2nd gen range extender

Range extender

This device strengthens the Ring Alarm Z-Wave mesh network to amplify the bespeak from the base of operations station. This lets you place devices farther away from the base station to comprehend more area. Learn more near Z-Wave in our guide.

Equipment highlights

Range extender included: The Ring alert kit is the only security system we know of that comes with a range extender. This is usually an add together-on that costs extra, so it's helpful for those with larger homes or outdoor equipment. Range extenders boost your home's Wi-Fi attain and strengthen connections for additional devices.

System control: The Band base station and keypad control the system as a whole. Both have the signature ring light to indicate system status.

More equipment: In addition to traditional abode security tech, Ring has a suite of advanced indoor and outdoor cameras, environmental sensors, and more than. We tested only the starter kit, but these other accessories are like shooting fish in a barrel to add to your dwelling house organization and play well with others.

Ring setup and installation

Plugging in Ring Alarm

Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise

The Ring security system has everything y'all need correct in the box. Information technology'due south piece of cake to find all the sensors, instructions, and cables you need. Once your base station has a connectedness, the setup is simple.

1. Find instructions: Band provides directions from the app and printed materials in the box.

2. Identify hub: installation starts with your base hub (the "brain" that ties the system together).

3. Accept Wi-Fi password handy: There's no "cancel" option if you enter information technology in incorrect. To skip a headache and time wasted, type carefully.

4. Choose a iv-digit entry code for the keypad.

5. Choose a identify to put your sensors. These devices take just moments to install.

You'll need to restore factory settings if yous're getting a Ring arrangement secondhand or giving yours away. This procedure takes a while considering you lot take to manually reset each device. Program on a few minutes for each.

Pro install option

Ring does have a professional-install option through a partnership with OnTech. Merely it's not the best deal. You lot pay on a per-device basis, which adds upwardly. Nosotros recommend sticking with Ring's DIY road.

Convenient base station, catchy keypad and sensors

Ring keypad

Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise

During our Ring Security System review nosotros establish Ring'southward base station easy to set up, only the keypad and sensors posed difficulties.

Arming or disarming was confusing, and information technology was hard to tell if we'd successfully changed the organization's condition until the warning sounded. (The neighbors loved that.)

We decided to use the Ring app instead of the keypad, and it went much smoother. And then, while a keypad is helpful when yous have an armful of groceries, the app is much easier to sympathize.

The contact sensor also acted up. If your door and window frames accept molding, you lot might have trouble likewise. The doorframe was also high for the sensors to friction match, so the organisation showed that the door was open.

Thankfully, nosotros found help through Band's guide to unlike door and window trims.

Band smart home features

Ring Neighbors app

Ring's Neighbors app allows Ring users post suspicious action, written report crimes, and even share the occasional wild animals encounter. It's a unique supplement to your home security system, and it tin can be a quick, anonymous mode to keep your neighbors in the loop.

While we like a lot of things well-nigh the app, it'southward wise to recall about posts critically. There'south no vetting required, and then we've seen a lot of posts unnecessarily heighten alarm.

Further, organizations (including law enforcement) accept tried to co-opt the app and its posts to try to identify protesters across the country. And law can request your video footage.

We strongly encourage reading all the fine impress about how Band handles privacy issues. That fashion, you lot can make the choice that feels most comfortable for you and your approach to community safe.

Learn more than almost Ring's police partnerships in our Ring FAQ.

Screenshot from Ring Neighbors app

Smart dwelling house devices that work with Ring Alarm

This system has seen a fast evolution since it first hit the market.

It debuted without whatsoever dwelling automation integration (non even with the Band video doorbell or cameras), but today yous can control many smart devices through the Band app, and you can use the Band Alarm base station every bit a smart dwelling hub.

Smart home characteristic Compatible smart home brands
Smart lock control Kwikset, Schlage, Yale
Fume and CO monitoring First Alarm
Garage door control Ecolink
Smart lighting control GE, Leviton
Pocket-sized apparatus control GE smart switches and outlets,
Leviton smart outlets
Phonation control Amazon Alexa,
Google Assistant

Get the near upward-to-date details on the Works With Band list of compatible devices.

Ring cameras

Aggrandize your Ring Alarm security system with a Ring doorbell, security camera, or motion-activated light. All of Ring'south equipment works together, and y'all tin can control Ring products from the Ring app.

Ring Spotlight Cam

Spotlight Cam Battery

This battery-powered camera includes LED spotlights, motion detection, and a siren.

Check out our Band Spotlight camera review to larn more.

Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen)

Ring Video Doorbell (2d Gen)

This is Ring'southward entry-level battery doorbell photographic camera. Information technology delivers motion-activated alerts, 2-manner talk, and night vision.

Discover out more in our full Ring video doorbell breakup.

Ring Stick Up Cam Battery

Band Stick Upwards Cam Battery

This bombardment-powered camera is one of the nearly useful cameras in the Ring cam lineup. Information technology doubles every bit an indoor cam/outdoor camera and costs around $100.

Learn more in our Ring Stick Up Cam review.

Ring Floodlight Camera

Band Floodlight Cam

A motion-activated photographic camera that features floodlights, two-manner talk, voice control with Alexa, and a siren. Take a look at out Ring Floodlight Cam review for more info.

Update old security equipment

The Ring Retrofit Kit ($150) works with preexisting door and window sensors and motion detectors to modernize onetime security equipment. It still requires the base of operations station that comes in Ring Warning'southward starter kits just could save money if yous already have the infrastructure.

Ring Alarm customer service

Between the box instructions, online support, and the Ring app, nosotros solved most of our issues with each Ring device. We found articles that helped u.s.a. reset the arrangement and install a contact sensor on a tricky door.

You probably won't have to telephone call Band for help, but if yous need to, there are call centers in three time zones with 24/vii client service.

Here's a look at some of Ring'southward client ratings.*

  • Trustpilot rating: 1.three stars (bad)
  • Band Always Home app on Apple tree App Shop: 4.5 stars out of v
  • Band Always Home app on Google Play: 3.6 stars out of v

*Ratings as of 04/18/2022

Final word

The Ring Alert system tin support small homes, tight security budgets, and home security newbies. It'south hard to beat $120 a yr for pro monitoring (or $100 if yous pay for a year in advance).

It's easy to install and accommodate, but we ran into a few hiccups when nosotros relied on the keypad for arming and convincing. Overall, we found it easier to control the system through the app than with the keypad.

Best of all, Ring has a wide selection of cameras to choose from. It's a corking option if you want to build your security system around security cameras.

Band Alarm home security system FAQ

If y'all want standard equipment and a budget-witting option, yeah.

Before you spring in, consider if you'd prefer to monitor your organisation or have help from the pros. (We recommend leaving it to the pros.) Information technology'south easy to find a security system with professional person monitoring, only it's hard to beat the rate Band sets at $10 per month.

Plus, Ring comes with a lot of options for monitoring, equipment, and add-ons. Ring security cameras and environmental sensors like smoke or flood detectors are merely as affordable equally the core system.

You are eligible for a refund if you cancel an annual Ring Protect Program subscription during the first 10 months of the subscription. Ring will accuse you the monthly subscription price for every month you used the monitoring program service. After that, any remaining funds volition be refunded. If yous cancel the plan later the tenth calendar month, there is no refund bachelor.

Just if your current cameras are from Ring. If you want video monitoring with your Ring Warning system, you can get information technology with a Ring security camera or Ring smart doorbell every bit role of the Ring Protect Plus program. Because you lot tin control multiple Ring devices in the Ring app, you lot can monitor both your cameras and your Ring Alarm system with the same tool.

The Ring Alarm security system's built-in battery backup offers about 24 hours of utilize if you lose power. For those who have a Ring Protect Plus plan, the Ring Alarm also has cellular backup.

Yes. Ring provides alarm certificates that customers tin can provide to their insurance company for a discount. The certificate can be downloaded online.

  • Log into your Ring account
  • Click the bill of fare icon in the top left corner (it looks similar three lines)
  • Click onLocation Settings
  • Click onMonitoring
  • Click onDocument
  • Download or print the document

A couple years agone, Band partnered with police departments to distribute free/discounted Ring video doorbells while incentivizing doorbell owners to share footage in the event of crimes. Police could also request footage from Amazon (Ring'due south parent company) if people denied sharing footage.

This partnership bred privacy and surveillance concerns.

In June 2021, Band appear that constabulary and fire departments wanting Band footage at present need to make a public asking in the Neighbors app. This will boost transparency for how footage is used.

In July 2021, Ring rolled out end-to-terminate encryption for video streams—a huge win for those concerned almost Ring or constabulary enforcement accessing their footage.

Encryption is an opt-in characteristic for customers in the US, along with two-factor authentication, CAPTCHA, and support for authenticator apps.

Learn more about Band's police partnerships in our Band FAQ.

Video: Ring's new finish-to-end encryption and other security measures

Subscribe to our YouTube aqueduct , and learn how to protect your home, loved ones, and property.

Ring's self-monitoring is free without video. Alternatively, $two monthly will get you another photographic camera and video recording.

If you want professional monitoring, Band'south $x per month is one of the cheapest rates we've seen. You can choose from the Protect Basic or Protect Plus plan.

The Protect Plus plan offers perks like video excess and discounted equipment. Other systems like Frontpoint and SimpliSafe have these features, just y'all'd have to pay upwardly to $forty per month.

How nosotros reviewed Ring Warning

Ring Alam Keypad and hub in box

Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise

For our Ring Security System Review, we wanted to run across the Ring warning home security kit in activity, and then nosotros took one dwelling house. Our tester set it up and is using it long-term in their domicile to get a existent feel of how the system works in a dwelling.

During our Band Habitation Security review, nosotros have tested Ring for everyday situations—like arming and disarming it remotely and through the keypad. We left it on while our tester was home and armed it when they left. We caused a couple of false alarms while learning the Ring alert security kit, but nosotros were able to disarm it rapidly through the app.

Larn more about how we tested for our Ring warning review and other systems in our full methodology.

Related articles on SafeWise

Disclaimer

*Production prices and availability are accurate every bit of the date/time indicated and are subject area to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided "equally is" and is subject to change or removal at any fourth dimension.

Katie McEntire

Written by

Katie McEntire

As a renter, pet-owner, and adult female living alone, Katie McEntire takes condom seriously. She's tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In improver to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she besides makes videos for the site's YouTube aqueduct. She'south been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Intendance. Katie has a Available's caste in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She'southward held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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