Ring subscription pricing and plan options
Ring offers two paid subscription tiers: Ring Protect Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year, and Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year. Both are billed monthly or annually depending on which you choose. Ring also offers a free tier with no subscription, though it has significant limits on what your Ring device can do.
The pricing applies per device with Basic, meaning if you have three Ring cameras, you pay $3 per month for each one. Ring Protect Plus, by contrast, covers all your Ring devices in your home for one price — $10 per month covers unlimited cameras, doorbells, and other Ring products you own.
Ring occasionally runs promotional pricing, particularly around holidays or when you first purchase a device. Some retailers bundle a year of Ring Protect with a new camera or doorbell purchase. Check the device listing or your receipt to see if a subscription period was included.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic costs $3 monthly or $30 yearly per device, while Ring Protect Plus costs $10 monthly or $100 yearly and covers all your Ring devices.
- Without a subscription, your Ring device records only when motion or sound is detected, and video is stored for 24 hours before deletion.
- Ring Protect Basic stores video for 60 days and includes 24/7 emergency services access, while Plus adds professional monitoring and extended storage.
- You can cancel your subscription at any time, and Ring will refund unused portions of annual plans.
What you get with no subscription
The free tier lets you use your Ring device to see live video and receive motion alerts, but with real constraints. Video is stored only for 24 hours before Ring deletes it automatically. If you miss an event or want to review something that happened yesterday, you cannot — the footage is gone.
You also cannot download or share video clips without a subscription. If something happens at your door and you want to send the footage to police or a neighbor, you cannot do that on the free plan. Live view works, but recorded events stay locked to the Ring app.
Ring Protect Basic: per-device coverage and 60-day storage
Basic adds video storage for 60 days instead of 24 hours, so you have two months to review, download, or share footage. You can also set up motion zones to reduce false alerts from trees or passing cars, and you gain access to Ring's 24/7 emergency services — you can press a button in the app to connect to a monitoring center that can dispatch police or fire.
The catch is that Basic charges per device. If you have a Ring doorbell and two outdoor cameras, you pay $3 for each one, totaling $9 per month. This makes Basic practical only if you have one or two devices. The annual option ($30 per device per year) saves money if you commit upfront.
Ring Protect Plus: all devices and professional monitoring
Plus covers every Ring device you own for $10 per month or $100 per year. It includes everything in Basic — 60-day storage, motion zones, 24/7 emergency services — plus professional monitoring. Professional monitoring means Ring's center watches your cameras around the clock and can contact emergency services on your behalf if motion is detected when you are away.
Plus also adds video recording for Ring Alarm systems (if you have one), extended storage for some devices, and a few other features that vary by device type. For households with multiple cameras or a Ring Alarm system, Plus usually costs less than buying Basic for each device separately.
How to choose between plans
Start by counting your devices. If you have one Ring camera or doorbell and want to keep costs low, Basic at $3 per month is reasonable. If you have two or more devices, do the math: two devices on Basic cost $6 per month, while Plus costs $10 per month and covers both plus any future devices you add.
Consider what you actually need. If you live in a safe neighborhood and mainly want to see who is at the door, the free tier or Basic may be enough. If you want professional monitoring or have multiple cameras covering your property, Plus makes sense. The 60-day storage in both paid plans is usually sufficient for most homeowners — most issues are caught and addressed within a few weeks.
Cancellation and refunds
You can cancel your Ring subscription at any time through the Ring app or website. If you paid for an annual plan and cancel partway through, Ring refunds the unused portion. For example, if you paid $100 for a year and cancel after six months, you receive a $50 refund.
Cancellation takes effect immediately, and you revert to the free tier. Your video storage drops to 24 hours, and you lose access to professional monitoring and extended storage. Any footage already recorded stays in your account for the remainder of the storage period you paid for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try a subscription before paying?
Ring sometimes includes a free trial period with new device purchases, usually 30 to 60 days. Check your device documentation or the Ring app to see if a trial is active on your account. After the trial ends, you must pay or downgrade to the free tier.
Do I need a subscription to use Ring at all?
No. You can use any Ring device on the free tier to see live video and get motion alerts. You just cannot store video longer than 24 hours or access professional monitoring. Many people use the free tier for years without paying.
What happens to my video if I cancel?
Video you recorded while subscribed stays in your account for the storage period you paid for. If you cancel a Basic plan mid-month, your 60-day storage window continues until it expires. After that, footage deletes automatically.
Can I switch from Basic to Plus or vice versa?
Yes. You can change your plan anytime in the Ring app. If you switch from Basic to Plus mid-month, Ring prorates the charge. If you switch from Plus to Basic, you lose professional monitoring and multi-device coverage immediately.
Does Ring Protect work with all Ring devices?
Ring Protect works with all Ring cameras, doorbells, and alarm systems. Some older devices may have limited feature support, but storage and emergency services work across the board. Check your device's manual or the Ring website if you have a device older than five years.