Ring subscription costs depend on which plan you choose and which devices you own

Ring offers two main subscription tiers: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Basic costs $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year when paid upfront. Plus costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year upfront. Both plans cover video recording, cloud storage, and customer support. The difference is that Plus covers all your Ring devices under one subscription, while Basic covers one device at a time — so a household with multiple Ring cameras would need multiple Basic subscriptions.

Ring also offers a Ring Protect Pro plan in some areas, which includes 24/7 professional monitoring and emergency dispatch for $20 per month or $200 per year. This plan is not available everywhere and requires compatible Ring Alarm hardware. You can check whether it is available at your address on Ring's website.

Some Ring devices come with a trial period of free subscription — usually 30 days — but the subscription is not included after that trial ends. You can use a Ring device without a subscription, but you will not be able to view recorded video or receive alerts when motion is detected.

Key Takeaways

  • Ring Protect Basic costs $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year and covers one device; Ring Protect Plus costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and covers all your Ring devices.
  • Paying for a full year upfront saves you money compared to paying month to month on either plan.
  • Ring Protect Pro, which includes professional monitoring, costs $20 per month or $200 per year but is only available in certain areas.
  • Without a subscription, your Ring device will not record video or send you motion alerts, though you can still view a live feed if you open the app.
  • Trial periods included with some Ring devices expire after 30 days, and you must set up a paid subscription to keep recording after that.

What each subscription tier includes

Ring Protect Basic and Plus both include video recording to the cloud, which means your footage is stored on Ring's servers for 60 days. Both plans let you download video clips to your phone, share access with other household members, and receive motion and person detection alerts. Customer support is included with both tiers.

The main practical difference is device coverage. If you have one Ring doorbell or camera, Basic is cheaper. If you have two or more Ring devices, Plus is usually cheaper because one Plus subscription covers all of them, whereas you would need separate Basic subscriptions for each device. A household with three cameras, for example, would pay $11.97 per month for three Basic subscriptions but only $9.99 per month for one Plus subscription.

Ring Protect Pro adds professional monitoring, which means a monitoring center watches your system 24/7 and can dispatch emergency services if your alarm is triggered. This plan requires Ring Alarm hardware and is not available in all states or regions. When you sign up for Pro, you also get the Plus features — all your devices covered under one subscription.

How to pay and when billing happens

You set up your subscription through the Ring app or Ring's website using a credit card, debit card, or other payment method on file. Monthly subscriptions renew automatically on the same date each month. Annual subscriptions renew on the anniversary of your purchase date.

If you pay month to month, your card is charged on the renewal date. If you pay annually upfront, you are charged once per year. You can change your subscription level or cancel at any time through the app or website. If you cancel mid-cycle, you keep access until the end of your paid period — Ring does not prorate refunds for early cancellation.

Ring sometimes offers promotional pricing for new subscribers, such as a discounted first month or first year. These offers appear when you first set up a subscription and vary by region and time of year. Existing subscribers do not usually receive promotional pricing when they renew.

When you might not need a subscription

If you only need to view a live video feed from your Ring device when you open the app, you do not need a subscription. You can see what is happening in real time without paying. However, you will not receive alerts when motion is detected, and you will not be able to watch recorded video.

Some people use Ring devices purely for live viewing — for example, checking on a front door or driveway while they are home. Others need recording and alerts and find the subscription cost worth it. The choice depends on what you actually use the device for.

If you own a Ring device but do not use it regularly, you can cancel your subscription and reactivate it later without losing your device or account. When you reactivate, you start a new subscription period and pay the current rate.

Comparing annual and monthly payment options

Paying for a full year upfront always costs less than paying month to month. With Ring Protect Basic, paying $39.99 per year costs about $3.33 per month on average, compared to $3.99 per month if you pay monthly. With Plus, paying $99.99 per year averages to about $8.33 per month, compared to $9.99 monthly. The annual discount is roughly 17 percent on both tiers.

The trade-off is that you pay the full amount upfront, so you lose that money immediately if you cancel before the year is up. If you are unsure whether you will keep the subscription, paying month to month gives you more flexibility, even though it costs more overall.

Some households split the cost of a Plus subscription among family members who share the same account, which can make the annual payment feel more manageable. Ring allows multiple people to access the same subscription through shared account access in the app.

What happens if you stop paying

If your subscription lapses because your payment method failed or you did not renew, your Ring device stops recording and you stop receiving alerts. The device itself still works — you can still view a live feed — but the cloud recording feature turns off. Any video already stored in the cloud remains there for 60 days, then is deleted.

You can reactivate your subscription at any time by setting up a new payment method and choosing a plan. When you do, recording and alerts resume immediately. You do not lose your device, your account, or your recorded video history just because your subscription lapsed.

Ring will send you email reminders before your subscription expires, but it is your responsibility to renew or cancel. If you want to cancel intentionally, you can do so through the app or website, and you will not be charged again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Ring device without paying for a subscription?

Yes. You can view a live video feed anytime by opening the Ring app. You will not receive motion alerts or be able to watch recorded video, but the device itself works. Many people use Ring this way if they only need to check on their property occasionally.

If I have multiple Ring devices, do I need multiple subscriptions?

Not if you choose Ring Protect Plus. One Plus subscription covers all your Ring devices. If you choose Basic, you need a separate subscription for each device. For most households with more than one device, Plus is cheaper.

Can I cancel my subscription anytime?

Yes. You can cancel through the Ring app or website at any time. If you paid for a year upfront, you keep access until the end of that year, but Ring does not refund the unused portion. If you pay month to month, your subscription ends at the next renewal date.

Does Ring offer a free trial?

Some Ring devices come with a 30-day free trial of Ring Protect Basic. After the trial ends, you must set up a paid subscription to keep recording. Not all devices include a trial, so check your device documentation.

What payment methods does Ring accept?

Ring accepts major credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal. You set up your payment method in the Ring app or on the website. Your payment method is charged automatically on your renewal date each month or year.