Ring Doorbell Subscriptions Explained

Ring offers two subscription tiers for doorbell owners: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers video recording and cloud storage for one device. Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers unlimited devices, video recording, cloud storage, and 24/7 professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems if you have one.

Without a subscription, your Ring doorbell still works — it records video and sends you alerts when motion or someone presses the button. The subscription determines whether that video saves to the cloud and for how long, and whether you get professional emergency response if you have a Ring Alarm system connected.

Ring also offers a subscription called Ring Protect Pro, which costs $20 per month or $200 per year and adds 24/7 professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems plus video recording and storage across unlimited devices. This tier is designed for people who want the full security package.

Key Takeaways

  • Ring doorbells work without a subscription, but video is not saved to the cloud unless you pay for one.
  • Ring Protect Basic ($3/month or $30/year) saves video from one device; Ring Protect Plus ($10/month or $100/year) covers unlimited devices and adds professional alarm monitoring.
  • Professional monitoring only matters if you own a Ring Alarm system; without one, you are paying for video storage and nothing else.
  • Video stored locally on your doorbell (if your model supports it) does not require a subscription, but cloud backup does.

What Happens Without a Subscription

Your Ring doorbell will still record video and send push notifications to your phone when someone rings the bell or motion is detected. You can watch live video from the app at any time. The difference is that the video does not save anywhere — once you close the live view, it is gone.

Some Ring doorbell models support local storage through a Ring Bridge or a microSD card, which means video can be saved to a device in your home without paying for cloud storage. Check your doorbell's specifications to see if this is an option for your model. Even with local storage, you cannot access the video remotely unless you also pay for cloud backup.

Ring Protect Basic vs. Plus vs. Pro

Basic covers one device and costs $3 per month. This is the entry point if you own a single doorbell and want cloud video storage. You get 60 days of video history in the cloud.

Plus covers unlimited devices for $10 per month. If you own multiple Ring doorbells, cameras, or other Ring devices, this tier is cheaper than paying Basic for each one. Plus also includes 24/7 professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems — meaning if your alarm is triggered, a monitoring center can contact emergency services on your behalf. If you do not own a Ring Alarm, the monitoring feature does nothing for you.

Pro costs $20 per month and adds the same professional monitoring as Plus but with faster response times and additional features for Ring Alarm users. For doorbell-only owners, Pro and Plus offer the same video storage and cloud features.

When Professional Monitoring Matters

Professional monitoring is only useful if you own a Ring Alarm system. The monitoring center receives alerts when your alarm is triggered and can dispatch emergency services to your address. Without a Ring Alarm, paying for Plus or Pro does not give you any monitoring service — you are only paying for video storage.

If you own a Ring Alarm and do not subscribe to monitoring, you will receive alerts on your phone when the alarm triggers, but no one at a monitoring center will know about it. You have to call 911 yourself. Some homeowners prefer this because it gives them control; others want the backup of professional response.

How Long Video Is Stored

Ring stores video in the cloud for 60 days with any paid subscription. After 60 days, the oldest video is deleted automatically. This means you can review footage from the past two months but not older than that.

If you need longer storage, you can download individual videos to your phone or computer before they expire. Some homeowners do this for security incidents or insurance purposes. Ring does not offer longer cloud retention periods, even at higher subscription tiers.

Canceling or Pausing Your Subscription

You can cancel your Ring subscription at any time through the Ring app or website. There is no contract or early termination fee. Once you cancel, your cloud video storage stops immediately, and any video older than 24 hours is deleted.

Ring does not offer a pause feature, so if you want to stop paying temporarily, you have to cancel and resubscribe later. When you resubscribe, you start fresh with a new 60-day window — you do not recover video from before the cancellation.

Comparing Ring to Other Doorbell Subscriptions

Other doorbell brands have different subscription models. Nest Hello (Google) includes cloud video storage free for three hours of footage per day, with a paid Nest Aware subscription for longer storage. Logitech Circle View charges per device or offers a bundle for multiple devices. Wyze charges a flat monthly fee for cloud storage across unlimited devices.

Ring's pricing is competitive for single-device owners but becomes expensive if you own multiple doorbells. If you have more than two Ring devices, Plus at $10 per month is usually cheaper than paying Basic for each one separately. Compare the total cost against other brands if you are building a multi-camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a subscription to use my Ring doorbell at all?

No. Your doorbell will record video, send alerts, and let you view live video without a subscription. You just cannot save that video to the cloud. If your model supports local storage, you can save video to a device in your home without paying.

Can I share video with my landlord or insurance company without a subscription?

You can download and share live video or video you recorded locally, but you cannot access cloud-stored video without a subscription. If you need to preserve video for an insurance claim, download it before your subscription expires or before 24 hours pass.

What happens to my video if I cancel my subscription?

Any video older than 24 hours is deleted immediately when you cancel. Video recorded locally on your doorbell (if supported) stays on the device. If you resubscribe later, you start with a fresh 60-day window and cannot recover deleted cloud video.

Is professional monitoring worth it if I only have a doorbell?

No. Professional monitoring only works with Ring Alarm systems. If you own only a doorbell, you are paying for video storage, not monitoring. You would receive the same video storage with Ring Protect Basic at a lower cost.

Can I use a Ring doorbell with a different security system's monitoring?

Ring's professional monitoring only works with Ring Alarm systems. If you use a different brand of security system, that system's monitoring center will not receive alerts from your Ring doorbell. Your doorbell will still record video and send you alerts, but no third-party monitoring is available.