Ring Doorbell Subscription Plans and Their Monthly Cost
Ring offers two subscription tiers for doorbell cameras: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Basic costs $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year and covers one device. Plus costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and covers all Ring devices at your home — doorbells, cameras, and alarm systems combined.
You can cancel either plan at any time without penalty. Ring does not lock you into a contract. If you pay annually and cancel before the year ends, Ring does not refund the unused portion, so monthly payment is more flexible if you are uncertain about keeping the service long-term.
Without a subscription, your Ring doorbell still works — it will ring when someone presses the button and you can answer live view from your phone. The subscription unlocks video recording and storage.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic costs $3.99 per month and covers video recording for one device only.
- Ring Protect Plus costs $9.99 per month and covers all Ring devices at your address, including multiple doorbells and cameras.
- Annual payment ($39.99 or $99.99 per year) saves money compared to month-to-month but is not refundable if you cancel early.
- Without a subscription, your doorbell still rings and streams live video, but does not record or store footage.
- Some internet service providers and phone carriers offer Ring subscriptions as part of bundled plans, which may reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
What Video Recording and Storage You Get With Each Plan
Both Basic and Plus plans record video to Ring's cloud servers whenever motion is detected or someone presses the doorbell button. The video is stored for 60 days, then automatically deleted. You can manually download and save videos to your phone or computer before they expire.
The difference between the plans is device count, not video quality or storage length. A Basic subscription on one doorbell records the same 60-day history as a Plus subscription on that same doorbell. Plus simply lets you add more devices — a second doorbell, a Ring camera, a Ring alarm — all under one subscription instead of paying $3.99 for each.
If you have multiple Ring devices and buy Basic for each one separately, you pay $3.99 times the number of devices. If you switch to Plus at $9.99 per month, you cover all of them. The break-even point is usually around three devices.
When You Do Not Need a Subscription
Ring Protect is optional. Your doorbell will function without it — visitors can still ring the bell, you receive a notification on your phone, and you can see and speak to them through live view in real time. You simply cannot record or review past footage.
If you only need to answer the door when someone is actively ringing or knocking, and you do not care about reviewing video later, you can skip the subscription. Many people use Ring this way and never pay for a plan.
Some Ring devices, like the Ring Alarm system, do require a subscription to arm and disarm remotely or receive alerts. Check the product page for the specific device you own to see whether recording is the only feature locked behind a paywall or whether core functionality also requires a plan.
Bundled Subscriptions and Discounts
Some internet and phone providers include Ring Protect as part of their bundle. Comcast Xfinity, for example, offers Ring Protect Basic free to some Xfinity Home customers. T-Mobile offers Ring Protect Plus free to certain T-Mobile Home Internet subscribers. These offers change and vary by region and plan type, so contact your provider to ask whether Ring is included in what you already pay.
Ring occasionally runs promotional offers — free months of subscription with the purchase of a new doorbell, or discounted annual rates during holiday sales. These are not may provide and appear without warning, so there is no way to time a purchase to catch a sale.
If you buy a Ring device from Best Buy or Amazon, check whether a trial subscription is included in the box. Many Ring doorbells ship with 30 or 60 days of free Basic service, which gives you time to decide whether recording is worth the cost before your first charge.
How to Start, Pause, or Cancel a Subscription
You manage your Ring subscription through the Ring app on your phone or the Ring website. Open the app, go to the menu, select your device, and look for "Protect Plan" or "Subscription." From there you can choose a plan, upgrade, downgrade, or cancel.
Cancellation takes effect immediately. Any video recorded before you cancel remains in your 60-day window and you can still download it. Once the 60 days pass, it is deleted whether you have an active subscription or not.
Ring also allows you to pause a subscription for up to three months if you are traveling or temporarily do not need recording. Paused subscriptions do not charge you, and you can resume at any time. This is useful if you own a vacation home or seasonal property.
Comparing Ring to Other Doorbell Cameras
Other doorbell camera brands have different subscription models. Nest Hello (Google) charges $6 per month per device for video recording and 60-day storage, or $12 per month for all Nest cameras and doorbells combined. Logitech Circle View charges $3 per month per device or $10 per month for unlimited devices. Wyze charges $1.99 per month per device or $14.99 per year.
The lowest-cost option depends on how many devices you own. For a single doorbell, Wyze is cheapest at $1.99 per month. For two or more devices, Ring Plus at $9.99 per month often costs less than paying per-device rates elsewhere. Compare the total annual cost for your specific setup rather than looking at the per-device price alone.
Some cameras, like Wyze and Logitech, also offer free local storage to a microSD card inserted in the camera itself, which means you do not need a subscription to record video — it saves directly to the device. Ring doorbells do not have local storage options, so a subscription is the only way to record and review footage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Ring doorbell without paying for a subscription?
Yes. Your doorbell will ring, send notifications to your phone, and let you answer live video calls without a subscription. You simply cannot record or store video. If live view and real-time answering are all you need, you do not have to pay.
What happens to my recorded videos if I cancel my subscription?
Videos stored in Ring's cloud are deleted after 60 days regardless of whether you have an active subscription. If you cancel, you have until day 60 to download any videos you want to keep. After that, they are gone permanently.
Do I have to pay for each Ring device separately?
No. Ring Protect Plus covers all your Ring devices for $9.99 per month. If you have multiple doorbells or cameras, one Plus subscription covers all of them. Basic covers only one device, so multiple devices would require multiple Basic subscriptions.
Is there a contract or early cancellation fee?
No. You can cancel anytime without penalty. If you pay annually and cancel before the year ends, Ring does not refund unused months, so monthly payment is more flexible if you might cancel soon.
Do internet providers really include Ring subscriptions for free?
Some do, but it depends on your provider and plan. Comcast Xfinity and T-Mobile offer free Ring Protect to certain customers. Contact your provider directly to ask whether it is included in what you already pay.