Ring Home Basic Subscription gives you cloud storage for video and 24/7 professional monitoring
Ring Home Basic is Ring's entry-level subscription plan. It stores your video recordings in the cloud so you can watch them later, and it connects your Ring devices to a 24/7 professional monitoring center that can dispatch emergency services if your alarm is triggered. The plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year, and it covers one location — one address.
You do not need this subscription to use your Ring doorbell or camera in real time. You can still see live video, get motion alerts, and talk through the device without paying. What you lose without the subscription is the ability to rewatch video after it happens and the professional monitoring that calls 911 on your behalf.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Home Basic stores 60 days of video in the cloud, so you can rewatch recordings from the past two months without keeping a local storage device.
- The plan includes 24/7 professional monitoring that can dispatch police or fire if your alarm goes off, but only if you have a Ring Alarm system connected.
- One subscription covers one address; if you own multiple properties, you need a separate subscription for each one.
- You can cancel at any time with no contract, and Ring will refund the unused portion of an annual plan if you cancel mid-year.
What video storage actually means
When your Ring camera or doorbell records motion or sound, that video file goes to Ring's servers. Without a subscription, the video is deleted after 24 hours. With Ring Home Basic, Ring keeps it for 60 days. You can log into the Ring app or website anytime during those 60 days and watch what happened — even if you were not home, even if you did not get a notification at the time.
This matters most if you want to review something that happened days ago, or if you need video evidence for insurance or police. If you only care about live alerts and watching your front door right now, you do not need the subscription.
The 60-day window is rolling. If you record something on day one, it stays for 60 days. On day 61, it disappears. If you record something new on day 61, that new video stays for 60 days from that date. You cannot download videos to your phone or computer through the Ring app — you can only watch them in the app or on the Ring website.
Professional monitoring and how it works with Ring Alarm
Ring Home Basic includes 24/7 professional monitoring, but only if you have a Ring Alarm system installed and armed. The monitoring center watches for alarm signals — door or window sensors opening when the system is armed, motion detected in your home, or a panic button pressed. When an alarm triggers, the monitoring center calls your phone number on file. If you do not answer or tell them it is a false alarm, they dispatch police to your address.
This is different from a doorbell or camera alone. A Ring Video Doorbell or Ring Stick Up Cam can send you alerts when someone rings or motion is detected, but they do not trigger professional monitoring. You need the alarm system hardware — the base station, door/window sensors, and motion detectors — for monitoring to work.
Professional monitoring typically costs extra with other alarm companies, so including it in the basic subscription is one of Ring's main selling points. However, you still have to buy the alarm hardware separately, and you have to arm it manually or set up automation rules.
What Ring Home Basic does not include
Ring Home Basic does not cover damage to your devices, theft of your devices, or liability if someone is hurt on your property. Those are covered by homeowners insurance, not a Ring subscription.
The plan also does not include person detection — the ability to tell the difference between a person, a package, and an animal. That feature is available only with Ring Protect Plus, the higher tier. With Home Basic, you get motion alerts, but you cannot filter them by type.
Ring Home Basic also does not include video recording to a local storage device like a microSD card or external hard drive. Some Ring cameras have a microSD card slot, but Ring does not sell or support that feature as part of any subscription. If you want local backup, you have to set that up separately and manage it yourself.
How Ring Home Basic compares to other Ring plans
| Feature | Ring Home Basic | Ring Protect Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud video storage | 60 days | 60 days |
| Professional monitoring | Yes, with Ring Alarm | Yes, with Ring Alarm |
| Person detection | No | Yes |
| Package detection | No | Yes |
| Animal detection | No | Yes |
| Covers multiple locations | One address only | Unlimited addresses |
| Monthly cost | $10 | $20 |
| Annual cost | $100 | $200 |
Ring also sells Ring Protect Plan, which is the same as Home Basic but without professional monitoring. It costs $3 per month or $30 per year and is useful if you want cloud storage but do not have an alarm system or do not want monitoring.
How to cancel or pause your subscription
You can cancel Ring Home Basic anytime through the Ring app or website. Go to your subscription settings, select the plan, and choose cancel. Ring will stop charging you on your next billing date. If you paid for a year upfront and cancel partway through, Ring will refund the unused portion to your original payment method within a few days.
Ring does not offer a pause or freeze option. If you want to stop paying temporarily — for example, if you are away from home for a month — you have to cancel and then restart the subscription when you return. Restarting is free; you just log in and select the plan again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Ring Home Basic to see live video from my doorbell?
No. Live video is free with any Ring device. You only need the subscription if you want to watch video that was recorded in the past, or if you want professional monitoring with a Ring Alarm system.
Will Ring delete my videos if I cancel the subscription?
Yes. When your subscription ends, Ring deletes all stored video within 24 hours. If you want to keep any recordings, download them before you cancel — though the Ring app does not have a download button. You would need to contact Ring support for help saving videos.
Can I use Ring Home Basic with cameras I already own?
Yes. The subscription works with any Ring camera or doorbell you own, whether you bought it last month or years ago. You do not need to buy new hardware to start a subscription.
What happens if the internet goes out?
Your Ring devices will not record or send alerts if your internet is down. The subscription does not change this. Once internet is restored, devices will resume normal operation and start recording again.
Can I use one subscription for multiple Ring devices at the same address?
Yes. One Ring Home Basic subscription covers as many Ring devices as you want at a single address — multiple doorbells, cameras, and one alarm system. If you have devices at a second address, you need a separate subscription for that location.