Ring Protect Plan is a paid monthly subscription that adds video recording and cloud storage to your Ring doorbell or camera
Ring Protect Plan is not included with your Ring device. When you buy a Ring doorbell or camera, it can detect motion and send you alerts, but it does not record video or store footage unless you pay for the subscription. The plan stores your video in the cloud so you can watch it later, even if someone deletes the footage from the device itself.
Ring offers two subscription tiers: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Basic covers one device. Plus covers all Ring devices at your address — doorbells, cameras, and alarm systems — for one monthly price. You can cancel at any time, and there is no contract.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic costs $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year and covers one device with 60 days of cloud video storage.
- Ring Protect Plus costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and covers all Ring devices at your address, plus includes professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems.
- Without a subscription, your Ring device sends motion alerts but does not record or store video.
- Video is stored for 60 days on both plans; older footage is deleted automatically unless you save it manually.
- You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time without penalty.
What Each Plan Covers
Ring Protect Basic covers one Ring device and costs $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year. It includes 60 days of cloud video storage, motion alerts, and the ability to view live video from the Ring app. You can download and save individual videos to your phone or computer, and those saved videos stay with you even after the 60-day window closes.
Ring Protect Plus costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and covers every Ring device you own at the same address — you do not pay per device. It includes the same 60-day cloud storage and video features as Basic, plus professional 24/7 monitoring for Ring Alarm systems. If you have a Ring Alarm and subscribe to Plus, the monitoring center will respond to alarms and can contact emergency services on your behalf. Plus also includes video on demand, which lets you request a video clip from a specific time even if motion was not detected.
Neither plan includes professional monitoring for Ring Alarm unless you choose Plus. Basic subscribers with a Ring Alarm can still use the system to arm and disarm it, but they do not get the emergency response service.
How to Set Up and Manage Your Subscription
You set up Ring Protect through the Ring app on your phone or through your Ring account online. Open the app, go to the menu, select your device, and choose "Protect this device" or "Subscribe." You will be asked to choose Basic or Plus and select monthly or annual billing. Ring accepts credit cards and debit cards.
If you already have a subscription, you can manage it in the same menu. You can pause your subscription for up to 90 days if you are away or do not need it temporarily. When you pause, your video storage stops but your subscription does not cancel — it resumes when you turn it back on. If you want to cancel entirely, you can do that in the app as well, and you will not be charged again after the current billing cycle ends.
Ring also offers a Ring Protect Plan Plus with Professional Monitoring in some areas, which bundles the subscription with 24/7 monitoring for a higher monthly fee. This is separate from the standard Plus plan and is only available if you have a Ring Alarm system and live in a supported area.
Video Storage and How Long Footage Lasts
Both Basic and Plus plans store video for 60 days in the cloud. After 60 days, the oldest footage is deleted automatically. This means if something happens on day 1, you can watch it until day 60, but on day 61 it is gone unless you saved it.
To keep a video permanently, you download it to your phone or computer through the Ring app. Downloaded videos do not take up cloud storage space and stay on your device as long as you keep them. You can also share video clips with others through the app without downloading them.
If you cancel your subscription, you lose access to all cloud-stored video immediately. Any videos you downloaded before canceling stay on your device, but you cannot access videos stored in the cloud anymore.
Ring Protect Plan Compared to Other Options
| Feature | Ring Protect Basic | Ring Protect Plus | No Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud video storage | 60 days | 60 days | None |
| Devices covered | 1 device | All devices at address | N/A |
| Motion alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live view | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Professional alarm monitoring | No | Yes (if you have Ring Alarm) | No |
| Video on demand | No | Yes | No |
| Monthly cost | $3.99 | $9.99 | $0 |
If you do not subscribe, your Ring device still sends you motion alerts and lets you watch live video through the app. You just cannot record or store that video. For many people, alerts alone are enough — you get notified when someone is at the door and can watch in real time. The trade-off is that you have no record of what happened if you were not home or did not see the alert.
Some Ring users choose to record video locally instead of using cloud storage. Ring does not offer built-in local storage on most devices, but some third-party options exist. Local storage means video stays on a device in your home rather than in the cloud, but you lose access to it if the device is stolen or damaged.
When Ring Protect Plan Makes Sense
Ring Protect Basic is worth considering if you want a record of what happens at your door or on your property. At $3.99 per month, it costs less than a coffee per week. The 60-day storage window means you have two months to notice something and download it if you need it for insurance or police purposes.
Ring Protect Plus makes sense if you have multiple Ring devices — a doorbell and a side camera, for example. Instead of paying $3.99 for each device, you pay $9.99 once and cover them all. Plus is also the only option if you want professional monitoring for a Ring Alarm system.
You do not need a subscription if you only care about live alerts and can watch your phone when someone rings the doorbell. Many people use Ring this way and never feel the need to record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my videos if I cancel the subscription?
Cloud-stored videos are deleted immediately when you cancel. Any videos you downloaded to your phone or computer before canceling stay on those devices. If you think you might cancel, download important footage first.
Can I use Ring Protect on multiple addresses?
No. One subscription covers all your Ring devices at one address. If you have Ring devices at a second home or rental property, you need a separate subscription for that address.
Does Ring Protect work if my internet goes down?
Your Ring device will not record or send alerts if it loses internet connection. Once the connection is restored, it resumes normal operation. Local storage options exist from third parties but are not built into Ring devices.
Can I switch from Basic to Plus or cancel anytime?
Yes. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel through the Ring app at any time. Changes take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. There are no cancellation fees or contracts.
Is the 60-day storage window the same for all video?
Yes. All video stored in the cloud — whether from motion events or live recordings — is kept for 60 days and then deleted. Manually saved videos do not count toward this limit and stay on your device indefinitely.