Ring Subscription Basics
Ring offers two paid subscription tiers for homeowners who want cloud recording and other features beyond basic motion alerts. Ring Protect Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers one device with 60 days of cloud video storage. Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers all Ring devices at your address with the same 60-day storage window, plus professional monitoring of Ring Alarm systems if you have one.
Neither subscription is required to own a Ring device. Without a subscription, your Ring doorbell or camera will still send you motion and person alerts to your phone in real time. You just won't be able to watch or download video clips after they happen — you'll only see live video when you open the app. A subscription lets you rewatch what happened while you were away or asleep.
Ring also sells a third option called Ring Protect Pro for $20 per month, which adds 24/7 professional monitoring of Ring Alarm systems and faster emergency dispatch. This is an alarm monitoring service, not a camera subscription, and is separate from the video storage tiers.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic ($3/month) covers one device with 60 days of cloud storage; Ring Protect Plus ($10/month) covers all devices at your address with the same storage.
- Without a subscription, you get real-time alerts and live video but cannot rewatch or download past recordings.
- Cloud storage is the main difference between tiers — more devices or longer storage requires a higher plan.
- Ring Protect Pro ($20/month) is professional alarm monitoring, not a camera subscription, and only applies if you own a Ring Alarm system.
- You can cancel or change your subscription at any time through the Ring app without penalty.
What You Get With Cloud Storage
When you pay for a Ring subscription, you're paying for the ability to store video in Ring's cloud servers for 60 days. This means you can open the Ring app weeks later and watch a clip of a package delivery, a visitor, or motion in your yard. Without the subscription, that video is gone as soon as the event ends — you only see it if you're watching live.
The 60-day window is a rolling period. Once a video reaches 60 days old, it deletes automatically. You can manually download clips to your phone before they expire if you want to keep them longer, but that requires the subscription to exist in the first place.
Ring also stores a thumbnail image of each motion event for 30 days even without a subscription, so you can see that motion happened. You just can't play the video clip itself.
Ring Protect Basic vs. Ring Protect Plus
The practical difference between Basic and Plus comes down to how many devices you own. If you have one Ring doorbell or camera, Basic is cheaper and covers everything you need. If you have two or more Ring devices — say a doorbell and a backyard camera — Plus costs less per device than paying for Basic on each one separately.
Both tiers offer the same 60-day storage window and the same video quality. Neither includes professional monitoring of cameras. The only other feature included in Plus is professional monitoring of Ring Alarm systems, which only matters if you own a Ring Alarm and want the alarm company to contact emergency services if it triggers.
A household with one doorbell should choose Basic. A household with a doorbell, a backyard camera, and a side-yard camera should choose Plus, because $10 per month covers all three, whereas three separate Basic subscriptions would cost $9 per month but only if you bought them all at once — Ring's pricing structure makes Plus the better deal once you hit two devices.
Professional Monitoring and Ring Alarm
Ring Protect Pro ($20/month) is not a camera subscription. It's a service that monitors your Ring Alarm system 24 hours a day and contacts police or fire if your alarm triggers. You only need this if you own a Ring Alarm keypad and sensors and want professional response.
Ring Protect Plus ($10/month) includes basic alarm monitoring, which means Ring will notify you if your alarm triggers but won't automatically call emergency services. With Plus, you have to call 911 yourself or tell Ring to do it through the app. With Pro, Ring's monitoring center calls for you immediately.
If you don't own a Ring Alarm system, neither of these features applies to you. Your subscription is only for camera and doorbell cloud storage.
How to Manage Your Subscription
You set up a subscription when you first install a Ring device, but you can change or cancel it anytime through the Ring app. Open the app, tap the three-line menu, go to Subscriptions, and you'll see your current plan and options to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel.
If you cancel, you lose cloud storage immediately but keep all other features — motion alerts, live view, and person detection still work. If you downgrade from Plus to Basic, you keep storage for one device and lose it for the others.
Ring doesn't charge a cancellation fee or require notice. If you pay monthly, the change takes effect on your next billing date. If you pay annually, you can request a refund for the unused portion, though Ring's policy on this varies by state.
Whether a Subscription Makes Sense for Your Home
A subscription is worth the cost if you want to review what happened after the fact — to see who delivered a package, check on a visitor, or investigate motion in your yard. It's less useful if you're home most of the time and can watch live video when alerts come in.
The subscription also makes sense if you're using Ring as a security tool and want evidence of break-ins or suspicious activity. Without cloud storage, you have no recording to show police or your insurance company.
If you own multiple Ring devices, Plus is almost always cheaper than buying Basic for each one. If you own just one device and rarely need to rewatch clips, you might skip the subscription and rely on live alerts instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Ring without paying for a subscription?
Yes. You'll get real-time motion and person alerts on your phone and can watch live video anytime. You just won't be able to rewatch or download past video clips. Many homeowners use Ring this way and only subscribe if they later decide they need cloud storage.
What happens to my videos if I cancel my subscription?
Any videos stored in the cloud are deleted once your subscription ends. You can download clips to your phone before you cancel if you want to keep them. After cancellation, you'll still get live alerts and can watch live video, but no new clips will be stored.
Do I need Ring Protect Pro if I have a Ring Alarm?
Only if you want professional monitoring that calls emergency services for you. Ring Protect Plus includes basic monitoring that alerts you instead. If you want the alarm company to contact police automatically, you need Pro. If you're comfortable calling 911 yourself, Plus is enough.
Can I have different subscriptions for different devices?
No. All Ring devices at your address share the same subscription tier. You can't put one device on Basic and another on Plus. You choose one plan that covers all your devices.
Is there a way to store video longer than 60 days?
Not through Ring's cloud service. The 60-day window is fixed for both Basic and Plus. You can manually download clips to your phone or computer to keep them longer, but you have to do this before they expire in the cloud.