What Ring devices do and what they cost
Ring is a line of video doorbells and security cameras made by Amazon. They let you see, hear, and speak to people at your door or around your property from your phone, even when you are not home. The devices record video and send alerts when motion is detected or someone presses the doorbell button.
Ring sells several product types. The Ring Video Doorbell is the most common — it replaces your existing doorbell and costs between $100 and $200 depending on the model. Ring also makes outdoor cameras, indoor cameras, and floodlight cameras that mount on your house. Prices range from about $60 for a basic indoor camera to $300 for a wired floodlight model. You do not pay a monthly fee to own the device, but you do pay for cloud storage of your video recordings — typically $3 to $12 per month depending on how many devices you have and how long you want to keep footage.
Ring devices connect to your home Wi-Fi network. They require a smartphone or tablet to view live video and receive alerts. Some models also work with Amazon Alexa devices so you can see video on an Echo Show or hear alerts through an Echo speaker.
Key Takeaways
- Ring video doorbells and cameras record video and send motion or doorbell alerts to your phone, letting you see who is at your door or on your property from anywhere.
- You buy the device once, but you pay a monthly subscription ($3 to $12) to store and view recordings in the cloud.
- Ring devices need Wi-Fi and a smartphone app to work — they do not function as standalone security systems without internet.
- Video from Ring cameras is stored on Amazon's servers, and you control who can view it through the Ring app and account settings.
- Ring works alongside traditional alarm systems but does not replace them — it provides visibility and recording, not intrusion detection or professional monitoring.
How to set up a Ring doorbell or camera
Setup begins with downloading the Ring app on your smartphone or tablet. You create a Ring account using an email address and password, then add your device by scanning a code on the back of the doorbell or camera. The app walks you through connecting the device to your Wi-Fi network — the device needs a strong signal, ideally within 20 to 30 feet of your router.
For a Ring Video Doorbell, you also need to turn off power to your existing doorbell at your home's electrical panel, then disconnect the old doorbell and connect the Ring wires to the same terminals. If your home has no existing doorbell wiring, you can use Ring's battery-powered models instead, which you charge via USB or replace every few months. Indoor and outdoor cameras mount on a wall or corner using the included bracket and screws.
Once connected, the device appears in your Ring app. You can then adjust settings like motion zones (areas where you want alerts), notification preferences, and who in your household can view video. If you subscribe to a Ring Protect plan, video begins recording automatically.
What video recording and storage look like
Ring devices record video whenever motion is detected or the doorbell is pressed. Without a paid subscription, the device stores video only temporarily — you can view it for a short window (usually 24 hours) but it is not saved long-term. With a Ring Protect subscription, video is uploaded to Amazon's cloud servers and kept for 30 or 60 days depending on your plan.
You view recorded video through the Ring app on your phone. You can also read individual clips to your phone's storage. The video quality depends on your internet speed and the camera model — most Ring devices record in 1080p or higher resolution, but poor Wi-Fi can reduce quality or cause delays in live view.
All video is encrypted in transit to Amazon's servers and stored on encrypted servers. You control access by managing who has permission to view your Ring account — you can invite family members or remove access at any time through the app settings.
How Ring alerts work and what you can do with them
When motion is detected near a Ring camera or someone presses the doorbell button, the device sends a notification to your phone. You can customize which types of motion trigger alerts — for example, you might want alerts for people but not cars or animals. You can also set quiet hours so alerts do not come through at night.
When you receive an alert, you can open the Ring app to see live video. If someone is at your door, you can press a button to speak through the camera's built-in speaker and microphone — the person outside hears your voice and can respond. This two-way talk feature works over your internet connection, so there is a slight delay (usually one to two seconds).
You can also save video clips to your phone, share them with others via email or text, or upload them to local police if you need to report a crime. Some police departments have programs where they can request Ring footage directly from your account if there is an incident in your neighborhood, though you control whether to share it.
Ring versus traditional alarm systems
Ring is a camera and doorbell system, not a security system in the traditional sense. It does not have door or window sensors, does not detect break-ins, and does not trigger a siren or alert a monitoring center. If someone breaks into your home, Ring will not know unless a camera sees them.
Ring works best as a complement to an existing alarm system or as a standalone visibility tool. Many people use Ring to see who is at the door before opening it, to monitor their porch for package theft, or to record activity around their home. If you want intrusion detection, 24/7 professional monitoring, or automatic police dispatch, you need a separate alarm system like ADT, Vivint, or a local provider.
Some alarm companies now integrate with Ring — for example, you can view your Ring camera on a security system's touchscreen or receive alerts through the same app. But the Ring device itself does not replace the alarm system's sensors or monitoring service.
Privacy and data considerations
Ring video is stored on Amazon's servers, which means Amazon has access to your footage. Amazon says it does not use your video for advertising or sell it to third parties, but the company does use Ring data to improve its products and services. You can read Ring's full privacy policy on the Ring website to understand what data is collected and how it is used.
Your Ring account is protected by a password and, optionally, two-factor authentication (a code sent to your phone when you log in). You should use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access to your account and video.
If you sell your home or move, you can remove your Ring devices from your account and reset them to factory settings so the new owner can set up their own account. Any video stored in your account is deleted when you remove the device.
Common issues and troubleshooting
The most common problem is poor Wi-Fi connection, which causes delays in live view, missed alerts, or video that does not upload. If your Ring device is far from your router, move the router closer, use a Wi-Fi extender, or switch to a Ring model with better range. You can check your Wi-Fi signal strength in the Ring app under device settings.
If you are not receiving alerts, check that notifications are turned on in your phone's settings for the Ring app, and that motion detection is enabled in the Ring app itself. Also verify that your device is connected to Wi-Fi — if it loses connection, it cannot send alerts.
If video is blurry or dark, clean the camera lens, check that the camera is not pointing into direct sunlight, and make sure your internet speed is at least 1 to 2 Mbps for smooth video. Night vision uses infrared, so it works in complete darkness but may not show color.
If your doorbell or camera stops responding, restart it by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. If that does not work, remove it from your Ring app and re-add it by scanning the code on the back of the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Ring Protect subscription to use my Ring doorbell?
No. Your Ring device works without a subscription — you can see live video and receive alerts on your phone. The subscription is only needed if you want to store video recordings for more than a few hours. Without it, video is deleted after about 24 hours.
Can Ring record video if my internet goes out?
No. Ring devices need an active internet connection to send video to the cloud and to send alerts to your phone. If your Wi-Fi or internet is down, the device cannot record or send notifications. Some Ring devices have a small amount of local storage, but it is very limited.
What happens if someone hacks my Ring account?
An unauthorized person could view your live video and recordings. To prevent this, use a strong password, enable two-factor authentication in your Ring account settings, and log out of the app on devices you no longer use. If you suspect your account has been hacked, change your password when ready and review the list of devices that have accessed your account.
Can I use Ring without an Amazon account?
No. Ring is owned by Amazon, and you must create or link an Amazon account to use Ring devices. Your Ring account and Amazon account are separate, but they are linked. You can manage privacy settings for each independently.
Does Ring work with other smart home systems?
Ring integrates with Amazon Alexa devices — you can view video on an Echo Show or hear alerts through an Echo speaker. Ring also works with some third-party systems through IFTTT (If This Then That), a service that connects different apps. Check the Ring app to see which integrations are available in your region.