Ring Doorbell subscription plans cost between $3 and $10 per month, depending on which camera you own and what features you want
Ring offers two main subscription tiers. Ring Protect Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers video recording and cloud storage for one camera. Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers unlimited cameras on your account, plus professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems if you have one.
You do not need a subscription to use your Ring doorbell at all — you can still see live video and get motion alerts on your phone without paying anything. The subscription only adds the ability to save and rewatch video clips after they happen. Without it, you see live video in real time but cannot store recordings.
Ring also offers Ring Protect Pro, which costs $20 per month or $200 per year. This plan includes everything in Plus, plus 24/7 professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems and emergency dispatch. Most doorbell owners do not need this tier unless they also use Ring Alarm for home security.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic ($3/month) records video from one camera and stores it in the cloud for 60 days.
- Ring Protect Plus ($10/month) covers unlimited cameras and includes professional alarm monitoring if you own a Ring Alarm system.
- You can use your Ring doorbell without any subscription to see live video and receive motion alerts, but you cannot save recordings.
- Yearly payment plans cost less per month than paying monthly — Basic is $30/year instead of $36/year, and Plus is $100/year instead of $120/year.
- Professional monitoring for Ring Alarm (included in Plus and Pro plans) requires a separate Ring Alarm system; it does not explore to doorbell cameras alone.
What you get with Ring Protect Basic
Basic covers one camera and stores 60 days of video in Ring's cloud. When motion or a doorbell press triggers your camera, the video clip saves automatically. You can watch, read, or share these clips from the Ring app on your phone or computer. The clips stay available for 60 days, then Ring deletes them to make room for new recordings.
Basic does not include professional monitoring for alarms. If you own a Ring Alarm system and want Ring to call the police or fire department when it triggers, you need Plus or Pro instead. Basic also covers only one camera — if you add a second Ring camera, you either need a separate Basic subscription for it or upgrade to Plus.
What you get with Ring Protect Plus
Plus covers as many Ring cameras as you own on a single subscription. Like Basic, it stores 60 days of video in the cloud for each camera. The main difference is that Plus also includes 24/7 professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems. If your alarm triggers, Ring's monitoring center can contact you, and if you authorize it, they can dispatch police or fire to your address.
Plus costs $10 per month whether you have one camera or ten cameras. If you own multiple Ring cameras and a Ring Alarm system, Plus is usually cheaper than paying for separate Basic subscriptions plus buying alarm monitoring separately. Ring Alarm monitoring through other providers typically costs $10 to $25 per month on its own.
What you get with Ring Protect Pro
Pro is the highest tier at $20 per month. It includes everything in Plus — unlimited cameras, 60-day cloud storage, and professional alarm monitoring — plus 24/7 professional monitoring with emergency dispatch included. The difference between Plus and Pro is that Plus monitoring is available during business hours for most regions, while Pro monitoring is round-the-clock.
Pro also includes some additional features like extended video storage in certain regions and priority customer support. However, most doorbell owners find Plus sufficient. Pro is mainly for people who want the highest level of alarm system monitoring and have multiple cameras they want to record continuously.
How to pay for your subscription
You set up a subscription through the Ring app or Ring's website. When you first open the app after setting up your doorbell, Ring prompts you to choose a plan. You can also add a subscription later by going to your account settings, selecting your device, and choosing a plan.
Ring accepts credit cards, debit cards, and Amazon Pay. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can use the payment method linked to your Prime account. Subscriptions renew automatically each month or year depending on which billing cycle you chose. You can cancel anytime through the app or website, and Ring will not charge you again after your current billing period ends.
Comparing monthly and yearly billing
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost | Yearly Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Protect Basic | $3/month | $30/year | $6 per year |
| Ring Protect Plus | $10/month | $100/year | $20 per year |
| Ring Protect Pro | $20/month | $200/year | $40 per year |
Paying yearly saves money on every plan. The savings are modest on Basic but add up if you keep the subscription for several years. If you are unsure whether you will use the service long-term, monthly billing lets you cancel without losing money to an unused yearly payment.
Most people who choose yearly billing do so because they know they will keep the subscription active. If you are testing whether you need video storage at all, start with monthly and switch to yearly once you are confident you will continue.
Whether you need a subscription at all
A Ring doorbell works without a subscription. You will receive motion alerts and doorbell press notifications on your phone in real time, and you can watch live video whenever you open the app. The only thing you cannot do is save or rewatch video after the moment passes.
If you rarely need to review past video — for example, you mostly want to see who is at your door right now — you may not need a subscription. If you want to save clips of package deliveries, check what happened while you were away, or have a record of motion events for security reasons, Basic or Plus makes sense. The $3 per month for Basic is low enough that most people find it worth the cost for peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Ring subscription with family members?
Yes. You can add other people to your Ring account through the app, and they will see all your cameras and recorded video. However, only the account owner can manage the subscription or change billing. Each person you add needs their own Ring app login.
What happens to my video if I cancel my subscription?
All stored video clips are deleted when your subscription ends. Ring does not keep them after you stop paying. If you want to keep important clips, read them to your phone or computer before your subscription expires.
Do I need a subscription if I only want live video?
No. You can watch live video from your Ring doorbell anytime without a subscription. You will only miss the ability to save clips and rewatch them later. Motion alerts and doorbell press notifications work without a subscription too.
Is there a free trial for Ring subscriptions?
Ring sometimes offers free trial periods when you first set up a doorbell, but this varies by region and promotion. Check the Ring app after setup to see if a trial is available. If not, you can start with monthly billing and cancel after the first month if you decide it is not for you.
Can I have different subscription levels for different cameras?
No. All cameras on your account share the same subscription tier. If you have one camera on Basic and add a second camera, both cameras move to the same plan. To have different plans, you would need separate Ring accounts, which is not practical for most households.