Ring subscription costs depend on which plan you choose and what devices you own

Ring offers two main subscription tiers: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Ring Protect Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers one device. Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers all Ring devices at your home — doorbells, cameras, and alarm systems. Both plans include video recording storage, motion alerts, and the ability to review footage on your phone.

If you own multiple Ring devices and want protection on all of them, Ring Protect Plus is usually cheaper than paying for Basic on each device separately. A household with three devices would pay $9 per month for three Basic subscriptions but only $10 per month for Plus.

Ring also offers a Ring Protect Pro plan through its Ring Alarm system, which costs $20 per month or $200 per year. This plan includes professional monitoring — someone watches your system 24/7 and can contact emergency services if your alarm is triggered. Ring Protect Pro is only available if you have a Ring Alarm system installed.

Key Takeaways

  • Ring Protect Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers one device only.
  • Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers all Ring devices at your home.
  • Ring Protect Pro costs $20 per month or $200 per year and includes 24/7 professional monitoring through Ring Alarm.
  • All plans include video storage, motion alerts, and the ability to view footage through the Ring app on your phone.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time without penalty.

What each subscription plan includes

All three Ring subscription plans store your video footage in the cloud so you can watch it later. Without a subscription, your Ring device records video but you cannot save or review it. With a subscription, you can rewatch footage from the past 60 days on Ring Protect Basic and Plus, or 180 days on Ring Protect Pro.

Motion alerts work on all plans — your phone sends a notification when your Ring device detects motion. You can customize which areas trigger alerts and set quiet hours so you are not woken at night. Live view, where you watch your camera in real time through the app, works without a subscription.

Ring Protect Plus and Pro add person detection, which tells you whether motion was caused by a person, package, or animal. This reduces false alerts from passing cars or blowing leaves. Ring Protect Pro also includes professional emergency response — if your alarm is triggered, a monitoring center contacts you and can dispatch police or fire if needed.

How to choose between Basic and Plus

Choose Ring Protect Basic if you own one Ring device and want to save video footage. The $3 monthly cost is low enough that most people find it worth the price just to have a record of deliveries and package theft.

Choose Ring Protect Plus if you own two or more Ring devices. The $10 monthly cost covers all of them, which is cheaper than paying $3 per device. Plus also includes person detection on all devices, which Basic does not offer.

Choose Ring Protect Pro only if you have a Ring Alarm system and want professional monitoring. This plan is designed for people who want their alarm watched by a monitoring center, not just for video storage. If you only have Ring cameras or a doorbell, Ring Protect Pro is not available to you.

Ring Protect plans do not cover hardware damage or theft

Ring subscriptions cover video storage and monitoring only. They do not cover the cost of replacing a stolen or damaged Ring device. If someone steals your Ring doorbell or a camera is damaged by weather, you pay for a replacement out of pocket.

Ring does offer an optional protection plan called Ring Protect Plus with Plan that adds hardware coverage, but this is a separate purchase from the subscription. It costs extra and covers accidental damage and theft of your Ring devices.

How to cancel or change your subscription

You can cancel your Ring subscription at any time through the Ring app. Open the app, go to the menu, select your subscription, and choose "Cancel Subscription." You will not be charged again after your current billing period ends. If you paid for a year upfront, you cannot get a refund for the unused portion.

You can also downgrade from Plus to Basic or upgrade from Basic to Plus. The change takes effect on your next billing date. If you upgrade mid-month, Ring prorates the cost — you pay only for the days you use the higher plan.

Free alternatives if you do not want to pay

Ring devices work without a subscription, but with limits. You can view live video through the app and receive motion alerts on your phone. You cannot save or review video footage — once you close the app, the video is gone. This is useful if you want to check on your porch in real time but do not need a record of what happened.

If you have a Ring Alarm system, you can use it without Ring Protect Pro, but you will not have professional monitoring. The alarm will still sound and send alerts to your phone, and you can contact emergency services yourself if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a subscription to use my Ring device?

No. Ring devices work without a subscription — you can view live video and get motion alerts. A subscription is only needed if you want to save and review video footage later. Without a subscription, video is not stored.

Can I share my Ring subscription with family members?

Yes. Anyone you invite to your Ring account through the app can view your cameras and receive alerts. They do not need their own subscription — they use the one tied to your account. You control who has access and what they can do.

What happens to my video if I cancel my subscription?

Your saved video is deleted when your subscription ends. If you cancel mid-month, you can still view your footage until your billing period ends. After that, all stored video is removed from Ring's servers.

Is Ring Protect Plus cheaper than paying for Basic on multiple devices?

Yes, if you own two or more devices. Two devices on Basic cost $6 per month; Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month and covers unlimited devices. Three or more devices make Plus clearly the better value.

Can I get a refund if I paid for a year upfront?

Ring does not refund unused portions of annual subscriptions. If you need to cancel, you stop being charged after the year ends. Some credit card companies offer purchase protection — contact your card issuer if you believe you were charged in error.