Ring Protect Plans Give You Video Storage and Monitoring Features
A Ring camera subscription, called Ring Protect, stores your video recordings in the cloud so you can watch them later, and adds features like person detection and professional monitoring. Without a subscription, your Ring camera records video but deletes it after a short time — usually 24 hours or less depending on the model. The subscription keeps that footage available for 30 or 60 days, depending on which plan you choose.
Ring offers two main subscription tiers: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Basic covers one camera and costs a set monthly or annual rate. Plus covers all cameras and doorbells on your account and includes professional monitoring, where Ring's team can contact emergency services if motion or sound triggers an alert. There is also Ring Protect Pro, which adds 24/7 professional monitoring and costs more per month.
You do not have to buy a subscription to use your Ring camera — it will still record and send you alerts. The subscription is optional and changes what happens to those recordings and what extra features unlock.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic stores 30 days of video from one camera; Ring Protect Plus stores 60 days from all your cameras and adds professional monitoring.
- Without a subscription, your Ring camera records but deletes footage within 24 hours, so you cannot review events from days ago.
- Professional monitoring (included in Plus and Pro plans) means Ring's team can call 911 on your behalf if your camera detects motion or sound during an alarm.
- Ring Protect plans are month-to-month or annual, and you can cancel anytime without penalty.
- The subscription cost varies by plan and whether you pay monthly or yearly; annual plans cost less per month than paying month-to-month.
Ring Protect Basic vs. Plus vs. Pro: What Each Plan Includes
Ring Protect Basic is the entry-level option and covers one camera or doorbell. It stores 30 days of video in the cloud, lets you review footage on demand through the Ring app, and includes person detection — the camera can tell the difference between a person, an animal, and a vehicle, and sends you a more specific alert. Basic does not include professional monitoring.
Ring Protect Plus covers all cameras and doorbells on your account, no matter how many you have. It stores 60 days of video instead of 30, includes person detection on all devices, and adds 24/7 professional monitoring. If your camera or doorbell detects motion or sound during an armed alarm, Ring's monitoring center can review the footage and contact emergency services if needed. Plus is the most popular plan for households with multiple cameras.
Ring Protect Pro is the highest tier and includes everything in Plus — all cameras, 60 days of storage, person detection, and 24/7 professional monitoring — but adds professional video verification. This means a human at Ring's monitoring center watches the live video feed when an alarm triggers, rather than just reviewing a recording afterward. Pro is designed for people who want the fastest possible emergency response.
How Video Storage Works With and Without a Subscription
Ring cameras record continuously or on motion, depending on your settings. When you do not have a subscription, the camera stores video locally on the device for a limited time — usually 24 hours or less — and then deletes it. This means if something happens and you do not check your phone for a day or two, the footage is gone. You can still see live video and recent alerts, but you cannot rewind to an event from three days ago.
With a Ring Protect subscription, video uploads to Ring's cloud servers and stays there for 30 days (Basic) or 60 days (Plus and Pro). You can open the Ring app weeks later and watch what happened on a specific date. This is the main reason most people buy the subscription — not for the monitoring, but for the ability to review past events.
If your internet goes down, your Ring camera stops uploading new footage to the cloud, but it will resume uploading once your connection is back. Footage recorded while offline is not saved unless your camera has local storage (some newer Ring models support this, but it is not standard).
Professional Monitoring and How It Works
Professional monitoring is included in Ring Protect Plus and Pro. When you arm your Ring Alarm system and motion or sound triggers an alert, Ring's monitoring center receives a notification. A team member reviews what happened — either by watching the live video feed (Pro) or by reviewing the recorded footage (Plus) — and decides whether to contact emergency services.
If the monitoring center sees a genuine threat, they will call 911 on your behalf and provide the dispatcher with details about what they saw. They can also try to contact you first to confirm it is a real emergency. This is different from a basic motion alert, which just sends you a notification and does you the work of deciding whether to call for help.
Professional monitoring only works if you have a Ring Alarm system armed. A Ring doorbell or camera alone, even with a Plus or Pro subscription, does not trigger professional monitoring — it just sends you an alert. You need the alarm system to set up the monitoring service.
Pricing and Payment Options
Ring Protect plans are available on a month-to-month or annual basis. Monthly plans renew automatically each month, and annual plans renew each year. You can cancel anytime without penalty — there is no contract or early termination fee.
The exact price varies by plan and by region. Ring Protect Basic is the least expensive option, followed by Plus, then Pro. Paying annually costs less per month than paying month-to-month, so if you plan to keep the subscription long-term, annual billing saves money. You can see the current prices for your area in the Ring app or on Ring's website.
If you have multiple Ring devices, Ring Protect Plus is usually the better value than buying Basic for each camera, because Plus covers all devices for one price. Basic only covers one device, so a household with three cameras would need three Basic subscriptions, which costs more than one Plus subscription.
What Happens If You Cancel Your Subscription
If you cancel your Ring Protect subscription, your camera or doorbell continues to work. It will still record video, send you alerts, and let you watch live video through the app. The only thing that stops is cloud storage — your footage will no longer upload to Ring's servers, and any stored video older than 24 hours will be deleted.
You can reactivate a subscription anytime and your camera will resume uploading to the cloud. There is no penalty for canceling and restarting, and you do not lose your camera or any settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Ring Protect subscription to use my Ring camera?
No. Your Ring camera works without a subscription — it records video, sends you alerts, and lets you watch live video. The subscription adds cloud storage so you can review footage from weeks ago, and adds professional monitoring if you have a Ring Alarm system. Most people find the storage feature worth the cost, but it is not required.
Can I use Ring Protect Basic on multiple cameras?
No, Ring Protect Basic covers only one camera or doorbell. If you have more than one device, you need Ring Protect Plus, which covers all cameras and doorbells on your account for one monthly price. Plus is usually cheaper than buying multiple Basic subscriptions.
Does Ring Protect include professional monitoring for my doorbell?
Professional monitoring only works with a Ring Alarm system. A Ring doorbell or camera alone, even with a Plus or Pro subscription, will not trigger professional monitoring — it will just send you an alert. You need the alarm system armed to set up the monitoring service.
What happens to my video if my internet goes out?
While your internet is down, your Ring camera stops uploading new footage to the cloud. Once your connection is back, it will resume uploading. Footage recorded while offline is not saved to the cloud unless your camera has local storage (a feature on some newer models). Most Ring cameras do not have local storage.
Can I pause my Ring Protect subscription temporarily?
Ring does not offer a pause feature. You can cancel anytime and restart anytime without penalty, so if you want to stop paying for a few months, you can cancel and reactivate later. When you reactivate, your camera will resume uploading to the cloud.