What Ring subscription plans cost and what they include
Ring offers two main subscription tiers for doorbell cameras: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Basic costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers video recording and storage for one device. Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers unlimited devices, video storage, professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems, and 24/7 emergency dispatch if you have an alarm.
You can also buy Ring Protect Pro for $20 per month or $200 per year, which adds 24/7 professional monitoring and emergency dispatch even if you don't own a Ring Alarm system. The exact price may vary by region and changes periodically, so check Ring's website for current rates in your area.
Without any subscription, your Ring doorbell still records video and sends you alerts when motion or someone rings it. The difference is that without a plan, video is not stored in the cloud — you lose the recording once you close the app. A subscription stores video for 60 days so you can review it later.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic stores video from one device for $3 per month, while Plus stores video from all your Ring devices for $10 per month.
- Without a subscription, your doorbell still records and sends alerts, but video is not saved after you close the app.
- Ring Protect Pro adds 24/7 professional monitoring and emergency dispatch for $20 per month, even without a Ring Alarm system.
- Video stored under any plan is kept for 60 days, then automatically deleted unless you read it.
- You can cancel a subscription at any time, and your doorbell will continue to work without cloud storage.
How video storage works under each plan
When you subscribe to Ring Protect Basic or Plus, your doorbell uploads video to Ring's cloud servers. You can watch recordings from the Ring app on your phone or computer for up to 60 days after they are recorded. After 60 days, Ring deletes the video automatically.
If you want to keep a recording longer than 60 days, you can read it to your phone or computer before the important date. Downloaded videos stay on your device as long as you keep them. Some people read important recordings — like a package theft or a visitor they want to remember — and delete the rest to save storage space on their phone.
Ring Protect Plus covers all Ring devices you own under one subscription, so if you have a doorbell, a stick-up camera, and a floodlight camera, all three upload to cloud storage. Ring Protect Basic covers only one device, so if you own multiple cameras, you would need to buy Basic for each one or upgrade to Plus.
Professional monitoring and emergency dispatch
Ring Protect Pro and Ring Protect Plus (if you own a Ring Alarm system) both include 24/7 professional monitoring. This means a monitoring center watches your alarm system around the clock. If your alarm is triggered, the center calls you to confirm it is a real emergency. If you confirm or do not answer, they dispatch police or fire to your address.
Professional monitoring costs extra because it requires Ring to staff a call center and maintain contracts with local emergency services. You pay a monthly fee whether or not your alarm is ever triggered. If you do not own a Ring Alarm system, you cannot add monitoring to Basic or Plus — you must buy Pro.
If you own a Ring Alarm but do not subscribe to Plus or Pro, your alarm still works and sends you notifications on your phone. The difference is that without monitoring, no one calls emergency services if you do not respond to the alert yourself.
Comparing Ring plans side by side
| Feature | No Subscription | Ring Protect Basic | Ring Protect Plus | Ring Protect Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video recording | Yes, not saved | Yes, 60 days | Yes, 60 days | Yes, 60 days |
| Devices covered | All | One | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Professional monitoring | No | No | Yes (with Ring Alarm) | Yes |
| Monthly cost | $0 | $3 | $10 | $20 |
| Annual cost | $0 | $30 | $100 | $200 |
When you need each subscription level
Choose no subscription if you want real-time alerts when someone rings or motion is detected, but you do not need to review video later. This works for people who are home most of the time and can watch the live feed when ready, or who do not care about recorded evidence after the moment passes.
Choose Ring Protect Basic if you own one Ring device and want to keep video for 60 days. This is the cheapest way to have cloud storage. If you later buy a second Ring camera, you would either buy another Basic subscription for that device or upgrade to Plus, which covers all devices for $10 per month.
Choose Ring Protect Plus if you own multiple Ring devices and want all of them to store video in the cloud. Plus also includes professional monitoring if you own a Ring Alarm system. If you do not own an alarm, Plus gives you cloud storage but not monitoring.
Choose Ring Protect Pro if you want 24/7 professional monitoring without owning a Ring Alarm system, or if you want monitoring plus cloud storage for multiple devices. Pro is the most expensive option but covers everything.
How to change or cancel your subscription
You manage your Ring subscription through the Ring app on your phone or the Ring website. Open the app, tap the menu, select "Subscriptions," and you will see your current plan and billing date. From there you can upgrade to a higher tier, downgrade to a lower one, or cancel entirely.
If you cancel, your subscription ends on your next billing date. You keep access to any video already stored in the cloud until the 60-day retention period expires. After that, video is deleted. Your doorbell continues to work and send you alerts, but new video is not saved.
If you upgrade from Basic to Plus mid-month, Ring prorates the difference — you pay only for the extra days at the higher price. If you downgrade, the change takes effect on your next billing date, and you are not refunded for the current month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Ring doorbell without paying for a subscription?
Yes. Your doorbell records video and sends you alerts without a subscription. The only thing you lose is cloud storage — video is not saved after you close the app. You can still watch a live feed anytime by opening the Ring app.
What happens to my video if I cancel my subscription?
Video already stored in the cloud stays there for 60 days from the date it was recorded, then Ring deletes it automatically. If you want to keep a video after canceling, read it to your phone or computer before the 60-day window closes.
Do I need Ring Protect Plus if I own a Ring Alarm?
No. Your alarm works without any subscription and sends you notifications if it is triggered. Plus adds professional monitoring, which means a call center dispatches emergency services if you confirm an alarm. If you do not want monitoring, you do not need Plus, but you may still want Basic or Plus for cloud video storage from your doorbell.
Can I buy a subscription for just one month?
Yes. Ring charges month-to-month at the monthly rate or year-to-year at the annual rate. You can cancel anytime, and the subscription ends on your next billing date. There is no contract or early termination fee.
Does Ring Protect cover theft or damage to my doorbell?
No. Ring subscriptions cover only video storage and professional monitoring. They do not cover hardware damage, theft, or malfunction of the doorbell itself. Ring sells a separate protection plan for hardware, but that is a different product.