Ring subscription plans let you store video from your Ring devices in the cloud and access other features like person detection and extended warranties

Ring offers two main subscription tiers for homeowners: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. Basic covers a single device and costs a set monthly or annual rate. Plus covers all Ring devices at your address for a higher monthly or annual rate. Both plans store your video in Amazon's cloud servers so you can watch recordings from anywhere, even if someone steals or damages your device.

The main difference between the two is scope and features. Basic is designed for people with one doorbell or camera. Plus is built for households with multiple Ring devices — doorbells, indoor cameras, outdoor cameras, or a combination. Plus also includes some features that Basic does not, like person detection (the system tells you whether motion was caused by a person, package, or animal) and a discount on professional monitoring if you add Ring Alarm to your setup.

Neither plan is required to use your Ring device. Without a subscription, your device still records video and sends you motion alerts in real time. You just cannot store or watch past recordings, and you lose access to the features that require cloud storage.

Key Takeaways

  • Ring Protect Basic covers one device; Ring Protect Plus covers all devices at your address, and both store video in the cloud so you can watch it later from anywhere.
  • You can pay monthly or annually for either plan, and annual payment costs less per month than paying month to month.
  • Without a subscription, your Ring device still records and sends alerts, but recordings disappear after a short time and you cannot access advanced features.
  • Ring Protect Plus includes person detection and a discount on professional monitoring; Ring Protect Basic does not.
  • You can cancel your subscription at any time, and your device will continue to work without a plan.

Ring Protect Basic: Single-Device Coverage

Ring Protect Basic is the lower-cost option and covers one Ring device — typically a doorbell or a single camera. You pay a monthly fee or an annual fee, with the annual option costing less per month if you divide it out. The exact price varies by region and changes over time, so check Ring's website or your Ring app to see the current rate where you live.

With Basic, you get cloud video storage for 60 days. That means any video your device records stays on Ring's servers for two months. After 60 days, it deletes automatically. You can read videos to your phone or computer before they expire if you want to keep them longer. Basic also includes motion alerts sent to your phone in real time, even without a subscription, but the cloud storage is what you pay for.

Basic does not include person detection. That feature requires Plus. Basic also does not include the professional monitoring discount or some of the advanced sharing options that come with Plus. If you have multiple Ring devices, you would need to buy a separate Basic subscription for each one, which usually costs more than upgrading to Plus.

Ring Protect Plus: All Devices and Advanced Features

Ring Protect Plus covers every Ring device you own at a single address — as many doorbells, cameras, and other Ring products as you have. You pay one monthly or annual fee instead of a separate fee for each device. Like Basic, you can choose to pay month to month or annually, and annual payment is cheaper per month.

Plus includes 60 days of cloud video storage for all your devices, the same as Basic. The main additions are person detection, which uses artificial intelligence to tell you whether motion was caused by a person, a package, an animal, or a vehicle; a discount on professional monitoring if you add Ring Alarm; and some advanced sharing features that let you give temporary access to other people (like a contractor or family member) without sharing your full account password.

Plus also includes a discount on Ring Alarm professional monitoring. If you subscribe to Ring Alarm monitoring, Plus holders pay a lower monthly rate than people without a Plus subscription. This can add up to real savings if you use both services, though the monitoring is a separate subscription you choose to add.

How to Choose Between Basic and Plus

If you have one Ring device, Basic is usually the cheaper choice. You pay less per month and get the core features: cloud storage, motion alerts, and the ability to watch live video from anywhere. You do not get person detection, but if you do not need to filter out false alerts from animals or vehicles, that may not matter to you.

If you have two or more Ring devices, Plus usually costs less than buying Basic for each device separately. Plus also makes sense if you want person detection — that feature alone is worth it to many people because it cuts down on false alerts and lets you focus on motion that actually matters. If you plan to add Ring Alarm monitoring later, Plus saves you money on the monitoring fee.

You can start with Basic and upgrade to Plus later, or vice versa. Your subscription can change month to month. If you downgrade from Plus to Basic, you lose access to person detection and the other Plus features, but your video storage and alerts continue to work.

Payment Options and Billing

Both Basic and Plus offer two payment methods: monthly and annual. Monthly billing charges you every 30 days. Annual billing charges you once a year and costs less per month when you divide it out — typically 15 to 20 percent less, depending on the plan and your region. If you pay annually and cancel before the year is up, Ring's refund policy varies by region and by how long you have been subscribed, so check your account or contact Ring support for details on your specific situation.

You can change your payment method or switch between monthly and annual billing in the Ring app under your subscription settings. Changes usually take effect at your next billing date. If you switch from monthly to annual mid-month, you may see a prorated charge or credit depending on how much of your current month remains.

If your payment method fails, Ring usually sends you a notice and gives you a few days to update your payment information before your subscription pauses. Once you update it, your service resumes and your video storage comes back online.

What Happens Without a Subscription

Your Ring device continues to work without a subscription. It still records video when motion is detected, and it still sends you real-time motion alerts on your phone. You can still watch live video from your device at any time using the Ring app.

The main limitation is that recordings are stored only temporarily on your device itself, not in the cloud. Most Ring devices keep video for 24 to 30 hours without a subscription. After that, older recordings are deleted to make room for new ones. You cannot access recordings from more than a day or two ago unless you downloaded them before they expired.

You also lose access to features that require cloud storage, like person detection, video history, and the ability to share recordings with other people. If you add Ring Alarm monitoring, you can still use it without a Protect subscription, but you lose the monitoring discount that Plus provides.

Canceling or Pausing Your Subscription

You can cancel your Ring subscription at any time through the Ring app. Go to your subscription settings, select the plan you want to cancel, and choose the cancel option. Cancellation usually takes effect when ready, though if you paid for a full year, Ring's refund policy depends on your region and how long you have been subscribed.

Some regions offer the option to pause your subscription instead of canceling it. A pause temporarily stops your billing for a set period — usually 30 to 90 days — and you can resume it later without losing your settings or video history. Check your subscription settings in the Ring app to see if pause is available where you live.

If you cancel and later want to resubscribe, you can turn your subscription back on in the app at any time. Your device settings and any downloaded videos remain on your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Ring without paying for a subscription?

Yes. Your device records video and sends motion alerts without a subscription. The trade-off is that recordings are stored only on your device for about 24 to 30 hours, not in the cloud. You also cannot use person detection or other cloud-based features.

Do I need Plus if I only have one camera?

No. Ring Protect Basic is designed for single devices and costs less. Choose Plus only if you want person detection, plan to add more devices later, or want the professional monitoring discount for Ring Alarm.

What happens to my videos if I cancel my subscription?

Videos stored in the cloud are deleted when your subscription ends. Any videos you downloaded to your phone or computer before cancellation remain on those devices. Without a subscription, new recordings are stored only on your device for about 24 to 30 hours.

Can I switch between Basic and Plus?

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade in the Ring app at any time. Changes take effect at your next billing date. If you downgrade from Plus to Basic, you lose person detection and other Plus features, but your cloud storage continues.

Is there a discount if I pay annually instead of monthly?

Yes. Annual payment typically costs 15 to 20 percent less per month than month-to-month billing. You can switch between payment methods in your subscription settings.