Ring Subscription Plans Explained
Ring offers two main subscription tiers for homeowners and renters who want cloud video storage and monitoring features. The Ring Protect Basic plan costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers one device with 60 days of cloud video storage. The Ring Protect Plus plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year and covers all Ring devices at your location with the same 60-day storage window, plus professional monitoring of Ring Alarm systems if you have one.
Neither plan is required to use a Ring device. Without a subscription, your Ring doorbell or camera will still record and send you alerts when motion is detected or someone presses the button, but the video won't save to the cloud — you'll only see live feed. The subscription is what lets you watch recordings later and, if you have a Ring Alarm system, get professional emergency dispatch.
Ring also sells a Ring Protect Pro plan for $20 per month or $200 per year, which adds 24/7 professional monitoring and emergency dispatch for Ring Alarm systems. This is separate from the video storage and is only useful if you own a Ring Alarm.
Key Takeaways
- Ring Protect Basic covers one device with 60 days of cloud storage for $3 per month, while Ring Protect Plus covers all your Ring devices for $10 per month.
- Without any subscription, Ring devices still record and send alerts, but video is not saved to the cloud and you cannot watch it later.
- Ring Protect Pro adds 24/7 professional monitoring and emergency dispatch for Ring Alarm systems at $20 per month.
- You can cancel a subscription at any time, and Ring will refund the unused portion of an annual plan if you paid yearly.
What Each Plan Covers
Ring Protect Basic is designed for people with a single device — one doorbell, one camera, or one alarm system. You get 60 days of cloud video storage, which means any recording made by that device stays on Ring's servers for two months. After 60 days, the oldest recordings delete automatically. You can read videos to your phone or computer during that window if you want to keep them longer.
Ring Protect Plus is the same storage and features as Basic, but it applies to every Ring device you own at one address. If you have a doorbell, two outdoor cameras, and an indoor camera, they all upload to the cloud and store for 60 days under one Plus subscription. Plus also includes professional monitoring for Ring Alarm systems — if your alarm is triggered, Ring's monitoring center can contact emergency services on your behalf.
Ring Protect Pro is only about alarm monitoring. It adds 24/7 professional monitoring and emergency dispatch to any Ring Alarm system you own. You still need either Basic or Plus for video storage if you have Ring cameras or doorbells. Some people buy Pro alone if they only own a Ring Alarm and don't care about video recording.
How to Buy and Cancel a Subscription
You set up a subscription through the Ring app on your phone or through Ring's website. Open the app, go to the menu, select your device, and look for "Protect Plan" or "Subscription." Ring will show you the three options and let you choose monthly or annual billing. You'll need a valid payment method — Ring accepts credit cards and debit cards.
Annual plans are cheaper per month than paying month-to-month. A yearly Ring Protect Basic plan costs $30 total, which is $2.50 per month. The monthly option costs $3 per month, so you save $6 per year by committing to a year. The same math applies to Plus and Pro.
You can cancel at any time through the Ring app under your subscription settings. If you paid for a year and cancel partway through, Ring will refund the unused portion. For example, if you buy an annual plan for $30 and cancel after six months, you'll get back $15. Month-to-month cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.
Video Storage and How It Works
All Ring subscription plans include 60 days of cloud storage. This means every video your Ring device records — whether from motion detection, a doorbell press, or continuous recording if you have that feature — uploads to Ring's servers and stays there for exactly 60 days. On day 61, the oldest video from day 1 deletes automatically.
You can watch, share, and read any video during that 60-day window using the Ring app. Downloading a video saves it to your phone's storage or computer, so it won't delete after 60 days. This is useful if you need to keep evidence of a package theft or other incident longer than two months.
Without a subscription, your Ring device still records, but the video doesn't upload to the cloud. Instead, it stores locally on the device itself if your Ring has that capability — some models support local storage, others don't. You can only watch live video without a subscription, not recordings from the past.
Professional Monitoring for Ring Alarm
If you own a Ring Alarm system, Ring Protect Plus or Pro adds professional monitoring. This means a monitoring center staffed by real people watches your alarm 24/7. When your alarm is triggered, the monitoring center receives an alert, tries to contact you, and if you confirm there's an emergency, they can dispatch police or fire to your address.
Ring Protect Plus includes monitoring during business hours or at a lower tier. Ring Protect Pro includes round-the-clock monitoring every day of the year. The exact monitoring level depends on your location and Ring's current offerings, so check the Ring app or website for what's available in your area.
Professional monitoring is not the same as video recording. You can have video storage without monitoring (Basic or Plus for cameras and doorbells only), or you can have monitoring without video (Pro for alarm only). Most people who want both buy Plus, which covers video storage for all devices plus alarm monitoring.
Comparing Ring to Other Options
Other home security companies offer similar tiered plans. Wyze charges $1.99 per month for cloud storage on one camera or $4.99 per month for unlimited cameras. Arlo charges $2.99 per month for one camera or $9.99 per month for unlimited. Nest by Google charges $6 per month for one camera or $12 per month for all cameras at one home.
The main difference between these services is which devices they support and how long they store video. Ring stores for 60 days; Wyze and Arlo store for 14 days on the basic plan; Nest stores for 30 days. If you need longer storage, you may need to pay extra or read videos manually.
If you don't need cloud storage at all, some cameras offer local storage only — they record to a microSD card or hard drive inside or near the device. This costs nothing per month but requires you to manage the storage yourself and you can't watch recordings remotely unless you set up your own network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a subscription to use my Ring doorbell?
No. Your Ring doorbell will still ring, send you alerts, and show you live video without a subscription. You just won't be able to watch past recordings. A subscription is only needed if you want to save video to the cloud and watch it later.
Can I switch from Basic to Plus or cancel anytime?
Yes. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel through the Ring app at any time. If you paid for a year and cancel early, Ring refunds the unused portion. Month-to-month plans end at the end of your billing cycle.
What happens to my videos if I cancel my subscription?
Any videos stored in the cloud will be deleted 30 days after your subscription ends. read any videos you want to keep before canceling. Videos stored locally on your device (if your Ring supports local storage) will remain on the device.
Does Ring Protect Plus cover multiple addresses?
No. One Plus subscription covers all your Ring devices at one location only. If you have Ring devices at a second home or rental property, you'll need a separate subscription for that address.
Is professional monitoring worth the cost?
That depends on whether you own a Ring Alarm system and whether you want emergency dispatch. If you only have Ring cameras and doorbells, professional monitoring doesn't explore — you're only paying for video storage. If you have an alarm, monitoring costs $10 to $20 per month but means someone will call police if your alarm goes off and you don't answer.