by If you’re looking for a video doorbell, security camera, or other smart home device, you’ve probably come across several Ring products. The company is one of the most popular smart home brands, producing reliable devices that are easy to use and simple to install.
You’ve probably also noticed that it offers a monthly subscription called Ring Protect. But do you need a Ring Protect subscription to use Ring products? Or are they free to use once installed? Here’s a closer look at the service and whether you should sign up.
Need a subscription to Ring?
Getting straight to the point – a Ring Protect subscription is not required to use Ring products. This means that after you have installed your video doorbell or camera, you can start monitoring your home right away. However, that is not the end of the story. Ring locks tons of features behind a paywall, which means some of the enticing features that made you buy your Ring product may only be available to Ring Protect members.
Without a Ring Protect plan, you have access to the following features:
- Instant notifications
- Live broadcast
- two-way conversation
You might get additional features depending on your specific product, but the three features above are available for most Ring products without a Ring Protect plan.
What is Ring Protect Basic?
Ring Protect Basic costs $4 per month or $40 per year for a single doorbell or camera. As a Subscriber, you get the following abilities:
- Video history (180 days)
- Save and share videos
- snapshot recording
- personal alerts
- Rich notifications
- 10% discount on select Ring products
- Download 50 videos at once
We recommend going with this plan because it’s reasonably priced and offers tons of useful features (especially the 180-day video history). If you don’t join this tier, you simply won’t get much value out of your Ring doorbell or camera.
The devices themselves are expensive – and it’s unfortunate that you have to pay to access all of these features – but it’s worth budgeting an extra $4 a month if you really want to take advantage of everything your Ring- product has to offer.
What is Ring Protect Plus?
Ring Protect Plus costs $10 per month or $100 per year. It gives you video recording rights for all your Ring devices, making it a great option for homes with multiple Ring cameras on the property. In addition to all the features of Ring Protect Basic, you also benefit from extended warranties for all your devices.
What is Ring Protect Pro?
Ring Protect Pro costs $20 per month or $200 per year. It offers many features that are probably not necessary for the average household, although it turns your hardware into a more robust security system. Here’s what Ring Protect Pro brings to the table in addition to everything listed above:
- 24/7 professional surveillance
- Alert cellular backup
- AlexaGuardPlus
- 24/7 backup internet with optional extra data
- Digital security from eero Secure
- Ring Edge with local video storage
- Home insurance savings (up to $100)
If you need robust home security but don’t want to resort to a professionally installed system, this could be a great alternative. But for most homes with a few security cameras or a video doorbell, you might not need all of these extra features.
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