Ring subscription costs depend on which plan you choose and what devices you own

Ring, owned by Amazon, offers two main subscription tiers for video doorbell and camera owners. The basic plan costs $3 per month or $30 per year and covers cloud video storage and basic features. The premium plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year and adds professional monitoring, extended storage, and access to Ring's 24/7 support line. Neither plan is required to use your Ring device — you can view live video and get alerts without paying — but you lose cloud storage and some features if you don't subscribe.

The price is the same whether you own one Ring device or ten. A single subscription covers all Ring cameras and doorbells on your account. If you have multiple properties or accounts, you'll need a separate subscription for each one.

Key Takeaways

  • Ring's basic plan costs $3 per month or $30 per year and stores video for 30 to 60 days depending on activity.
  • The premium plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year and adds professional monitoring, 24/7 phone support, and extended storage up to 180 days.
  • You can use Ring devices without any subscription, but you won't have cloud video storage or the ability to review past recordings.
  • One subscription covers all Ring devices on a single account, so you don't pay per camera.
  • Ring also offers a separate professional monitoring add-on for $10 per month if you want monitoring without the full premium plan.

What the basic plan includes

The basic plan stores your video in the cloud for 30 to 60 days, depending on how much activity your cameras record. If your doorbell captures motion or someone rings it, that footage stays accessible through the Ring app on your phone or computer. Once the storage window closes, older videos are deleted automatically.

You get live view — the ability to watch your camera in real time from anywhere — and motion alerts that notify you when something moves in front of the camera. You can also talk through the camera's speaker and listen through its microphone if someone is at your door. The basic plan does not include professional monitoring, which means if your alarm goes off, nobody from a monitoring center will call the police on your behalf.

What the premium plan adds

The premium plan extends cloud storage to 180 days instead of 30 to 60, so you can look back much further if you need to review older footage. It includes professional monitoring: if your Ring alarm is triggered, a monitoring center employee will call you and can dispatch police if you confirm there's an emergency. This is the same service a traditional home security system offers.

Premium subscribers also get 24/7 phone support from Ring staff, whereas basic subscribers can only reach support through email or the app. The plan includes video playback on multiple devices at once and priority access to new Ring features, though these are minor compared to the monitoring and storage differences.

When you don't need a subscription

If you only care about live video — checking your doorbell camera while you're at work or watching your driveway in real time — you don't need to pay anything. The Ring app will show you a live feed from any of your cameras whenever you open it, and you'll get motion and doorbell alerts on your phone for free.

The trade-off is that you can't rewatch past events. Once you close the live view, that moment is gone unless you recorded it to your phone's storage. Some people use this setup as a temporary solution while they decide whether to commit to a subscription, or they use it for cameras in low-traffic areas where they don't need a recording history.

Professional monitoring as a separate add-on

If you want professional monitoring but don't need the extended storage or other premium features, Ring offers monitoring alone for $10 per month. This is useful if you already have a way to store video locally — for example, if you're using a Ring device with a built-in hard drive — or if you're comfortable with the basic 30 to 60-day cloud window.

The monitoring add-on works the same way as the premium plan's monitoring feature: a center employee will call you if your alarm triggers and can contact emergency services. You still get the basic plan's live view and motion alerts; you're just adding the monitoring layer on top.

How to pay and cancel

You set up your subscription through the Ring app or the Ring website. Ring accepts credit cards, debit cards, and Amazon Pay. If you choose the annual plan, you pay the full year upfront; if you choose monthly, you're charged on the same day each month.

You can cancel your subscription at any time through the app or website. There's no contract or cancellation fee. If you cancel mid-month, you lose access to the paid features when ready, though your account stays active. If you cancel mid-year on an annual plan, Ring does not refund the unused portion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to subscribe to use my Ring doorbell?

No. You can use Ring without a subscription and still get live video and motion alerts. You just won't have cloud storage, so you can't review past recordings. If you want to keep a record of who came to your door, you need at least the basic plan.

Can I try the premium plan before committing?

Ring sometimes offers free trials of the premium plan to new customers, usually for 30 days. Check the Ring app or website to see if a trial is available for your account. After the trial ends, you'll be charged unless you cancel.

What happens to my videos if I cancel my subscription?

Any videos stored in Ring's cloud will be deleted within 24 hours of cancellation. If you want to keep them, read them to your phone or computer before you cancel. Videos you've already saved locally won't be affected.

Can I use Ring with a local storage option instead of cloud storage?

Ring does not offer local storage through its own devices, but some third-party Ring-compatible cameras support it. The standard Ring doorbell and camera models require a subscription if you want to save video. Check the product specifications before buying if local storage is important to you.

Does the subscription price vary by location?

Ring's subscription prices are the same across the United States. If you're outside the US, pricing may differ and some features like professional monitoring may not be available in your country.