Does Ring require a subscription?
Short answer: No, but without a plan Ring won't save any video. Without a subscription you get live view and real-time alerts. Recording, playback, and Smart Alerts need a Ring Protect plan. Ring Solo starts at $4.99/month in the US.
What works free
- Live View for up to 10 minutes at a time (app and Ring.com), including shared users [source]
- Two-way talk during Live View [source]
- Real-time doorbell press ("Ring Alerts") and motion alerts [source]
- Motion sensitivity, motion schedules and alert settings [source]
- Manual siren and lights during Live View (select cameras) [source]
What needs a subscription
- Recording, reviewing, saving, and sharing video (stored up to 180 days). Only events after you subscribe are recorded. [source]
- Smart Alerts: person, package, and vehicle detection [source]
- Extended Live View (up to 30 minutes), Continuous Live View, Multi-Cam Live View, Picture-in-Picture [source]
- Device Modes (remote arm/disarm, recording schedules), plus extended warranty on Multi and above [source]
- Intelligent features such as Video Descriptions, Familiar Faces, and Video Search (Ring Pro, or the Pro Intelligence add-on) [source]
- 24/7 Professional Monitoring (Ring Pro; US and Canada excluding Quebec only) [source]
Plans and prices (USD)
| Plan | Covers | Monthly | Yearly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Solo | One device | $4.99 | $49.99 | [source] |
| Ring Multi | All devices at one location | $9.99 | $99.99 | [source] |
| Ring Pro | All devices at one location, plus 24/7 Professional Monitoring and intelligent features | $19.99 | $199.99 | [source] |
| Virtual Security Guard | Everything in Pro plus live video monitoring by agents | $99.00 | — | [source] |
| Pro Intelligence (add-on) | One camera; requires Solo or Multi | $5.00 | — | [source] |
| +$5/mo per camera | ||||
| 24/7 Continuous Recording (add-on) | One eligible camera; requires any plan. Cloud-stored for up to 14 days. | $3.00 | — | [source] |
| +$3/mo per camera in the US. Ring Elite cameras are priced differently ($6–$18/mo by model). | ||||
Free 30-day trial starts when you set up a new device, unless the location already has a plan. [source]
US prices as listed by Ring on 2026-10-25, before tax. Prices change, so confirm at checkout.
Local storage
Not verified. Ring doorbells and cameras store recordings in Ring's cloud on a paid plan. We found no local or microSD recording option for standalone Ring doorbells or cameras on the pages we checked. Ring's US plan comparison lists "Local Video Storage" under Advanced Alarm Features, but we have not verified which devices it applies to. [source]
Outside the US
UK (GBP)
- Ring Solo: £4.99/mo or £49.99/yr
- Ring Multi: £7.99/mo or £79.99/yr
- Ring Pro: £15.99/mo or £159.99/yr
- Ring Guard Response tier: £29.99/mo or £299.99/yr
Add-ons are £3/mo per device (Pro Intelligence) and £3/mo per camera (24/7 recording). The UK Pro tier does not include US-style professional monitoring. Instead, the top UK tier adds licensed guard call-outs. [source]
AU (AUD)
- Ring Solo: A$4.95/mo or A$49.95/yr
- Ring Multi: A$14.95/mo or A$149.95/yr
- Ring Pro: A$29.95/mo or A$299.95/yr
24/7 Continuous Recording add-on shown as +$4/mo per camera on the AU page. [source]
NZ (NZD)
- Ring Solo: NZ$4.95/mo or NZ$49.95/yr
- Ring Multi: NZ$14.95/mo or NZ$149.95/yr
- Ring Pro: NZ$29.95/mo or NZ$299.95/yr
From the NZ customer note on Ring's Australian plans page. [source]
CA
Not verified yet. Canadian pricing not checked yet. Professional Monitoring is offered in Canada (excluding Quebec).
EU
Not verified yet. EU pricing not checked yet. Ring's support page notes plan availability varies by market.
Our verdict
Ring is fine as a free "who's at the door right now" doorbell. If you want to see what happened while you weren't looking, budget for at least Ring Solo ($4.99/mo or $49.99/yr per device in the US) or Ring Multi ($9.99/mo) for a whole home.
Alternatives that don't need a subscription
- eufy Security cameras & doorbells: Records locally to the camera or a HomeBase with no monthly fee.
- Wyze cameras: Every Wyze camera has a microSD slot for free local recording.
- Reolink: Popular no-subscription cameras and doorbells with local storage (page coming).
More in: Video doorbells without a subscription · Security cameras without a subscription
FAQ
Can I use a Ring doorbell without a subscription?
Yes. You can watch Live View for up to 10 minutes at a time, use two-way talk, and get real-time doorbell and motion alerts. You can't record, replay, or share video without a plan.
How much is a Ring subscription?
In the US, Ring Solo is $4.99/mo or $49.99/yr for one device, Ring Multi is $9.99/mo or $99.99/yr for all devices at one address, and Ring Pro is $19.99/mo or $199.99/yr (checked 2026-10-25).
What happened to Ring Basic, Standard and Premium?
Ring renamed its plans in 2026. Home Basic became Ring Solo, Home Standard became Ring Multi, and plans with 24/7 Professional Monitoring became Ring Pro. Home Premium became Premium Legacy.
Can I watch old Ring videos after subscribing?
No. Only events recorded after you subscribe are saved. Earlier events may appear in your history but can't be viewed.
What we couldn't verify
- Local video storage for standalone Ring doorbells and cameras (see Local storage).
- Canada and EU plan prices.
Sources (checked 2026-10-25)
- Ring Protect plans (US), ring.com/plans
- Ring blog: Ring Protect Plans Compared (Oct 19, 2026)
- Ring subscription plan changes in 2026 (support)
- Live View for doorbells and cameras (support)
- General information about Ring products and services (support)
- Managing alerts for Ring doorbells and cameras (support)
- Ring Protect plans (UK)
- Ring Protect plans (Australia, incl. NZ pricing note)