Ring Alarm Security System Cost and Pricing

Ring emerged on the market about a decade ago with a video doorbell and a dream. Today, they’re one of the biggest names in home security, offering high-quality, low-cost equipment to fit just about any security need.

Why would you want to go with Ring? Well, they’re one of the best home security systems around, for one. They have world-class professional monitoring for just $20 per month, and their equipment offers cutting-edge protections as well as some interesting opportunities for home automation. It can be installed with minimal tools or know-how, and they don’t require any long-term contracts.

Are they the right system for you, though? In this guide we’re going to break down the cost of Ring’s equipment, discuss their offerings, and detail their overall value. By the end, you’re going to have a pretty good perspective of Ring’s security systems, and a good idea if they’re going to meet your needs.

Ring Alarm Pricing Overview

Equipment Costs

Pricing-wise, Ring is one of the most affordable security companies on the market today. They’re always coming out with new and improved versions of their cameras and video doorbells, so there’s a nice range of prices depending on what features you want. You can customize your own system, but note that the base station is required no matter what security kit you end up going with.

With the addition of Ring Alarm Pro to Ring’s lineup comes an upgraded base station with a built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 router that covers up to 1,500 square feet. You can either buy the base station alone as an upgrade to your existing Ring Alarm system, or buy a new 8- or 14-piece Ring Alarm Pro Package for as low as $299.99.

Ring Alarm Equipment Cost Breakdown

Here are the prices for Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Pro accessories:

Package Costs

To get the most savings, it makes sense to buy a package rather than individual pieces of equipment. Prices range from around $200 to over $770, so there’s a really big range depending on how much equipment you need. But whether you’re an apartment dweller or a homeowner, Ring has a security kit for you, plus add-on equipment available on their website and Amazon.

Ring Alarm Packages

Monitoring Costs

Ring lets users choose between self-monitoring for free and 24/7 professional monitoring. With self-monitoring, the user will be totally responsible for their home’s security, but with 24/7 professional monitoring, a team of people will also get alerted if any of the alarms go off. If the user doesn’t respond to a notification or phone call, the professional monitors can dispatch emergency services for them, after verifying their necessity. We recommend getting 24/7 professional monitoring along with cellular backup to keep the system on if the power goes out.

Monitoring Cost Overview

Ring offers three subscription plans plus a free self-monitoring option. Here’s the breakdown.

Professional monitoring and cellular backup costs only $20 a month or $200 a year with Ring, one of the lowest fees we’ve seen among the top players in the industry. A monitoring package from Cove, one of the most affordable home security systems, starts at $17.99, and so Ring’s $20 per month plan isn’t too far off.

Plus, all plans are monthly with Ring, so there’s no need to sign up for a long-term commitment as required with a traditional alarm system from Brinks, for example, or an Alder security package. Plus, you’ll get 60 days of cloud storage, an extended warranty, and 10 percent off products on Ring’s website.

Home Automation

Since Amazon owns Ring, it’s no surprise that Ring works with Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant. Using their voices alone, users can have Alexa:

• Show their cameras’ footage (live streamed or cloud storage) on their Echo devices or Fire TVControl smart lighting
• Adjust motion sensitivity
• Disable motion alerts
• Arm and disarm the security system or ask about its status
• Lock or unlock the door or ask about its status.

This is a pretty extensive integration, but while Ring also works with Google Assistant, the capabilities are not nearly as extensive as with Alexa:

• Tell the camera to record
• Get an update on the “health” of devices
• Review previous notifications.

All in all, Ring works better in the Amazon ecosystem than it does in the Google ecosystem, where it’s very limited.

For example, we could use a Google Home or Chromecast-enabled device to get a battery status update on our Ring Spotlight Cam Battery or our Ring Video Doorbell, but we couldn’t pull up live video feeds from our cameras on our Nest Hub Max or Nest Hub. If you’re looking for a more Google-friendly security system than Ring Alarm, give SimpliSafe’s packages a look. While SimpliSafe’s integrations are still limited, we could still access our system by telling our Google Home Hub, “Hey Google, arm SimpliSafe to away mode,” or, “Hey Google, tell SimpliSafe I’m leaving.”

Aside from the voice assistants, Ring works with some third-party devices like:

• Dome Siren
• Leviton Decora In-Wall Switch
• GE Plug-In Dimmer
• Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt
• Kwikset Z-Wave Deadbolt
• Yale Touchscreen Deadbolt
• Chamberlain Smart Garage Door Control

If you want more information on Ring, including our own video, see our full Ring Alarm review.

Ring in the News

Ring is one of the only security companies to be in the news pretty frequently, and for good reason. In a nutshell, over 400 police departments in the United States are partnered with Ring2 so that they can access users’ footage to identify suspects in crimes. Keep in mind that the user must consent to the police accessing and using their footage, but many have criticized Ring as a form of mass surveillance.

Recently the United States Senate launched an investigation3 into Ring video doorbells and how police access and store the footage. In his investigation, Senator Edward J. Markey found that Ring doesn’t have any security requirements for how the police access the footage, share it with third parties, request it from users, and store it. Ring also refused to say that they wouldn’t sell their customers’ biometric data.

Another big story was the fact that the data of more than 3,000 Ring users were exposed in a breach4, allowing hackers to access users’ livestream footage along with their address, payment information, and more. However, Ring claimed that the leak was the fault of a third party and told all users to reset their passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

Ring has also run into some other privacy concerns. The FTC found that employees illegally surveilled customers, and they were ordered to pay out $5.8 million in restitution.5

How Does Ring Stack Up?

Ring has some of the most affordable monitoring costs we’ve seen from a security company, only $20 per month or $200 per year for 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup, among other features. Only a handful of brands offer cheaper monitoring than Ring, and the difference is often minimal. Plus, when you consider older companies that charge as much as $60 a month for monitoring, in the grand scheme, Ring is definitely at the lower end.

We also appreciate that even without paying any monthly fees, Ring users can still live-stream footage, receive notifications if any of their alarms go off, and control their systems remotely. This isn’t the case with all systems; while some companies claim they offer self-monitoring, their systems essentially turn into local alarms only.

In terms of equipment, Ring is also pretty affordable. Ring is average in terms of camera and video doorbell pricing. There are much more expensive camera options for up to $500, as well as ridiculously cheap cameras for $20, but Ring sits right in the middle at an average of $100 to $200. For a system that offers a larger equipment selection and dedicated 24/7 professional monitoring, check out the plan offerings from Frontpoint, another popular and fairly affordable home security brand.

Our Ring Alarm Security Kit Research and Data

Overall Value

As long as you’re okay with Ring’s police partnerships, it’s a very affordable, simple and effective security system. With a ton of equipment options, DIY installation, integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant and affordable monitoring costs, Ring gives you the flexibility to spend as much or as little as you want to on your home’s security.