Ring vs Blink Comparison

Here’s a situation we don’t come across much: two home security brands offered by the same company. Granted, Amazon is enormous, but it’s still a bit unusual to find two entirely different home security options – Ring and Blink – sharing space under the same corporate umbrella.

Unsurprisingly, Blink and Ring have a good deal in common. Both brands offer high-tech equipment at an affordable price; both are firmly focused on DIY home security; and both offer a wide range of products so it’s easy to get exactly what you need. These two brands also have some crucial differences, and if you want to choose which one is right for you, you need a solid handle on those.

You’ve come to the right place. Below, we take a deep dive into these two home security brands, unpacking everything from installation processes to smart home features. By the time you’re done, we feel pretty certain that you’re going to know which of these two best suits your particular security needs.

Blink and Ring Features & Tech

So we’ll just say it up front: Blink isn’t quite as impressive a system as Ring, especially when it comes to technology. Things aren’t entirely one-sided, though, as a close look at these two illustrates.

Jaime Fraze Unboxing a Blink Security Camera

Blink Features & Tech

Blink doesn’t manufacture stripped-down cut-rate equipment. This is a company with enough high-tech tricks up its sleeve to stay competitive. For instance,

• High-Capacity Sync Modules: You can link an unlimited number of Blink cameras to your system, so it makes for an especially good option if you have a large number of spaces to monitor. Note that Blink’s battery-powered cameras require a Sync Module (hub), and each module is limited to 10 cameras. That’s still a lot of devices routed through one system.

Blink Cameras

• Internal Storage:All Blink cameras feature local storage of up to 256 GB. That’s only a quarter of the capacity of the Lorex cameras we tested recently, but it beats Ring’s absence of local storage. To store footage with Ring, you need to sign up for one of their cloud storage plans.
• Affordable storage plans: If 256 GB isn’t quite enough for you, Blink also offers cloud storage plans with virtually unlimited capacity. In this case, you do have to pay a monthly subscription fee. However, that fee is just $3 per camera or $10 for unlimited cameras.

• Easy DIY Installation: Despite needing to pair our Blink cameras with the Sync Module, it only took about five minutes using the mobile app. All we had to do next was put the cameras where we wanted them and they were ready to go. The whole setup took us about 15 minutes.
• 1080p HD Image Quality: All Blink cameras feature 1080p HD resolution. While it’s not the best, 1080p is clear enough to identify whoever or whatever happens by your home. We were even able to identify the neighbor’s cat digging up our front porch flower pots.
• Camera Selection: Blink doesn’t offer as many camera models as Ring, but they cover all bases. You can choose from several indoor and outdoor camera models featuring the core features we look for like built-in spotlights and person detection. They even have a video doorbell.

In addition, you might want to check out the new plug-in Mini Pan-Tilt. It can cover a whole room thanks to its 360-degree field of vision which can be remotely accessed from the Blink app. It’s a Blink Mini with a mechanical mount that makes the camera pan and tilt.

Ring Features & Tech

Boxed Up Ring Security Cameras

So now that we’ve seen what Blink has going for it, let’s turn to Ring’s assets.

• Sensors: Blink doesn’t have a full-home security system with sensors like Ring does. Strategically placed sensors can work just as well as cameras for securing your home, except they cost a lot less. Check out our hands-on review of Ring Alarm to see a full breakdown on Ring’s security system.
• Doorbell Cameras: Ring offers eight separate models, more than anyone else on the market. All of them work seamlessly with other Ring cameras and feature 1080p HD image quality or higher, night vision, and two-way talk (visit our complete Ring Video Doorbell review).

Ring Video Doorbell 3, Installed

• Indoor/Outdoor Cameras: Blink offers a fair number of cameras, but Ring wins this category. Not only does Ring offer both indoor and outdoor models, but you can get them in wired, wireless, and solar-powered versions. Ring also offers spotlight cameras and floodlight cameras. There’s even a camera for your car.

• Home Automation: Ring offers home automation options, including full Alexa or Google Home integration. Plus, the system works with more than 10,000 smart home devices from Nest thermostats to Hue Philips light bulbs. With that kind of connectivity, you can set your air conditioner to come on the moment your garage door opens and never come home to a hot house again.

Ring Floodlight Cam Mounted Outside

Blink and Ring Similarities

For all their several differences, Blink and Ring also have a fair number of similarities.

• Affordability: Blink is undeniably cheaper. That said, we consider both affordable. Ring’s lowest-priced camera is $60, whereas Blink’s pricing starts at $30. Compare either to SimpliSafe, and that $30 difference looks small with SimpliSafe’s cameras starting at $150.
• HD Video: Every Blink and Ring camera features at least 1080p HD resolution. That’s the industry standard and it’s all you need to identify a porch pirate or a neighbor’s pet causing chaos. Sure, there are 2K and even 4K cameras out there, but they cost a lot more. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at our Lorex pricing guide.

Ring Stick Up Cam Video Quality

• Wireless Home Security: Ring and Blink both offer wireless home security options. That makes installation a breeze. Installation only took us about five minutes per camera from either brand. If wireless capabilities are what you’re looking for, you can find more options in our best wireless home security systems guide.
• DIY Installation: You don’t just get a box full of equipment delivered to your door. Both Blink and Ring have put time and money into their packaging and instructions so that you know exactly what you’re doing every step of the way. They offer battery-powered and plug-in devices that anyone can install. Both companies also offer extensive tutorials online, so that it’s pretty much impossible to mess things up.
• Two-Way Talk: Every Ring and Blink camera and video doorbell features two-way talk, which we consider an essential feature. It has multiple uses such as scaring off intruders by letting them know cops are on the way and telling delivery drivers where to leave packages.
• Night Vision: Another high-tech feature we don’t want to live without? Night vision. All Ring and Blink cameras come with night vision. The quality of that night vision varies depending on how much you’re willing to pay, but both companies recognize that nighttime is when most threats occur and you need to be able to see what’s happening outside your home even if it’s dark.

Ring Indoor Cam Night View

Blink and Ring Differences

Blink and Ring do have some overlap when it comes to their offerings, but there are several key differences that you need to consider before plunking down the credit card. You’ll note that almost all of these differences are in Ring’s favor, one reason why we chose them right up front as the better option.

• Camera Selection: Blink offers a total of seven products, including at least one indoor, outdoor, and doorbell camera. That’s not bad – SimpliSafe, for instance, sells just four camera models – but Ring sells seven products in the doorbell category alone. Fewer cameras certainly isn’t a deal-breaker by any means, but there’s no denying that Ring provides more options if you’re looking for specific home security solutions.
• Range of Protection: With Ring, you don’t need to limit your home’s security to only security cameras. You can add a wide range of sensors, install hazard alarms, and opt for professional monitoring. Blink only offers security cameras and self-monitoring subscriptions.
• Reputation: Ring has better name-recognition than Blink. They invented the video doorbell, after all. That said, there’s no doubt that Blink has more to prove, and that sometimes means you can get better deals. If you’re looking for reliability, though, you’re probably better off trusting Ring.
• Field of Vision: Ring has cameras that boast up to a 160-degree field of vision, while many of Blink’s cameras only offer 110-degree FOV. However, with their new Mini Pan-Tilt, Blink now offers one camera with 360-degree coverage.
• Intrusion Protection: Remember that Ring sells the Ring Alarm home security system. This puts another layer of security around your home, with door/window sensors, motion sensors, and a Z-Wave hub with a built-in siren. Unfortunately, you won’t get any of this with Blink.
• Professional Monitoring: With a Ring Alarm system, you can sign up with 24/7 professional monitoring through the Ring Protect Pro plan. Essentially, you’ll pay $20 per month and Ring’s partner monitoring center will monitor your security system for you. This is a huge advantage for Ring. Blink doesn’t offer professional monitoring, so if you go with them, you’ll have to stay on top of everything yourself. That includes checking notifications when they come in, reviewing footage, and alerting the authorities when necessary.
• Pet Monitoring: Ring’s newest product is a set of custom features tailored to pet owners. Not only does Ring let you see and talk to your pets when you’re away from home, it lets you set up a pet profile so Ring Neighbors can help you track them down if they should go missing. You can even set up your Ring Doorbell to keep track of when your furry friends come and go through the front door, so you’ll know exactly when the dog walker stops by to walk them.

As you can see, we think Ring is an all-around better option compared to Blink cameras. Of course, Ring isn’t a perfect system, but there’s a reason why it ranks so high on our list of the best home security cameras available. In fact, there are several reasons!

Ring vs Blink: Snapshot of Costs and Fees

The Blink Outdoor costs $99.99, and buying in bulk gets you a discount. For indoor cameras, there’s the Blink Mini that costs $29.99, as well as the Blink Mini 2 and Blink Mini Pan-Tilt that both cost $39.99. Here’s our full rundown of Blink Camera pricing and packages.

Now, when we compare those costs to Ring, we find that Ring is the more expensive option of the two. Ring Indoor starts at a reasonable $59.99, but that’s still more than any Blink Mini model. From there, the outdoor cameras will run up to $249.99 for the recently released Floodlight Cam Pro.

Here’s where it gets tricky. If you’re looking at the bottom line, Blink is the more affordable option. It’s not always about the bottom line, though. Value is more important than price. Ultimately, Ring is worth the higher cost. It offers more options and better protections. You can get a complete rundown of all those options in our Ring Cam pricing guide. But, there’s no denying that Blink has the lower prices, as you can see below.

Blink Pricing Breakdown

And for comparison, here’s a breakdown of some of Ring’s most popular camera equipment:

A Look at Ring Cam Prices

Are Surveillance Systems Effective?

The main goals of a video surveillance system are to deter potential threats, keep you informed, and to notify you in case of an emergency. They act as a deterrent when the cameras are visible. When a criminal knows that he or she cannot enter your home without being seen (and recorded!), they will likely move on to target a different home.

Blink Outdoor Camera

Surveillance systems will also allow you to monitor your home while you are away. They’ll provide you with information such as whether you have packages waiting at the door, a visitor at your entryway, or a looky-loo trying to peek into your windows. Certain alerts and alarms will alert you in the case of an emergency situation as well. So there’s no denying the effectiveness of a camera system like Ring or Blink.

Ring vs. Blink: The Bottom Line

So there you have it: the good, the bad, and the ugly of these two camera-based security systems plus a comparison of those goods, bads, and uglies. But we know, what you really want is the bottom line. Which of these two systems do we prefer?

Well, we spent several weeks testing both Blink and Ring systems, and while we like Blink, we give the edge to Ring in this battle. Ring’s products have a better build, and their cameras come with more features. Plus, it’s easy to expand your system with Ring. They make a wide range of home security devices including a number of different cameras.

However, no security system is right for everyone. Blink has a lot going for it, too. We loved the resolution on Blink cameras, and Blink motion detectors are spot-on. Add in the fact that the company now offers an outdoor model, and you can count on Blink to keep you safe.

So, here’s the real bottom line. When it comes to the security of your home, you should do your homework (that’s why you have us!), weigh your options, and find the best system that makes sense for you, your family, and your budget. Make sure you keep in mind how many cameras you need, whether any will be used outside, how many home automation features you need, and whether or not you need a 24/7 monitoring service, and you can’t go wrong.

Video Recording in the Ring App