Ring vs Blink Comparison

What do Ring and Blink have in common? A lot. They’re both part of the Amazon family – and they are both huge money-makers. They both offer high-tech but affordable cameras. And they both come from humble beginnings before becoming the household names they are today. Ring and Blink are essentially twins, but that doesn’t mean they’re identical. There are some pretty significant differences that you’ll want to consider when thinking about protecting your family.

For one, Ring offers a lot more products — and a lot more product categories, for that matter. Ring is far from just a security camera company; they offer all kinds of equipment to create comprehensive security systems. Blink, on the other hand, just sticks to helping customers keep an eye on things.

Nothing wrong with that at all, especially when you consider that Blink has been busy adding to its lineup lately. They recently released the newest iteration of their outdoor camera, and we’re going to be reviewing it for you soon.

Today though, we’re going to take a closer look at both Amazon-owned brands to help you decide which is the best fit for you.

Blink and Ring Features & Tech

Let’s start by giving each of these two security companies a chance to shine on their own. Both of them offer a strong line of cameras, both of them will improve your home’s protection, but they offer some very different features, and choosing between them is probably going to come down to which features appeal to you most.

A little advice: when we’re shopping for our own home security equipment–especially cameras–we start by making three lists: one of our nice-to-haves, one of our must-haves, and one of our if-it-doesn’t-have-it-it’s-a deal-breaker. As we go through each company’s best features, maybe consider your lists, what you’re getting, and what you’re not getting.

Jaime Fraze Unboxing a Blink Security Camera

Blink Features & Tech

• Capacity of Up to Ten Cameras: The Blink video surveillance system has a large capacity for multiple cameras. You can link up to ten cameras to the same hub with Blink, but you can multiple hubs under the same account. Some Blink cameras can even connect directly to Wi-Fi. It’s a great option if you have a large house that needs a lot of cameras.

Blink Cameras

• Motion-Triggered Recording: Blink home security cameras are equipped with built-in motion sensors. The cameras automatically begin recording when the motion sensors detect motion. This saves storage space, as the camera records only the activity that matters, not continually day and night.
• Internal Storage: The Blink home video surveillance system records footage to a central hub. That hub can hold up to 245 GB of video. That’s not as much as some of the Lorex cameras we tested recently which hold up to 1 TB. Still, it lets you store around a week’s worth of clips. And because you’re using a hub rather than the cloud, you don’t have to pay a dime for that storage.
• Affordable cloud plans: Blink calls its locally save clips “backup clips,” and that’s because its cameras were designed primarily to store videos in the cloud. That requires a monthly subscription fee, but it’s quite affordable at $3 per month for each camera or $10 per month for unlimited cameras.

• Easy DIY Installation: Most of Blink’s cameras can be installed in a matter of minutes, as there’s no real drilling or wiring required. When we tested Blink, we found their installation to be easier than a lot of DIY cameras out there, and they were up and running with very little effort on our part. A major reason for that is that all of Blink’s cameras are battery powered.
• 1080p HD Image Quality: Blink cameras gave us crisp and clear 1080p HD resolution on both indoor and outdoor models. This is the industry standard these days, and it’s plenty sharp to pick up the little details you need.
• Indoor/Outdoor Cameras: You can monitor your kiddos and nannies, contractors, or other service workers inside, while also keeping an eye on your front yard and backyard. The Blink Indoor and the Blink Outdoor, both of which are battery-powered, headline Blink’s product line. Blink also has a super affordable indoor camera in Blink Mini, a budget-friendly video doorbell, and an outdoor lighting accessory for the Blink Outdoor.

The most recent addition to the Blink Camera lineup is the new Gen 4 Outdoor Camera. This wire-free outdoor camera boasts a two year battery life, HD quality live view, and an enhanced motion detection system. We’re about to review it, too — so stay tuned for that. If you want to pick one up for yourself, it’ll run you $71.99.

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 goes for $29.99.

Ring Features & Tech

Boxed Up Ring Security Cameras

• Entry Sensors: We mentioned it earlier – Ring started as a video doorbell company, but it’s grown into a complete home security company. That means you can get more than just cameras. You can get all the equipment you need to protect your home, including entry sensors. Ring Alarm’s entry sensors alert you when someone enters your home through an exterior door or window. That means you don’t have to put a camera on every single entry, saving you tons of money. And because all your entry sensors communicate seamlessly with Ring’s cameras and other equipment, they add to your holistic safety. For more, check out our hands-on review of Ring Alarm.
• Doorbell Cameras: You didn’t think we’d forget about Ring’s doorbell cameras, did you? After all, Ring put doorbell cameras on the map! Having a doorbell viewer means that you’ll be able to see, in real-time, a live video feed of your front door and anyone who is there. Ring video doorbells can protect against package theft and break-ins with features like 1080p HD image quality, two-way talk, and night vision. To read more, see our latest Ring Video Doorbell review.

Ring Video Doorbell 3, Installed

• Indoor/Outdoor Cameras: Seeing that Ring offers a variety of different security cameras, it’s not surprising that they have devices for both indoor and outdoor use. Similar to what we experienced while testing Blink, Ring’s outdoor cameras are built to withstand harsh weather conditions. So rain or shine, you’ll be able to monitor the activity around your home.

• Home Automation: Ring offers more than security equipment. Ring offers home automation options as well. That means you can control all your devices through Alexa or Google Home using just your voice. And you can connect a whole host of other smart home products to your system, like door locks from Schlage, garage door openers from Chamberlain, thermostats from Honeywell, and smart lights from Hue. Trust us, there’s nothing like telling your security system to bump the heat when you pull into your garage on a cold winter’s day. One Ring to rule them all, right?
• Alexa Compatibility: Another neat feature with Ring is that their cameras are Alexa-compatible, giving you hands-free voice control over your home video surveillance system. Ring Cams also work with Google Home now, but since Ring and Alexa are both Amazon-owned, the Ring/Alexa compatibility is seamless.
• Spotlights & Floodlights: Ring offers cameras with built-in spotlights and floodlights. We call this “active deterrence” in the industry, and it works! After all, criminals don’t want to be exposed by bright lights, and that’s exactly what these motion-triggered spotlight and floodlight cameras do.

Ring Floodlight Cam Mounted Outside

Blink and Ring Similarities

Besides being owned by Amazon and hated by prowlers everywhere, Blink and Ring cameras do have a few things in common.

• Affordability: Both of these two security camera options are on the cheap side. You don’t need to sign up for any long-term contracts either, or pay to have your cameras installed. They’re both completely DIY. You just pay for your equipment and you’re off to the races — unless you opt in to a monitoring plan, which we do recommend.
• HD Video: You can’t catch a thief if you can’t see them. Despite the lightweight price tag, Blink and Ring offer some heavy-duty bang for your buck when it comes to delivering crisp, clean videos. While they don’t quite make it up to the 2K or 4K range of a Lorex security camera, their 1080p images are more than enough to see everything moving in and around your home.

Ring Stick Up Cam Video Quality

• Wireless Home Security: Both of these companies offer wireless systems, which can make life very convenient. Wireless equipment doesn’t need professional installation, which saves you money upfront. You don’t have to worry about where you place equipment since you don’t have to worry about wires. And alerts and footage get sent directly to your mobile app so you know in an instant when something’s happening at home. If wireless systems appeal to you, you might want to dig a little deeper. Check out our best wireless home security systems guide.
• DIY Installation: Since the majority of Ring’s equipment is battery-powered or plug-in, they’re squarely in the DIY installation category. This means most setups will take less than 10 minutes, particularly if you’re handy with a power drill. That said, there are a few hardwired options in Ring’s lineup that will take some knowhow — and some time — to get installed.
• Two-Way Talk: This is a staple feature we always look for in a security camera, and both Ring and Blink offer it. You can speak with visitors using the companion app on your smartphone, which is always great for convenience and safety’s sake. Gone are the days of opening your front door for strangers and pesky salesmen of all stripes.
• Night Vision: You’ll want to see what’s happening around your home, even in the dark of night. Thankfully, Ring and Blink both offer night vision. Although the quality does noticeably decrease compared to daytime viewing, night vision is still a must-have feature to look for.

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. These differences include:

• Camera Selection: Blink offers a total of seven products, including at least one indoor, outdoor, and doorbell camera. On the other hand, Ring sells seven products in the doorbell category alone. A bigger selection is better in most cases, as you’re more likely to find a quality camera that works for your home and budget.
• Range of Protection: The range of protection that Ring brings to the table is all-around better than Blink. Need an outdoor cam with a floodlight, they’ve got it. Need a doorbell camera? You’re set. Intrusion protection with door/window sensors? Check. Ring offers much more robust home protection compared to Blink. Currently, Blink only sells a few cameras.
• Reputation: Ring is a household name, while Blink is still finding its place in the market. That’s not to say that popularity means you’re getting a better product. Both Ring and Blink are great cameras in their own right. But Ring is tried-and-true with years in the industry and backed by Amazon’s deep pockets and Mr. Bezos himself. Just something to note.
• 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 Indoor retails for $79 per camera, which is a very reasonable price considering the features you get. Keep in mind that you can also bundle and save with Blink — with 2-camera, 3-camera, and 5-camera kits saving you up to $100 or more.

The Blink Outdoor costs $99.99 and you’ll get the same packaged savings if you buy multiple cams at once. Finally, the Blink Mini indoor cam costs $34.99, and the Mini Pan-Tilt costs $59.99. 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 very reasonable $39.99, which is right in-line with Blink’s cameras. But from there, the outdoor cameras will run up to $249.99 for the newly released Spotlight Cam Pro.

So if you’re looking to save money, Blink might be the better option. Again though, Ring offers more options and better protection for your home and family. It’s worth the money in our eyes. For more information, we recommend taking a look at our Ring Cam pricing guide here, but we do want to include a brief rundown of Blink’s prices so you can get an idea of what you’re looking at.

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

If you’re looking for a camera-based security system, this comparison of Ring vs Blink has highlighted the important points to help you make a smart decision between the two systems. When it comes to the security of your home, you should always 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.

On your search, be sure to keep in mind how many cameras you might need, whether any will be used outside, how many home automation features you might need, and whether or not you need a 24/7 monitoring service.

Video Recording in the Ring App

All things considered, we have to say that Ring is the better camera system compared to Blink. We’ve tested both systems for several days, and we prefer Ring Cams for their build-quality and features. Also, if you’ll want to expand your system in the future, Ring offers a whole suite of devices and home alarm components that Blink is lacking.

With that said, don’t overlook Blink if you’re searching for an affordable camera system. The cameras gave us great resolution, and the motion detection was on-point — always alerting us to potential criminal activity. And since the company introduced outdoor cameras, our home is protected both inside and out. So while we’d sooner purchase Ring, you really can’t go wrong with either camera system.