Ring vs Ring Plus Comparison

What’s in a Name?

Most home security companies – SimpliSafe, ADT, even Vivint – offer one video doorbell option. Ring offers eight. Eight! Of course, it’s probably not surprising that Ring is the overachiever in this category. After all, the company practically invented video doorbells.

Here, we compare two of the company’s best options – the Ring video doorbell and the Ring Plus video doorbell. Right away, you probably see a problem. These names are more than a little similar. In fact, it’s not easy to differentiate between any of Ring’s doorbells. So before we get to the comparison, let’s talk about how the company organizes its inventory.

First, Ring offers three doorbell tiers, each one identified by its suffix (or lack thereof, as the case may be).

• The Ring (no suffix) is the entry-level version of the doorbell.
• The Ring Plus is the mid-tier version.
• The Ring Pro is the flagship version.

You should also know that each of these versions comes in a choice of wired or battery-powered. Don’t worry, there’s not much difference between wired and battery-powered in terms of features, and when it’s relevant, we make sure to let you know. For now, though, let’s call the no-suffix version the Ring and the Plus version the Ring Plus.

Now that’s sorted – onward!

Ring Vs. Ring Plus: The Basics

It’s pretty simple to bottom-line these two devices. As you would expect, the Ring Plus comes with more features than the Ring. But it also comes with a higher price. Simple, right?

Except this quick summary doesn’t tell you everything you need to know. Just what extra features does the Ring Plus include? Are those features truly worth the price difference? Likewise, just what is the Ring missing? Sure, you can save money over the Ring Plus, but will the Ring keep you safe enough to justify paying less?

If we’re going to answer these questions, we’re going to have to dig just a little deeper.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

“From a law enforcement perspective, I am now expecting to see doorbell video footage on most of our calls for service. They are so common now that one of the first things I instruct officers to do is canvas the area looking for doorbells and video cameras. Most of the time, the officers can find some type of video footage of the suspect. As a police officer, I see countless videos of possible suspects walking up to someone's door, looking at the doorbell camera, and then walking away without attempting to do anything. Doorbell cameras are a great way to easily deter crimes.” Read more about Joshua Lee →

Ring vs Ring Plus: Features and Similarities

While the Ring and the Ring Plus are different tiers of video doorbells, they’re both still manufactured by Ring, so they do have a number of similarities. No matter which Ring tier you choose, you can be sure you’re getting all of these features.

• Reliability: We could tell right away, just from handling them, that both the Ring and the Ring Plus are durable, reliable devices. Quality home security equipment has a certain weight and heft. Our tests backed up that initial evaluation. There were no glitches, and they even stood up to a couple of fierce thunderstorms that passed through the area.
• Choice of Models: Both of these cameras came in two different models: wired and wireless. We know – more choices to make, right? Still, it gives you more options when you’re trying to decide which setup is right for you. You don’t want to try wiring a video doorbell, for instance, if you don’t have existing wiring to work with.
• DIY Installation: Speaking of wiring, both of these video doorbells make installation a breeze. If you’re going wireless, installation is a matter of turning a couple of screws. And while wired versions of these devices do require you to twist a couple of wires, the Ring app provides you with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions so it’s virtually impossible to get lost. We had our wired Ring Plus up in about 40 minutes. That’s no record, but it meant we still had plenty of time to catch a couple of March Madness games.

Ring Doorbell Setup

• Motion Detection: Virtually all cameras use motion detection to trigger alerts and video recording. The real question is just how smart a device’s motion detection is. Both the Ring and the Ring Plus include custom sensitivity settings and detection zones. The neighbor’s cat likes to doze on our porch, but we used these settings to pretty much eliminate false alerts.
• App-integrated: Again, most video doorbells on the market work through an app. The question is, how powerful is the app and how easy is it to operate? The Ring app, which operates both the Ring and Ring Plus doorbells gets high marks on both counts. On one hand, it let us turn cameras on and off, check alerts, and view footage. On the other hand, the interface is easy and intuitive, so performing all these functions was as simple as pushing a button. Bonus – the app works on both Android and iOS devices.

• High-Quality Video: These two devices aren’t just similar in terms of basic operation. They also both provide high-quality video feeds. There are cameras on the market with higher resolution, but the 1080p HD you get with the Ring and the Ring Plus is more than enough to provide you with crystal-clear images.

Ring Doorbell Motion Detection

• Field of View: Likewise, both cameras provide a wide field-of-view so you can be certain you won’t miss any potential threats. There are some slight differences between them, but not much. Both of these cameras provide between 150 and 160-degree viewing angles. Unless you come across a video doorbell that rotates, you’re not going to do much better than those numbers.
• Night Vision: Video doorbells go on the outside of your home. Duh, right? That means you probably want them to have solid night vision capabilities. Again, both the Ring and the Ring Plus fit the bill. Whether you’re looking to catch midnight porch pirates or welcome guests over for an evening soiree, both video doorbells provide night vision that’s almost as good as their daytime video feeds.
• Two-Way Communication: Another similarity between Ring and Ring Plus is that both models have two-way communication capabilities. Ring’s two-way communication (also called two-way talk) allowed us to speak with visitors at our door using nothing but our smartphone. To be honest, most doorbell cameras include this feature these days, but we still find it pretty cool to be able to tell the FedEx guy where to put our package.
• No Local Recording: Almost any camera on the market gives you the ability to view live video. There’s no doubt that’s an important feature. If you happen to catch a thief in the act, though, you’re gonna want footage to share with local authorities. These two cameras – all Ring cameras, in fact – allow you to store footage. Cloud storage requires a monthly subscription, but fees are reasonable. Of course, there are also cameras out there that include local storage options. Lorex charges no monthly fees, ever, but you can record as much as you like.
• Reasonably Priced: Yes, the Ring doorbell is less expensive than the Ring Plus, especially if you’re buying the wired version. The bottom line, though, is that both doorbell models are reasonably priced, no matter which version you purchase. In an age when home security is necessary to protect your family, we appreciate the fact that Ring keeps prices down for these crucial devices. Plus, you don’t have to purchase a monitoring plan, so if you don’t mind monitoring your own home, you can buy a doorbell and pay nothing more, ever.

Expert Examined

From Joshua Lee, Active-duty Police Sergeant

“I once responded to a call where an unknown male wearing a black mask was walking up to doors and then walking away. We stopped the male who had burglary tools in his backpack. He later admitted that he was looking for a home to burglarize but did not expect to see all the cameras.”

Ring Doorbell Pro

Differences Between Ring and Ring Plus

If these two devices worked exactly the same, you’d buy the Ring every time. It’s cheaper. The fact is, though, that the Ring Plus costs more because it comes with more. Here’s a quick rundown of the key differences between these two devices.

• Size: There’s something to be said for bulky home security equipment. It lets potential home invaders know that you take your family’s safety seriously. On the other hand, a video doorbell that’s too large can ruin the clean look of your home. If you’re in the former camp, someone who wants to alert everyone that you have a home security system, the Ring Video Doorbell is the way to go. The bottom line, though, is that size has no impact on how well these devices work.
• Lighting: The Ring Video Doorbell offers color night vision, so you can be sure you’ll capture what happens on your doorstep once the sun goes down. However, The Ring Plus utilizes built-in LED lighting, and ultimately, that produces a superior nighttime image. Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that Ring also offers both the Ring Spotlight Cam and Ring Floodlight Cam review. These two cameras don’t just provide clear images. They can also startle would-be burglars away.
• Motion Sensor: According to Ring specs, these two Ring cameras rely on the same basic motion detection system, Advanced Motion Detection with Customizable Motion Zones. In our tests, we found the Plus version of this system to be more reliable. Along the same lines, our research uncovered a few complaints about the Ring Video Doorbell lagging and, in some cases, failing to recognize motion altogether.
• Alerts: You may already be detecting a pattern here – Ring Plus features are just a little better than the basic Ring Doorbell. That’s true when it comes to alerts, too. The Ring Doorbell gives you instant alerts, so you can check live footage or, if you have a monitoring or cloud storage plan, recordings. The Ring Plus doesn’t just give you alerts, though. You can customize those alerts so you know what to expect when you pull up the video. When we got the package from Amazon we were waiting for, the alert said so. Is that kind of customization necessary? Nope. It sure is handy, though.
• Cost: Here’s one category the basic Ring Video Doorbell wins. Its price is some $100 cheaper than the Ring Plus. Makes sense – as they say, you get what you pay for. Of course, cost isn’t always about comparing bottom lines. You also have to consider the value you’re getting for your money. Ultimately, we’d say both of these Ring doorbells offer a fair number of features for the price. So the real questions then are what features are most useful in your particular situation and what your home security budget can afford.

Ring Video Doorbell

Ring vs Ring Plus: Cost Breakdown

It’s almost always true – you get what you pay for. One of these cameras is more expensive than the other. One useful way of comparing them, then, is to talk about exactly what you get for your money with each one.

We should note, however, that both of these doorbells come in different models, and prices can depend on which specific model you choose. For example, the Ring Video Doorbell comes in a wired version that costs just $49.99. If you want the wireless version, you’ll pay an additional $50 – $99.99. As for the Video Doorbell Plus, both the wired and wireless versions are priced at $149.9.

Ultimately, what do you get for that extra $50?

• A slimmer profile
• Sharper color night vision
• A choice of faceplate designs
• Dual-band Wi-Fi for faster streaming

If cost is a factor, you don’t want to just consider the retail prices of these two cameras. Depending on what type of monitoring plan you choose, you may have additional expenses. You can, of course, self-monitor for free. You get instant alerts that allow you to check live-feeds and respond as needed. If you want to record footage, for later playback to, say, the police, you’ll need to purchase a Ring Protect plan. A single camera costs $4.99 a month, or you can record footage from multiple cameras for $10 a month.

We recommend signing up for a 24/7 professional monitoring plan. With one of these plans, you can be sure someone is watching your house day and night, and you don’t have to do it yourself. Ring offers these plans for $20 a month, $18 if you pay for a year up-front.

We should point out that you’ll pay these costs no matter which Ring doorbell you buy. They could play a role, though, in which video doorbell you choose.

Below are the latest costs of Ring’s different doorbells, including the Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Plus. And if you want to explore these devices further, have a look at our Ring Doorbell pricing guide. We’ve broken things down by power source, and keep in mind that some of these models are on sale — we’ve included pricing information as well.

Ring Video Doorbell Breakdown

Another great thing about Ring and Ring Plus video doorbells is that they are both designed for DIY installation. They’re really easy to install, especially if you choose the battery power option. More importantly, you won’t need to pay a technician to come to your house. That’s the advantage of modern, DIY security products: They’re inexpensive because there are no installation costs tied to them.

How They Work

Ring video doorbells can be powerful tools in your security arsenal. Keep in mind, though, that they aren’t complete home security systems. They only monitor one small portion of your property, your front porch. That’s an important place to monitor. Still, they can’t tell you if someone tries to raise a window in your house or decides to see if your back door is unlocked.

In addition, Ring video doorbells by themselves only watch your door; they can’t do anything about what they see. They’ll notify you if they spot suspicious activity, but you have to take action yourself. It’s up to you to pull up live-stream footage, evaluate the situation, and decide what to do. As we mentioned, you can invest in cloud storage so you can view saved footage. Or, you can invest in 24/7 professional monitoring for as little as $20 a month.

All Ring doorbell cameras work the same way, and based on our tests, just a Ring doorbell camera might not be enough to protect an entire home. I’d recommend looking at Ring’s security systems, the Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Plus. In addition to protecting your home with sensors, Ring’s security system works in conjunction with Ring cameras. You can even have the security system professionally monitored, something you can’t do with a Ring video doorbell or security camera.

Do Your Homework

When it comes to protecting your home and keeping yourself informed, you should never settle for less than the best. That is why you should always have clear expectations in mind about what exactly you want your surveillance system to accomplish. There are so many options out there with a lot of different features to sort through. Just be sure that you install and set up your system correctly so that there is no room for avoidable failure.

Are Video Doorbells Worth the Cost?

A great video doorbell is a crucial component of any complete home security system. Just knowing who is on the other side of your front door makes you considerably safer. The fact is, most home invaders still use this entry. Do you need cameras for your backyard and the sides of your house? Sure, if you can afford them. It makes sense, though, to start with a video doorbell.

In fact, these devices don’t just deter burglars. Your porch is where delivery services place your packages, and video doorbells allow you to keep an eye on them until you can get home and bring them in. Video doorbells can prevent anyone from loitering on your porch or in your yard. They can even hel

In short, a video doorbell is a great way to improve the security of your home, whether as a stand-alone device or as an addition to a pre-existing security system. Ring has user-friendly equipment and interfaces that can be easily installed and integrated. This comparison should have you well on your way to choosing which of the two Ring models is right for you.

Ring Doorbell vs Ring Plus: So Which is Better?

Our recommendation? The Ring Plus comes with a better field-of-view, a hardwired connection that makes it simpler and more reliable to operate, and better night vision that makes use of built-in LEDs. Plus all of that is contained in a smaller package. Yes, it’s $50 more than the Ring Doorbell, but if you can afford that price, the extras are absolutely worth it.

Of course, we understand budget restrictions. We have them ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with the $99.99 Wired Ring Video Doorbell. In fact, even the $49.00 Ring Video Doorbell is a hardy device, and let’s face it, a video doorbell with less features is always going to be better than no video doorbell at all. The fact is, we’ve used the Ring (2nd Gen) for a while with few problems. So keep it in your back pocket as an option! Either way, Ring offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on their products, so this should take the edge off your purchase, allowing you to find the doorbell cam that’s right for you and your household.

But if you’re still looking for something with a little more functionality, have a look at our guide to the best doorbell cameras on the market.