Ring vs Ring Plus Video Doorbell Comparison

Why Choose Ring Video Doorbells?

When it comes to video doorbells, you might call Ring an overachiever. After all, this is the company that invented doorbell cameras. It doesn’t come as a surprise that they have eight different models. Most home security companies – ADT, SimpliSafe, even Vivint – offer one. That’s why we decided to compare Ring’s two most popular models.

Before we get into it, a bit of explanation about how Ring labels its products is in order, just to keep things straight as we go.

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. It also comes with a higher price tag.

There’s a lot that goes into the bottom line, though. For instance, just what extra features do you get if you’re willing to pay the Ring’s Plus’s higher price? Are those features worth the money? And just what is the Ring missing exactly? Sure, you’re saving, but will the Ring keep you safe? If you want answers to those questions, we’re going to have to dig 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

The Ring Plus definitely packs more features and technologies than the Ring, but you might be surprised by how much they share in common.

Reliability and Durability

Both the Ring and the Ring Plus are durable, reliable devices. During our testing, we didn’t experience any glitches. Both cameras also survived a couple of fierce thunderstorms that passed through our area while we were conducting our tests.

Choice of Models

Both cameras are available in wired and wireless versions. Ring wireless cameras are easier to set up. If you have an existing wired video doorbell, then the wired model might be better for you. Wired also means you don’t have to remember to charge the battery.

DIY Installation

Both video doorbells are easy to install. If you’re going wireless, installation is a matter of turning a couple of screws. The wired versions only require you to twist a couple of wires. Installing our video doorbells took only about 40 minutes using the step-by-step instructions on the Ring app.

The Ring – Always Home app has detailed instructions on how to install video doorbells.

Motion Detection

Most security cameras use motion detection to trigger alerts and video recording, but the intelligence of the device differs. Both the Ring and the Ring Plus include custom sensitivity settings and detection zones. This helps reduce false alarms, so we’re not getting bombarded with notifications about our neighbor’s cat in our yard.

App Integration

All of Ring’s products use the same Ring – Always Home app, which we’re fans of. It offers all the functionality we look for like customizable notifications, sensitivity settings, and a simple event history with a user-friendly interface.

High-Quality Video

Ring and Ring Pro both offer high-quality video feeds. There are cameras on the market with higher resolution, but the 1080p HD offered by these video doorbells delivers crystal-clear images.

The image quality from our Ring Doorbell met our requirements.

Field of View

Both cameras offer a wide field-of-view so you can be certain you won’t miss any potential threats. You’ll have a 150-degree viewing angle, which is the standard for most video doorbells. Unless you choose a camera that rotates, you won’t find much better than these numbers.

Night Vision

Whether you’re looking to catch midnight porch pirates or welcome guests over for an evening soiree, both video doorbells include color night vision that closely matches their daytime video quality.

Two-Way Communication

Ring’s two-way communication for both video doorbells allowed us to speak with visitors at the door using nothing but our smartphone. More doorbell cameras now include this feature, but it’s still worth mentioning.

No Local Recording

Ring cameras don’t come with local storage options. It's one of the advantages Lorex has over Ring. DVR/ NVR and SD card options mean free Lorex recordings. Recording footage on our Ring doorbell requires a subscription to their cloud storage plan, starting at $4.99 per month.

Lighting

Neither Ring Video Doorbell offers a built-in LED light, despite both offering color night vision. The color night vision relies on ambient light, like nearby streetlights or hallway lighting. The Ring Spotlight Cam and Ring Floodlight Cam both require built-in lights to power its color night vision.

Smart Alerts

Although it requires a Ring Home subscription, both the Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Video Doorbell Plus offer smart alerts. That means Ring will tell you if it detected a person, pet, or package at your front door, rather than only detecting motion.

Price Range

Even though the Ring Video Doorbell Plus costs a bit more, we still find that both models offer great bang for your buck compared to other video doorbells. For example, the Ring Plus costs $150, whereas SimpliSafe’s video doorbell starts at $169.

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.”

We prefer the black Ring Doorbell Pro because it doesn’t stand out at night like the silver version.

Differences Between Ring and Ring Plus

We don’t want to give you the impression that the Ring and Ring Plus are identical. There are several differences that will help you decide which one is best for you.

Size

Larger video doorbells have their advantages. Studies show that surveillance cameras are an effective crime deterrent.1 The Ring Video Doorbell’s size ensures criminals know they’re being watched. It can take away from the clean look of your home, though.

Battery Charging

If you opt for the battery version of the Ring Video Doorbell, note that the battery is not removable. You need to plug the doorbell into an outlet via a USB-C cable. The Doorbell Plus has a removable battery, so you can bring it inside when it needs to be charged.

We like that the Ring Video Doorbell is smaller, but we wish we could remove the battery when it needs charging.

Motion Sensor

Both doorbells use the same advanced motion detection system with customizable motion zones. In our testing, we found that the Plus offers more accurate motion detection. The Ring Video Doorbell sent us delayed notifications a few times as well.

Wired Version

Ring does not offer a wired version of the Video Doorbell Plus. Only battery-powered models are available. This matters because Ring’s wired versions cost less and have a smaller profile, although the installation is more complicated.

Cost

The security device with the most features is also going to cost more. Ring Plus beats the Ring Video Doorbell in most categories, but the latter gets to shine when it comes to price. The price difference between Ring and Ring Plus models can be up to $100.

Ring vs Ring Plus: Cost Breakdown

It’s challenging to compare Ring’s video doorbell costs because they come in various models. For instance, the Ring Video Doorbell comes in wired and wireless versions. The wired version costs $49.99, and the wireless model is $99.99. The Video Doorbell Plus, on the other hand, costs $149.99, and you’ll pay that no matter which version you choose.

What do you get for the extra $50 you pay for the Video Doorbell Plus?

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

Below are the latest costs for Ring’s doorbells, including the Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Plus. If you want to learn more about these devices, have a look at our Ring Doorbell pricing guide. We’ve broken things down by power source.

Ring Video Doorbell Breakdown

Additional Cost Considerations

If you don’t want cloud storage, you can self-monitor your Ring cameras for free. Keep in mind that with this option, you only get real-time alerts and access to live footage. Cloud storage for one camera costs $4.99 a month. Storage for all your Ring cameras starts at $9.99 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. It costs $10 per month when added to the Ring Home Standard or Premium plan, which also includes cloud storage for unlimited cameras.

You can save money on installation as you won’t need to pay a technician to come to your house.  Both the Ring Video Doorbell and the Ring Video Doorbell Plus are easy to set up yourself, especially the battery-powered option.

How They Work

Keep in mind that Ring video doorbells aren’t a complete home security system. They only monitor one small portion of your property, your front porch. They can’t tell you if someone tries to open a window or break in through your back door.

If you choose not to pay for professional monitoring, you’ll 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 pay for 24/7 professional monitoring for as little as $20 a month.

For complete home security, we recommend looking at the Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Plus systems. In addition to protecting your home with sensors, Ring Alarm works in conjunction with its cameras.

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.

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 loitering on your porch or in your yard.

Ring Doorbell vs Ring Plus: So Which is Better?

We recommend the Ring Plus since it comes with a replaceable battery, a higher resolution, and interchangeable faceplates. The replaceable battery and interchangeable faceplate significantly extend the doorbell’s lifespan. With the Ring Battery Doorbell, once the battery starts to degrade in a few years, you’ll need a whole new doorbell. The Ring Plus is a quick fix.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with saving $50 now and going with the Ring Battery Doorbell. We recommend it for anyone unsure about wanting a video doorbell. This model is also good for renters as the longer lifespan of the Ring Plus isn’t as valuable.

Whichever video doorbell you go with, you’re buying it risk-free thanks to Ring’s 30-day money-back guarantee. 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.