Ring vs Ring Plus Comparison

Ring offers one of the biggest selections of video doorbells in the industry, and it’s clear to see why — they basically pioneered the technology. That said, it does make the selection process a little difficult, particularly when you consider the wealth of features offered as well as the pretty big disparity in price.

• The Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Plus offer roughly the same basic features, including motion alerts, two-way talk, and night vision.
• The price disparity isn’t big; Ring Video Doorbell costs between $49.99 and $99.00 depending on whether you choose the wired or wireless model, while both Ring Video Doorbell Plus models cost $149.99.
• Ring doorbell cloud storage is surprisingly affordable. Store videos in the cloud for up to 180 days for as little as $3.99 a month, less than the price of cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Ring is the biggest name in video doorbells, and for good reason – it was the first brand to bring consumer-friendly video doorbells to the market. And over the past decade, it has been finely tuning its devices. As a result, Ring now has a large lineup of eight video doorbells, including the Ring Video Doorbell (released in 2020) and the Video Doorbell Plus (released in 2016). They’re not the latest doorbells from Ring, but they definitely have staying power as both are still available to this day.

Now, choosing the right Ring doorbell camera for your home can prove tricky. There’s some pretty significant overlap between them, especially in terms of features and functionality. Of course, there are some key differences as well; differences that, when the dust settles, make one better than another. In this review, we’ll take a close look at the Video Doorbell and Video Doorbell Plus to see which is a better option.

Now, the presence of “Plus” in the latter’s name might suggest to you that it would be the obvious winner, but don’t be so sure; despite its lower price, the Ring Video Doorbell was surprisingly good.

Ring vs Ring Plus: Features and Similarities

Regardless of the model you select, you can tell Ring has put a lot of thought into their doorbells’ feature sets. So before we dive into what sets these two doorbells apart from each other, let’s take a look at some of their similarities.

• DIY Installation: Being able to install either model yourself saves time as well as money on installation costs. Both models are ultra-easy to install and set up, and you do not have to worry about ridiculous installation fees. We’re all about DIY installation. However, note that most brands on the market today offer simple setup.

Ring Doorbell Setup

• Reliability: Ring is known for its reliable equipment. So you can trust that either model offered by the company will perform well and last a long time. But that’s just the hardware. As far as software goes, there have been very few bugs or glitches reported for either device. This tells us that you can rely on their equipment to protect your home and family when you need it most.
• App-integrated: Both models are compatible with mobile devices. They can be monitored and operated from either Android or iOS platforms. This integration is extremely handy because it will allow you to manage, monitor, and control your Ring video doorbell from anywhere in the home or even remotely.

• Night Vision: Both cameras have decent night vision capabilities that allow the user to see and record high-resolution video, even in the dark. Since a lot of break-ins happen at night, this is a great feature to look for. It might help you bust a nighttime porch pirate, too. Of course, the image quality isn’t quite as good as daytime video, but it’ll get the job done. Before we move on, it’s worth mentioning that Ring Plus has built-in LEDs for improved night vision. So it has a slight edge over the Ring video doorbell when it comes to night vision.
• Motion Detection: Both camera models have built-in motion detection technology. The moment someone steps foot on your property, the cameras start rolling and Ring sends you an alert that you might be the victim of trespassing or intrusion. That’s what you want in a security camera.

Ring Doorbell Motion Detection

• High-Quality Video: Both the Ring and Ring Plus video doorbells record high-quality videos that can be seen clearly, whether they have been recorded in the day or at night. A surveillance system with grainy video quality is nearly pointless since the whole idea is to capture the details of an incident or criminal. So both devices make the grade here.
• Field of View: The Ring Video Doorbell has a field of 155 degrees. Pretty good, when you consider the max is 180 degrees. The Ring Plus field of view isn’t exactly the same. The wired version offers 160 degrees. The battery-operated version offers 150 degrees. Those are both similar enough to the Ring Video Doorbell’s field of view to call this a similarity rather than a difference.
• 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. Pretty neat! You’ll be able to find this feature with the best doorbell cameras available.
• Reasonably Priced: Both the Ring and Ring Plus video doorbells are relatively inexpensive. This is important to us, especially if we’re buying multiple pieces of security equipment to use in conjunction with one another. Also, note that neither of them require a monthly subscription fee.
• Choice of Models: Both the Ring and the Ring Plus video doorbells come in two models. You can get either one in wired or wireless versions. Note that while the Ring Plus costs the same either way, the Ring costs about twice as much if you go wireless.
• No local recording: This is a downside that all Ring doorbells and cameras share. Without local recording, they all need a cloud subscription to save videos. So while it’s not required, we strongly recommend getting a monthly subscription fee.

Ring Doorbell Pro

Differences Between Ring and Ring Plus

As we said above, there are plenty of similarities between these two pieces of equipment, but there are some notable differences. Here’s what you can expect to find when you put both of these doorbells side by side:

• Size: The Ring Plus video doorbell has a slightly smaller build than the Ring video doorbell. This is simply a design choice and has little-to-no bearing on function. You should keep in mind the size of your door and whether or not you can install the larger option before you make your decision. The size difference is not all that much, but if your door space is limited, be sure to take measurements. We personally like the smaller profile of the Ring Plus (although it’s not exactly “small” compared to other options out there).
• Cost: As we’ve already mentioned, the Ring Plus video doorbell model is more expensive than the Ring doorbell video model. We cover the cost difference in more detail below. But we will say this — both doorbell cams are worth the money. You’ll just get more functionality and better connectivity with the Ring Plus.
• Lighting: When using its night vision feature, the Ring Plus video doorbell uses LED lighting for a better image. The standard Ring video doorbell does not have LED lights built in. With this in mind, we prefer the Ring Plus when it comes to busting burglars in the night or preventing a home invasion from occurring. And we must say, Ring does lighting right. Check out our full review of the Ring Spotlight Cam and our Floodlight Cam review to see what we mean.
• Motion Sensor: We found that the Ring Plus video doorbell model has a more reliable motion sensor when compared to the standard model. And in our research we found that there have been a few, but not many, reports of lagging or failure to recognize motion.
• Alerts: The Ring Plus video doorbell gives you the option to customize the alerts that you will receive from the device. The Ring video doorbell does offer instant alerts, but you cannot customize the alerts to your liking.

Ring Video Doorbell

Ring vs Ring Plus: Cost Breakdown

When you’re choosing a video doorbell, you should always make sure that you find the right product for your budget. The wired Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) is the most affordable battery-powered doorbell from Ring. It costs just $49.99 in its most basic configuration. Or, you can spend an extra $50 and upgrade to the wireless version. The Ring Video Doorbell Plus, on the other hand, is slightly more expensive. Both versions cost $149.99.

Though the Ring Plus is a little more expensive, it has a slimmer and more streamlined look, an option for color night vision, and swappable faceplates to match your door’s design. It also uses a dual-band Wi-Fi, which means you can connect it to your 5 GHz network for faster video streaming. That’s a lot of extras for just $40 more.

In addition to the equipment cost, you can pay $3.99 per month to record videos to the cloud. Videos stay up for 180 days, and the monthly fee covers one doorbell or security camera. If you have multiple Ring devices, you can upgrade to the $10 per month Protect Plus plan to cover all your cameras.

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 aren’t complete home security systems. Rather, they notify you when they spot suspicious activity at your door. It’s up to you to take action. That said, you’ll be notified instantly and you’ll have live-stream footage of the area so you can make the best call.

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?

I definitely think so. Being able to see what’s on the other side of the door makes most homeowners with video doorbells feel considerably safer. Video doorbells are also excellent at detering would-be loiterers. And if you’ve got any four-legged intruders in the neighborhood, with a video doorbell like the Ring, you’ve got “proof of poop.”

Finally, video doorbells are getting more advanced by the year. The latest model Ring video or Ring Plus video doorbells know when you’ve got an Amazon delivery, so you can snatch it up before the porch pirates.

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?

If you can afford it at $149, we recommend going with the Ring Plus. We like the slightly better field of view, the hardwired connection (it’s simply more reliable), the improved night vision with built-in LEDs, and the smaller build. Overall, it’s just a better product with great features.
That said, if you’re restricted by budget, the $99.99 Wired Ring Video Doorbell is a hardy device, and at $49.99 Ring Video Doorbell is definitely better than nothing. In fact, 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.