SafeHome.org may receive compensation from some providers listed on this page. Learn More
We may receive compensation from some providers listed on this page. Learn More
Explore Ring’s powerful lineup of indoor and outdoor cameras with DIY installation.
Did You Know? We love a Ring camera as much as the next person. But we prefer the new Nest camera ADT sells with its home security bundles. Check out our list of the best home security systems to learn more about ADT and other top brands.
Ring has always been an innovator, starting with the original doorbell camera a decade ago and then venturing into security cameras and whole home security systems. Now, they have a full lineup of cameras. You can have Ring doorbell cameras watching your doors, the Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro indoor security cameras keeping an eye on your living room and other central locations, and the Ring outdoor cameras providing perimeter video security. You can connect all of these to security devices like entry sensors and motion detectors, and you can add professional monitoring.
At every step of the way, Ring has remained committed to quality which is why Ring consistently makes our lists of the top home security cameras. The company provides some of the best wireless security cameras we’ve seen, particularly for DIYers looking to improve their home security with easy-to-install equipment.
What’s on tap in this particular review? Just to get a full picture of Ring’s lineup, we spent time with the Stick Up Cam, Indoor Cam, Floodlight, and Spotlight Cam. Our verdict? Ring remains a solid choice when it comes to security cameras. It’s not perfect – no security brand is – but Ring cameras are going to satisfy a lot of customer’s needs.
Before we get into our hands-on experience, let’s take a quick look at some of the more important stats that define this popular brand:
Days Tested | 100+ |
---|---|
No. of Cameras | 4 |
Video Resolution | 1080p HD |
Power | Plug-in, Battery, Wired, Solar |
Price | $59.99+ |
While Ring is certainly one of the most popular camera manufacturers in the business today, they’re far from perfect. Their equipment can be a little clunky, and their cameras’ resolutions can leave something to be desired. Before you decide on which camera would be best to protect you and your family, you might want to browse through some of our other favorite security brands below. You might also head over to our Ring vs. Arlo head-to-head comparison to get a better idea of what we’re talking about.
Our first impressions of Ring equipment right out of the box? These aren’t the sleekest cameras on the market, but they’re far from the clunkiest. When we were ordering our package, we were impressed by the fact that Ring offers color options. Most camera companies only offer one, and it’s usually either black or white. Ring’s most basic cameras, like the Stick Up and Indoor Cams, come in either black or white, but some devices are also available in bronze and graphite.
Our favorite aspect of Ring cameras, though, is that there’s a stylistic uniformity across the entire lineup. Given how many different pieces of security equipment the company offers, that meant we could outfit our home with nothing but Ring, and everything looked cohesive. And OK, it was a little dated, but we can handle that if everything matches.
Even more important to us than style is how easy it is to install home security equipment. We had no problems with Ring on that score. True, hardwired floodlight cameras take time to sort. In addition to turning a few screws, we also had to turn off the electricity (always crucial), and sort out which wire went where. That’s always going to take longer than sticking a wireless camera on an end table. Plus, you have to be careful where you place outdoor cameras to ensure maximum coverage, and if you’re dealing with a brick wall, things can get tricky (there’s no shame in hiring professional installers if you’re dealing with these kinds of conditions). Luckily, our install was straightforward. It took us no more than thirty minutes to get the floodlight up and running.
As for the Ring Stick Up Cam2 (pictured above), everything’s ready to go out of the box. You can choose whether to use the camera with the provided battery or as a wired (plug-in) device. You also have choices when it comes to placement – hang the camera on a wall or simply place it on a flat surface.
Ring offers several iterations of their Stick Up Cam, as well, including battery-powered models, solar models, a plug-in version with Pan-Tilt functionality, and the Stick Up Cam Elite, which, with an available adapter, works through PoE (Power over Ethernet).
>> Related: The Best PoE Security Cameras
Did You Know? POE stands for Power over Ethernet. With POE devices, one cord connects to the internet and provides power.
Ring’s indoor camera is almost identical to the Stick Up Cam, as you’ll see in the image above, with two notable exceptions: The Indoor Cam is smaller and requires a power cord.
The power cord is pretty short at only 6.5 feet. That limits how far away you can place the camera from a power outlet – without an extension cord, anyway. We went with the battery-powered Stick Up Cam. Cords just don’t go with the look of our apartment. We do give Ring credit for its wide range of choices, though.
Those are the only drawbacks I ran into installing Ring cams; otherwise, you’re going to get the same easy setup and installation as many wireless security cameras available today.
Beyond installation, let’s explore the ins and outs of each camera in Ring’s suite, starting with the Stick Up Cam.
While Ring doesn’t have the feature set of Google Nest’s Cams (see our full Google Nest Cam review here), their cameras are reliable across the board. There’s a reason why they’re one of the top-ranked security camera brands out there. The Ring Stick-Up Cam is a great example.
FYI: Looking for a versatile camera at a reasonable price? Check out my in-depth Ring Stick Up Cam review.
The Stick-Up Cam is designed to be both dependable and versatile. True, it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles you might get from more expensive cameras. It doesn’t have facial recognition like Nest, for instance. The thing is, the Stick Up Cam isn’t the sort of device you buy when you’re looking for a fancy high-tech gadget. It’s the sort of device you buy because you’re looking for a real workhorse, a camera that’s going to get the job done without a lot of fuss and hassle. It worked perfectly in our homes, keeping our family members (including our four-legged friends) safe with minimum maintenance.
Since it can be battery operated or hardwired, one of the Stick Up Cam’s biggest strengths is its flexibility. For starters, you can choose how you use it: battery-operated or hardwired mode. That’s handy for experimenting with different mounting positions. You always want to take the time to determine your best vantage point. That said, you can also set this camera to monitor a single target, like the cat who always knocks over your houseplants or that package thief who’s been spotted in your neighborhood.
If you have an open floor plan like I do, you might notice that Ring Stick Up has a somewhat limited field of vision. With a lackluster 110-degrees horizontal field of view, this camera won’t give you more than standard viewing angles. You can’t set it to pan over a room like a Reolink E1 camera, for example. So with the Ring Stick Up Cam, just be aware that you’ll probably need to play with angles and positions to get the most out of the camera.
Pro Tip: Reolink cameras don’t have the cache of a Ring cam, but they’re actually really impressive devices in and of themselves. Learn more about the brand in my full Reolink camera review. If you’re looking for an outdoor cam with pan-and-tilt technology, check out my latest Reolink E1 camera review.
One of the main drawbacks of the Stick Up Cam is that even though it says it’s designed for indoor and outdoor use – Ring even goes so far as to label it Weather Resistant – these cameras don’t really stand up well to the elements.
The IP rating of the Stick Up Cam is IP X5. The ‘X’ signifies that it’s not dust-proof at all. That means dust and small particles can enter the casing and potentially ruin the electronics inside. The ‘5’ means it’s at least a little bit water-resistant. It’s sealed from water jets from any direction, which means it can at least resist rain; we wouldn’t risk it though. If you need something that’s really for outdoor use – meaning, one that can stand under the rain or endure hours of sunlight – I don’t recommend the Stick Up Cam.
Here’s some good news: It’s really easy to integrate a Ring camera into any Amazon smart home ecosystem. (I covered the full step-by-step Ring home automation process here, if you’re interested.) It’s not much more than popping over to the Ring app’s Alexa tab and following the prompts. With the Stick Up and all the other Ring cameras, simply pull up the full Ring dashboard using voice commands like, “Alexa, disarm my driveway camera.” If you’re a big fan of Alexa and using voice commands, I recommend Ring as one of the best security camera brands for you.
FYI: If you’re interested in building or adding to a smart home – Alexa or otherwise – I do recommend visiting our full home automation guide first.
FYI: We’re currently seeing only one deal among the models. You can get the solar version of the Spotlight Cam Plus for $199.99. Ring has sales pretty frequently, though, so if you check back on this page regularly for updates, or stay up to date on all of Ring’s sales and savings with our Ring Discount Guide, you’re bound to catch a good price on all of them sooner or later.
When it comes to the industry’s top-rated indoor cameras, sometimes less is more. Ring Indoor Camera is the smallest in Ring’s lineup, standing less than 3 inches tall without its support stand. So with this one, you won’t have to worry too much about the device taking up too much space or looking awkward in your home.
FYI: Interested in a Ring Indoor Cam? Learn how it measures up against other popular options in my full Ring Indoor Cam experience.
For people who like simplicity and minimalism in their security technology, this Ring camera makes the grade. But, like the previously mentioned Stick Up Cam, I did come across a few areas for improvement.
Glitches and delays in security camera footage are very common, so it’s important to remember that not all of your footage from your cameras – Ring-branded or otherwise – is going to look picture-perfect.
All of Ring’s cameras record video in up to 1080p HD video resolution. It’s the standard nowadays, so expect good-to-great video clarity in the majority of your recordings – but not quite at the level of a hardwired system like Vivint. (Catch up on our latest Vivint Home Security analysis.)
And since we’re talking about a wireless camera, you’re going to deal with the inevitable Wi-Fi slow down or app update that might affect the performance of the Indoor Cam. But again, this is a Ring camera, and it usually plays well with most home Wi-Fi setups.
As mentioned above, the power cord that comes with Ring Indoor is only 6.5 feet, so you might need to get creative with placement. But once everything is said and done, you’ve got a great little camera that you can set up and basically forget about. Through the Ring mobile app, you can set the indoor cam to record clips while you’re out of the house. And when you’re home, you can turn recordings off for privacy, or adjust motion settings to receive fewer alerts. It’s Ring, so you know you’ll get plenty of flexibility.
The word “cheap” has negative connotations. When you buy a product that doesn’t work right, you might call it “cheap.”
At $59.99, the Ring Indoor Cam is the cheapest camera in Ring’s lineup, both in terms of price and in terms of reliability. That said, you’re still getting that impressive 1080p video quality in every recording, even at night. You also get access to Ring’s powerful cloud-based network. In short, you’ll get no complaints on the price of this camera here. It’s “cheap,” sure, but you probably don’t need premium-level features in a camera like this. It’s for indoor use, after all. And as compensation, you’re also not going to pay premium-level prices. That’s how it goes in this industry, more or less.
For context, let’s take a look at the Ring Indoor Cam’s price against some of its leading competitors.
Indoor Camera Model | Manufacturer | Price |
---|---|---|
E1 Pro | Reolink | $45.09 |
Indoor Cam | Ring | $59.99 |
Indoor Wi-Fi Security Camera | Lorex | $49.99 |
Essential Indoor Camera | Arlo | $59.99 |
SimpliCam | SimpliSafe | $99.00 |
Indoor Cam | Nest | $99.99 |
Did You Know? If you’re really into the slim and simple theme, check out Blink, another Amazon brand similar to Ring. They won’t blow you away with features, but in my tests of the Blink camera system, the cameras looked nice and installed in a snap.
Spotlight Cam is Ring’s outdoor camera for all those areas outside the house you need to illuminate and capture at a moment’s notice. Note that it comes in wired or wire-free, black or white finish, and you can now use this camera (and all the other Ring cams) with a Ring solar panel for an even more convenient way to secure your home’s exterior.
FYI: Looking to shed some light on would-be burglars and thieves? Read more about my full Ring Spotlight Cam experience here. We also talk about the different models of the Spotlight Cam, including Spotlight Cam Plus and Pro.
Beyond that, you’ll find the same features in Spotlight Cam that Ring packs into its other cams: 1080p HD resolution, advanced motion detection, and two-way audio with noise cancellation. When I tested this camera, the motion-activated spotlight helped me make sense of the occasional mysterious activity lurking around my property. That’s news you can use – especially if your neighborhood has a history of (or a recent uptick in) break-ins. Combined with Ring’s Neighbors4 feature, the Ring app that acts as a neighborhood watch, you’ll have more insight than ever on what’s going on around your property.
This is a camera that’s meant to see things you can’t. With 1080p HD resolution, the Spotlight Cam has a pretty decent range day or night – but it’s not worth much without that LED spotlight. Once you’ve set it up where you want it, be sure to set the camera to activate the spotlight any time motion is detected. This feature may come in handy in deterring would-be intruders, but also provides ample lighting when you’re getting home from a late night out.
Pro Tip: If you’re not a Ring loyalist, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro makes a solid Spotlight Cam alternative that’s a bit easier on the pocketbook. Visit my review of Reolink Argus 3 Pro to learn more.
With a Ring Spotlight perched over a driveway or garage (like mine is positioned in the above image), you might start getting a lot of unwanted or “nuisance” alerts from cars and pedestrians. If you’re self-monitoring your cameras – which the Ring app makes really easy to do – the best way to avoid unwanted alerts is to draw a privacy zone over part of the screen to block out the area you don’t want motion to trigger. As in the scene pictured below, “that kind of motion” was a car driving past my house, which happens about a gazillion times a day.
If you encounter this, I suggest setting the motion sensitivity slider in the Ring app to a lower motion sensitivity. In addition, though, you can pop into motion zones and black out part of the scene so the camera doesn’t detect motion there. Those two adjustments combined should do the trick; if you’d rather avoid tinkering too much with the camera during busy times, you can always set a schedule to turn motion recording on and off. (Hint: This also saves battery life.)
The plug-in Spotlight Cam Plus costs $169.99, and you also have the option of buying a solar panel-Spotlight Cam Plus package for $199.99.
Now when you consider some of the other Ring cameras that go for substantially less than this, you might think about crossing the Spotlight Cam Plus off your list. Consider what you’re getting though. It’s actually a two-in-one device — a camera and a spotlight. This means not only will you be actively recording anything that happens at your home, you’ll also be actively deterring criminals with exterior illumination.
FYI: The Ring Spotlight camera tends to go on sale from time to time. Check out my full Ring camera deals and discounts guide for more ways to save on Ring devices.
Nestled firmly between two super-powerful LEDs, the Ring Floodlight Camera was the almost-perfect fixture to complement my outdoor decor. Ring also offers this model in a variety of finishes, including graphite and bronze, if you’re looking to get away from the more standard black or white design.
Did You Know? Bright LED lights can serve as an effective crime deterrent. With this in mind, read about Ring’s most robust camera/light combo in my latest Ring Floodlight Cam review.
It’s important to note, though, that Ring is not the only company to make a floodlight camera. When it hit shelves in early 2020, the Arlo Floodlight Camera became a solid contender, but Arlo is battery-powered, while Ring’s floodlight camera is wired.
For my home, however, Ring’s hardwired setup worked best. It was the perfect opportunity to replace an old light fixture that was a little past its prime, with a shiny new floodlight-camera-in-one.
After thoroughly testing the Ring Floodlight Cam, I’m comfortable singing its praises, simply because it’s one of the strongest lines of defense you’ll have in your home security toolbox. You’re getting unprecedented range, a wide field of view, and a smooth two-way audio feature that can be used in tandem with motion-activated lighting to spook even the boldest of criminals – or just to say hi to a few unexpected visitors.
There are a few more things you should know about this camera before making your final decision, though, starting with that previously mentioned audio feature:
When it comes to audio on the Floodlight Cam, all was well with the exception of some interference due to background noise, usually on the outdoor end of the conversation.
It’s not the first time I’ve encountered this issue. Ambient noise5 – you know, the kind that happens outside that you can’t control or predict – can make communication difficult at times. But frankly, the issue is minor, and it shouldn’t affect the overall performance.
Since it’s made for the outdoors, Ring has their floodlight camera locked down with plenty of weatherproof hardware and protection from the outdoors. During my own tests of the device, I watched it sail through an intense late-winter band of snowstorms (you know, just another Ohio “second winter”) without missing a beat. After all that, the Floodlight Cam performed seamlessly and did not incur any damage, which is good, because I’d already thrown out the old light fixture.
The best way to get acquainted with any wireless camera is to learn everything it can do through the mobile app. With Ring, you know that’s going to be easy – and it will also help you prepare for the unexpected.
Occasionally, you might find a few rare instances of delay between the time the camera captures motion and the time you receive an alert. Again, that is standard in cameras that work with Wi-Fi, and a bit more common in outdoor cameras than indoor ones. But with a stable Wi-Fi connection, you should have no problem securing your home with a Ring Floodlight.
After successful sales of Ring’s first-generation Floodlight Cam, the brand recently added Floodlight Cam Wired Plus and Floodlight Cam Wired Pro. The Pro, I learned, has a couple of advanced features over the original, like 3D motion detection and two-way talk with audio+, as well as a few subtle design upgrades. With a base price of $249.99, it’s one of Ring’s most expensive cameras, but it’s definitely one of the best, too.
Speaking of price, it’s worth mentioning that the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus is another one I’ve seen marked down frequently throughout the year. It regularly retails for $199.99 (you’ll see a bigger breakdown below), but it happens to be a very popular device to snag around Prime Day, too. Look for those and other huge savings in my complete Prime Day home security deals and discounts guide.
With a total of four security cameras – Indoor, Stick Up, Spotlight, and Floodlight – you may find it difficult to choose which one is best for your home, especially if you’re on a budget. So I ranked the cameras based on their security value.
Ring cameras | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
Ring Indoor Cam | Indoor camera | Affordable, lightweight, and easy to set up, but has limited features |
Ring Spotlight Cam | Outdoor camera | Comes with motion-activated spotlight and is fully- weatherproof, but still affordable |
Ring Stick Up Cam | Indoor/outdoor camera | Affordable outdoor camera option but not fully-weatherproof |
Ring Floodlight Cam | Outdoor camera | Powerful motion-activated lights, but can be pricey |
“You get what you pay for.” You’ve surely heard that expression many times, especially if you’ve ever bought home security equipment before. Like buying a car, adding security cameras can be a very personal experience – so you want to get the product that’s right for you.
Luckily, Ring cameras are for the masses. They’re made for the everyday DIY user, and generally not recommended if you’re looking for wall-to-wall home security or 24/7 monitoring. For that, I’d go with a fully wired system like Frontpoint Home Security, or even something from SimpliSafe, a super-DIY setup.
For now, let’s break down how much you should expect to pay for each Ring camera. I also recommend checking out our comprehensive Ring camera package and pricing page for more cost considerations.
Ring Camera | Features | Price |
---|---|---|
Spotlight Cam Pro Battery | Two-way talk, built-in siren, color night vision, 3D motion detection, birds-eye view | $229.99 |
Spotlight Cam Plus Battery | 1080p HD, motion alerts, motion-activated spotlight, two-way talk, siren | $169.99 |
Floodlight Cam Wired Plus | 1080p HD, 3D motion detection, bird’s eye view, two-way talk, siren | $199.99 |
Stick Up Cam Battery | 1080p resolution, color night vision, advanced motion detection, customizable motion zones | $99.99 |
Indoor Cam | Two-way audio, live view, color night vision | $59.99 |
Stick Up Cam Pan-Tilt | Pan and tilt functionality, 1080p resolution, color night vision, advanced motion detection, customizable motion zones | $129.99 |
If you’re working on a budget, you can use your Ring cameras to monitor your home for free. Both come with motion sensors and send you an alert when they detect anything happening at home. Then, you can pull up live footage to decide whether or not you need to take action. If that sounds useful to you, you might consider one of Ring’s video storage plans. You can add storage to a single camera for $4.99 a month, or purchase the $10 a month Protect Plus Plan to get storage on an unlimited number of devices.
Finally, you can also add 24/7 professional monitoring protection through Ring’s Protect Pro plan, but the monitoring applies only to the Ring Alarm. Read more about that system in our full Ring Alarm review. Ring won’t monitor your cameras with this plan. We recommend professional monitoring though since you can’t be sure you’ll always be free when you get an alert. Plus, Ring makes it relatively painless to go this route by offering the Protect Pro Plan for just $20 a month. That’s some $10 cheaper than SimpliSafe’s plan.
Ring Subscriptions | Included Free | Ring Protect Basic | Ring Protect Plus | Ring Protect Pro |
---|---|---|---|---|
Instant Mobile Alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Live Video Streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Two-Way Talk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
60-Day Video History | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Video Saving/Sharing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Snapshot Capture | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
24/7 Professional Monitoring | No | No | No | Yes |
Extended Warranty | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Monthly Price | Free | $3.99 per month | $10 per month | $20 per month |
Yearly Price | Free | $39.99 per year | $100 per year | $200 per year |
Now, if you do want professional monitoring for your security cameras, Ring has an option called Virtual Security Guard. Decide if you really need it though, because it costs $99 per month and has a few other requirements.
First, you need a Ring Alarm Pro security system; not the regular Ring Alarm, but the Pro version with a Wi-Fi router built into the hub. Second, you need a subscription to the Ring Protect Pro plan for $20 per month. And lastly, you need to pay the $99 monthly fee. That’s $120 per month total. It’s cheaper relative to companies like Deep Sentinel that offer similar features, but still expensive for a normal household.
What started as a simple company looking to disrupt the home security market with its Ring Video Doorbell has grown into a security camera powerhouse. Ring has become a customer favorite in the industry, and it’s not hard to see why. Our own extensive testing of Ring’s outdoor and indoor security cameras convinced us that these cameras are easily on par with similar offerings from companies like Arlo and Google Nest. They’re reliable, come with a useful range of features, and available at a reasonable price.
Gloomy Midwestern thunderstorms are no match for the Ring Floodlight. The camera is made to hold up in harsh weather like storms, wind, and rain.
Yes, with some exceptions. Ring cameras work with Amazon Alexa for hands-free voice control and video streaming on an Echo Show or Fire TV. Their compatibility with other ecosystems like Google Assistant and IFTTT are somewhat limited.
The two LED floodlights on the Floodlight Camera put out 1,500 lumens each, while the Spotlight Cam’s LEDs are 350 lumens. That makes Floodlight Cam about 4-5x brighter than the Spotlight Cam.
The Indoor Camera is susceptible to water damage and is not approved for outdoor use. The Stick Up Cam, on the other hand, is weather-resistant, but not fully waterproof, so keep that in mind when locating the camera.
A mixed bag, in my experience. You might not have the easiest time getting questions answered using Ring’s live chat, though it’s nice how easily accessible the chat feature is within their app. Other times, you’ll have better luck calling and speaking to a human.
Kim, E. (2018, February 27). Amazon buys smart doorbell maker Ring for a reported $1 billion. CNBC.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/27/amazon-buys-ring-the-smart-door-bell-maker-it-backed-through-alexa-fund.html
Business Wire. (2018, September 20). Introducing Ring’s First Indoor/Outdoor Security Cameras: Ring Stick Up Cams.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180920005805/en/Introducing-Ring%E2%80%99s-First-IndoorOutdoor-Security-Cameras-Ring-Stick-Up-Cams
Hurst, A. (2020, July 9). Nearly 1 in 5 Consumers Experienced Package Theft Since the Start of Quarantine.
https://www.valuepenguin.com/nearly-one-in-five-consumers-experienced-package-theft-since-start-of-quarantine
Business Wire. (2018, May 8). Ring Makes Successful Neighborhood Watch Network Available to Everyone With the Launch of the Free Neighbors App.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180508005836/en/Ring-Makes-Successful-Neighborhood-Watch-Network-Available-to-Everyone-With-the-Launch-of-the-Free-Neighbors-App
Science Direct. (2021). Ambient Noise.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/ambient-noise