Buying guide for best ring cameras
Ring first entered the home security market with the Ring doorbell in 2012, but since then it has diversified with a number of alarms and cameras designed to help keep your home safe and your mind at ease. Ring cameras stand out for their excellent picture quality, on-demand video streaming, and built-in alarms.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a Ring camera, including your budget, any necessary features, and aesthetic concerns. You also have to think about where and how you intend to use the camera. Ring’s well-known doorbell cameras are great, but they’re not ideal for every situation. You might need a combination of several cameras in order to best protect your home.
Which Ring camera is best?
With a mission to transform the humble doorbell into a security camera, Ring launched the first-ever smart doorbell with a motion-detecting video camera in 2014. Since then, Ring has released numerous home-security products that help deter thieves and give you peace of mind. But which Ring camera is the best one for you?
To find the best Ring cameras, the BestReviews Testing Lab researched and tested several Ring products. We evaluated each camera's build quality, sturdiness and design appeal. We also considered the difficulty of the installation process, as well as mounting options for their user-friendliness and versatility. Video quality, resolution, field of view and clarity are among the most vital qualities in a camera, which is why we assessed each of the Ring cameras for those capabilities, too.
Finally, we considered any special features, including subscription options and app usability. After completing our testing, we concluded that the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2023 Release) is the best Ring camera overall for most people’s needs.
Our top picks
Best Ring camera overall
Product Specifications: Camera Resolution: 1536p | Field of View: 150 degrees horizontal, 150 degrees vertical | Night Vision: Yes | Weather Resistance: Yes | Motion Detection: Yes
Right out of the package, this doorbell camera felt sturdy and well made. While we were unimpressed with the written instructions that came in the box, setting up the doorbell using the step-by-step instructions in the app was easy. It took less than 15 minutes to install the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus on vinyl siding using a specific mount for the tricky ridges. We followed Ring’s advice to position it approximately four feet from the ground. This measurement was perfect for our setup, because we could clearly see anyone standing in front of the door from head to toe, as well as the stairs leading up to the door and any packages on the stoop. We also love the two-way talk feature.
The clarity and resolution are topnotch, especially when compared to other Ring cameras. We could clearly read the words on the doormat and see details of the decorations on the front lawn. Another impressive feature is the night-vision video, which is crystal clear with vivid details. It’s simple to customize the zone where it captures motion or reduce the amount of motion it senses if it’s detecting cars on the road. It’s also possible to set up privacy zones for those areas where you don’t want it to record. If you use smart devices, this camera takes about ten seconds to show the live feed on an Alexa Echo Show 5, with perfectly clear video and excellent resolution.
While testing, we didn’t receive any false alerts and found it didn’t miss any alerts. As for the battery, it took about six and a half hours to fully charge and hadn’t drained very much after a week of testing.
With its Head-to-Toe HD+ video and crystal-clear picture, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus earns our best of the best spot. Plus, it’s simple to install and responsive to every motion without giving false alerts.
Best budget-friendly Ring camera
Product Specifications: Camera Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 130 degrees diagonal, 110 degrees horizontal, 57 degrees vertical | Night Vision: Yes | Weather Resistance: Yes | Motion Detection: Yes
We’ve used the Ring Stick Up Cam for over two years, and it’s still as durable as when we first got it and still performs like new. The versatility of this model means it doesn’t need to be mounted, making it extremely user-friendly and easy to move around as needed. It takes a couple minutes to put in the battery, replace the cover and set it out. The battery lasts about eight months without needing to be recharged.
We set up the Ring doorbell to record every time the Stick Up Cam detected motion, and it worked every time a few seconds after the alert. This is helpful if you have multiple cameras in the front or side of your house. Ignored zones and defined zones all worked as they were supposed to. There were few false alerts, other than when it was placed with a view of the backyard to watch the dogs and it could pick up the motion of tree branches. It’s easy to set up privacy zones to block out certain areas, which is ideal for someone whose neighbor’s property faces the camera.
While the camera resolution isn’t as good as the camera on the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, it’s still clear enough to see necessary details with no lagging.
If you have other Ring devices, this camera can seamlessly integrate with them. This model pairs with smart devices, and there was a five-second delay in getting the live feed to show on an Echo Show 5.
The Ring Stick Up Cam rightfully earns our title of best budget-friendly Ring camera thanks to its affordable price and many special features. It’s versatile enough to use inside or outdoors without mounting and connects with the app or other devices.
Best outdoor Ring camera
Product Specifications: Camera Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 140 degrees horizontal | Night Vision: Yes | Weather Resistance: Yes | Motion Detection: Yes
While we didn’t experience any inclement weather to thoroughly test weather resistance, the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus feels extremely sturdy and well made. It looks like a security camera, so it doesn’t have the most aesthetic appeal, but the white design gives it a less utilitarian look.
Installation on a wooden fence post using the included mounting component was easy and took about 12 minutes. This camera is highly adjustable, giving you a lot of options to get your camera at just the right angle. Video resolution and clarity are much sharper than that on the Ring Stick Up Cam. The Spotlight Cam Plus could clearly make out birds sitting on a fence about 15 feet away. The color is sharper and the video is brighter. Plus, the color night vision lets you see everything in the dark. Fully charging the battery took about 8.5 hours, and the battery was down to 79% after four days.
It takes about five seconds for a motion alert to come through, and it worked for the entire yard, including dogs, squirrels and birds. We only received one false motion alert, which was during a night when tree branches were blowing in the wind.
The audio is clear and loud enough to hear. While there is a lag of a couple seconds in the two-way communication, it didn’t affect our ability to understand one another. The noise cancellation is also helpful. We didn’t hear any disruptive ambient noise coming through the audio. We would compare this audio to that of the Ring Video Doorbell.
Connecting with the app is seamless and offers plenty of customization options, including motion detection, length of video recording, snooze notifications and more. Another plus is the ability to integrate with Alexa through an Echo speaker, allowing you to use voice commands to look at the camera’s video feed and other features.
Overall, this is a quality camera with many helpful features, including wide-angle video to capture more motion, color night vision to see at all hours and an automatic light that turns on when motion is detected. The Ring Spotlight Cam Plus earns our spot for the best Ring camera for outdoors.
Best professional-grade Ring camera
Product Specifications: Camera Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 160 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees vertical | Night Vision: Yes | Weather Resistance: Yes | Motion Detection: Yes
Our top choice for greater security and reliability is the Ring Video Doorbell Elite. Since it connects to Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, it’s faster than other Ring devices, with little to no lag time; plus, it’s less susceptible to interference. This ensures that you always know what’s going on at your residence in real time. (Ring recommends that this camera be installed by a professional or someone with advanced skills.)
The Ring Video Doorbell Elite is highly rated. It offers excellent 1080p high-definition video quality to see details clearly and functions well through the app. Features include night vision, two-way communication, privacy features, snooze and more. You’ll appreciate that the flush-mount design is more stylish than that of other models and blends in more seamlessly with its surroundings.
Best for indoor security
Product Specifications: Camera Resolution: 1080p | Field of View: 115 degrees horizontal, 59 degrees vertical | Night Vision: Yes | Weather Resistance: No | Motion Detection: Yes
If you need a basic camera for monitoring your home or talking to your pets (via the two-way talk feature) while you’re away, this affordably priced option is perfect. Though it’s very similar to the original Ring Indoor Cam, this second generation version comes with a privacy cover, which no other Ring camera offers. Pulling the removable cover over the camera’s lens instantly turns off the audio and video for total privacy.
This camera is incredibly easy to set up: you simply place it on a table or mount it to a wall and plug it in. The swivel mount lets you aim the camera exactly where you want it to record. However, because it’s a simple plug-in model, it won’t be able to record if your home loses power.
The high-definition video and color night vision let you see what’s going on in detail at any time. The moment it detects anything, it sends an alert to your phone. If you have other Ring cameras in the house, it will alert them to start recording as well. It also allows you to set customizable motion-detection zones, so it won’t send you an alert if it detects something harmless like a ceiling fan. If you do see an intruder has entered your home, you can use your phone to sound the alarm on the camera to scare them away.
Best Ring camera support
Product Specifications: Camera Resolution: NA | Field of View: NA | Night Vision: No | Weather Resistance: No | Motion Detection: Yes
While the Ring Chime Pro isn’t technically a camera, it’s a solid piece of technology to consider if you own a Ring doorbell or camera. This device is a three-in-one solution that extends the Wi-Fi signal for your Ring cameras and doorbells and includes a nightlight and a chime box to hear notifications clearly. It also relays notifications that will help improve your security system. Installation is simple: just plug this device into an outlet. Once installed, it extends your Wi-Fi signal by 2,000 square feet to make sure your devices don’t fail and you never have to worry about what’s going on at your home.
The Chime Pro has several chime tones, so you can hear real-time notifications when motion is detected. Plus, this device allows you to adjust the volume or temporarily snooze all alerts in the Ring app. As a bonus, it also acts as a nightlight, which can be useful in dark hallways or the basement.
What can you expect from a Ring camera?
Ring camera models differ, but here are a few features that are common to all.
- High-definition wide-angle video (most are 1080 HD; earlier models are 720 HD)
- Built-in microphone and speakers for two-way communication
- Motion-activated video with custom motion zones
- Infrared night vision
- Mobile app for on-demand viewing (iOS, Android and Windows 10 compatible)
- Weather resistant
- One-year warranty for parts and theft protection
Ring camera features to consider
Doorbell vs. security camera
Consider how you intend to use the camera. A doorbell camera replaces your existing doorbell, enabling you to see and communicate with anyone at your door. However, this camera doesn’t cover as large an area as a security camera does, so it isn’t ideal for full surveillance of your property. Ring devices detect motion up to 30 feet away.
If you want to monitor the inside or the perimeter of your home, a standard security camera will do the trick. You can mount it high on a wall to get a full view of the surrounding area. The average home security camera detects motion from 10 to 100 feet away, depending on the model.
Power
Ring cameras are powered by one of four sources: battery, plug-in, hardwired or solar.
- Battery-powered: These cameras come with a rechargeable battery pack that you can easily slide in and out without taking down the camera. You can also purchase additional battery packs and swap them out if you don’t want to be without a camera while the battery is recharging.
- Plug-in: These cameras have an electrical cord. The advantage is that you don’t have to worry about the camera running out of charge. The disadvantages are that these cameras can only be positioned near an outlet, and the cord hangs down the wall, which some people may not like.
- Hardwired: These cameras sit flush to the wall and are one of the most secure options because they can’t be disabled by cutting a wire or removing a battery pack. However, the installation is trickier and could be too challenging for some people.
- Solar-powered: These cameras come with a solar panel and battery backup. This is your best option if you’re concerned about the extra electricity used by security cameras, but it’s important to make sure that you get enough sunlight in order to make this a viable power source.
Installation
Ring claims that most of its security cameras can be installed without professional help in less than half an hour and some in as little as a few minutes. Of course, this is an estimate, and the real amount of time will depend on your technical abilities. As a general rule, battery-powered and plug-in cameras are the easiest to install, while hardwired and solar-powered cameras take a little more time. The cameras come with a simple installation guide that walks you through the process. You can also view these guides on Ring’s website.
Advanced features
Some Ring cameras have advanced features that might appeal to you depending on your needs.
Advanced motion detection
This enables you to customize your motion zones so your camera monitors specific areas of your yard. It also has a Person Detection setting that will only alert you if a person enters the camera’s field of view, so you’re not alerted to innocuous things like pets.
Light
Many Ring cameras have built-in, motion-activated LED spotlights or floodlights. These immediately illuminate the area when someone enters the camera’s field of view. The spotlights tend to be small, so if you’re looking for a large, bright light, you’re better off choosing a floodlight camera. According to the company, the floodlights will last tens of thousands of hours before burning out.
Alarm
Ring security cameras come with a 110-decibel alarm that you can activate remotely from the Ring mobile app. It’s a great way to scare off potential intruders that you see on the camera.
Colors
This is a minor concern compared to the features mentioned above, but Ring cameras do come in a choice of colors. Security cameras come in black or white, and video doorbells come in four finishes, including black, white, Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze.
Pricing
Ring cameras include many models and features, so the cost varies greatly from one model to the next. Here are the price ranges you can expect to see.
Less than $100
Entry-level Ring cameras start at around $50 and go up to $100. The Ring Stick Up Cam, our best budget-friendly Ring camera, fits in this price range. Some video doorbells also fit in the budget-friendly range.
$100 to $200
Mid-range Ring cameras cost between $100 and $200. This range includes both indoor and outdoor cameras and doorbells, such as the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus, which earns our spot for best outdoor camera.
Over $200
Ring products that cost more than $200 fall in the expensive price range and include doorbells, outdoor lights and bundles. This range includes our pick for the best professional-grade Ring camera, the Video Doorbell Elite.
Tips
- Test all the features once your cameras are installed. Make sure you have a wireless internet connection in order to transmit video to the mobile app. Test all features, including motion-sensing lights and any alarms, to make sure everything is working as it should.
- Give each camera a unique name. That will make it easy to quickly find the right one when viewing the camera feeds.
- Check the alerts. The Ring app alerts you when your battery-powered cameras need to be recharged. You can also sign up for low-battery email alerts. Periodically check that your cameras are functioning properly even if you don’t get any alerts.
- Choose professional monitoring for an extra fee. You can have your Ring cameras professionally monitored so that the authorities will be automatically alerted if anyone breaks into your home. Depending on the plan, this costs $3.99 to $20 per month.
- Trim trees or shrubs that could obstruct the view of outside cameras. Do this periodically to prevent false alarms.
How we analyzed
After considering several Ring cameras, we settled on these five models and put each into a “best of” category based on its features. We performed hands-on testing on three models to make sure we only recommend the best Ring cameras based on personal experience. Testing criteria included durability, ease of installation, battery life, video quality and additional features. For models we weren’t able to test, we relied on extensive research and previous knowledge of tech products.
FAQ
Q. Do I have to sign up for a subscription to use Ring cameras?
A. No, you can view live video on demand at any time without a subscription. However, if you want to review a video from earlier in the day or record a live event for later viewing, you’ll have to have a subscription. You can find out more details about these subscriptions on Ring’s website.
Q. Do I need to have a professional install my Ring cameras?
A. In most cases, you should be able to install the cameras yourself using the installation guide and the resources on Ring’s website. If you need help, you can contact the company’s customer support team 24/7.
Q. How long does it take the battery packs to recharge?
A. Depending on the type of charger, it can take from four to ten hours for the battery pack to charge fully.
Q. Is there a monthly fee to use a Ring camera?
A. No, there isn't a required monthly fee to use a Ring camera. However, some features are only available with a Ring Protect Plan, which starts at $3.99 per month and goes up to $20 per month depending on the coverage. Some of these features include video recording and special alerts. Without the plan, you can still view videos in real time, answer notifications as they happen and use two-way communication.
Q. Do Ring cameras record 24/7?
A. No, Ring cameras and doorbells only record when they sense motion or if the live view is activated.
Our expertise
The team at BestReviews is made up of writers, editors and experts determined to find the best products to make life easier. We perform hands-on testing so we know how products work in real-life situations. The writers and editors have tested many Ring cameras inside and outside their own homes (some for as long as two years) and have compared notes about different models and how they perform. We frequently cover the tech category and always try to stay current on the latest trends and releases.
