Ring home security review: Smart systems compared with competitors

Ring is a household name best known for its video doorbells. The market leader also offers a range of home security systems stacked with cameras, sensors and alarms – with two reasonably priced professional monitoring plans.

Our experts have extensively reviewed and rated Ring’s home security systems. Read our guide to better understand Ring’s pricing, as well as its selection of monitoring and security devices.

Ring, along with other smart security systems, provides instant updates and alerts to users via phone notifications in the event of a security breach or unusual activity. These real-time updates enable homeowners to respond quickly and effectively, potentially preventing further damage or loss. Ring’s packages also include advanced video surveillance features such as live high-definition video, night vision and motion detection. Users can store video footage in the cloud, making it easily accessible and providing added security.

Ring offers three different security modes – Home, Away and Disarmed – allowing users to quickly and easily set or stop their alarm. There’s also the option of additional security codes for guests, which is especially useful if you employ a cleaner or dog walker.

Compared with ADT, SimpliSafe and Verisure, Ring offers the cheapest monthly subscription charge and sits in the middle of the price range. Both ADT and Verisure require a minimum monthly commitment – the former being 36 months and the latter requiring six months.

Although ADT appears more affordable, it doesn’t offer DIY installation options and, as a result, is significantly more expensive than the other three systems. You also must commit to professional monitoring, as there is no option for self-monitoring. Verisure uses the same model with professional installation and monitoring only.

Ring offers a range of smart home security packages with varying price points. The basic packages are suitable for small homes and apartments, while larger packages are ideal for the average four-bedroom property.

The packages can be upgraded to your requirements, with extra products easily integrated. However, these come at an additional cost, so, if you require extra products, it may be better to purchase a larger package upfront. Ring discounts packages in sales frequently or touts the inclusion of an additional product for free.

Although the prices for Ring home security packages are comparable with other brands, the fact that they can be quickly and easily installed using the included sticky pads means there are no installation costs to factor in. Ring does have a professional installation service, which comes at an additional price. This service isn’t available in Scotland, Wales or postal code zones EX, TR, TQ and PL.

Our researchers found that the Ring packages are well-considered, cater to a broad range of user requirements and offer good value for money. Adding extra components, however, can rapidly drive the price up. If this would provide a better security solution for your home than the standard packages, it may be worth waiting until Ring has a sale.

Equipment costs

Ring offers two levels of coverage – Protect Basic and Protect Plus – on top of its standard free coverage. These plans provide additional features, such as video storage and professional monitoring, that enhance device functionality.

Ring Protect Basic covers one device, such as a video doorbell or camera, and saves the captured videos for reviewing, downloading and sharing later. It doesn’t, however, provide professional monitoring.

The Protect Plus subscription covers unlimited devices, making it more suitable for larger properties. It also offers assisted monitoring, which alerts your emergency contacts via an automated call whenever a security issue is detected. This is an opt-in or out service, with no long-term commitment necessary.

Each Ring home security package contains the components required to set up your home’s system, including the adhesive pads to affix the surveillance devices. It also offers an extensive range of accessories, including solar panels designed to power your devices.

Our experts have broken down the packages to give you an overview of the equipment.

Base Station

The base station is your home security network’s hub, connecting all your devices. It incorporates a siren and a backup battery that can provide power for up to 24 hours.

Alarm Keypad (2nd Gen)

The keypad allows you to control your system, input codes and arm alerts. It can be wall mounted, and extra keypads can be incorporated and placed around your home.

Alarm Contact Sensor (2nd Gen)

When mounted on door and window frames, these sensors will alert you when the window is opened, breaking the contact.

Alarm Motion Detector (2nd Gen)

To maximise your motion sensors, they should ideally be mounted in corners, enabling them to cover the widest possible range. When movement is detected, you’ll receive a notification. Customisable smart detection allows the system to ignore pets and only sends alerts if intruders exist. However, you can also set it to monitor your pet’s movements if you wish.

Alarm Range Extender (2nd Gen) 

The range extender ensures full connectivity throughout your home, extending the signal from the base station to every Ring component.

Indoor Camera (2nd Gen)

Designed to be compact and discreet, the plug-in Ring indoor camera can be wall or surface mounted. It offers HD video, two-way communication, motion-activated alerts and night vision. It has a sight range of 140 degrees diagonally, 115 degrees horizontally and 59 degrees vertically.

Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) 

Powered by a rechargeable battery, Ring’s video doorbell is equipped with HD video, two-way communication, night vision and customisable motion detection, with a range of 155 degrees. Using wifi connectivity, the doorbell sends instant notifications to your mobile device.

The video doorbell arrives with the appropriate mounting bracket and installation tools. Once the bracket is attached, line up the slots on the bracket with the corresponding holes in the doorbell and click into place.

Ring also offers a wired video doorbell as an optional accessory.

Ring’s UK customers have given the company a low 1.2 stars out of five on Trustpilot, slightly higher than those in the US (1.3 stars).

The positive Ring reviews on Trustpilot mention the quality of its products, helpful customer service and ease of installation. Conversely, several users have experienced poor customer support and some mentioned issues with the mobile app.

Ring offers nine ready-made home security packages, catering to a wide range of user circumstances and budgets. Our experts have considered three typical homeowner scenarios and reviewed the packages we feel best meet those needs.

The Medium Alarm, Doorbell + Indoor Camera Pack provides enough devices to cover the average UK household. We considered the lifestyle of a busy family with parents and one or two younger members living in a three- or four-bed property. The house might be empty during the day while people work or attend school. Video doorbells are becoming increasingly popular with the rise of doorstep crimes. A family with visitors, deliveries and one or more cars parked on a driveway will likely find a video doorbell a helpful security device.

The contact sensors could be fixed to the exterior rear door and window frames, with the Ring Alarm covering the front of the property, while the motion detectors would cover the main hallway and either the living room or stairs. The living room would be an excellent location for the indoor camera if the family had pets they wanted to keep an eye on, but it would also be ideally placed to capture intruders.

Depending on the size of the house, the range extender ensures that long-range connections are stable, allowing the base station to be placed unobtrusively. We envisioned the keypad control unit to be attached to the wall in the hallway, near the front or kitchen doors, allowing easy access.

With this setup, the main entrance points, high-traffic areas and the potential route of any intruder are covered. The package is a reasonable price for the included devices and can easily be added to if necessary.

Package score

Smaller properties require fewer home security devices to provide peace of mind. We feel Ring’s Small Alarm Pack offers the perfect coverage for a small home or flat and, if it’s a rental property, the price point is low enough that a tenant or landlord could consider installing it. Plus, the peel-and-stick adhesive fixings are ideal if you move away and want to reinstall or if you’re worried about causing damage to your landlord’s property.

With the motion detector and contact sensor, you’ll receive notifications if someone enters the property through a door or window. For added security in a rental home, landlords can enjoy the protection of assisted monitoring by combining this package with Ring’s Protect Plus, ideal for when the house is untenanted.

Package score

If you have a large property to protect, we feel that Ring’s Large Alarm, Doorbell + Indoor Camera Pack is worth considering. It contains four contact sensors which can be placed on strategic entrance points, such as rear doors and windows that are hidden from the road or neighbours. The three motion detectors could cover the main routes through the house, such as the hallway, kitchen and living room. The indoor camera could provide video surveillance along the hallway. The video doorbell ensures all movement around the front door is covered and allows two-way communication between the homeowner and visitor.

Although this is Ring’s most expensive package, we feel it offers good value for money for the amount of protection it provides.

Package score