Skip to main content

Ring Indoor Cam vs. Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera: which is the better indoor camera?

The Ring Indoor Cam mounted on a wall.
Ring

The Ring Indoor Cam and Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera are affordable indoor cameras that both play nicely with Alexa. They also come with heaps of additional features — but require monthly fees to access everything they have to offer.

So, which is best: the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera or the Ring Indoor Cam? Here’s a closer look at both to help you decide.

Recommended Videos

Video quality and cost

The Blink Mini installed in the Pan-Tilt Mount.
Blink

The Ring Indoor Cam costs $60 and films in 1080p. It also features Color Night Vision to record crisp video when the lights go out. The Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera costs $60, uses infrared night vision, and films in 1080p. Aside from how they capture footage in the dark, there’s not much of a difference between these two budget-conscious products.

Winner: Ring Indoor Cam

Feature and spec list

The Ring Indoor Cam mounted on a wall.
Ring

The Ring Indoor Cam offers two-way audio, a manual privacy cover, video previews and Pre-Roll (which allows you to capture a few seconds prior to each event), smartphone alerts, several mounting options, and a smartphone app for additional customization options. It also supports Amazon Alexa.

The Blink Mini Pan-Tilt features two-way audio, real-time motion alerts, support for Alexa, and the ability to pan around a room to provide 360-degree coverage. Only a handful of cameras on the market offer this functionality, and if you’re not interested in installing several cameras, this is a solid alternative.

There isn’t a privacy shutter on the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt, although you can easily swivel the camera into a position where it can’t see anything (such as toward the ground or a wall).

Winner: Blink Mini Pan-Tilt

Monthly fees and what you get

The Blink Mini Pan Tilt mount on a wooden table.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For the Ring Indoor Cam, you’ll want to check out the Ring Protect Plans. Three different options are available, though the standard Basic Plan is likely enough for most homes. This provides you with video history for up to 180 days, snapshot capture, person alerts, the ability to arm and disarm the device remotely, and a few lesser-used extras. It clocks in at $4 per month.

It’s a similar story for the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera. Two plans are available, but the Blink Basic is the most useful. This includes live view recording, 60-day history, video sharing, person detection, and a few other perks. It costs $3 per month, making it a bit more enticing than Ring.

Winner: Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera

Ease of use

The Blink app viewing a live feed of the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Products in the Blink and Ring catalog are incredibly easy to operate. In fact, both products fall under the Amazon umbrella — so installing, customizing, and monitoring them are shockingly similar. Nearly everything about the Ring Indoor Cam and Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera can be controlled with a smartphone app. Thankfully, these are both incredibly easy to use, giving you immediate access to your video history, live feed, and adjustable settings.

As long as you’re comfortable operating a smartphone, you’ll have no trouble using either product. Both are also easy to install, as they can simply be placed on a desk or tabletop.

Winner: Tie

Which is the best indoor camera?

You can’t go wrong with either product, but the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt Camera is likely the better option for most homes. It’s lacking color night vision and a privacy shutter, but the ability to pan and tilt to cover every inch of a room is incredibly compelling. If used properly, it eliminates the need for multiple cameras — when placed in a central location, it’s possible to cover several rooms with the Blink Mini Pan-Tilt.

The Ring Indoor Cam is no slouch, however, and it’s worth considering if you like the idea of a privacy shutter. Color night vision is also a great perk, though there’s no trouble picking out details with the infrared night vision offered by Blink.

Whichever you pick, you can rest assured it’ll protect your home admirably for years to come.

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Topics
Prime Big Deal Days is a week away, but this Blink camera pack is 62% off already
The Blink Outdoor 4 installed on a fence

Full Prime Day deals may not kick off until October 8 courtesy of the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event, but that hasn’t stopped Amazon cutting the price on some highly sought after technology. In particular, it currently has the Blink Outdoor 4 3-camera system reduced by a massive 62%. Normally $260, it’s down to $100 for a limited time, making today an unmissable time to buy. One of the best Prime Day security camera deals around, it’s hard to find better value elsewhere. If you’re keen to secure your home, read on while we take you through what to expect.

Buy Now

Read more
The Blink security camera 5-pack is over 40% off today
The Blink Outdoor Camera 4 mounted on a brick wall.

Placing security cameras around your home is one of the simplest ways of protecting your family, but the costs will add up if you're planning to install a whole system of them. Fortunately, there are security camera deals that will let you enjoy huge savings, such as Amazon's 42% discount for a five-pack of the Blink Outdoor 4. From the bundle's original price of $400, it's down to only $232 in a limited-time offer. We're not sure how much time is remaining for this chance at $168 off, so you should complete your purchase immediately if you don't want to miss out.

Buy Now

Read more
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs. Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In (3rd Gen): Which is better?
The Stick Up Cam installed on a wall.

Two of Ring's most popular security cameras are the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam and Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In (3rd Gen). Both are relatively affordable, yet packed with premium features that make them great for guarding your home. But which one is better for your needs -- the newer Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam or the classic Stick Up Cam Plug-In (3rd Gen)? Here's a closer look at both to help you decide.
Pricing and monthly fees

Despite being the newer product, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is cheaper than the Stick Up Cam Plug-In. It costs just $80 compared to the Stick Up Cam Plug-In at $100. Additionally, if you'd like to pan and tilt the Stick Up Cam, you'll need to bundle it with the Pan-Tilt Mount for a total of $145. Regardless of which camera you choose, a Ring Protect subscription is all but a necessity. The lowest tier costs $5 per month and unlocks key features like 180-day video history, rich notifications, snapshot capture, and more.

Read more