Skip to main content

Ring Alarm, video doorbells will soon lock free features behind a paywall

Ring is making a few changes to its Ring Protect subscription plans. Later this month, membership will be required for select features that were previously free. Specifically, new customers who pick up a Ring Alarm will need to sign up for the premium service to Arm or Disarm their device from the Ring app and receive digital notifications.

Ring Alarm isn’t the only product seeing changes, as Ring doorbells and cameras will also need a subscription to set them into Home or Away mode. The same goes for customizing settings to enable Live View with each of the above modes. Changes to the Ring Protect plans will take place on March 29, although they won’t impact all users.

Related Videos
Ring Video Doorbell installed next to a white entry door.

If you owned a Ring Alarm before March 29, you can continue using your product without any changes. But anything purchased after that date will now require a Ring Protect subscription.

It’s a different story for Ring video doorbells and cameras, as both existing and future Ring doorbells and cameras will require a Ring Protect Plan to use Home and Away Modes through Alexa or Ring app.

Thankfully, the price of Ring Protect isn’t changing. A Basic Plan still clocks in at $4 per month or $40 per year, while the Plus and Pro plans are $10 per month and $20 per month, respectively. But since new users won’t be able to Arm or Disarm their Ring Alarm remotely without a membership, they’re all but required to join the program. Without signing up, you’ll only be able to perform these features locally on the Ring Alarm keypad.

Unsure if your favorite features will still be accessible for free? Check out the Ring Support page, which goes in-depth about the new pricing structure and discusses what products (and which customers) will see a change in service.

Editors' Recommendations

Ring security camera buying guide
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro on wall.

When it comes to Ring's lineup of home security cameras, there's certainly no shortage of models to choose from. Whether you're thinking about adding surveillance to a few rooms in your home or want to create a cohesive net of Wi-Fi-powered monitoring for every room, along with a few outdoor locations, there's a Ring camera that will get the job done.

Like many DIY home security solutions, it can be a bit daunting to sift through the many types of cameras and other security peripherals that Ring offers, but that's where we come in. We've been writing about and testing Ring products for years, so when it comes to adding a Ring camera to your home, we know exactly what we're talking about.

Read more
Ring Video Doorbell 4 vs. Nest Doorbell Wired
Ring Video Doorbell installed on a home.

If you’re looking for a new video doorbell, you’ve probably stumbled across Ring and Nest. Both companies are churning out popular smart home products, but few are as appealing as the Ring Video Doorbell 4 and Nest Doorbell Wired. The two doorbells bring heaps of functionality to the table, with plenty of crossover on their stat sheets.

But which one is best for your home? Here’s a closer look at the two video doorbells to help you make the right purchase.
Resolution and night video

Read more
Is it worth upgrading to the new Google Nest wired doorbell?
Someone presses the Nest Video Doorbell in front of their home.

Video doorbell cameras are often one of the first external pieces of smart home tech consumers buy. Not only do they help keep an eye on our environment, but they double as communication devices for delivery drivers, guests, and others. Google recently released its second-generation Nest Doorbell (wired) and improved the Google Home app, but is it really worth upgrading if you have the base model?
Google's new doorbell

The new Google Nest Doorbell (wired) shares a similar design to the battery variant, although it is shorter since no batteries are required. It has a flat, matte design that comes in four colors to match nearly any home. To initiate a call, there's a big button at the bottom, which is illuminated around the edge. There's also an equally significant and prominent lens at the top of the doorbell.

Read more