Blink vs. Ring security cameras

As if one brand wasn't enough, Amazon is the proud owner of two of the most popular wireless home security camera brands: Ring and Blink. But instead of having them work together, Amazon encourages a bit of sibling rivalry.

Ring is our top choice for the best Amazon camera brand, thanks to its superior product selection, including several video doorbell options. But Blink cameras are easier on the wallet and have serious battery life endurance. We bring Blink and Ring cameras into the arena to help you decide if Ring deserves the win.

Ring's biggest advantage over Blink is how versatile its device selection is. There’s a wealth of security camera and video doorbell options, so you're sure to find a specific device for your needs.

While storing video with Ring isn't too expensive for most people, its mandatory monthly fee puts strain on your budget more than Blink's one-time local storage costs. Ring cameras also have shorter battery life, but at least they use rechargeable batteries. Overall, there's not much that Ring can't do that Blink does—aside from local storage and long battery life.

It might not seem as revolutionary now, but Blink was one of the first brands to sell a wire-free security camera (with free cloud storage) back in 2015.

While Blink's latest cameras have long since abandoned free cloud storage, it's no surprise that it remains a strong contender in the budget category. Everything about Blink is incredibly affordable, right down to the equipment, local storage option, and subscription plans.

It also boasts some of the best battery life we've ever seen in a security camera, with the Outdoor 4 able to survive up to two years on two AA batteries.

Blink and Ring security cameras are more alike than not. The most uncanny similarities come from the paid subscription plans and smart home integrations. Here’s what they have in common:

• Mobile app: Both apps put your cameras front and center and make it easy to view a live feed and change settings. That said, the Blink app has a simpler user interface since it doesn't support a security system like the Ring app.
• Installation: Both Blink and Ring's installations just take a few screws and a Wi-Fi connection. The biggest difference is that Ring sells more cameras that use wired power sources instead of batteries.
• Smart home: Both brands work with Amazon Alexa and not much else. While it's understandable for Amazon to push its smart home platform, this leaves Google and HomeKit users with few options for using these devices. IFTTT also works with Ring and Blink, but it's not as easy to use as Alexa's built-in home automation tools.
• Video quality: There's not much difference in video quality between the brands. Practically none of Ring or Blink's cameras supports anything higher than 1080p. We’re curious when Amazon will decide to compete with the higher pixel count of brands like Arlo, Eufy, and Reolink.

While shared traits tell us a lot about Ring and Blink cameras, their differences surface some of their strengths:

• Camera prices: Because these are both Amazon brands, it doesn't make sense for Blink and Ring to have the same camera prices. This means that Blink takes on the budget role, with its camera lineup costing less than $150, while Ring caters to everyone else. (Ring sells some budget cameras too, but they're never cheaper than Blink's offerings.)
• Subscription plans: Blink and Ring offer different subscription plans, and they aren't cross-compatible. Both include access to similar features, however Ring offers triple the amount of cloud storage (180 days vs 60 days).
• Video storage: Although both Ring and Blink offer cloud storage plans, Blink's support for local video storage on the Sync Module 2 means you can store videos on a USB stick without a subscription. In contrast, Ring ties all video storage to a subscription plan.
• Range: Blink's current range in Australia includes just two cameras, while Ring has many more options, including floodlight cameras and video doorbells.

We like Ring just a bit more than Blink when it comes down to brass tacks. Ring's diverse product selection is more likely to have the camera you need, and you can expand into full security systems. Still, Blink is the obvious choice for anyone wanting to save as much money as possible.

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