Ring Alarm Home Security System Review

Looking to learn more about Ring? Here's our take. Ring Security has the best security cameras, bar none. Plus, it's affordable. You can snag starter equipment for under $200, and pro monitoring starts at $19.99/month.

It’s also easy to assemble, attentive with its alerts, and expandable so it can grow with your family. Amazon owns Ring, so it integrates well with your Alexa too.

In the UK? Check out our Ring UK Review.

The Ring security system costs peanuts compared to other self-installed systems like it. The base price for the starter security kit is under $200. Self-monitoring on cameras is free without video storage, but video recordings and self-monitoring on the alarm system start at $5 monthly. Ring’s professional monitoring is an extra $10 per month.

We see the Basic plan as best for singles and couples who are looking for minimal security and are more focused on capturing live video and motion events. Ring Home Standard is great for other families and folks wanting cloud video storage for additional cameras.

Ring Home Premium includes a lot of features not found with the other packages:

• 24/7 recording
• Smart Video Search
• 24/7 backup internet
• SOS emergency response
• Ring Edge microSD storage

One thing we are disappointed about is Ring's recent change in plans that makes professional monitoring an add-on to the Standard and Premium plans. If you want that extra reassurance, you'll have to pay an extra $10 per month. That add-on makes Ring's pro monitoring start at $19.99 a month.

Along with the change to pro monitoring, Ring added a Virtual Security Guard add-on. For another $100 per month, you can have live video monitoring by trained security professionals "when you want it." Guards are available 24/7 and can call for emergency services when needed. We're still learning more about the "When you want it" caveat. We hope that for $100 a month, you get the live guards around the clock.

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In the beginning, Ring offered roughly the same package in three sizes that just offered a basic base, keypad, range extender, and differing amounts of sensors.

The company now has a wider selection of security options since it introduced the Pro series of security systems in the second half of 2021.

The Ring Alarm Pro series features a TrueMesh Eero Wi-Fi6 router and 24/7 backup internet to keep your Ring security system working when your internet is disconnected, and local storage for your security cameras.

Some Pro and not-Pro packages also come with an Alexa device, Ring Video Doorbell, or a Ring camera.

Need a little more security? You can also opt into the Ring Virtual Security Guard service. With this service, you can have security professionals check in on cameras when motion is detected to see if there is a problem or a threat. This service can be just for one of your cameras, like the one watching over your car, or for all of them.

What happens when a problem is detected? The security professional will work to scare off intruders with the two-way talk feature and siren. If that doesn't work, they can dispatch emergency services.

You can learn more about this service and some other new goodies Ring now offers in our announcement video.

With few frills, large camera selection, and affordable equipment prices, Ring Alarm is best for people looking for standard security. And the option to monitor the system yourself or have the pros help out for just $20 a month lightens the burden of buying equipment up front.

Plus, Ring consistently ranks well in our lists of best self-monitored home security, best cheap home security, and best smart home security.

Range extender included: The Ring alarm kit is the only security system we know of that comes with a range extender. This is usually an add-on that costs extra, so it’s helpful for those with larger homes or outdoor equipment. Range extenders boost your home’s Wi-Fi reach and strengthen connections for additional devices.

System control: The Ring base station and keypad control the system as a whole. Both have the signature ring light to indicate system status.

More equipment: In addition to traditional home security tech, Ring has a suite of advanced indoor and outdoor cameras, environmental sensors, and more. We tested only the starter kit, but these other accessories are easy to add to your home system and play well with others.

The Ring Retrofit Kit ($80) works with preexisting door and window sensors and motion detectors to modernize old security equipment. It still requires the base station that comes in Ring Alarm's starter kits but could save money if you already have the infrastructure.

The Ring security system has everything you need right in the box. It’s easy to find all the sensors, instructions, and cables you need. Once your base station has a connection, the setup is simple.

1. Find instructions: Ring provides directions from the app and printed materials in the box.

2. Identify hub: installation starts with your base hub (the “brain” that ties the system together).

3. Have Wi-Fi password handy: There’s no “cancel” option if you enter it in wrong. To skip a headache and time wasted, type carefully.

4. Choose a four-digit entry code for the keypad.

5. Choose a place to put your sensors. These devices take just moments to install.

You'll need to restore factory settings if you’re getting a Ring system secondhand or giving yours away. This process takes a while because you have to manually reset each device. Plan on a few minutes for each.

Want to learn how to connect Ring with Alexa? Read our guide and watch the video.

Ring does have a professional-install option through a partnership with OnTech. But it's not the best deal. You pay on a per-device basis, which adds up. We recommend sticking with Ring's DIY route. If you want professional installation, see how Ring compares to ADT or Vivint, who specialize in professional installation.

During our Ring Security System review we found Ring's base station easy to set up, but the keypad and sensors posed difficulties.

Arming or disarming was confusing, and it was hard to tell if we’d successfully changed the system’s status until the alarm sounded. (The neighbors loved that.)

We decided to use the Ring app instead of the keypad, and it went much smoother. So, while a keypad is helpful when you have an armful of groceries, the app is much easier to understand.

The contact sensor also acted up. If your door and window frames have molding, you might have trouble too. The doorframe was too high for the sensors to match, so the system showed that the door was open.

Thankfully, we found help through Ring’s guide to different door and window trims.

We strongly encourage reading all the fine print about how Ring handles privacy issues. That way, you can make the choice that feels most comfortable for you and your approach to community safety.

Learn more about Ring's police partnerships in our Ring FAQ.

This system has seen a fast evolution since it first hit the market.

It debuted without any home automation integration (not even with the Ring video doorbell or cameras), but today you can control many smart devices through the Ring app, and you can use the Ring Alarm base station as a smart home hub.

Get the most up-to-date details on the Works With Ring list of compatible devices. If home automation is a priority, see how Ring compares to Abode home security systems.

Expand your Ring Alarm security system with a Ring doorbell, security camera, or motion-activated light. All of Ring's equipment works together, and you can control Ring products from the Ring app.

Need help with setup? Check out the Ring cameras troubleshooting guide.

Between the box instructions, online support, and the Ring app, we solved most of our issues with each Ring device. We found articles that helped us reset the system and install a contact sensor on a tricky door.

You probably won’t have to call Ring for help, but if you need to, there are call centers in three time zones with 24/7 customer service.

Here’s a look at some of Ring’s customer ratings.*

• Trustpilot rating: 1.3 stars (bad)
• Ring Always Home app on Apple App Store: 4.6 stars out of 5
• Ring Always Home app on Google Play: 4 stars out of 5

The Ring Alarm system can support small homes, tight security budgets, and home security newbies. It’s hard to beat $240 a year for pro monitoring (or $200 if you pay for a year in advance).

It's easy to install and adjust, but we ran into a few hiccups when we relied on the keypad for arming and disarming. Overall, we found it easier to control the system through the app than with the keypad.

Best of all, Ring has a wide selection of cameras to choose from. It's a great option if you want to build your security system around security cameras.

Setting up Ring's end-to-end encryption only takes a few steps.

During our Ring Home Security review, we have tested Ring for everyday situations—like arming and disarming it remotely and through the keypad. We left it on while our tester was home and armed it when they left. We caused a couple of false alarms while learning the Ring alarm security kit, but we were able to disarm it quickly through the app.

Learn more about how we tested for our Ring alarm review and other systems in our full methodology.

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