How to Buy a Ring Doorbell Plan

Choosing the right Ring Doorbell plan ensures you get the most from your smart doorbell. This guide walks you through comparing plans, signing up, and troubleshooting common issues—so you can secure your home with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the difference between free and paid plans: Free access offers basic live view and motion alerts, but paid plans unlock video recording, extended history, and advanced features.
• Choose between Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus: Basic covers one device, while Plus covers all Ring devices at your location for a better value if you have multiple cameras or doorbells.
• Plans are billed monthly or annually: Annual subscriptions save you money—up to 10% off compared to monthly payments.
• You can cancel or change your plan anytime: Ring offers flexibility, so you’re not locked into long-term contracts.
• Set up your plan directly through the Ring app: No need to visit a website—everything is managed from your smartphone.
• Take advantage of free trials: New users often get a 30-day free trial to test premium features before committing.
• Check compatibility: Ensure your Ring Doorbell model supports video recording and cloud storage before purchasing a plan.

How to Buy a Ring Doorbell Plan: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

So, you’ve installed your Ring Doorbell and love getting instant alerts when someone’s at your door. But now you’re wondering—how do you get those recorded videos? How do you save clips of package deliveries or late-night visitors? The answer is simple: you need a Ring Doorbell plan.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about buying a Ring Doorbell plan. Whether you’re a first-time user or upgrading from a free account, we’ll help you choose the right plan, sign up easily, and make the most of your smart doorbell. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to protect your home with confidence—and without confusion.

What Is a Ring Doorbell Plan?

A Ring Doorbell plan, officially called a Ring Protect plan, is a subscription service that gives you access to advanced features like video recording, cloud storage, and extended event history. Without a plan, your Ring Doorbell still works—you can see live video, get motion alerts, and talk to visitors. But you won’t be able to save or review past recordings.

Think of it like this: the free version is like having a security camera that only shows you what’s happening right now. A paid plan turns it into a full security system with a memory—so you can look back at what happened yesterday, last week, or even months ago.

Ring offers two main plans: Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus. We’ll break down the differences in just a moment. But first, let’s talk about why you might want one.

Why You Need a Ring Doorbell Plan

You might be thinking, “Do I really need to pay for a plan?” It’s a fair question. After all, your doorbell works without one. But here’s the truth: without a plan, you’re missing out on the most useful features.

Imagine this: you get a motion alert at 2 a.m. You check the live view and see someone walking up to your door. They leave a package—then walk away. The next morning, you want to review the footage to see if they were alone, what they looked like, or if anything else happened. Without a plan? You can’t. That clip is gone forever.

With a Ring Protect plan, that same scenario becomes manageable. You can:
– Save the video clip to the cloud
– Review it later from your phone
– Share it with neighbors or law enforcement if needed
– Download it for your records

Paid plans also offer:
– Extended video history (up to 180 days with Plus)
– Person detection (so you only get alerts when it’s a person, not a passing car)
– Snapshot capture (periodic photos between motion events)
– Video sharing and exporting

In short: a Ring Doorbell plan turns your doorbell from a simple alert system into a full-fledged home security tool.

Ring Protect Plans: Basic vs. Plus

Before you buy, it’s important to understand the two main Ring Protect plans. Let’s compare them side by side.

Ring Protect Basic

– Cost: $3.99/month or $39.99/year (per device)
– Covers: One Ring device (doorbell or camera)
– Video History: Up to 180 days of event recordings
– Features: Video recording, motion alerts, person detection, snapshot capture, video sharing
– Best for: Homes with only one Ring device

Ring Protect Plus

– Cost: $10/month or $100/year (covers all devices at one location)
– Covers: All Ring devices at your home (doorbells, cameras, alarms)
– Video History: Up to 180 days of event recordings
– Features: Everything in Basic, plus 24/7 professional monitoring (for Ring Alarm), extended warranties, and discounts on future Ring purchases
– Best for: Homes with multiple Ring devices or those with a Ring Alarm system

Which Plan Should You Choose?

If you only have one Ring Doorbell and no other Ring devices, Ring Protect Basic is a great starting point. It’s affordable and gives you all the core recording features.

But if you have two or more Ring devices—say, a doorbell and a backyard camera—Ring Protect Plus is almost always the better deal. For just $10/month, you cover everything. That’s like getting multiple Basic plans for the price of one.

Also, if you’re using Ring Alarm (their home security system), Plus includes 24/7 professional monitoring, which Basic does not. So if you want full security coverage, Plus is the way to go.

Step-by-Step: How to Buy a Ring Doorbell Plan

Now that you know the options, let’s walk through the actual process of buying a Ring Doorbell plan. The good news? It’s quick, easy, and can be done entirely from your smartphone.

Step 1: Open the Ring App

Make sure you’ve downloaded the Ring app on your iPhone or Android device. If you haven’t already, you can get it from the App Store or Google Play.

Once installed, log in with your Ring account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create it during setup.

Step 2: Go to the Menu

Tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top-left corner of the app. This opens the main navigation menu.

Step 3: Select “Protect Plans”

Scroll down and tap on “Protect Plans.” This will take you to the subscription section where you can view available plans and pricing.

Step 4: Choose Your Plan

You’ll see both Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus listed. Tap on the one you want to learn more.

– If you choose Basic, you’ll be asked to select which device you want to cover (if you have more than one).
– If you choose Plus, it will automatically cover all devices at your location.

Step 5: Select Billing Option

Ring offers two billing options: monthly or annual.

– Monthly: Pay each month (e.g., $3.99 for Basic, $10 for Plus)
– Annual: Pay once per year (e.g., $39.99 for Basic, $100 for Plus)

Tip: Go annual if you can. You save about 10% compared to monthly payments. For example, Basic costs $47.88/year if paid monthly, but only $39.99 if paid annually—that’s nearly $8 in savings.

Step 6: Enter Payment Information

You’ll need to add a credit or debit card. Ring accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

Enter your card details, billing address, and confirm the information. Make sure everything is accurate to avoid payment issues later.

Step 7: Confirm and Activate

Review your plan details: which plan, which device(s), billing cycle, and total cost. When you’re ready, tap “Subscribe” or “Activate Plan.”

Your plan will activate immediately. You’ll receive a confirmation email, and your Ring app will update to show that recording is now enabled.

Step 8: Test Your Setup

To make sure everything’s working, trigger a motion event—walk in front of your doorbell or press the button. Then go to the app and check the “Event History” tab. You should see a recorded clip.

Tap on it to play, save, or share. If you see it, congratulations—your plan is active and working!

How to Manage Your Ring Doorbell Plan

Buying a plan is just the beginning. You’ll also want to know how to manage it—change plans, update payment info, or cancel if needed.

View or Change Your Plan

Go back to the Ring app menu > “Protect Plans.” Here, you can:
– See your current plan and billing date
– Switch from Basic to Plus (or vice versa)
– Change from monthly to annual billing (or vice versa)

Note: If you switch from monthly to annual, you’ll be charged the full annual amount right away. If you switch from annual to monthly, your current year will continue, and you’ll start monthly billing after it ends.

Update Payment Method

If your card expires or you want to use a different one:
1. Go to “Protect Plans”
2. Tap “Payment Method”
3. Add a new card or edit the existing one
4. Save changes

Cancel Your Plan

You can cancel anytime—no long-term contracts or cancellation fees.

To cancel:
1. Go to “Protect Plans”
2. Tap “Cancel Subscription”
3. Follow the prompts

Your plan will remain active until the end of your current billing period. After that, recording will stop, and you’ll revert to free features only.

Tip: If you cancel during a free trial, make sure to do it before the trial ends to avoid being charged.

Free Trial: Try Before You Buy

New Ring users often get a 30-day free trial of Ring Protect Plus. This is a great way to test premium features without paying upfront.

During the trial, you’ll have full access to:
– Video recording
– 180-day event history
– Person detection
– Snapshot capture
– Coverage for all your Ring devices

To activate the trial:
1. Open the Ring app
2. Go to “Protect Plans”
3. Look for the “Start Free Trial” button
4. Follow the steps to enroll

Important: You must cancel before the 30 days are up if you don’t want to be charged. The app will send reminders, but it’s easy to forget—so set a calendar alert just in case.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with a plan, you might run into a few hiccups. Here’s how to fix the most common problems.

“I Have a Plan, But I Can’t See Recorded Videos”

– Make sure your doorbell is connected to Wi-Fi. Poor signal can prevent recordings from uploading.
– Check that motion recording is enabled in the app: go to Device Settings > Motion Settings > toggle “Motion Recording” on.
– Restart your doorbell by removing it from the mount and reattaching it, or by turning off power at the breaker for 10 seconds.

“My Plan Isn’t Activating”

– Confirm your payment went through. Check your bank statement or email for a charge from Ring.
– Log out and back into the Ring app.
– Force-close the app and reopen it.
– If still not working, contact Ring Support through the app or website.

“I’m Being Charged Twice”

This can happen if you accidentally subscribed twice—maybe through the app and a promotional link.

– Check your bank statement for duplicate charges.
– Go to “Protect Plans” and see if you have multiple active subscriptions.
– If so, cancel the extra one and request a refund through Ring Support.

“I Lost My Receipt or Confirmation Email”

You can find your billing history in the Ring app:
1. Go to Menu > Account Settings
2. Tap “Billing History”
3. View or download past invoices

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Plan

Now that you’ve got your plan, here’s how to use it like a pro.

Use Motion Zones

Set custom motion zones so you only get alerts when someone approaches your door—not when a car drives by on the street. Go to Device Settings > Motion Settings > Motion Zones.

Enable Person Detection

This feature filters out non-human motion (like trees or animals). It’s included in both Basic and Plus plans. Turn it on in Motion Settings.

Download Important Clips

If you record something important—like a package theft or suspicious activity—download the video to your phone or cloud storage. Tap the clip in Event History > three dots > “Download.”

Share with Neighbors

Use the Neighbors feature in the Ring app to share clips with nearby Ring users. Great for community safety.

Review Regularly

Check your event history weekly. You might spot patterns—like frequent motion at certain times—that help you adjust settings or improve security.

Is a Ring Doorbell Plan Worth It?

Let’s be honest: $4 to $10 a month might seem like an extra expense. But when you consider what you get, it’s a small price for peace of mind.

Think about it:
– How much would you pay to recover a stolen package?
– What’s the value of evidence if someone vandalizes your home?
– Could a recorded clip help police solve a crime?

For most people, the answer is: way more than $10 a month.

Plus, Ring frequently offers discounts—especially during holidays like Black Friday or Prime Day. Keep an eye out for deals that can save you even more.

Final Thoughts

Buying a Ring Doorbell plan is one of the smartest things you can do to protect your home. It’s simple, affordable, and gives you access to powerful features that turn your doorbell into a true security system.

Whether you choose Ring Protect Basic for one device or go all-in with Plus for full coverage, you’re making a smart investment in your safety. And with flexible billing, easy management, and a free trial to test it out, there’s no reason to wait.

So open the Ring app, pick your plan, and start recording. Your future self will thank you.