Ring Alarm Security System Cost and Pricing

We think Ring is one of the best home security systems around. They offer high-quality, low-cost equipment for just about any security need and professional monitoring for only $20 per month. Plus, their equipment includes cutting-edge protections as well as some interesting opportunities for home automation. It can also be installed with minimal tools or know-how, and they don’t require any long-term contracts.

Are they the right system for you, though? In this guide, we’re going to break down the cost of Ring’s equipment, discuss their offerings, and detail their overall value. By the end, you’re going to have a pretty good perspective of Ring’s security systems, and a good idea if they’re going to meet your needs.

Ring Alarm Pricing Overview

Equipment Costs

Pricing-wise, Ring is one of the most affordable security companies on the market today. They’re consistently updating their lineup with enhanced features and capabilities. Nowadays, they offer a solid selection across various price points to match different security needs and budgets. You can customize your own system, but note that the base station is required no matter what security kit you end up going with.

With the addition of Ring Alarm Pro to Ring’s lineup comes an upgraded base station with a built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 router that covers up to 1,500 square feet. You can either buy the base station alone as an upgrade to your existing Ring Alarm system, or buy a new 8- or 14-piece Ring Alarm Pro Package for as low as $249.99.

Ring Alarm Equipment Cost Breakdown

Here are the prices for Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Pro accessories:

Package Costs

When it comes to value, bundling equipment in a package delivers more bang for your buck than purchasing components individually. Prices range from around $200 to about $700, so there’s a really big range depending on how much equipment you need. But whether you’re an apartment dweller or a homeowner, Ring has a security kit for you, plus add-on equipment available on their website and Amazon.

Ring Alarm Packages

Monitoring Costs

Ring lets you choose between self-monitoring for free and 24/7 professional monitoring. With self-monitoring, we were totally responsible for our home’s security. But with 24/7 professional monitoring, a team of people also gets alerted if any of the alarms go off. If we didn’t respond to a notification or phone call, the professional monitors would send emergency services, after verifying their necessity.

While we didn’t mind monitoring the system ourselves, we recommend getting 24/7 professional monitoring as it comes with cellular backup to keep the system on if the power goes out.

Monitoring Cost Overview

Ring offers three subscription plans plus a free self-monitoring option, but only one of those plans include professional monitoring. It’s called Ring Protect Pro, and it’s what we opted for when we tested our Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Pro systems.

Here’s the breakdown of the subscription features.

*Feature requires a Ring Alarm Pro base station. 

Professional monitoring and cellular backup costs only $20 a month or $200 a year with Ring, one of the lowest fees we’ve seen among the top players in the industry. A monitoring package from Cove, one of the most affordable home security systems, starts at $17.99, and so Ring’s $20 per month plan isn’t too far off.

Plus, all plans are monthly with Ring, so there’s no need to sign up for a long-term commitment as required with a traditional alarm system from Brinks, for example, or an Alder security package. We even got 180 days of cloud storage, an extended warranty, and 10 percent off products on Ring’s website.

Home Automation

Since Amazon owns Ring, it’s no surprise that Ring works with Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant. It also connects to the Google ecosystem, but we found the Nest Hub Max didn’t recognize as many commands as our Echo Show. We used our voices to live stream camera footage, disable motion alerts, and lock the front door when our hands were full of groceries.

• Show their cameras’ footage (live streamed or cloud storage) on their Echo devices or Fire TVControl smart lighting
• Adjust motion sensitivity
• Disable motion alerts
• Arm and disarm the security system or ask about its status
• Lock or unlock the door or ask about its status.

Aside from the voice assistants, Ring works with several third-party devices, which helps fill out your home security system with products it doesn’t offer directly. Some examples are:

• Dome Siren
• Leviton Decora In-Wall Switch
• GE Plug-In Dimmer
• Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt
• Kwikset Z-Wave Deadbolt
• Yale Touchscreen Deadbolt
• Chamberlain Smart Garage Door Control

While Ring integrates with various Z-Wave devices, one area where it falls short is automated routines. When we reviewed abode, we set up a rule to turn on our Philips Hue lightbulbs as soon as the cameras started recording. We added another that would lock the front door the second it closed, so we didn’t have to shout at Alexa to do it. These automations are not possible with Ring.

If you want to see what Ring is capable of, check out our full Ring Alarm review.

How Does Ring Stack Up?

Ring has some of the most affordable monitoring costs we’ve seen from a security company. It starts at $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year for 24/7 professional monitoring and cellular backup, among other features. Just a select few providers beat Ring’s pricing, and the savings are typically marginal. When you factor in premium brands like Vivint and Frontpoint charging upwards of $50 monthly for monitoring, Ring clearly positions itself as a budget-friendly choice.

We also appreciate that even without paying any monthly fees, Ring users can still live-stream footage, receive notifications if any of their alarms go off, and control their systems remotely. This isn’t the case with all systems; while some companies like Arlo claim they offer self-monitoring, their systems essentially turn into local alarms only. Here’s how these prices compare to some of our other favorite systems.

While Ring takes the price crown among these options, it doesn’t include premium monitoring features like SimpliSafe’s Live Guard or advanced automation capabilities. For those interested in enhanced monitoring, check out our thoughts on SimpliSafe’s packages.

Ring’s equipment pricing hits the sweet spot for most budgets. Their cameras and video doorbells typically run between $60 to $250 — right in the middle of the market. You’ll find premium options pushing $500 elsewhere, and basic models as low as $25, but Ring delivers solid quality at reasonable prices.

For a system that offers a larger equipment selection and dedicated 24/7 professional monitoring, check out the plan offerings from Frontpoint, another popular and fairly affordable home security brand.

Our Ring Alarm Security Kit Research and Data

Overall Value

Ring delivers an attractive package for budget-conscious security seekers. With extensive equipment choices, straightforward DIY setup, seamless Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, and wallet-friendly monitoring rates, Ring adapts to various budgets and security needs.

Ring continues to evolve and improve its offerings while staying committed to their competitive prices. If they added innovations similar to ADT’s Trusted Neighbor or SimpliSafe’s Live Guard features, Ring could climb even higher in our rankings of top home security systems.