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See who is at your door no matter where you are so you can stop thieves or just check in on the kids when they get off the school bus. All three Ring doorbells offer two-way talk, on-demand video, infrared night vision and motion-activated alerts. But is it worth the extra cost to upgrade to the Ring 4 or Ring Pro?
Article Overview
- Ring vs Ring 2 vs Ring 3 vs Ring 4 vs Ring Pro
- Video Quality
- Ease Of Use & Installation
- Subscription Plans
- How To Secure Your Entire Home With Ring
Ring vs Ring 2 vs Ring 3 vs Ring 4 vs Ring Pro
View Ring Doorbell Cameras on Amazon
The table below will help you see the similarities and differences among the three Ring doorbells. We’ll go more in-depth about what’s included in this table and explain the key differences.
Ring Doorbell Comparison Chart
| Video Doorbell | Video Doorbell 3 | Video Doorbell 4 | Video Doorbell Pro | Video Doorbell Elite | Peephole Cam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $69.99 | $149.99 | $159.99 | $249.99 | $349.99 | Check Amazon for availability |
| Installation | Existing Wiring or Rechargeable Battery | Existing Wiring or Rechargeable Battery | Existing Wiring or Rechargeable Battery | Requires Existing Doorbell Wiring | Requires Professional | Replaces Peephole |
| Video | 720p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Field of View | 180° | 160° | 160° | 160° | 160° | 155° |
| Advanced Motion Detection with Human Detection and Adjustable Motion Zones |  |
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Adjustable Motion Zones |
| Other | Pre-Roll 4 Seconds Before Motion Event | Human Detection | Human Detection | Knock Detection | ||
| Dimensions | 4.98″H x 2.43″W x 0.87″D | 5.1″H x 2.4″W x 1.1″D | 5.1″H x 2.4″W x 1.1″D | 4.5″H x 1.85″W x 0.80″D | 4.8″H x 2.75″W x 2.17″D | Indoors: 2.26”H x 4.40”W x 1.16”D Outdoors: 1.85”H x 3.83”W x 0.78”D |
| WiFi Connectivity | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz |
Recording Plans
Recording plans are optional and allow you to review, save and share your videos at any time. Below are the plans available and their features
| Included Free | Basic | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $3/month or $30/year | $10/month or $100/year |
| Number Of Devices | 1 | 1 | All Ring Devices |
| Motion-Activated Notifications | |
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| Real-Time Video With Live View | |
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| Two-Way Talk | |
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| Lifetime Theft Protection | |
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| Video History For 60 Days | |
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| Video Saving & Sharing | |
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| Snapshot Capture | |
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| 24/7 Professional Monitoring For Ring Alarm | |
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| Extended Warranties For All Devices | |
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| 10% Off Select Products At Ring.com | |
*Customizable alerts allow you to adjust the sound or phrase produced from the camera, so you know which is triggered. Sounds/phrases available include tones, a dog barking, a siren, song choices, phrases like “someone is at your door,” etc. This can be helpful if you have multiple Ring cameras.
Video Quality
The difference between 720p and 1080p can be pretty major in capturing a license plate or seeing someone’s face more clearly, so we’d recommend opting for Ring 3 or higher, or Ring Pro if the 20° isn’t going to make a big impact on what the doorbell camera can capture for your home. The Ring Pro also has more advanced features that can give you more precise alerts to help you know the threat level of a notification, but you may not consider these to be “must-have” features.
Personal Experience With Ring vs Ring Pro
Jeff B., Safe Smart Living, had to choose between the two. Here is his experience.
When I decided to purchase a Ring Doorbell I looked closely at both the original Ring and the Ring Pro. I decided that I really just wanted a video doorbell to monitor my front door when I wasn’t home. So while the advanced motion, human detection and custom alerts are really cool features that the Ring Pro offers, I determined that for the price difference the original Ring was a better fit for my needs and I’ve been very happy with it.
Ease Of Use & Installation
The Ring Doorbell and Ring Doorbell 2 have the option to use existing wiring or a rechargeable battery for installation setup. There is also a quick-release rechargeable battery pack on the Ring Doorbell 2. With the Ring Doorbell Pro, existing doorbell wiring is required, and there is no rechargeable battery option.
Typical installation takes about 5 minutes for the Ring Doorbell and Ring Doorbell 2 and the Ring Doorbell Pro takes a little longer at 15 minutes. But overall, the installation is fairly simple for all three of the doorbells, with the Pro being a little more intensive. There is no need to hire a professional to install any of these doorbells, and Ring sends thorough instructions to help you with the installation.
Installing a Ring Doorbell isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. Whether you already own one or are considering getting one, I hope my firsthand experience (with the Ring Doorbell 2 in this case, but the setup is more or less the same with other versions) simplifies the installation for you.
Note: Having an existing doorbell (or wires) is not required to use Ring’s doorbell.
Ring Protect Subscription Plans
| Included Free | Basic | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $3/month or $30/year | $10/month or $100/year |
| Number Of Devices | 1 | 1 | All Ring Devices |
| Motion-Activated Notifications | |
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|
| Real-Time Video With Live View | |
|
|
| Two-Way Talk | |
|
|
| Lifetime Theft Protection | |
|
|
| Video History For 60 Days | |
|
|
| Video Saving & Sharing | |
|
|
| Snapshot Capture | |
|
|
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring For Ring Alarm | |
||
| Extended Warranties For All Devices | |
||
| 10% Off Select Products At Ring.com | |
FAQs
- Do I have to purchase a Ring Protect plan?
No, you do not. If you’d like some additional features, you may be interested in purchasing a subscription plan. - Is there a free trial?
Yes, there is a 30-day free trial of Ring Protect Plus when you first set up your ring device. - Does Ring Protect Plus cover multiple addresses?
No, you’ll need to subscribe to each address you want to be covered. - How long does the Ring doorbell battery last?
Six to twelve months, depending on how often your doorbell is activated.
Can Ring Secure Your Entire Home?
Ring doorbells are excellent choices for homeowners and renters alike. There is even a Ring Peephole Cam that requires no doorbell, so it works great for apartments. You can compare it against the doorbell cameras mentioned in our Ring doorbell reviews.
Ring also has a home security system, Ring Alarm, with an extremely affordable professional monitoring fee that we are very impressed with. Ring Alarm can integrate with your Ring doorbell, so you can control everything from one app and check in on your home from your office, in another state or in another time zone.
Tagged With: Comparison, Ring Home Security
