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Ring Video Doorbell Review: Is It Worth It?
A wireless video doorbell that lets you see, hear and speak to whoever's at your front door from anywhere — and never miss a package or a delivery again.
Illustrative image — see Amazon for the actual product.
Our verdict
The Ring Video Doorbell is the most-installed smart doorbell for honest reasons — easy install, easy app, easy to use, easy on the wallet. If you want to know who's at your door from anywhere in the world, this is the default pick.
The short version
Ring is the doorbell that turned 'who's at the door?' into a notification on your phone. The camera streams 1080p HD video to your phone the moment motion's detected or the bell is pressed; you can see, hear and speak to whoever's there from your couch, your office or another country. Battery-powered or hardwired installation, works with Alexa, and the cloud subscription unlocks recorded clips and richer alerts. It's the most-installed video doorbell on the market for a reason: it's the easiest to install, the easiest to use, and it just works.
Pros & cons
Pros
- 1080p HD video and two-way talk to anyone at the door
- Battery or hardwired install — works in any home
- Real-time motion alerts to your phone
- Works with Alexa and most smart home stacks
- Night vision for after-dark visitors
- Cheaper entry point than most competitors
Cons
- Cloud recording requires a Ring Protect subscription
- Battery models need recharging every few months
- Privacy practices worth understanding before you install
Why people love it
Install on your doorframe
Battery models mount in 15 minutes with two screws — no wiring required. Wired models replace your existing doorbell with included tools.
Pair to your phone
The Ring app walks you through Wi-Fi setup and notifications. You'll get a push every time motion is detected or the doorbell is rung.
See and speak from anywhere
Tap the notification, see live HD video, talk back through the built-in speaker — telling a delivery driver where to leave a package, or telling a stranger you'll be right there.
Who it's for
- Anyone home-alone or working hybrid
- Heavy online shoppers tracking packages
- Apartment renters (battery model is renter-friendly)
- Smart-home builders with an Alexa stack
Is a Ring doorbell actually worth installing?
For a single number — package theft drops noticeably for homes with a visible video doorbell. Package thieves are opportunistic, and a recording camera at a front door is a deterrent before it's evidence. But the value of a Ring isn't only the deterrent; it's the change in your relationship with your own front door. You stop missing the delivery driver because you saw the truck pull up. You stop wondering who rang the bell at 9pm. You can tell the FedEx driver to leave the package behind the planter without being home.
The other big shift is being away. Renters and homeowners who travel finally know what's happening at their door without asking a neighbor. Working parents see their kid get home from school. Adult children watching elderly parents can confirm someone's at the door before answering. It's one of those upgrades that sounds optional until you have it for a month — then you can't imagine the old setup where you just hoped you'd hear the knock from the back bedroom.
Ring Doorbell vs. Nest Doorbell vs. Eufy vs. Arlo: who wins what
Four serious players, four slightly different bets. Ring is Amazon-owned and aimed at maximum accessibility — the cheapest entry, the easiest install, the deepest Alexa integration. Google Nest is the more polished option if you live in the Google ecosystem, with the sharpest object detection and the cleanest app, but at a higher price and with required Nest Aware for most useful features. Eufy is the privacy-conscious pick: video stored locally on an included HomeBase, no required cloud subscription, lifetime no-fee feel.
Arlo sits at the premium end with the best image quality and the best motion-zone configuration, but at the highest price and with subscription costs that add up. The honest recommendation is to pick by your existing ecosystem first: Alexa house → Ring; Google house → Nest; 'I never want to pay a subscription' → Eufy; 'I want the absolute best image and don't mind paying' → Arlo. Ring is the right default for the majority of buyers because it covers the most common situation.
How to install your Ring doorbell — and not get the bad install
The battery model is the easier install: pick the spot at chest-to-head height on the doorframe, drill two pilot holes, screw in the bracket, snap the doorbell on. Five steps and 15 minutes. The single most common mistake is mounting it too low — you want it about 48 inches off the porch so it captures faces, not chests. If the door is recessed or angled away from approach, use the included wedge kit to angle the camera toward the walkway, not toward the empty porch railing.
Hardwired install replaces an existing doorbell, but check your transformer voltage first — Ring needs 8-24V AC, which most modern homes have, but a very old transformer may need replacement. Turn off the breaker before working with the wires, screw the two doorbell wires into the bracket terminals, and the chime kit (included in some boxes) handles compatibility with older mechanical bell systems. After install, in the app, set a generous motion zone covering your walkway but excluding the street (otherwise you'll get a notification every time a car drives by), and turn on motion warning so visitors hear the doorbell announce itself recording. That last step turns the camera into a real deterrent.
See Ring Video Doorbell on Amazon
Check the latest price, photos and buyer reviews on Amazon.
Check Price on Amazon →Sold and shipped by AmazonFrequently asked questions
Do I need a Ring Protect subscription?
Live view and real-time alerts work without a subscription. Recorded video history, the ability to review missed events, and rich notification features require Ring Protect (a few dollars a month). Most people end up subscribing once they realize recorded clips are what actually catch the package thief.
Battery or hardwired — which is right?
Battery if you don't already have a doorbell wired (apartments, side doors, sheds) — install is 15 minutes, no electrician. Hardwired if your existing doorbell wires are there — you get continuous power and never recharge. Both perform identically; choose by what's already in your wall.
How long does the battery last?
Two to six months on a charge, depending on how busy your doorway is and how cold your climate is (cold weather hurts battery life). The battery is removable, so most people buy a spare and swap them out without taking the doorbell off the wall.
Does Ring work with my smart home?
Yes — natively with Amazon Alexa (Ring is Amazon-owned), and through routines with Google Assistant and most smart home hubs. Echo Show screens can pop up the Ring feed when someone rings.
Is Ring secure? What about the privacy stories?
Ring has tightened its security and law-enforcement practices significantly over the past few years, including end-to-end encryption options and changes to its Neighbors and police-request policies. As with any internet-connected camera, use a strong unique password, enable two-factor authentication, and review the privacy settings in the app. Treat it like any cloud service — worth understanding before you install.
Ring vs. Nest vs. Eufy doorbell — which to pick?
Ring is the easiest install and the cheapest entry. Google Nest Doorbell is the right pick if you're already deep in the Google/Nest ecosystem and want sharp face recognition. Eufy's draw is local-storage video with no required subscription. If you have Alexa and want the easiest setup at the lowest entry price, Ring.
As an Amazon Associate, TopCrate earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The image above is illustrative; price, availability and current ratings are shown on Amazon and are subject to change.
