Which Ring doorbell should I buy?

Ring doorbells vary dramatically in price and functionality, so picking the right model for your home setup requires research.  

Installation, charging, and subscription costs are all key considerations, and these should be weighed up not only amongst the Ring brand, but key rivals that can offer comparable features for less.

Bear in mind that as an Amazon product, Ring doorbells are likely to be significantly discounted in sales, so look out for price drops if you're in search of a bargain.

Read on for a guide to Amazon's popular Ring brand, and check our smart doorbell reviews to compare the competition.  

Best budget Ring doorbell

Ring Video Doorbell Wired

This is the most basic doorbell in Ring’s range, and also the cheapest. It needs to be hardwired to the power to work, so you might need to hire an electrician to install it for you. You can’t use your existing doorbell chime and instead must buy a Ring Chime, with a bundle of the doorbell and chime typically costing around £80. 

As with all Ring doorbells, you will need to sign up to a subscription if you want to store video clips captured on the camera to use later (more on that below). This will double the purchase cost over a year, so do bear in mind this potential expense. And like all Ring doorbells, it works with Amazon's Alexa, but no other voice assistant.

Find out how we rated this doorbell in our Ring Video Doorbell Wired review, or check prices below. 

Best all-round Ring doorbell

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

The successor to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro has the same HD video, infrared night vision, and two-way talk. It also brings quick replies, which enable you to respond to visitors with preset messages, such as ‘leave the parcel by the door’, and more precise ‘3D’ motion detection. 

The standard doorbell needs to be hardwired into the power supply, or you can buy a version that comes with a mains plug, making it easier to install. Live viewing the camera, answering the door and motion detection doesn’t require a subscription, but storing video clips does. 

Our Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 review gives the full lowdown on this smart doorbell. 

Best Ring doorbell for simple set up

Ring Video Doorbell Plus

With the Ring Video Doorbell 4 being phased out, the Ring Video Doorbell Plus is now the Amazon brand's standard mid-range doorbell. It’s battery powered, so you can install it if you are confident enough with DIY. You need to remove the battery when it needs recharging, but you can add an optional Ring solar panel to trickle charge the battery if you like.

The camera has 1,536 x 1,536 resolution, often referred to as a Tall HD or a ‘head-to-toe’ picture and designed to cover a greater area in front of the door.  You can use your existing doorbell chime, or buy the doorbell with the Ring Chime (2nd Gen) or the Chime Pro. 

Get our full verdict in our Ring Video Doorbell Plus review. 

Which Ring doorbell is best?

All Ring doorbells have the same 1080p HD video quality, core features and the Ring app, so how much you spend depends on power and how you want the doorbell to look. Battery-powered Rings are easier to install and at the cheaper end of the range, but they’re also typically chunkier and you have to keep the battery charged. 

The hardwired models – Ring Pro and Ring Video Doorbell Elite – remove the concern about charging and look sleeker when installed, but they cost more than £200 and £300, respectively.

With all Ring doorbells, you’ll need to sign up to a subscription to record videos and access them remotely. See more on that below. 

Head to our smart doorbell reviews to see all Ring doorbells on test. 

How much does a Ring subscription cost?

With any Ring doorbell, you can view the live video and respond to motion alerts as standard. So, if you’re happy to use the doorbell for just live monitoring, you won’t need to do anything more. You might find, though, that you also want to save video clips in case you need them later on, such as to prove a possible crime. 

For that you’ll need a Ring Protect subscription. With Protect Basic, you get 30 days of video storage for a single Ring device for £4.99 a month, or £49.99 a year. Upgrade to Protect Plus if you have more than one Ring device, such as a doorbell and a wireless camera. This enables you to record 30 days of video clips for unlimited devices for £8 a month or £80 a year. 

Most Rings come with a 30-day free trial to Ring Protect to try the service out. 

Not keen on added costs? Read our guide on the smart doorbells that don't require subscriptions. 

How to install a Ring doorbell    

The wired Ring doorbells – Wired, Elite or Pro – will most likely require a professional to install them. This is because they need existing doorbell wiring in place, and the AC voltage will need to be compatible with the camera. 

You can wire one yourself  but it’s not only complicated, but also dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Hiring a professional is likely to be the best option. Battery-powered doorbells are much easier to install, and worth trying if you’re sufficiently confident with DIY. 

Installation generally involves mounting a wall plate on or near your door, adding the camera and fixing it all with security screws. You can usually find ‘how to' videos to follow for each doorbell online. 

Could your smart doorbell be breaking the law? Read more about the laws around privacy and recording footage with video doorbells at the home.

How to charge a Ring doorbell    

With wired Ring doorbells you won’t need to worry about keeping the battery charged as they draw power from the mains. With battery-powered models, however, you’ll need to factor in charging times. 

Ring doesn’t specifically state how long a fully charged battery will last, but the Ring app sends you a notification when the battery is low. 

Some battery-powered doorbells have removable batteries, and so you can have a fully charged spare battery ready to go if you need it. That way you won’t have a gap in coverage while the battery charges. 

With others, such as the Ring Doorbell (2nd gen), the built-in battery means you’ll need to remove the entire doorbell to charge it.  You can often connect battery doorbells to mains power so that the battery is ‘trickle charged’ to keep it topped up. We’d advise you to hire a professional to do this.  

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