Ring video doorbells are among some of the best video doorbells for a variety of reasons: They deliver excellent image quality, are easy to install, and fit a variety of needs and door types.
However, Ring currently offers nine video doorbells — four wired models and four battery-powered models, ranging from $59 to $349 — so picking the best Ring video doorbell for you can be tricky.
Having reviewed nearly of Ring's video doorbells, we can offer a comprehensive comparison of all of them, so you can make the most informed buying decision possible. We've compared all devices to help you decide which one is best for you.
Ring has just launched the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus ($179), which provides a head-to-toe view and package detection. Check out our hands on review of the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, and see how it compares with other Ring doorbells below.
The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) is the best option for most people. It has a 1080p camera, as well as improved night vision and better motion-tracking capabilities. And while it's not the least expensive model, it's still the best video doorbell for those on a budget.
Like the Ring Video Doorbell 3 and 4, we like that you can use this model either wired or on battery power alone, and you can create custom motion zones, and also see what's going on in your neighborhood. Ring also added package detection for this model, bringing its feature set more in line with the competition. However, be aware that unlike the Ring Video Doorbell 3 and 4, this model does not have a removable battery. So, if you need to recharge it, you'll have to remove it from your front door temporarily.
Read our full Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen) review.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is the first from the company that has a square aspect ratio, which means the video is as tall as it is wide. What that means is that it can show much more of your front stoop than other Ring doorbells — so you're more likely to see when a package has been dropped off. Better yet, Ring added package detection, so you know when something arrives. It also has customizable motion zones and a new "radar" feature that helps cut down on unwanted notifications.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 delivered excellent video quality, was very responsive, and wasn't too hard to install. Just know that it's not battery-operated, and you'll also need to subscribe to a Ring Protect plan (starting at $4/month or $40/year) if you want to get the most out of the video doorbell.
Read our full Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 review.
The Ring Video Doorbell 4 can run on battery power or as a wired unit, making it easy to install just about anywhere. This 1080p doorbell camera offers good customization for motion alerts, although it's not as robust as the Ring Pro 2. Also, its field of view is more limited than the Ring Pro 2, but it does have package detection (with a subscription) and its new color Pre-roll feature does make it a lot easier to see visitors.
This is the Ring Video Doorbell to get if the view of your front door is partially obscured; the pre-roll feature will help ensure that you're able to better see who comes calling.
Read our full Ring Video Doorbell 4 review.
If you're looking for a video doorbell, but rent an apartment or live some place where you can't install a traditional video doorbell, the Ring Peephole Cam is your best alternative. This device replaces your traditional peephole with a camera that can record visitors coming to your door. It proved to be such a popular model that Ring brought it back in 2023 after discontinuing it in 2022 — and now it's at a lower price of $129.
We found the Ring Peephole Cam was easy to install, and recorded very good 1080p video. However, if you have a storm door, the camera's video will be partially obscured, especially at night, when it reflects off the glass of the door. And, because the Peephole Cam is battery-powered only, you may find yourself recharging it more often than the advertised 20-40 days. Good thing spare batteries are just $30.
Read our full Ring Peephole Cam review.
The low price of the Ring Video Doorbell Wired — just $60 — is very tempting for those looking for a budget video doorbell from a reputable brand. However, there are a few caveats that will make the total cost a bit higher. That's because this video doorbell does not work with your existing doorbell chime, so you'll need to tack on an extra $20 or so to purchase a Ring Chime if you want to hear the familiar ding-dong in your home. (You can also use an Amazon Echo Dot or some other Alexa-enabled smart speaker for this purpose, too)
Otherwise, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired works well, produces a quality image, and has a slim profile. Just be mindful that with its low price come several restrictions.
Read our full Ring Video Doorbell Wired review
Ring Video Doorbells: Specs compared
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Ring Video Doorbell Wired | Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen) | Ring Video Doorbell 3 | Ring Battery Doorbell Plus | Ring Video Doorbell 4 | Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 |
| Price | $64.99 | $99.99 | $179.99 | $179.99 | $199.99 | $249.99 |
| Size | 3.9 x 1.8 x 0.8 in | 4.98 x 2.4 x 1.1 in | 5.1 x 2.4 x 1.1 in | 5.1 x 2.4 x 1.1 in | 5.05 x 2.5 x 1.08 in | 4 x 1.8 x 0.88 in |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1536 x 1536 | 1080p | 1536 x 1536 |
| Wiring | Hardwired | Battery or hardwired | Battery or hardwired | Battery or hardwired | Battery or hardwired | Hardwired |
| Field of View | 155 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees vertical | 155 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees vertical | 160 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees vertical | 150 degrees (horiz and vert) | 160 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees vertical | 150 degrees (horiz and vert) |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4GHz | 2.4Ghz | 2.4, 5GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4, 5GHz | 2.4, 5GHz |
| Pre-roll | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Removable battery | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| Package detection | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Best Ring doorbell: Prices compared
The least expensive Ring video doorbell is the $59.99 Ring Video Doorbell Wired. However, it can't trigger your home's chime box, so you'll need to purchase the Ring Chime ($29) or Ring Chime Pro ($49) if you want to hear when someone rings the doorbell. (You can also use an Amazon Echo Dot, too.)
Next up is the $99 Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen), one of just four of Ring's models that has package detection. It can be hardwired or run off battery power, but its battery is nonremovable, so you'll have to take the whole unit off your door to recharge it.
In the mid-tier are several models: The Ring Video Doorbell 3 ($179.99), Ring Video Doorbell 4 ($199.99), the Ring Peephole Cam ($129.99), the Ring Video Doorbell Pro ($179) and the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus ($179). With the exception of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, all of these models can run on battery power, and all of their batteries can be removed. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 is being phased out in favor of the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus.
At the top end of things are the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 at $249.99, and the Ring Video Doorbell Elite ($349); the latter uses Power over Ethernet, and requires a bit more installation know-how than the rest of the company's models.
Regardless of the video doorbell you choose, you'll also have to pay for cloud storage if you want to save footage to the cloud, as well as use other features such as package detection and Home and Away. Cloud storage is $4 per month (or $40 per year) for 60 days for a single Ring camera (which can include a video doorbell or security camera). If you have multiple Ring cameras, you'll pay $10 per month, or $100 per year. Here's how Ring compares to other security camera cloud storage plans.
Ring video doorbell: Design
All of Ring's video doorbells are relatively similar in design; they're all black and gray, with a camera at the top and an illuminated button beneath. The Ring Doorbell Wired, the Doorbell Pro, and the Doorbell Pro 2 are much smaller and thinner (as they don't need to accommodate a battery).
The Doorbell 3, 4 and Pro both come with interchangeable face plates as well as angled wedges, making it easier to match your home's decor, as well as angle the camera towards your door. You must purchase these accessories separately if you buy the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen).
Additionally, the Ring Video Doorbell 3, 4, Battery Plus and Peephole cams all have removable batteries, so if you're running them on battery power alone, you can swap out the batteries and not have any downtime. The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen) has a nonremovable battery, so if you want to recharge it, you have to take the doorbell off your door.
Ring video doorbell: Installation and setup
Of all of Ring's video doorbells, the Ring Peephole Cam sports the simplest design and simplest setup. The device consists of two pieces: one that sits on the outside of the door, and one that you look through from the inside, connected through the peephole. It doesn't require any tools or permanent modifications, and should take only a few minutes.
MORE: How to Install the Ring Video Doorbell
The other three devices are a bit more complicated to install, but you can (in theory) set them all up yourself.
The Ring Video Doorbell, Ring Video Doorbell 3, Ring Battery Doorbell Plus and Ring Video Doorbell 4 can be battery-powered, meaning they'll still work when the electricity's out — provided your internet connection is still up. This also means that you can mount them anywhere, and don't have to worry about connecting them to an existing doorbell's wires.
The Ring Pro 2 and the Ring Doorbell Wired are slightly more complicated. They're the only Ring video doorbells that require hardwiring. You'll need to upgrade your transformer if your old doorbell isn't getting 16 volts of power. You'll also need to install a Pro Power kit (basically a small battery included with the device) in your home’s chime box.
Ring Video Doorbell: Audio and video
Apart from whether you want a wired or battery-powered model, the next big decision is how much of your front porch you want to see.
Most of Ring's video doorbells have a horizontal field of view of 155 to 160 degrees, and a vertical field of view of 90 degrees. Like a picture taken with your camera, you're able to see a lot more horizontally than vertically.
The two exception are the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 and the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, which have a 1536 x 1536 resolution and a 150-degree field of view both horizontally and vertically. This means that while the image isn't as wide as Ring's other video doorbells, it's taller, so you can see closer to the front stoop — where packages are most likely to be dropped.
The Video Doorbell, Doorbell 3, 4, and Doorbell Pro all have comparable audio. In our testing of the Doorbell 3 and Doorbell Pro 2, we found decent sound with a brief but manageable delay.
The Peephole Cam's video and audio quality was also excellent, but for one thing. If you have a storm door, it will cause the Peephole Cam's motion detection to stop working.
Ring Video Doorbell: Additional features
Motion Detection
All of Ring's video doorbells have motion detection; when the device detects movement, it sends an alert to your smartphone. You can customize how far the sensors stretch. If you have a Doorbell or Doorbell 3, you'll select from pre-drawn zones. If you have the Wired or the Pro 2, you can draw the zones yourself.
Pre-Roll
Both the Video Doorbell 4 and the Video Doorbell Pro 2 have what Ring calls a Pre-roll feature, which helps you get a better look at who's approaching. In effect, the cameras are always recording a continuous 4-second looping video; in the event motion is detected and recorded, it will then add those four seconds to the start of the video. For the Video Doorbell Pro 2, this Pre-roll footage is in color and at full definition; for the Video Doorbell 4, it's in color but at a lower resolution, so as to conserve battery life.
Package Detection
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, the Video Doorbell (2nd gen), the Ring Video Doorbell 4, and the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus are the only Ring video doorbells that have package detection, so they can alert you when a delivery has arrived at your door.
Wi-Fi connectivity
While all of Ring's video doorbells work over Wi-Fi, the Pro, Pro 2 and the Video Doorbell 4 are the only doorbells that support 5.0GHz connections, which allow for faster and more reliable connectivity.
In most other features, the three doorbells are on a par with each other. They all offer two-way communication, which you can use to greet your guests, or scare off burglars, and infrared night vision. They all work with Alexa, SmartThings and IFTTT, and you can watch the doorbells' footage and communicate with guests using the Echo Show, as well as all generations of the Fire TV. Unfortunately, Ring does not work with Google Assistant/Home devices.
MORE: Which Security Camera Has the Best Storage Plan?
As a bonus, you can connect them with a number of smart locks from Kevo, Yale, and August. This will allow you to unlock your door — and let your guest in — directly from the Ring app.
Which Ring Video Doorbell is best for you?
Having reviewed most of the company's models, we think the best Ring video doorbell for most people is the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen). At $99, it's one of the company's least expensive models, can be wired or run on battery power alone, and has package detection.
If you want a wired model, we recommend springing for the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2; while it's nearly $200 more than the Ring Wired doorbell, you get a ton of features, such as head-to-toe video and package detection that really make it worth the investment. Plus, the Ring Wired video doorbell doesn't work with existing chimes, so you're not saving as much as you might think.
Finally, we recommend that renters, or those who want a very quick setup, the Ring Peephole Cam is the best option. Just make sure your door has a peephole.
Credit: Tom's Guide
