The addition of a smart doorbell is an excellent way to boost your home's security. It's a small change with a large impact. Ring offers a wide selection of video doorbells that are affordable and easy to install.

Naturally, Ring isn't the only company to offer smart doorbells, but the company's products are an excellent value for money.

Here's what you need to know about Ring doorbells and how they work.

What Is a Ring Doorbell?

ring doorbell - how it works

Ring's doorbell is a small rectangular device that has a camera, microphone, and motion sensors. It connects to your Wi-Fi and keeps track of what's happening outside your door.

The device monitors activity and alerts you when it senses motion or a person or when the doorbell itself is pressed. It's handy against package thieves, accepting deliveries even when you're not home and easing your mind when you're away as you can always check on what's happening through a live feed.

Ring isn't the only company offering smart doorbells. But the company remains one of the most well-established and reasonably priced options.

Ring Doorbell Features

The base features you get for free without subscribing to a plan include two-way audio, motion-activated alerts, and a live feed available from the Ring app. When someone presses your doorbell or gets too close, you'll receive a notification, and you can access the live-streaming video to see what's happening.

The smart doorbell's camera provides a clear picture of everything and everyone at your door. You can view visitors and check on motion through the app day or night. At night, the quality doesn't suffer because the device uses infrared technology for its night vision.

The Ring video doorbell's built-in motion sensors keep track of activity up to 30 feet away. You also get two-way audio, so you can communicate freely, not giving away the fact that you may not be home.

You can also customize the motion detection reach, which is helpful if you live near a busy street with a lot of cars and foot traffic. You can select specific zones, limiting their reach, so you don't get flooded with alerts every time someone walks their dog on the sidewalk.

The free plan you get with no subscription also comes with a theft protection feature. That means, in case your device gets stolen, Ring offers to replace it. There are a few boxes you need to tick before it does that, though.

You must notify the company within 15 days of the theft, and once it verifies your police report regarding the event, you should receive a replacement device—the same make and model as the original one you had.

Ring does state in its policy that if any trickery is suspected, it reserves the right to deny this service.

Battery or Hardwired: What Do You Prefer?

Many Ring doorbell models come with an internal battery that's rechargeable. You have to remove the battery from the doorbell and charge it with a micro-USB cable. The Ring app lets you track when the battery is running low and when it's time to charge it. Battery life usually lasts months at a time, so you don't have to worry that it's going to be a frequent issue.

The downside to choosing the battery option is that while your battery is charging, the doorbell's obviously not working. You can avoid that if you buy a spare battery and swap the two when the time comes. Those models are perfect if you want to use a location that has never sported a traditional doorbell.

But the good news is that Ring also offers models that are hardwired and use existing doorbell wiring. With those, you won't have to worry about needing to recharge a battery.

Installing a Ring Video Doorbell

Installing a Ring video doorbell is a breeze, and Ring helps every step of the way, offering setup guides and videos for every product. The videos are simple and easy to follow, so even non-handy people with zero DIY experience will manage to keep up.

All the additional items are also provided to make installation easier. The only things not provided are a drill and the tools you'll need to remove your existing doorbell if you have one.

Ring even provides you with the drill bit to make the four holes in the wall you'll use as anchors. You can use the screws provided to mount the device on your wall. The drill may come in handy if you're placing it in a brick or concrete wall. If that's not the case, you may even manage without it.

If you don't have a drill or aren't able or allowed to drill holes on the property, you can opt for the Ring No-Drill Mount. It's a mounting plate designed for the Ring Video Doorbell which lets you mount the device without having to make holes.

And, you don't have to have an existing doorbell to install a Ring one, so that shouldn't deter you from getting one.

You'll need a wireless router for installing the video doorbell as it requires internet access. To complete the process, download the Ring app, and follow the further instructions. You can get the Ring app for iOS and Android. It's free and lets you access a video stream of what's outside your door.

How Does the Ring Video Doorbell Work?

After installation, the doorbell connects to your Wi-Fi network. Among other things, that connection allows it to transmit video to the Ring app. When the device makes a video recording upon detecting motion, it posts it on the app. As long as you have an internet connection, you'll be able to open the app and check all the videos.

If you're caught somewhere without Wi-Fi, you can still check videos you've missed in the History section of the app. Everything there is dated and time-stamped for your convenience. What's more, you can also see whether the doorbell detected motion or a person.

What Is the Ring App?

You have to download the Ring app to complete the video doorbell installation process. Once you do, you can use it to keep track of battery life and view the videos recorded.

The Ring app also allows you to register several smart doorbells and hook up other Ring security accessories, like cameras and lights. And you can link your Ring devices together for enhanced security using the Linked Devices feature available in the Ring app.

You can also use its Neighbors function, which helps keep you up to date with what's happening in your community. The Neighbors by Ring app lets you know when there's a fire or a power outage, a missing pet, and even nearby crimes.

The app lets you customize the settings to your liking. For example, you can turn motion alerts on and off and check the status of the doorbell. You can even view shared footage from neighbors.

Ring Video Compatibility With Smart Home Hubs

Being an Amazon company, the Ring video doorbell sports top-notch integration with Amazon's smart assistant Alexa. You can also have the virtual assistant greet people at the door. But Ring devices also work with Google Assistant.

In case you can't afford Google's pricey Nest Hello video doorbell and have a lot of Google smart devices, you can get the Ring doorbell and know that it will work with Google Home and Google Assistant with no hitches.

Unfortunately, Ring doesn't offer any compatibility with Apple HomeKit, so keep that in mind if that's the hub you're using.

Ring Doorbell: Price and Subscription Options

Ring offers a wide variety of doorbells in a variety of price ranges—all the way from $64.99 to $349.99. Obviously, the more expensive models offer more advanced features, but the company offers a doorbell for any budget and need. Also, these prices aren't set in stone as Ring often discounts its products.

Ring offers three subscription plans that add to the base features all Ring doorbells share. You have the Basic Plan, the Plus Plan, and the Pro Plan, all of which are affordable in their own right. You can choose to pay monthly or annually, and even get a discount if you choose the latter.

The first costs you $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year, the second is $10 per month or $100 per year, and the third starts at $20 per month or $200 per year.

The Basic Plan lets you access, download, and store recorded video history for up to 180 days, and you can even share it. Also, every time you get an alert, it takes a picture and sends it to you via the app.

You can access activity snapshots between notifications and even enable People Only mode, which saves you from getting alerted every time a squirrel comes too close to your device. You can also set your Ring doorbell with two modes—Home and Away—and adjust the settings for each one.

You also get Rich Notifications, which grant you a photo preview in the notification you'll get whenever something triggers an alert, so you can skip opening the Ring app. There's also a 10% discount for future purchases on the Ring or Amazon website, and you can download up to 50 videos at once.

You can also use Ring Alarm to create home security automations. For example, you can have your Ring cameras start to record as soon as the alarm gets triggered. The Ring Alarm also gives you real-time notifications and lets you keep 60 days of event history. You can also arm and disarm it digitally, which is convenience at its finest.

The Plus Plan offers the Basic Plan features alongside extended warranties on all your Ring devices registered at the same address and whereas the Basic Plan only allows video recording for one doorbell or camera, the Plus Plan includes video recording for all the devices you have at home.

The Pro Plan includes everything mentioned so far, plus a few more extras to make the price worth it. Among the best perks you get is the 24/7 professional monitoring for your Ring Alarm. That means whenever a security threat is detected, there'll be a request dispatch of real-time emergency responders, so if there's a break-in and you're away, you can be at ease, and even more so if you're home.

A subscription is not mandatory, but it's certainly worth considering. If you choose not to subscribe, you can still use the video doorbell without issue.

The Ring Video Doorbell: Worth It or Not?

With a smart doorbell to your house, you can make a big difference in securing your home. A Ring device is the best way to improve security by doing the bare minimum.

Ring offers many options, so you're sure to find one that fits your budget and needs. So, if you can afford it, it's worth investing in a Ring smart doorbell.

And if a Ring doorbell isn't for you, there's also a wide variety of other options to consider.