Ring vs Blink Comparison

What do Ring and Blink have in common? A lot. They’re both part of the Amazon family – and they are both huge money-makers. They both offer high-tech but affordable cameras. And they both come from humble beginnings before becoming the household names they are today. Ring and Blink are essentially twins, but that doesn’t mean they’re identical. There are some pretty significant differences that you’ll want to consider when thinking about protecting your family.

For one, Blink sticks to helping customers keep an eye on things. They only offer cameras. Ring, on the other hand, is more than a security camera company; they offer equipment like entry sensors, smoke detectors, and motion detectors to create comprehensive security systems.

Blink cameras are cheaper than Ring’s, and that can be important if you’re trying to secure your home on a budget. And while their lineup of cameras isn’t as impressive as Ring’s, they’ve been building it up. Recently, for example, they released an all-new version of their outdoor camera.

Confused? That can happen when you start digging into home security systems. So let’s back up and straighten it all out. Below, we take the major similarities and differences between these two one at a time so you can decide which is the right one for you and your family.

Blink and Ring Features & Tech

Before we get into all the ins and outs of how these two systems compare, let’s start by giving them each a chance to shine on their own. Just what are you getting when you get a Blink system? What are you getting with a Ring system? What are their most prominent features? Let’s find out!

Jaime Fraze Unboxing a Blink Security Camera

Blink Features & Tech

• 10-Camera Capacity: You can connect up to 10 separate cameras to a single Blink hub. That’s not exactly unlimited, and if you live on a sprawling estate, it might not be enough to satisfy all your needs. Still, it’s a substantial amount, more than almost any other home security system out there. And 10 is just the limit for wired cameras. You get even more capacity if you’re connecting through Wi-Fi.

Blink Cameras

• Internal Storage: Once you’ve purchased equipment from Blink, you never have to pay a single dime. Not only does Blink let you self-monitor your system, but with internal storage options you even get video recording for free. The Blink hub holds up to 245 GB of footage, so every time motion triggers your cameras, you’ll know exactly what happens. 245 GB isn’t quite as much as the Lorex cameras we tested recently, which hold up to 1 TB. It’s enough to hold a full week’s worth of clips, though.
• Affordable storage plans: If 245 GB isn’t quite enough of you, Blink also offers cloud storage plans with virtually unlimited capacity. In this case, you do have to pay a monthly subscription fee. However, that fee’s just $3 per camera, or $10 for unlimited cameras.

• Easy DIY Installation: These days self-installed systems are a dime a dozen. They aren’t all as DIY as you might expect, though. Plenty of companies offer confusing instructions or don’t manufacture their equipment with self-installation in mind. Not so with Blink. We managed to get our entire system installed in a matter of minutes. In part, that’s because there’s no required wiring and no required drilling. It helps that all Blink products are battery-powered. That also means the system is easy to adjust if you decide you’d rather get a different angle on your living room.
• 1080p HD Image Quality: All Blink cameras – both the outdoor and indoor models – come with 1080p HD resolution. That’s the industry standard, and there are certainly cameras out there on the market that offer even higher resolution, like some of Lorex’s 4K models. Still, there’s a reason 1080p is the industry standard. It’s crisp and clear enough to identify whoever or whatever happens by your home. We used ours to ID the neighbor’s cat who was digging up our rose bushes.
• Camera Selection: Blink doesn’t offer quite the selection Ring does, but you’ll find exactly what you need. Inside, you can monitor your kiddos and nannies, contractors, or other service workers with the Blink Indoor. Meanwhile, the Blink Outdoor provides complete coverage of your front and back yards. There’s also the compact, affordable Blink Mini and a budget-friendly video doorbell. For even more options, add a lighting accessory to your Blink Outdoor and let would-be burglars know you see them.

We mentioned that Blink has recently released some new cameras. The most recent addition to the company’s lineup is the new Gen 4 Outdoor Camera. This wire-free outdoor camera boasts a two-year battery life, HD quality live view, and an enhanced motion detection system. We’re about to review it, too — so stay tuned for that. If you want to pick one up for yourself, it’ll run you $71.99.

In addition, you might want to check out the new plug-in Mini Pan-Tilt. It can cover a whole room thanks to its 360-degree field of vision which can be remotely accessed from the Blink app. It goes for $29.99.

Ring Features & Tech

Boxed Up Ring Security Cameras

• Entry Sensors: We mentioned it earlier – Ring started as a video doorbell company, but it’s grown into a complete home security company. That means you can get more than just cameras. You can get all the equipment you need to protect your home, including entry sensors. Ring Alarm’s entry sensors alert you when someone enters your home through an exterior door or window. That means you don’t have to put a camera on every single entry, saving you tons of money. And because all your entry sensors communicate seamlessly with Ring’s cameras and other equipment, they add to your holistic safety. For more, check out our hands-on review of Ring Alarm.
• Doorbell Cameras: You didn’t think we’d forget about Ring’s doorbell cameras, did you? After all, Ring put doorbell cameras on the map! These cameras give you 24/7 access, in real time, to live video feeds of your front door and anyone – or anything – that happens to be there. With features like 1080p HD image quality, two-way talk, and night vision, Ring video doorbells protect against package theft and break-ins. These cameras include so many features that we can’t possibly list them all here. You can always check out our Ring Video Doorbell review, though, to find out more.

Ring Video Doorbell 3, Installed

• Indoor/Outdoor Cameras: Ring offers a variety of different security cameras, including several indoor and outdoor models, cameras with spotlights and floodlights, and even cameras for your car. All of these cameras are hardy. Ring’s outdoor cameras, for instance, are built to withstand harsh weather conditions so you can monitor the activity around your home rain or shine.

• Home Automation: Ring offers more than security equipment. Ring offers home automation options as well. That means you can control all your devices through Alexa or Google Home using just your voice. And you can connect a whole host of other smart home products to your system, like door locks from Schlage, garage door openers from Chamberlain, thermostats from Honeywell, and smart lights from Hue. Trust us, there’s nothing like telling your security system to bump the heat when you pull into your garage on a cold winter’s day. One Ring to rule them all, right?
• Alexa Compatibility: Another neat feature with Ring is that their cameras are Alexa-compatible, giving you hands-free voice control over your home video surveillance system. Ring Cams also work with Google Home now, but since Ring and Alexa are both Amazon-owned, the Ring/Alexa compatibility is seamless.
• Spotlights & Floodlights: Ring offers cameras with built-in spotlights and floodlights. We call this “active deterrence” in the industry, and it works! After all, criminals don’t want to be exposed by bright lights, and that’s exactly what these motion-triggered spotlight and floodlight cameras do.

Ring Floodlight Cam Mounted Outside

Blink and Ring Similarities

Besides being owned by Amazon and hated by prowlers everywhere, Blink and Ring cameras do have a few things in common.

• Affordability: Both Blink and Ring make great options for homeowners on a budget. They let you buy equipment ala cart, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing a whole system up front. Get one camera and build from there. Both companies offer reasonably priced cameras, and their expensive models offer more tech for the money than you’ll get elsewhere. You can self-install both systems too, meaning you don’t have to pay professionals to come to your home and set everything up. And both let you self-monitor for little or no cost, giving you the option to save on monthly fees.
• HD Video: You can’t catch a thief if you can’t see them. Despite the lightweight price tag, Blink and Ring offer some heavy-duty bang for your buck when it comes to delivering crisp, clean videos. While they don’t quite make it up to the 2K or 4K range of a Lorex security camera, their 1080p images are more than enough to see everything moving in and around your home.

Ring Stick Up Cam Video Quality

• Wireless Home Security: Both of these companies offer wireless systems, which can make life very convenient. Wireless equipment doesn’t need professional installation, which saves you money upfront. You don’t have to worry about where you place equipment since you don’t have to worry about wires. And alerts and footage get sent directly to your mobile app so you know in an instant when something’s happening at home. If wireless systems appeal to you, you might want to dig a little deeper. Check out our best wireless home security systems guide.
• DIY Installation: Buying from either of these companies means installing your home security system yourself. The good news is, both companies specialize in battery-powered and plug-in devices. Ring even offers solar-powered cameras. Simple power options means simple installation. Wi-Fi connections help as well. You can get either of these systems up in around 10 minutes. If you’re power-drill averse, maybe 20 minutes. We should point out that Ring offerd some wired versions of its equipment. You can count on the company to send complete instructions, though, in the boxes with the equipment.
• Two-Way Talk: This is a staple feature we always look for in a security camera, and both Ring and Blink offer it. You can speak with visitors using the companion app on your smartphone, which is always great for convenience and safety’s sake. Gone are the days of opening your front door for strangers and pesky salesmen of all stripes.
• Night Vision: You’ll want to see what’s happening around your home, even in the dark of night. Thankfully, Ring and Blink both offer night vision. Although the quality does noticeably decrease compared to daytime viewing, night vision is still a must-have feature to look for.

Ring Indoor Cam Night View

Blink and Ring Differences

Blink and Ring do have some overlap when it comes to their offerings, but there are several key differences that you need to consider before plunking down the credit card. These differences include:

• Camera Selection: Blink offers a total of seven products, including at least one indoor, outdoor, and doorbell camera. On the other hand, Ring sells seven products in the doorbell category alone. A bigger selection is better in most cases, as you’re more likely to find a quality camera that works for your home and budget.
• Range of Protection: The range of protection that Ring brings to the table is all-around better than Blink. Need an outdoor cam with a floodlight, they’ve got it. Need a doorbell camera? You’re set. Intrusion protection with door/window sensors? Check. Ring offers much more robust home protection compared to Blink. Currently, Blink only sells a few cameras.
• Reputation: Ring is a household name, while Blink is still finding its place in the market. That’s not to say that popularity means you’re getting a better product. Both Ring and Blink are great cameras in their own right. But Ring is tried-and-true with years in the industry and backed by Amazon’s deep pockets and Mr. Bezos himself. Just something to note.
• Field of Vision: Ring has cameras that boast up to a 160-degree field of vision, while many of Blink’s cameras only offer 110-degree FOV. However, with their new Mini Pan-Tilt, Blink now offers one camera with 360-degree coverage.
• Intrusion Protection: Remember that Ring sells the Ring Alarm home security system. This puts another layer of security around your home, with door/window sensors, motion sensors, and a Z-Wave hub with a built-in siren. Unfortunately, you won’t get any of this with Blink.
• Professional Monitoring: With a Ring Alarm system, you can sign up with 24/7 professional monitoring through the Ring Protect Pro plan. Essentially, you’ll pay $20 per month and Ring’s partner monitoring center will monitor your security system for you. This is a huge advantage for Ring. Blink doesn’t offer professional monitoring, so if you go with them, you’ll have to stay on top of everything yourself. That includes checking notifications when they come in, reviewing footage, and alerting the authorities when necessary.
• Pet Monitoring: Ring’s newest product is a set of custom features tailored to pet owners. Not only does Ring let you see and talk to your pets when you’re away from home, it lets you set up a pet profile so Ring Neighbors can help you track them down if they should go missing. You can even set up your Ring Doorbell to keep track of when your furry friends come and go through the front door, so you’ll know exactly when the dog walker stops by to walk them.

As you can see, we think Ring is an all-around better option compared to Blink cameras. Of course, Ring isn’t a perfect system, but there’s a reason why it ranks so high on our list of the best home security cameras available. In fact, there are several reasons!

Ring vs Blink: Snapshot of Costs and Fees

The Blink Indoor retails for $79 per camera, which is a very reasonable price considering the features you get. Keep in mind that you can also bundle and save with Blink — with 2-camera, 3-camera, and 5-camera kits saving you up to $100 or more.

The Blink Outdoor costs $99.99 and you’ll get the same packaged savings if you buy multiple cams at once. Finally, the Blink Mini indoor cam costs $34.99, and the Mini Pan-Tilt costs $59.99. Here’s our full rundown of Blink Camera pricing and packages.

Now, when we compare those costs to Ring, we find that Ring is the more expensive option of the two. Ring Indoor starts at a very reasonable $59.99, which is right in-line with Blink’s cameras. But from there, the outdoor cameras will run up to $249.99 for the newly released Spotlight Cam Pro.

Here’s where it gets tricky. If you’re looking at the bottom line, Blink is the more affordable option. It’s not always about the bottom line, though. Value is more important than price. Ultimately, Ring is worth the higher cost. It offers more options and better protections. You can get a complete rundown of all those options in our Ring Cam pricing guide. But, there’s no denying that Blink has the lower prices, as you can see below.

Blink Pricing Breakdown

And for comparison, here’s a breakdown of some of Ring’s most popular camera equipment:

A Look at Ring Cam Prices

Are Surveillance Systems Effective?

The main goals of a video surveillance system are to deter potential threats, keep you informed, and to notify you in case of an emergency. They act as a deterrent when the cameras are visible. When a criminal knows that he or she cannot enter your home without being seen (and recorded!), they will likely move on to target a different home.

Blink Outdoor Camera

Surveillance systems will also allow you to monitor your home while you are away. They’ll provide you with information such as whether you have packages waiting at the door, a visitor at your entryway, or a looky-loo trying to peek into your windows. Certain alerts and alarms will alert you in the case of an emergency situation as well. So there’s no denying the effectiveness of a camera system like Ring or Blink.

Ring vs. Blink: The Bottom Line

So there you have it: the good, the bad, and the ugly of these two camera-based security systems plus a comparison of those goods, bads, and uglies. But we know, what you really want is the bottom line. Which of these two systems do we prefer?

Well, we spent several weeks testing both Blink and Ring systems, and while we like Blink, we give the edge to Ring in this battle. Ring’s products have a better build, and their cameras come with more features. Plus, it’s easy to expand your system with Ring. They make a wide range of home security devices including a number of different cameras.

However, no security system is right for everyone. Blink has a lot going for it, too. We loved the resolution on Blink cameras, and Blink motion detectors are spot-on. Add in the fact that the company now offers an outdoor model, and you can count on Blink to keep you safe.

So, here’s the real bottom line. When it comes to the security of your home, you should do your homework (that’s why you have us!), weigh your options, and find the best system that makes sense for you, your family, and your budget. Make sure you keep in mind how many cameras you need, whether any will be used outside, how many home automation features you need, and whether or not you need a 24/7 monitoring service, and you can’t go wrong.

Video Recording in the Ring App