Ring Alarm Security System Cost and Pricing

Ring Alarm Pricing

There are two things to consider when scouting out prices for home security systems. The first one is the equipment cost. Most of the time, you’ll have to pay this upfront and out-of-pocket, but there are companies that let you finance the equipment and pay in monthly installments. Typically, Ring Alarm must be paid upfront, but financing options are available as well.

The second thing is the monthly monitoring fee. Ring Alarm is one of the systems that doesn’t require professional monitoring. However, we usually recommend getting a professional monitoring plan as it gives you an added layer of protection.

Ring – Equipment

We’ve researched a lot of security systems, and Ring’s equipment prices are the second lowest we’ve seen. Their base packages for the classic Ring Alarm start at $199.99 for a five-piece kit and range up to $329.99 for the 14-piece kit. From our experience, Ring’s most expensive kit is priced similar to the cheapest kits of other brands. Now, that’s not to say Ring is a better value. But it’s certainly the more affordable option, especially when you consider the sale going on right now. Let’s take a look at those prices:

Overview of Ring Alarm Sale Prices

As far as monthly monitoring plans go, Ring is the cheapest we’ve seen. Their two traditional paid plans cost $3 and $10 per month. The $3.99 per month plan is for cloud storage of one video doorbell or security camera, while the $10 per month plan gives you cloud storage for unlimited doorbells and cameras. The latter is the option that most Ring camera users choose.

When it comes to actual 24/7 professional monitoring of Ring Alarms, the cost goes up to $20 a month. This plan comes with everything in the $10 per month plan, but also with all sorts of connectivity perks that we’ll discuss in a bit. If you own a Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro, this is the plan we recommend. Note that Ring also offers annual plan discounts.

Overview of Ring Monitoring Plans

Another thing to consider is the cost associated with upgrades, accessories, and add-ons. For instance, you can purchase additional entryway sensors or an extra keypad. You can also integrate Ring security cameras and environmental sensors into your alarm system. But all of these options come at a price. We’ll cover this in-depth. For now, let’s discuss the Ring Alarm packages and monitoring plans in more detail to see what makes sense for you.

Ring Alarm Packages

The Ring Alarm comes in kits with 5, 8, 10, or 14 pieces of equipment. The eight-piece kits are the best-sellers, but we recommend that you pick a kit based on the size of your home and your security needs. The nice thing about DIY kits like Ring, however, is that you can add new devices easily in a matter of minutes.

Ring Alarm Features

Now, let’s take a look at the packages you can choose from, starting with the 5-piece kit.

Ring 5-Piece Kit

If you live in an apartment or condo, Ring’s five-piece kit might be the right fit for the space. This kit costs $254.99 and comes with a door sensor, a window sensor, and a motion sensor along with a video doorbell. Now, we can’t think of many apartments or homes we’ve been in that have that exact configuration, so you might have to purchase an additional sensor or two. Note, the kit also includes a Ring base station, a keypad, and a range extender.

The 5-piece kit performed well during our tests, but it lacked a comprehensive device selection, and it was unable to secure all our doors and windows.

Key Stats & Specs

• Secures one door or one window
• Adds motion detection for one room
• Covers up to 1,000 sq ft (one room)
• DIY installation

Ring 8-Piece Kits

The eight-piece Ring Alarm kits come in either the base package or bundles that include a video doorbell or indoor camera. All eight-piece kits include the same components — a base station and keypad, four contact sensors, a motion sensor, and a range extender. The eight-piece kit retails for $249.99, but is currently on sale for $187.49. Bundling it with an indoor cam will increase the price to $239.99, or $224.99 while the sale continues.

Bundling it with a Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) or Ring Indoor Cam will increase the price to $349.98 or $299.99, respectively.

Due to the number of contact sensors, the eight-piece Ring Alarm kit should be able to protect an average-sized home. That said, if you need more motion sensors since the kit only includes one, you can always buy more. The range extender is a nice addition, as it will let you expand your system easily without worrying about sensor placement.

Ring – Motion Detector

Key Stats & Specs

• Secures up to four windows or doors
• Includes motion detection for one room
• Includes a keypad
• Works for 1-2 bedroom homes
• DIY installation

Ring Alarm 10-Piece Kit

The Ring Alarm 10-piece kit further expands Ring Alarm’s coverage with an additional motion sensor and contact sensor compared to the eight-piece kit. With a total of five contact sensors and two motion sensors, it can protect average-sized to large homes.

The Ring Alarm 10-piece kit retails for $279.99, $30 more than the eight-piece kit. The additional motion and contact sensors are not discounted — respectively, they cost $30 and $20 when bought a la carte style — so go with the 10-piece kit only if you absolutely need the extra sensors.

Key Stats & Specs

• Secures up to five windows or doors
• Includes motion detection for two rooms
• Includes a keypad
• Works for 1-2 bedroom homes
• DIY installation

Ring Alarm 14-Piece Kit

The final Ring Alarm kit is the 14-piece kit. This kit is designed for large homes, as it includes two keypads, eight contact sensors, two motion sensors, a range extender, and of course, a base station. The kit retails for $329.99.

According to Ring, the 14-piece kit is ideal for homes with more than 3 bedrooms, and can cover approximately 2,000 square feet of space. Since it has two keypads and a range extender, it fits in comfortably with two-storey homes. You can put one keypad near the entryway and another near your room for easy access.

Key Stats & Specs

• Secures up to eight windows or doors
• Includes motion detection for two rooms
• Includes a keypad
• Works for 3+ bedroom homes
• DIY installation

Ring – Keypad

Ring Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit

In 2021, Ring launched a more advanced security system called Ring Alarm Pro, and it differs from the classic Ring Alarm because of its base station. The Ring Alarm base station functions as a hub and siren for the system, while the Ring Alarm Pro base station features a built-in eero 6 router. That means that it can provide secure Wi-Fi connection to your home, in addition to physical security.

Ring Alarm Pro kits start with the eight-piece kit, which includes four door sensors, a motion sensor, and a range extender — basically, the same things included in the Ring Alarm eight-piece kit. That being said, it costs $249.99, a bit more expensive than the Ring Alarm kit because of the improved base station. If you want Ring to handle your physical and digital security, this is a good option.

Key Stats & Specs

• Secures up to four windows or doors
• Includes motion detection for one room
• Includes a keypad
• Built-in secure router
• Works for 1-2 bedroom homes
• DIY installation

Although Ring is one of the most affordable security systems, it’s not exactly the most advanced, which is something we cover in our full Ring Alarm review. Each Ring package comes with a decent lineup of features and technology. Beyond home protection, we didn’t really experience many extra benefits. For starters, Ring’s home automation options are few and far between. It does work with Alexa, but that’s about it.1 Also, Ring’s mobile app doesn’t allow for advanced customizations.2

SafeHome.org’s Ring Alarm App setup

If you’re on the market for a fairly simple system that is affordable, easy to install, and easy to use, then we recommend Ring Alarm for those purposes. However, if you’re looking for a home security package with more robust home security and automation features, you might want to explore options from companies such as Vivint, Frontpoint, or ADT. With that said, the Ring Alarm has garnered quite the market share because it’s relatively cheap and able to get the job done.3 And our testing has confirmed this fact.

Mobile Alerts	Ring Alarm sends mobile alerts to your smartphone whenever a door or window is open or the alarm is triggered. You can sync Ring doorbells, cameras, and the alarm to the Ring App to customize your mobile alerts and notifications.
Surveillance Cameras	Ring’s security cameras make them one of the best options on the market for surveillance. They offer indoor and outdoor security cameras, as well as video doorbells. You can choose from both wireless and hardwired security cameras.
DIY Installation	Ring offers DIY installation. The setup is easy and includes all the tools needed for installation. It takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to install each component. You can view helpful setup guides on the Ring website, as well.
Smart Home Options	Ring allows you to control the alarm system, video cameras, doorbell cameras, and smoke detectors from a smartphone or tablet. You can arm and disarm the system from anywhere and receive notifications regarding activity in your home.
Disaster Protection	Ring offers a Z-Wave smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. You can connect the detector to your Ring Alarm system and receive instant notifications whenever there is smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide detected in your home. Ring Alarm also features a Flood & Freeze Sensor. This device detects freezing temperatures and water in your home.
Remote Control	You can remotely control your Ring Alarm system from anywhere in the world using the convenient Ring app. The app is available for both Android and iOS.
Voice Response	Ring’s video doorbells offer a two-way talk. You can see, hear, and speak to people through the camera from your smartphone, tablet, or PC.
Power Outage Protection	Ring offers backup battery protection on its equipment. If there is a power outage or failure, it will notify you immediately.
24-7 Monitoring	Ring offers 24-7 professional monitoring with cellular backup.

Equipment Upgrades

Once you decide on a Ring Alarm kit, you have plenty of options to upgrade and customize your system. Overall, the equipment costs are less than the industry average. For instance, most security companies sell entryway sensors for $30 to $50 apiece, while Ring offers them for only $20 a pop. Their video doorbells and environmental sensors are also more affordable than the competition. But we’ve found Ring’s outdoor security cameras to be similarly priced compared to brands in the same category (not professional-grade).

Monitoring Plans

This area is where we experienced true value with Ring. If you’re not familiar with professional monitoring, it essentially connects your system to a monitoring center in case of a break-in or emergency. When your alarm goes off, the monitoring center is immediately notified and responds with the appropriate action.4 Ring’s response times vary, but they average about 30 seconds.

Ring’s monitoring plan costs are among the cheapest in the industry. If you go with the Ring Alarm, you’ll want the Ring Protect Plus plan or Ring Protect Pro plan which cost $10 and $20 per month respectively. The $3.99 per month plan is for users with a single device installed, such as a Ring Video Doorbell or Spotlight Cam.

Ring plans don’t require a long-term contract, and you can cancel at any time without penalty.5 Ring Alarm’s flexibility is a substantial benefit in our eyes, as many companies require you to sign a 12- or 36-month contract to use their systems. We find that most users tolerate paying $30 per month or more for 24/7 professional monitoring, that is until they realize it’s only $20 per month with Ring.6

OK, so you’re probably wondering what’s the deal with the new Ring Protect Pro plan. Ring has teamed up with eero, another Amazon-owned company, which bills itself as “the new standard for home Wi-Fi.” For $20 monthly, you’ll get 24/7 monitoring with 3 GB of cellular backup (per month) if your internet goes down. There are other perks, too, like eero Secure features that include threat protection, content filtering and ad blocking, as well as the Alexa Guard Plus, a nifty hands-free emergency helpline.

One thing to note here, though: Ring actually moved some of the Ring Protect Plus ($10 a month) to Ring Protect Pro, including professional monitoring. Before, Ring Alarm users only needed to pay $10 per month for monitoring, but now, they have to shoot for the $20 per month plan to enjoy the same benefits. So is $20 per month worth it? Well, we’d say so, given that professional monitoring usually costs $30 or higher. Plus, with all the connectivity features Ring threw in, it’s a great plan for Ring Alarm Pro users.

One more thing: If you own a business, Ring Alarm might have some money-saving options for you. Explore our in-depth Ring Alarm for Business guide for plenty of helpful tips, cost comparisons, and more.

Overall Value of Ring Alarm

Ring offers three straightforward packages, ranging from $199 to $329. Once you choose a kit, you will likely want to upgrade your Ring Alarm system over time. Depending on the options you desire, this upgrade can cost upwards of $100 to $300 or more. Then, if you want to sign up for professional monitoring, expect to pay $20 per month. As you can see, the prices can add up over time. However, compared to other systems we’ve tested, Ring Alarm is still one of the best values for your dollar.

If you think the Ring Alarm system is a good fit for your budget and lifestyle, we can offer a few recommendations.

First, choose the kit that will secure every entryway in your home. For instance, if you have a front door and two windows, go with Ring’s 10-piece kit. This kit will leave you with a couple of extra sensors, but you never know what your living situation might look like in the future.

Then, we recommend going with the Ring Protect Plus plan for 24-7 professional monitoring. If you find that you don’t need it, don’t worry, Ring makes it easy to cancel. Finally, if or when your budget allows for it, upgrade your system with a few Ring cameras. Their cameras are relatively cheap, and they allow you to tap into live stream video of your home remotely. All in all, we found the Ring Alarm to be a good value.

Ring Alarm FAQs