If I Buy a Ring Camera From Someone Do They Still Have Access to the Feed

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When it comes to purchasing a video doorbell, the Ring video doorbell is undoubtedly one of the best out there in the market.

They are provided by Ring, one of the leading providers of home security solutions.

But the one burning question that arises while purchasing the doorbell is, should you buy a subscription for the Ring Protect Plan?

So is the ring doorbell without a subscription worth it?

No, if you don't take a subscription for the Ring Protect plan, you won't be able to watch past footage from your doorbell, nor will you be able to store or share clips with anyone.

It is essential to know the limitations faced by proceeding without a subscription and the advantages of the Ring Protect plans.

If you want to decide whether or not you need a Ring Protect subscription, keep reading

What Can I Do Without a Subscription?

Some Ring devices do not need a subscription for full functionality.

For instance, the Ring smart lightbulb can function with all its features with or without a subscription.

Not having a subscription does not render your ring video doorbell useless.

You can still use the basic features that come with the video doorbell.

Real-Time View of Your Doorstep

You can get a live view from your doorstep from wherever you are.

Also, the two-way audio allows you to converse with whoever is at the doorstep.

Motion Detection Alerts

When someone presses the doorbell, or when the camera detects some motion, you receive an alert on your phone or on any other device with which you have set up Ring.

Then, you are just a click away from entering 'Live-View' on your doorstep.

Ring's detection algorithm is one of the best in the market now. It now detects alerts almost instantly and allows you to set up certain areas as 'activity zones' and prioritize alerts.

This feature doesn't come without a subscription for other camera doorbells like the Nest doorbell.

Ring also prioritizes motion-based alerts on whether the motion detected was closer or further away from the doorbell.

Google Home and Alexa Integration

You can easily integrate your ring camera doorbell with any smart voice assistant like Alexa, for example.

If you own an Amazon Echo smart speaker or Echo show, you can use the speaker as a doorbell chime or use the Echo show to stream the live feed from the doorbell camera whenever an alert is detected, or the doorbell is rung.

Theft Protection

In the event of a theft of your Ring device, you can report the theft within 15 days to get a free replacement.

You don't need a subscription to receive this. It will be harder to steal a hardwired Ring doorbell.

What Can I Do With Ring Protect Plan

Ring offers two plans – Ring Protect at 3$/ month or 30$ / year, and the more expensive Ring Protect Plus at 10$ / month or 100$ / year.

I will talk about these plans in detail later.

In addition to features that come without a subscription, you get a lot of handy benefits for the doorbell along with a subscription.

Recorded Footage

You can record the footage and save them manually when the doorbell is rung or when a motion is detected.

This is stored securely and privately in loud, where you can access it anytime.

This essentially lets you use your doorbell camera as a security camera where you can review any footage from the past 30 to 60 days, depending on where you stay.

The footage cannot be stored locally without a subscription. This can be disadvantageous in the circumstance where you are indisposed, and someone visited your door as you will have no means of finding out who it was.

Video Sharing

This footage can easily be downloaded onto your local device and then be shared with other members of your family or with the local authorities in case of a theft.

You can also save your Ring Video to your Computer.

Snapshot

This feature is also known as 'camera preview.' Suppose you don't want to occasionally check the live view or don't have the time to. Then, this feature comes in handy.

It takes a screenshot every 30 seconds to 3 minutes depending on the user setting, to keep you aware of what is happening outside the door.

So if you are in the middle of a meeting and worried about what is happening at your door, then this feature is for you.

Other Benefits From the Ring Subscription

The Ring Protect plans can not just be beneficial to your doorbell but it can cover a wide variety of products.

Ring Alarm System is another device that can greatly benefit from the Ring Protect plans. It includes window/door sensors, motion sensors, a base station, and a keypad.
Indoor and Outdoor cameras like the Stick-up Cam range, the Floodlight Camera, and the cheaper Indoor Cam.
Other small accessories and devices like flood/freeze sensors, a solar panel charger for the stick-up cams, chimes and more.

Ring Alarm systems can get a lot of useful features if you have a subscription to the Protect Plus plan at 10$ / month, the main of which is the 24/7 monitoring and cellular backup.

Professional monitoring

This feature is what makes the Ring Alarm with subscription incredibly useful.

Without a subscription, you would have to manually monitor the alarm yourself, which can be an inconvenience if you are preoccupied with work.

Manual monitoring also doesn't dispatch emergency services automatically.

This would mean that if you receive an alert while you are asleep at night, you would have to manually check the cause of the alert and call the authorities yourself.

While this is the cheaper way to go about it, it is not the safest. For example, if you and the users using your shared account are out of the house, and a burglar intrudes on your private property, you may be preoccupied and fail to notice the alert, and by the time you take action and call 911, it may be too late.

However, with the subscription, Ring will professionally monitor your alarm system with monitoring centers.

The following are the steps taken by Ring when an alarm is triggered.

An agent from Ring support will contact you via phone, after which you will provide the verbal password, which implies confirmation on your behalf.
In case you are unable to answer the call, they will immediately contact the first person on your emergency list who will give the verbal password and confirmation for the necessary action.
If neither you nor anyone in your emergency list responds, then they will dispatch the local law enforcement authorities to your location.

Ring will also get help in the event of break-ins, burglary, smoke and carbon monoxide detection, floods, and freezing temperatures.

So getting a subscription will save you a great deal of trouble and guarantee better safety for your house.

Ring Subscription Plans

As I mentioned earlier, Ring provides two plans for the user, the Ring Protect and the Ring Protect Plus.

Both these plans require no contractual obligations and can be easily paid monthly or yearly. You can even get your yearly plan at a slight discount.

Both plans have all the features mentioned before, but the Ring Protect Plus has a few added features that you can use at the extra price.

Extra warranty – Ring Protect Plus allows users to extend the warranty on currently owned Ring devices within the warrantied timeframe. This warranty continues until you hold your subscription.
Cellular Backup – With a subscription, you will get cellular backup in your ring alarm system. This is used as a backup in case your internet connection fails. Even if your WiFi fails, Ring will have a cellular backup as part of the Ring alarm system that will not fail to notify you in case your internet connectivity happens to fail, and an alert is sent your way. This would be useful in the event of a power cut or loss of WiFi connectivity.
You will receive a 10% discount on purchasing selected Ring devices on Ring.com.
Professional monitoring for the Ring alarm system( as explained above).

The in-depth comparison between the free version and the two plans is listed so that you can compare them and choose which plan is best for you.

	Free	Ring	Ring Protect Plus
Motion-activated notifications	Yes	Yes	Yes
Real-Time View with Live Feed	Yes	Yes	Yes
Two Way Audio	Yes	Yes	Yes
Theft Protection	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video Recording	No	Yes	Yes
Video Sharing	No	Yes	Yes
Screenshot Capture	No	Yes	Yes
Devices Covered	None	Yes, only 1 device	Yes, covers all devices connected to Ring
Professional Monitoring for alarm	No	No	Yes
Cellular Backup	No	No	Yes
Extended Warranty	No	No	Yes
10% off on selected ring products	No	No
Cost	Free	3$ / month 30$ / year	10$ / month 100$ / year

Conclusion

So should you purchase a ring subscription?

A ring subscription plan is essential for the efficient functioning of your ring doorbell and ring alarm systems. The advantages that come with it seem worth the cost to me.

If you have a Ring ecosystem, purchasing Ring Protect Plus is worth it at 10$ / month. Not just your doorbell but also other Ring devices can make use of this to offer all its benefits.
If your neighborhood is generally not safe and you feel that the chance of burglary is high, then a subscription would be your way to go. You can get recorded footage and alerts when suspicious activity is detected at your doorbell. You can get professional monitoring of your alarm system, which eases your mind and make you feel more secure in your homes.
If you want to view who is at your door or what is happening in front of your doorstep and would not feel the need to view past footage, then the subscription may not be much worth to you. You could go for the free version.

Considering all of these factors and comparing the free version with the Ring Protect and Ring Protect Plus, I hope you could come to the right choice.

However, you can always prefer alternative doorbells that give you these services without a subscription.

So, did you find this article useful? Did it help clear the confusion regarding which way to go about after purchasing your doorbell?

If you did, don't forget to share this article on social media.

Frequently Answered Questions

Does ring doorbell work without a subscription?

Yes, the doorbell does work without a subscription. You can view the live feed of the doorbell camera and receive alerts based on motion detected.

However, you will miss out on some premium features offered by the Ring Protect plans.

How long do ring videos stay without a subscription?

For both the Ring Protect Basic and Ring Protect Plus plan, the recorded videos stay for 60 days. However this period is only 30 days for some European countries.

Is there a video doorbell without a monthly fee?

Yes, there are a number of video doorbells in the market that do not require any subscriptions and monthly fees.

Many of the market's leading players have released their versions of video doorbells that are either battery-powered or wired. Ring doorbell is the video doorbell offered by Amazon.

Will a ring record without a subscription?

No. To record footage, you need to subscribe to either Ring Protect basic plan or Ring Protect Plus.

With a subscription, you can access recorded footage up to the past 60 days.

What happens if I don't subscribe to ring?

If you do not subscribe to a Ring Protect plan then once your free trial ends you will lose all recorded footage and new events will not be stored.

You can continue to use the doorbell to view real-time live view, and you will continue to receive alerts based on motion detected by the doorbell.

You will also not relieve professional monitoring of your Ring alarm system.

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Source: https://robotpoweredhome.com/ring-doorbell-without-subscription/