Best Ring camera: Amazon’s security options made clear

The best Ring cameras can keep your space secure, helping you to sleep better at night. The Amazon-owned company has carved out a solid reputation for the cameras within its Ring doorbells, and does dedicated Ring security cameras too.

But that means a lot of choice, and it can all get a bit confusing. So which Ring camera is best for you? Our guide will help you make the right decision.

Of course, you don't have to limit yourself to just one camera. If you’re assembling a smart home, you’ll especially appreciate how multiple Ring cameras communicate easily with each other via an iOS or Android app. There's also excellent integration with Alexa and Echo (as we discuss below the main list), and Ring’s own security alarm systems, which can use the cameras as motion sensors. On the downside there is no cooperation with Apple’s HomeKit or Google’s Assistant so, beyond the apps, you’ll be kept in Amazon’s ecosystem.

All the cameras on this list offer a live view, two-way communication, and simple motion alerts. What separates dedicated Ring cameras from Ring doorbells (which themselves feature cameras) is whether they are weatherproof, how they draw their power, how they are installed, and what extra features might be on offer, especially for cloud subscribers. These may include storage of detected events for later review, and identifying ‘Person’ from ‘Motion’ in alerts. 

There are two options for subscription; Ring Protect Basic ($3.99 / £3.49 per device) or Protect Plus ($10 / £8 for unlimited devices) which were last increased in 2022. If you've not yet joined the ring ecosystem, there are alternatives with other pricing structures – see our best indoor cameras to get a feel.

Here, we'll pick out the best choices for different situations (and budgets) within Ring's system, many of which we've tried ourselves (there are links to our full reviews). Most of the cameras are available with a choice of black or white bodies; we’ll leave the aesthetic to you, but just remember the option will be there at the retailer’s site.

Best Ring cameras in 2024

Simple to install anywhere near a power outlet, the Indoor Cam is a high-end security device with a good, sharp 130-degree lens. A really nice touch is that if you choose the black finish, a black power lead is supplied. Go for white and you get a white lead. In other words, it should match your décor. Plus if you or your guests are concerned about privacy then, for complete trust, there is a physical cover which, when rotated over the lens, also switches off the mic.

Because it's a powered camera, the Indoor Cam offers Ring’s pre-roll feature for subscribers (clips feature a few seconds before the triggering moment), making it an ideal security camera. The two-way talk system means it can be used as a child monitor with the option to check in on (or sing to) the little ones remotely. Unlike the next on our list, though, the camera is not weatherproof.

See our full Ring Indoor Cam review

Sometimes listed as the “Stick Up Cam Plug-In,” this camera has a slightly narrower field of view compared to the Indoor Cam, which makes sense when targeting a door or driveway and retaining detail. 

It also features Ring’s Color Night Vision feature, which adds tone to those areas of night where some ambient light is available, andd where traditional security video would be entirely mono. 

The Ring Stick Up Cam ships with a power adapter of up to 6.8m (20ft), which can be run from an indoor socket, giving plenty of DIY options. Overall, this is a great choice for a low-maintenance system in which the installer isn’t afraid of running cable.

Taking the weatherproof camera but providing extra options, the Ring Stick-Up is available as a Stick-Up Battery and Stick-Up Solar. These devices are actually the same; the solar panel is an accessory that tops the battery up. The camera is also broadly similar to the Plug-in powered Stick Up camera, though it does lack the color night vision feature (presumably minimizing battery draw). 

For some, the advantage of wire-free installation will be avoiding a structural assault on their property, But for parents it might be useful to have a camera that can simply be moved around the garden, depending on how it’s being used. 

The battery pops out of the bottom to be recharged, and Ring will gladly sell extra batteries, so you can maintain near-continuous coverage. But positioning in a high place will be problematic. 

Taking the opposite perspective, anything you can reach, so can others. So, should you come to re-think matters, you can always get a power adapter and turn the camera into (effectively) a Stick-Up camera with battery backup.

See our full Ring Stick-Up Camera Battery review

The Spotlight Cam Plus combines the deterrent of an infra-red garden light with the security advantages of the Stick-Up Cam. Like the Pro version, it is available as battery, wired or solar-backed, and the bright(ish) lights mounted in either side of a weatherproof unit mean night-time video clips caught by the system are crisper. The IR sensor, though, means it can only be mounted from a rear-mounted fitting, so it is less portable than the Stick-Up, and more like a traditional security camera in that regard. 

The battery-powered version incorporates a quick-release design with room for two of Ring’s 3,000mAH battery packs, while the camera features advanced motion detection with customizable motion zones and a security alarm you can choose to set off once you’ve checked the alert on your phone (rather than have it automatically annoy your neighbors every time).

It is a little cheaper than the Pro version and lacks only the 3D motion detection, pre-roll, and 5GHz wi-fi so is a good alternative if you want to save a few pennies. Spend a bit more and you’ll get better control over false alerts but the same 1080P.

See our full Ring Spotlight Cam Plus review

Released for late 2022 in plug-in, wired, battery and solar-powered variants offers radar-based motion detection from which it can detect the distance of a triggering event. This is used, with an aerial map, to create an overhead bird’s eye view. A nice feature but a bit gimmicky – until you realize it also plays a part in reducing false alerts. It gives you more options when it comes to indicating areas to ignore, which is very handy.

You also get color pre-roll and dual-band wi-fi (not offered by the Spotlight Cam Plus) for your extra $30. The camera might be only 1080P, but has a good 140˚ horizontal field of view, night vision and HDR.

Power is connected to a USB-C socket in the base, and the wired version comes with 18ft (5.5m) of cable, and the lights manage over 500 lumen. The battery bay has space for two standard ‘Ring’ batteries, which gives you the option of a longer life from a battery type you might already have.

Offered only as a hardwired camera, this is a serious floodlight which needs continuous power to provide 2,000 lumens (total) illumination. The camera itself offers high dynamic range over and above the obvious alternative, the Spotlight Cam). It also features a remote-activated 110db siren, but perhaps the most interesting features are ‘3D Motion Detection’ and ‘Birds Eye View’, which detect distance and speed of visitors in range using camera and IR sensor data. 

In the app, this is viewed with an aerial map of your property (downloaded from Google at setup) to plot the route people take when they stray from public areas onto your property. It's fascinating to review, and useful in setting up zones for the lights to ignore if near a street. It also improves smart zoom (cropping on subject). 

Finally, as long as you also have Ring Protect, the camera is capable of six second pre-roll. That means you’ll get to see the crucial moments before each recorded clip was triggered.

See our guide to the best floodlight cameras

Traditional security camera companies haven’t stood still as Wi-Fi cloud connected cameras have entered their space. A technology called PoE (Power Over Ethernet) provides wired connections for digital video, and the Stick Up Cam Elite uses the same system to side-step any tricky Wi-Fi dead zones you might have in your home. 

A single cable to the device, which is weatherproof, splits into a power lead and an Ethernet cable, which you can connect to a PoE router. This also makes it easy to upgrade to Ring cameras from a PoE system, although for indoor use the USB adaptor in the box might be an easier option. 

The Elite also offers a different perspective: a wider field-of-view lens than its siblings, which might suit some locations around your property. 

With a very affordable price tag, you’d expect the Ring Video Doorbell Wired to be somewhat disappointing in terms of features. But if you’re able to provide wired power, it has one big advantage over some of its siblings: its compact size thanks to the absence of a built-in battery. 

You can nominate an Alexa device as a Chime, or acquire one as an accessory from Ring. We appreciated the wide field of view though. Since it's traditional landscape, it's better suited to seeing a group than spotting any parcels left on the matt. Plus it features noise cancellation for clear two-way conversations, and even captures six-seconds pre-roll for events.

While the idea of a ‘Pro’ moniker might seem somewhat odd for a doorbell, it does have a lot of great features. These include Quick Replies: pre-recorded messages like “sorry I’m not in” which you can play with a tap when alerted by the app. You also get Alexa integration. 

Mostly, though, the pro quality is evident in the 1536x1546 pixel square video, which allows you to even see something left on the mat in fair detail. It’s got pro features as a security camera too, including the 3D sensing system in the Floodlight Camera that lets you see how people behave on your territory. The Pro 2 also includes the latest ‘Audio+’ improved noise cancellation and a corner installation kit. 

Note the difference, though, between ‘hardwired’ and ‘plug-in adaptor’ versions. The former is for doorbell wiring direct to a consumer unit, whereas the latter provides cabling and adapter to connect to an AC socket.

The main Ring Video Doorbell is now in its fourth generation, and its main distinguishing feature is the option to install it without new (or existing) doorbell hardwiring, but to instead use a battery which needs to be popped out and recharged, just like the Stick-Up Cam Battery. 

To hear the doorbell sound, it can be paired with a Chime or any Alexa device. And this generation is now capable of pre-roll even when the system is being used in battery mode, although the pre clip is lower quality than the HDR main camera. 

Only one battery is supplied, so we’d strongly recommend you buy a second battery from day one. That way, you can swap charged for drained in a single step, rather than having to leave an awkward note on your door every couple of weeks. 

Ring bring the option of professional security systems to their doorbells with this 'Power over Ethernet'-capable variant. The technology can be immensely helpful where thick walls hamper Wi-Fi signals, as well as the relative reliability of hardwiring for power. The higher price has to be acknowledged, but Ring does provide a selection of faceplates (usually accessories at an extra cost) as well as other installation goodies. 

The HD video has a wide field of view, but is traditional horizontal. And the noise cancellation hasn’t had the recent updates seen in the Pro 2 doorbell. Other features, like Quick Replies are present, however. 

Building entry phones are rarely something you can replace; no apartment building works with a Ring doorbell for every flat, and nor could those doorbells pull off the entry phone’s signature trick of remotely unlocking the front door.

If you’d like to add the benefits of phone-based remote control to an existing system, however, Ring now have you covered. This box, which sticks to the wall and connects to most door entry systems, can remotely alert you to a visitor using the app. From there it borrows the entryphone’s cables so you can speak and – if you choose – buzz in the visitor.

No drilling is needed to install; it sticks in place using supplied stickers, so renters can install and remove as they move; there are also cables which connect to most types of entryphone. The on-phone install system provides illustrated guidance.

You can also choose to allow ‘Auto-Verify’ for Amazon delivery agents, meaning they can let themselves in via their device – whether you want to is, thankfully, up to you.

Best Ring accessories

Ring Batteries

Ring has stuck firmly to its standard Quick Release Battery Pack across the range, which has a couple of advantages. 

For one thing you can keep a single spare for multiple Ring devices. Keep it charged ready for whichever Ring product you need to refresh, then swap and charge the other. They’ve even managed to use the battery in their Spotlight Camera, even though it has higher power needs, by using two bays.

Secondly the consistency has spawned third party accessories (though Ring also offer their own Ring Charging Station).

Ring security devices

Ring’s range of devices, based around a Ring Alarm base station, can be used to establish a traditional alarm system. This can integrate with the motion-sensing ability of Ring’s camera devices. Other options include a keypad to enable and disable the system, contact sensors to detect door openings, motion sensors (without cameras) and a range extender. 

Alexa and Echo Show devices

Ring is compatible with Alexa devices, which can be used as a voice entry phone and as a chime for the doorbells. If you don’t have a fitted doorbell chime, this is a handy way to side-step installation.  

Ring devices are often bundled with an Echo Show. This is a device in Amazon’s Alexa family offered with various display sizes. With the Ring devices, it offers the capabilities of a video entry phone, atop the other Alexa features.

Read more: 

Best outdoor security cameras
Best indoor security cameras
Best PoE cameras
Best HomeKit cameras
Best doorbell cameras
Best fake security cameras