Amazon's Ring has announced that it's upping the price of its most affordable Basic subscription, a move that mirrors similar adjustments made by Google and others. The company shared this information in a FAQ document seen by The Verge. Starting from March 11, the monthly fee for the Basic plan will rise from $4 to $5 (or from $40 to $50 annually), marking a 25 percent increase.
The last time Ring hiked up its Basic plan rate was back in June 2022, when it went from $3 to $4 per month. At that time, they sweetened the deal by adding a few extras such as additional cloud storage, the capability to download larger batches of videos, and access to exclusive discounts on upcoming Ring products. However, this time around, the price is going up without any additional benefits being introduced.
While an extra dollar or so per month might not seem like a significant increase, it could have a more noticeable impact on some users. The Basic plan only covers one camera, and each camera requires a subscription to save and record videos. This means that users with two or more cameras might find it more cost-effective to opt for the Ring Protect Plus plan. The Protect Plus plan covers all Ring doorbells and home cameras at one location, and it now costs exactly twice as much at $10 per month or $100 per year. Without any subscription plan, users are restricted to only viewing live streams and receiving motion alerts.
Ring's decision to raise its prices follows a similar move by Google, which increased the cost of its cheapest Nest Aware plan from $6 to $8 per month (or from $60 to $80 per year) in September last year. However, Google's plan covers every camera linked to your account, making it a more appealing option for new users who haven't yet invested in hardware.
For those seeking even more budget-friendly options, Blink and Wyze both offer cloud plans for a single camera priced at $3 per month. Additionally, both companies support local storage solutions. Another alternative is to purchase devices that support Apple HomeKit Secure Video, provided you have an iCloud+ subscription.
With these changes in pricing, users are faced with decisions about which subscription or service best fits their needs and budget. As the smart home security market continues to evolve, consumers are encouraged to carefully consider their options and evaluate not only the initial costs but also the ongoing subscription fees and features offered.