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Original poster

Are Ring doorbells worth it

36 replies

clairebear610 · 13/07/2022 14:37

Have been thinking about getting a ring doorbell for a while. Are they worth it please and where do I start with which one to go for? It all looks very confusing. We don't have an Alexa, would just like it set up to our phones. I think it will be useful for seeing who is at the door when we are out or in the garden, and also for security at night. Also, how much is the ring subscription please? Many thanks

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 13/07/2022 14:44

We love ours. We put it in with a whole Ring security/alarm system and two outdoor floodlight cameras. What I like best is the two-way voice feature. I've had conversations with people at the door while I was at work. We have a Ring doorbell 3 and it's been great. It needs to hook up to your doorbell wiring to keep the battery charged. We had an electrician hook up the whole system as the outside floodlight cameras needed to be connected to the mains.

Here's the page for the UK plans.

en-uk.ring.com/pages/protect-plans

It looks like Ring basic is 3.49 GBP per month. You may be able to find discount codes. In the US we can pay annually and get a lower cost, but I don't see that option on the UK site.

MissConductUS · 13/07/2022 14:45

One other thing - you need to make sure you have a good wifi signal at the door where it'll be installed.

toastofthetown · 13/07/2022 14:51

We have one and I like it, but it has had problems. It was fine for a year or so, then randomly stopped connecting after about 24 hours and it took several full resets to fix the issue, though it has been fine for months again now. But when it’s not connected, it’s completely useless with no backup as a fund doorbell. I mostly got it, as I work at the back of the house and it’s useful to have a notification when someone is at the door as I don’t always hear if on a call. My understanding security wise is that it’s very easy to use wifi blockers to disable so they’re far from infallible.

We also have some alarm equipment: motion sensors and contact breakers and they are pretty good, useful to be able check up away from the house. No subscription here though, we’re fine with the free service as we don’t need the videos saving.

kateandme · 13/07/2022 15:12

Sorry I can't tell you specifics but totally worth it.
Going further we extended it to add an indoor view one. for very frail poorly dementia sufferer.which saved her and us.

Tessasanderson · 13/07/2022 16:25

We have been over and over this in our household and decided not to bother.

My brother has one and although he is quite positive about it, he did say that they have quite a delay in the time to alert him someone is at the door. In fact he said that 90% of the time, if its a delivery by the time he gets the opportunity to speak, he is normally looking at a van leaving.

This put me off as for me its the biggest reason for getting one.

Then you have the security aspect. Say for example someone vandalizes my cars or tries to steal them. Do i really want to see them do it? From what i have seen the police hardly ever use the footage and if anyone is going to the trouble, chances are they will cover their face.

All in all it just struck me as something else to get dragged down by in the modern world without actually achieving anything.

billyt · 13/07/2022 16:34

Had ours a while now. Great for peace of mind security-wise and that if someone comes to the door while you're out etc. you can speak to them via the app on your phone.

mrsfoof · 13/07/2022 16:46

We bought a Eufy one instead as you don't have to subscribe to view the video (it's stored on a SD card on the doorbell chime that comes with it and you can view from an app on your phone from wherever you are).
It's fab.

ohlookout · 13/07/2022 16:52

I decided not to bother with one. They're not a deterrent for criminals, they just wear masks and carry on with whatever they're doing so what's the point? We have a house alarm and decent looks on the doors and windows. I don't want to talk to people delivering stuff when I'm at work.

pilates · 13/07/2022 17:09

Mrsfoof, are the eufy ones only battery operated?

Firesidefox · 13/07/2022 17:24

I really like ours. Well worth the hundred quid or so we spent on it. Get a Chime too so you can hear throughout the house when they ring the doorbell.

CherryRipe1 · 13/07/2022 17:38

Watching with interest as looking to get a Ring or Eufy. I see alot of posts & footage on Nextdoor app of various theives/conmen, drunks, strange lurkers & foxes etc caught on Ring doorbells.

roses2 · 13/07/2022 17:41

I also looked into Ring but got put off by the monthly cost. I got a Eufy one which emails me a photo everytime it detects motion (a burglar can't stop that but they could wear a mask). Also records onto SD card. Much better value.

GrimDamnFanjo · 13/07/2022 17:41

We are in a smallish house but my office is at the back and I can ask delivery drivers to wait while I get to the door.
Ours is not wired but on a rechargeable battery.

AndStand · 13/07/2022 18:27

We got one yesterday!
The battery version which came with a free Echo Show for £59.99

I like it. I like that it literally tells me that "there's motion outside the front door" even if no-one rings the bell. So I can see if anyone walks up the path.
I can also just ask the Echo Show to "Show me the front door" and it clicks onto a live view of my front garden.
I'm pleased with it.

mrsfoof · 15/07/2022 07:14

pilates · 13/07/2022 17:09

Mrsfoof, are the eufy ones only battery operated?

I think they do wired ones too. Ours is battery operated- it lasts months on a single charge (commercial building so we have a lot of people coming and going so it's triggered 10-15 times a day at least). It charges quickly too - a couple of hours max.

Bingbangbongbash · 15/07/2022 07:28

The Google Nest one is great. Battery operated or wired, looks much nicer than the Ring and no need for a subscription unless you want to save the videos.

Newhome321 · 15/07/2022 11:47

Has anyone used ADT, was recommended by our neighbor and need to get one for us soon. We used to have Hisseu wireless from Amazon and it was ok.

User396130764 · 16/07/2022 08:43

They are ok but how quickly you connect to it depends on the internet where you are, when we were on holiday in the Peak District it took ages for the pictures to come through, it is useful though to keep an eye on what is going on at home even if it is sometimes after the event.

Sge995 · 01/09/2022 02:24

Best thing I’ve ever purchased.
finally caught my nutty neighbour and her weird behaviour, and I’ve got a restraining order and it’s going to court for stalking and harassment.
try and get the wired one if possible, bit of a nuisance to install but you have the peace of mind it’s on 24/7

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 01/09/2022 06:44

We are getting rid of ours. The app never works and most of the time it doesn’t ring or announce that someone is at the door.

Notplayingball · 01/09/2022 06:53

mrsfoof · 13/07/2022 16:46

We bought a Eufy one instead as you don't have to subscribe to view the video (it's stored on a SD card on the doorbell chime that comes with it and you can view from an app on your phone from wherever you are).
It's fab.

Same reason why we bought a Eufy recently, didn't want to pay for storage with the Ring ones.

User148563 · 01/09/2022 07:17

Ring subscription went up a lot in price recently, I imagine lots will ditch them in the next year with COL rises. it went from £24.99 to £34.99.

User148563 · 01/09/2022 07:20

I'm glad we left our ancient electric doorbell still up with its Bakelite chime in the hallway so we can ditch Ring if it gets unaffordable

StubbleTurnips · 01/09/2022 07:28

Useful for placid visitors ie guests, delivery men etc.

Rubbish as security / deterrent - anyone with malicious intent can easily jam with a relatively cheap blocker.

Thewayshetalks · 01/09/2022 07:29

I love to scare my husband on ours so it’s well worth it for me

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