Ring Smart Home Security System

Product Description

Features

• Ring Alarm puts whole-home security at your fingertips. Get alerts on your smart phone when doors or windows open or motion is detected.
• Optional 24/7 professional monitoring. No long-term contracts or cancellation fees.
• Manage Ring Alarm and other Ring products—including Ring Doorbell—with the Ring app.
• Customize Ring Alarm for your needs. Add components at any time for whole home protection.
• Easily setup Ring Alarm in minutes—without tools or professional installation.
• The 5 piece kit includes a base station, contact sensor, motion detector, keypad, and range extender.
• Works with Alexa to arm, disarm, and check the status of your Ring Alarm security system with your voice.

Top Reviews

Beware: Don't let the low cost fool you. (Updated 1/5/19)
by Kyle (2 out of 5 stars)
October 7, 2018

Original Review - 10/7/19 (See below for updated review)

I got my new Ring security system yesterday and installed the panel, door sensor, and motion sensor yesterday. I have had a security system with a major national monitoring company for nearly six years. I am not new to this. I got the new Ring system to replace the current system I have due to the price of the monitoring. I like the idea of having $10 a month for all of my cameras and security system combined. By switching, I am able to save $55 a month by cancelling my previous monitoring from the companies that did so for my security system and cameras.

The ring system itself is pretty basic. There aren't really bells and whistles. I am going from a fancy touchscreen panel that can control my thermostat and do a lot of other things to a panel that doesn't have a screen at all. I am aware of the change and am more than accepting of it for the monthly savings.

I do hope that Ring will eventually come out with a nicer panel that can be added to the system. Glass break sensors would also be nice to have with the Ring system.

I do like the new Ring system but it does have some things you need to be aware of that could be deal breakers for you.

First, people have complained about the larger size of the door sensors and magnets. I didn't really think this was a problem until I tried to install them on my windows. The size of the sensor itself isn't really the issue. Its the size of the magnet. IF YOU HAVE DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS, LISTEN UP!!! If you aren't sure what a double hung window is, it is a window in which both the top and bottom panes can be opened. You can slide the top pane down or the bottom pane up independently of each other. Why is this a problem? If you do not modify the magnets for the sensors, you will need to buy two sensors for each window that you have. With my last security system, the sensor was mounted to the bottom pane and the magnet was mounted to glass on the top pane. This was done so that if either pane was moved, the sensor would trip. With the Ring window sensors, the magnet is too big to place on the glass so that the bottom panel can be moved. If you try to open the bottom panel, the window will hit the magnet and knock it off, causing it to sit on the panel in front of the sensor and not trip it. Not all windows are made the same, so this may not be the case for you, but it is worth considering. The only way I have found to get around this is to order two sensors per window or to remove the magnet from the casing and attach it to the glass. The second option doesn't look aesthetically pleasing at all. If I figure out another way, I will update this review.

Update: I used the magnets from my previous security system. If you're truly concerned about your security, and you have double hung windows, you'll need to either order two sensors per window or find a smaller magnet to use.

The second issue I have for the system is that there is no quick exit feature. For the entire six years that I've had a security system, I have been used to being able to press a button that will give me one minute to quietly exit the house. This is important when I am leaving for work a few hours before my family wakes up for their day. The Ring system doesn't have this feature at all. When the system is armed, it has to be disarmed (which it announces) and rearmed before exiting with a delay that can be set up with your phone (it will announce this as well and will make a sound while it counts down) or can be armed from your phone after you leave (again, it will announce this with the countdown sound). You either have to chose if you want the system to count down or not. Not counting down will immediately arm it and you will have to arm from your phone if you leave and arm it on the "Home" setting while others are still there. You can adjust the sound that is emitted from the panel so that it isn't loud, but it will also make your door and window chimes use the same volume all of the time. If you have your system armed while you're home, and the volume is down, you might not hear the system telling you that it needs to be disarmed if you forget and open a door. There is no in-between here. If you have to leave while others are still sleeping, this may be a problem for you.

One major issue that I have is that I don't believe there is a duress code for this system. A duress code will disarm the system but also secretly send a notification that there is a problem to the monitoring company, who will send the police. The Ring system has a way of doing this that would make it obvious to an intruder that you're letting the police know there is a problem. The panel has two buttons with red dots on them. By pressing both buttons at the same time, the system will notify the Ring monitoring center that you need assistance. The problem is that the intruder will definitely see you do this instead of entering your code to disarm the panel. I can see where this may upset the intruder. I feel like Ring needs to step up and add a duress code feature so that you can be discreet about needing help.

The last thing I have an issue with is that you must enter your passcode not only when you disarm the system but also when you want to arm it. I think that is a little excessive. I think that the passcode should required only for disarming.

The positive things about the system are that it is inexpensive to purchase and monitor. I just don't know yet if the pros outweigh the cons.

I will update this review after using it for a month or so.

Updated Review (1/5/19)

I wanted to preface this updated review with the following information. I am updating this review because Ring's customer service team reached out to me about my one star review. While they didn't ask me to change my review, they did ask if there was anything they could do to make my experience better. Since I have had a few months with this system, I feel like it deserves an update.

I am leaving my original review because I feel like it still applies, since nothing has really changed as far as those issues go.

You can now arm and disarm the system with Alexa. This is very convenient because it allows you to say "Alexa, arm the system" and it will immediately do so without a passcode. Entering the passcode on the panel every time you want to arm the system is still there and still excessive, in my opinion. You can also say "Alexa, disarm the system". Alexa will then ask you for your verbal passcode (you can set this up in the Alexa app on your phone or tablet) and she will then disarm the system for you. This is extremely convenient when you first enter your home with an arm full of groceries or whatever.

To be able to walk in and disarm with your voice instead of having to put everything down and walk to the panel is the only reason my review is getting two stars instead of one. Aside from that, there haven't really been any other changes to warrant a better review from me.

The customer service rep told me that there is also Z-Wave Lock that has been implemented, but I don't know what that is. I can't find anything about it on the app. I was also told that they will be somehow integrating the Ring Stick Up Cam into the Ring Alarm system, but I am not sure how or when.

I was informed by the customer service rep that a dome siren, glass break sensor, "smoke listener" and flood and freeze detector are also being released. I was told that they are reviewing the addition of the quick/silent exit feature and duress code. I was also told that they are planning to redesign the contact sensors to be slimmer, but they cannot tell me when that will be done. If and when those things are changed, my review will definitely go to a 4-5 star review.

I really do like the system. I like the price point of the monitoring of the system, I just feel like there are a few very important things that hold it back.

I guess the takeaway from my review should be this:

Its a really good system for a great price, but it is kind of half baked. It all depends on what is important to you. I have no time frame of when the things they told me are being released. If they are going to be released in the next few months, I would say wait. If its a year down the road, I would say get the system but be prepared to possibly have to buy extra components if you want to update the system to be on par with some of the bigger companies' systems. It's really just a toss up for what you think is important to you.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Better than I expected. Painless setup. Updated 01/16/19
by Paul (5 out of 5 stars)
July 14, 2018

I bought this system to replace the ADT system I had for years. This system along with four Contact Sensors replaced what I had from ADT. The cost of the Ring system and year of monitoring was less than six months of monitoring from ADT. The system comes packaged nice a secure, which I am thankful for since the deliver person wasn't gentle dropping the box on my porch. I had downloaded the app and registered before the system arrived, so that part was taken care of. The included instructions and phone app walk you through the setup. It was painless and completed in about 10 minutes. I set up everything on my dining room table to go through the registration process. Once done, I installed the components where the old hardware was. Ring includes everything you need to mount (double sided tape and/or screws) all the components. Registering for monitoring was very simple too. One thing I learned that I want to pass on. do not remove the little battery tabs until the app tells you to. If you do, just open the cover, pull the battery and reinstall the tab. Just pulling the battery and reinstalling it doesn't reset the device.

The app could use some tweaks to let you customize your notifications a little more and tweak the contact choices, but overall I'm satisfied.

I was looking at the Nest system, but this is a better value, you get a separate keyboard so you can semi hide the main base station that has the cellular radio and battery backup. You also have the choice of hardwired or wireless 2.4 - 5 ghz network connections.

I will update this review in six months.

Update 01/16/2019

I've had the ring system for six months now. I paid for the years subscription to their monitoring service. I've had one activation, by me, to test and see what the monitoring center does. I live in a city that does not respond to unverified burglar alarm activations. I was contacted within minutes of my alarm going off, which was about the same amount of time ADT took. Overall, I'm happy with this service, especially at this price point.

The system itself has performed flawlessly. I've had a few internet outages and the system promptly moved to cell coverage. I have the keypad mounted in a utility room we normally enter when entering the house. It has run off of its internal battery and I charged it once since installing it. I have a total of five door senors and the motion, which all have performed as expected. I have added a Ring Pro doorbell and have connected it to activate if the alarm is tripped. Overall, the hardware has held up as expected and I am very pleased.

The software/app has constantly been updated by Ring, adding tweaks to improve the performance of the system. It is so nice to just look at the app and see that everything is okay at home. I will, over time, be replacing my hardwired video surveillance system with Ring cameras.

After having ADT for 17+ years and feeling their customer service and pricing became ridiculous, I am pleased with this Ring system. Even if Ring raises their monitoring fees, which I hope they don't, I can still self monitor and feel secure in leaving my house knowing I will be notified if something happens.

I will submit another review at the one year mark.
↭ 🍁 ↭
In-depth review, great system, explained
by BYOB (5 out of 5 stars)
July 31, 2018

If you are a tech-y person and looking for an alarm system that you can manage/customize and install yourself, then you're in the right place.

Here's a review after owning the system for almost 3 weeks:

Installation:

Alarm works great, right out of the box it is a pretty simple setup, no tools needed, just your smartphone. It will take you more time to decide on locations for the sensors than the actual time to set them up. Total setup time is about 1 hour or less.

System responsiveness:

System is very responsive and mobile alerts are sent in real time. If the alarm goes off, you will get a mobile alert from the app with information about the actual sensor tripped; this app alert will be followed a few seconds later by a phone call from a representative checking on your well being. They will ask you for your "safe word" and if you cannot give the correct one they will dispatch a police officer. I also noticed if you cancel quickly enough with the app then they will not call you; I once cancelled after a few seconds through the app and the phone call came in, but before it could be answered it was already disconnected - which was great, no need to explain myself.

Door chimes:

You can set door chimes like other alarm systems, you can select which sensors will make a chime noise, like exterior doors and maybe a garage motion sensor. You can also pick the sound so you know which door was just opened by the chime sound. Chimes only work when alarm is not active, it is a friendly sound for when doors are opened.

Police dispatch:

As soon as the alarm is tripped you will receive 2 phone calls (one on each registered number), if no one answers they will immediately dispatch the police. The approximate time for the police to be dispatched from the moment your alarm goes off to the time they call a dispatcher is about 4 minutes (that includes the time to complete the 2 call attempts made to you). Police will be dispatched with a description of the zone that triggered the alarm (ex: living room motion).

System customization:

You have 2 alarm modes: home and away. Using the app you get to chose which sensors will trip home mode and away mode; to be a little more specific, in the app you can select a sensor and check a box next to away and a box next to home if you want it to trip the alarm even if your alarm is active in "home mode" such as when you're sleeping at night, where motion sensors inside won't trip the alarm, but doors or windows opening will do so. You can also select a motion sensor and select a lower sensitivity level in case you have pets. You can do all this from the app even away from home.

Installation trouble:

After I finished installing this device I found myself having issues with it for the first 3 days where sensors will go offline for no reason almost every day; suddenly after day 4 maybe, all of the issues disappeared and the system was now working like a well-oiled machine. I reached out to Ring support team and they informed me that there was an automatic update that the brain device was going to perform on its own and that would solve all of the issues I was experiencing. They were indeed 100% correct, after just a few days the system was doing exactly what it was supposed to be doing all along. No issues, no dropped devices, a happy customer here now. If you end up choosing this system and experience issues during the first 3-4 days, please wait a few days for your system to automatically update itself to the latest software and you'll see the issues magically go away.

Motion sensors:

I installed a motion sensor inside a shed in my backyard (shed has a tin metal roof) and I kept getting a false alarm daily usually around 1 or 2pm; Ring informed me that their motion sensors use infrared technology and that excessive heat could cause a false trigger. They told me a contact sensor at the shed's door should do the job and that's what I will be doing next.

The door/window sensors (also called contact sensors) work pretty well, but the same cannot be said about the motion sensors; they will detect motion after there's been plenty of movement (if I walk the hallway and enter a room it will not detect, but if I sit for a few seconds moving in the hallway it will detect it then). This is still not a show stopper for me, as I have a dog and don't plan on buying any more motion sensors, it will be all contact sensors.

Mobile app:

This is probably the best part about this alarm, that there is no need for a desktop PC to reach any advanced features and that you can configure it from anywhere. From arming the alarm from work (if you forgot to arm it before leaving), to disarming remotely if needed. App is extremely user friendly and very intuitive, so this is probably the best part. Very well organized and all Ring devices can be controlled from within the same app.

Improvements I would like to see in future updates:

Arm/Disarm rules/timers: Having some sort of timers to automatically disable the alarm daily at a certain time (my wife wakes up around 6am on workdays and she often trips the alarm and end up waking me up).

External Speaker: Also I'd like to see some sort of a External speaker that can be placed outside because the alarm is not audible from my garage so any "intruders" would not be deterred if they are messing near my garage or with my shed in the backyard (maybe the police will surprise them after a few minutes).

Signal meter: This would be a great in-app addition to be able to tell if a sensor is not in a desirable location.

Equipment sensor: I have an expensive four-wheeler and zero-turn mower in my backyard, and would like to see some kind of sensor (other than motion, too many plants and wind won't make it practical) to protect these expensive items as well. This would be a great selling point; maybe like a magnetic plug stuck to a metal part of the bike's body, that if it's removed from that metal body it alerts the brain.

Another idea could be that if both of the adults are not home, the smartphone will see it in the GPS and "suggest" arming the residence since there's been no motion for an hour or no doors being opened plus the GPS reports that none of the adults are home? (These are just ideas to make the system more attractive, I have a ton more ideas).

And now the best part about this alarm system and what makes them different and better than the rest of the systems out there: the vendor itself "Ring".

By purchasing this system you're almost certain that they will come out with upgrades and updates to this product and ways to integrate it with Alexa and smart home devices. If you encounter any kind of issues, they will have someone listen to you and actually give you a solution rather than one of these knock off Chinese products that will give you excuses for faulty behavior but not solutions.

I am very content with this system and I am looking forward for any future updates, and hope to see some of these suggestions to be evaluated for future releases. For now, I am content that I purchased this system and I am able to customize it as much as I am currently able to.

Kudos to their customer service for reaching out and explaining to me about the difficulties I was having with their product.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Stupid simple to get set up
by Tim Solley (5 out of 5 stars)
August 13, 2018

I ordered this alarm after someone tried to break into my house 3 minutes after we pulled out of the driveway. They'd been watching our house. Once the cars were gone, he tried. But it was also the first time our son tried staying home alone. Terrified doesn't begin to describe it! He bolted when he realized the house wasn't empty.

Two days later we had the Ring alarm and a Ring doorbell in hand. The whole setup took less than 20 minutes (including the doorbell). Plug in the parts, stick sensors to doors, use the app to walk through configuring them, and you're done. A few minutes later I had the professional monitoring set up. I spent a few minutes familiarizing myself with the features, adjusting alarm volume, adding user codes, etc. It was all just so seamless.

I highly recommend this system.
↭ 🍁 ↭
New system with Lots of potential!
by James Duncan Jr (5 out of 5 stars)
July 24, 2018

I recently purchased the new Ring security system after owning the video doorbell for a while. I bought this system to allow me to ditch my system and service from a large national provider (42$ per month for monitoring vs 10$)! Firstly, I have been interested in this product and company since I saw Jaime Siminoff on Shark Tank back in 2013. Back then the company was called DoorBot. I like the new name much better.

I set up the new system with ease. It Took about 45 minutes! I have to give props to Mr. Siminoff for adding in this 7 day training period which allowed me to learn the new equipment without the fear of having the authorities show up. Thank God someone is thinking outside the box. My last alarm system that was much more expensive and hardwired, came with no training at all and no grace period for learning. As a result, I set it off multiple times by mistake and actually got a fine from my town because the cops showed up to the false alarm. That said, this was a much better initial experience.

Well, not long after the training mode came to an end, I made a bonehead mistake. I forgot to get my girlfriend set up with the App and when she came over when I wasn't home, the alarm went off. Unfortunately, I was not able to cancel her mistake due to me fumbling with a rather clunky app interface on my phone. Luckily the Ring representative from the monitoring team called very quickly and I was able to avoid a cop showing up and a possible charge$$. My interaction with the Ring rep was fantastic. They called very quickly and the person I spoke with was extremely professional, kind and knowledgeable! They made me feel like a valued customer for sure.

So far my experience with this system has been good. I am giving this product 5 stars because of the customer service experience I had when my alarm went off and the future potential I see for the whole Ring product line. However, I would like to see a couple things addressed. 1) The app needs to be easier to use, especially the cancel option, that cancel option should be there immediately and very easy to find. 2) With my old 42$ a month system I was able to control my lights, door lock and thermostat. Please please Mr. Siminoff, can we get this feature added to the system? I think adding in those features will take this from a very good low cost option to a GREAT overall option for security and home automation.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Excellent value! You'll need more sensors.
by Sephorous (5 out of 5 stars)
August 24, 2018

I brought and installed this system a few weeks ago and I'm loving it so far. Here are the highlights:

Pros
- Low cost for starter pack. It has just enough to get your system up and running. However the Costco bundle comes with more sensors for just a little more $. Otherwise you can buy sensors individually.
- Low cost for professional monitoring, which is optional. Comes with a cell backup which is included in the monitoring. No Contracts for monitoring!
- Very DIY friendly. Took minutes to install and set up.
- one app to view doorbell cameras, floodlight cameras, and alarm system.
- the base station is separate from the keypad which is an excellent choice. It allows me to hide the base station.
- the base station is loaded with various internal antennas (wifi, cell, zwave, zigbee) which leaves the door open for future home automation.

Cons
- the door and window contact sensors are large. Maybe it's large because of the battery which is supposed to last 3 years.
- you can only buy additional sensors individually, unless you have a Costco membership. At Costco you can buy 4 packs of the door and window sensor, but I think this should be able to buy this normally.
- they don't yet have a glass break or flood sensor but I understand it's in the pipeline since this is such a new product offering.
- the home, away, disarm buttons on the key pad don't light up which makes it difficult to use in the dark. The numbers do light up with motion however.
- the keypad can be mounted on a wall but it doesn't allow for power wire routing behind the unit when mounted because of the mounting bracket geometry. I plan to modify the mounting bracket so I can route power wiring behind the unit and not just above or below.
- limited tie ins with the echo, doorbells and cameras, but I understand this is in the pipeline.

All said and done, I am VERY satisfied with my purchase and I'm excited for the future offerings Ring will have.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Another Excellent Ring Product
by MR DAMIAN W BROWN (5 out of 5 stars)
August 6, 2018

What can I say about this product , EASY EASY EASY , and Well Made .

This Alarm straight out of the box, works like a dream . The alarm integrates with the Ring App and allows to use it alongside any other ring products you currently own . I was up and online in 5 mins .

Starter Kit comes with a Door Sensor and Motion , all detected fine and work straight away . The sensors and well made and substantial, they feel a lot more of a quality product over other manufacturers .

They work over the Z-Wave Plus protocol , this is a very positive step , and the starter kit comes with a Z Wave repeater to boost the signal if you have a larger house .

I did busy some additional sensors and it was as simple as loading the app , adding a device , scanning the QR code or entering the ID of the module and paired straight away without issues .

All done via the Ring App , one app does it all . Oh and it has battery backup in the keypad and base in case the power fails . Whats more you can opt for the Monitor service at $10 a month and they 24/7 with 911 response and 4G failover in case your Internet drops out .

Pushes out notifications very well as with other ring products I own .

I am very impressed .

I would 100 % recommend , for the price its an amazing product .
↭ 🍁 ↭
It's a good replacement for those looking to lower monthly cost for ...
by Robert R Jones (4 out of 5 stars)
July 24, 2018

It's a good replacement for those looking to lower monthly cost for professional monitoring. The system is easy to set up and there are lots of options. I'm not sure the set up could be any easier. Here is what I don't like, but not a deal killer. The sensors for the doors are huge! They are literally twice the size of the previous sensors from my old company. I also don't like that you only get one contact sensor in the base option. I have three doors to my house and 7 first floor windows. So, you have to buy quite a few additional sensors to cover them all. So, the initial cost can add up fast. But, since monitoring is cheap, it pays for itself after a few months. I have integrated a door bell camera and a spotlight camera for the yard. Those are both battery powered. Both are fairly bulky compared to some of the competition. I'm hoping it's durable though. The thing to remember if you get any battery powered devices is to get extra batteries. The batteries take a LONG time to charge. I have 4 batteries and each took about 8-10 hours to charge. If you have an "extra" charged battery or two around, then you don't have to take your cameras offline for a half day to wait for the batteries to charge. Just swap in the extra one and recharge the other and leave it waiting for the next time something dies. All in all, it's a good system, but not cheap to get setup properly initially. The intro price is good, but by no means a complete system. Unless you live in a one door apartment with no windows, you are going to need to buy additional stuff to complete the system. Hopefully, with the money i'm no longer paying to my old monitoring company, I can make up the upfront cost of setting this up.

The other tip is once you get the base system online, buy everything else directly from Ring.com. You get a %10 discount on everything else you buy. While you will get it faster if you buy it from Amazon, it will cost less buying directly from Ring.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Do not buy! Trash system! Terrible Return Policy! Property Robbed and Ring did not go Off!
by Marcus (1 out of 5 stars)
January 3, 2019

Fo not buy this system is garbage. We purchased to protect our fourplex and its been burglarized. They stole our camera and water heater. The motion sensors never worked and gave false alarm's and then went offline and did not trigger some we were being robbed. DO Not buy this trash system! Ps: we also had to replace the batteries right after purchase for the motion detectors. System never worked right and we paid those to 600 for all the components to have our stuff stolen anyways.

UPDATE: Sales people called us after writing this review and tried to blame our wifi connection on the issues we are having. This system does not work and do not buy! We rechecked the entire system after checking every battery/sensor and device with errors above. DO NOT BUY!

Update 1-15-19. Luckily Amazon has great customer service and allowed for a late return and refund. Ring customer service was very nice and sent us a free stick up camera for our troubles. This was a nice gesture considering our $1K loss and we will give it a try. I still feel the security system was not a good buy and riddled with defects, but have heard good things about the camera/doorbells. Amazon customer service 5 stars, Ring customer service 5 stars, but the security system and motion detectors 0 stars.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Product is Great. Customer Service is Even Better.
by edwardprince (5 out of 5 stars)
September 4, 2018

I had some issues with Sensors initially. Ring stood behind their product so much so that they called me after a negative review and showed up at my house to install the system and work through all the issues.

I have NEVER and I repeat NEVER seen such excellent customer service in my life.

System is working great and at a fraction of the cost of other systems.

I highly recommend Ring. And what they stand for as a company - they will stand by their products at all costs.

They want to disrupt the market and they will. Thank you Ring.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

*If this is not the "Ring Smart Home Security System" product you were looking for, you can check the other results by clicking this link.  Details were last updated on Apr 21, 2024 05:57 +08.