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Can You Use A Ring Doorbell As A Security Camera?

Ring doorbells come with cameras and have the ability to record videos when they detect motions. These devices are made to increase the security of your home or office. The question is, can you use a Ring doorbell as a security camera? 

Yes, you can use a Ring doorbell as a security camera. It may not be the best option available due to some lacking, but it will certainly get the job done. 

Now let’s find out if you can use the doorbell as a security camera and if there are better alternatives.

Can You Use A Ring Doorbell As A Security Camera?

You can absolutely use a Ring doorbell as a security camera. However, it doesn’t mean that you should. Ring doorbells are one kind of security unit that amplifies your home safety. It’s a cloud-based unit that records and sends the video to your account. 

There are some upsides and downsides to using a Ring doorbell as your security camera. In some aspects, this can be the best solution you can get. Let’s see how. 

Why You Should Use Ring Doorbell As A Security Camera

If you already have the doorbell installed in your home and you don’t want to spend any money on another device, you can use it as a camera. It will certainly boost your home security and allow you to prevent intruders from getting into the house.

The way it works is quite impressive too. The camera on the doorbell can detect motion and send notifications to your smartphone. You can then see and interact using your device. 

Another thing this doorbell is really great for is that some insurance companies will consider this as home security. If you already have a device installed on your door, Ring has a manual guide on how to get professional monitoring certificate for your insurance company. 

You can also download the videos from the cloud and keep them on your phone. The battery-powered Ring doorbells are also very convenient to install and use. All in all, if you’ve installed a doorbell from Ring, it can be a security camera for you as well. 

In case you’re wondering about the capability of a Ring doorbell, you can check our article on how far can a Ring doorbell see.

When You Shouldn’t Use Ring Doorbell As A Security Camera

If you want to purchase several Ring doorbells with the sole purpose of using them as security cameras, we wouldn’t recommend you do so. There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t consider purchasing additional Ring doorbells to use them as cameras. 

The primary reason why you shouldn’t do it is the quality of the camera. The video quality is not as good as you want your security camera to be. Even though people may consider the devices due to inexpensiveness and wireless features, it’s not the ideal option. 

If the doorbell was an ideal security camera, Ring wouldn’t have introduced another product only for camera purposes. The Ring Spotlight Cam is battery-powered and comes with high-quality footage. Moving towards a more affordable option, the Kasa Indoor Security Camera is also a great choice for a security camera. 

One particular downside that many people don’t like about the ring devices is no backup to local storage. If you are not using the paid plan, which allows you to access recorded videos on the cloud, the device is a mere doorbell with a camera. It does not record videos and keeps them stored. 

Even with the paid plan, you will need an internet connection to keep the recorded data uploaded to the cloud. The cloud erases the videos after a certain time. If you want to keep them, you will have to download them manually and keep them on local storage. 

Since the devices are connected via Wi-Fi, intruders can mess with them using Wi-Fi jammers. You can read more about it in our article- can burglars disable Ring doorbell?

One user asked for suggestions on a forum about purchasing multiple Ring doorbells to use as security cameras. While this may sound like an inexpensive idea to boost home security, it’s not a perfect one. 

The first drawback of this plan is the quality of the footage. If you’re not getting good-quality footage, there’s no use in using multiple cameras for security. The second drawback is that these doorbells will detect the slightest motion and send a notification to your phone. So, with multiple doorbells, you will get continuous notifications that you don’t need. 

This can get annoying instead of providing valuable input to your home security. If you’re intrigued by the inexpensiveness of the doorbells, you can try other cameras that offer high-quality footage but come within an affordable price range. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do Ring video doorbells work without Wi-Fi? 

No, they do not. The video doorbells are entirely dependent on the Wi-Fi system. A Wi-Fi connection is mandatory to connect the unit to the device and keep the recorded footage uploaded to the cloud.

Some devices can work without the Wi-Fi because they are wired devices. However, you will still need to connect those devices to the internet using the wires. 

Q. Do I need a Ring Protect Plan? 

You will still be able to use a Ring device without the Protect Plan. However, the features and benefits will be limited. The product will offer you a live video feed, two-way interaction, and motion detection notifications. 

With the Protect Plan, you can enjoy recorded videos, extended warranties, discounts on specific products, etc. 

Final Words

So can you use a Ring doorbell as a security camera? According to my research and finding, the answer is yes, you can. If you have installed a doorbell and want to use it as a security measure, go for it. However, if you want to get the doorbell to use as a security camera, it’s not recommended. 

There are better options you can get that won’t cost you a fortune to deliver high-quality footage and more efficient features.