Ring doorbell owners are slamming a 'disgusting' subscription price hike coming in WEEKS
AMAZON-owned Ring has increased the cost of its subscription, which customers called “totally disgusting” and “outrageous.”
The number of tech subscriptions has increased across the board in recent years, including Google Nest and Arlo among the competing home security platforms.
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An email from Ring warned that from March 11, customers will be charged £4.99/$4.99 per month or £49.99/$49.99 per year for a Basic Ring subscription.
That's an increase of £1.50/$1 per month or £15/$10 per year.
“For new and existing Ring Protect Basic subscribers, the new price will apply to your first renewal date on or after March 11, 2024,” the company said in its announcement.
Ring increased prices last year, when the basic subscription cost rose from £2.49/$2.99 to £3.49/$3.99 per month – or £24.99, $29.99 to £34.99 /$39.99 per year.
Unlike previous price increases, subscribers will not receive any new features in return.
“Less than 18 months ago the price for the @ring the doorbell subscription cost £24.99 per year. Then it went to £34.99 per year and today it is announced it will be £49.99 per year,” said one customer. complained on X (formerly Twitter).
'That is absolutely scandalous. You pay good money for the hardware and then this?'
Another tweeted: “€35.99 to €50 per year! WTF? A 43 percent price increase for a basic subscription?
'There can be no other acceptable justification for this rip-off than greed and disregard for your customers.
'Then that's a farewell to me. Totally disgusting.'
A third person added: “If @ring_uk thinks people want to keep a plan with a 43 percent price increase, they must be crazy.
“Great job destroying your subscriber base! #ring #PriceHikeDisaster.”
Customers who cancel their Ring Protect subscription will no longer be able to save, view, and share video recordings from their Ring devices to their Ring account.
All recorded videos are permanently deleted from the Ring cloud.
If you want to save videos, you must download them before canceling your Ring Protect subscription.
Ring has more information on how to download your footage here – however, there may be a free solution if you have a newer smartphone.
In recent years, customers have had to swallow price increase after price increase on their favorite subscriptions – such as Netflix and Disney+.
Now many are looking for home security alternatives to Ring.
Home security alternatives to Ring
There are a handful of good alternatives to Ring that share similar features, but they aren't always cheaper.
Arlo Safe
- The basic plan costs £2.79/$4.99 per month for a single camera or £8.99/$9.99 for unlimited cameras for 30 days of video storage, improved motion detection and a promise to replace your camera if this occurs is stolen.
- The Secure Plus plan costs £12.99/$17.99 per month for unlimited cameras and extends storage for up to 60 days.
Eufy cloud storage
- Eufy's basic plan offers 30 days of storage for £2.46/$2.99 per month for one device.
- The Premier Plan covers up to 10 devices for £7.49/$9.99 per month.
Google Nest Aware
- The basic level of Nest Aware gives you 30 days of video storage for £6/$8 per month or £60/$80 per year after last month's price increase.
- Nest Aware Plus extends that to 60 days of event video storage and also gives you 10 days of constant 24/7 video recording for £12/$15 per month or £120/$150 per year.
Ezviz Cloudplay
- With the Standard plan you get just seven days of video history for one camera/doorbell for £2.49/$3.99 per month, or four devices for £7.49/$5.99 per month.
- The Elite plan offers 30 days of video history for one camera for £9.99/$6.99 per month or £14.99/$10.99 per month for four cameras.