Ring UK Review
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Ring Alarm UK offers the lowest video fees and customizable packages perfect for the DIYer. Its solar, wired and wireless options give you flexibility on how and where you install it too. And monitoring is completely controlled by you.
Ring isn’t a remote signaling system and doesn’t provide professional monitoring. If you’d like a system with professional monitoring, which we usually recommend, take a look at our top security picks.
Affordable equipment and plans DIY installation Alexa, IFTTT and Z-Wave compatibility No contracts Solar, wired and wireless power options
No professional monitoring No Google or Apple compatibilityRing cost
Ring Alarm UK’s systems range from £219.00 to £441.00. Package prices and individual equipment costs are right in line with most of its competitors, including SimpliSafe and Abode.
Packages include the same base components:
- Ring alarm base station
- Keypad
- Contact sensor
- Motion sensor
- Range extender
Ring alarm security system packages range from a five-piece Ring alarm kit and go up to a 13-piece kit. The bigger the kit, the more contact or motion sensors. You can also add a Ring Indoor Cam, outdoor siren or both to packages.
Compare Ring monthly costs
|
Monthly cost
|
Video saving and sharing
|
Assisted monitoring
|
Cellular backup
|
Warranty coverage
|
Learn More
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | £0.00 |
 No |
No |
No |
1 year | View Packages |
| Basic | £2.50/month, £24.99/year |
 Yes |
No |
No |
1 year | View Packages |
| Plus | £8/month, £80/year |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Lifetime | View Packages |
Info current as of 04/08/21 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Ring Alarm offers three monitoring packages. The free package gives you what you would expect: very little. You can watch live footage from your security cameras and get motion notifications. But you won’t be able to save or share video footage unless you step up to the Basic or Plus monitoring packages.
We tried going with just the free package, but it has an insurmountable drawback. When an intruder came into our house, the Ring camera didn’t save any footage of them, so we had nothing to show the authorities. We upgraded our plan to Plus that same day.
Is Ring right for you?
Ring Alarm UK is an easy-peasy, affordable way to add security and convenience to your home. It’s for folks that want to know when their moppets get home, or how their pets are doing without worrying their alarm will call the police with a false alarm.
Another boon is that Ring security cameras and lights have solar, wired and wireless power options to meet your home’s needs. Our favourite is solar—an Earth-friendly option. And it’s ideal if you can’t wire your equipment or don’t want to charge the batteries on cameras and lights.
If you want a police call system, though, you will want to go with one of our other top security picks since Ring only has self-monitoring or assisted-monitoring options.
Ring alarm systems don’t ring the authorities or an alarm receiving center. When something is amiss, they ring up to three emergency contacts. A contact can be yourself, mates, a trusted neighbor or a family member. This unique monitoring ability, called assisted monitoring, is only available with the Plus monitoring package. Without it, monitoring is DIY.
How Ring compares to other home alarm companies
The major difference between Ring Alarm UK and other security companies is its monitoring. While other companies offer full monitoring services, you’re mostly on your own with Ring. We wish it had a professional monitoring option like the others. In emergency situations, time is of the essence. Ring calling a contact so they can call the authorities seems like a time suck.
Ring is a better budget pick, though. It’s the most affordable DIY option out of the top UK security brands with a low monthly and base package price.
|
Brand
|
Lowest monitoring price
|
Starter equipment price
|
Contract
|
Installation
|
Learn More
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
£2.50/month | £219.00 |
No |
DIY | View on Amazon |
 |
£12.99/month | £233.98 |
No |
DIY | View packages |
 |
£38.99/month | £99 |
Yes |
Pro | View packages |
 |
Quote required | Quote required |
Yes |
Pro | View packages |
 |
£3.59/month | £275.99 |
No |
DIY | View packages |
Info current as of 04/08/21 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Ring contracts and warranties
Unlike ADT and Verisure, Ring has no contracts. You can come and go as you please, but this does mean you’ll need to pay for all of the equipment up front.
The warranty covers one year on all devices unless you sign up for Ring Protect Plus. Ring Protect Plus gives you a lifetime warranty on all Ring devices.
One of Ring’s major competitors, Verisure, offers its customers free lifetime protection. The only catch with Verisure home alarm systems is you must sign a three-year contract.
Ring video
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Ring equipment and fees
The great thing about Ring is you can start as small as you like. No need to buy a full alarm system. You can start off with a security camera and then purchase the home alarm system, or you can purchase a package right away.
Let’s compare some of our favourite packages.
Compare Ring packages
|
Package
|
Equipment price
|
Equipment
|
What’s special
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Piece Kit | £267.00 |  |
Perfect starter kit | View on Amazon |
| 11 Piece Kit | £389.00 |  |
Includes siren and indoor security camera | View on Amazon |
| 13 Piece Kit | £441.00 |  |
Perfect for larger homes | View on Amazon |
From there, you can upgrade your alarm system by adding on other Ring products:
While Ring is heavy on security cameras, it’s missing other important equipment like water leak sensors, smart locks and temperature sensors. It also doesn’t offer the Ring Alarm Smoke & CO Listener or Ring Yard Lights, which are available in the US.
Our Ring US equipment and compatibility page has more information on how to build your system and which non-Ring devices are compatible with Ring home security systems.
Ring smart home features and compatibility
Google Assistant and Apple fans may be gutted to hear that Ring is only compatible with Alexa and Z-Wave. If you have a smart device that uses Alexa or Z-Wave, though, you can do some pretty nifty stuff:
- Have your thermostat automatically lower when you arm your system as you leave.
- Set your lights to automatically come on when the cameras sense someone at the door.
- Make your coffee pot switch on when the security system senses movement first thing in the morning.
- Have your smart speakers come on when you arrive home.
- Set the doors to lock as soon as the system is switched to Away mode.
You can also control your security system through the Ring app. We found the Ring app easy to navigate, which isn’t the case with all security apps.
We talk more about Ring-compatible products in our US Ring equipment and compatibility page.
Could we get some screenshots of the app here (and is it different from the US app?)
From what I've seen on their site, the app is exactly the same.
Amazon Alexa
Ring is owned by Amazon, so its Alexa-device compatibility is no surprise. You can use Amazon Echo Show to view video footage or interact with people around your cameras. Alexa will also turn Ring security lights on and off, arm and disarm your system and announce when someone is at the door.
If you have a Ring doorbell installed, your Alexa devices will act as a doorbell chime. Connected devices will announce someone is at the door when the doorbell is pressed.
Ring customer service and support
Ring customer service can be reached at +44 0808 196 5767. There’s no live-chat service, which is a let down. Ringing up customer support every time you have a question is a bother. Its support page will get most of your questions answered if you’re willing to search, though.
The feelings about Ring Alarm UK customer service are a mixed bag. Some customers found the support helpful and quick. Others never got their questions answered at all.
Final word
Ring Alarm is ideal if you want an alternative to systems with alarm receiving centers. Its DIY setup gives you freedom in how you handle what happens when trouble’s afoot. You’ll love it if you just want to keep an eye on your home and automate it using Alexa or Z-Wave.
How we reviewed Ring
To create our Ring Alarm UK review, we scoured hundreds of customer reviews, tested Ring products hands-on in real homes, and clocked dozens of hours researching the company. We evaluated the home security system using more than 20 years of safety and security experience.
To learn more about how we review products and services, take a look at our Safewise methodology page.
Ring FAQ
Yes, Ring supplies cellular backup with the Ring Protect Plus subscription. Read our FAQ to learn more about what happens to your Ring system when the Wi-Fi is down.
Ring became available in the UK in April 2021.
The alarm keypad batteries will last six to nine months before it needs to be charged.
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