I just bought the Ring doorbell, a spotlight camera, and a flood camera for the garage. I really dislike the idea of paying for a subscription. Are my cameras useless without one? Is the subscription per camera? What are my options if I don’t want to subscribe?
These are questions you probably should have asked before buying them.
Yes, you’ll need a subscription to access recorded footage. Without it, you can only view live footage. If you have two or more cameras, the subscription price is the same for all cameras at one location.
So it’s just for past footage. I assume I can still get alerts on my phone when someone approaches or rings the doorbell, right? I’m not too concerned about past footage. If I really need it, I could just download it. I’m still not seeing the value in the subscription.
@Herbert
No, you won’t be able to download previous footage without a subscription. For example, if your phone isn’t in your hand when the doorbell rings, you won’t be able to see what happened even seconds before you grabbed your phone. Without a subscription, you can only view live footage in real time.
We use the subscription for six cameras on two properties, and it’s worth it if you have multiple cameras.
Without a subscription, you’re limited to live footage only. Recording and accessing saved footage require a subscription. It’s $100 a year for two or more cameras. You should have a free trial period, but next time, I’d suggest reading about these details before purchasing.