Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
I looked into this about 7 years ago. I wasn’t looking for a high-end, DIY system that some here suggest. I wanted something simple, reliable, and affordable.
I went with SimpliSafe after comparing it to Nest, Ring, and others. I also considered Adobe, but it was too new at the time. SimpliSafe isn’t perfect, but it’s an easy solution like Ring if that’s what you’re after, though the cameras aren’t great.
I mainly wanted just one camera for video verification during an alarm, and for the rest, I used a separate system. I had a Nest cam already, and I added TP-Link’s Tapo cameras to save money. My kid was just starting to walk, so I needed a few more cameras to watch different areas.
I also got SimpliSafe’s smart lock for the garage, but after 3 years, I had to replace it (luckily it was free). Overall, SimpliSafe’s sensors and system work well for basic security, especially in a safer neighborhood.
Ring isn’t well-made. The features and tamper protections don’t match other products, and it’s not ul-listed, which some insurance companies won’t accept. It also can’t support life safety devices (there’s even a disclaimer that says, ‘THIS IS NOT A LIFE SAFETY DEVICE’).
On top of that, Amazon has been caught sharing Ring subscriber data without consent over the past few years, which is a big concern for me.
The hardware quality isn’t as good, security isn’t strong, and their monitoring station is unreliable. The devices can be jammed easily, and the system itself is basic.
The monthly fee isn’t crazy, but it’s not super cheap either. $20 a month plus tax. My IP monitoring is $26.54 a month (about $30 with tax), and our system is way better.
Ring works fine, but compared to other systems, it’s not great.
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
Aydin said:
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
Why don’t you like doorbell cameras? I’m curious.
Aydin said:
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
I get what you mean about unplanned visitors. I also hate when people ignore my ‘no solicitation’ sign. If it’s someone I know, they should respect my space. I don’t even like getting unexpected phone calls.
But I love my doorbell camera. I have an Aosu. It helps me see who’s there without having to open the door, and I feel more secure.
Aydin said:
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
I get what you mean about unplanned visitors. I also hate when people ignore my ‘no solicitation’ sign. If it’s someone I know, they should respect my space. I don’t even like getting unexpected phone calls.
But I love my doorbell camera. I have an Aosu. It helps me see who’s there without having to open the door, and I feel more secure.
This sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.
Edit: Is it hard to install?
Davi said:
Aydin said:
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
I get what you mean about unplanned visitors. I also hate when people ignore my ‘no solicitation’ sign. If it’s someone I know, they should respect my space. I don’t even like getting unexpected phone calls.
But I love my doorbell camera. I have an Aosu. It helps me see who’s there without having to open the door, and I feel more secure.
This sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.
Edit: Is it hard to install?
Not hard at all. There are just three pieces: the unit, a mounting bracket, and the receiver.
You download the free app, scan the code on the doorbell and receiver, then remove your old doorbell but leave the wires. You attach the bracket over the wires and connect the new video doorbell. The doorbell snaps into the bracket. Then, you just plug the receiver inside your house, and you’re done.
If you don’t have wires, it can run on its internal battery, but you’d need to charge it after a few months. I have mine wired, so I’m not sure how long the battery lasts, but it’s supposed to go for 3+ months.
Aydin said:
Davi said:
Aydin said:
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
I get what you mean about unplanned visitors. I also hate when people ignore my ‘no solicitation’ sign. If it’s someone I know, they should respect my space. I don’t even like getting unexpected phone calls.
But I love my doorbell camera. I have an Aosu. It helps me see who’s there without having to open the door, and I feel more secure.
This sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.
Edit: Is it hard to install?
Not hard at all. There are just three pieces: the unit, a mounting bracket, and the receiver.
You download the free app, scan the code on the doorbell and receiver, then remove your old doorbell but leave the wires. You attach the bracket over the wires and connect the new video doorbell. The doorbell snaps into the bracket. Then, you just plug the receiver inside your house, and you’re done.
If you don’t have wires, it can run on its internal battery, but you’d need to charge it after a few months. I have mine wired, so I’m not sure how long the battery lasts, but it’s supposed to go for 3+ months.
Thanks!
Davi said:
Aydin said:
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
I get what you mean about unplanned visitors. I also hate when people ignore my ‘no solicitation’ sign. If it’s someone I know, they should respect my space. I don’t even like getting unexpected phone calls.
But I love my doorbell camera. I have an Aosu. It helps me see who’s there without having to open the door, and I feel more secure.
This sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.
Edit: Is it hard to install?
The one I got is the AOSU Doorbell Camera Wireless, 5MP Ultra HD, No Monthly Fee, 2.4/5 GHz WiFi Video Doorbell with Homebase, Battery/Wired Powered, and works with Alexa & Google Assistant. It’s on sale for $118 on Amazon.
Edit: A cool feature is that it gives rich notifications. That means I can see a picture of who triggered the alert right in the notification without opening the app. Super convenient.
Aydin said:
Davi said:
Aydin said:
Besides what others have said, I really dislike doorbells. I will never install a Ring or any other doorbell. If I’m not expecting anyone, I won’t answer the door.
I get what you mean about unplanned visitors. I also hate when people ignore my ‘no solicitation’ sign. If it’s someone I know, they should respect my space. I don’t even like getting unexpected phone calls.
But I love my doorbell camera. I have an Aosu. It helps me see who’s there without having to open the door, and I feel more secure.
This sounds interesting. I’ll check it out.
Edit: Is it hard to install?
The one I got is the AOSU Doorbell Camera Wireless, 5MP Ultra HD, No Monthly Fee, 2.4/5 GHz WiFi Video Doorbell with Homebase, Battery/Wired Powered, and works with Alexa & Google Assistant. It’s on sale for $118 on Amazon.
Edit: A cool feature is that it gives rich notifications. That means I can see a picture of who triggered the alert right in the notification without opening the app. Super convenient.
Thanks!
I remember watching a video about Ring’s pros and cons. But Ring at one point had their videos on unencrypted servers in Ukraine. They don’t do that anymore, but that’s just one example of how they cut costs.
On the monitoring side, they have only two centers (as of 2022), and one is in Rochester, NY. ADT has a center there too, and sometimes workers can’t make it in, which affects calls. That worries me since it means they may not be able to call you or the police during power outages.
Ring probably has policies to handle these issues, but they have enough cons for me not to recommend it. And their equipment isn’t the best either.
HomeGaurd101 said:
Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
It’s not great, and there are ongoing costs. There are other alarm systems you can buy that don’t require subscriptions and work just as well.
HomeGaurd101 said:
Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
It’s not great, and there are ongoing costs. There are other alarm systems you can buy that don’t require subscriptions and work just as well.
Any suggestions?
BookwormBard said:
HomeGaurd101 said:
Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
It’s not great, and there are ongoing costs. There are other alarm systems you can buy that don’t require subscriptions and work just as well.
Any suggestions?
Eufy.
Evangeline said:
BookwormBard said:
HomeGaurd101 said:
Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
It’s not great, and there are ongoing costs. There are other alarm systems you can buy that don’t require subscriptions and work just as well.
Any suggestions?
Eufy.
I checked out the Eufy system, but it didn’t seem as polished as Ring or the other ones. I do have their wireless cameras, though, and they work pretty well.
HomeGaurd101 said:
Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
I use Ring, and I like it. It’s easy to use, and even though I have a more advanced system at work, Ring has more accessories and is easier to set up.
It’s also cheap and has battery and cell backup.
HomeGaurd101 said:
Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
If their alarm system is anything like their cameras, it’s terrible. It misses a lot of important events and sometimes stops working randomly. When it does work, the clips are too short, so it doesn’t catch everything.
HomeGaurd101 said:
Why do people choose other alarm systems instead of Ring? It seems cheaper, especially with the equipment cost, monthly fees, and no cancellation fees. What am I missing?
I work as an IT contractor, which includes network security. One of the main issues with these devices is that they’re too easy to hack once they’re accessible online. Most consumer-grade security products, and even many business ones, have weak security. It’s like relying on a door being shut to keep the bad guys out.
I use a resource to monitor security breaches, and it shows over 8,600 compromised devices in the US alone.