Are you looking to upgrade your home‘s security with a smart doorbell camera? If so, you‘re likely eyeing the two big brands in this market – Blink and Ring. Both companies make affordable, feature-packed doorbell cameras perfect for keeping an eye on your entryway. But should you go with Blink or Ring?
In this comprehensive comparison guide, we‘ll examine the key differences between Blink and Ring doorbell cameras across all the factors you should consider:
- Video quality
- Installation process
- Smart home integration
- Alerts and monitoring
- Mobile app platforms
- Subscription plans
- Pricing and cost breakdown
By evaluating these brands side-by-side, you‘ll learn the pros and cons of each to decide whether a Blink or Ring doorbell camera is the best choice for your needs and budget. Let‘s dive in!
Overview of Blink and Ring Doorbell Cameras
Before looking at specific models, here‘s a high-level introduction to what Blink and Ring offer:
Blink – Founded in 2009, Blink was acquired by Amazon in 2017. Blink makes wireless battery-powered indoor and outdoor security cameras, including video doorbell cameras. Their doorbells offer 1080p HD video, infrared night vision, two-way audio, motion alerts, and free cloud storage.
Ring – Acquired by Amazon in 2018, Ring started in 2013. Ring offers indoor and outdoor doorbell cameras in battery, wired, and solar-powered options. Ring doorbells also stream 1080p video with night vision, two-way talk, and customizable motion zones. Ring offers self-monitoring and professional monitoring services.
Now that you‘re familiar with the basics, let‘s explore how Blink and Ring doorbell cameras stack up in greater detail.
Image and Video Quality
Crisp, high-quality video is one of the top priorities for any security camera. You want the ability to clearly see people‘s faces, packages, cars, and anything happening on your property.
When it comes to video resolution, Blink and Ring are on par – both offer 1080p HD recording. 1080p means the camera captures footage at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. This providessharply detailed video quality.
However, there are some differences when it comes to night vision capabilities:
- Blink relies on infrared night vision to see up to 30 feet in black and white after dark.
- Ring also uses infrared but higher-end models like the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 and Ring Video Doorbell Elite boost night vision with color night vision and pre-roll features. This allows you to see events in full color even at night.
According to security industry experts, the enhanced night vision capabilities of premium Ring cameras give them an edge over Blink in terms of low-light video quality. But both produce excellent high-def footage during the daytime and in well-lit environments.
Installation and Power Options
How you install and power your video doorbell is also an important consideration. You want something convenient and adapted to your home‘s setup.
The Blink doorbell camera runs entirely on two replaceable AA lithium batteries. This makes installing the Blink very simple — you just mount the camera bracket on your door frame without having to connect any wires. A couple of AA batteries provide power for up to 2 years.
Ring offers three power options:
- Battery-powered – Entry-level Ring cameras use a rechargeable battery pack. No wiring required but the battery must be charged periodically.
- Wired – Higher-end Rings connect directly to your existing doorbell wires for continuous power. More complex installation but no battery maintenance.
- Solar – Add-on solar panels charge the battery by harvesting solar energy during the day. Lets you wire the camera while still using the rechargeable battery.
Blink keeps installation straightforward with only battery-powered units. But Ring gives you more flexibility based on your home‘s setup. Both are relatively easy to install yourself. Ring just provides more choices for how the camera is powered.
Smart Home Integration
Can you connect your smart doorbell camera with other devices and platforms throughout your home? Integration is key for taking advantage of all your home tech in one connected ecosystem.
Being owned by Amazon, Ring offers broad compatibility with Alexa devices. You can pull up live camera feeds, announcements, and alerts on any Alexa smart display or Echo Show. Ring also partners directly with leading smart home platforms:
- Google Assistant
- Samsung SmartThings
- IFTTT
- Philips Hue
- ecobee
- Wink
This allows you to incorporate Ring with hundreds of other devices and services.
Blink, on the other hand, has limited integration beyond Alexa. You can view the Blink feed on Echo Shows and leverage Alexa voice controls. But Blink does not natively work with other major smart home platforms at this time.
If you want your smart doorbell integrated seamlessly with the rest of your home‘s tech, Ring is the clear winner here.
Monitoring and Alerts
Both brands provide motion alerts directly to your smartphone whenever the camera detects activity. This allows you to monitor a live video feed from anywhere in their respective mobile apps.
But Ring goes a step further by offering professional monitoring services. For $20 per month with no contract, you can add Ring Protect Plus monitoring:
- Monitoring team available 24/7 to respond to threats detected by your Ring camera
- They will call your phone and dispatch emergency services if needed
Ring also lets you set monitoring preferences. For example, you can choose to only receive notifications for human motion versus vehicles or animals. This advanced monitoring gives Ring the upper hand in home security.
Blink, on the other hand, is limited to standard motion alerts. There is no option for live monitoring or emergency dispatch services through Blink at this time.
Mobile App Experience
A solid mobile app is how you‘ll configure your doorbell camera, view live feeds, customize settings, and review recorded clips. How do the Blink and Ring apps compare?
The Blink Home Monitor app makes it easy to connect your cameras, customize motion detection, and see live or recorded video streams. However, an important limitation is that the app only stores video recordings for up to 24 hours unless you pay for extended cloud storage.
With the Ring app, you get all of the same useful features as Blink. But Ring provides a few key advantages:
- Integrated alarm monitoring and controls if you have a Ring Alarm system
- Unlimited video storage in the cloud for recorded clips
- Filter motion alerts intelligently by type of activity
- Shared Users feature to grant access to family and friends
The integration with other Ring security products and unlimited, free video storage give the Ring app an edge over Blink‘s platform. But both provide an intuitive interface and experience overall.
Subscription Plans
What about subscription plans? Here is an overview of what Blink and Ring offer to extend features and storage for a monthly fee:
Blink subscription tiers:
- Basic – $3/month per camera. Extends video clip storage to 30 days. Adds custom activity zones.
- Plus – $10/month per camera. Boosts video history to 60 days. Unlocks advanced features like facial recognition.
Ring subscription tiers:
- Protect Basic – $3/month per device. Adds 60 days of video storage and sharing tools.
- Protect Plus – $10/month. Includes 24/7 professional monitoring, 1-year video storage, and product discounts.
The subscription prices align closely between the two brands. However, Ring still stands out by providing unlimited recording storage on all devices for free. But both Blink and Ring offer paid plans to enhance storage and unlock premium features.
Cost Comparison
Let‘s break down the starter costs for a single doorbell camera with each system:
Blink:
- Blink Video Doorbell – $49.99
- Blink Sync Module 2 – $34.99
Total: $84.98
This covers the essentials including the camera, WiFi bridge/sync module, mounting kit, and free basic features.
Ring:
- Ring Video Doorbell Wired – $64.99
- Ring Chime – $29.99
Total: $94.98
The Ring bundle includes the wired camera, WiFi extender, mounting kit, chime accessory, and free monitoring features.
At the entry-level, Ring has about a $10 higher upfront cost. But you get wider compatibility, unlimited video storage, optional monitoring, and more all included. This small premium makes Ring the better value overall for just a bit more money up front.
Blink vs. Ring: Key Differences and Verdict
Now that we‘ve explored both brands in-depth, let‘s recap the key differences between Blink and Ring:
- Video Quality – Very similar HD resolution. Ring has enhanced night vision.
- Installation – Blink uses removable batteries. Ring offers battery, wired, or solar power.
- Smart Home – Ring integrates with Alexa, Google, and more. Blink only works with Alexa.
- Monitoring – Ring provides live professional monitoring, Blink is self-monitoring only.
- Storage – Ring offers unlimited video storage free vs. Blink‘s 24-hour limit.
- App Features – Ring app has more robust tools, controls, and unlimited storage.
- Cost – Ring costs $10-15 more upfront but includes wider functionality.
In this head-to-head comparison, Ring comes out as the winner thanks to better integration, monitoring, storage, and features compared to Blink. Ring offers more advanced capabilities for just a small premium in upfront cost.
However, Blink remains a solid budget-friendly option if you want inexpensive battery-powered setup and don‘t need expansive features. But for most households, Ring is worth the minor extra investment for a full-service smart security camera with all the bells and whistles.
Hopefully this detailed evaluation of Blink vs Ring doorbell cameras gives you clarity on which solution best meets your needs and priorities! Let me know if you have any other questions.