Ring to Add 24/7 Recording to Stick Up and Indoor Cams Next Month

Ring, a smart home security company, has announced the introduction of 24/7 continuous video recording (CVR) for its security cameras. This new feature will enable cameras to record continuously rather than solely based on motion detection, which is the current operation mode of Ring’s cameras and video doorbells.

The 24/7 recording function is included in a revamp of the company’s subscription plan, now renamed Ring Home from Ring Protect. This feature will be available through the Ring Home Premium tier, formerly known as Ring Protect Pro, priced at $19.99 per month. This tier includes cloud storage for CVR on up to ten cameras, as well as event-activated recording and other features. In addition, three new capabilities – doorbell calling, video preview alerts, and extended live view – will be rolled out. These features are expected to be available nationwide by November 5th.

At its launch, the CVR function will be compatible with four wired cameras: the Stick Up Cam and Stick Up Cam Pro, the Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), and the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam. Currently, it is not available for any wired doorbells, but Ring has indicated that more devices will become compatible soon.

Comparatively, Ring’s 24/7 recording service is more expensive than similar options from competitors such as Google Nest and Arlo. Google Nest offers continuous recording at $15 per month for an unlimited number of wired doorbells and cameras, while Arlo charges an additional fee of $9.99 per camera on top of a base plan starting at $7.99. Additionally, Nest and Arlo provide more advanced detection features like facial recognition and pet and vehicle detection. Ring, however, only offers person and package detection. Despite this, the ability to access a continuous 24/7 timeline of footage is a feature that has been highly requested by Ring users.

The cost for Ring’s new subscription plans remains the same as the previous Ring Protect plans. However, professional monitoring of the Ring Alarm system, which was previously included in the top-tier plan, is now an optional $10 per month add-on for both standard and premium plans. Hence, those using Ring Alarm with professional monitoring and the CVR features will have a monthly cost of $30 instead of $20.

Ring Home Basic, which includes event-based recording for one camera, is priced at $4.99 per month, and Ring Home Standard, covering multiple cameras, costs $9.99 per month. The $19.99 Premium tier, which includes CVR, also offers local storage of video footage with a Ring Alarm Pro, cellular backup internet for an Eero Wi-Fi system, and an Eero Secure subscription, although these benefits are mainly useful for users of Ring Alarm and Eero.

In addition to CVR, the new features introduced for Ring subscribers include:

1. Doorbell Calling: This feature transforms doorbell notifications into phone calls, providing a full-screen call instead of a standard notification, which allows users to see and speak to visitors through live view.

2. Video Preview Alerts: This enhancement delivers a video clip with the notification when a camera is triggered, offering more context before opening the app. Previously, only snapshots were sent.

3. Extended and Continuous Live View: Users can watch livestreams from any current Ring camera for up to 30 minutes, increased from the previous limit of 10 minutes. Premium plan subscribers can access continuous live views without a specified time limit.

These new features will be available across different tiers of Ring’s subscription plans, with video preview alerts accessible to all subscribers. The extended live view requires the Ring Home Standard plan, continuous live view requires the Premium plan, and doorbell calls are available on the Standard and Premium plans.

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