Ring to Put Basic Security Features Behind a Paywall

Amazon’s Ring is set to paywall previously free features, such as the ability to watch a video doorbell’s live feed from the app.

On a support page(Opens in a new window), the smart doorbell maker also says customers who buy a Ring Alarm on or after March 29 must have a Ring Protect subscription for various features that were previously free. Those that already own a Ring Alarm system or who buy one before March 29 are unaffected and will have access to the features without a subscription “for the expected life of the device.”

Features that are being paywalled include real-time app and email notifications, the ability to connect cameras and doorbells to the Alarm system, and 60 days of Alarm event history. Free users will now get just 24 hours of event history.

In addition, arming or disarming the alarm system from the Ring app or an Alexa-enabled device will become a paywalled feature. Free users will have to make do with the Ring Keypad to turn their alarm off or on. 

Ring Protect plans begin at $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year, after a June 2022 price hike. Its Plus and Pro plans start at $10 and $20 per month, respectively.

As The Verge notes(Opens in a new window), none of Ring’s competitors in the smart doorbell market charge for the ability to check on your alarm system or arm and disarm it from the app. 

Earlier this week, Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff announced(Opens in a new window) he’s stepping down from the helm of the Amazon subsidiary. In a blog post(Opens in a new window), Simimoff, who is taking on the role of Chief Inventor, wrote: “Invention is my true passion. I am constantly looking at how we can adapt to deliver for our neighbors, which is what we’ve always called our customers.”