Amazon and Google are the titans of home automation, with Alexa and Google Home leading the way in AI-enabled smart products on the market today. Their sub-ecosystems – Ring and Nest respectively – offer end users robust and affordable options for automated home security that integrates with products such as lighting, garage door openers, thermostats and more. In this comparison article, the Ring and Nest ecosystems go head-to-head, presenting you with an opportunity to consider which is best for your smart home needs.
Our First Contender: The Ring Ecosystem
The Ring was first introduced to the smart home arena with their original video doorbell in 2014. The device was born of necessity – its Chief Inventor, Jamie Siminoff, tired of missing deliveries because the doorbell was inaudible from his garage. Desiring a doorbell he could control from his phone, and finding no such thing existed at the time, he decided to create one. The result was the first Ring Video Doorbell, which his wife Erin called “caller ID for your door.” An apropos assessment, Erin.
This flagship device laid the groundwork for their next generation of doorbells, which added features and benefits, and a growing line of products to secure your smart home. The app itself is one of Ring’s finest achievements (along with being a pioneer in smart video doorbell tech), with many of their customers using it to control other integrated products around their smart home, rather than fiddle with a dozen product apps, or even bothering with AI. Ring has also partnered with other brands to bring even more sophistication to their line – but more on that later.
What Ring Brings to the Arena
Ring offers a ton of options to build out your security, from bundled security systems to build-it-yourself, piece by piece options to truly customize your experience. The choices include more than a complete line of video doorbells and cameras – Ring offers lighting rigs and third-party product integrations as well. With such an extensive line of products, Ring really brings smart security to both the home and businesses, at an affordable price.
There are wireless and wired options available, and some installation can get a bit tricky and require a professional, buy most should be pretty DIY. Their hardware and subscriptions are significantly lower than Nest – but don’t count Google’s ecosystem out yet. They’ve got a lot to offer themselves.
The Products
Ring is, of course, best known for their video doorbells. At this time, there are four wired doorbell options ranging from $99.99 to $349.99. Those are the Video Doorbell Wired, Video Doorbell Pro, Video Doorbell Pro 2, and the Video Doorbell Elite. Most would likely opt for the Video Doorbell Pro 2, which is an impressive option featuring head-to-toe HD+ video (1536p), 3D motion detection, two-way talk with audio+ and quick replies, built-in Alexa Greetings, pre-roll video previews, Customizable privacy settings, package alerts with a subscription, dual band Wi-Fi connectivity, interchangeable faceplate and inbox accessories options, control from the Ring App or Alexa-Enabled Device, and it works with your existing doorbell chime when hardwired. If you don’t have an existing doorbell chime, you can always get a Ring Chime to use with this doorbell.
Their wireless, battery operated video doorbells ranging from $99.99 to $219.99 with the Video Doorbell (2nd Generation), Video Doorbell 3, and Video Doorbell 4. The distinguishing feature of these doorbells are their quick release battery pack for easy charging. Their feature set isn’t as full as their wired counterparts, but they do come with the HD video, two-way-talk, night vision, customizable privacy settings, package alerts and control from the Ring App or Alexa-enabled device.
Their bundled security kits come in 14-piece, 10-piece, 8-piece, and 5-piece bundles with a wide range of accessary options to really build out your home security system. The Ring ecosystem is truly a whole-home solution that delivers many gadgets and affordability. The Ring Alarm Security Kit (5 Piece) comes with a Base Station, Key Pad, one Motion Detector, one Contact Sensor, and one Range Extender, and you can create your system piece by piece however you like.
Ring has several options for cameras, including their Indoor Cam, which is indoor-only, and indoor/outdoor cameras, as well as outdoor security cameras with lights. The Indoor Cam costs a mere $59.99 and offers HD video, two-way-talk, plug-in power, motion-activated notifications (though it may not catch the full range of motion), 1080p HD video and color night vision, and easy installation. The indoor/outdoor camera line includes the Stick Up Cam (battery or solar), Stick Up Cam Elite, and Stick Up Cam Plug-In with Pan-Tilt. These range in price from $99.99 to $199.99. The outdoor security cameras with lights include the new Spotlight Cam Plus ($199.99) and Spotlight Cam Pro ($229.99), the Floodlight Cam Plus ($199.99) and Floodlight Cam Pro ($249.99).
Speaking of lights, Ring has them. To complement your Ring system, you can get Pathlights (solar $34.99 or battery $29.99), Floodlight (solar $89.99, wired $69.99 or battery $49.99), Spotlights (battery $39.99), Steplights (battery $29.99), Wall Light Solar ($59.99) – these are all for outdoor. Their Smart Bridge ($49.99) is required for grouping your smart lights together, and to receive motion notifications when detected.
On that note, Motion Sensors cost $24.99. Linked to the Ring Bridge, these activate connected Ring lights, cameras, and doorbells when they detect motion. There is a Mailbox Sensor as well, which has a nifty little Ring sign attached, and does the same thing, for just four dollars more. Ring also has a bundle with the Mailbox Sensor and Bridge for $49.99, so if you get that, the Mailbox Sensor is basically free.
If you have any outdoor smart lights that are not by Ring, they have a Transformer for $99.99 that allows you to connect to your Ring system. That’s handy if you already have a landscape decked out in smart products, or really love pieces you’ve already got – say, colored lighting? Always a fan. There’s a deal on this, too, for the Transformer and Ring Bridge for $119.99.
The $29.99 Outdoor Smart Plug allows you to power up your dumb lights – like holiday lights, or patio lights – and control them with the Ring app. That’s handy. It also syncs with your other Ring products like doorbells, cameras, lighting and Alexa-enabled devices.
The final piece in the lighting arsenal is an A19 Smart LED bulb, which can be used as indoor or outdoor. The 800 lumen light requires a Ring Bridge. It’s $14.99 on its own, or there’s a 2-pack deal with a Ring Bridge for $59.99. This bulb will sync with doorbells, cameras and select Alexa-enabled devices.
There is also the newly-upgraded Ring Access Controller Pro. This allows Amazon key access to gated driveways and walk-through gates, allowing integrators to provide a solution that makes your life that much easier. It is recommended that this product be installed by a professional. Ring has also partnered with a certain brand to make the casings blend in seamlessly with your home’s aesthetic.
Subscriptions
Ring Protect Basic
Price: $3.99/month, $39.99/year
- Save, download, share recorded videos from Ring account
- 10% off purchases of select Ring products on Ring.com and Amazon.com
Ring Protect Plus
Price: $10/month, $100/year
- Video recording for all doorbells and security cameras in your home
- Extended warranty
- 10% off purchases of select Ring products on Ring.com and Amazon.com
- Save $20 with annual subscription purchase
Ring Protect Pro
Price: $20/month, $200/year
- Professional monitoring
- 24/7 backup internet for your Ring Alarm Security System
- Video recording for all doorbells and security cameras in and around your home
- Extended warranty
- 10% off purchases of select Ring products on Ring.com and Amazon.com
- Save $40 with annual subscription purchase
Partnered with Ring
Ring has partnered with HoloVision to cater to the design-conscious homeowner. HoloVision has aesthetically pleasing finishes on their access boxes, allowing the integrator to match the look and feel of the call box to the finish of the gate. This is a custom box that the product goes inside of.
The Onviv camera works with Ring, allowing you to get motion alerts through the Ring App, use Alexa, and it couples with Virtual Security Guard. You can also get Ring Virtual Security Guard with the new Amazon robot, Astro.
Ring works with the Honeywell T5, T6, T9 and T10 Pro Z-Wave Smart Thermostats. Though Ring does not market any door locks, so far, they partner with Schlage, Kwikset and Yale locks. Ring is also compatible with Chamberlain Smart Garage Control. Here is a complete list of smart products that work with Ring.
The Bottom Line on Ring
Amazon’s Ring is a highly capable ecosystem that works with Alexa. With an extensive line of products, it offers the ability to truly customize your home security system. It has video doorbells, video cameras, security kit bundles, lighting, tons of accessories, compatibility with third-party products, and Virtual Security Guard. All of this at an affordable price for both the hardware and their tiered subscriptions. There is also the option to forgoes cloud storage and that monthly fee.
Though it’s missing its own door locks and thermostats, Ring partners with some of the biggest brand names in the game to bring you a whole home experience that works for you – if you’re into Alexa as your AI, or dig using the Ring app for controlling everything. If Google Assistant is your friend, Nest may be the winner in your book. Part 2, featuring the Nest Ecosystem, coming soon.
