Blink vs. Ring Security Cameras Compared

Home security cameras are excellent tools to keep an eye on things around the house when you’re away. If you’re concerned about home security, they’re most likely at the top of your shopping list. But how do you choose between the many quality models out there?

For those who don’t want to spend a fortune on an electrical home security system, Wi-Fi-connected cameras can help. In this article, we’ll have a detailed look at the two industry giants – Blink and Ring. We’ll put the two competitors head-to-head to see which one offers more robust features and better value for money.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Table of Contents Quick Comparison Table Quick Verdict Introduction to Blink Introduction to Ring Overview of Blink Devices Blink Outdoor Blink Indoor Blink Mini Overview of Ring Devices Ring Indoor Ring Stick Up Cam Ring Spotlight Cam Ring Floodlight Cam Step-by-Step Comparison of Blink vs. Ring Final Scores – Wins, Loses & Ties Verdict: Blink or Ring? Frequently Asked Questions Securing Your Home

Features	Blink Outdoor	Blink Indoor	Blink Mini	Ring Indoor Cam	Ring Stick Up Cam	Ring Spotlight Cam	Ring Floodlight Cam
Size	2.8 in x 2.8 in x 1.3 in	2.8 in x 2.8 in x 1.3 in	1.8 in x 1.8 in x 1.3 in	1.81 in x 1.81 in x 2.95 in	4.98in x 2.43in x 0.87in	4.96 in x 2.72 in x 2.99 in	11 in x 8.25 in x 7 in
Screen Resolution	1080p HD	1080p HD	1080p HD	1080p HD	720 p HD	1080p HD	1080p HD
Price at the Time of Review	$99.99	$79.99	$34.99	$59.99	$99.99 -139.99$	$199.99 – $245.99	$179.99 – $249.99
Battery Type	Two years	Two years	Non-Applicable	Non-Applicable	Rechargeable	Rechargeable	Rechargeable
Waterproofing	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Compatible Networks	2.4 GHz, DSL, Cable, Fiber	2.4 GHz, DSL, Cable, Fiber	2.4 GHz, DSL, Cable, Fiber	2.4 GHz 802. 11 b/g/n	2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n	2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n	2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n
Alert Types	Email, Push Notifications, IFTTT, Amazon Echo	Email, Push Notifications, IFTTT, Amazon Echo	Email, Push Notifications, IFTTT, Amazon Echo	Email, Push Notifications, IFTTT, Amazon Echo	Email, Push Notifications, IFTTT, Amazon Echo	Email, Push Notifications, IFTTT, Amazon Echo	Email, Push Notifications, IFTTT, Amazon Echo
Cloud Storage Ability	With Blink Subscription Plan	With Blink Subscription Plan	With Blink Subscription Plan	With Ring Protect Plan, for 60 days	With Ring Protect Plan, for 60 days	With Ring Protect Plan, for 60 days	With Ring Protect Plan, for 60 days
Continuous Recording	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	With Ring Protect Plan	With Ring Protect Plan	With Ring Protect Plan	With Ring Protect Plan
Field of View	110 degrees	110 degrees	110 degrees	115 degrees	80 degrees	140 degrees	140 degrees
Livestream Capability	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mobile App Availability	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Night Vision Ready	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Monitoring Type	Sound and Motion	Sound and Motion	Sound and Motion	Sound and Motion	Motion	Sound and Motion	Sound and Motion
Power Source	Internal Battery, USB Power	Internal Battery, USB Power	Wired, USB Power	Power Adapter	Internal Battery, USB Power, Solar Panel	Internal Battery, USB Power	Hardwired
Two-Way Talk Ability	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Warranty	1 Year Warranty	1 Year Warranty	1 Year Warranty	1 Year Warranty	1 Year Warranty	1 Year Warranty	1 Year Warranty
Web App Availability	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available

Quick Verdict Blink or Ring, which home security cameras are the best? Blink is better for those on a budget looking for standalone surveillance camera solutions with free cloud storage. Ring is better for outdoor security and for those who could benefit from its various customization features, including enhanced monitoring, secure storage, and colored night vision cameras. Keep reading for our complete guide on the differences between the two devices.

Blink is an Amazon-owned brand that specializes in compact and budget-friendly security cameras.

Founded in 2014 in Massachusetts by Immedia Semiconductor, this consumer electronics company stands out from the crowded market with its small battery-powered cameras.

This is primarily due to the company’s background in chip manufacturing. The folks at Blink know how to make devices that perform better using less power.

Amazon purchased the company in December 2017, thus becoming the owner of the two security camera brands: Blink and Ring.

At present, Blink produces three quite similar models of camera. One of the range’s strong points is a surprisingly long battery life of up to two years. Two AA batteries will power up your Blink device until mid-2022.

But don’t be fooled by the low price and long battery life. Blink security cameras produce high-quality videos, have pretty clear audio, and come with many customizable settings so you can keep watch over your property with ease.

Some additional features that set the brand apart are the local storage option. There’s no need for cloud subscription services, even though the company offers it.

All Blink cameras work with Alexa, Amazon’s intelligent home system. This means you get to view video feeds and receive motion alerts on your Echo speakers.

Just like Blink, Ring is an Amazon-owned home security brand. It was purchased by the online retail giant in 2018 while valued at billions of dollars. Today, it’s one of the most popular intelligent security companies in the world.

Other than video security cameras, they specialize in video doorbells, home security systems, and alarms. In fact, Ring invented the video doorbell category for the market. What started as a front door digital eye service has quickly developed into a comprehensive security system that includes dozens of security products.

Their security camera system includes nine models of indoor and outdoor products. In addition, they are equipped with numerous features such as alarms, sirens, motion zones, etc. There are also both wired and wireless models.

It’s no wonder Ring is a top-seller when it comes to video security products. By purchasing one of their devices, users get a full suite of security products that are easily connected with each other. Ring showcases a level of control we don’t often see with its competitors.

All Ring cameras have 1080p HD video streaming, a two-way talk feature, night vision, app control, and motion detection.

The Stick Up Cam can be used indoors and outdoors, while the others (Spotlight, Floodlight) are outdoor-only cameras.

Blink Outdoor is an easy-to-use outdoor camera that is best for backyard, front yard, or driveway monitoring. The camera is wireless and can be positioned on a wall, ceiling, or even in a tree.

There’s also a swivel mount that comes with the device that enables quick and easy set-up.

In terms of features, the Ring Outdoor camera is similar to the Indoor solution. The main difference is that the Outdoor version has the IP65 waterproof rating. This means your device will be safe from rain, snow, and dust.

The camera’s two-way audio feature lets you communicate with family members in your yard. The audio quality is pretty decent and doesn’t project human voices in a robotic manner, which is a drawback often seen in many competitors.

However, the audio can suffer in windy conditions. With no noise cancellation, adverse weather can interfere with a live stream.

The Ring Outdoor 1080p HD resolution is good enough for you to see details clearly.

However, the night vision is not the best. It tends to wash out faces, making it impossible to distinguish one person from another. Also, everything gets fuzzy once it’s more than 10 feet away from the camera.

The camera’s operating temperature is from -4° to 113° F. There’s also a handy feature that lets you set temperature alerts. If your yard starts getting too hot, you can take the camera inside.

The Blink Outdoor camera is perfect for those on a budget, as it’s one of the least expensive solutions available. It’s also great for its easy installation and flexibility.

However, this home security camera solution doesn’t have improved color night vision and doesn’t cover large areas. Some users may also find the inability of 24/7 recordings to be a downside.

Pros:

• Sharp video
• Excellent battery life
• Affordable
• Night vision gets fuzzy

Cons:

• No continuous recordings
• Limited video storage

Cost at Time of Review

At the time of writing, the one camera kit costs $99.99. Two-camera kits are available for $179.99, three-camera kits for $249.99, while the five-kit costs $379.99.

What’s in the box?

• Blink Camera
• Two AA 1.5v lithium batteries
• Sync Module
• Power Adapter
• USB Cable
• Mounting Kit (right-angle adapter, camera mount, and two #6 1 ¼” Philips head screws)

 

The Blink Indoor camera is similar to its Outdoor cousin. The main difference is that the Indoor version isn’t waterproof, and therefore it’s a bit cheaper.

Other than the IP65 rating, the overall experience doesn’t differ greatly. They both have the exact recording resolution (1080p HD), come with the same two-year battery life, and have the same settings.

This also means there are no wires when it comes to setting up Blink Indoor. You can place the camera on any shelf or in any corner of your home without worrying about cords.

This affordable indoor security camera comes with local and cloud video storage and can also send temperature alerts.

Pros:                         

• Great battery life
• Easy installation
• No monthly fees
• Affordable

Cons:

• Relies only on Wi-Fi
• No professional monitoring

Cost at Time of Review

At the time of writing, the one camera kit costs $79.99. Two-camera kits are available for $139.99, three-camera kits for $189.99, while the five-kit costs $279.99.

What’s in the box?

• Blink Camera
• Two AA 1.5v lithium batteries
• Mounting Kit (right-angle adapter, camera mount, and two #6 1 ¼ “Philips head screws)
• USB Cable
• Power Adapter
• Sync Module

 

This tiny, compact camera is less than two inches in size but is powerful enough to meet most user’s needs concerning home security. Plus, it’s relatively affordable.

This device comes with the same recording and app functionality as the two bigger solutions.

Unlike the Blink Outdoor and Indoor, Blink Mini runs with a power cord. This means it has no batteries, which some users may prefer.

However, there are some downsides. The camera has reduced flexibility in terms of places to put the camera. You’ll have to place it near the power outlet, potentially having to string the outlet across the room.

Another downside of the Blink Mini is the potential long-term costs involved. If you’re new to Blink and want to purchase Blink Mini, you’ll have to pay $3 per month for cloud storage. This new pricing program started at the beginning of 2021. Those who already have a Blink camera (purchased in 2020 and before) will continue to have free cloud storage.

But regardless of whether you pay for the cloud storage or not, you’ll still receive alerts when something triggers the device’s motion zones, and you’ll still be able to see a live view.

Pros:          

• Activity zones
• Affordable price
• Minimalist design
• Infrared night vision

Cons:

• Lack of audio detection
• No local storage

Cost at Time of Review

At the time of writing, the one camera kit costs $34.99. Two cameras are available for $64.99, while the three-camera package costs $84.99.

What’s in the box?

• Mini Camera
• USB cable
• Power Adapter
• Mounting Kit (one click-on swivel mount, two #6 1 ¼” Phillips head screws)

 

Ring Indoor is one of the most affordable home security camera solutions the comes packed with all the essential features. It’s also their first indoor-only camera.

Due to its small size, it can fit into almost every corner of your home. It also has a straightforward installation process, as it’s a simple plug-in device.

Just like other Ring home security cameras, this one has a 1080p HD video resolution, a two-way talk feature, sends motion-activated notifications, and infrared night vision. Also, the Indoor camera uses the same mobile app. You can follow the camera activities and check on recently reported events in your neighborhood with the Ring Neighbors app.

In terms of drawbacks, you need a subscription to record videos and view motion-triggered recordings. The Basic Protect plan starts at $3 per month, and you get a 60-day video history per camera.

Another drawback is that there’s no sound detection. However, considering the affordable price, it offers decent value for the money.

Pros:                  

• Budget-friendly
• Two-way audio
• Sharp video
• Motion detection

Cons:

• 115-degree field of view
• Indoor only

Cost at Time of Review

At the time of writing, a one-camera kit costs $79.99. You can get a two-pack for $139.99, a three-pack for $189.99, and a four-camera kit for $279.99.

What’s in the Box?

• Indoor Cam
• Indoor power cable
• Wall and stand mount accessories
• User manuals
• Security sticker

 

Stick Up Cam is Ring’s most versatile product. It’s a home security solution that you can place either indoors or outdoors. It comes with feature-packed customization settings, and doesn’t break the bank. It’s also one of the most popular security camera solutions for under $100.

There are four options when it comes to Stick Up Cams. The Battery, Plug-In, Solar, and Elite. The main difference in these cameras is the way they are powered. They have most of the features you need to secure your home, including the 1080p HP recording resolution, color night vision, and two-way talk functionality.

The Battery version has a quick-release battery pack. The live feed is pretty crisp, and alerts arrive almost instantly after the motion. Overall, it’s a more than a decent camera for indoor or outdoor surveillance.

As you could probably guess, the Solar version is powered with solar energy, making it an excellent option for Ring users who live in sunny regions. Like other cameras, the solar version has customizable privacy zones and audio privacy so that you can focus on relevant objects.

If the Wi-Fi connection around your house is relatively unstable, you may want to consider the Stick Up Cam Elite. This camera can be powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE), so you don’t have to worry about losing your Wi-Fi connection or charging the battery.

Unfortunately, there are no free cloud storage options for Ring’s Stick Up Cams, and the devices aren’t compatible with Google Assistant and Siri.

The Stick Up Cams can operate at temperatures ranging from -5° to 120° F.

Pros:

• Wire-free
• Siren feature
• No hub required
• Easy installation

Cons:                                

• Expensive
• Video recording needs cloud subscription

Cost at Time of Review

The Stick Up Cam Battery price at the time of writing is $99.99 for a single cam, $199.98 for a two-pack, $299.97 for a three-pack, and $399.96 for a four-pack. The Stick Up Cam Plug-In prices are the same.

What’s in the Box?

• One Stick Up Cam
• Quick Release Battery Pack
• Wall and stand mount accessories
• Installation tools
• A micro-USB cord
• Instruction manuals

The Stick Up Cam Plug-In box doesn’t include batteries but comes with an indoor and outdoor power adapter.

At the time of writing, the Stick Up Cam Solar prices are $139.99 for a single cam, $279.99 for a two-pack, $414.99 for a three-pack, and $549.99 for a four-pack.

What’s in the Box?

The Solar version contains the same items as the Stick Up Cam Battery, except that it comes with a solar panel instead of batteries.

Finally, the Stick Up Cam Elite with the PoE Adapter prices are $199.99 for a single item, $369.99 for a two-pack, $529.99 for a three-pack, and $679.99 for four items.

What’s in the Box?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Elite
• Ethernet cable
• PoE adapter
• Mounting base
• Installation tools
• User manual
• Security sticker

 

With the Spotlight Cam, you get pretty much the same robust features you can find in any other Ring camera: 1080p HD resolution, two-way audio including active noise cancellation, 140-degree field view, and affordable protection plans.

An additional feature is the ultra-bright LED light. These are highly customizable lights specifically designed to be noticeable.

Combining these bright lights with the motion-activated lighting, you’ll have peace of mind at all times, especially at night.

This camera is battery-powered, so don’t forget to charge it before installation. However, you can find the Spotlight Cam in other configurations as well: wired, solar, and mount. You may find the battery option to work best outdoors, but it’s always good to have alternatives if you don’t feel like changing the batteries.

A great feature of this camera is the siren. At 110-decibels, it’s sure to scare off any potential intruders, including animals.

When it comes to the operating temperature, the Battery Spotlight options can operate from -5° to 120° F, while the Wired options are a bit more robust. They can operate from -22° to 120° F.

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Two-way audio
• Motion zones
• LED lights
• Wire-free

Cons:

• Video recording requires subscription
• Live video can lag

Cost at Time of Review

The Spotlight Cam Battery and Wired were priced the same at the time of writing:

A single cam costs $199.99, a two-pack is $349.99, the three-pack is $529.99, and the four-pack is $679.99.

As of now, the Spotlight Cam Mount prices are $249.99 for a single cam, $459.99 for a two-pack, $669.99 for a three-pack, and $849.99 for a four-pack.

Finally, the Spotlight Cam Solar prices are currently $229.99 for a single cam, $419.99 for a two-pack, $609.99 for a three-pack, and $779.99 four-pack.

What’s in the box?

• Spotlight Cam
• Mounting bracket
• Phillips bit
• Screwdriver
• Drill bit
• Installation screw and anchors
• Cable clips

 

The Floodlight Cam by Ring is similar to the other models, except that it features floodlights. These lights help secure your yard at night, adding another layer of safety. If you need to keep an eye on the outdoors, this is one of your best solutions.

The super-advanced floodlights are motion-activated. They can even tell the difference between a person and an object.

The 1080p HD resolution is the same as other models. When it comes to the floodlights, each one has two 3000-degree Kelvin floodlights to illuminate your yard. Combined with the camera’s night vision, you’ll have no problems keeping a close eye on your yard in the early hours.

There’s a handy zoom feature inside the app and the same 110-decibel siren as other models that you can control remotely. Just to give you an idea of how loud the siren is, a power lawnmower produces 100-decibel level sound.

The camera is highly customizable, and you can turn off the floodlights if you want. The night vision feature will continue to pick up the presence of passersby.

The Neighbors app also works well with the Floodlight Cam, so you can share images of a suspicious person with your neighbors within a five-mile radius of your house.

Pros:

• Two-way audio feature
• 110-decibel siren feature
• Motion-activated alerts
• Robust lights

Cons:

• Poor integrations
• Subscription required to view recorded videos

Cost at Time of Review

At the time of writing, The Floodlight Cam Wired Pro price is $249.99. The two-pack option is $459.99, the three-pack is $699.99, while the four-pack option is $849.99.

The Floodlight Cam Wired Plus price is $179.99 for one item, $339.99 for two cams, $489.99 for three cams, and $629.99 for a four-pack.

What’s in the box?

• Floodlight Camera
• Mounting bracket
• Screwdriver
• Phillips and socket bit
• Five bracket screws
• Three wire nuts
• Two cap nuts
• A hook for hanging the camera when wiring
• Instruction guide

 

Below, you’ll find a Blink vs. Ring features comparison, followed by a score for each category.

 

Category	Blink	Ring
Design	Lose	Win
Price	Win	Lose
Video Quality	Lose	Win
Professional Monitoring	Lose	Win
Warranties	Tie	Tie
Home Integrations	Lose	Win
Storage	Win	Lose
Field of View	Lose	Win

Verdict: Blink or Ring?

If we look at the final score table, Ring is a clear winner. With a more detailed design, professional monitoring services, and better home integrations, it’s a more versatile solution for those looking to get the most out of their home camera security services. The result doesn’t mean that Blink cameras are bad. They offer equally good performance but are less versatile. Overall, Blink is a better choice for those on a budget who are not planning to integrate much of the system with other devices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you are looking for indoor or outdoor home security cameras, Blink and Ring offer decent solutions. Keeping an eye on your pets, older children, or expensive jewelry doesn’t have to be complicated anymore.

Do you have any questions about the products we reviewed above? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.