Is Ring owned by Amazon? All you need to know for UK smart doorbell shoppers

When you see a sleek video doorbell at a local retailer and wonder Ring owned by Amazon, it’s easy to get tangled in headlines and corporate jargon. Below we break down the ownership facts, what they mean for your home in the UK, and how the link to Amazon reshapes privacy, integration and buying decisions.

Quick Takeaways

• Ring is a subsidiary of Amazon since 2018.
• Amazon’s ownership brings deeper Alexa integration but also raises data‑sharing concerns under UK GDPR.
• Ring’s UK models comply with local wireless standards, but the company stores video clips on Amazon‑owned cloud servers.
• If you value open‑source ecosystems, consider alternatives like Google Nest Doorbell.
• Choosing Ring in the UK depends on how much you prioritize convenience, ecosystem lock‑in, and privacy controls.

Ownership Overview

Founded in 2013, Ring quickly became a household name for video doorbells and security cameras. In February 2018, Amazon announced a full acquisition, turning Ring into a direct subsidiary. The deal closed later that year, and Ring’s corporate filings now list Amazon’s parent company, Amazon.com, Inc., as the ultimate owner.

This corporate link means that strategic decisions-product roadmaps, pricing, and data‑handling policies-are overseen by Amazon’s leadership team. For UK customers, the most visible outcome is tighter integration with Alexa‑enabled devices and the availability of Ring Protect subscription plans hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

How Amazon’s ownership influences Ring products

Three practical areas feel the Amazon effect the most:

1. Alexa integration. Ring devices now work out of the box with Echo speakers, Fire TV, and the Alexa app. You can ask, “Alexa, show the front door,” and the video streams directly to any compatible display.
2. Cloud storage. Video clips, motion alerts, and event logs are saved on AWS servers. The "Ring Protect" and "Ring Protect Pro" plans use Amazon’s global infrastructure, offering 24‑hour, 30‑day, or custom retention options.
3. Cross‑selling. Amazon often bundles Ring hardware with its own services (e.g., Prime Video Doorbell discount) and showcases Ring ads on its e‑commerce platform, influencing pricing dynamics in the UK market.

While these synergies improve convenience, they also tie Ring’s ecosystem tightly to Amazon’s broader data strategy.

Data privacy & UK regulations

UK privacy law hinges on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Ring, as an Amazon subsidiary, must designate a UK‑based data controller and honour requests for data access, correction, or deletion.

Key privacy points for Ring users:

• Video storage location. All video is encrypted and stored on AWS data centres, many of which are in the EU. Amazon’s privacy policy states it does not sell video data to third parties, but it may use aggregated metadata for product improvement.
• Sharing with law enforcement. Ring has a "Neighbors" feature that lets users share video clips with local police. In the UK, this sharing must comply with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and users can opt‑out at any time.
• Account linking. Connecting Ring to an Alexa account links usage data across both services. Users can manage this in the Alexa privacy dashboard, controlling what voice recordings and device logs are retained.

For privacy‑conscious households, Ring offers a “local storage” option via the RingFitPro version, which writes video to a micro‑SD card. However, this feature is not standard on all UK models.

Feature comparison: Ring vs Google Nest Doorbell

The side‑by‑side view shows that Ring tends to be cheaper and offers optional local storage, while Nest leans on a broader field of view and tighter integration with Google services. Your choice often comes down to which ecosystem you already trust.

Buying decision for UK consumers

Ask yourself these three questions before clicking “Add to basket”:

1. Do I already use Alexa? If you have Echo devices, Ring gives you a seamless voice‑controlled experience without extra bridges.
2. How important is data control? Ring’s optional micro‑SD storage lets you keep footage locally, but most UK users rely on the Ring Protect subscription, meaning Amazon holds the data.
3. Am I comfortable with Amazon’s ecosystem lock‑in? Once you tie Ring to an Amazon account, switching to a competing platform can be cumbersome.

If the answer to any of these is “no,” investigate Nest, Eufy, or Arlo doorbells, which either store data locally by default or use non‑Amazon cloud services.

Common myths and clarifications

Myth 1: Ring videos are automatically shared with Amazon for advertising.
Reality: Amazon’s policy states video files are not used for ads; only aggregated, anonymized metadata may be analyzed for product improvement.

Myth 2: Buying a Ring device in the UK automatically enrolls you in a UK‑specific privacy regime.
Reality: The same Ring account works worldwide, but UK‑based users benefit from GDPR‑mandated data‑subject rights, which must be exercised through the Ring app.

Myth 3: Because Ring is owned by Amazon, it can’t work with Google Assistant.
Reality: Ring supports Google Assistant via voice commands, though deep linking (e.g., “Show front door on Nest Hub”) requires extra setup.