Does the Ring Doorbell Record Without a Subscription? What Actually Happens
Will your Ring doorbell still record if you skip the monthly subscription? Find out what you lose, what stays, and if it's worth it.
Ring Cloud Storage: What You Need to Know in 2025
If you own a Ring doorbell, the first question most people ask is "how long does Ring keep my video?" The answer lies in Ring's cloud storage plans. In this guide we break down the options, costs, and how to get the most out of your subscription without paying for features you don't use.
Choosing the Right Ring Cloud Plan
Ring offers three main plans in the UK: Basic, Plus, and Pro. The Basic plan gives you 30 days of video storage for one device and costs around £3 per month. If you have several doorbells or a Ring camera, the Plus plan expands storage to three devices for roughly £5 per month. Pro is the top tier – it covers unlimited devices, adds 24/7 live view, and includes video sharing tools for about £10 per month.
Think about how many cameras you really need to store. If you only have a single doorbell and check the footage once a week, the Basic plan is usually enough. Homeowners with multiple cameras or a driveway camera tend to find the Plus plan more comfortable.
Another factor is video resolution. Ring records at 1080p, but the cloud service compresses the footage. Higher‑resolution plans store clearer video but cost a bit more. Decide if you need crystal‑clear faces or if a slightly lower quality will still let you spot a visitor.
Setting Up and Managing Your Storage
Getting started is simple. Open the Ring app, go to Settings > Account > Subscriptions, and pick the plan that fits you. The app will prompt you to confirm payment – you can choose monthly or annual billing. Annual billing saves a couple of pounds, which adds up over time.Once your plan is active, Ring automatically uploads video clips to the cloud when motion is detected or you press the doorbell. You can view clips in the app anytime, even if your internet is down, because the video is stored on Ring's servers, not on your phone.
To keep storage tidy, enable the auto‑delete feature. This removes the oldest clips once you hit your storage limit, ensuring you always have the most recent footage. If you want to keep a specific video longer, tag it as a favorite – favorite clips stay until you delete them manually.
Privacy is a common worry. Ring stores your video in encrypted form and only you (and any people you share access with) can view it. The company says they never sell video to third parties. Still, you can limit who sees your footage by adjusting sharing settings in the app.
What happens if you cancel your subscription? Ring keeps your videos for a short grace period (usually 48 hours) after cancellation, then deletes everything. Make sure to download any clips you want to keep before you end the plan.
Finally, keep an eye on your internet bandwidth. Cloud uploads use a few megabytes per clip, which is nothing for most home connections, but if you have a data cap, set motion alerts to only trigger during certain times of day.
In short, Ring cloud storage is straightforward: pick a plan that matches the number of devices you have, set it up in the app, and let Ring handle the rest. With the right plan, you get peace of mind knowing a video of every visitor is safely stored and ready to view whenever you need it.
