Blink vs Ring Doorbells: FULL Comparison

By Naila Syifa
Published February 2024

Blink and Ring are both Amazon-owned smart home security companies, offering a wide range of products to protect and monitor your home, including a video doorbell.

Ring video doorbells are a bit more popular in the market and widely well-known for their quality, reliability, and impressive features. However, a video doorbell from Blink can also be a great consideration for those who are looking for a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing too many features.

In this article, we'll do a comprehensive comparison of the only video doorbell model from Blink, the Blink Video Doorbell, with some popular video doorbell models from Ring, to help you decide which one to choose for your home.

Key Takeaways

Blink wins for affordability, while Ring offers premium features and video quality. Blink is great even without a subscription, while a subscription for Ring is essential to fully utilize its features and benefits. Go with Blink if you value long-term cost-effectiveness, and go with Ring if you don't mind paying extra for advanced-level security.

Blink Video Doorbell

Affordable Battery Doorbell

✓ 1080p resolution
✓ Night Vision
✓ Motion Detection & Alerts
✓ Free Local Storage

Buy on Amazon

Ring Video Doorbell Wired

Essential Video Doorbell

✓ 1080p resolution
✓ Night Vision
✓ Motion Detection & Alerts
✓ Person Detection Supported

Buy on Amazon

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

Upgraded Battery Doorbell

✓ 1536p Head-to-Toe
✓ Color Night Vision
✓ Motion Detection & Alerts
✓ Person Detection Supported

Buy on Amazon

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro

Advanced Battery Doorbell

✓ 1536p Head-to-Toe
✓ Color Night Vision
✓ 3D Motion Detection with Bird’s Eye
✓ Dual-Band Wi-Fi

Buy on Amazon

#1 Price

Blink Video Doorbell

Blink stands out with its affordability, and the standalone version of its Video Doorbell costs only US$59.99 and can even get as low as US$34.99 when on sale. However, to fully take advantage of its full features and capability, we recommend purchasing the full system version, which includes a Synced Module 2 and is only US$10 more expensive than the standalone device.

The price of Ring video doorbells, on the other hand, varies depending on the model. Ring's most affordable model, the Video Doorbell Wired, retails at US$49.99. The mid-range model, Ring Battery/Wired Doorbell Plus, costs US$149.99, while the most advanced model, Ring Battery/Wired Doorbell Pro, costs quite expensively at US$229.99.

Read also: Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs Wired Doorbell Pro: It's More than Just the Power Source

#2 Design

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

Though every Blink and Ring video doorbell model has certain differences in their design, they all share a similar design style and color scheme, making you think as if they're produced by the same manufacturers. All models feature a blue LED ring around the button, which lights up when pressed or to indicate certain statuses.

The Blink Video Doorbell, however, has a taller and thinner proportion compared to most Ring models. It also comes in a doff body, which is the opposite of the more luxury-looking glossy finish of Ring video doorbells. The Blink model also has more rounded corners compared to the sharper edges of Ring models. However, these differences are mostly minor and come down to personal preferences.

#3 Video Quality

Ring Video Doorbell Wired

Blink Video Doorbell has good video quality at 1080p resolution, a standard in the industry. Ring's most affordable video doorbell model, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired, also offers this 1080p quality. The higher-end Ring models however, such as the Plus and Pro models, boast a higher maximum resolution of 1536p, the highest resolution offered by Ring.

Higher resolution means clearer and more detailed footage, which can be important when trying to identify faces or license plates. If video resolution is very important to you, you may also want to consider a new video doorbell by Wyze, the Wyze Video Doorbell v2, which offers crystal-clear 2K resolution at only US$40.

Read also: Wyze Video Doorbell v2 vs Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen): 7 Reasons Why Wyze is Better

Field of View of Ring Doorbells

When it comes to the field of view, Blink offers a decent 135° horizontal and 80° vertical FOV, but it falls short compared to any Ring model. The most affordable Ring model, Ring Video Doorbell Wired, offers at least 155° horizontal and 90° vertical FOV. This allows you to see more of your front yard and porch area compared to the Blink model, but it's still not enough for a full view. The Ring Doorbell Plus and Pro models, on the other hand, boast a wide 150° horizontal and 150° vertical FOV, allowing you to see a person from head to toe and also a package on the ground.

Another important consideration regarding video quality is whether a video doorbell offers a night vision feature, which ensures that you can see clearly in low-light conditions. Both Blink and Ring video doorbells do offer night vision, but keep in mind that the more affordable Blink Video Doorbell and Ring Video Doorbell Wired offer black-and-white night vision, while the higher-end Ring Plus and Pro doorbells offer a Color Night Vision.

Read also: Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs Plus: 5 Key Aspects

#4 Smart Features

Motion Alerts Feature

All Blink and Ring video doorbells offer some common features that are also available in most video doorbells in the market, including live view, motion detection, real-time alerts, two-way audio, and custom detection zones. As part of Amazon, both Blink and Ring models are also compatible with Alexa, which means you can control your video doorbell with voice commands through Alexa-enabled devices.

Extra Features of Ring

Ring models offer some features that are not available in the Blink Video Doorbell, such as Quick Replies, which allow you to choose from a set of pre-written messages to respond to visitors when you can't answer the door, and real-time Crime and Safety Alerts to get updated information about crime and safety incidents in your local area (US only).

Person & Package Detection Feature of Ring Doorbells

If you subscribe to Ring Protect, all Ring video doorbells also support Person & Package Detection, so you can get notified only when a person or package is detected, rather than every time a motion is detected.

This is a huge advantage that the Blink model is missing out on, as general motion detection will alert you for every motion activity, even the insignificant ones, such as cars casually passing by. The Blink model does let you reduce false alerts by customizing the detection zones and sensitivity levels, but Ring's AI-powered Person & Package Detection is still more reliable in providing meaningful motion alerts.

Bird's Eye View Feature of Ring Battery/Wired Doorbell Pro

Ring's most advanced Doorbell Pro models even offer some more advanced features. 3D Motion Detection uses radar to pinpoint movements, enabling the Bird's Eye View feature, which maps out the path of the motion and shows you a top-down view of the area.

Ring Battery/Wired Doorbell Pro, together with any other wired Ring doorbells, including the budget-friendly Ring Video Doorbell Wired, also offers Pre-Roll Video Preview, a feature that captures an additional four to six seconds of video before the motion detection is triggered, giving you a more complete picture of what happened. This helps identify the cause of the motion and the direction where it came from, such as someone walking up to your door from the street.

Extra Features of Blink

Blink Video Doorbell

Despite all the advanced features that various Ring models offer, the Blink Video Doorbell also has an advantage that can be a dealbreaker for some people. Unlike Ring doorbells which require a monthly subscription fee for cloud storage, the Blink model offers free local storage with the Synced Module 2 (included in the full system version) and a USB flash drive (sold separately), allowing you to access video history without having to pay any monthly additional fees.

With the Ring models, not having access to video history can be frustrating. You may get a notification of an important motion detection, but you can only see the live view. By the time you check the live view, the motion event may have already passed, the neighbor was already gone, or the thief has already left your porch. So, without subscribing to a Ring Protect plan, you won't be able to take full advantage of the features of Ring's video doorbells.

#5 Subscription Plans

Blink Video Doorbell

Blink offers a two-tier subscription plan, which includes the Basic Plan and the Plus Plan. The Basic Plan costs US$3/month and supports a maximum of one device, while the Plus Plan costs US$10/month and supports an unlimited number of Blink devices.

With either of these Blink Subscription plans, you'll get access to a 60-day unlimited cloud video history, video sharing, Photo Capture feature, Custom Snooze motion notifications (Plus only), and more.

Person Detection Feature of Ring Doorbells

The Ring Protect subscription plan, on the other hand, has three different tiers: Basic, Plus, and Pro. The Basic Plan costs US$3.99/month, while the Plus Plan costs US$10/month and the Pro Plan costs US$20/month.

Different Ring doorbells may support different advanced paid features, but generally, the Ring Protect gives you access to 180-day unlimited cloud video history, Person and Package alerts, rich notifications, Home and Away modes, and more advanced Alexa features, such as voice announcements and automatic live video feed on compatible Alexa devices.

#6 Installation

Blink Video Doorbell

The Blink Video Doorbell is powered by two AA-sized non-rechargeable batteries, allowing you to install it quickly and wire-free. However, if you'd like, you can also connect it to your existing doorbell wiring to sound the existing chime inside your home.

Ring video doorbells, on the other hand, come in different power options depending on the model. The battery-powered models can be installed both wireless or wired like the Blink model, while the hardwired Ring models can only be installed by connecting them to your existing doorbell wiring.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

While Blink Video Doorbell and battery-powered Ring models are all powered by batteries, they have important differences to note. As the batteries in the Blink model are non-rechargeable, you have to change them out with new ones regularly. The process of changing the batteries is also quite demanding as you'll have to take down the whole device, which doesn't come out easily either.

On the other hand, the Quick-Release Battery Pack that comes with battery-powered Ring models is rechargeable and can be removed effortlessly without having to take down the whole device, allowing for easier and more cost-effective maintenance.

Blink vs Ring Doorbells

Final Thoughts

Ring Wired Doorbell Pro

Blink Video Doorbell is a great budget-friendly video doorbell suitable for entry-level users who don't want to spend too much on a video doorbell. Its video quality is decent at 1080p resolution, with a limited field of view and black-and-white night vision. It offers only the essential features for security and monitoring, but the subscription-fee local storage is a great advantage that sets it apart from Ring models.

Ring has broader product offerings with varying price points, but it is generally much more expensive than Blink. However, it offers more advanced features and better video quality, making it a better choice for those who want a more comprehensive security solution.

In conclusion, if cost-effectivity is your main concern, then the Blink Video Doorbell is the most suitable option for you. However, if you're willing to spend more for better video quality and advanced features, then Ring video doorbells are a better choice.

If you like to read more about Smart Doorbell Cameras, check out our other relevant guides here:

Best Smart Doorbell Cameras without Subscription & with Local Storage

Best Wireless Smart Doorbell Cameras (without Existing Doorbell)

4 Best Apartment Doorbell Cameras for Renters (No Screws, Drilling, or Wiring)

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)