Ring makes some of the most popular video doorbells and security cameras on the market. With models designed for a variety of budgets and use cases, it’s easy to find something that fits your exact needs. Coupled with a premium mobile app, tons of customization options, and durable designs, Ring video doorbells and security cameras are a wise decision for most shoppers. However, most folks will also want to sign up for a Ring Home subscription.

Ring Home is a monthly service that gets you access to heaps of additional features. It’s important to keep these costs in mind, as you’ll be on the hook for more than just the price of your security camera or video doorbell. And, if you plan on having the device for years, the expenses can quickly add up. But do you need a Ring Home subscription to use Ring products? And how much do these plans cost? Here’s everything you need to know before making a decision.

We’ll cut to the chase — a Ring Home subscription is not required to use Ring products. That means after installing your video doorbell or camera, you can dive right in and start monitoring your home. However, that’s not the end of the story. Ring locks heaps of functionality behind a paywall, meaning some of the enticing features that made you purchase your Ring product might only be available to Ring Home members.

Without a Ring Home plan, you’ll have access to the following features:

You might gain additional functionality based on your specific product, but the features above are available on most Ring products without a Ring Home plan. But for most additional features, you’ll need to join a Ring Home plan.

Ring Protect Basic costs $5 per month or $50 per year. This is the cheapest of the three available plans (beyond, of course, the free tier that gets you the handful of features listed above).

As a subscriber, you’ll gain the following abilities:

We’d recommend opting for this plan, as it’s reasonably priced and offers tons of useful features (especially the 180-day video history). If you don’t join this tier, you simply won’t be getting much value out of your Ring doorbell or camera. Note that this tier only unlocks these features for a single device. If you have more than one Ring doorbell or camera, you’ll want to check out the Standard tier.

The devices are expensive on their own — and it’s unfortunate you need to pay to access all these features — but it’s worth budgeting an extra $5 per month if you really want to benefit from everything your Ring product has to offer.

Ring Home Standard costs $10 per month or $100 per year. It gives you video recording rights for all your Ring devices, making this a great option for homes with multiple Ring cameras on the property. Aside from all the features in Ring Home Basic, you’ll also benefit from extended warranties for all your devices. It also unlocks:

Ring Home Premium costs $20 per month or $200 per year. It offers many features that probably aren’t necessary for the average household, although it does turn your hardware into a more robust security system. Here’s what Ring Home Premium brings to the table, beyond everything listed above:

If you need robust home security, but don’t want to spring for a professionally installed system, then this could be a great alternative. But for most homes with a few security cameras or a video doorbell, you might not need all these extra features.