Ring Doorbell Pro vs Plus: Get clear differences to choose the right smart doorbell for your home with confidence now with ease!!
If you’ve ever stood at your front door, phone in hand, scrolling endlessly through product pages in the Gadgets & Reviews section trying to decide between the Ring Doorbell Pro vs Plus, trust me…you’re not alone. I vividly remember pacing around my porch, staring at my existing old-school doorbell, and convincing myself I knew exactly what I needed… until I didn’t. The moment you start comparing smart doorbells, you quickly enter a rabbit hole of specs, wiring requirements, radar features, field-of-view talk, and battery trade-offs you didn’t even know existed.
That’s exactly why I put this guide together. If you’re caught between the Ring Doorbell Pro vs Plus, this breakdown will give you clarity, confidence, and a straight path to choosing the right one for your home…without drowning in tech jargon.
Quick Verdict (What Most People Want First)
If you want the most accurate motion detection… fewer false alerts and premium wired performance, the Ring Doorbell Pro is the smarter choice. But if you prefer easy installation… battery-powered flexibility and the same tall head-to-toe video framing… the Ring Doorbell Plus is your best match.
That’s the simple version. But real life isn’t always simple, so let’s dive into the deeper stuff that actually matters when choosing between the Ring Doorbell Pro vs Plus.
Side-by-Side Comparison (The Stuff You Actually Want to See)
| Feature | Ring Doorbell Pro | Ring Doorbell Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Wired only | Battery or wired |
| Motion Detection | Radar-powered 3D Motion | Standard IR + camera detection |
| Field of View | 1536p Head-to-Toe | 1536p Head-to-Toe |
| Reliability | High (constant power) | Depends on battery usage |
| Best For | Busy streets, high-traffic areas | Renters, casual users, easy installs |
Already you can see the story forming. The ring doorbell pro vs plus debate isn’t simply “better vs cheaper.” It’s really about how your home is set up, how much traffic your porch gets, and how much you care about wiring vs convenience.
Key Differences That Actually Matter (Not Just Specs)
1. Radar vs IR Motion: The Real Game-Changer
Here’s where most people’s eyes glaze over. But stick with me…because this is the single biggest difference between the Ring Doorbell Pro vs Plus.
The Pro uses radar-powered 3D motion detection, which sounds fancy because… well, it is. It can literally map a person’s movement across your yard, giving you a bird’s-eye view of their path. If you live on a busy street like I do, where random cars, joggers, and even wandering cats trigger alerts, radar makes an unbelievable difference.
The Plus? Solid, but standard. It uses IR and camera-based detection, which works fine but can pick up more false alerts if your environment is busy.
2. Power: Battery vs Wired
This is where personal circumstances matter… a lot.
If you go with the Ring Doorbell Pro vs Plus, wired vs battery might be the deciding factor.
The Pro requires a transformer (16–24V AC, ideally 20–30VA). If your home has an older transformer, you might need to upgrade it. I learned this the hard way when my chime started buzzing like a confused bee. A quick transformer upgrade fixed everything, but not everyone wants to deal with that.
The Plus? You mount it, pop in the battery, connect Wi-Fi, and you’re done. Simple. Stress-free. Renter-friendly.
3. Pre-Roll: Catching the “Before”
Both models support Pre-Roll, but the Pro gives you higher-quality footage thanks to wired power. Battery devices use lower-res pre-roll video to conserve battery life. So if capturing those crucial two seconds before someone reaches your door is important…say, for porch package theft…the Pro does it better.
4. Head-to-Toe Video
Here’s something I didn’t realize mattered until I had it: being able to see both the visitor’s face and the package at their feet.
Both models offer the 1536p Head-to-Toe view, and honestly, this is one of the most useful features in the ring doorbell pro vs plus comparison. Whether someone’s leaving a package or your dog is trying to escape again, the vertical field of view is extremely practical.
Real-World Examples to Make This Easier
Let me give you a quick backyard comparison in plain English:
- On a quiet suburban street → Plus is enough.
- On a busy city block → Pro will save your sanity.
- Hate wiring → Plus.
- Love precise motion detection → Pro.
- Want security with minimal hassle → Plus.
- Want footage accurate enough for evidence → Pro.
This is why the ring doorbell pro vs plus conversation always comes down to your environment more than your budget.
Subscription Features: The Part Nobody Tells You Until After You Buy
Ring has rebranded its subscriptions under Ring Home, and while the basics (saving video clips) are available on lower tiers, advanced features like Smart Search, Extended Live View, and 24/7 recording require higher plans.
And here’s the catch:
- 24/7 recording is only supported on select wired devices
- That includes the Pro…not the battery-based Plus
So if continuous recording matters to you, the Ring Doorbell Pro vs Plus question just answered itself.
Privacy & Law Enforcement: Something You Should Know
Ring has transparency guidelines on what they can share with law enforcement. While everything requires legal processes, it’s important to understand that Ring is heavily cloud-based. If that makes you uncomfortable, you may prefer a device that supports full local storage instead.
This isn’t to discourage you…but when writing about the ring doorbell pro vs plus, it’s crucial to be upfront about privacy implications.
Installation Tips That Make a Big Difference
Whether you choose the Pro or the Plus, here are installation tips from my own painful lessons:
- Mount at the recommended height or head-to-toe video won’t work correctly.
- Angle downward slightly to avoid false alerts from passing cars.
- For the Pro: Check your transformer’s VA rating before installing.
- For the Plus: Keep a spare battery if you use Live View often.
These small tweaks dramatically improve performance
Which One Should You Buy? Personalized Scenarios
Choose Ring Doorbell Pro if:
- You live near a busy road
- You want the most accurate motion alerts possible
- You plan to use 24/7 recording
- You prefer wired reliability
- You want fewer false notifications
Choose Ring Doorbell Plus if:
- You want easy installation
- You rent and can’t modify wiring
- You don’t want to deal with transformers
- You prefer a simple, battery-friendly setup
- You still want head-to-toe video
Either way, the ring doorbell pro vs plus conversation isn’t about one model being “better.” It’s about the right model for your lifestyle.
Key Takings:
- After testing both, I ended up choosing the Ring Doorbell Pro because my street is basically a runway for cars, cyclists and very enthusiastic Amazon drivers.
- The radar feature alone reduced my notifications by at least 80%, which honestly feels like a small miracle.
- But if I lived in a quieter neighborhood…or didn’t want to mess with wiring…the Ring Doorbell Plus would be my pick in a heartbeat.
- In the end, the ring doorbell pro vs plus comparison boils down to two things: convenience vs precision.
Additional Resources:
- https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/ring-battery-doorbell-pro-vs-ring-battery-doorbell-plus/ Digital Trends: Digital Trends: “Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs. Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Is the expensive Pro model worth it?”
- https://www.pcworld.com/article/1683243/ring-battery-doorbell-plus-review.html: “Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review: Improved from head to toe” — PCWorld:
