The Best Indoor Home Security Cameras for 2020; The Best Baby Monitors for 2020; Home Security Camera Reviews. Ring Spotlight Cam design – A neat-looking unit and flexible too. Ring is the first name in video doorbells and the product that birthed the company in 2013. Resolution: 1080p | Framerate: 30 fps (1080p); 60 fps (720p) | Field of view: 81.6 degrees. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? It never failed to respond to a button press and always recorded video and sent push alerts when the button was pressed or when motion was detected. Below these buttons are Neighbors and History panels. It’s easy to install on your own with peel-and-stick adhesives. Do I have to sign a contract for my Ring or SimpliSafe system?

Ring was purchased by Amazon in 2018 for $1.2 billion. The doorbell performed well in testing. Following the on-screen instructions, I used my phone’s camera to scan the barcode included on the setup sheet and selected my home location for the installation. Additionally, both companies offer the following: Here are a few quick points of contrast between the two home security companies: If budget is your biggest concern and you’d prefer the self-monitoring option, or if you want an outdoor security camera, consider investing in Ring is the better choice. Do Ring and SimpliSafe work with smart home devices? Here you can enable and disable alerts, notifications, and motion recording; view live video; and adjust mode, device, and motion settings.

There are multiple ways to use your phone as a webcam, thanks to third-party software that syncs your smartphone to your PC. At the bottom of the screen are panels for each individual Ring camera with a still image of the last recorded activity. Like SimpliSafe, the Ring alarm system allows for self-monitoring, and you won’t need to pay any extra fees to receive mobile alerts and control the system via a mobile app. There’s a reason you’ve probably seen the Logitech C920 in just about any conference room -- this is the best webcam you can buy overall. The four other packages add additional equipment as necessary, but you can buy most of the hardware on an a la carte basis. Ring’s latest smart doorbell, the $99.99 Video Doorbell 2020, is a refresh of the original that we reviewed back in 2015.

The best DIY home security system for you depends on your home security needs. Check out our recommended providers: The This Old House Reviews team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers.

If you own more than one Ring device, the $10 per month/$100 per year Plus plan gives you 60 days of storage for all of your devices, as well as professional monitoring if you own a Ring Alarm system. The Logitech C310 is a popular budget option that records at 720p, as is the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000. Are you looking for a new project to tackle outside using cedar? We’ve rounded up four DIY wood projects that will enhance your outdoor living space. Receive news and offers from our other brands? You purchase the equipment upfront, and if you’d like professional monitoring, you can pay month to month with no commitment. Tap the Neighbors panel to access Ring’s Neighbors feature, which lets you know of any criminal activities in your neighborhood, and use the History button to view a timeline of motion events from all your Ring devices.

Check out our guide on how to use your phone as a webcam for more.

As with other Ring doorbells, the 2020 model works with Alexa voice commands and supports IFTTT applets that allow it to interact with third-party smart home devices. To activate video recording for a single camera, you’ll need the Ring Protect Basic plan. If you’re still unsure which home security company is right for you, take a look at the side-by-side comparison below. With its more robust packages, SimpliSafe may also be preferable for larger homes and apartments.