eufy suits people who want their camera footage kept at home, on the camera or a HomeBase hub, with its features working without a plan. Ring suits people who want a wide range of doorbells, cameras and alarms, with cloud video history and professional monitoring. If privacy and local storage come first, choose eufy; if you want 24/7 monitoring and a big range in one app, choose Ring.
The real split here is where your video lives. eufy keeps it in your home; Ring keeps it in the cloud on a plan. I read eufy's local security page, Ring's site and plans page, and both brands' App Store listings.
eufy and Ring at a glance
| eufy | Ring | |
|---|---|---|
| Where footage is kept | On the device or a HomeBase hub in your home | In the cloud, up to 180 days of playback on a plan |
| Without a plan | eufy says all its advanced features work | Live video and alerts; saving and sharing clips needs a plan or trial |
| AI alerts | Local AI for people, pets and faces | Person, package and vehicle alerts; more on Ring Pro |
| Monitoring | ProSecure 24/7 professional system | 24/7 Professional Monitoring with Ring Pro |
| Storage space | Up to 16 TB with an added drive | Not stated |
| Free plan | Not named (features work without a plan) | Not named (30-day plan trial) |
Where your footage lives
eufy's local security page sets out its approach plainly. Video is encrypted as soon as it's recorded and stored on the camera or sent to a HomeBase hub in your home. Its AI runs on the devices, so detection of people, motion and pets happens without sending video to the cloud, which eufy says only gets used for thumbnail images if you choose that option.
Ring works the other way. Its app says that with a Ring plan, or the free trial, you can review, save and share your videos, and its plans page lists up to 180 days of video playback. Ring's trial starts as soon as you set up a device, so you'll see what the plan adds from day one.
What eufy's HomeBase adds
eufy's page lists 3 months of on-device storage, rising to up to 1 year on the HomeBase S380 with a 16 TB storage drive, which you add yourself. That hub also brings face and body recognition, cross-camera tracking and self-learning AI.
The Anker eufy app pulls everything together, and not only security: it also runs eufy's robot vacuums, baby monitors, smart scales and pet products. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant.
What a Ring plan gives you
Ring Solo covers one device and Ring Multi covers every device at one location, both with person, package and vehicle alerts, extended live view and device modes. Ring Pro adds Video Descriptions, Familiar Faces, which is still in beta, Active Warnings and 24/7 Professional Monitoring for Ring Alarm. Ring's App Store listing says that monitoring runs in all 50 US states and in Canada, excluding Quebec, and that Ring doesn't own its monitoring centre.
The range is wide, from battery doorbells and the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K to Dome Cam 4K for businesses and the Ring Smart Lock.
Who each system suits
eufy suits privacy-minded households, people with patchy home internet, and anyone who'd rather not depend on a plan for recordings. Ring suits people who want professional monitoring, a single app for alarms, cameras and locks, and long cloud history they can reach from anywhere. However you go, protect the account with a strong password, and these open source password managers make that easy. If you use voice control at home, my guide to using Alexa+ is worth a look too.
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My advice on eufy or Ring
Decide where you want your recordings to live before you look at a single camera. If the answer is at home, under your control, choose eufy and plan for a HomeBase if you want long storage. If you want someone watching when the alarm goes off, and you're in the US or Canada, choose Ring and use the trial to check which plan you need. Either way, turn on two-factor sign-in on day one.
Do you make home security or smart home apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Does eufy need a plan to save video?
No. eufy says recordings stay local and you can access all of eufy Security's advanced features without a monthly plan.
How long does Ring keep video?
Ring's plans page lists up to 180 days of video playback on Ring Solo and Ring Multi.
Where is eufy footage stored?
On the device or a HomeBase hub in your home, encrypted, with up to 1 year on the HomeBase S380 when you add a 16 TB drive.
Is Ring professional monitoring available in Quebec?
No. Ring says Professional Monitoring runs in all 50 US states and Canada, excluding Quebec.
Does one app run all eufy devices?
Yes. The Anker eufy app brings together eufy Security, eufy Clean, eufy Baby, eufy Life and eufy Pet.
