Ring Alternatives (2026): 10 Video Doorbells and Cameras

Ring made the video doorbell a normal thing to have by the front door. But it isn't the only system out there, and plenty of people want something different: footage that stays in the house, no monthly plan, a doorbell that talks to the rest of their smart home, or simply a different brand.

The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Every description comes from the app's own App Store listing, read this week, because the app is where you'll live with a camera day to day. If you're comparing indoor and outdoor cameras more widely, my guide to the best home security cameras covers the hardware side.

Ring alternatives at a glance

I checked the free plan column on each app's own App Store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names a free app, a free version, a free plan, free posting or open source. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the page I read named neither, even where there's a download button, so check the tool's own page before you sign up.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Alfred Camera	Phone-as-camera security app	Turning an old phone into a camera	Not stated
Anker eufy	Doorbell, camera and smart home app	One app for doorbell, cameras and more	Not stated
Arlo Secure	Home security system app	Professional monitoring and several homes	Trial only
Blink Home Monitor	Battery and plug-in camera app	Wire-free cameras with long battery life	Trial only
Kangaroo	Simple home security app	Self-monitoring with no plan at all	Yes
Lorex	Security camera viewing app	Watching 4K footage from your cameras	Not stated
Reolink	Camera and NVR viewing app	Local recording on SD cards and NVRs	Not stated
SkyBell	Video doorbell app	Doorbell alerts on your watch	Not stated
TP-Link Tapo	Camera and smart plug app	Mixing cameras with plugs and lights	Not stated
Wyze	Smart home and camera app	Low-key cameras and a doorbell from one brand	Not stated

Ten doorbell and camera systems worth a look

Alfred Camera

Best for: Renters and anyone not ready to buy hardware, since it turns a spare old phone into a home camera, baby monitor or pet cam.

Anker eufy

Best for: Households that want the video doorbell, cameras, entry sensor and other eufy devices controlled from one app instead of several.

Arlo Secure

Best for: Owners who want to manage more than one location, arm the system with a tap, and add round-the-clock monitoring by live security experts.

Blink Home Monitor

Best for: Anyone who'd rather avoid wiring, with wired, plug-in and wireless options and up to two years of battery life on some cameras.

Kangaroo

Best for: First-time buyers who want to self-monitor for free, then add a protect plan with professional monitoring later if they need it.

Lorex

Best for: Owners of Lorex systems who want 4K live viewing, event playback and their own detection zones and recording schedules on the phone.

Reolink

Best for: People who'd rather keep footage at home, since recordings play back from the camera's SD card or a network video recorder.

SkyBell

Best for: Front-door watchers who want alerts on a phone, tablet or smartwatch the moment someone rings, with two-way talk in HD video.

TP-Link Tapo

Best for: Smart home tinkerers who want cameras, plugs and lights grouped by room in one app and shared with family members.

Wyze

Best for: Households who want a doorbell, indoor and outdoor cams and a home monitoring add-on from one brand, all set up in one app.

Which system suits which home

• You're renting and can't drill holes: Alfred Camera.
• You want footage kept at home: Reolink.
• You'd rather not pay for a plan to start: Kangaroo.
• You hate charging batteries: Blink Home Monitor.
• You run cameras at more than one property: Arlo Secure.

The privacy rule most doorbell buyers miss

A doorbell camera doesn't only film your visitors. Depending on where you mount it, it can catch the pavement, the road and the front of the house opposite, and that changes the rules.

The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) says its guidance on home CCTV covers smart doorbells as well as fixed cameras. Where a camera captures someone else's property, a public area or a communal space, data protection law applies, because the camera records other people's images and voices. In the US the rules vary by state, but the same courtesy keeps neighbours on side.

So before you choose a brand, check whether its app lets you set privacy zones or masks, and angle the camera at your own door and path. It's the easiest way to avoid a neighbour dispute you didn't see coming.

Questions to ask before you switch from Ring

1. Does it record to the cloud, to a memory card at home, or both?
2. Which features stop working without a monthly plan?
3. Is it wired, plug-in or battery, and how often will you need to charge it?
4. Does it work with the voice assistant or smart home app you already use?
5. Can you set privacy zones so it ignores the street and the neighbours?
6. Can you share access with the rest of the household?

How to move from Ring without a gap in cover

Install the new doorbell or camera before you take the old one down, so there's no night without cover. Download any Ring clips you want to keep first, because cloud history usually goes when a plan ends. Then cancel the old plan, reset the old device and remove it from your account before you sell it or give it away.

If you also use a smart speaker, link the new system to it and try a couple of voice commands while the installer is still on the doorstep. My guide on using the new Alexa+ explains what the assistant can do once it's connected.

Do you make video doorbells, home security cameras or smart home security apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing a Ring alternative

Decide where your footage should live before you look at brands. If you want no monthly plan, pick a system that records locally or lets you self-monitor, and accept that some smart alerts may need a subscription later. If you rent, start with something that needs no drilling. Whatever you buy, point it at your own door, not the street.

And read what each app does without a plan before you buy the hardware, because that's where most of the surprises are.

Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Ring?

It depends on what you want. Systems that record to a memory card at home suit privacy-minded buyers, battery cameras suit renters, and some apps let you self-monitor without a plan.

Is there a video doorbell with no monthly fee?

Some systems store clips locally or let you self-monitor at no charge. Check which features still work without a plan before you buy.

Can I use an old phone as a security camera?

Yes. At least one app on this list turns a spare phone into a home camera, baby monitor or pet cam.

Do I need permission to point a doorbell camera at the street?

In the UK, the ICO says data protection law applies when home CCTV captures a public area or someone else's property, so angle it at your own door and use privacy zones.

Will a new doorbell work with my smart speaker?

Many do, but not all work with every assistant. Check the app listing for the assistant you already use.

What happens to my Ring recordings if I cancel?

Cloud clips are usually tied to the plan, so download anything you want to keep before you cancel.