We compared these popular DIY home security systems side-by-side. Find out which one came out on top!<\/p>\n
The key takeaways, differences, and similarities of Ring and Nest are just a sneak peek of what this comparison covers. There\u2019s much more to the story! So read on to learn how these two home security systems measure up in our Ring vs Nest comparison.<\/p>\n
Ring \u2014 <\/strong>The Amazon-owned company is making waves and taking the industry by storm. It all started in 2013, when founder Jamie Siminoff appeared on the TV show Shark Tank with his futuristic video doorbell. Early on, Siminoff acquired a tremendous amount of funding and brought his fledgling home security company into the big leagues with the Ring Doorbell. Sure enough, Amazon took notice and purchased Ring in 2018 for over $1 billion. With millions of customers and a trusted image, there\u2019s no denying Ring\u2019s influence in today\u2019s home security industry. And let\u2019s not forget Shaq is Ring\u2019s mouthpiece \u2014 a clever marketing move indeed.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Nest has a similar upbringing as Ring. In 2011, Nest launched its first product \u2014 the Nest Learning Thermostat. The product thrived and the Nest team, led by ex-Apple engineers, kept innovating new smart home technology. Google stepped in a few years later to purchase Nest, and the very next year the company was offering a full-suite of home security products and services. Much like Amazon Ring, Google Nest is growing like wildfire.<\/p>\n Without a doubt, Ring and Nest are two powerhouse home security companies. But it\u2019s really a story of Amazon vs Google. Both companies have the deepest pockets imaginable, which translates to the latest in home security innovation to keep your home and family safe. Sure, Ring and Nest don\u2019t have the industry experience to match the likes of ADT, but they\u2019re out to prove that age is just a number.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>The Ring Doorbell is what propelled the company to success. But today, Ring offers complete home security and automation with the Ring Alarm and Ring Cameras. The features and technology aren\u2019t exactly earth-shattering. But Ring continues to release products that offer easy DIY installation and impress most users. Have a look at Ring\u2019s features and tech below.<\/p>\n The Ring Alarm system includes magnetic entry sensors, motion sensors, a push-button control panel, and a base station. Customers can sign up with 24\/7 professional monitoring for only $10\/mo. Affordable monitoring is Ring\u2019s biggest benefit (much more affordable than Nest). The Ring Alarm also has the following features: Smart home automation capabilities, environmental protection, remote access and control via smartphone, Ring neighborhood watch app (Neighbors), simple setup, and more.<\/p>\n Ring Cameras keep a close watch on your home, inside and out. Ring\u2019s camera offerings include the Ring Stickup Cam ($179), the Spotlight Cam ($199), and the Floodlight Cam ($249). These multi-purpose cameras boast features like HD image quality, night vision, real-time activity alerts, two-way communication, custom zones, and of course, DIY installation. The affordable cameras make a great addition to a Ring Alarm system.<\/p>\n The one-and-only Ring Doorbell Camera protects your home from burglars and package thieves. These nifty devices help homeowners to identity who\u2019s at their door. Is it the pizza guy or a porch pirate? Find out with Ring Doorbell, which includes the following features: real-time motion-activated smartphone alerts, night vision, live-streaming, two-way talk, custom zones, weather-tough design, easy DIY installation, and more. The Ring Doorbell is another value-packed device to add-on to your Ring Alarm system.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Nest home security rivals Ring when it comes to features and technology. In fact, we give the edge to Nest for its lineup of smart devices. The system offers whole home protection, plus smart home automation. Nest offers features like wireless, cellular-based home security, 24\/7 monitoring, cloud video storage, voice alerts, mobile app, and DIY installation. Nest calls it \u2018The Helpful Home\u2019 for a reason. The smart security and automation features are sure to impress.<\/p>\n Nest offers a wider range of products compared to Ring. While Nest Secure security system is comparable to Ring Alarm, Nest offers the latest in innovation across their entire product lineup. And we\u2019re talking 10+ products with multiple styles.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>Ring customers can self-monitor their systems and save the monthly fee. But that almost defeats the purpose of having the Ring Alarm. After all, Ring has become known for the cheapest 24\/7 monitoring on the block. The Ring Protect Plus plan puts emergency dispatchers in your corner for just $10\/mo. (or $100\/year). That\u2019s a fraction of the price of most home security systems. Alternatively, choose the Ring Protect Basic plan for only $3\/mo. per device to access video recording and sharing features. The bottom line is that Ring offers reliable monitoring options that won\u2019t break the bank.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Nest Secure costs $19.99\/mo. (with 3-year contract) or $29.99\/mo. on the month-to-month plan. Similar to Ring, Nest customers can self-monitor and save the subscription fee. This price is typical and what you\u2019d expect from most home security companies. Nest\u2019s $19.99 or even $29.99 seems like a good deal for 24\/7 monitoring\u2026 that is, until you put it next to Ring\u2019s $10\/mo!<\/p>\n Why pay $29.99\/mo. for monitoring with Nest when you can pay just $10\/mo. with Ring? Also, Ring never asks for a long-term contract like Nest, so there\u2019s another point for the Amazon system. While Ring takes the crown for monitoring options, this is not a deal-breaker for Nest \u2014 especially if you\u2019re planning on self-monitoring anyway. Self-monitoring is free with Ring and<\/em> Nest.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>Ring Alarm leverages the latest technology to power your system and to communicate with the monitoring center. Ring has a Wi-Fi hookup with a cellular backup. If you have the Ring Protect Plus plan and a burglar or thief targets your home, a Ring dispatcher will call you in about 30 seconds or less.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Much like Ring, Nest equipment is wireless and uses a Wi-Fi connection with cellular backup. The monitoring is outsourced to Brinks, a highly-reputable home security company. Nest emergency response times are similar to Ring\u2019s, with emergency personnel reaching out in a matter of seconds.<\/p>\n Both Ring and Nest offer WiFi connections with cellular backup. This is standard for wireless, DIY home security systems. Either one you choose, you\u2019ll rest easy with a fast and reliable connection. Fast response times give you and your family the peace of mind you deserve.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014<\/strong> The Ring Alarm comes in three variations. No matter the size of your home, you\u2019ll find a kit that\u2019ll do the trick.<\/p>\n For added layers of home protection, you can purchase one or more Ring Cameras and the Ring Doorbell. Other add-ons and upgrades include: Additional door and window sensors, motion detectors, range extenders, and control panels; a panic button; environmental protection devices (smoke, CO, flood and freeze); solar panels; battery packs; yard signs; etc.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>The Nest Secure standard package comes with all the equipment needed to get started. That is, a control panel, a couple of entry sensors, the Nest Guard hub station + motion detector, and two Nest Tag keychain remotes. The cost is $399 upfront, which is more expensive than Ring\u2019s premium 14-piece package. Need more devices? You can upgrade with Nest\u2019s seemingly countless add-ons. Finally, Nest\u2019s premium bundle packages cost anywhere between $500 and $1,150. Not cheap, but worth it for larger homes.<\/p>\n Once again, Ring offers similar equipment, but at a fraction of the price. The straightforward menu options are attractive to most buyers. Go with Ring\u2019s 5-piece, 10-piece, or 14-piece kit (it\u2019s almost as easy as ordering a bucket of chicken). Ring and Nest include everything needed to get started, but Ring stacks the value like never before.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>The Ring Alarm, Ring Cameras, and Ring Doorbell are manufactured with quality materials. The outdoor equipment is weather-resistant, and the indoor devices boast sleek designs with modern color schemes. Amazon doesn\u2019t cut corners. With that said, it\u2019s not the best equipment on the market. But remember, you\u2019re paying as little as $199 for the starter kit, so you probably shouldn\u2019t expect the best equipment quality.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Google doesn\u2019t cut corners either. In fact, Nest products are slightly higher quality than Ring. Nest customers enjoy aesthetically hip devices with white and blue color schemes (exactly like Ring). And the magnetic sensors have a more streamlined design than Ring. Overall, Nest delivers when it comes to equipment Quality.<\/p>\n This was a close one, but Nest takes the slight edge. Nest equipment looks better and feels as though it\u2019s constructed of higher-grade materials. But these differences may be inconsequential to the average buyer. Whether you go with Ring or Nest, the equipment makes the grade.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>Ring truly shines when it comes to smart home automation. See who\u2019s at your front door with the Ring Doorbell, fully automate your lights with smart lighting, remotely control your door locks, garage door, and so much more with Ring. Multi-purpose Ring Cameras \u2014 the Stick Up Cam, Spotlight Cam, and Floodlight Cam \u2014 can be programmed with a number of custom rules. And you can access and control your entire smart home ecosystem with Ring\u2019s mobile app. Ring also works with third-party platforms like Z-Wave, Zigbee, IFTTT, and more. And customers enjoy voice commands by linking Alexa or Google Home.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Much like Ring, Nest dominates in the smart home world. Google makes loads of smart devices that carry the Nest name, and the system is compatible with several other platforms. Nest\u2019s smart devices include the Nest Hello Doorbell, Nest X Yale smart locks, The Learning Thermostat, and so much more. Google Nest works on the Google Smart Home platform (no surprise there), so customers are sure to get the most out of their smart home ecosystems. It\u2019s not cheap, but it\u2019s capable of transforming your house into one highly intelligent home.<\/p>\n Both brands offer the latest and greatest in smart home automation. But Nest simply has more smart features and devices to choose from. Go with Nest if you\u2019re a smart home enthusiast, or plan on becoming one.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>All of Ring\u2019s products are wireless, with simple DIY installation. Gone are the days of sitting around waiting on an expert technician. With Ring, you don\u2019t have to drill into walls or fuss with electrical work. The sensors include velcro mount strips, and the system is all about plug-and-play fun. If you do happen to hit a roadblock, you can contact Ring\u2019s helpful support team to get back on track.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Similar to Ring, Nest products offer super-simple do-it-yourself installation. And just like Ring, you\u2019re up-and-running in a matter of minutes. The main difference between Ring and Nest installation is that Nest customers have the option for professional installation for an extra fee. And options are always nice.<\/p>\n We could give the slight edge to Nest for the pro-install option, but most users go the DIY route anyway. And who could blame them? Ring and Nest are two of the easiest home security systems to install.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>Ring gets mixed reviews when it comes to customer service. But the company does have a helpful support center complete with FAQs, setup guides, and more. Ring customers can also reach a representative by email, phone, or live chat. While Ring\u2019s customer service might not be the best, it\u2019s certainly not the worst.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Nest offers several ways to get help. They have video tutorials, articles, and a full-on Nest community of current users and product experts. You can even message Nest on Twitter or by email and they\u2019ll get back to you. Offline, you can pick up the phone and find help via the Nest service center. Nest does customer service right.<\/p>\n Nest edges out Ring in this category. By no means does Nest offer the best service in the business (that would be Frontpoint), but it\u2019s good enough to keep most users happy. The difference between Ring and Nest customer service is slight.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>It\u2019s relatively new that security companies are doing away with contracts. And Ring is at the forefront of this development. No contracts. Cancel anytime. That\u2019s the promise of Ring and a big reason why the company is experiencing explosive growth. But remember, it\u2019s so cheap ($10\/mo. or less) that a contract wouldn\u2019t even be a deal-breaker.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Nest also has a no-contract option: $29.99\/mo. cancel anytime. But to get the security system for the lowest price ($19.99\/mo.) customers must sign a 3-year contract. While we prefer Ring\u2019s no-contract-across-the-board policy, we also understand the user-benefits of contracts, like the price-lock guarantee.<\/p>\n Unlike Nest, Ring never requires long-term contracts. This is another point for team Amazon. However, if you\u2019re looking to outfit your home with DIY home security and get hooked up with the best in smart home automation, then Nest is a safe bet, contract or no contract.<\/p>\n Ring \u2014 <\/strong>Ring delivers big in the \u2018bang-for-your-buck\u2019 department. Customers can protect their homes and families for just $199, $249, or $329 up-front. Go the self-monitored route to avoid the monthly monitoring fee. Or pay just $10\/mo. for 24\/7 professional monitoring. Ring also offers loads of upgrades and add-ons. Seamlessly connect Ring Cameras, the Ring Doorbell \u2014 or any number of smart lights and automation features \u2014 as the Ring Alarm is totally customizable. Needless to say, Ring is a great value.<\/p>\n Nest \u2014 <\/strong>Nest Secure costs $399 out of the gates. It\u2019s not cheap, but it comes with door and window sensors, motion detectors, a base station and control panel \u2014 everything you need for basic home protection (Nest also offers equipment financing through the Google Store). After you purchase the equipment, you can go \u2018unmonitored\u2019 and save the monthly fee. Or choose 24\/7 professional monitoring for only $19.99\/mo. (with a 3-year contract), or $29.99 for the month-to-month, cancel-anytime plan. Nest users have loads of flexibility when it comes to customizing their systems. The list of Nest upgrades and add-ons is a mile long.<\/p>\n Ring and Nest are neck-and-neck in Cost and Value, but Ring takes the crown for their rock-bottom monthly monitoring prices. You just can\u2019t beat $10\/mo. for around-the-clock home protection. Ring\u2019s equipment is also cheaper than Nest\u2019s. And the all-around quality, reliability, and affordability puts Ring ahead of Nest (but not by much!).<\/p>\n By now you should have a good understanding of what each home security company brings to the table. Our side-by-side comparison of Ring vs Nest is the result of countless hours of research, reviewing, and testing these systems. And like always, there can only be one winner. See below for our at-a-glance roundup of the category winners.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re searching for DIY home security systems, then Ring and Nest should top your list. These companies both deliver the goods. That is, full home protection with smart automation capabilities galore. The main difference is the price for equipment and monitoring. Ring is cheaper, plain and simple.<\/p>\n Choose Ring if you want a budget-friendly home security system. Starting at under $200, the price for the equipment is very reasonable. And the monthly monitoring is so cheap that it\u2019s practically free. Then upgrade your system over time to add Ring Cameras and the famous Ring Doorbell for comprehensive home security.<\/p>\n Or choose Nest if you\u2019re looking to outfit your home with the latest and greatest smart features. Nest delivers full-functionality on the advanced Google Smart Home platform, so you\u2019re sure to have the smartest home in the \u2018hood (if you\u2019re willing to pay for it). And of course, Nest Secure includes everything you need for basic home protection, and like Ring, you can customize the system to your heart\u2019s content.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Category Winner: Tie!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Features and Technology\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Ring Alarm<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ring Cameras\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ring Doorbell\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Google Nest offers the following features and tech:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Category Winner: Nest\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Monitoring Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Ring<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Emergency Connections \/ Response Times<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Tie<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Equipment Included<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Google Nest upgrades and add-ons include:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Category Winner: Ring<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Equipment Quality<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Nest<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Home Automation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Nest<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ease of Installation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Tie<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Customer Service<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Nest<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Contracts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Ring<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cost and Value<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Category Winner: Ring<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Age and Influence: Winner – Tie<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Overall Winner – Nest<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n