Ring vs. Nest

Amazon and Google each bring smart home expertise to the security market with the Ring and Nest systems, respectively. Both security systems offer affordable pricing and easy do-it-yourself (DIY) installation, but differ in features, compatibility, and overall value. One system may suit your home better than the other.

In this guide, we compare Ring and Nest side by side to help you decide which top home security system fits your needs.

Note: Google discontinued the Nest Secure system in October 2020 but continues to support existing models. The company still offers a range of other security products, including video doorbells, cameras, and monitoring services.

Our Take

The Ring is less expensive, has lower subscription fees, and has a 180-degree range of motion. However, The Nest has higher video quality, offers professional installation, and has a longer trial period.

Both Ring and Nest have night vision and noise cancellation.

This Old House 2023 doorbell roundup found that the Google Nest Doorbell (wired) will send rich notifications and store an event history of the past 3 hours in the cloud without an added fee—a useful baseline if you don’t want to commit to a subscription right away. For longer storage, Nest’s plans save events for 30 days or up to 60 days with 24/7 recording. Be sure any outdoor camera you choose is rated IP55 or higher so it stands up to the elements.

After four years of living with a traditional wired security system at his Mariposa, CA, home, Jim Allen switched to a smart home-security setup he installed himself. “I was tired of walking through the door with my arms full of groceries thinking, I’ve got 30 seconds to turn off that alarm,” he recalls. He was also paying $40 per month for professional monitoring, with a price hike looming—so he canceled his service and went DIY. It’s a scenario worth considering when choosing between Ring and Nest: how much hands-on control do you want?

Compare Nest vs. Ring

Ring vs. Nest Overview

Nest Overview

The Nest Secure home security system is Google’s smart home-compatible, professionally monitored offering. Combining a simple setup with advanced video monitoring features and an easy-to-use app, Nest Secure is one of the most affordable professional monitoring systems available.

Best Features:

• Monthly professional monitoring allows you to protect your home without the commitment of a contract
• Wide range of Google Home and Google Assistant compatibility features
• Password and key fob unlocking methods make the Nest exceptionally easy to use

When homeowner Ross needed security for his multi-level home—with bedrooms on the second floor and the main entrance two levels down—he turned to a DIY smart home security system after finding that traditional professionally installed options came with high upfront costs and high monthly fees. As This Old House demonstrated on-site, the shift to internet-connected, smartphone-controlled systems has given homeowners like Ross affordable alternatives to the old hard-wired model.

Learn More: Nest Home Security Review

Ring Overview

Though most homeowners know Amazon’s Ring line for its Ring Video Doorbell, the company offers a full home monitoring system, as well.

Best Features:

• Low-priced equipment starts at just $199, with professional monitoring costing $10 a month with the Ring Protect Plus plan
• Free DIY monitoring option available
• Smart lighting solutions available

As This Old House Magazine noted, “Ring, which started as a video doorbell, is now a whole-house system that coordinates your home’s response to a threat including turning on landscape lighting.” The magazine named Ring Alarm its pick for Alexa households, highlighting that it provides alerts without monthly monitoring fees—though cellular backup and central station monitoring are available as add-on services for those who want always-on protection.

Learn More: Ring Security System Review

What Do Nest and Ring Have in Common?

Both Google Nest and Amazon Ring offer similar features, are marketed towards homeowners who value smart home compatibility, and are priced similarly. Some of the biggest similarities between the two systems include:

• No contracts: Neither Ring nor Nest require a long-term monitoring contract, instead they provide optional month-to-month monitoring. This is a major distinction, as competing home security companies often require initial contracts of over 36 months before you can enroll.
• Simple DIY installation: Major home security systems often require professional installation. Ring and Nest both focus on simple DIY installations, but you can choose to have your system professionally installed by both companies for an additional fee.
• Smart home integration: Ring and Nest are both at the forefront of smart home connectivity and cutting-edge technology. Ring Alarm systems can be integrated with Amazon Alexa devices, while your Google Nest can be connected to your Google Home or Google Assistant. Both systems also offer easy integration with other smart home appliances, like carbon monoxide detectors and thermostats.

How Are Nest and Ring Different?

Though these two home security systems may seem very similar, they have distinct features that may make them more compatible for certain homeowners. Some of the biggest differences between the two systems include:

• Price: If you’re looking for the most affordable home security system on the market, you might be better off choosing Ring. Ring’s most basic equipment package starts at $199, and professional monitoring costs $20 per month with the Ring Protect Plus plan. Nest’s similar Secure Alarm package will cost you $399 for the equipment and between $19–$29 per month for professional monitoring.
• Settings: Ring offers “home” and “away” settings, which are both armed, and mode settings can be customized in the Ring app. Nest offers an “armed” and “disarmed” setting but doesn’t offer a home setting.
• Package offerings: Ring offers a variety of different equipment packages, even including a glass break sensor, whereas Nest offers only one standard base system. Both Ring and Nest allow you to customize your package with additional accessories like video doorbells, motion sensors, and more.
• Video quality: When it comes to video quality, Nest’s Hello video doorbell is one of the few in the industry to offer facial recognition services. Nest offers 24/7 video recording, while the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus will be triggered with its Pre-Roll feature when the system’s motion detection device is triggered.

Nest vs. Ring Packages

Ring Packages

Ring offers a variety of basic alarm security kits:

• The basic five-piece package includes a base station, one keypad used to arm and disarm the system, one motion detector, one contact sensor, and one range extender designed to help better connect your Ring devices.
• The 10-piece kit includes everything in the five-piece package, plus four extra contact sensors and an extra motion detector. This package is designed for homes between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet.
• The largest 14-piece kit includes everything included in the 10-piece package, plus an extra keypad and two extra contact sensors. This package is built for homes that have three or more bedrooms and are over 2,000 square feet.

In addition to these packages, you can also add the following items:

• Ring’s video doorbell—
• Flood and freeze sensor that detects water and low temperatures in your home
• Smoke and CO detector
• Indoor and outdoor Ring cameras
• Smart motion-detection lights

Note that while Ring doorbells don’t offer facial recognition like the Nest Hello doorbell, it does allow you to set custom motion sensor zones in the app. This means the person or animal in the frame must enter a certain zone before you receive an alert. This feature can be useful if you have a dog door or free-roaming cat.

Users can also add a variety of Works with Ring product integrations, including smart locks, light switches/dimmers, smart outlets, sensors, and sirens.

Nest Packages

Unlike Ring, Nest doesn’t offer a selection of pre-built packages for shoppers to choose from. Instead, you have the option to purchase the Nest products and customize the system with additional cameras and other smart devices.

Nest Alarm System products include:

• Nest Hub: This is the base of the system that also includes many smart home automation features.
• Nest Detect sensors: These motion-activated sensors will alert you to movement when the system is armed.
• Nest key fobs: These will help arm and disarm the system.

Nest also offers the following products that work with Nest Hub as well:

• Outdoor and indoor cameras
• Additional motion sensors (these could be useful if you have a larger home or multiple entry points)
• The Nest Hello doorbell camera, which offers facial recognition technology and alert notifications
• The Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector
• The Nest X Yale lock, which allows you to remotely lock and unlock your front door

Ring vs. Nest: Doorbell Comparison

Ring vs. Nest Pricing

Ring Pricing

Ring’s basic equipment packages begin at $199, while professional monitoring services start at $20 per month. Customers will not need to pay an additional monitoring fee for video storage and professional monitoring once they subscribe to Ring Protect.

Nest Pricing

Nest’s overall pricing will depend on which products you buy. Its professional monitoring for the system begins at $10 per month. One deal you can get with Nest is its Front Door Package, which comes with the Nest Hello Video Doorbell and the Nest Hub. This package costs $288.99 or $12.04 for 24 months. This is a larger upfront cost when compared to Ring but significantly less than other home security contracts like Alder Home Security, which charge upwards of $30 per month for professional monitoring.

Ring vs. Nest: How Does It Work?

How Does Ring Work?

Ring’s security system operates similarly to Nest. You’ll arm and disarm your system using the Ring home keypad and a chosen PIN. The major difference between Ring and Nest when it comes to function is that you can choose DIY or professional monitoring.

If you choose free DIY monitoring, your Ring system will send you a notification when your security system is triggered. If there’s an emergency or you have a false alarm, you must manually call the proper authorities with DIY monitoring.

You can also choose to subscribe to the Ring Protect Pro Plan, which costs $20 per month. If you have the Ring Protect Plus Plan, you’ll receive 24/7 professional monitoring. This means that you can check out alerts at your convenience—if there does seem to be a genuine emergency, a Ring Protect professional will contact you and call the police.

How Does Nest Work?

When you install Nest’s basic system in your home, you’ll arm and disarm the system using the Nest Hub or your key fob. You can arm or disarm the system by typing in a user-selected, four-digit passcode or by swiping the key fob over the Yale lock that Nest offers. You’ll also be responsible for placing your Nest motion detectors and security cameras in their appropriate positions if you’ve purchased them as add-ons.

If your motion detectors or Nest products detect movement in your home while the system is armed, it will prompt the user for a password. If no password is entered or the user types an incorrect password, the professional monitoring center is notified. The monitoring center will attempt to notify you with a phone call and a text message.

If you have Nest cameras installed with your system, you can use your Nest app to check them and see if it’s a false alarm. If Nest cannot get in contact with you or you cannot confirm a false alarm, Nest will dispatch local authorities to your location.

Our Conclusion

The Nest and the Ring share so many similarities and are marketed towards largely the same consumer. If you’re the type of homeowner who prefers simple connectivity and advanced video resolution or loves smart home connectivity, consider the Nest. If you don’t mind DIY home monitoring and are looking for the lowest priced system available, the Ring might be a better option.

More on Home Security Systems

• Ring vs. Simplisafe
• Simplisafe vs. Alder
• Best Self-Monitored Home Security Systems
• Wireless Home Security Systems

FAQs About Ring and Nest

Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home security recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. Our research includes analyzing product specifications, reviewing service and plan information, speaking with customer service representatives, and analyzing customer reviews. We then score the provider against our review standards for system options, special features, installation options, connectivity and smart-home automation features, pricing, contract terms, warranty, usability, availability of a trial period, and trustworthiness to arrive at a final score out of 5 stars.