Are you looking for a simple and safe solution to keep an eye on your front door? Or maybe you’re just curious about how much data a Ring Video Doorbell uses every month?
In this friendly blog post, I’ll share the data uses of Ring Video Doorbells and share some handy tips on how to make the most out of them. So let’s get started.
Data usage of Ring video doorbells largely depends on the type of camera, the features enabled, and its interaction frequency with other devices. It can range from 10 to 100 GB monthly.
How Much Bandwidth Do Ring Cameras and Doorbells Use?
What’s this “bandwidth“? Bandwidth is just a fancy term for how much data your network use in a certain amount of time. And it’s typically measured in megabytes per second (Mbps).
On average, a Ring security camera (an ONVIF-compatible camera) uses a common video format called H.264, which takes up around 50–60 GB of data per month.
On the other hand, on average a Ring doorbell use anywhere from 10GB to 100GB per month.
Now, here’s a little secret: the data or bandwidth that a security camera or doorbell uses isn’t set in stone. It really depends on how big the area it’s watching is, how fast things are moving in that area, and the device itself.
So, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here.
If you have an unlimited data plan, you can use a Ring camera. Otherwise, you can use a doorbell without WiFi to get rid of worrying about maxing out your data quota.
Now, let’s take a quick look at how Ring stacks up against some other popular video doorbell brands:
| Video Doorbell | Average Monthly Data Usage (GB) | Source |
| Ring | 10 – 100 (Depends on model) | Based on user experience and various forums. |
| NestCam | 2- 10 (EBR based recording) | From Google Nest Cam’s FAQ |
| Canary | 4 MB per minute (For cellular connection) | According to Canary’s customer support. |
As you can see, when you compare the data usage of Ring with other brands like NestCam or Canary, Ring uses a very large amount of data.
Does a Ring Doorbell Work If the WiFi Is Down?
The answer is yes, it can! Even when your WiFi isn’t working, your Ring doorbell will borrow a little data from your cellular signal to keep things running smoothly.
This way, it can still send the video footage right to your phone. So don’t sweat if your WiFi goes offline. You can always use your mobile data or even a landline to connect to your home and keep an eye on things.
Read: Will Ring Doorbell Work With Mobile Hotspot?
How to Reduce Data Usage on Ring Doorbells?
Great question! Ring doorbells are fantastic for home security, but if you’re not careful, they can use a lot of data. We certainly don’t want to be hit with those nasty overage charges.
So here are some handy tips to help you cut down on data usage with your Ring doorbell:
- Be Friends with Wi-Fi: Make sure your Ring doorbell and your router are best buds. A strong, reliable Wi-Fi connection means your videos won’t be interrupted by weak signals.
- Play with Video Quality Settings: You can set your video quality to low, medium, or high, depending on what works best for you. Lower quality saves data, while higher quality uses a bit more but gives you a clear view.
- Motion Detection Sensors Are Your Secret Weapon: Use motion detection sensors to make your Ring doorbell record only when it senses someone. This way, you can save data when nobody’s around.
- Regular Maintenance Checks: You can check your doorbell regularly, which can help it run efficiently and alert you if any data is being lost due to issues.
- Adjust Video Recording Length: Shorter videos mean less data usage. So, try to keep your video recording length at an optimum level.
- Be selective with notifications. If you only want to know when someone’s at the door, turn off notifications for all calls. This way, you’re alerted only when it’s important.
Does Ring Doorbell Slow Down Internet?
The answer is, “Not really. It’s a device and only uses a bit of the data compared to other smart home devices. For instance, the Nest Cam (24/7 video recording) uses about 200–300 GB of data monthly, quite a bit more than the Ring Doorbell.
So, while your internet might take a slight hit when you’re using the camera or microphone, it won’t majorly impact your overall internet usage.
Summary
With a Ring doorbell, you can say goodbye to worrying about exceeding your data limit by applying some tricks. It’s way more data-efficient for longer recording than the usual home security cameras.
Just remember that if you’re planning to watch footage from several cameras at once, you might need to keep an eye on your monthly data usage.
