Ring Security Cameras

Footage you share with more people than you think

Complex migration

What it is

Ring makes video doorbells and security cameras, acquired by Amazon in 2018 for $1 billion. Ring footage is stored in Amazon's cloud. The company has had extensive partnerships with law enforcement, facing widespread criticism for enabling surveillance infrastructure without meaningful user consent.

⚠️ The privacy case

Ring has partnered with over 2,000 US police departments through its "Neighbors" app, allowing law enforcement to request footage from Ring owners. In 2022, Ring admitted giving police footage without user consent or a warrant in at least 11 cases. In 2023, the FTC fined Ring $5.8 million for allowing employees and contractors to access customer videos. Your front door footage is shared more broadly than most people assume.

Honest assessment

Ring hardware is sunk cost. You will need to replace it with new hardware. The privacy argument here is unusually strong — this isn't about convenience, it's about who has access to footage of your front door.

What you lose

Existing Ring hardware (cannot be migrated to another platform)
Cloud-stored footage history (download before leaving)
Ring Neighbors community feed
Ring Alarm integration if you use it

Data to export first

Download all footage before canceling (Ring app → Event History → download clips)
Ring only stores 60 days of footage — download before you cancel
Export your Ring account data at ring.com/account/data-privacy

How to cancel

Download all footage first (see above)
Cancel Ring Protect subscription at ring.com → Account → Ring Protect Plan
Delete your Ring account at ring.com/account/data-privacy → Delete Account

Alternatives

UniFi Protect (Ubiquiti) — Local storage only — footage stays on your network, never goes to a cloud server. Excellent hardware quality. Requires a UniFi NVR or Dream Machine as hub (~$200+). Best choice for privacy-first users willing to invest in setup.
Eufy Security — Local storage option available. No mandatory cloud subscription. HomeBase hub stores footage locally. More privacy-conscious than Ring, easier than UniFi.
Arlo — Cloud-based but not Amazon. Better privacy policies than Ring. No law enforcement partnerships. Free tier available.
Reolink — Budget-friendly. Local storage via SD card or NAS. No subscription required. Good option for simple setups.

Migration steps

Download all Ring footage immediately (Ring app → three dots → Save Video for each clip, or use third-party batch downloader)
Cancel Ring Protect subscription to stop billing
Export your account data at ring.com/account/data-privacy
Decide on replacement hardware (UniFi for maximum privacy, Eufy for ease, Reolink for budget)
Install new hardware and verify coverage before removing Ring devices
Delete your Ring account (ring.com → Account → Delete Account)
Physically remove Ring devices — they have no value after account deletion