At one point, Ring cameras were branded the “Best Smart Home Security” option—cheap, user-friendly, and part of the Amazon ecosystem. But as we enter 2025, increasingly more people are simply uninstalling or deleting Ring products.

Why? From privacy concerns to hidden costs to limited use without subscriptions, consumers are realizing that Ring cameras are no longer the best security option.

If you are considering purchasing a Ring camera—or if you already own one and are frustrated—this article answers the top sought-out questions that consumers are asking about Ring, and why many are saying Goodbye.

Why Are People Deleting Their Ring Cameras?

There are multiple reasons such as :

• Privacy issues to do with data sharing, loss of data, and surveillance
• Subscription fatigue with a monthly fee, and less functionality without a subscription
• Connectivity hurdles and constant “Offline” errors
• Battery life is short, making dependability on it unsatisfying
• The setup was not clear and had limitations that frustrated users

Now let’s take a closer look at the reasons people are getting rid of their Ring cameras, and examine the top questions people ask – questions that sometimes uncover more substantial privacy risks and product limitations that might not have crossed your mind. If you are thinking about getting one, have one or are on the fence about getting rid of yours, this is going to help inform your decision making processes.

Why Privacy Concerns Are Driving Users Away?

A substantial number of consumers are deleting their Ring products over privacy concerns. The company has faced multiple backlashes about their partnerships with law enforcement agencies—often allowing police, and access to footage without user consent.

Here are some common questions people ask, only to realize they’re actually privacy concerns:

Can Ring cameras be hacked?

Yes, there have been cases documented in which hackers could get access to Ring devices, with the most cases being weak or reused passwords.

Does Ring need Wi-Fi?

Yes. If the camera does not have wi-fi, the camera is not going to record, send alerts, or stream video. And if there is no strong and stable wi-fi, be prepared for lots of delay and offline errors.

Are Ring cameras usable even without a Wi-Fi connection?

No. They rely solely on a current interment connection. If your internet is down, then your security system is down.

Do Ring cameras have 24/7 recordings?

Surprisingly, no. Unless on a subscription, Ring cameras only record when it detects motion. While, even with a subscription, it does not necessarily record continuously, it only records in an event-based storage way.

Subscription Fatigue and Unexpected Costs

Many Ring users are awakening to the truth that even after paying for the camera, that’s not the ticket to everything. There are many things you have to pay for to use the basics, such as video for notifications, storage for recorded video, and smart features.

Over time, these charges can add-up, especially with households with multiple devices. It’s easy to get annoyed with subscription fatigue and fee increases or fewer tier options that users feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick and cut the rope when canceling their subscription.

Here are some common questions:

Do you have to pay Ring for a subscription service?

It will work without a subscription, but you will not have access to your past recordings or advanced features. If you do not want to pay for a subscription, your camera becomes a device that only does a live feed.

How much does a Ring camera cost?

Ring cameras start at about $60 for the cheapest device, and range to $250 for the most expensive. That seems affordable enough—until you include the subscription.

What is the price for a subscription on a Ring camera?

• Basic Plan (one device): $3.99/month
• Plus Plan (multiple devices): $10/month
• Pro Plan (including professional monitoring): $20/month

When you add all of this up, it is a high cost, especially when people are getting multiple Ring cameras for their home.

Battery Life: Not as long as you think

Most users had hoped that their Ring devices would last more than a couple months on one charge, instead they were merely hoping and having to continuously charge each device.

Here are some common questions people ask you might have:

How long can a Ring camera battery last?

Generally, battery life can last anywhere from 1 to 6 months depending on the amount of usage and the weather. For cameras that see a lot of traffic, that could decrease to a few weeks.

How to charge a Ring camera battery?

Take the battery out, plug it into a micro-USB charger and wait 5–10 hours for a full charge. If that sounds like too much work, you’re not alone.

How long to charge Ring camera battery the first time?

Make sure to allow 8–10 hours to charge your battery fully on the first charge.

Troubleshooting Is a Frequent Need

Although smart security is appealing instead of complicated, most users have all sorts of issues to troubleshoot, ie. lagging video, late activity alerts, the app crashing and shutting down, devices going offline.

It can be frustrating to constantly have to reset devices, reconnect to your Wi-fi network, or even deal with Ring’s support person/people when your camera is supposed to create peace of mind, not hassle and confusion.

Frustrated users frequently do a Google search for how to fix or reset their devices, because the app does not always make things crystal clear. Let’s see what they are:

How to reset a Ring camera?

Hold down the orange setup button on the device for 15–20 seconds until you see the light flash. Then, you will need to set it up again, using the app.

How to turn off a Ring camera?

Open Ring app → Devices → Tap your camera → Use the Modes feature (such as, “Disarmed”) to disable recording and motion detection. Unfortunately, you cannot physically turn the camera off without uninstalling it or cutting the power.

How to change Wi-Fi on Ring camera?

Open the Ring app → Device Health → Change Wi-Fi Network → Follow the prompts to reconnect.

How do I set up my Ring camera?

Download the Ring app → Go to “Set Up a Device” → Follow the instructions step-by-step using the QR code on your device.

How to turn on ring light on ONN camera?

For ONN models that include LED ring lights, even though ONN is a different brand, you go to settings in the ONN camera app and toggle the ring light on manually, or switch it on based on motion detection/night vision.

Expectations vs. Reality

What is advertised- tubular video, immediate alerts, and crime deterrence- is quite different from what is received. Many users are disappointed with pixelated video in low-light settings, missing alerts on motion recordings, or disapproval of talking or listening via the specific camera.

The truth is unless users are well-versed in technology, Ring feels much more like a gadget or novelty than the security solution is marketed as. When the user experience doesn’t match expectations, it leads to the individual asking themselves “is this worth it?” And more and more the answer is no.

Conclusion

As Ring loses usefulness while more competent devices are coming to market with more innovative, smarter, have on device or local storage options that make the evolving market favourable for buyers.

If you are consider a Ring camera, be fully aware that while it is not a bad device to use on its own, it often does not measure up – mostly without a paid subscription and wi-fi that is depends on – stability.

If you value your privacy, and/or local storage, and/or are working at simplifying your setup while avoiding dependent subscriptions, it is no wonder people are opting out of Ring camera use.

Read about: How to Build Better Money Habits and Start Saving Every Month?