Should I buy a Blink or Ring doorbell this Prime Day? Two big video doorbell brands compared

Two of the biggest brands in the video doorbell market are Blink and Ring. Incidentally, both are owned by Amazon, which means both have more than their fair share of deals this Amazon Prime Day. If you're not sure which brand is better, read on. In this guide I'll summarize the main differences between the two brands and run through your different options, so you can pick the right one for your needs.

The Ring video doorbell range is extensive, including multiple battery-powered and hardwired options. Generally speaking, this is the more premium brand — the prices are higher than Blink's, but the specs and features are also generally more advanced.

Blink, in comparison, has just three video doorbells — the Blink range is far more focused on home security cameras. There's one wired option, a budget battery option, and a slightly pricier battery option. At list price, all are cheaper than any of Ring's doorbells (although the current Prime Day deals might mix things up a bit).

For me, I'd buy the Ring Wired Doorbell for $39.99 (was $79.99). Wired doorbells are generally a much better choice than battery-powered ones, and the Ring range generally offers better specs than Blink's. For slightly more advanced specs, I'd also consider the Ring Wired Doorbell Plus for $99 (was $179.99).

Not sure about Blink or Ring? Head to our best video doorbell ranking for some alternatives from other brands.

Ring doorbell deals

Blink doorbell deals

Blink vs Ring: features

For the best image quality, you need to shop in the Ring range. Its Pro doorbells both offer 4K video, which is about the most detailed picture you'll find on any video doorbell. The rest of Ring's doorbells, and two of the three Blink options, have 2K (1920 x 1920p) video. Finally, Blink has a budget option that has just 1440p resolution.

In terms of field of view, there's nothing really in it — pretty much every option in both ranges can 'see' 140 degrees vertically and 140 degrees horizontally. Surprisingly, the one exception is the basic, battery-powered Blink Video Doorbell, which offers 150 degrees.

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For both there's a subscription option that adds extra features, but what's included as standard and what sits behind that subscription varies by model and also by country. However, you can expect to have to pay for a subscription if you want to save and store video clips for extended periods of time.

Because both brands are Amazon-owned, they'll both work nicely with Alexa and other compatible devices such as Amazon Echo show smart displays.

Blink vs Ring: value for money

At list price, all the Blink doorbells are all cheaper than the Ring ones — prices on the Blink range from $49.99 to $69.99, while the Ring range starts at $79.99. However, in either case, you'll want to make sure the features you want are not tied to a subscription, because that can shift the value-for-money proposition.

Generally speaking, the Blink doorbells are more basic than the Ring ones — check the spec comparison table below to see how the key features compare.

In the Amazon Prime Day sales, there are massive discounts across both ranges. Personally, I'd be tempted to use this opportunity to pick up a better quality doorbell that's been discounted into your budget.

Blink vs Ring: specs compared

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Ruth is TechRadar's Collections Editor, responsible for masterminding TechRadar's approach towards the new Collections format — a themed, curated selection of product recommendations designed to provide readers with an exciting new way to shop for the very best new gadgets and gizmos.