Ring vs. Xfinity
What is the difference between Ring and Xfinity?
Ring and Xfinity are home security systems with smart-home capabilities that let you monitor your property from your phone. Xfinity requires professional installation for any systems with a smoke detector, motion sensor, door sensor or window sensor, while Ring has DIY installation. Ring and Xfinity differ greatly in both pricing and customer service.
Installation and cost
 |  | |
| Installation type | DIY or professional via X Line | Professional |
| Installation fee | None if DIY | $100 |
| Upfront cost | Equipment ranges from $60 to $1,010 | Equipment cost of $360 to $600+; financing available |
| Trial period | 30-day free trial of Ring Protect Plus | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Contract terms | None; discount for prepaying annually | Two years |
| DIY or professional via X Line | None if DIY | Equipment ranges from $60 to $1,010 | 30-day free trial of Ring Protect Plus | None; discount for prepaying annually |
| Professional | $100 | Equipment cost of $360 to $600+; financing available | 30-day money-back guarantee | Two years |
Monitoring plans and pricing
| | |
| Monitoring price range | Free self monitoring; $3 to $10/month for professional monitoring | $30+ |
| Monitoring options | Professional or self-monitored | Professional and self-monitored |
| Self-monitoring | Free | Self protection feature available (live recorded video) for $10/month |
| Upgraded self-monitoring | $3/month to store recorded video | — |
| 24/7 professional monitoring | $10/month | $30+ |
| Upgraded professional monitoring | Not offered | $40+ |
| Free self monitoring; $3 to $10/month for professional monitoring | Professional or self-monitored | Free | $3/month to store recorded video | $10/month | Not offered |
| $30+ | Professional and self-monitored | Self protection feature available (live recorded video) for $10/month | — | $30+ | $40+ |
Security equipment
| | |
| Wired or wireless? | Both | Wireless |
| Camera options | Indoor and outdoor cameras | Indoor and outdoor cameras |
| Video doorbell | — | |
| Control panel | ||
| Motion sensor | ||
| Entry sensor | ||
| Glass break sensor | With Alexa-enabled devices | |
| Keychain remote | — | — |
| Siren | Not specified | |
| Panic button | Via touch-screen control panel | |
| Yard sign |
| Both | Indoor and outdoor cameras | With Alexa-enabled devices | — | |||||||
| Wireless | Indoor and outdoor cameras | — | — | Not specified | Via touch-screen control panel |
Smart-home features
| | |
| Smart locks | Compatible with August, Kwikset and Yale | |
| Smart lights | Compatible with GE (Jasco), Leviton, LIFX, Lutron Castéta, Phillips Hue, Sengled | |
| Smart thermostat | — | Compatible with Carrier Cor, ecobee, Zen |
| Garage door control | Works with Chamberlain garage door openers | Compatible with Chamberlain LiftMaster |
| Temperature sensor | — | — |
| Water sensor | — | |
| Smoke detector | ||
| CO detector | — |
| — | Works with Chamberlain garage door openers | — | |||||
| Compatible with August, Kwikset and Yale | Compatible with GE (Jasco), Leviton, LIFX, Lutron Castéta, Phillips Hue, Sengled | Compatible with Carrier Cor, ecobee, Zen | Compatible with Chamberlain LiftMaster | — | — | — |
Technology
| | |
| Mobile app | ||
| Mobile app monitoring | ||
| iOS rating | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Android rating | 3.7 | 4.5 |
| Notification/alert options | Push | Text, email, push and TV |
| Home automation capabilities | ||
| Voice integration | ||
| Amazon Alexa | ||
| Google Home | Not specified | |
| Other integrations | — | Not specified |
| 4.5 | 3.7 | Push | — | ||||||
| 4.4 | 4.5 | Text, email, push and TV | Not specified | Not specified |
Reputation on ConsumerAffairs
| | |
| Overall star rating | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| Verified customer reviews | Ring reviews | Xfinity Home reviews |
| 3.3 | Ring reviews |
| 3.5 | Xfinity Home reviews |
All information accurate as of publishing date.
Ring
Ring offers security system packages that range in price from $199.99 to $349.99, with individual pieces of equipment starting at $60 for an indoor camera. Ring customers don’t need a contract and can cancel at any time. Installation for Ring products is completely DIY, and you can choose to monitor your Ring security system yourself or opt in to professional monitoring.
Ring currently offers some smart-home capabilities including smart locks, smart lights and several voice integration features, and it depends on Wi-Fi to send push notifications through its app when it detects suspicious activity. You can also use Ring’s two-way voice system to speak to someone at your door.
Ring plans
Ring currently offers three monitoring plans:
- Ring Protect Free: Ring’s free plan comes with motion-activated notifications, real-time video, two-way talk and lifetime theft protection.
- Ring Protect Basic: For $3 a month, Ring Protect Basic has all the features of Ring Protect Free and adds video saving and sharing features and coverage for one doorbell or security camera.
- Ring Protect Plus: For $10 a month, this plan includes all the same features of Ring Protect Free and Ring Protect Basic and adds 24/7 professional monitoring. You can also record from multiple devices at one address, and the plan includes a 10% discount on select accessories and extended warranties on all devices.
What Ring customers say
Reviews on ConsumerAffairs reflect that Ring customers like the product’s video quality, and many people mention an easy installation process. Reviewers say they enjoy the remote access to their system via the app and the quality of the video footage. Many customers use the system and app to monitor their property to protect against porch pirates and other suspicious activity, but some customers say they experienced issues with the device going offline.
Ring is incredibly easy to set-up and use. I can check my system at all hours of the day. I can also customize the specific hours I get alerts so that I'm not alerted every time I receive an Amazon package."
– Erin of Columbus, OH
Xfinity
Xfinity offers home security systems that range in price from $360 to $600. Xfinity customers do not need a contract and can pay month to month. While you can install your Xfinity security system yourself, you must have smoke detectors, motion sensors, door sensors or window sensors professionally installed.
Despite having no voice integration features outside of the Xfinity Voice Remote, Xfinity is quite smart-home capable. You can close your garage door with compatible equipment, turn off lights and lock doors all from your mobile app. While Xfinity uses Wi-Fi to power its systems, cellular backup is available in case your Wi-Fi drops out.
Xfinity plans
Xfinity currently offers three monthly monitoring plans:
- Self-Protection Plan: For $10 a month, this DIY plan allows you to watch your home with the Xfinity app or on your television using your voice remote. You will receive a notification when the cameras detect any motion.
- Home Security Plan: For $30 a month, this plan provides 24/7 professional monitoring by trained agents who notify authorities if a security alarm goes off or smoke is detected.
- Home Security Plus Plan: Along with the same features of the Self-Protection and Home Security Plan, the Home Security Plus plan allows up to a week of cloud storage for your videos. This plan, which costs $40 a month, lets you search footage for specific people, pets and vehicles.
What Xfinity customers say
Customers who enjoy Xfinity's services and equipment say they like being able to control their system through the company’s mobile app and that the products are a good price for the quality. Some reviews detail frustrations around dealing with customer service to resolve issues.
Easy monitoring remotely from any mobile devices, such as smartphones or laptops. Never had any outages or interruptions in service since installation. Greater price than competitors and 24/7 monitoring for all services. Gives me peace of mind when I am away from home as I can see what is going on."
– Kim of York, PA
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Bottom line: Ring or Xfinity?
With more features, lower prices and better customer reviews, Ring seems like a better choice between these two systems for most people. One exception might be if you’re a current Xfinity customer or you live in an extremely rural area — Xfinity has cellular backup to handle internet outages, but Ring does not.
Ring is best for customers who want a security system with voice integration features at a low price.
Xfinity home security is a good choice for customers who live in rural areas or already have their internet, TV, phone and security through Xfinity.
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