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Behind every successful business or home, there’s proper management and security. But any security solution requires the right tools to stand out. So, as we compare Reolink vs Ring CCTV systems, the whole idea is to help ensure you chose the best for your situation. That’s based on your budget, needs, and the environment.
That said, however, Ring and Reolink are two different class of surveillance systems as one is a smart home brand. Then, the other is more of a versatile maker for both standalone and expandable security camera kits.
However, Reolink wins our Editor’s choice award today.
The 4 Reasons why Reolink is the Best
- Reolink has a wide range of security cameras to choose from- several dozens more than what Ring offers.
- Reolink has up to 4K Ultra-HD security cameras. Thus, allowing you to capture your property in crispier quality than Ring that only supports up to 1080p HD
- Reolink has various storage options, including microSD card, hard drive disk, and cloud service. Ring cameras only feature cloud, which you must pay at least $3/ month for each camera
- Reolink offers its Security cameras at affordable rates- both standalone expandable recorders (NVR & DVR). Ring devices are a bit more expensive, plus you can only get standalone security systems, which may be more expensive if you have a large property.
Reolink vs Ring: A Quick Summary on the Security Brands
[su_table]
| Facts | Reolink Digital Technology | Ring Home Security |
| Company Founded | 2009 | 2011 |
| PTZ Cameras | YES Limited models |
NO |
| Video Resolution | Up to 4K Ultra-HD | Up to 1080p Full HD |
| Active Deterrence | YES [Spotlight and Siren] |
YES [Spotlight and siren] |
| Night Vision | YES [Colored and infrared] |
YES [colored and infrared] |
| Audio Functions | YES | YES |
| Sound Detection | NO | NO |
| Video Analytics | YES Smart PIR motion detection |
YES Smart PIR motion detection |
| Continuous Video Recording | YES (to local storage) |
NO [Only save event clips] |
| Built-in Local Storage | YES [MicroSD Card & Hard Drive] |
NO |
| Free Cloud | YES [Rolling 7 days] |
NO |
| Power Option | Wired, Battery & solar plugin | Wired, Battery & Solar plugin |
| Smart Home Compatibility | YES [Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant] |
YES [Amazon Alexa] |
| Ease of Use | Perfect | Perfect |
| Add-Ons & Accessories | YES Solar Panel charger Rechargeable batteries Silicone skins Bracket mounts Power adapters & cables Camera & NVR antennas |
YES Solar panel charger Rechargeable batteries Mounting brackets Video doorbell Alarm door/ window sensor Alarm smoke & Co sensors |
| Warranty Policy | Limited Two-Year Warranty | Limited One-Year Warranty |
[/su_table]
Introducing Reolink
As was mentioned in Reolink vs Arlo review, Reolink is that brand you can turn to if you don’t have enough budget at hand. It’s one of the few firms that operate at a low price-point to make the products accessible to as many users as possible.
Furthermore, the 11-year old maker has plenty of options to choose from, not limited to PoE IP cameras, Wireless/ WiFi cameras, and battery-powered cameras. So, it’s pretty impossible to not find a solution for your situation.
Introducing Ring
On its ends, Ring LLC is a home automation company offering all those small gadgets you need to build a smart home ecosystem. It’s one of the most successful DIY security providers, albeit for only wireless CCTV systems.
Regardless, Ring company started with making video doorbells. If you can remember our discussion on Ring vs Nest vs Arlo, it wasn’t until 2015 when the company made its first Stick-up CCTV camera.
As of now, Ring has crafted several similar cameras, all featuring a cuboid design. The brand is yet to have NVR and DVR systems, and we doubt it’ll ever happen now that Amazon is the parent.
Reolink vs Ring: The 4 Key Differences on the Security Camera Brands
Design: Do You Want to Monitor Home or Business?
As already mentioned, Ring only offers wireless/ WiFi security camera systems at the moment. Therefore, the brand is best for suburban and apartment residents where the property is not big. If it’s indoor, the cameras are available in a lovely white garment, plus the cuboid design offers a great cover for discreet monitoring.
Meanwhile, Reolink offers plenty of choices for monitoring small and large areas, both indoor and outdoor. If you’re shopping for your small business joint, the company has some spectacular PoE IP NVRs (up to 16 channels). Thus, allowing you to connect multiple cameras to monitor various angles.
Still, Reolink has an indoor and outdoor PTZ security camera that makes it possible to cover a larger section of your property with fewer devices.
Video Quality: How Clear Do You Want the Feeds?
Reolink also has a win here since it already has 4K Ultra-HD systems in the market. If you want to monitor a sensitive area, you can enjoy sharp and crispier footage that you can even zoom without losing important details. But if you don’t have enough cash at hand, you can get the industry-standard 1080p, 3MP, or 5MP super HD.
This is pretty different with Ring as the available security cameras can only record in 1080p quality. Of course, the image resolution is not bad off but it’s at least four times lesser in pixels than the 4K quality.
Notes:
The Ring team has recently unveiled the Floodlight Cam that can illuminate white light at night when provoked. Therefore, the brand now has a line of cameras that deliver colored night vision, just like with Reolink.
Audio/ Video Analytics: Are Smart A.I. Features a Must?
If the answer is a yes, then neither Reolink nor Ring has the system you need. Both only support smart human and vehicle detection, thanks to the integrated PIR motion sensor. But Ring had one time mentioned adding facial recognition technology into their security cams. So, it’s likely the team will make it happen sooner now that they have Amazon on the heels of their operations.
Storage: Paid or Free Service?
Yet again, Reolink has a generous offer when it comes to storage. The expandable NVR and DVR recorders usually come with a hard drive disk that can record 24/7 continuously or by events. If it’s the standalone systems, some models have a MicroSD slot that you can insert a card and record locally at no extra fees.
Still, Reolink offers free cloud storage (only 1 camera) for up to 7 days. If you have more than one camera, you can subscribe for the Standard cloud plan at around $4.00/ month. This is a much better offer as it covers five security cameras, unlike Ring that charges you $3/ month for a single camera.
Table 2
[su_table]
| Features | Ring Protect (Basic) | Ring Protect Plus | Reolink Standard | Reolink Business |
| Plan Cost | $3/ month | $10/ month | $3.50/ month | $10.49/ month |
| Coverage | One camera | Unlimited devices | 5 cameras | 20 cameras |
| Event Video Length | 60 days | 60 days | 30 days | 60 days |
| Continuous Recording | NO | NO | NO | NO |
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring | NO | YES | NO | NO |
[/su_table]
Reolink vs Ring: The 4 Best Wireless Security Camera System from the Brands
Reolink E1 Pro Indoor Wireless WiFi Security Camera
- See Clearly Both Day and Night: The 2K 4MP resolution allows you to see images with super clarity...
- Dual-Band WiFi: The 5GHZ indoor security camera works on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi for superior...
Just as the name, the security camera is for indoor use only. It’s a wireless design, which is to say you won’t need an NVR to use or sweat off drilling and running cables.
Summary Features:
- It delivers sharp and vivid super HD footages
- Supports both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz WiFi
- Offers audio recording and two-way talk
- Has remote pan and tilt to cover more grounds
- Supports hands-free control with Google Assistant devices
- Has a built-in MicroSD slot and free 7-day cloud storage
- It’s very affordable
Reolink Argus Pro Full HD Wireless Outdoor Security Camera
If you need to monitor an area inaccessible to power, the Argus series is one of the top options you can consider. It uses a rechargeable battery and you can hook up a solar charger to ensure continuous power supply and uncut monitoring.
Summary Features:
- It’s effortless to set up and operate
- Connects with only 2.4GHz WiFi
- Supports audio recording and two-way talk
- Can record to a MicroSD card or Reolink cloud
- Offers crystal full HD feed and clearer night vision
- It’s IP65 weatherproof to survive harsh outdoor conditions.
Ring Spotlight Cam Wire-Free Wireless Security Camera
- Connect your Ring camera with Alexa then enable announcements to be alerted when motion is detected....
- Lets you see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet and PC.
This is another battery-powered standalone camera that you can use where the wired power can’t reach. Also, it’s a great choice if you need a smart surveillance system that you can link with your smart home automation system (or Alexa).
Summary Features:
- It features a sleek and durable design
- Has built-in LED spotlights and siren
- Delivers bright and crisp videos, day and night
- Can capture footage with audio, and two-way talk
- Supports hands-free monitoring with Amazon’s Alexa
- It comes with a Lifetime theft protection
Ring Stick up Cam Battery-Powered Security Camera System
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Although the last, this Stick Up Cam is the overall bestseller on our list, featuring over 20,000 positive reviews on Amazon. It’s straightforward to set up as it doesn’t need the hefty wiring that analog DVR and NVRs rely on to work.
Summary Features:
- It has a rugged and weather-resistant build
- Can be used indoor or outdoor
- Delivers vivid HD videos with rich details
- Supports audio recording and two-way talk
- Can only connect with 2.4GHz WiFi
- You can control by voice commands via Alexa
FAQ
Does Reolink work with Ring?
At the moment, Ring company only creates smart standalone WiFi security cameras. Reolink, on the other hand, offers both the standalone and multi-channel systems but since Ring lacks the NVR interface, the two aren’t compatible.
Does Reolink have a doorbell camera?
Reolink has a wide range of security camera systems, including NVR, DVR, WiFi cameras, and mobile 4G cameras. The company, however, is yet to add a video doorbell in its catalog but we’re hoping they will soon.
In any case, some Reolink cameras, such as the Argus line, has an integrated mic and speaker. Thus, allowing you to see and talk with whoever facing the camera.
What cameras work with Reolink?
ONVIF compatibility is the term used to define all security cameras that can work with third-party software and systems other than its own. While not with all, Reolink NVR systems can work with cameras from Swann, Amcrest, and QCAM that also support ONVIF compliance.
Nonetheless, some features may fail to function normally when using a system different from what it was originally designed. Hence, the reason the manufacturer emphasizes using Reolink cameras with Reolink recorders.
Which is the better, Ring or Nest security camera?
It’s no secret both Ring and Nest are great security systems but in their ways. For instance, Nest cameras are available in up to 4K UHD resolution plus it has invested in advanced analytics like facial recognition and sound detection. The brand also does support continuous video recording, something Ring company is yet to offer.
When it comes to the question of cost, however, Ring is relatively more affordable than Nest. This includes both the hardware and the cloud service plan.
But When you compare the pair to Reolink, the latter is the most affordable and better choice for large-scale surveillance.
Final Thoughts
In general, Reolink and Ring are amazing if you want to keep an eye on your home. They both have 1080p high dimension devices, which nowadays is the industry-standard resolution and enough for general-purpose monitoring.
Regardless, the Reolink security camera has much and better offers on the table. It has over a hundred choices to pick from, including expandable 16-channel systems that connect multiple cameras. So, you can have a chance to monitor a large property and from one control unit.
Anyway, that’s all for now. Hopefully, you found our post helpful and with the right solution for your situation.
