Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro

Smart doorbells offer a great combination of security and convenience to your home. When comparing the Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro, it’s clear that both doorbells have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. However, we feel that the is the better buy unless you’ve already invested in an August Smart Lock.

August and Ring both have a pretty impressive lineup of products, but Ring got their start in doorbell and it really shows. The brand has only continued to improve their offerings with the release of the Ring Doorbell Pro, and we feel it deserves that top spot when compared to the August model. However, August is a great brand for smart locks as well, and the interaction between the doorbell and camera might give it the edge it needs to be a superior option overall.

Below we’ll detail the similarities and differences between the two doorbells to help give you a better sense of what each brand has to offer. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections that interest you most.

Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro — Differences

  • Difference #1: Power Options – The first difference to discuss when comparing the August Doorbell vs. Ring Pro is the way that they are powered. Both bells only work through hardwiring into an existing doorbell kit, but the August model has a battery backup while the Ring Doorbell Pro does not.

    When you first install your Ring doorbell, you’ll see an LED blinking and a white circle that is slowly filling in on the front of the device. That circle is a charging meter, and when it fills completely the doorbell will move into a setup mode where you can complete the installation process and get your doorbell up and running.

    One thing that we want to mention is that some users have reported on Reddit that their Ring doorbell randomly stops working around 1 year after purchase. This doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem, but if it does happen you may find yourself needing to replace the cam completely since you can’t replace the battery under warranty. While it may not be a super common occurrence, we wanted to mention it just to keep you aware of the risk.

    The August Doorbell process is quite simple, and it actually has a battery backup as well that will keep the bell running for a short time in the event that your home loses power. Users report that it will generally maintain power for a few hours through its backup, so it’s not a long-term solution but it will at least help you avoid losing access to your doorbell completely.

    Included with the purchase of your August Doorbell Cam Pro is a USB dock that you will use to charge the backup battery and test the doorbell before you install to ensure that the device is compatible with your network.

    Both doorbells are compatible with 16-24 VAC Doorbell Transformers, and will not work with DC power.

    If your existing transformer isn’t powerful enough to power your smart doorbell, consider making the upgrade to the Honeywell Transformer to give your Ring or August bell the resources they need to run flawlessly.

  • Difference #2: Video Quality – In terms of video quality, the Ring Doorbell Pro has a bit of an edge, with a 1080p HD resolution vs. 1280 x 920 HD. One thing worth keeping in mind, however, is that the August Doorbell Cam Pro records at 30 FPS while the Ring model can only stream at 15 FPS.

    What this means in practical terms is that the picture quality of the Ring camera might be a little bit stronger, but the footage won’t be as smooth as the August Cam due to the inability to maintain a decent frame rate.

    So really, the cameras offer pretty similar quality — they just go about it in different ways.

  • Difference #3: Field of View – Since your smart doorbell is responsible for monitoring the front of your home, it’s important that the field of view be as good as possible to avoid missing activity taking place outside of the frame. The Ring Doorbell Pro is significantly better on this front, with a 160° degree horizontal field of view vs. the August Doorbell Cam Pro’s 120°.
  • Difference #4: Zoom – Another area where Ring has the edge is with its ability to zoom, which is notable absent on the August bell. Being able to zoom in on activity in the distance is great for extending security beyond the area directly in front of your door.
  • Difference #5: Night Vision – Both doorbell cameras can record at night, although only the Ring Doorbell Pro cam has infrared night vision that records crisp footage in black & white.

    The August bell does not have infrared night vision, instead relying on a small floodlight around the button that will activate when motion is triggered. This allows the doorbell to record in color even when it’s dark out, but the floodlight isn’t nearly as reliable as infrared night vision.

    The ability to record in color is nice, but at the end of the day, we think that a clear and detailed black and white stream is better than full-color footage with quality that is hit-or-miss.

  • Difference #6: Cloud Storage & Subscription – Both cameras offer cloud storage and have a subscription model, although they are structured differently.

    With the Ring Doorbell Pro, there is no free cloud storage. There are three plans available: Free, Protect Basic, and Protect Plus. Cloud storage is only available with Protect Basic and Protect Plus.

    For free, you’ll have access to the basic features of the Ring camera such as the motion alerts, live video on demand, and the ability to interact with visitors from wherever you happen to be.

    The Protect Basic Plan, available for $3 per month or $30 annually, covers One Ring Doorbell or Security camera and adds in the ability to access videos of every Ring event for up to 60 days.

    Protect Plus covers all of the Ring devices at one address and includes the same access to videos for 60 days. However, it also offers an extended warranty beyond the standard 1-year term, 10% off all Ring products purchased at ring.com, as well as access to Ring Alarm professional monitoring Protect Plus will cost you $10 per month or $100 annually.

    Protect Plus Plan Protect Basic Plan Free
    Coverage All Ring devices
    at one address
    One Ring Doorbell
    or Security Camera
    Ring and Motion Alerts Yes Yes Yes
    Custom motion detection Yes Yes Yes
    Interact with visitors from anywhere Yes Yes Yes
    Live video on demand Yes Yes Yes
    Warranty Extended warranty 1 year warranty 1 year warranty
    Video Recording Access videos of
    every Ring, Motion, and Live View
    event for up to 60 days
    Access videos of
    every Ring, Motion, and Live View
    event for up to 60 days
    No
    Review, share, and save Ring videos Yes Yes No
    Ring Alarm professional monitoring Yes No No
    Exclusive discounts at ring.com 10% off Ring Products No No
    Long-term Contract None, cancel anytime None, cancel anytime None
    Price $10 per month
    $100 annually
    $3 per month
    $30 annually
    Included with
    all Ring devices

    August, on the other hand, offers free cloud storage for up to 24 hours of video. There’s also a subscription available for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year that allows you to save and access clips for up to 30 days.

    When comparing the storage and subscription models of both brands, there’s no clear winner. August is great because it offers storage for free, but only Ring gives you the option to upgrade to 60 days of storage — twice as long as August’s 30-day capacity.

    So if you’d like to skip the monthly fee, August is the clear choice. However, the subscription plans with Ring are more impressive than with August.

  • Difference #7: Motion Zones & Person Alerts – One of the biggest advantages that Ring has over August is the camera’s support for Motion Zones and Person Alerts.

    Motion zones allow you to adjust the motion sensitivity in specific areas within your camera’s field of view, which is great for avoiding false alarms in heavily-trafficked areas. The camera is also great at distinguishing between a real person and movement from the likes of cars or animals, which further cuts down on the false notifications you receive on your phone.

    The August Doorbell Cam supports neither motion zones nor Person Alerts. There is an option to adjust motion sensitivity as a whole, but it’s a far cry from a dedicated motion zone feature and the camera is not great at distinguishing from a legitimate potential threat and motion from a vehicle or deer.

  • Difference #8: App Support – Both cameras have a dedicated Android or iOS app that you can use to access the live stream, view recordings, and adjust settings from wherever you happen to be. However, only Ring offers the ability to access the camera through the Web, which gives you a lot of flexibility since you can log in from any internet-connected computer.

    This may be a big deal for some homeowners, as not everyone likes to rely on a mobile device for their home monitoring.

  • Difference #9: Smart Home Integration – While Ring has a lot of advantages over August, one place where it falls short is in its smart home integration.

    Ring does work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Wink, and SmartThings, which gives you a good amount of flexibility and compatibility with other smart products. However, when you compare that integration to the August Doorbell Cam Pro, it’s clear that there’s a lot of room for improvement.

    The August bell is one of the more compatible models we’ve seen, with support for Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, SimpliSafe, Nest, Honeywell, IFTTT, Xfinity, Wink, August Smart Locks. The integration doesn’t end there either, with compatibility available for even more smart devices as well.

    The Smart Home Integration is really where August shines. If you’re looking for a doorbell that can work with your existing smart products, this advantage might be big enough to make it the superior choice.

  • Difference #10: Design & Color – Last but not least, there are some significant differences in the design of the two doorbells. The August doorbell has a unique square shape with dimensions of 2.9 x 0.9 x 2.9 in (7.4 x 2.3 x 7.4 cm), while the Ring model looks much more like a traditional doorbell with measurements of 4.5 x 1.9 x 0.8 in (11.4 x 4.7 x 2 cm).

    Both devices have an attractive aesthetic, but there’s something to be said for a design that looks more like a traditional bell. Users have reported that some people who approach their doors will sometimes bypass the August Doorbell entirely since it doesn’t look like an obvious doorbell. We feel that the Ring model has the edge from a design standpoint since it doesn’t look as outlandish on the front of your home.

    Ring also offers more customizability from a color standpoint, with four interchangeable faceplates rather than the August doorbell’s permanent choice between Silver and Dark Gray.


Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro — Comparison Chart

August Doorbell Cam Pro
Power Options Hardwire to existing
doorbell kit only
Hardwire to existing
doorbell kit only
Battery Life Internal Power Cell Backup battery
Compatible Doorbell Transformers 16-24 VAC,
DC not compatible
12-24 VAC
Video Resolution 1080p HD 1280 x 920 HD
FPS 15 FPS 30 FPS
Field of View 160° horizontal,
100° vertical
120° horizontal
Zoom Yes No
Night Vision Black & White No, depends on lighting
Free Cloud Storage No 24 hours of videos
Subscription Available Yes Yes
Compatible Networks 2.4 or 5 GHz 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth v4.0 (Bluetooth Smart),
5GHz, 2.4GHz
802.11 (b/g/n) Wi-Fi
Motion Detection Yes Yes
Motion Zones Yes No
Person Alerts Yes No
Facial Recognition No No
Live View On Demand Yes Yes
24/7 CVR No No
Two-Way Audio Yes Yes
Pre Recorded Responses No No
Silent Mode Yes Yes
Operating Temperature -5° – 120°F
(-20° – 50°C)
-13° – 122°F
(-25° – 50°C)
App Android, iOS, Web Android, iOS
Smart Home Integration Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
(no Google Hub Support), IFTTT,
Wink, SmartThings
Amazon Alexa, Google Home,
Apple HomeKit, SimpliSafe,
Nest, Honeywell, IFTTT,
Xfinity, Wink, August Smart Locks
and more
Colors Comes with four interchangeable
different color faceplates.
Silver, Dark Gray
Size 4.5 x 1.9 x 0.8 in
(11.4 x 4.7 x 2 cm)
2.9 x 0.9 x 2.9 in
(7.4 x 2.3 x 7.4 cm)
Warranty 1 year 1 year

Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro — Things in Common

August Doorbell Cam Pro

  • Compatible Networks – While a lot of older devices are single-band models that can only communicate over 2.4 GHz WiFi frequencies, both the Ring Doorbell Pro and August Doorbell Cam Pro are dual-band devices that are compatible with 2.4 or 5GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi. This technology allows them to spread their data transmission out and reduce the load that they place on your WiFi network — keeping your internet connections as fast as possible.

    The August Doorbell Cam Pro also features Bluetooth v4.0, also known as Bluetooth Smart. This capability helps the bell communicate with the August Smart Locks — acting as a bridge between your lock and the WiFi router. Using the August lock and Doorbell together is great for keeping your entryway protected, as you’ll be aware whenever someone approaches your door and can let them in without leaving couch using the August app.

  • Motion Detection – The primary purpose of both doorbells is to keep you aware whenever someone approaches your door, and both brands accomplish this using motion detection. Whenever someone comes within range, you’ll receive a notification on your mobile device.
  • Live View On Demand – The motion detection notifications will alert you of any activity, but you also have the ability to check in on your front door at any time with live view on demand available on both devices.
  • Two-Way Audio – The two-way audio feature included with both brands is perfect for communicating with visitors, or even scaring off a package thief!
  • Silent Mode – One of the cooler perks of these doorbells is the inclusion of silent mode. This feature allows you to disable your indoor chime, which means you’ll only be notified via a notification on your phone whenever someone rings your bell rather than an audible noise. It’s great for when you want to keep an eye on your door without disturbing the quiet within your home.
  • Operating Temperature – Both doorbells work well in a mixed climate, with durability to withstand very hot temperatures and temperatures below freezing.

    The Ring camera operates in a range of -5° – 120°F (-20° – 50°C), while the August lock is a little bit more impressive with the ability to function at temperatures ranging from 13° – 122°F (-25° – 50°C).

    For homeowners in more extreme climates, it’s worth looking into a device like the Skybell HD that is built to withstand a wider range of temperatures.

  • Warranty & Theft Replacement Guarantee – Your doorbell is a great way to prevent theft and intrusions, but it won’t be much help if it gets stolen itself! Fortunately, both the Ring Doorbell Pro and August Doorbell Cam Pro come with a 1-year warranty and a theft replacement guarantee. Just make sure that you keep your original proof of purchase and a copy of the police report in order to ensure you don’t have any difficulties getting your bell replaced.

Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro — Accessories

Ring Chime

As far as accessories go, there isn’t really much you’ll need for the August Doorbell Cam Pro, but buying an external Power Supply can be helpful during the installation process.

The Ring Doorbell Pro has a few more accessories that are worth looking into. The Ring Chime is great for using a different chime than the one included with your existing doorbell, the Ring Chime Pro is even more useful than the base model with a built-in WiFi extender. From an installation standpoint, the Adjustable (20 to 50 Degree) Angle Mount and Power Adapter are great to have on hand.

For both devices, the Honeywell Transformer is our recommended model if you need to upgrade your existing transformer to provide the additional power needed for a smart doorbell.


Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro — Our Thoughts

Ring Video Doorbell Pro

Ultimately, when deciding between the August Doorbell Cam Pro vs. Ring Pro, we do feel like offers a better product. From the better quality video to night vision, to features like motion zones and person detection, it just seems to have a slight edge over August in almost every metric. Plus, it looks more like a normal doorbell which is great for blending in with the exterior of the average home.

With that said, we think the August Doorbell Cam Pro is a better choice if you’re looking for a product that will really integrate quite well into an existing product — especially if you’ve purchased or are planning on purchasing an August Smart Lock.


Last update on 2024-03-29 at 05:01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1 thought on “Ring Doorbell Pro vs. August Doorbell Cam Pro”

  1. Thanks for the really useful comparison. Really on point. Unfortunately, I’m still really split between the two. I’m planning on getting the August Smart Lock and love its integration with the Auguat Smart Bell. However, features like night vision, motion zones really do matter.

    Is it still worth having an independent lock from the bell?

    Reply

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