Ring vs Nest Doorbell: Which Smart Doorbell Should You Buy in 2025?
After testing both doorbells for 8 months, here's my honest comparison to help you choose the best smart doorbell for your home security needs.
Quick Comparison
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
- • Resolution: 1536p HD
- • Field of view: 150° vertical
- • Motion zones: Advanced
- • Power: Wired
- • Price: $249
Google Nest Doorbell (Wired)
- • Resolution: 960p HD
- • Field of view: 145° diagonal
- • Motion zones: Basic
- • Power: Wired
- • Price: $179
Video Quality
Ring Pro 2 wins decisively with 1536p resolution vs Nest's 960p. The difference is noticeable—Ring captures clearer faces and license plate numbers. However, Nest's HDR support provides better performance in mixed lighting conditions like sunset.
AI & Smart Features
Google Nest excels in AI-powered features. It can distinguish between people, animals, packages, and vehicles without a subscription. Ring requires Ring Protect ($4/month) for person detection and advanced features. Nest's facial recognition (with Nest Aware) is also more accurate.
Subscription Costs
This is crucial. Ring Protect costs $4/month or $40/year for one device. Nest Aware is $6/month or $60/year but covers all your Nest devices. If you have multiple cameras, Nest becomes more cost-effective. Both require subscriptions for video history beyond 3 hours (Nest) or no history at all (Ring).
Pros & Cons
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
Pros:
- • Higher resolution (1536p)
- • Bird's Eye View feature
- • Better night vision
- • Works with Alexa
- • Pre-roll video recording
Cons:
- • More expensive
- • Requires subscription
- • No free AI detection
- • Amazon ecosystem only
- • Bulkier design
Google Nest Doorbell
Pros:
- • Free AI detection
- • Better smart home integration
- • Facial recognition
- • Lower price
- • Cleaner design
Cons:
- • Lower resolution (960p)
- • Only 3 hours free history
- • Weaker night vision
- • Google ecosystem only
- • Slower notifications
Which Should You Buy?
Choose Ring if you prioritize video quality, use Alexa devices, or need the best night vision for security.
Choose Nest if you value AI features without subscriptions, use Google Home, or have multiple Nest cameras already.
Final Verdict
For most users, I recommend the Google Nest Doorbell. Its free AI detection, better smart home integration, and lower total cost of ownership make it the smarter choice—even with lower resolution. But if you demand the clearest video quality, Ring Pro 2 is worth the premium.
My Rating: Ring 8.7/10 | Nest 9.0/10