As a homeowner who’s always prioritized safety and convenience, I invested in Ring’s alarm and camera system years ago, hoping it would provide peace of mind with real-time alerts and seamless integration. Little did I know that what started as a promising setup would turn into a persistent nightmare of technical frustrations, ultimately leading me to cancel my subscription and sell off all my devices. If you’re considering Ring or already dealing with similar issues, my story might just save you some headaches—and money.
Notifications Ring Too Late
From the outset, the core problem has been excruciatingly slow notifications. Despite having ultra-fast internet, a dedicated WiFi network solely for my cameras, and a top-of-the-line phone with reliable 5G connectivity, alerts about someone at my door often arrive minutes after the event. We’re talking delays of two, three, or even five minutes—long enough for a potential intruder to come and go without me even knowing in real time. This isn’t just annoying; it renders the system utterly useless as a security measure. How am I supposed to respond to a threat if I’m notified well after it’s over?
And let’s not forget the advertised feature of two-way talk, which allows you to communicate with visitors right from your phone. That’s a joke in practice. By the time my phone buzzes with the alert, the delivery person has already dropped off the package and driven away, or the solicitor has moved on to the next house. I’ve missed countless opportunities to interact simply because the system can’t keep up. Ring promotes this as a game-changer for home security and convenience, but in my experience, it’s more like a relic from the dial-up era.
Troubleshooting For Years
This isn’t a new issue for me—it’s plagued my setup for years. I’ve gone to great lengths to troubleshoot and fix it, thinking surely something on my end was the culprit. I switched internet providers to one with even faster speeds and better reliability. I upgraded my phone to the latest model with impeccable network performance. All apps are kept up to date, and I even invested in a brand-new WiFi router optimized for smart home devices. As a final Hail Mary, I added a new Ring camera to the mix, hoping fresh hardware would solve the lag. But nope—the delays persisted unchanged. Everything on my side is new, optimized, and firing on all cylinders, yet Ring’s notifications still crawl in like they’re traveling by snail mail.
I’ve reached out to Ring support multiple times over the years, running through their standard checklists: reboot the devices, check signal strength, update firmware. Each time, they assure me it’s a rare glitch or something environmental, but nothing ever improves. It’s clear to me now that the problem lies deeper within Ring’s infrastructure or app design, not my setup. And with so many similar complaints I’ve seen online from other users, I’m convinced this is a systemic issue they’re either unwilling or unable to fully address.
At Ring We Don’t Get Better – We Just Get More Expensive
The breaking point came recently when Ring announced a price hike for their subscription service, jumping from $100 to $200 per year. That’s a 100% increase for a product that’s failed to deliver on its basic promises! Paying more for the privilege of unreliable notifications? No thanks. This was the last straw in a long line of disappointments. I immediately canceled my subscription and started the process of selling off my Ring devices—cameras, alarm system, the works. It’s bittersweet to let go, but the relief of moving on outweighs any nostalgia.
Stay Tuned
I’m now in the process of transitioning to a new security system from a different provider, one that prioritizes speed, reliability, and user feedback. While I won’t spoil the details here, stay tuned for my upcoming in-depth reviews where I’ll break down the installation, performance, and whether it finally solves the notification woes that Ring couldn’t. If you’ve been on the fence about sticking with Ring, my advice is simple: don’t wait for another price increase or missed alert to push you over the edge. There are better options out there, and I’m excited to share my journey toward finding one that actually works.
