Self-Hosted Alternatives to Ring
Ring Costs More Than You Think
Ring’s pricing model is designed to extract money forever. The hardware is just the entry point — the real cost is the mandatory Ring Protect subscription to do anything useful with your cameras.
| Ring Expense | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Ring Protect Basic (1 camera) | $39.99/year |
| Ring Protect Plus (unlimited cameras) | $99.99/year |
| Ring Protect Pro (video + alarm) | $199.99/year |
| Ring camera hardware (amortized) | $30-80/year |
| Total (4 cameras, Plus plan) | $220-420/year |
Without a subscription, Ring cameras can only live-view — no recording, no event history, no sharing. You paid $200 for a doorbell that turns into a paperweight without a monthly payment.
Beyond cost, Ring sends all video to Amazon’s cloud. Amazon has provided Ring footage to law enforcement without user consent. Your cameras become Amazon’s surveillance network.
Best Alternatives
Frigate — Best Overall Replacement
Frigate is the most feature-complete self-hosted NVR available. It uses AI object detection (person, car, animal, package) with Google Coral or NVIDIA GPU acceleration, integrates deeply with Home Assistant, and provides real-time alerts that match or exceed Ring’s notification system.
What you get that Ring doesn’t offer:
- Local AI detection — runs entirely on your hardware
- No subscription fees, ever
- Unlimited cameras, unlimited retention
- RTSP camera support (thousands of compatible models)
- Full Home Assistant integration for automations
What you lose:
- No dedicated mobile app (use Home Assistant app instead)
- No two-way audio through the NVR (camera-dependent)
- Requires more initial setup than plugging in a Ring camera
Shinobi — Best for Multiple Locations
Shinobi is a full-featured NVR with multi-server support, making it ideal if you need surveillance across multiple sites. It includes motion detection, object detection (via plugins), and a responsive web interface.
Strengths: Multi-monitor support, group/user permissions, API for custom integrations. Works well for small businesses with multiple locations.
Weaknesses: Heavier resource usage than Frigate, less refined AI detection, smaller community.
Viseron — Best for Face Recognition
Viseron adds face recognition on top of standard object detection. If you want your NVR to identify who is at the door — not just that someone is there — Viseron is the only self-hosted option with built-in face recognition.
Strengths: Face recognition, standalone web UI (no Home Assistant required), MIT license.
Weaknesses: Smaller community than Frigate, higher resource requirements for face recognition.
ZoneMinder — Most Mature Option
ZoneMinder has been around since 2002 — it’s the oldest open-source NVR. Rock-solid stability, extensive documentation, and a proven track record. If you value stability over cutting-edge AI features, ZoneMinder delivers.
Strengths: 20+ years of development, battle-tested, extensive documentation, mobile apps available.
Weaknesses: Dated UI, resource-heavy, AI detection requires additional plugins.
Read our full ZoneMinder guide →
Moonfire NVR — Most Efficient
Moonfire NVR is the ultra-lightweight option. It records H.264 RTSP streams directly to disk without transcoding, meaning six 1080p cameras run on a Raspberry Pi at under 10% CPU. No AI detection — just efficient, reliable recording.
Best for: Users who want 24/7 recording with minimal hardware and don’t need smart notifications. Check recordings manually when needed.
Read our full Moonfire NVR guide →
Migration Guide
Step 1: Choose Your Cameras
Ring cameras use proprietary protocols — they won’t work with self-hosted NVR software. You need RTSP-compatible IP cameras. Recommended replacements:
| Ring Product | Self-Hosted Replacement | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Doorbell | Amcrest AD410, Reolink Video Doorbell | $80-120 |
| Ring Indoor Cam | Reolink E1 Zoom, Amcrest IP2M-841 | $30-50 |
| Ring Outdoor Cam | Reolink RLC-810A, Amcrest IP8M-2496E | $50-80 |
| Ring Floodlight Cam | Amcrest Floodlight, Reolink Floodlight | $100-150 |
All of these output RTSP streams and work with Frigate, ZoneMinder, Shinobi, Viseron, and Moonfire NVR.
Step 2: Set Up Your NVR
Install your chosen NVR software on a server. A Raspberry Pi 4 (4 GB) handles 2-4 cameras. For 6+ cameras or AI detection, use a mini PC with an Intel N100 or better.
- Frigate Docker setup
- ZoneMinder Docker setup
- Shinobi Docker setup
- Viseron Docker setup
- Moonfire NVR Docker setup
Step 3: Get Notifications
The biggest feature gap when leaving Ring is push notifications. Here’s how to replicate them:
With Frigate + Home Assistant:
- Frigate sends detection events to Home Assistant
- Create automations that send push notifications via the HA Companion app
- Include a snapshot of the detected person/vehicle in the notification
- Result: functionally identical to Ring notifications, running locally
With MQTT + Ntfy:
- Most NVRs support MQTT event publishing
- Route MQTT events to Ntfy for push notifications
- Works without Home Assistant
Step 4: Export Ring Footage (Optional)
Ring lets you download your saved videos before canceling. Go to Ring.com → Account → Download My Data. Request all videos. Ring sends a download link within a few days.
Cost Comparison
| Ring (4 cameras, 3 years) | Self-Hosted (4 cameras, 3 years) | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera hardware | $400-600 | $200-400 |
| Subscription | $300 (Plus plan) | $0 |
| Server hardware | $0 | $100-200 (mini PC or Pi) |
| Electricity | Minimal | $20-40/year |
| Total | $700-900 | $340-680 |
| After year 3 | +$100/year subscription | $20-40/year electricity |
The self-hosted setup pays for itself within 2 years and costs nearly nothing to run afterward. Ring costs $100/year forever.
What You Give Up
Be honest about the trade-offs:
- Plug-and-play simplicity. Ring cameras are dead simple. Self-hosted NVRs require Docker, networking knowledge, and initial configuration.
- Dedicated mobile app. Ring’s app is polished. Self-hosted alternatives use web UIs or the Home Assistant app.
- Two-way audio through the app. Most self-hosted NVRs don’t relay audio. You’ll use the camera’s own app for two-way communication.
- Cloud backup of footage. Your recordings live on your server. If the server dies without backups, footage is gone.
- Professional monitoring integration. Ring Pro connects to professional monitoring services. Self-hosted setups don’t.
For most self-hosters, these trade-offs are acceptable — especially given the privacy and cost benefits. If plug-and-play simplicity is your top priority, Ring is genuinely easier.
FAQ
Can I keep my Ring cameras and use them with a self-hosted NVR?
No. Ring cameras use Amazon’s proprietary protocols and don’t expose RTSP streams. You need to replace the hardware with standard IP cameras.
What about Ring Alarm? Can I self-host that too?
Ring Alarm is a separate product from Ring cameras. For self-hosted security systems, look at Home Assistant with Z-Wave or Zigbee sensors. The camera NVR and alarm system are independent concerns.
Do I need a static IP for remote access?
No. Use a VPN like Tailscale or Cloudflare Tunnel to access your NVR remotely without exposing ports to the internet.
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