Cove vs Ring: Budget Pro Monitoring vs DIY Ecosystem
Last Updated: January 2026
Cove offers low-cost pro monitoring; Ring offers a broad DIY alarm and camera lineup. We compare both.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Cove | Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | DIY or professional | DIY only |
| Pro monitoring | Required | Optional (Ring Protect Pro) |
| Cameras & doorbells | Limited | Wide variety |
| Ecosystem | Basic, some Alexa | Amazon Alexa, Ring app |
Cove Overview
Cove focuses on low-cost equipment and monitoring. Pro monitoring is required and often starts around $20/month. Cove offers DIY or professional installation. The camera and smart home lineup is limited. Best for users who want the cheapest pro monitoring and can accept a simpler ecosystem.
Ring Overview
Ring provides a full DIY alarm plus many doorbells and cameras. Ring Protect is optional but unlocks recording and optional 24/7 monitoring. No pro install. Ring has the edge on product selection and Amazon integration. Best for DIY users who want lots of cameras and flexibility.
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Cove if you want the lowest pro monitoring cost and don't need many cameras. Choose Ring if you want DIY, a large camera and doorbell selection, and optional monitoring.
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