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Short version: the best Ring outdoor camera depends on where it goes. For a wired position where you want bright light too, the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus has the deepest review base of the four on this site. For wire-free 2K video, the Ring Outdoor Cam Plus is the only 2K model of the four. The Stick Up Cam, sold as Ring Outdoor Cam, is the low-cost, flexible option, and the Spotlight Cam Plus adds a light and siren without wiring.
This page covers Ring’s outdoor models only. For the whole brand, see our best Ring cameras roundup, and for the individual review of one model, the Ring Stick Up Cam review. For other brands, see our outdoor cameras hub.
In Plain English
Ring makes several cameras meant to live outside your house, and the names are confusing. Some run on a rechargeable battery, so you can put them anywhere. Some plug in or wire into your home’s power. Some have a built-in light that switches on when something moves, and some are cameras only.
To choose, start with two questions. Can you run power to the spot, or must it be wire-free? And do you want light, or just video? Wired spots by a garage or back door suit a floodlight camera. A fence, shed or side gate suits a battery camera.
All of them send alerts to your phone and let you watch live video. Saving clips to review later needs a paid Ring plan, so factor that in when you compare the price against other brands.
Top Picks at a Glance
The Four Ring Outdoor Cameras, Ranked
We rank by fit for the job, informed by the verified owner ratings shown on each card where this site tracks them. Ratings appear only when we hold verified data for that product, and two of these cameras are newer, so their ratings may be missing.
Best for a wired position, like a garage or back door, where you also want bright light.
- 1080p video with color night vision.
- 2,000-lumen floodlights and a 105dB siren, per Ring.
- 140° horizontal, 80° vertical view.
- Hardwired to a 4-inch box, or a plug-in version with a 20-foot cord.
Why buy it: The deepest review base of these four on this site, combining camera, light and siren in one wired unit.
Best for wire-free 2K video with a wide 140° by 80° view.
- Retinal 2K video with Low-Light Sight color night vision.
- 140° horizontal, 80° vertical, 160° diagonal view.
- Battery, solar panel or PoE options.
- No built-in light.
Why buy it: The only 2K camera of the four, and the one to pick if you want to place a camera anywhere without wiring.
Best for a low-cost, flexible camera for a shed, gate or porch.
- 1080p HD video.
- 110° horizontal, 57° vertical view.
- Battery, solar panel or plug-in power.
- Suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
Why buy it: The simplest Ring outdoor camera, with a long owner record on this site and the easiest install of the range.
Best for a wire-free camera with its own light and siren for a dark corner.
- 1080p video with color night vision.
- Two LED spotlights and a security siren.
- 140° horizontal, 78° vertical view.
- Battery, plug-in, wired and solar versions exist.
Why buy it: Adds a light and a siren to a wire-free camera without the wiring a floodlight needs.
Comparison Table
| Product | Best for | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus | Best Overall | Price |
| Ring Outdoor Cam Plus (Battery) | Best Video Quality | Price |
| Ring Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam) | Best Budget | Price |
| Ring Spotlight Cam Plus (Battery) | Best Battery Spotlight | Price |
Choose by Power Source First
Power decides more than resolution does. Battery models (Outdoor Cam Plus, Stick Up Cam and Spotlight Cam Plus Battery) mount anywhere and install in minutes, at the price of recharging or a solar panel. Ring lists a solar panel option for the first two, connected over USB-C. Wired and plug-in models never need a recharge. The Floodlight Cam Wired Plus is offered as a hardwired version that connects to a 4-inch electrical box and as a plug-in version with a 20-foot cord, and the Spotlight Cam Plus is also sold in plug-in and wired versions. The Outdoor Cam Plus also lists Power over Ethernet, using a separate PoE converter mount.
If the position has an outlet or an existing light fixture, wired is the low-maintenance choice. If not, battery plus a solar panel avoids both wiring and recharging, as long as the spot gets several hours of direct sun.
Many homes mix models rather than buying four of the same. A floodlight camera at the back door, an Outdoor Cam Plus over the driveway and a Stick Up Cam on a shed is a common pattern, because each position has different power and light needs. Keeping everything inside Ring’s app makes reviewing footage simpler, and it is worth checking whether the Ring plan you choose covers one device or several before you add more cameras. Whatever the mix, test WiFi at every mounting spot before you drill.
2K or 1080p?
Of the four cameras, only the Outdoor Cam Plus is 2K. Ring calls it Retinal 2K, against 1080p for the Stick Up Cam, Spotlight Cam Plus and Floodlight Cam Wired Plus. More pixels help when you zoom, for example to read a delivery label or pick out a face across a driveway. On view, Ring lists 160 degrees diagonal for the Outdoor Cam Plus, 130 for the Stick Up Cam and 180 for the Spotlight Cam Plus. We cannot rank image quality without testing, so treat resolution as a guide and read owner reviews for how the picture looks at night.
Light, Siren or Neither?
No light: the Outdoor Cam Plus and Stick Up Cam rely on night vision. That is the discreet choice for a fence line or a spot where a bright light would annoy neighbors. Spotlight: the Spotlight Cam Plus has two LED spotlights and a siren. Floodlight: the Floodlight Cam Wired Plus has 2,000-lumen floodlights and a remote-activated 105dB siren, according to Ring. A light is a deterrent as well as an aid to footage, but bright lights that point at a neighbor’s window can cause friction, so aim them at your own property.
What You Pay After You Buy
Ring cameras give you live view and alerts for free. To record and review video you need a Ring plan. Ring has changed the names and prices of its plans over the past few years, so we do not quote a number here. Check the current page before you buy, and see our is Ring worth it guide for how the subscription changes the cost picture. If you want no ongoing fee at all, a camera with local storage from another brand suits you better.
Placement and Weather
Ring describes these cameras as weather resistant. We did not test them, and we cannot promise how any unit behaves in a freeze, a heat wave or a storm. Mount where the camera sees faces coming toward it, at a height that discourages tampering, and, for a solar panel, where it gets direct sun. Our placement guide covers height and angle. Also check WiFi strength at the exact spot, because a battery camera that keeps dropping its connection is no use.
Privacy, Audio and the Law
All four support two-way talk according to our spec records, and audio recording raises wiretap questions in some states. Video of your own property is generally fine; sound is a separate legal matter. See our camera laws hub before you point one at a shared space, and lock your account down with a strong password and two-factor authentication, as the FTC advises.
Which One Should You Buy?
A wired position that also needs light: the Floodlight Cam Wired Plus. Wire-free and 2K: the Outdoor Cam Plus. Cheapest, flexible, low fuss: the Stick Up Cam. A light without wiring: the Spotlight Cam Plus Battery. If you are still deciding whether Ring is the right brand, compare it in best Ring cameras and check the other brands in best outdoor security cameras.
Going Deeper: Why Ring Sells Four Similar Outdoor Cameras
Ring’s outdoor range looks repetitive until you notice that each model answers a different installation problem. Understanding those problems helps you buy the right one the first time.
Start with power, because it is the hardest thing to change later. The Floodlight Cam Wired Plus is built around wiring. Ring’s support page describes a hardwired version, connecting to a 4-inch round electrical box at 100 to 240 volts, and a plug-in version with a 20-foot cord. A floodlight needs a lot of power, so it is designed to draw from mains rather than a battery. That is why it does not depend on a charge or on sun. The trade-off is the electrician or the comfort with wiring.
The battery cameras answer the opposite problem: positions with no power. Ring’s pages list battery, solar and, for the Outdoor Cam Plus, PoE, with a converter mount sold separately. A solar panel connects over USB-C and trickle-charges the battery, which works only where the panel gets regular direct sun. Where it does, you can go months without touching the camera. Where it does not, you are recharging on a schedule, and a battery camera in a hard-to-reach position turns into a chore.
Field of view is the second design variable. Ring lists 110 by 57 degrees for the Stick Up Cam, 140 by 78 for the Spotlight Cam Plus and 140 by 80 for both the Outdoor Cam Plus and the Floodlight Cam Wired Plus. A wider view covers more ground but makes each subject smaller, which is where the Outdoor Cam Plus’s 2K resolution helps: it keeps a wide view while preserving detail for zooming. Motion detection is the third variable. The Floodlight Cam Wired Plus listing describes advanced motion detection with customizable motion zones and 3D motion detection, which matter at a busy driveway where you want alerts for the walkway, not the street.
Finally, the light. Ring’s floodlight and spotlight models double as a deterrent, and because they switch on in response to motion, they also improve the footage you record at night. That is a real advantage for a camera at a dark back door and a small annoyance for a neighbor whose window faces it. The decision is not about which is best in the abstract but which suits the position, and that is the reason to start with where the camera goes and choose the model second.
The Verdict
There is no single best Ring outdoor camera, only a best one for each position. The Floodlight Cam Wired Plus is our default for a wired spot because of its deep review record, the Outdoor Cam Plus is the pick for wire-free 2K video, and the Stick Up Cam is the budget choice. Choose by power and light first, resolution second, and factor in the Ring plan before you compare prices. Whichever you buy, check that WiFi reaches the spot and that you are comfortable with the audio settings. If you are undecided between two models, the one that fits the power situation at the mounting spot is nearly always the better choice, because a camera that is awkward to charge or wire tends to be neglected.
Sources & References
- Outdoor Cam Plus — Ring
- Outdoor Cam Plus (Battery) — Ring
- Ring Outdoor Cam (Stick Up Cam Battery) — Ring
- Spotlight Cam Plus (Battery) — Ring
- Floodlight Cam Wired Plus Information — Ring Support
- Using IP Cameras Safely — Federal Trade Commission