Which brand should you buy?
Quick verdict
- To record to a microSD card in the camera, with Tapo Care cloud storage only as an option.
- Google as well as Alexa: every Tapo camera lists both, and the C225 and C840 add Apple HomeKit.
- Solar built in, as on the C465, or a pan-tilt kit with a panel in the box, such as the C630 KIT; Ring lists a Solar version of the Spotlight Cam Plus.
- A dual-lens camera with a telephoto lens, such as the C245D indoors or the C545D outdoors.
- Cloud recording as standard: every Ring camera saves its clips to the cloud under a Ring Protect plan.
- Floodlight and spotlight cameras in battery, plug-in, hardwired and PoE versions, such as the Spotlight Cam 2K and Spotlight Cam 4K Pro.
- A removable Quick Release battery pack on every battery model, such as the Outdoor Cam 2K and Spotlight Cam Plus; Tapo lists its removable A100 pack for the C400.
At a glance
Recording and subscriptions
Every Tapo camera in this guide records to a microSD card, most taking cards up to 512GB, and Tapo Care adds cloud storage as an option. Every Ring camera records to the cloud instead, and recording needs a Ring Protect plan.
If you would rather not rely on a plan to keep your clips, Tapo is the simpler fit. If you want every clip stored off the camera as standard, Ring’s cloud recording suits you, though Tapo Care adds cloud storage too.
Smart home and voice assistants
Every Tapo camera lists Alexa and Google, and models such as the C250, C710 and C575D add SmartThings. The C225 and C840 also work with Apple HomeKit. Ring UK lists Alexa only for its cameras, so Ring suits a home run through Alexa, while Tapo also fits a Google home and, with the C225 or C840, an Apple one.
The range: indoor, outdoor, battery, solar, floodlight
Indoors, Tapo runs from the 1080p C100 to the 4K C250 and C260, with pan-tilt models such as the C210 and dual-lens models such as the C245D. Ring’s indoor models include the Indoor Cam 2K, Indoor Cam 4K and Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam.
Outdoors, most Tapo battery cameras work with solar, and wired models such as the C320WS and C560WS have an Ethernet port. Ring’s Outdoor Cam, Outdoor Cam 2K and Outdoor Cam Plus use removable Quick Release battery packs, and the Outdoor Cam Plus and Outdoor Cam 4K Pro take PoE. Tapo’s floodlights include the C710 (hardwired or plug-in), C720 (hardwired) and C615F KIT (battery, solar panel included); Ring’s floodlight and spotlight cameras come in battery, plug-in, hardwired and PoE versions.
Model-by-model comparisons
Each of these compares one Tapo model with one Ring model, with a spec table, pros and cons, and which to buy.
Indoor cameraTapo C110 vs Ring Indoor Cam 2KCompare →
Indoor pan-tiltTapo C225 vs Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor CamCompare →
Indoor 4KTapo C260 vs Ring Indoor Cam 4KCompare →
Battery outdoorTapo C425 vs Ring Outdoor Cam 2KCompare →
Solar kit vs batteryTapo C645D KIT vs Ring Outdoor Cam PlusCompare →
4K outdoorTapo C460 vs Ring Outdoor Cam 4K ProCompare →
Wired outdoor vs spotlightTapo C325WB vs Ring Spotlight Cam 4K ProCompare →
FloodlightRing Floodlight Cam 2K vs Tapo C710Compare →
Frequently asked questions
Does Ring work without a subscription?
Ring cameras record to the cloud, and recording needs a Ring Protect plan. Tapo cameras record to a microSD card in the camera, and Tapo Care cloud storage is optional.
Which works with Google Home?
Tapo. Every Tapo camera in this guide lists Alexa and Google, and some, such as the C250, add SmartThings. Ring UK lists Alexa only.
Do any of them work with Apple HomeKit?
The Tapo C225 and C840 list Apple HomeKit. Ring does not list HomeKit for its cameras; Ring UK lists Alexa only.