The Ring Chime is a small plug-in speaker that announces doorbell presses and motion alerts anywhere in your home. If you have a Ring Video Doorbell, your phone handles notifications by default. However, your phone is not always within earshot, and not everyone in the household has the Ring app installed. That’s exactly the problem the Ring Chime solves, and it does so without any wiring or complicated setup.
Pictured: Ring Chime 1st Gen. The current 3rd Gen model has a slimmer, curved profile.
What the Ring Chime Actually Does
The Ring Chime is a plug-in Wi-Fi speaker. Once you pair it with your Ring Video Doorbell through the Ring app, it plays an audible tone inside your home whenever someone presses the doorbell button or when the camera detects motion. There are no cables involved. You simply plug it into any standard wall outlet, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and it’s ready to go.
In addition to doorbell presses, the Chime can also announce motion alerts from Ring cameras. So if you have a Ring Outdoor Cam watching your driveway, for example, the Chime can alert you to that activity as well. You can customize which events trigger which tones, and you can adjust the volume or enable Do Not Disturb mode directly in the Ring app. Furthermore, you can set a quiet schedule so the Chime stays silent during specific hours, such as overnight or during nap time.
Why You Might Need One
The Ring Video Doorbell is designed to send push notifications to your phone. Adding a Ring Chime fills the gap for everyone else in the home. Phone notifications work well when your device is nearby and not on silent. In practice, though, your phone might be in another room, charging across the house, or set to Do Not Disturb. Furthermore, other people in your household, such as family members or frequent guests, may not have the Ring app installed at all.
There’s also a compatibility issue worth knowing about before you assume your existing doorbell chime will work. The Ring Video Doorbell does not work with wireless chimes or with any intercom or chime system that uses a DC transformer. If your existing chime falls into either of those categories, your Ring doorbell will be completely silent inside the home. The Chime solves that problem entirely, since it connects over Wi-Fi rather than through your home’s existing wiring.
Good to know: The Ring Chime does not have to be in the same building as your Ring doorbell. It connects over the internet, not directly to the doorbell. That means you could technically plug one into an office or second home and hear when someone rings the doorbell at your primary residence.
Which Ring Devices Does the Chime Work With?
The Ring Chime is compatible with all current Ring Video Doorbells and Ring security cameras. That includes battery-powered models, wired models, and everything in between. As a result, if you already own any Ring doorbell or camera, you can pair a Chime with it through the Ring app without worrying about compatibility.
However, the Chime is not compatible with Ring Alarm sensors or third-party devices. It is specifically designed to work within the Ring camera and doorbell ecosystem. Additionally, the Chime requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. If your router only broadcasts at 5 GHz, the Chime will not connect. Most modern routers support both bands, so this is rarely a problem, but it’s worth confirming before purchasing.
Ring Chime vs. Phone Notifications
Phone notifications and the Ring Chime serve different purposes, and ideally you use both together. Your phone gives you the full picture: a live video feed, two-way audio, and the ability to respond to whoever is at the door. The Chime, in contrast, simply tells you someone is there. It’s the equivalent of a traditional doorbell tone, nothing more.
That said, the Chime has one significant advantage over phone notifications: it works passively without any action on your part. Your phone requires you to have it nearby, unlocked quickly enough to catch the live view before the visitor leaves, and connected to a data or Wi-Fi signal. The Chime just makes noise the moment someone presses the button, regardless of what you’re doing. For most people, therefore, the Chime and the app complement each other rather than compete.
Setup and Specifications
Setup is straightforward. The 3rd Gen Chime uses Bluetooth to connect to your Wi-Fi network during initial setup, which simplifies the pairing process compared to earlier versions. Once configured, it communicates over 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz. The unit is compact with a slim, curved profile and plugs directly into any standard wall outlet. Ring also updated the speaker for louder, clearer audio compared to previous generations.
Ring also sells a step-up version called the Chime Plus. The Chime Plus adds a built-in nightlight, per-device custom tones so you can tell exactly which camera or doorbell triggered the alert, and compatibility with Ring sensors connected via Amazon Sidewalk. For most households, the standard Chime is sufficient. However, if you want nightlight functionality or have a larger Ring setup with multiple devices, the Chime Plus is worth considering.
One Chime or Several?
You can pair multiple Ring Chimes to a single doorbell, which is useful in larger homes where one speaker won’t reach every room. A single unit placed near the front of the house, for example, may not be audible in a basement workshop, a back bedroom with the door closed, or a backyard. In those situations, adding a second Chime in a more central location solves the problem without running any new wiring. Each Chime is configured independently in the app, so you can set different tones or volume levels for each location.
Additionally, a single Chime can respond to multiple Ring devices. If you have a Ring doorbell at the front door and a Ring camera covering the backyard, one Chime can announce alerts from both. Most people place their first Chime in a central room they spend the most time in, such as a kitchen or living room, and add a second near the bedroom if they want overnight coverage without relying on their phone.
Common Issues and Fixes
Chime not connecting to Wi-Fi: The most common cause is a 5 GHz-only network. Check your router settings to confirm the 2.4 GHz band is active and broadcasting. Also make sure you’re entering the correct Wi-Fi password during setup. If the Chime still won’t connect, try moving it closer to your router during the initial pairing process, then relocate it once setup is complete.
Chime not sounding when doorbell is pressed: First, confirm the Chime is linked to the correct doorbell in the Ring app under Devices. Additionally, check that Do Not Disturb mode is not active and that the alert type for doorbell presses is turned on. If the Chime is linked but still silent, try removing and re-adding it in the app.
Chime volume too low: Volume is adjustable in the Ring app under the Chime device settings. If you’ve maxed out the volume and it’s still not loud enough, consider placing the Chime in a more central location or adding a second unit in the room where you spend the most time.
Chime going offline frequently: This is typically a Wi-Fi signal issue. The Chime needs a reasonably strong 2.4 GHz signal at its installed location. Try moving it closer to your router, or consider a Wi-Fi extender if the drop-outs persist. In some cases, restarting your router resolves intermittent connectivity problems.
Is the Ring Chime Worth It?
For most Ring Video Doorbell owners, yes. Relying entirely on phone notifications means missing alerts the moment your phone is out of reach, and it leaves everyone else in the household completely in the dark. The Ring Chime is an inexpensive way to make your doorbell behave like a traditional doorbell again, with the added benefit of motion alerts and multi-device support built in.
That said, if your phone is always with you and you live alone, the Chime may not add much to your setup. In contrast, households with multiple people, anyone who regularly puts their phone down, or anyone with a chime-incompatible wiring setup will find it genuinely useful. It’s the kind of accessory that’s easy to overlook until you’ve missed a few deliveries. You can pick one up on the Ring Chime product page on Amazon.
Verdict
The Ring Chime fills a real gap in the Ring ecosystem. Phone-only notifications work, but they don’t cover everyone in the home and they fail the moment your phone isn’t within earshot. The Chime is a simple, reliable fix. It pairs quickly, requires no wiring, and can serve multiple Ring devices from a single outlet. Most Ring Video Doorbell owners will benefit from having at least one.
For full reviews of Ring cameras and doorbells, see the Ring Video Doorbell review and the Ring Protect Plan guide. For the full Ring lineup, visit the Ring camera reviews hub.
