Ring video doorbells, and those from other manufacturers, can be used without a subscription, but this means you only get access to the most basic function, such as getting an alert when the doorbell is pressed and accessing a live feed from the camera. However, if you miss an alert and want to review a video from the doorbell camera at a later date, you do need to subscribe to Ring Protect or the relevant service.
These subscription services also ensure you can access handy features designed to reduce the number of false-positive alerts issued by the video doorbell, such as identifying the cause of the motion and creating activity zones, so you’re only notified about motion in these areas.