The primary components of your Ring Alarm system are the Base Station and Keypad. In addition to these, you can add up to 100 Ring Alarm accessories to your setup. But what are these accessories, and what do they do?

The top Ring Alarm accessories that are made by Ring are the Contact Sensor, Motion Detector, and Range Extender. There are also third-party devices that are compatible with the Ring Alarm, such as smart locks and Z-Wave sensors.

Some Ring Alarm-compatible devices are certified, and some are not. Certified accessories are the best to use because they can be fully integrated with your Ring Alarm. Read on to learn more about the top Ring Alarm accessories, how to install them, and what they can do.

Top Ring Alarm Accessories

One of the great things about Ring Alarm is that each accessory can be purchased separately so you can create a completely customized home security system.

Here’s a list of the top-rated Ring Alarm accessories manufactured by Ring:

  • Contact Sensor: These sensors are installed on doors and windows to notify you when they are opened. Contact sensors can be purchased in packs of one, two, or six.Motion Detector: Ring’s 2nd generation motion detectors can be easily mounted to corners and flat walls. They will even ignore pets when installed 7.5 feet above the ground using the lowest sensitivity settings. They can be purchased in packs of one or two.Range Extender: This accessory extends the reach of the Base Station’s Z-Wave connection from 250 feet to 500 feet. It plugs into a standard wall outlet for easy setup. Most homes only need one Range Extender, but you can use multiple if needed.

All of these accessories can be purchased individually or as part of a Ring Alarm Kit. Ring Alarm Kits are available in 5-piece, 8-piece, and 14-piece bundles.

The Best Third-Party Ring Alarm Accessories

There are six types of third-party accessories available. However, only three brands are certified to work with Ring Alarm. It’s essential that your Ring Alarm accessories are accredited so that emergency services can be dispatched when your alarm is triggered.

Let’s look more closely at the top accessories that are certified with Ring Alarm.

The Best Ring Compatible Smart Locks

Ring does not make any smart locks, but there are three manufacturers whose selected smart locks are certified with Ring.

We recommend the Yale Real Living Assure Lock SL With Z-Wave Plus. This smart lock is consistently rated among the top options available on the market. Here are the things we love about this lock:

  • Connects using Z-Wave PlusBacklit touchscreen keypad9V battery for back-up powerSlim and sleek designComes in four color options

If you prefer a smart lock that still has a deadbolt, then theSchlage Connect Smart Deadbolt is for you. It has both a keypad and a deadbolt. The newer models come with a built-in siren that will sound in addition to your Base Station when your alarm is triggered. The downside of this smart lock is that it’s quite expensive.

For a low-budget option, we recommend the Kwikset SmartCode Smart Lock. This lock is significantly cheaper than many of the other “Works with Ring” smart locks, yet it still offers some impressive features:

  • Deadbolt and keypadUses Z-Wave PlusComes in three color optionsHolds up to 30 programmable user codes

Click here for the full list of Ring Alarm compatible smart locks.

Smoke Alarm and Siren Accessories

The First Alert Z-Wave Combo Smoke and CO Alarm is highly rated. It is battery-operated for easy installation anywhere in your home. It has an 85-decibel alarm and a silent button.

This combo alarm is certified to work with Ring Alarm. That means if you have Ring professional monitoring and smoke or carbon monoxide is detected in your home, the monitoring center will contact you and dispatch emergency services immediately. This ensures you and your home are fully protected.

The Dome Siren is another certified Ring Alarm accessory. While it is not as popular as the other accessories discussed in this guide, it’s a quality product and great for large homes. The Dome Siren is 95 decibels and automatically sounds when your alarm is triggered. It’s also wireless, and the batteries can last up to three years.

Additional Accessories

If you are interested in other “Works with Ring” devices such as smart light switches and motion sensors, there are many options available. Because these devices are not certified by Ring, they are not compatible with Ring Alarm professional monitoring for liability reasons.

Here’s what you get with non-certified Ring accessories:

  • They can connect to the Base Station’s Z-Wave network.You can receive notifications about these devices on your phone.You can check the status of these devices in the Ring app.

Click here for the complete list of “Works with Ring” devices.

The Latest Ring Alarm Accessories

The Ring Retrofit Alarm Kit was released in late 2019. It makes old hardwired contact sensors smarter and compatible with Ring Alarm.

Like all other Ring Alarm accessories, a Base Station and Keypad are required to use the Ring Retrofit Alarm Kit. If you don’t already have a Ring Alarm system, you can purchase the new 5-piece Ring Alarm Kit and Retrofit Alarm bundle here. The package includes the following six Ring Alarm devices:

  • Base StationKeypadContact SensorMotion DetectorRange ExtenderRetrofit Alarm

While it is possible to install the kit yourself, Ring recommends using professional installation because it involves some advanced wire handling skills. If you’re comfortable doing this kind of electrical work yourself, you can use this instructional video. Otherwise, click here for professional installation options.

Ring Alarm 2nd Generation

Ring released its 2nd generation Ring Alarm in spring 2020. The price and most of the features of Ring Alarm remained the same, but there are some significant differences in the appearance of some of the accessories.

The 2nd generation Keypad got the biggest remodel. It now has buttons to quickly request help from the police, the fire department, or an ambulance. It also has a built-in motion sensor.

It’s not technically an accessory because it’s an essential component of a Ring Alarm system, but this Keypad can be purchased separately if you want to upgrade from your original Keypad. Here’s the link.

The Ring Alarm Base Station acts as a hub for compatible Z-Wave smart home devices. All Ring Alarm accessories use Z-Wave, so they do not have to be connected to your home’s Wi-Fi.

All you have to do when you get a new Ring Alarm accessory is install it in your home and link it to the Base Station.

Linking Ring Alarm Accessories

It’s easy to connect new devices to the Ring Alarm Base Station using the Ring app. Follow these steps:

  • In the Ring app, tap the + sign to add a device.Select “Security Devices.”Choose the type of device you want to add.Select the device you are adding. If you don’t see your specific device listed, select “Add Manually” at the bottom of the page.Follow the instructions in the app to complete the setup process.If you are pairing a third-party device, make sure to follow the setup directions for that device as well. There may be a button that needs to be pressed to put the device in pairing mode.

Conclusion

When it comes to Ring Alarm accessories, you can choose from a variety of Ring devices as well as Ring compatible third-party devices that use Z-Wave. The top accessories made by Ring are the Contact Sensor, Motion Detector, and Range Extender. The best third-party, certified accessories are the Yale and Schlage smart locks and the First Alert Smoke and CO Alarm.