The Wild World of Third-Party AI Apps for Ring Security, and Whether You Need Them

Ring’s powerful cameras are backed by a complex AI app store you may not know about.Tyler Lacoma/CNET

I’ve spent plenty of time talking about Ring’s latest features, including cutting-edge uses of AI and capabilities including facial recognition, which have led to lawsuits by some worried about their privacy. But behind the scenes, Ring has been busy supporting a sizable platform of third-party AI apps for its security cameras and video doorbells, with capabilities that go far beyond those of traditional security cams. That could present an opportunity or a potential privacy issue, so I took a closer look.

Ring’s lesser-known app store is packed with unique AI capabilities.Ring

Basically, this software leverages Ring’s object recognition ability to use it for a wider range of monitoring possibilities. I’m trying out some of these apps to see just how they work, but if you or people in your neighborhood use Ring devices, you should know what they’re capable of. These mini apps range from casual fun to Flock-like levels of surveillance. Most require a Ring subscription and an additional monthly fee, typically a few dollars. Here are popular examples of those apps, how they work, if they’re legal and what they could be doing in your neighborhood.

Keeping an eye on trash and dumpsters

Some apps help your Ring cam spot trash or criminals.Ring

For those annoyed by illegal trash dumping or other waste violations, the DumpWatch app promises to watch for trash miscreants using Ring’s AI for about $8 per month. The app records footage whenever it detects large amounts of waste being left in the camera’s field of view and creates a timestamped PDF that can be used to submit a complaint or file a police report.

Note that some examples DumpWatch uses show trash bins left on the sidewalk, a common occurrence on collection days, or extra trash placed beside bins, which may be allowed by local waste companies. It’s not guaranteed to capture only illegal activity.

Watching lawns, shrubs and toys for HOA violations

Ring’s apps can also fuel HOA searches for violations.Ring

Yes, these little apps can also serve as tools for homeowners associations if your neighborhood has strict rules about what’s permitted. One example is the $3 per month LawnWatch app, which is trained to monitor properties for HOA violations such as leaving toys cluttering a lawn, dog owners not cleaning up poop and so on. A somewhat more benevolent app, Greenlapse, tracks grass and plant growth over time, and is primarily designed to monitor your own landscaping projects.

This is one application that I have legal doubts about. If a nosy neighbor is trying to spot HOA violations in other people’s yards, not just their own, that probably violates privacy laws and could land them in legal trouble. I’d say it’s safer to use it on your own property to proactively avoid complaints — and avoid any “Karen” allegations.

Monitoring rental guests and tenants

Ring also lets landlords watch tenants — but it’s important to follow the rules. Ring

Ring’s app store includes a slew of monitoring apps made specifically to track tenants and short-term rental guests, collecting info for landlords to use. One example is the $5-per-month ZoneGauge app, which continuously tracks how many people are in a space, letting owners know when someone is throwing a party, for instance.

Another option is the GuardCat app. It’s $8 per month and it summarizes guest check-outs, cleaner visits, “house rule violations” and more based on what Ring security cameras pick up using AI detection.

A quick reminder here: Companies such as Airbnb have banned indoor security cameras entirely. Apps like these shouldn’t be used indoors at all.

Analyzing pet health and wildlife

Ring’s veterinary services could be an alternative to pet camera subscriptions, but I’m dubious about some of the claims.Ring

Using AI to monitor pets for unusual behavior that could signal health problems is nothing new. We’ve reviewed quite a few pet cameras and smart tracking collars that do something similar. But apps such as Pet Vet AI can use Ring cams as an alternative for $10 per month. Here, the app analyzes pet snapshots for issues such as limping, throwing up food, sleeping in unusual spots and more, then summarizes any problems for pet owners. The app says it works with birds, reptiles and fish, too, but I’ve never seen pet AI advanced enough to get any worthwhile analysis from the non-mammals in our homes.

On the lighter side, the YardWild app uses Ring’s night vision capabilities to identify wildlife that enters your property. It intentionally ignores birds and people to protect privacy and reduce unnecessary alerts.

Watching when workers sign in and how they behave

Ring also provides AI analysis and reports for workers, although I advise caution.Ring

Ring’s mini apps extend beyond the home and into many aspects of the workplace, too. Apps such as ProofClock and TimeStack are designed for construction, freight and similar industries to monitor when teams arrive at a location and how long they work, even when the Ring camera owner isn’t present. Some of these apps can also generate uptime and service-level agreement reports, although I’m dubious about tying Ring AI, which isn’t always reliable, so closely to payroll.

Identifying birds

Bird AI is fun, but some smart bird feeders offer this for free.Ring

We’ve tested plenty of bird feeder cameras that can identify bird species with varying degrees of success. But if you’d like to point a Ring camera at a feeder or birdbath, an app such as What’s That Bird.AI can do something similar for $5 per month. It captures screenshots of nearby birds and attempts to identify them so you can see which species are stopping by.

There’s a small problem here: Feeders from Birdbuddy and similar brands give you bird recognition for free, so if you don’t mind buying a dedicated bird watching camera, there’s no need to pay a subscription at all.

Do these apps work with any Ring device?

No. Each app has its own requirements, displayed on their download pages. Some will work with nearly any Ring device that uses a camera. Others require a wired-in Ring device or a more recent Ring camera from the past year or so, or both.

Do these apps collect personal data about users?

One thing I like about Ring’s app store is its “App privacy” section, which lists the types of information each app collects. That can include motion events, your email address, access to your Ring camera’s live view and more. Developers can also indicate whether they use the data to train AI models.

Are these apps legal to use?

Generally speaking, yes, since they’re made for use on private property and in places where there’s a low expectation of privacy. These AI features can detect strangers, but I haven’t seen any that use facial recognition or other technology that could run afoul of privacy laws.

Keep in mind that tools like these aren’t perfect and shouldn’t be the sole basis for filing a complaint or taking other action. They’re also expensive for what they do — such as charging $5 per month just to tell you when your mail arrives — so I don’t think they’re worth the cost for the average user. One exception may be pet AI, which could replace more expensive pet camera services. Either way, it’s important to know your options — and which apps your neighbors may be using.

Tyler Lacoma

Senior Editor / Home Security and Smart Home

Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks and top recommendations. With degrees in business management, literature and technical writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon, gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading or gaming with good friends. See full bio