Ring Chime vs Chime Pro: What You Actually Get
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The Ring Chime just makes your doorbell ring inside your house. The Ring Chime Pro does that too, then adds dual band WiFi, a WiFi boost for your Ring devices, and a built in night light.
If you only want to hear the doorbell, buy the standard Chime. If a Ring camera or doorbell sits far from your router and keeps dropping, the Chime Pro is the one to get.
What is the Ring Chime?
The Ring Chime is a small speaker that plugs into a wall outlet.
When someone presses your Ring Video Doorbell, the Chime plays a sound in your home. That way you do not have to rely on a phone notification to know someone is at the door.
It connects over 2.4GHz WiFi and works with your Ring doorbells and cameras.
What is the Ring Chime Pro?
The Chime Pro does the same doorbell sound job, then adds three things the plain Chime does not have.
It connects on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi, so it has an easier time on a busy network. It can also act as a WiFi booster for your Ring devices, and it has a soft night light on the front.
The current model is the Chime Pro (2nd generation), and it works with every current Ring doorbell and camera.
Ring Chime vs Chime Pro: the differences
| Feature | Ring Chime | Ring Chime Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Plays doorbell sound indoors | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi bands | 2.4GHz only | 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
| Boosts WiFi to Ring devices | No | Yes |
| Built in night light | No | Yes |
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
The WiFi extender is the real reason to upgrade
The Chime Pro can push a stronger WiFi signal to your Ring doorbell and cameras.
This helps a lot if your doorbell sits at the far end of the house and keeps going offline or shows choppy video. The plain Chime cannot do this. If you already fight drops, our fixes for a Ring doorbell that will not connect to WiFi are a good first step.
One honest limit: the boost only helps Ring gear. It will not speed up your laptop, your TV, or your phone.
Night light and size
The Chime Pro has a small night light that gives a soft glow in a hallway.
It is also physically bigger than the plain Chime, so it sticks out from the outlet a bit more.
Is the Ring Chime Pro worth it?
It is worth it when your Ring devices sit far from the router.
The WiFi boost can be the difference between smooth video and a doorbell that keeps dropping. In that case the Pro pays for itself in fewer headaches, and it can help stop a Ring camera that keeps going offline.
If your router is close to the door and everything already works, the extra money buys you a night light you may not need.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the standard Ring Chime if you have solid WiFi near the door and just want to hear it ring inside.
Buy the Ring Chime Pro if a camera or doorbell keeps dropping, or you want one indoor chime that also strengthens the signal.
Some homes with thick doors or hard of hearing family members are better off buying two plain Chimes instead, so the sound reaches every room.
FAQ
Can you use more than one Chime in a house?
Yes. You can add several Chimes or Chime Pros and place one on each floor so you never miss the doorbell.
Does the Chime Pro replace my router?
No. It only extends the signal to Ring devices, not to your whole home network. It is not a full router or a whole home mesh system.
Do I still get phone alerts with a Chime?
Yes. The Chime plays a sound in the house, and your phone still gets its normal Ring notification at the same time.
Can I turn the doorbell sound down or off?
Yes. You set the volume and tones in the Ring app, and you can silence a Chime when you want quiet. Here is how to turn off the Ring notification sound.