Does Ring Work with Other Sensors? (ADT, Xfinity, and More)

Ring is one of the most popular video camera security systems utilized in smart homes today. However, it’s hardly one of the only programs people use when integrating and setting up their smart home system.

Ring works with some other security systems such as the ADT Pulse security system and Frontpoint doorbell sensors. Some sensors may require modification to merge the two systems. However, Ring is not compatible with remote monitoring systems such as Xfinity Home and Simplisafe.

Ring can be used in a seamless smart home system that incorporates other brands and sensors, but there are some restrictions you’ll need to consider to get the most out of your home security system. Keep reading to learn exactly which sensor brands work with a Ring system and integrate them successfully.

Does Ring Work with ADT?

Ring has some compatibility with ADT, but not full compatibility. The Ring system can integrate with ADT’s Pulse, a smart software application designed as a remote control module for the ADT security system. Using this app, homeowners can connect their Ring system into the ADT software.

Ring is not compatible with ADT’s Command and Control, ADT’s security system touchscreen hub accessible in the home itself. That means that you can control your Ring camera system through ADT’s smartphone app, but not through the main console. This gives it limited integration with ADT’s security system if you want to use both.

Does Ring Work with Xfinity Home?

Unfortunately, Ring is not compatible at all with the Xfinity Home system. For most homeowners, that means the more practical option is to either choose one or the other as your main security system.

There are several technical reasons for this, but the most simple is that Xfinity is locked into a specific set of brands and firmware protocols used as auxiliary accessories to augment its Home system. Any brands outside of this product line don’t run compatible software that can be used with Xfinity’s apps.

Xfinity is compatible with some of the following brands:

• GE
• Tile
• Ecobee
• Philips Hue
• Kwikset

These are only a few of the many brands available for Xfinity Home, which is good news for homeowners using it. However, those who want to integrate a Ring camera security system with their current Xfinity setup will be disappointed. Some homeowners have had limited luck rigging Ring cameras into an Xfinity gateway, but it isn’t an easy fix and requires serious technical skill.

Does Ring Work with Simplisafe?

Simplisafe is a popular home security system based out of Massachusetts, and there are many homeowners curious about whether these lesser-known sensors are compatible with Ring. No such luck! Ring is not compatible with Simplisafe systems at all.

Unlike Ring, which is a system that is primarily designed for a homeowner to monitor their own property, Simplisafe is a security system that is remotely monitored by security technicians to deter break-ins and other catastrophes. Ring also works through a wireless network, while Simplisafe is run through a cellular network.

So what are the main differences between these two systems?

• Cellular vs. wireless: Simplisafe is primarily operated as a cellular service with optional wireless integration, while Ring is a primarily wireless service that uses cellular services as a backup system.
  
• Control: The Ring system puts primary control on the homeowner, while Simplisafe puts primary control on the Simplisafe security team.
  
• Affordability: Ring system monitoring services are cheaper than Simplisafe services.

When you look at all of the features of Simplisafe and Ring side by side, Ring offers a lot more bang for your buck when it comes to smart home security.

Does Ring Work with Frontpoint?

While Ring can’t really be integrated with a Frontpoint system since most of their functions are redundant, the good news is that Frontpoint equipment can be used with systems such as Ring once your Frontpoint monitoring contract is over.

It is also possible to connect non-Ring devices to the Ring Alarm software hub, as long as they are Z-Wave compatible. Z-Wave is a wireless Internet protocol that is used as the near-universal standard for home automation systems. Not all smart home systems operate on Z-wave technology, but many of them do for interoperability purposes.

This integration only allows for on/off sensor tracking and doesn’t trigger security alerts. But it does allow homeowners to track whether windows in the home are open or shut without triggering the home’s security alarms.

Final Thoughts

It’s possible to merge some of Ring’s functions with a few other sensor brands if you already have a different security system in place. However, it’s mostly a matter of modifying other sensor brands to accommodate the Ring controller scheme. Sensors with a complicated cellular control such as Simplisafe and Xfinity are designed to act as standalone systems.