Ring sells two outdoor cameras with built-in lights: the Floodlight Cam and the Spotlight Cam. They share the same app, the same plans and much of the same camera hardware, so the Ring Floodlight Cam vs Spotlight Cam choice comes down to two things: how much light you need, and how you can power the camera where you want to mount it.
Both lineups changed in 2026. Ring launched 2K versions of both cameras in June, renamed its Pro models to 4K Pro in August, and added 4K Plus versions in October. This guide compares the models Ring sells today.
Ring Floodlight Cam vs Spotlight Cam: The Short Answer
Quick answer: choose the Floodlight Cam if you have an outdoor light on a junction box and want to light up a whole driveway or yard. Choose the Spotlight Cam if there’s no wiring where you want the camera, or you only need to light a doorway, a side path or a gate.
The Floodlight Cam replaces an existing outdoor light and puts out up to 2,000 lumens from two floodlights. The Spotlight Cam is smaller, puts out roughly a third of that light from one LED bar, and comes in battery, solar and plug-in versions you can mount almost anywhere.
These are the five models worth looking at:
- Ring Floodlight Cam 2K — Best Floodlight Cam for most homes.
- Ring Spotlight Cam 2K — Best Spotlight Cam, with battery, solar and plug-in versions.
- Ring Floodlight Cam 4K Pro — Best for 4K video and the most light.
- Ring Spotlight Cam 4K Pro — Best 4K Spotlight Cam you can buy today.
- Ring Floodlight Cam 4K Plus — Best value 4K Floodlight Cam.
What the Floodlight Cam Does Best
Ring’s Floodlight Cam comes in three versions: the Floodlight Cam 2K (about $200), the Floodlight Cam 4K Plus (about $220) and the Floodlight Cam 4K Pro (about $280). All three are wired cameras built to replace a standard outdoor light fixture.
The main reason to choose one is light. Every Floodlight Cam has two LED floodlights with up to 2,000 lumens of warm white light, and Ring says the lights cover 270 degrees horizontally. That’s enough to light a driveway, a garage front or most of a backyard, and the lights switch on by themselves when they sense motion. You can also turn them on from the Ring app.
Because a Floodlight Cam is always powered, you never charge a battery, and every model can record 24/7 if you add a Ring plan with 24/7 recording. All three also have a remote-activated siren.
The downside is the installation. A Floodlight Cam mounts on a weatherproof electrical box with mains wiring, so you need an outdoor light (or at least a junction box) in the right spot. Our guide to the best floodlight cameras compares Ring’s models with eufy, Reolink and others.
What the Spotlight Cam Does Best
The Spotlight Cam also comes in three versions: the Spotlight Cam 2K (about $170, or $200 with a solar panel), the Spotlight Cam 4K Plus (about $200) and the Spotlight Cam 4K Pro (about $250). It’s a smaller camera with one LED light bar above the lens.
Its strength is flexibility. The Spotlight Cam 2K is sold in battery, plug-in and solar versions, and the battery model has two battery slots, so you can add a second pack (sold separately) and go longer between charges. You can mount the battery or solar version on a fence, a shed or a corner of the house with a few screws, without an electrician. Our guide to solar security cameras explains how much sun a panel needs.
The 4K models add more power options. The Spotlight Cam 4K Plus runs on a battery, a plug-in adapter, hardwiring or PoE+ (power over the network cable), and works with a solar panel. The Spotlight Cam 4K Pro has no battery: it runs on a plug-in adapter, hardwiring or PoE+.
The trade-off is light. The Spotlight Cam 2K is rated at 550 to 650 lumens (Ring’s launch materials and its spec page give different figures), the 4K Plus at 550 and the 4K Pro at 600. That’s enough to light a porch, a doorway or a path, not a whole yard.
Floodlight vs Spotlight Side by Side
Here’s the Ring Spotlight Cam vs Floodlight Cam comparison across the current models:
| Factor | Floodlight Cam | Spotlight Cam |
|---|---|---|
| Current models | 2K, 4K Plus, 4K Pro | 2K, 4K Plus, 4K Pro |
| Price on Amazon | About $200 to $280 | About $170 to $250 |
| Light output | Up to 2,000 lumens, two floodlights | 550 to 650 lumens, one light bar |
| Battery or solar | No | 2K and 4K Plus |
| Plug-in | Yes, with a plug-in mount sold separately | Yes |
| Hardwired | Yes (main installation) | 4K Plus and 4K Pro |
| PoE+ | No | 4K Plus and 4K Pro |
| 24/7 recording | Yes, every model (with a plan) | Only when wired or plugged in (with a plan) |
| Video | 2K or 4K, 140 degrees wide | 2K or 4K, 140 degrees wide |
| Bird’s Eye View | 4K Plus and 4K Pro | 4K Plus and 4K Pro |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz (2K), dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (4K) | 2.4 GHz (2K), dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (4K) |
| Siren | Yes, 85 dB on the 4K models | Yes, 85 dB on the 2K and 4K Plus |
| Weather rating | IP65 | IP65 |
Light
This is the biggest difference between the two. A Floodlight Cam lights a wide area, and a Spotlight Cam lights the area right in front of it. If you’re replacing an old floodlight, or you want to see the whole driveway at night, a Spotlight Cam won’t match it.
Both use warm white 3000K light (the 4K models list it; Ring doesn’t give it for the Spotlight Cam 2K), and both let you adjust the brightness in the app.
Power and installation
A Floodlight Cam replaces a light fixture. Ring’s Floodlight Cam 2K installation guide asks for a 4-inch round weatherproof electrical box with ground, neutral and hot wires, and says not to connect the camera to a dimmer switch or a timer. If you don’t have a box where you want the camera, Ring recommends a licensed electrician. Ring also sells a plug-in mount that lets a Floodlight Cam run from an outdoor outlet instead.
A Spotlight Cam can go almost anywhere. The battery and solar versions need no wiring at all, the plug-in versions need an outlet nearby, and the 4K models can also be hardwired or run on PoE+. Our guide on how to install a security camera covers mounting height and placement for both.
Video and motion detection
The camera side is closer than the prices suggest. All six models record 140 degrees wide. The 2K models record at 2560 x 1440 with 6x zoom, and the 4K models at 3840 x 2160 with 10x zoom. The 2K models connect on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, while the 4K models have dual-band Wi-Fi 6.
The 4K Plus and 4K Pro models of both cameras also have Bird’s Eye View, an overhead map of the path someone took through your yard. The 2K models don’t. For a ranking of every model, see our guide to the best Ring cameras.
24/7 recording
Every model in both lineups supports 24/7 recording, but only when it’s hardwired or plugged in, and only with a Ring plan that includes it. Ring keeps up to 14 days of continuous video. A battery or solar Spotlight Cam records motion events only. If you want continuous recording, choose a Floodlight Cam or a wired Spotlight Cam.
Smart home and plans
Both cameras use the same Ring app and the same plans. Without a plan you get live view, motion alerts and two-way talk, but no recorded video. Ring Solo costs $4.99 a month for one device, Ring Multi $9.99 for every device, and Ring Pro $19.99. Our guide on whether you need a subscription for Ring explains what each plan adds.
Both work with Alexa, including live view on Echo Show displays. Neither works with Apple Home or Matter natively, as our guide to whether Ring works with HomeKit explains.
Which Should You Choose?
In most homes, these questions decide it:
- You have an outdoor light on a junction box where you want the camera: the Floodlight Cam.
- You want to light up a whole driveway, garage front or backyard: the Floodlight Cam.
- There’s no wiring or outlet where you want the camera: the Spotlight Cam 2K, battery or solar version.
- You only need light at a doorway, side gate or path: the Spotlight Cam.
- You want 24/7 recording: any Floodlight Cam, or a plugged-in or wired Spotlight Cam.
- You want 4K and Bird’s Eye View: the 4K Plus or 4K Pro version of either camera.
- You want to spend as little as possible: the Spotlight Cam 2K at about $170.
Many homes end up with both: a Floodlight Cam over the driveway and Spotlight Cams on the sides and back of the house, all in the same app. Whichever you choose, the Ring floodlight vs spotlight decision is mostly about the spot on the wall, not the camera. If you’re comparing other brands too, see our guide to the best outdoor security cameras.
Which Ring Floodlight or Spotlight Cam to Buy
Ring Floodlight Cam 2K — Best Floodlight Cam for Most Homes
Ring’s cheapest Floodlight Cam, with 2K video, two floodlights with up to 2,000 lumens and 270-degree motion-activated lighting. It connects on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only and doesn’t have Bird’s Eye View.
Best for: replacing an outdoor floodlight over a driveway, garage or backyard.
Price: ~$200
Ring Spotlight Cam 2K — Best Spotlight Cam
The most flexible Ring light camera. This is the battery version, with two battery slots (one pack included), 2K video and an 85 dB siren. Ring also sells it as a plug-in version at the same price and a solar version for about $200.
Best for: spots without wiring, such as a fence, side gate or back corner of the house.
Price: ~$170
Ring Floodlight Cam 4K Pro — Best for 4K Video and the Most Light
Ring’s top Floodlight Cam, with 4K video, 10x zoom, Bird’s Eye View, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and 2,000 lumens of floodlight. It’s hardwired, with a plug-in mount as an accessory.
Best for: large driveways and yards where you want the sharpest video at night.
Price: ~$280
Ring Spotlight Cam 4K Pro — Best 4K Spotlight Cam
A 4K Spotlight Cam with a 600-lumen light, 10x zoom, Bird’s Eye View and dual-band Wi-Fi 6. This is the plug-in version, and it can also be hardwired or run on PoE+, but it has no battery option. The battery-powered Spotlight Cam 4K Plus (about $200) is due on Amazon on November 17, 2026.
Best for: porches and side yards with an outlet, where you want 4K video and 24/7 recording.
Price: ~$250
Ring Floodlight Cam 4K Plus — Best Value 4K Floodlight Cam
Ring’s newest Floodlight Cam, with 4K video, 10x zoom, Bird’s Eye View, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and 2,000 lumens of floodlight, for about $60 less than the 4K Pro. It’s hardwired, or plugs in with Ring’s Plug-In Mount (sold separately).
Best for: replacing a floodlight when you want 4K video for not much more than the 2K.
Price: ~$220
The Bottom Line
The Ring Floodlight Cam vs Spotlight Cam choice depends on the spot you want to cover. The Floodlight Cam gives you about three times the light and continuous power, but it needs an electrical box and mains wiring. The Spotlight Cam lights a smaller area, but its battery, solar and plug-in versions go where a Floodlight Cam can’t. Both need a Ring plan to record video.
If a Ring camera you already own is acting up, our guide to fixing a Ring camera that’s not working covers the common causes.
What is the difference between the Ring Floodlight Cam and the Spotlight Cam?
The Floodlight Cam has two floodlights with up to 2,000 lumens and replaces a wired outdoor light on a junction box. The Spotlight Cam has one LED light bar with 550 to 650 lumens and comes in battery, solar, plug-in and wired versions, so it can be mounted almost anywhere.
Does the Ring Floodlight Cam need to be hardwired?
Mostly, yes. Ring’s Floodlight Cams are built to mount on a weatherproof electrical box with mains wiring, and none of them runs on a battery or solar. Ring also sells a plug-in mount that lets a Floodlight Cam run from an outdoor outlet instead.
Is the Ring Spotlight Cam bright enough?
For a porch, doorway, side gate or path, yes. The Spotlight Cam puts out 550 to 650 lumens depending on the model, roughly a third of a Floodlight Cam’s 2,000 lumens, so it won’t light up a whole driveway or backyard.
Can the Ring Spotlight Cam record 24/7?
Only when it’s hardwired or plugged in, and only with a Ring plan that includes 24/7 recording. Ring keeps up to 14 days of continuous video. The battery and solar versions record motion events only.
Do Ring Floodlight and Spotlight Cams need a subscription?
Not to work, but without a Ring plan you get only live view, motion alerts and two-way talk, with no recorded video. Ring Solo costs $4.99 a month for one device and Ring Multi $9.99 a month for every device.
Written by Evan Mercer
Founder & Lead Researcher, Smart Home Matrix
Evan digs through spec sheets, firmware changelogs, and thousands of owner reviews so you don’t have to. Every guide starts with a compatibility check and ends with picks he would install in his own home. Read more about Evan and this site, or see exactly how we choose products.