ARLO review
Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Arlo suits readers who want a specialist range of cameras and video doorbells with local storage rather than a full alarm package. Hardware entry is gentle: prices run €0 to €1,402.75, with the middle of the range at €61.38, but the plan to watch is any cloud subscription after purchase.
Key facts
- Best for
- Specialist cameras and video doorbells with local storage and a contract term of 0 months.
- Products
- Camera, Video-doorbell (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Arlo Technologies, Inc. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2018 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Official website
- arlo.com
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- Wikidata
Pros and cons
Pros
- Local storage is the norm here, with local storage on 95.1% of the local storage set, so a cloud plan is a choice rather than the only route to recordings.
- Contract terms sit at 0 months for the typical entry, so nothing at checkout forces a long commitment.
- Ecosystem choice is broad, with Alexa on 93.7% of the range, Google on 77.2% and HomeKit on 49.4%.
- Power options spread across battery on 85.4%, wired on 65.9% and solar on 42.7%, which widens where devices can go.
- Local control is on 100% of the range, so cameras keep working on the local network rather than only through the cloud.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is offered on only 26% of the range, so a household wanting a response team is better served by an alarm specialist than a camera brand.
- The range is narrow: camera and video doorbell leaves out smart locks, alarm panels and personal alarms, while The Home Security Superstore covers alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Live chat reaches just 26.2% of the range, so setup questions lean on the 90.1% help centre and 73.5% instead.
- A hub is required on 39.5% of entries, so part of the range needs a base unit before the cameras are useful.
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners who want cameras and a video doorbell from a single maker and can place hardware themselves, with the do-it-yourself model on 90.9% of the range.
- Readers who would rather keep recordings on the device, since local storage is on 95.1% of the local storage set.
- Households already running Alexa or Google, with those ecosystems on 93.7% and 77.2% of the range.
Who should look elsewhere
- Those who want a full alarm, locks and personal alarms in a single basket should look at The Home Security Superstore, whose alarm, camera and smart lock reach further than camera and video doorbell.
- Shoppers building a wider smart home around locks, sensors and a doorbell may fit Aqara better, since its camera, smart lock and smoke alarm mix spans more device categories.
- Buyers who want a camera paired with an alarm panel can check SONOFF, whose camera and alarm covers both.
Who runs it
The business behind Arlo is Arlo Technologies, Inc., founded in 2018 and based in the United States. That profile points to a specialist maker: the name covers video hardware and the cloud plans attached to it, rather than a general catalogue or a monitoring service sold on its own. The founding date places Arlo among the newer names in home security, so the record sits in devices and software rather than a long stretch of field service, and readers who weigh decades of operating history will find less of one here. Being incorporated in the US also anchors contracts, consumer law and support hours to that market, which is worth checking against local terms if you are buying elsewhere. In practice the company details tell you the name on the paperwork, where the operation is registered from and how new it is, while the price and plan rows tell you what the hardware and the cloud side cost.
How ARLO compares
Arno
BlazeVideo DE
Frequently asked questions
How much do Arlo cameras and doorbells cost at entry?+
Entry pricing in this category runs €0 to €1,402.75, with the lower quartile at €30.32 and the middle of the range at €61.38. Flagship hardware sits higher, with the middle of that band at €492.95, so pick a tier before comparing brands.
Is there a monthly fee once the hardware is installed?+
The monitoring cost attached to the typical entry is €0 a month, and the upper quartile of the range reaches €4.01. The top of the range is €48.90, so paid cloud tiers sit at the expensive end. Read the plan row beside the hardware price before you commit.
Do I have to sign a contract?+
The contract term attached to the typical entry is 0 months, so nothing forces a long commitment at checkout. Across the wider set the longest term runs to 36 months, so if a plan is offered with a fixed term, read the renewal terms before you sign.
What kinds of products does Arlo make?+
Arlo's camera and video doorbell cover the video side of home security. Smart locks, alarm panels and personal alarms sit outside that range, so a household that wants a single basket for everything has a narrower choice here than at The Home Security Superstore, whose alarm, camera and smart lock run wider.
Can footage be stored without a cloud subscription?+
Local storage is available on 95.1% of the range, and local control is on 100% in the local storage set. Cloud-only entries sit at 4.9%, so check the storage type on the specific model rather than assuming every camera records locally.
Which smart home platforms work with Arlo?+
Support runs broad: Alexa appears on 93.7% of the range, Google on 77.2% and HomeKit on 49.4%. Matter is certified on 85.7% and Matter ecosystem support shows on 46.8%, so newer smart home setups have room to grow.
Do I need a hub or base station?+
It depends on the model: a hub is required on 39.5% of the range, while 60.5% run on their own. Power also varies, with battery on 85.4%, wired on 65.9% and solar on 42.7%, which decides where each unit can be placed.
Is professional monitoring available?+
Professional monitoring is offered on 26% of the range, with a monitored model on 22.7%, while 74% of the range stays with the do-it-yourself model on 90.9%. Anyone wanting a response team should weigh an alarm specialist alongside a camera brand.
What support do I get after buying?+
A help centre covers 90.1% of the range and email reaches 73.5%, with phone on 65.4%. Live chat is the thinnest channel at 26.2%, so plan on email or written help for setup questions.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlo_Technologies checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Legal entity, Products
“2018 (as an independent company)”
Compiled from 1 source page, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Price, Monitoring per month, Minimum contract.
ARLO
Specialist cameras and video doorbells with local storage and a contract term of 0 months.