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All Arlo cameras communicate without wires (so you won’t need an electrician), but some of them need to be plugged in to work. Arlo sells both outdoor and indoor cameras. Some Arlo cameras need hubs or base stations to connect to your smart home. Some don’t. Some Arlo hubs and cameras have local storage. Some don’t. Most Arlo cameras work with Alexa, Google, IFTTT, and HomeKit. Arlo has three different cloud storage/video streaming plans. You can’t use every plan with every camera due to varying storage needs and video quality capabilities.
The main differentiator between many of the Arlo camera lines is the video quality. The Essential, Pro, and Ultra lines are all very similar in terms of features; their prices are primarily determined by whether they stream in 1080p, 2K, or 4K. So basically, if you’re just looking for a good camera, you’ll probably like any of the main three lines. But if you want a specific video quality, then Arlo’s still got you covered. For cameras with advanced object detection and other features that make Arlo worth the buy, you must get a paid Premier or Elite plan. Without one, you can’t access most of your camera’s functions. However, which plan you get will be determined by the camera you have. And, if you have a few different Arlo cameras with different plan needs, you could end up paying for both a Premier and Elite plan each month. But there’s a catch. Besides paying for a subscription plan, you’ll spend $9.99 each month for 14 days of CVR or $19.99 a month for 30 days. That works out to as much as $35 a month, which is quite a bit for DIY camera systems. Over the last few years, Arlo has discontinued the Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2. Currently, the company sells the Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight, and Pro 4. At time of writing, retailers we researched only carried the Pro 3 add-on camera, which would require a base station to operate. The main difference between these cameras is that the Pro 3 and Pro 4 have spotlights, while the Pro 3 Floodlight (predictably) has a floodlight. Also, neither the Pro 4 or Pro 3 Floodlight needs an Arlo hub, while the Pro 3 is still reliant on one. If you live on a busy street, motion detection push notifications can quickly become annoying. It’s better to get specific notifications, such as “Person detected” or “Package detected.” And that’s where Arlo’s top unique feature comes into play. However, to use this feature, you’ll need a paid subscription. You’ll get three months of Arlo Secure free at first, and then it’s time to pay. You can choose to go without a paid subscription, but as we’ve mentioned, you won’t be able to get the full Arlo Pro experience. But now Arlo no longer sells the Ultra. It’s moved on to the Ultra 2. Arlo Ultra 2 features: The Ultra 2 requires an Arlo SmartHub or base station, so if you don’t have one, you’ll want to get one. Like other Arlo cameras, the Ultra is completely wireless, so you don’t need to plug it into the hub or your router to work. We haven’t tried the Arlo Ultra 2, but our understanding is that it’s pretty similar. So what makes these cameras so essential? They both have sirens and advanced motion detection, don’t use hubs, and still manage to be two of Arlo’s cheapest camera offerings. Affordable and user-friendly: nice. And, if you get the Essential Spotlight, you’ll also get outdoor weatherproofing, color night vision, and an estimated six months of battery life. If you choose to connect the camera to an Arlo SmartHub, you can get free local storage too. Just remember that if you choose to go that route over a paid Arlo Smart subscription, you can’t use your object-detection features. We charged the camera and followed the app instructions to add it to our Arlo account. It only took a few minutes. We didn’t try installing the mount, though, so we can’t speak to that. Those products include Arlo’s doorbell cameras and Arlo’s solar panels. Arlo Pro: The Arlo Pro line streams in 2K. The older versions require a hub, while the two newest, the Pro 3 Floodlight and Pro 4, don’t. To access the full features, like advanced object detection, you’ll need to pay for a subscription. Arlo Ultra: Arlo Ultras feature 4K video and advanced object detection when you use the premium paid subscription. Both the older and newer versions require connection with an Arlo hub. Arlo Essential: This 1080p line includes one indoor-only camera. Hubs are not required to use the Essential cameras, but you’ll need a paid plan to take full advantage of the features, including Arlo’s signature advanced object detection. The main thing that makes Arlo cameras expensive is that you typically have to buy them in a multipack or with a base, bringing the cost way up. When you buy them one at a time, they’re much more affordable. Especially if you wait and order them once they’ve been out for a while. However, some cameras, like the Arlo Q and Arlo Go, come with rolling seven-day storage at no cost.
