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Arlo Home Security System 2024 Review
Arlo’s user-friendly equipment and competitive pricing make it one of our top picks for a home security system.
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Dalia Ramirez Lead Writer | Estate planning, home security
Dalia Ramirez writes about home security for NerdWallet. She has previously written on topics including estate planning, cryptocurrencies, small business software and personal finance. Dalia has a B.A. in science and technology studies and a certificate in critical theory from Wesleyan University. Her work has appeared in publications including The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg and The Associated Press. She is based in Los Angeles.
Tina Orem Assistant Assigning Editor | Taxes, small business, Social Security and estate planning, home services
Tina Orem is an editor at NerdWallet. Prior to becoming an editor, she covered small business and taxes at NerdWallet. She has been a financial writer and editor for over 15 years, and she has a degree in finance, as well as a master's degree in journalism and a Master of Business Administration. Previously, she was a financial analyst and director of finance for several public and private companies. Tina's work has appeared in a variety of local and national media outlets.
Julie Myhre-Nunes Assigning Editor | Auto loans, consumer credit
Julie Myhre-Nunes helps lead auto loans and cars coverage at NerdWallet. She has been in the personal finance space for more than 10 years. Before joining NerdWallet, Julie oversaw editorial teams at NextAdvisor and Red Ventures. Her personal finance insight has been featured on Forbes, The Boston Globe and CNBC. Julie’s writing has been published by USA Today, Business Insider and Wired Insights, among others. Email: [email protected].
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$199.99
Base kit includes one keypad sensor hub, two sensors, and a free three-month pro monitoring trial.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$29.99
Some sensor features not available without subscription. Self monitoring for cameras starts at $9.99 per month.
Hazard detection
Sensors can detect water and temperature and alert you when a smoke/CO detector goes off.
No actual smoke/CO detector, and you'll need a paid monthly plan to use the sensor's alarm listening feature.
View details
Key facts
Arlo provides a flexible system for a variety of safety needs with 8-in-1 sensors.
Pros
Customizable system with versatile sensors.
No record of security breaches.
Integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung, Apple HomeKit and IFTTT.
Cons
Cellular and battery backup requires an extra device and a paid monthly monitoring plan.
Cameras only differentiate among motion types if you have a monitoring subscription starting at $19.99 a month.
Arlo is a budget-priced home security provider that offers self-installed home security alarm systems, cameras and doorbells that have fewer features than competitors such as Ring and Vivint.
The company offers several self- and pro-monitoring plans at reasonable monthly prices, though you can still use the alarm system’s basic features without paying for a monitoring plan. The systems are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, plus many other smart home integrations, such as Samsung, Apple HomeKit and IFTTT, giving you dozens of options for automation and connection.
We tested an Arlo alarm system and found the products functional and customizable. As mentioned, its features aren’t as rich or complex as those of some competitors such as Ring and Vivint, but it’s a great affordable pick that, for many people, will check all the boxes.
Pros
Cons
Multifunctional sensors can perform eight different types of detection, including motion, open/close, water leaks, freezing, tilting, light and listening for sounds from smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms.
Won’t work when the power is out unless you pay for an added device and a monthly plan to get cellular and battery backup.
Integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as Samsung, Apple HomeKit and IFTTT.
Only filters motion alerts if you have a paid subscription starting at $9.99 monthly for a single camera; smart detection starts at $19.99 monthly.
Deciding factors
One-time costs
$199.99 for basic equipment.
Monthly fees
None required.
Installation
DIY. If you don't want to DIY it, Arlo partner HelloTech will install Arlo doorbells and cameras starting at $99.
Video monitoring
$0 to self-monitor without advanced features.
$9.99 per month for self-monitoring with camera recordings (one camera only).
$14.99 per month for self-monitoring with camera recordings (more than one camera).
$19.99 per month for self-monitoring with smart notifications and camera recordings.
$29.99 per month for all advanced features plus 24/7 professional monitoring and emergency response.
Contract
None.
How much does Arlo cost?
Arlo bundles
Arlo offers two security alarm system bundles. Both come with a free 30-day trial of an Arlo Premium monitoring plan. Doorbells, cameras and other accessories are sold separately, though you can “build your own bundle” and get up to 25% off the entire order. The prices below are list prices.
Package
Price
What you get
Home Security System (2 sensors)
$199.99.
Keypad hub and two sensors.
Home Security System (5 sensors)
$299.99.
Keypad hub and five sensors, plus a yard sign.
Arlo sensors, keypad and battery backup
Arlo devices
There are quite a few versions of Arlo cameras and doorbells, with a wide range in price, and it was somewhat difficult to identify differences and choose between them. We opted to sort by bestselling items on the website; these are Arlo’s most popular picks.
We found that Arlo often discounts individual items up to 50% and provides a free 30-day trial of an Arlo Secure Plan. The prices below are list prices.
Item
Price
Description
Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera- 2nd Gen
$99.99.
2K resolution battery-powered camera with built-in spotlight and color night vision. Available in HD for $49.99.
Video Doorbell
$129.99.
2K resolution video doorbell with built-in siren, night vision and motion detection. Available in HD for $79.99.
Ultra 2 Wireless Security Camera
$299.99.
4K resolution camera with HDR, built-in spotlight and premium two-way audio. Requires a SmartHub.
How does Arlo work?
Setup pros
We found Arlo’s setup to be mostly straightforward. Some of the app features were clunky, but all the sensors were functional once installed, and there were several helpful customization options. Here are a few features we liked:
Comprehensive layout. See all the sensors in one view once they’re set up as app widgets.
Shareable. Easily add another user to the system to monitor devices on their own account.
Speedy. Receive sensor alerts as app notifications almost immediately, noticeably faster than those we received with our previous alarm system, Nest Secure (now discontinued).
Programmable. Automate the system to turn it on and off at set times, such as at bedtime and in the morning, or at home and away (the system automatically detects when you and your device leave your property and arms the system in response).
Arlo's scheduling interface.
Simple setup. Install the sensors without drilling or tools — they come with adhesive to stick on a wall or door and connect wirelessly to the hub.
Setup cons
Arlo's setup wasn’t as seamless as SimpliSafe, which had a very user-friendly setup process. With Arlo, we had some issues scanning the hub’s QR code, aligning the sensor magnets and adding the sensors to the app. These are a few of the frustrations we had:
Sensor stress. We had to set up the sensors again to add them as widgets in the app. Depending on how many sensors you have, this can be frustrating.
Arlo's dashboard.
Expandability controls. If you purchase an extra hub to extend the range of your sensors, it can’t communicate with your original hub. The systems would have to be run separately.
Paid plans required for full functionality. Most advanced features, such as cloud storage, person detection and emergency response, and even some built-in sensor capabilities, such as smoke and CO alarm listening, require a paid monthly subscription. This isn’t unique to Arlo — competitor Ring’s features work similarly — but it’s something to keep in mind if price is a main concern.
Monitoring
With Arlo, you’ll have three paid monitoring options. Monitoring fees are lower when billed annually or monthly for the first year. You can get basic alerts without any paid plan, but there are a few features available at each level that may make the added cost worth it. Here are our favorite features, by plan:
Basic, starting $9.99 per month
30 days of cloud video storage (higher-priced plans don’t increase in storage amount).
Smart activity zones where you can highlight specific areas to receive motion notifications from.
Plus, $19.99 per month
Smart detection that differentiates between people, packages, vehicles and animals.
Premium, $29.99 per month
24/7 professional monitoring, which can dispatch emergency services to your phone if an alarm is triggered. Arlo’s monitoring agents will verify the event with images and video before sending emergency services. You can enroll in either of the other plans with just cameras, but you’ll need an alarm system to use professional monitoring.
24/7 emergency response, which lets you contact fire, medical or police from the Arlo app (you can add important details about your home and family in advance, such as if there are pets, children or a hard-to-access entrance).
Cellular and battery backup. This feature requires a cellular & battery backup device, though, which costs $79.99.
Smoke and CO alarm listening, which can alert you when a sensor hears the alarm go off. All Arlo sensors have this capability, but you’ll need this plan to use it.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$249.96
Base kit includes one base station, one keypad, one entry sensor and one motion sensor. Sometimes you can get a free Smart Alarm wireless indoor security camera and a free trial of professional monitoring if they're running a promotion.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$21.99
Self monitoring available for $9.99 per month. You can also access basic features with no plan.
Hazard detection
Add-on smoke/CO detector, water and temperature sensor.
View details
Key facts
SimpliSafe offers comprehensive packages at affordable prices with both self- and pro-monitoring subscription options.
Pros
Offers affordable packages with add-ons and a build-your-own-system option.
No record of security breaches.
Can be self-monitored for free.
Cons
Only integrates with Alexa, Google and Apple Watch, while other providers have more extensive smart home integration.
Smart home automation and scheduled arming require a paid monthly plan.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$244.95
Base kit includes alarm base station, keypad, door/window contact sensor, motion detector, alarm range extender and free 30-day trial of Ring Protect professional monitoring. Pro starter kit comes with a Wifi router.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$19.99
Other features/self monitoring available with plans starting at $4.99 per month. You'll need at least the basic plan to arm and disarm your system remotely.
Hazard detection
Add-on smoke/CO detector and listener, flood and freeze sensor.
View details
Key facts
Ring offers affordable professional monitoring and a DIY system with high-quality cameras.
Pros
Lowest-priced professional monitoring service among competitors.
Offers a self-monitoring option with rich video features.
Pro system includes a Wi-Fi router that can replace or extend your existing coverage
Cons
Has had a security breach.
Can only integrate with Alexa, not Google, unless you use a third-party app.
Requires a paid monthly subscription starting at $4.99 if you want to arm and disarm the alarm system from your phone.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers the type of home security system being reviewed, as well as pricing, offerings, video features, privacy and customer reviews.
Equipment cost
$159.99
Base kit includes security hub, key fob and mini sensor for door/window.
Professional monitoring monthly cost
$24.99
Self monitoring with extra features is $7.99 per month, but you can also use basic features for free.
Hazard detection
Add-on smoke alarm monitor and leak detector.
No actual smoke/CO detector.
View details
Key facts
Abode's security system is compatible with the widest range of smart home products including Amazon Echo, Google Home and Nest.
Pros
Can be self-monitored for free.
No record of security breaches.
The alarm system can be connected directly to an ethernet cable or work wirelessly with your Wi-Fi network.
Cons
Smart detection requires a paid subscription starting at $6.99 per month.
Doesn’t offer an actual smoke alarm, just a smoke alarm monitor.
We collect data from providers and do firsthand testing as necessary. Our process starts by gathering information from providers and contacting providers for further information where needed. This information, combined with our specialists’ hands-on research, makes up our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance. The final output produces star ratings from poor (1 star) to excellent (5 stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. Learn more about our ratings methodology here.
