And that’s good because you’ll spend more money (like, a lot more) on Arlo cameras than you would on Blink’s affordable alternatives. It just comes down to which features you think are worth the cash. We’ll give you all the details to help guide you into your next home security camera purchase. If you want to skip the SmartHub, then the Arlo Essential and the Arlo Pro 4 don’t need it. The Essential is also a lot cheaper than Arlo’s Pro or Ultra models. View Arlo Plans | Read the Arlo Security Camera Review If you’re going to have more than five cameras, then Blink’s subscription plan is cheaper than Arlo’s—but its features aren’t nearly as smart. Another Blink/Arlo similarity is that they both offer cloud and local storage options. They have monthly subscription plans if you prefer cloud storage, but if you’d rather keep your footage to yourself, then you can store videos on a USB flash drive plugged into the Blink or Arlo hub. Smarter recognition means that Arlo cameras send smarter notifications to your phone. Instead of just telling you “motion detected,” Arlo cameras can send alerts telling you what they saw, such as “vehicle detected.” One last thing: if you’re a high-definition junkie, then Arlo cameras are where it’s at. Some Arlo cameras, like the Arlo Ultra 2, can go up to 4K, ultra-HD resolution, if you just gotta be able to see the brand name on your neighbor’s sunglasses when he walks by your house. The Blink Indoor and Blink Outdoor are both battery-powered, wire-free cameras, so they’re a piece of cake to install. And best of all, both of these cameras have two-year battery lives. Compare that to Arlo’s roughly six-month-long battery life. But if you don’t care about having the smartest possible cameras and would rather save your money, then Blink cameras are a budget-friendly alternative. Blink doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you get with Arlo cameras, but its cameras are still a solid choice for the price. Arlo cameras are great if you want the best and brightest security cameras out there, but otherwise, Blink will serve you just fine. To decide which smart security camera is the best for your home, we looked at pricing of equipment and plans, the innovative technology it possesses, smart home integrations, clear video, and professional monitoring. But if you’d like to save money and don’t care to have the smartest camera, then Blink cameras a good budget-friendly alternative. If you’d like to store your video in cloud storage, Arlo charges $3–$15 per month and Blink costs $3–$10. Arlo offers a wired and wireless option, you’ll pay between $150-$200 depending on which option you prefer. Blink’s Video Doorbell is only $50 and offers two-way audio, HD video, and motion alerts.
