Arlo vs. Reolink Comparison

Both Reolink and Arlo offer camera-based home security systems. Both companies’ cameras boast impressive specs, but we know that only tells half the story. That’s why we decided to test a few Reolink cameras and a few Arlo cameras in our home to see what these camera systems could actually do. After our tests, we decided we preferred Arlo, although neither provider ended up on our list of the best home security cameras.

>> Read More: Everything You Need to Know About Security Cameras

Overview: Arlo vs. Reolink

We appreciate that Arlo included a window sticker with their Pro security camera to deter burglars.

Arlo and Reolink each offer an impressively large lineup of security cameras with everything from 4K indoor and outdoor cameras to video doorbells. On the surface and once you dig a bit deeper, Arlo and Reolink have a lot in common. Needless to say, they’re big competitors servicing a very similar market of consumers who want security cameras for their home without requiring an investment in a full-scale security system.

Similarities Between Arlo and Reolink

Each brand offers multiple cameras that allow you to choose how technologically advanced you want to be with options such as:

• Color Night Vision: Although some cameras from each provider still use infrared night vision, both have color night vision cameras for indoor and outdoor use.
• 4K Resolution: If you want crystal-clear image quality, you can get cameras with 4K resolution from either provider. In fact, Arlo makes one of our favorite 4K security cameras.
• People, Package, Pet, and Vehicle Detection: To cut down on false alerts, Arlo and Reolink cameras can tell the difference between people, pets, packages, and vehicles.
• Wireless Models: You can install Arlo and Reolink cameras anywhere, as most models are wireless, which put each of them on our list of the best battery-powered security cameras. They both even offer cellular cameras, meaning they don’t need to be in range of your Wi-Fi.
• Cloud Storage Plans: The subscriptions for cloud storage are very similar between Arlo and Reolink, although Reolink does not offer a plan that supports unlimited cameras.
• Local Storage Options: You can forego cloud storage and still record your video footage using local storage with both Arlo and Reolink.
• Cameras With Wide Fields of View: With up to 180-degree fields of view on cameras from Arlo and Reolink, you won’t need many cameras to cover large areas of your property.

Differences Between Arlo and Reolink

They’re far from identical, though. Arlo and Reolink have some major differences, including:

• Mobile App Quality: Arlo’s app worked well for us during the entire time we tested their security cameras, whereas Reolink’s app could use some work.
• Professional Monitoring: Only Arlo offers professional monitoring, and it’s only for their security system (not the cameras).
• Home Security System: Reolink only offers security cameras. Arlo has a security system, but we’re not huge fans of it, as it uses an all-in-one security sensor that doesn’t quite fit the goal of a security system.
• Audio Detection: If you subscribe to Arlo Secure, the microphone in Arlo’s security cameras can identify fire alarms and other alerts in your home and send you a notification.

Reolink vs. Arlo: A Detailed Comparison

Now that you have an idea of the similarities and differences between Arlo and Reolink, let’s dive into the details.

Equipment Pricing

Here’s everything that came with our $150 Reolink Argus home security camera.

While both Arlo and Reolink offer a wide range of security cameras that range in price by just as much, Arlo’s products tend to cost more for similar specs. For instance, Arlo’s 4K camera, the Arlo Ultra 2, costs $299.99, whereas you can get a 4K Reolink camera for as little as $109.99.

Arlo’s Equipment Prices

Just because Arlo’s equipment tends to cost more than Reolink doesn’t mean it’ll break the bank. They have low-cost cameras, too, such as the Essential, which starts at $49.99. It’s just that Reolink’s prices are really good, so Arlo doesn’t quite beat them. Here’s how much Arlo’s cameras cost:

Reolink’s Equipment Prices

There are a lot of camera models from Reolink. Too many, in fact, for us to list them all here. But, we’ll highlight a range of their models. Here’s an overview of Reolink’s camera prices:

We know that one of those Reolink cameras costs more than any Arlo camera, but that camera features a 360-degree field of view. Now, it’s not really a 360-degree field of view, but it can track moving objects and can pan 360 degrees. That makes it function as though it could see all the way around — as long as there aren’t two objects it’s trying to track at opposite ends of the camera at the same time. Even with this camera, we find Reolink offers better prices than Arlo.

Winner: Reolink

Subscriptions

As far as subscriptions go, Reolink and Arlo are fairly similar, but we prefer Arlo’s options. They’re not our favorite subscriptions in the industry, as we feel like we get better value from Ring’s subscriptions or SimpliSafe’s subscriptions, as you’ll see in our Arlo vs. SimpliSafe comparison. They still beat Reolink’s options, though, as Reolink does not have a plan that supports unlimited cameras. Arlo also offers a professional monitoring plan, unlike Reolink.

>> Learn More: Ring vs. Arlo Comparison – Which Is Most Secure?

Arlo’s Subscriptions

Subscribing to Arlo Secure unlocked Activity Zones in the mobile app for all of our Arlo cameras.

With the Arlo Secure plan, you can use cloud storage and unlock all of your cameras’ capabilities. We recommend at least the self-monitoring plan so you can avoid false alarms caused by pets and vehicles. It also enables the microphone in your cameras to detect the sound of a smoke, CO, or other hazard alarms in your house. Then, it’ll send a notification to your phone so you can call for help if needed. While testing the Arlo Argus Pro, we went with an Arlo Secure plan.

Arlo’s professional monitoring plan, Arlo Secure Premium, only supports the Arlo security system. So, if you’re just in the market for security cameras, we’d recommend the Arlo Plus plan instead. There’s also a subscription to essentially rent an Arlo security system and get professional monitoring called Arlo Total Security, but we don’t recommend it unless you only need a security system temporarily. You’ll end up paying more for the plan than you would have if you bought a security system outright.

Here’s an overview of Arlo’s subscriptions:

>> Learn About: Best Security Cameras With No Subscription in 2025

Reolink’s Subscription

Just like Reolink offers a lot of cameras, they also offer a lot of subscription options. They all come down to different amounts of cloud storage and cellular data for their LTE cameras. We opted for the Standard LTE plan when we tested Reolink’s cameras, as our system only comprised three cameras. Here’s a look at Reolink’s subscriptions:

Winner: Arlo

Smart Capabilities

Arlo and Reolink both support people, pet, package, and vehicle detection, and both require a plan to activate it on their cameras. It’s not quite as good as facial recognition, like we got from Google Nest and Lorex cameras, but it definitely cut down on the amount of alerts we got. Without it, our phone would blow up with notifications every time something scurried or drove past our outdoor security camera.

They both can also integrate into popular smart home ecosystems like Google Home and Amazon Alexa, with Arlo extending its integration capabilities to Apple HomeKit as well. Arlo also has the upper hand by offering audio detection with their cameras as well as the ability to detect the sound of other alarms in your house.

Winner: Arlo

Mobile App Quality

We found Reolink’s mobile app to be kind of confusing and difficult to navigate.

This is where Arlo really stands above Reolink pretty significantly. Sure, they both have a mobile app, but Arlo’s is better all around. It’s easier to navigate, easier to use, and has just as many features. There’s really nothing we sacrificed when we went from Reolink’s app to Arlo’s app, and we gained a much better experience.

Winner: Arlo

>> Read About: Best Home Security System With a Mobile App

Local Storage Options

We appreciate it when a security camera company offers local storage options. Most of them nowadays require a cloud storage plan if you want to record any clips, but Reolink and Arlo both offer options for local storage. We don’t recommend relying on local storage, but, instead, use it as a backup. When you only use local storage, it puts your videos at risk, as a burglar can take off with your camera and therefore the recording of their crime. By using it as a backup, though, you ensure you capture every moment even when your Wi-Fi goes down.

Winner: Draw

Summary: Arlo vs. Reolink

Unless you’re on a tight budget, we recommend Arlo over Reolink for its better mobile app and audio detection capabilities. The mobile app might not seem like a big deal when you’re comparing systems, but it’s how you’ll use your cameras on a day-to-day basis. That’s where you’ll receive alerts, check live feeds, and review recorded clips. So, we take the quality of a security system’s mobile app very seriously.

That said, if you can deal with a mobile app that’s a bit trickier to navigate, Reolink offers great deals on their security cameras. Their cameras offer some of the best value in the industry when looking at the specs-to-price ratio. Not many companies can claim to offer a 4K camera for about $100, but that’s Reolink’s everyday price.

FAQs About Arlo vs. Reolink