Arlo Smart Home Reviews 

This is the worst home security camera and doorbell system we have ever owned. There is nothing intuitive about it. Initial setup is easy but God forbid you perform an update to your internet or wifi network because Arlo then requires you to deauthorize the systems one by one and perform the initial setup steps again which leads to hours of troubleshooting with incompetent customer support or a horrible AI. It completely lacks in amenities you’d want or hides them behind multi-step processes. Don’t want to be notified every single time your doorbell picks up motion? Too bad, you can only mute it for a maximum of 24 hours. Need customer or technical support? Welcome to Punjab-central where a chat conversation takes 5 minutes for each response, an hour just to get to the solutions side of things before you even start actually trouble shooting. Absolute trash.

I bought my first arlos and base station almost a decade ago (in 2018).
When I first purchased my original Arlo cameras (which were more expensive than other cameras on the market), the company promised and advertised heavily on the fact that they had no subscriptions (and insinuated that that meant for the foreseeable future as well). I told all my family and friends to buy Arlo. They did. The cameras and base station cost way more than I had budgeted, but the capabilities etc at the time were great - for having no subscription. I continued buying updated Arlo cameras and base stations. Then a few years ago, Arlo’s sales tactics and camera systems completely changed - if I didn’t pay for their new subscription, the most important capabilities of I bought my first arlos and base station almost a decade ago (in 2018).
When I first purchased my original Arlo cameras (which were more expensive than other cameras on the market that had subscriptions), the company promised and advertised heavily on the fact that they had no subscriptions (and insinuated that that meant for the foreseeable future as well). I told all my family and friends to buy Arlo. The cameras and system cost way more than I had budgeted, but the capabilities etc at the time were great - for having no subscription. Then a few years ago, the whole company, Arlo’s sales tactics and camera systems changed - if I didn’t pay for their new subscription, the most important capabilities in my Arlo cameras were taken away. By the time Arlo introduced subscriptions to get features that used to be free, I had already invested several thousand dollars into their products.

They could have offered original (longtime) customers like myself (still using original cameras sold to me without necessary subscriptions for them to be useful) some kind of benefit, longer free trial period, or maybe even camera replacements or discounts of some kind regarding the subscription. But instead, Arlo essentially just took away my most useful and essential security camera capabilities overnight (no recordings, no local storage options, limited number of cameras etc). Without the subscription, I had only notifications and live view camera capabilities. I justified the higher camera prices when I first bought my Arlo cameras in 2018 because of their “no subscription advertising.” It was an extremely unethical business practice. My cameras became pretty much useless overnight - live recordings (no subscription) is not why anyone buys security camera systems. I’ll never buy anything from Arlo again. Your company bait and switched me. ducts.

They could have offered original (longtime) customers like myself (still using original cameras sold to me without necessary subscriptions for them to be useful) some kind of benefit, longer free trial period, or maybe even camera replacements or discounts of some kind regarding the subscription. But instead, Arlo essentially just took away the features that made me invest in their security cameras in the first place. Without the subscription, I only got notifications of motion detections and live view camera capabilities - they were in my opinion useless. I justified the higher camera prices when I first bought my Arlo cameras in 2018 because of their “no subscription advertising.” I’ll never buy anything from Arlo again and I don’t think anyone should trust a company that does a bait and switch on its longtime customers.

Sincerely regret buying this brand. Cameras are stated having 4K recording but they only record in 1080p. Customer service is non existent, the only reason I get for the issue is "sorry". Steer clear!

They used to be quite good, but have got steadily worse over the years. My neighbour was burgled and asked if my cameras caught anyone on my property, when I checked I found I had NO footage from the last month - Arlo had remotely removed my own routines and also remotely set my cameras to NOT record. Basically they remotely switched off EVERYTHING the cameras are there to do, and still billed me for my subscription. If it happens again I will bite the bullet and replace them with ANYONE but Arlo. Absolutely terrible solution, I’m staggered that they think they can do this.
Also the motion detection is terribly inconsistent - it’s great at recording things you don’t care about but misses important events. Avoid wasting your money on these - I’ve had mine 7 years or so and the service is getting steadily worse; I was forced to pay for a subscription although the promise at the time was that none would be needed (and wasn’t for the first few years). As others point out you can’t view local recordings via the app - appalling solution. At this rate I predict they’ll be out of business soon when they have no customers left.

Customer service reps dont know their products. I asked from week 2 to return cameras and they kept having me try the same troubleshooting methods. Finally escalated to engineering where I was supposed to be contacted within 48 hours. Still waiting-2 months. Then told at 31 days it was too late to return. Filed an appeal for the doorbell camera as that is the one that wouldn’t stay connected despite updating router and adding WiFi extender.. was told I would be refunded for that camera but still haven’t been-waiting 2 months. Monthly plan very expensive so I didn’t take that. I replaced the doorbell with a tplink camera and it functions perfectly. So I replaced another camera with a tplink and working perfectly. The whole experience with Arlo was very dissatisfying and I spent hours on the phone with support with no resolution. Stay away from this company!

Arlo cameras are trash!! And their forced pay for play now is worthless! They never cought the person who broke into my car but cought the police checking the cars? They lose connection easy and batteries ladted about 7 months. DO NOT BUY PEOPLE!!!

Don't waste your money. Worst customer service and camera company ever. Ordered outdoor camera didn't come with mounting kit at all anywhere in the box and it was supposed to they even admitted that it was supposed to an apologized but after making me jump through hoops proving the serial number and that I bought it and everything they said that they don't ship replacement parts. And even after I told them it wasn't a replacement part I never got it in the first place they refuse to do it waste of $50 horrible company never again canceled my subscription immediately

Worst Customer Service in the History of Customer Service. It won't let me copy and paste the review I have written, but long story short, I've had doorbell cams and outside cams for 3 years worked flawlessly. Then the doorbell cam suddenly disconnected from the wifi and app. I'm on day six of trying to fix this, no one has ever been able to explain why it works and will call the app but won't 'connect' to the app or the wifi (or how it can call the app it it's not connected) I've spoken to a dozen different people and been forced to try the same trouble shooting things a dozen times, all of which I tried BEFORE I even contacted support. I was forced to buy a new doorbell camera, got it, and oh guess what? IT DOESN'T WORK EITHER. Now I've spent over THREE HOURS on Sunday arguing with Arlo repeating the same 'trouble shooting' steps only to finally be told the sensor is bad, and I'll need a replacement. AGAIN. Never mind other issues, like getting told different things by different people and everyone telling me it'll get fixed, just reading off scripts.

Completely useless without an expensive subscription – do not buy! I was believing that I could use local storage via a memory card, but Arlo has designed everything to force you into their expensive monthly subscription.It is absolutely absurd, but without a subscription, you cannot even view your own memory card recordings in the app. To watch the clips, you have to physically remove the microscopic memory card from the camera and plug it into a computer. On top of that, the app blocks basic features like activating the camera via a schedule, making it completely useless as an automated security system.Arlo sells hardware with a memory card slot but locks the actual functionality behind a strict paywall. This is nothing but a greedy business model to milk customers for money. Avoid this brand at all costs – buy Eufy, Reolink, or Tapo instead, where local storage is actually free and works seamlessly in the app!

The absolute worst. Crippling lag, subscription paywalls, random drops, hub hassles, and climbing up the ladder every 10 days instead of the "6 months battery life." I dont know how this company is still in business. I bought my tapo cameras and wow! Bye Arlo!

I hate these cameras so much. A waste of money. Quality is trash. The subscriptions are stupid overpriced. App is faulty. It barely picks up important events. Do not waste your money.

Appalling customer support, non existent in the UK so ignore which magazine's good review

They didn't refund me when they advised me that they would

I have been changed my network lately after have done that I found out I am not able to connect my (2) Arlo to the internet which was different band. I solved my problems and contacted Arlo Support teams which was

SUPPORT REQUEST: #16041823
11:50AM 8/12/2026
Inactive
reconnect offline
cameras_A5F……

It is over my expectation, he’s very calm, patient, polite and lead me through step by step until I can connect to my new network again which it’s take a while. You (Arlo’s customer service-unfortunately, it’s my fault I didn’t ask his name) are doing excellent jobs, I really appreciate that. I wish I will meet great customer service as Arlo has in the future.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY WITH THIS EQUIPMENT!
I am not allowed to swear but #*&@)&&£#£&*.
I bought two cameras and initially paid for a plan but then decided to use the free plan which only records locally. This does not allow any support except a BOT.
I tried to view the local recordings but an advert appears on screen to open a new plan blocking me from viewing my local recordings. All attempts to get an answer result in the BOT sending me round in circles. It is impossible to get a resolution to this problem and any other query for that matter. They take your purchase money for the cameras and then give you a rubber dinghy with no oars and tell you to cross the ocean..
Even if you decide to take a plan there is no help. Yes they give an initial discount for one or 4 plus cameras but there is no such offer or price for myself who only has 2 cameras. Why should I be have to subsidise the cost of someone getting a 4 camera deal. Never before have I had such difficulty getting a resolution to a problem and having NO SUPPORT except by a that says it can’ understand unless I agree to paying for a plan and it will then refer me to a human. I would not mind so much if the quality of recordings were as good as other systems but it is not.

Support is average. Just give you lip service. I've been billed for almost a year, and I can't even get into my account to stop it. I would not use this company at all. The cameras are good, but the support is hopeless. Do not waste your money on this company. I'm so anoyed I can't get into my account to stop the billing so I'm going to have to report this as fraud on my account as I can't stop the billing and they don't care.

Arlo pro5s cameras are complete waste of money, with several issues, glitches, gaps and unable to acknowledge commands on the app. Cameras record when they want, never when you want it to. It mistakes people for animals and vice versa, huge gaps, ignoring vehicles, inability to pair if reset fails, sends notifications every 10 seconds even when instructed otherwise. Customer service agents are trained to reply with automated messages or "escalate issue" without any follow up. Device failures are not explained, but they consider the issue resolved when they send out a faulty replacement. Too many camera issues to list, all without any resolve. These are seriously flawed and money spent is now lost. I strongly suggest staying away from arlo cameras.

The worst customer service ever!!! Been calling for 1 week about a replacement defective camera, nothing is recorded when you call, you need to explain the whole scenario over and over with no positive outcome. This company should be shut down. You can hold on for an hour before anyone answers also. Needless to say, I still have not heard back from them. Better Business Bureau is my next call!!

I first bought Arlo about 10 or 15 years ago. In the beginning they were excellent and no subscription was needed for up to 5 cameras. Customer Support was good. If you called you spoke to a real person who really understood the electronics and could direct you what to do in a knowledgable way. Then about 5 years ago or longer they decided to raise the rates for subscriptions (required for >5 cameras) and took away human Customer Support. If persistent you could then get a human but their fund of knowledge was deficient and they ALWAYS USED AN ALGORITHM no matter what you called them for....and it was always the same no matter the reason for the call. If you had help from a friend who knew something Arlo insisted on obtaining personal information from that individual who was helping you. Then about 2 years ago they began bothering me daily for an UPGRADE. I got tricked into doing it and the interface changed to something more complex and difficult to use in addition to providing much smaller thumbnail photos of acitivity. When I called to tell them that I had done that by mistake and wanted it reversed they refused to let me go back even though I am visually impaired and have difficulty seeing the mini micro thumb nails. THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW ME THE USE THE SYSTEM I HAD EARLIER. Then last year they began changing things frequently and the system was repeatedly going off line....failing to delete videos while messaging that they had been deleted. Now I am required to log in and out before using it almost daily. Today I cancelled my subscription and divorced Arlo. THIS COMPANY WENT FROM GOOD TO HORRIBLE.

The chime never works. I have to keep reinstalling it. Once the free subscription expires it is nothing but problems