topic Re: subscription question in Arlo Essential Wire-Free Cameras

subscription question

Scotty126 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:49:55 GMT

If I didn't have a subscription, would I still be able to store and view my recordings?

Re: subscription question

StephenB — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

@Scotty126 wrote:

If I didn't have a subscription, would I still be able to store and view my recordings?

Do you have a VMB4540 or VMB5000 smarthub?

Re: subscription question

Scotty126 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:29:22 GMT

Stephen,

I have a VMB5000A smart hub. I just paid 215 bucks to renew my subscription. Maybe I didn't need to do that? Thanks for your input.

Scott

Re: subscription question

StephenB — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:50:39 GMT

@Scotty126 wrote:

I have a VMB5000A smart hub.

Then if all your cameras are connected through the smarthub, you can use local storage - either in addition to a subscription, or instead of a subscription. You'd need a suitable microSD card. I recommend getting one in the 128gb-512gb range - and purchasing a name brand like Samsung and Sandisk (there are some others). Personally I find 128 gb is enough.

https://kb.arlo.com/000062337/What-is-Direct-Storage-Access-and-how-do-I-use-it

Arlo definitely wants to sell subscriptions, and the direct access feature is limited. Limitations include

recordings only available in the app, not my.arlo.com
recordings only available from the primary account (not friend accounts)
no thumbnails - recordings need to be downloaded to your phone before you see anything
no ability to make manual recordings or take snapshots while livestreaming
remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult - and which won't work with some internet service providers.

In addition to the limitations, Arlo has often been slow to fix bugs with local storage.

There are of course other subscription features that you lose if you cancel - access to Arlo support, activity zones on battery power, smart notifications (now called object detection), etc.

My suggestion is that you set up local storage and try it out before canceling your subscription. Also, I don't know Arlo's current refund policy for annual subscriptions. They used to not give refunds (instead keeping the subscription active until the renewal date), but it is possible that they are only applying that policy to monthly subscriptions.

Re: subscription question

Scotty126 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:24:39 GMT

Stephen, I just read the fine print. If I don’t subscribe, then I won’t be able to record and view any videos. Sounds like they got us! Unless I do that external storage idea that you mentioned to me.
scott

Re: subscription question

StephenB — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:30:19 GMT

@Scotty126 wrote:

If I don’t subscribe, then I won’t be able to record and view any videos.

Cloud storage requires a subscription. Local storage (which has limitations) does not.