topic Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription? in Arlo

WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

ewrankend — Wed, 27 May 2026 08:18:04 GMT

This is very simple. I want wireless, solar charging cameras not made by, or run by Chinese.

I will NOT pay a subscription.

The Arlo website is very good at saying, "Some features may not be available without a subscription" but very BAD at telling you exactly what you CAN use.

Pardon the shouting, but this is really irritating, and most definitely will stop me from buying Arlo.

Can someone give me straight information? Thanks!

Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

jguerdat — Wed, 27 May 2026 12:29:58 GMT

Here's a start:

https://kb.arlo.com/000056583/What-is-Arlo-Secure-and-how-can-I-benefit-from-it

Without a subscription, you lack cloud recordings (but if you use a SmartHub to connect the cameras to you can set up local recordings) and things like activity zones unless the cameras are AC-powered. Those are the most important ones but things like emergency response are also not available.

What is it that you are specifically looking for?

Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

StephenB — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:45:35 GMT

@jguerdat wrote:

but if you use a SmartHub to connect the cameras, you can set up local recordings

@ewrankend - two caveats:

One is that not all cameras are compatible with a smarthub. So take that into account when you purchase.

https://kb.arlo.com/000062284/Arlo-SmartHub-and-Base-Station-Compatibility

The other is that there are limitations to local recordings

Recordings can only be viewed in the app (not my.arlo.com)
Recordings can only be viewed from the primary account (not "friends" accounts).
No ability to make manual recordings or take snapshots
No thumbnails - recordings need to be downloaded to your phone before you can see anything
remote access to recordings requires router setting changes that some find difficult (and which are not available with some internet service providers).

Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

wenklaw — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:59:28 GMT

The very simple reply is this, don’t buy Arlo cameras if you don’t want to pay a monthly subscription, end of mate.

to be honest I wouldn’t buy anything from Arlo regardless of subscription fees, I would look elsewhere and to be honest I would consider Chinese stuff as frankly I couldn’t care less what they know about me, it’s entirely mediocre🤣

look at something like UniFi if you want a reliable non Chinese owned security system although it’s still I believe made in china.

Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

StephenB — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:55:07 GMT

@wenklaw wrote:

The very simple reply is this, don’t buy Arlo cameras if you don’t want to pay a monthly subscription, end of mate.

Actually lots of folks posting here are using direct access to local storage instead of a subscription.

Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

wenklaw — Thu, 28 May 2026 16:19:25 GMT

Actually lots of folks posting their utter distain for Arlo on a daily basis, they **bleep** stuff up constantly they change they way things like remote access work, free cloud storage, geofencing issues, total change of modes, end of life etc on a whim, iOS remote access was broken for months so I wouldn’t trust it to eventually be broken or get removed without using a self hosted VPN. No way on this planet I would recommend to someone regardless but without a subscription you’ve got to be kidding. I’m a legacy user so I make do.

Plenty of other, cheaper and less hassle options out there in my humble opinion. Plenty of more expensive stuff that does the job and just works.

Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

Edinburgh_lad1 — Thu, 28 May 2026 19:02:09 GMT

I have to agree.

Would a collective complaint to the executive team improve the situation?

I paid big money for this system and I expect the app to work, and to work flawlessly.

Re: WHAT is available WITHOUT a subscription?

ewrankend — Sat, 30 May 2026 09:51:38 GMT

@ewrankend wrote:
This is very simple. I want wireless, solar charging cameras not made by, or run by Chinese.
I will NOT pay a subscription.
The Arlo website is very good at saying, "Some features may not be available without a subscription" but very BAD at telling you exactly what you CAN use.
Pardon the shouting, but this is really irritating, and most definitely will stop me from buying Arlo.
Can someone give me straight information? Thanks! https://100001.onl/

I got this,...