Free Arlo 7 day cloud storage + local storage

[ibedizzy]

Is it possible to get both the free 7 day cloud storage and also record locally to a USB device (via a SmartHub or base station)? Or is it only one or the other?

[jguerdat]

Local storage should work for any camera connected to any VMB4xxx or VMB5000 base/hub. Use of the VMB4540 or 5000 allows you to view the recordings via the app while the older bases require you to eject the drive for viewing on a computer.

[StephenB]

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@ibedizzy wrote:

Is it possible to get both the free 7 day cloud storage and also record locally to a USB device (via a SmartHub or base station)? Or is it only one or the other?

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Only older cameras get the free 7-day cloud storage - Arlo stopped offering that on new camera models back in 2018 when they introduced the Ultra.

All cameras connected through a VMB4xxx or VMB5000 base will have their videos recorded locally.  If you have the 7-day cloud storage or a paid subscription, then the videos are stored in parallel to the cloud.

If you get a smarthub (VMB4540 or VMB5000), then you can directly access the local recordings from the app.  There are quite a few caveats, so post back if that is important to you.

If you have a different VMB4XXX base (VMB4000, VMB4500), then you need to eject the USB storage and connect it on a PC for viewing.

Though you didn't ask this - if you have some cameras with 7-day free storage and some without, then you can get single camera subscriptions for the ones without.  If you have 3 or more of these cameras, it is cheaper to get the unlimited subscription.