Subscriptions and Arlo updates required?

[Tina222]

Have 2 Arlo Pro II cameras with base/hub that work perfectly but want to add three Arlo 4 cameras that come with a 3 free trial month subscription, however, want to avoid continuing once trial is over.  Am I able to drop subscription and everything works just fine?  Also, saw somewhere that Arlo charges for software updates, like $149 for basic, etc but now wondering if that was a scammer site...?  Bottom line, will we be able to monitor and keep motion videos for now all 5 cameras without joining Arlo subscription plan or paying any additional fees, other than the costly cameras themselves?

[Dannybear]

You’re pro2 cameras will still have the free 7days arlo cloud storage once the free trial subscriptions ends for the pro4 cameras.
In my opinion the pro4 cameras are rendered useless without the subscription features. If you have a 4540 or 5000 model base you can save motion triggered recordings to the base station backup device and view from the mobile app only but you have to switch between cloud and local storage.

It would be cheaper to pay for the subscription in the short term but you may want to consider more pro2 to take advantage of the 7days cloud library. The difficulty will be sourcing them as they are a discontinued product.

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

---

@Tina222 wrote:

Also, saw somewhere that Arlo charges for software updates, like $149 for basic, etc but now wondering if that was a scammer site...?  

---

That must have been a scam.  https://kb.arlo.com/000062119/How-can-I-avoid-Arlo-support-scams

---

@Tina222 wrote:

  Bottom line, will we be able to monitor and keep motion videos for now all 5 cameras without joining Arlo subscription plan...

---

Unfortunately, no.  Your Pro2 cameras came with 7 days of free cloud storage, the Pro4 cameras (like all new cameras - starting with the Ultra in 2018) do not come with that.  https://kb.arlo.com/000062312/What-options-will-I-have-when-the-Arlo-trial-ends

If you get a smarthub (VMB4540 or VMB5000), then it is possible to access local storage in the app.  But there are limitations you should be aware of:

• Recordings are only accessible in the app (not the browser)
• Recordings are only accessible by the primary account (not friend accounts)
• No ability to save manual recordings or snapshots
• No thumbnails
• Remote access requires router configuration that some find difficult.  There are also some ISPs where it isn't possible (for example, Starlink and T-mobile Broadband).

[Tina222]

Thank you so much!! This was extremely helpful!