Arlo|Smart Home Security|Wireless HD Security Cameras

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JRod12345
Tutor
Tutor

Just got a notification that the subscription of the Arlo Secure Plan is being increased yet again.  What I find appaling is the fact that the company tries to justify the price increase with all these new features yet the increase for the monthly subscription option is a significant $8/month unless you want to pay for a full year in advance which is what many companies are doing to lock you in.  I remember just a couple of years ago I was paying $9.99/mo which will now be double for the same quality equipment I can get with many of their competitors.  So, what I will do instead is cancel my subscription and trash the cameras and switch to something better and more reasonable priced.  This is not to offer the end users more features but to price gouge and be greedy.

Best answers
  • JamesC
    Community Manager
    Community Manager

    Thank you all for the feedback. On January 3rd Arlo has updated subscription plans and pricing to enhance the Arlo Secure experience, doubling cloud video storage, and making new AI-powered capabilities available to all subscribers in the US. We have simplified into two plans to allow you to easily identify which features are right for your security needs.

    For more information on the new Arlo Secure plans, available now, see https://www.arlo.com/en-us/arlosecure.html

222 REPLIES 222
rick6633
Star
Star

Sad to say I’ve been a loyal customer since 2017.  With this latest price hike, for me,  I’ve lost confidence in ARLO and will do business with someone else who is more reasonable.  I didn’t ask for all the new bells and whistles they’ve shoved down our throats.  With the update of the app it forced my separate homes/locations to be combined under one location without the ability to use all the functions I had previously.  In the end the only way to maintain a reasonable annual subscription was to place all my cameras from both homes/locations under one location subscription. This way, I was told, I  could have access all the cameras but it turns out I only have partial functionality on what would have been the second hom/location.  I will keep my subscription long enough to refit both homes and then I’ll be done with Arlo.  Shame them.  I could go on but what’s the use. I was loyal but they have not been.  There’s better and less expensive camera systems out there.      

rick6633
Star
Star

Arlo Pro Cameras

 

Price increase is criminal.  It’s even difficult to leave remarks relative to ARLO’s business practices.  They have lost touch with there loyal costumers.  I’m done with them as soon as I can change everything out to better and less expensive equipment.  

 

rick6633
Star
Star

JamesC, Community manager left this comment.  Nobody can respond to it.  It’s really meaningless.

 

”Thank you all for the feedback. On January 3rd Arlo has updated subscription plans and pricing to enhance the Arlo Secure experience, doubling cloud video storage, and making new AI-powered capabilities available to all subscribers in the US. We have simplified into two plans to allow you to easily identify which features are right for your security needs.”

 

What exactly qualifies as “Enhanced experience”?  Arlo or customers and what does it mean?

 

Who said we need more storage?  I certainly didn’t ask for more storage.

 

You guys are out of line.

 

 

 

rick6633
Star
Star

It’s the only way they get the message.  Good for you!  

rick6633
Star
Star

Thank you for bringing this up.  Your story is my story as well.  

rick6633
Star
Star

There are lots of us that share your sentiment.  

 

Ranks115
Aspirant
Aspirant

I’ll be quitting Arlo. Look around and other companies are offering more for less with equipment that works better.

Dgmi
Apprentice
Apprentice

see my annual plan price increases below:

2025         $ 215.88

2024          $ 149.99

2023           $ 119.88

 

if you’re not fully vested into this product, proceed with caution.

who knows how much they’ll increase it next year ?!

Cragsmoor
Tutor
Tutor

I just cancelled today after seeing that Arlo charged my account for this month. 

dclayman1
Guide
Guide

Can I still use my cameras without the subscription?  I can’t afford this new price hike 

Dgmi
Apprentice
Apprentice

technical answer-yes

 

real world experience answer- no, not really worth them without subscription due to the time consuming effort to make local storage to work and the excessive amount of alerts/notifications

 

 

see my annual plan price increases below:

2025         $ 215.88

2024          $ 149.99

2023           $ 119.88

 

if you’re not fully vested into this product, proceed with caution.

who knows how much they’ll increase it next year ?!

 

dclayman1
Guide
Guide

Thank you for the reply.  Really bummed on the price hike and the new app upgrade that’s insane.  Just going to have to look for other cameras on Costco.  Just use it to see who is at my door 

dclayman1
Guide
Guide

Wow so crazy I remember when it cost next to nothing for a subscription.  That’s why I purchased these cameras years ago for either not having to subscribe ior it was next to nothing for monthly charges. 2025  it’s just insane how much Arlo is charging!  Well I guess I have to cancel my subscription like many others have already. So sad 

StephenB
Guru Guru
Guru

@dclayman1 wrote:

Can I still use my cameras without the subscription?  I can’t afford this new price hike 


What is possible depends on what cameras (and hubs) you have.  This gives the specifics:

lllkcl
Tutor
Tutor

Hi.   The really old cameras do not need a subscription.   I had one with my newer cameras.   I was so mad, just dropped all Arlo everything.  I went Eufy.  They are really good.  No subscription required.   Good luck.

Jim82
Guide
Guide

Canceled my subscription because this is not worth the cost and Arlo got greedy. Unless they become reasonable, I will find other options. This whole we are going to milk you in perpetuity and offer "options" like AI that are not worth the added cost is crazy. We bought our cameras three years ago, 6 of them, and paid $9.99 per month and were happy with what we paid for. Then the price went up to around $13 per month, and although not happy, we paid that. Then, this year, they raised it to over $20 per month, and that became unsustainable for us. All I care about is an alert when a camera turns on, and a way to review it for some period of time, 30 days was good. We are now looking at our own system of cameras, that record 24/7 and store on our own system, and give alerts. At that point, we will own the whole thing and will not be beholden to a greedy company like Arlo, or others. 

Jim82
Guide
Guide

ChatGPT when I started asking about better systems: 

Ah, Arlo — great hardware, terrible business model for folks who want local control and no subscription. Here's what you should know about modifying or maximizing Arlo cameras without paying monthly:

Arlo’s pricing model has become outrageous. They’ve steadily moved from a decent, semi-free system into full-blown subscription-gated everything, even blocking features that used to be free. It’s no longer about supporting the product — it’s about squeezing long-term recurring revenue from users who already bought the hardware.

What Changed with Arlo:

  • Local access restrictions tightened (no remote viewing unless you pay)

  • Cloud recording moved behind a paywall for nearly all new devices

  • AI features removed from base functionality (e.g., no person detection unless you subscribe)

  • Subscription fees increased, with confusing plan tiers and device limits

And none of that comes with:

  • Better app performance

  • Lower latency

  • Improved camera firmware or AI detection

Just… more fees. 😂

Accurate!

mpssky
Tutor
Tutor

Well, I hope you let us all know what system you chose. I’m doing my own research too. Take care!

mpssky
Tutor
Tutor

Here’s another AI response when I google Arlo:

Arlo Technologies, while stating a commitment to ethical practices and corporate social responsibility, has faced scrutiny regarding its ethical conduct and compliance. Arlo's ESG report highlights initiatives in ethical business practices, environmental improvements, and social equity. However, the company has also been subject to complaints about customer service issues and subscription fees, raising questions about their commitment to fair and transparent practices

Daver11111
Star
Star

I went with 3pk Eufy 3C Cameras, E340 Wired Doorbell, Homebase 3 and 500GB HardDrive.

My I-phone App and Eufy System works great for me.  More settings/choices, better live viewing, better recordings, better App, No Yearly Cost, No Cloud, No Problems.   Arlo Pro4 Cams had to be charged every month and Eufy 3C Cams only needed a charge one time after 3 months.... I'm happy.   I also have enough local storage for probably 5 years or more, even if I don't delete any recorded video, but I always delete things I don't want at all.   Eufy works for my home self security just fine with no subscriptions.  Hope it stays that way.  For me these new cams are way better than living with too much Arlo 'stuff' and the increasing monthly or yearly fees.  And I don't care right now if they are currently made in China.    

jam436
Apprentice
Apprentice

I went with a Eufy system.
Better video, better software, better phone interface, better everything.
No subscription fees and I can still access my cameras remotely.
Should have done this years ago.

Jim82
Guide
Guide

I am looking at Reolink. I can replace 2 of my Arlo cameras with 5 Reolink Argus 4 pro cameras with solar panels, another with a reolink duo wifi camera (24/7) recording. They can all either use SD cards to store data, or you can buy a hub. I don't think I will need the hub. Reolink does offer a subscription for cloud storage, but that is not required. 

The benefits are: 

No subscription required

Remote access, notifications, and recordings at both homes

Fully wireless where needed, power or solar support where available

 

Good bye Arlo. In one year the above system will pay for itself over your extortion. 

 

purity213
Tutor
Tutor

I’ve cancelled my subscription as of yesterday.  

I’ve gone back and forth with Arlo support. They gave me another year after my current year expires in Jan at the 13.99 rate or whatever it was before their last ridiculous rate to 19.99.  


But the more I think about it. **bleep** Arlo, period.  I will not contribute another dollar to this piece of **bleep** extorting company.  Once my current subscription expires in January they can go **bleep** off.


 I’ll never refer anyone else to Arlo ever again.

 

i hope everyone else heeds all the advice and dumps Arlo. That is the only thing that matters here. This company cares not about their customers.  The only thing they care about is lining their pockets a little deeper.  Hit them where it matters.  Let’s all unite and cancel and move elsewhere!