Finding the right home security system can be overwhelming. There are many different solutions on the market. To help you find the right camera, sensor, or device to protect your home, we have decided to compare Arlo vs Ring brands. Whether you want to get an indoor or outdoor camera, smoke or door sensor, these two brands have a lot to offer!
Arlo vs Ring – Quick Comparison
At first glance, all home security systems look similar. But, there are differences when it comes to their prices and features. Arlo and Ring are both great companies that provide incredible home security solutions. However, to find the best solution for your home, you need to compare all options. Fortunately, we have already done that for you.
Arlo
Pros:
- A vast range of cameras
- Reliable mobile application
- High-quality video resolutions
- Wide fields of view
Cons:
- Installation can be a bit complex
- Professional monitoring is not available
Ring
Pros:
- Affordable camera prices and features
- Easy installation
- Video history and cloud storage
- Fire/CO2 detection with battery backup
Cons:
- Lower video resolutions
- Narrow fields of view
Key Features
Price and Value
To determine which manufacturer offers good value for the money, we will compare two models of each brand. In this specific case, we will compare two mid-range cameras, the Arlo Essential Indoor and the Stick Up Cam Plug-In, since both cameras are the same price.
The Arlo Essential Indoor is a wireless camera, so it can be placed anywhere in your home. It records full HD videos and comes with many features such as two-way audio, a built-in siren, and a privacy shield.
| Arlo | Arlo Ultra 2 | Arlo 2 Go | Arlo Pro 4 | Arlo Essential | Arlo Essential Indoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $299.99 | $249.00 | $199.99 | $129.99 | $99.99 |
| Current Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
As you can see in the table above, Arlo provides a vast range of cameras. However, the prices are higher compared to Ring in this comparison. Ring doesn’t offer a lot of camera models, but the prices are affordable. Their most expensive camera costs $199.99.
| Ring | Spotlight Cam Battery | Stick Up Cam Plug-In | Indoor Cam |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199.99 | $99.99 | $59.99 |
| Current Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
However, the Stick Up Cam Plug-In model only costs $99.99. The camera can be used indoors and/or outdoors. It also captures full HD videos and has features such as two-way audio and real-time notifications. If we consider all of the features and the prices, Ring is the better option in this segment.
Winner: Ring
Equipment Included and Installation
Arlo cameras usually come with a wall mount, battery, magnetic charging cable, wall mount screw kit, and a guide. Remember that Arlo cameras need an Arlo hub within 140 ft to work properly.
So, what does the Arlo hub do? In short, the Arlo hub establishes a connection between the camera and the internet via the router. This makes the installation a little complex. But, once installed, the hub protects your WiFi network and improves battery life. Most importantly, it allows you to store your videos locally.
Ring cameras come with a mounting bracket, Phillips bit, screwdriver, drill bit, cable clips, and instructions.
Winner: Ring
Equipment Quality
Both cameras are very durable when it comes to outdoor elements. Arlo models can withstand extreme weather conditions such as rain, snow, and wind. Above all, these cameras have a modern design. If you are looking for a beautiful design and functionality, you can get both with Arlo cameras.
Winner: Draw
Professional Monitoring
Arlo’s home security system doesn’t have a professional monitoring feature. On the other hand, Ring includes a 24/7 professional monitoring feature in its Protect Pro plan. So, when the Ring alarm gets triggered, Ring support calls the police, fire department, or medical dispatch, depending on the situation.
Winner: Ring
Home Automation
For many people, home automation is the most exciting part of home security systems. If you are one of them, choosing one of these two systems might be a good idea. Both systems offer various home automation options, from controlling lights to locking doors.
| Features | Arlo | Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Home Automation | Alexa | Alexa |
| App Rating (iOS) | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| App Rating (Android) | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Protocol | Z-Wave or ZigBee | Z-Wave |
You can control different types of devices via an app or with Alexa. According to customer reviews, the Arlo app is more reliable than the Ring app.
It is worth mentioning that Ring uses the Z-Wave protocol. In short, the protocol helps you connect all devices that support the protocol to your home system. It doesn’t necessarily support only Ring devices but also devices from other manufacturers.
Arlo uses Z-Wave or ZigBee protocol to connect all its devices to the WiFi network. So, if you want a home automation system with an efficient app and highly compatible devices, Arlo might seem a rational choice.
Winner: Arlo
Storage
Monthly Cost
Arlo subscription plans might be a good choice for you since you can choose between 2K and 4K resolutions. Both plans contain features such as person detection, alerts, and custom activity zones.
| Arlo Subscription Plans | Secure Plan | Secure Plus Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Video Resolution | Up to 2K | Up to 4K |
| Video History | 30 days | 30 days |
| Person Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Activity Zones | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency Response | No | Yes |
| Monthly Fee | $2.99 – single camera $9.99 – unlimited cameras | $14.99 – unlimited cameras |
At first glance, the Ring subscription plans might seem cheaper. But, it is recommended to consider the number and quality of available features. For instance, the alarm cellular backup and professional monitoring are excellent features, but they are only available in the package, which costs $20 a month.
| Ring Subscription Plans | Protect Basic | Protect Plus | Protect Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Saving and Sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video History | 60 days | 60 days | 60 days |
| Person Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rich Notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extended Warranty | No | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring | No | No | Yes |
| Alarm Cellular Backup | No | No | Yes |
| Alexa Guard Plus | No | No | Yes |
| Monthly Fee | $3 | $10 | $20 |
Still, we have to admit that the Ring plans might be an incredible choice for you since they have 60 days of video history.
Winner: Ring
Storage Retention Time
Arlo offers 30 days of video history. Ring stores your recordings for 60 days on any subscription plan. So, you can watch your recordings, share or download them to keep them permanently.
Winner: Ring
Camera Options
Arlo might be a good choice if you want to set up a video-based home security system. Their cameras provide outstanding image quality. You can choose between HD-Ready, Full HD, or 4K HDR image quality.
The company offers wireless, wired, indoor, or outdoor cameras. When comparing Arlo vs Ring, both brands have plenty of features such as smart home integrations, two-way audio, custom activity zones, live streaming, and baby monitoring.
On the other hand, Ring cameras are often limited to HD-ready resolution. However, they also have a lot of useful features, such as infrared night vision, two-way audio, customized zones, and live streaming.
Winner: Arlo
Power and Battery Features
Arlo is known for its wireless cameras, which work on rechargeable batteries. On average, battery life is four to six months. You can use a magnetic charging cable or solar panel to charge Arlo’s camera batteries. So, if you don’t live in a high-traffic area, investing in one of the Arlo cameras might be a good idea.
However, most Ring cameras need to be plugged into a power outlet. Only the Spotlight Cam runs on battery, but you can also use a solar panel.
Winner: Arlo
Subscriptions and Contracts
Neither Arlo nor Ring requires signed contracts or paid subscriptions to use their cameras. But, keep in mind that you will get limited features on the free plan. To use your camera to the fullest, choosing one of the subscription plans is recommended.
Winner: Draw
Warranty
Arlo offers a limited one-year warranty, but Ring cameras come with extra perks. They have a one-year warranty on parts and lifetime theft protection. But, if you subscribe to the Protect Plus or the Protect Pro plans, you can get an extended warranty.
Winner: Ring
Arlo vs Ring – Technology Features
Cellular Backup
Cellular backup is a feature that sends the signal to the monitoring company whenever there is no internet connection. So, when your alarm goes off, the system sends a signal even though there is no internet connection. Both Arlo and Ring offer a cellular backup feature.
Winner: Draw
Image/Streaming Quality
HD resolution is the bare minimum for image quality for today’s standards. All Ring cameras come with 1080p HD resolution.
On the other hand, Arlo has a larger range of different resolutions. Their cameras offer full HD, 2K, and 4K resolution. You can find full HD resolution on Essential models and 2K on Pro models. The highest 4K resolution comes with the Arlo Ultra 2 model.
Since Arlo offers more options overall and higher resolutions than Ring cameras, they prevail in this category.
Winner: Arlo
Night Vision
Arlo cameras come with infrared and color night vision features. All Ring cameras, except the Spotlight camera, offer color night vision. Therefore, both brands have models with the night vision image feature. But, since all Arlo cameras come with color night vision, they have a slight advantage.
Winner: Arlo
Video Display – Fields of View
If you want your camera to cover more details, pay attention to the resolution and fields of view. Arlo models are in a better position compared to Ring models. They have higher resolutions and wide fields of view. They range from 130 degrees on Essential models, 160 degrees on Pro models, and 180 degrees on the Arlo Ultra 2 camera.
However, Ring cameras come with narrower fields of view. They range from 130 to 140 degrees.
Winner: Arlo
Two-way Audio
A two-way audio feature is a must when it comes to security. It allows communication with a person standing next to the camera. It could be strangers or your friends and family. Both Arlo and Ring cameras come with this feature.
Winner: Draw
Person Detection
Every Arlo subscription plan includes the person detection feature. Not only that, but package, animal, and vehicle detection are also included. The Ring subscription plans also include the person detection feature. Unfortunately, if you opt for a free plan on either of these two brands, you will not get this feature.
Winner: Draw
Types of Devices
Floodlight
The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight is a wireless camera with LED lights, color vision, and 2K resolution. So, you can see whatever happens in front of your house, whether it is day or night. Change the camera position or turn up the lights to get a clear picture of what is happening in your yard.
The Ring Floodlight Cam supports 1080p HD resolution. Arlo might be a better choice since a clear image is a key indicator in this segment. As we mentioned earlier, the brand manufactures cameras with 2K resolution, which is exactly the case with the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight.
Winner: Arlo
Fire/CO2
Both companies provide smoke detection features. So, if you want to protect your home and your loved ones from potential accidents, it might be a good idea to consider using this feature.
There is no significant difference in this functionality between these two companies. Their smoke alarm sensors detect fire, smoke, and CO2 in both cases. It is worth mentioning that your camera has to be positioned within the range of the smoke alarm.
However, you need to have the Arlo Pro 3 camera or one of the Ultra models to use the Arlo smoke detection feature.
Also, to use the feature, you need to be subscribed to one of Arlo’s subscription plans. If you want to pair one camera and a smoke alarm, that can cost you $2.99 a month. But, if you want to install more than one camera in your home, the minimum monthly subscription is $9.99.
Ring’s offer is more affordable when it comes to this specific feature. For only $10 a month, you can get video recording on an unlimited number of cameras and 60 days of cloud storage.
Most importantly, the plan includes real-time notifications and cellular backup if your internet goes down. Finally, all Ring cameras are compatible with the Ring security system thanks to the Z-Wave protocol.
Winner: Ring
Security Camera
The Arlo offering includes the fantastic Arlo Go 2 camera that works without a Wi-Fi connection. If you don’t have Wi-Fi access, you can keep your house or yard secure. This camera offers 130 degrees field of view, HD resolution, color night vision, and a MicroSD slot for footage storage.
On the other hand, all Ring cameras require a Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, Arlo is better in this segment.
Winner: Arlo
Alarm System
If you want to keep your home safe from any type of danger, getting an alarm system might be a good idea. The key component of every alarm system is a base station. Usually, the station comes with a siren and helps you connect to your WiFi network. Most importantly, the station helps you connect different sensors to your network.
| Types of Sensors | Arlo | Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Window Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Door Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Flood & Freeze Sensor | No | Yes |
| Motion Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Water Leak Sensor | Yes | No |
| Temperature Sensor | Yes | No |
| Smoke Sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor Contact Sensor | No | Yes |
As you can see in the table above, both companies provide a vast range of sensors. It is up to you to choose which one suits you best. If there is an unexpected event, one of the sensors activates, and your camera records the entire event. So, you can see the whole clip via the app on your mobile phone.
The Arlo Base station includes a smart siren and USB local storage backup. However, the Ring base station has a built-in cellular backup if your WiFi network goes down. Plus, it also has a battery backup in case of a power outage.
Winner: Ring
Solar Panels
Having a solar panel is a significant advantage. You can place your camera wherever you want without worrying about your battery life. Whether you want to purchase Pro or Go cameras, you have the option of buying the Arlo Solar Panel charger. It costs $79.99 and you need only a few hours of direct sunlight to keep your battery charged.
Ring offers solar panels, which you can purchase separately or as a bundle along with the security cameras. There are different types of panels – the Solar Panel and the Super Solar Panel. The first one costs $49.99 and the second $99.99.
Both devices are compatible with the Stick Up Cam Battery and the Spotlight Cam Battery. However, the 1st Generation Stick Up Cam is not compatible with the panels. Because of the affordable price, Ring is slightly better in this segment.
Winner: Ring
Conclusion
When comparing Arlo vs Ring, you need to take into account the following things.
Choose the Arlo brand if you:
- Want to choose from many different camera options
- Prefer 2K or 4K resolutions instead of 1080p HD
- Want a fast and reliable mobile app to use all the features of the system
- Like durable but modern-looking cameras
- Want excellent fields of view
Choose the Ring brand if you:
- Don’t want to spend a lot of money on cameras and subscription plans
- Prefer easy installation
- Want to download your video files easily
- Want to keep your files for 60 days
- Would like to have the 24/7 professional monitoring feature
- Want to protect your home from fire
