Best Arlo Cameras (2026): Every Model Compared

The best Arlo camera for most homes is the Arlo Pro 6: it records 2K video with HDR, covers a 160° view, and runs up to 8 months on a battery you can swap out, for about $124. Arlo sells a lot more than that, though, from about $50 indoor cameras to 4K systems with a SmartHub, and the right one depends on where it goes, how you can power it and which smart home you use.

One thing to know before you buy: Arlo cameras give you live view and motion alerts for free, but saving video needs an Arlo Secure plan or an Arlo SmartHub with local storage (see our guide to Arlo’s plans). This guide picks the best Arlo camera for eight different jobs, indoor and outdoor, battery and wired, and explains how the rest of the Arlo camera models fit together. If you’re still choosing a brand, see our Arlo vs Ring comparison.

Quick Recommendations

• Arlo Pro 6 — Best overall. 2K HDR, a 160° view and a swappable battery that lasts up to 8 months.
• Arlo Essential XL (3rd Gen) — Best budget. 2K and a spotlight, with four times the battery of the standard Essential.
• Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor — Best indoor camera. Turns 360° to follow people and pets, with a privacy mode.
• Arlo Ultra 3 2-Cam Kit — Best 4K camera. Two 4K cameras with a 180° view and a SmartHub for local storage.
• Arlo Essential Pan Tilt — Best pan-tilt outdoor camera. A plug-in camera that covers a whole yard for about $60.
• Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera — Best floodlight camera. 2K HDR and up to 2,000 lumens on your existing wiring.
• Arlo Go 2 — Best without Wi-Fi. Connects over LTE where there’s no Wi-Fi, with a microSD slot.
• Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) — Best video doorbell. A square, head-to-toe view of the doorstep.

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At-a-Glance Comparison

Product	Power	Video	Approx. Price	Best For
Arlo Pro 6	Rechargeable battery	2K HDR, 160°	~$124	Best overall
Arlo Essential XL (3rd Gen)	Built-in battery	2K, 130°	~$80	Lowest price
Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor	Plug-in	2K, pan-tilt	~$50	Indoors
Arlo Ultra 3 2-Cam Kit	Rechargeable battery	4K HDR, 180°	~$350 (for a 2-camera kit with SmartHub)	Most detail
Arlo Essential Pan Tilt	Plug-in	2K, pan-tilt	~$60	Yards on a budget
Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera	Hardwired	2K HDR, 160°	~$150	Driveways
Arlo Go 2	Battery, LTE or Wi-Fi	1080p	~$200	No Wi-Fi
Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen)	Battery or doorbell wiring	1944 x 1944	~$80	Front door

Every model sends motion alerts to the Arlo Secure app and lets you watch live without a plan. Recorded video history, and person, vehicle and package detection, need Arlo Secure, unless the camera records to a SmartHub (Pro 6, Essential XL, Ultra 3 and Video Doorbell) or to its own microSD card (Go 2).

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Compatibility Matrix

Product	HomeKit	Alexa	Google Home	Matter	Thread	Hub Required	Wiring/Power
Arlo Pro 6	Via SmartHub	Yes	Yes	No	No	No (SmartHub optional)	Rechargeable battery
Arlo Essential XL (3rd Gen)	Via SmartHub	Yes	Yes	No	No	No (SmartHub optional)	Built-in battery
Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Plug-in, 6.5 ft cable
Arlo Ultra 3 2-Cam Kit	Via SmartHub (included)	Yes	Yes	No	No	SmartHub (included)	Rechargeable battery
Arlo Essential Pan Tilt	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Plug-in, 16 ft cable
Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Hardwired, junction box
Arlo Go 2	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Battery, LTE or Wi-Fi
Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen)	Via SmartHub	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Battery or doorbell wiring

Apple Home is the main gotcha. Arlo cameras only work with HomeKit through an Arlo SmartHub, never when they connect straight to your router, and Arlo’s Apple Home list doesn’t include the pan-tilt cameras, the Wired Floodlight or the Go 2. No Arlo camera supports Matter or HomeKit Secure Video. For the full picture, see does Arlo work with HomeKit.

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The Best Arlo Cameras for 2026

Arlo Pro 6 — Best Overall

The Pro 6 is the best Arlo camera for most homes because it gets the basics right: sharp 2K video with HDR, a wide view, a long-lasting battery and a choice of cloud or local storage.

Best for: The front or side of the house, or anywhere without an outlet.

What stands out in real use

HDR keeps a bright sky and a shaded porch readable in the same frame, and the 160° lens covers a driveway or a front yard from one corner. Arlo rates the battery at up to 8 months, 15% longer than the Pro 5S it replaced, and you can swap it for a charged spare instead of taking the camera down. Auto Zoom and Tracking follows a person across the frame, and a spotlight turns night vision to color. You don’t need a SmartHub, but adding one gives you local recording and Apple Home support.

Key specs

• 2K video (2560 x 1440) with HDR, 160° view
• 12x digital zoom, Auto Zoom and Tracking
• Removable rechargeable battery, up to 8 months, USB-C
• Spotlight, color night vision, siren, two-way audio
• 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi
• Works from -4°F to 113°F

Pros

• Sharp, balanced video in mixed light
• Swappable battery, so the camera stays up while you charge
• Works on its own or with a SmartHub for local storage
• Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings

Cons

• Saving video needs Arlo Secure or a SmartHub
• Apple Home only through a SmartHub
• Records motion events, not 24/7, on battery

Installation and compatibility notes

Mount it at least 7 feet up and check the Wi-Fi signal at the spot first. It connects to 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi directly, or to a Pro SmartHub (VMB4540) or Ultra SmartHub (VMB5000), which are the only hubs it supports. It also fits Arlo’s XL battery housing (the USB-C version). If you want twice the battery life, the Pro 6 XL is the same camera with a bigger battery for about $200.

Price: ~$124

Arlo Essential XL (3rd Gen) — Best Budget

The Essential XL is the cheapest Arlo camera worth mounting outside. It records 2K, has a spotlight and a siren, and its battery lasts four times as long as the standard Essential’s.

Best for: A back door, a garage or a side yard where you don’t want to charge a battery often.

What stands out in real use

The XL costs only about $10 more than the standard Essential (3rd Gen), whose battery Arlo rates at four to six months, and it lasts four times as long. That makes it the better buy for almost everyone. You get the same 2K video, a 130° view, color night vision and a siren, and the 3rd Gen now connects to 5 GHz Wi-Fi as well as 2.4 GHz. It works with an Arlo SmartHub too, which adds local recording and Apple Home.

Key specs

• 2K video (2560 x 1440), 130° view
• 12x digital zoom
• Built-in battery, four times the standard Essential’s
• Spotlight, color night vision, siren, two-way audio
• 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi
• Works from -4°F to 113°F

Pros

• The lowest price for a 2K outdoor Arlo camera
• Very long battery life
• Works with a SmartHub for local storage and Apple Home
• Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings

Cons

• The battery is built in, so you take the camera down to charge it
• Narrower 130° view and no HDR
• Saving video needs Arlo Secure or a SmartHub

Installation and compatibility notes

It’s a wire-free camera, so it mounts anywhere with a good Wi-Fi signal. Charge it fully before you mount it, since the battery is sealed. It works with the VMB4540 and VMB5000 SmartHubs only.

Price: ~$80

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt Indoor — Best Indoor Camera

The Essential Pan Tilt Indoor watches a whole room from one spot. It turns 360° and tilts 180°, follows movement on its own, and has a privacy mode.

Best for: A living room, a nursery or keeping an eye on pets.

What stands out in real use

A fixed indoor camera sees one wall; this one can cover the whole room. It tracks a person or a pet as they move, saves up to four positions it can scan between, and has a privacy mode you control from the app. It records 2K video, and it’s plugged in, so there’s no battery to manage. Arlo lists it with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and IFTTT, so you can pull it up on an Echo Show or a Nest Hub.

Key specs

• 2K video (2304 x 1296), 130° view
• 360° pan and 180° tilt, auto tracking, 4 custom positions
• Infrared night vision, siren, two-way audio
• Privacy mode
• 6.5 ft power cable
• 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi

Pros

• Covers a whole room with one camera
• Follows people and pets automatically
• Low price for a 2K pan-tilt camera
• Plugged in, so there’s nothing to charge

Cons

• Doesn’t work with Apple Home
• Can’t save video locally or use a SmartHub
• Black-and-white night vision only

Installation and compatibility notes

Set it on a shelf or mount it on a wall or ceiling near an outlet. The 6.5 ft cable is short, so plan where it goes. After setup, run the motor calibration in the app if the camera drifts. Without a plan, you can watch it live, but it doesn’t save any video.

Price: ~$50

Arlo Ultra 3 2-Cam Kit — Best 4K Camera

The Ultra 3 is Arlo’s top camera. It records 4K with HDR across a 180° view, and the kit includes the SmartHub it needs, which also stores video locally.

Best for: Large yards and wide driveways where you want to zoom in on faces and plates.

What stands out in real use

The 8-megapixel sensor gives you the most detail of any Arlo camera, and the 180° lens covers a whole side of a house. Two microphones cut wind noise on two-way calls. The SmartHub in the box connects the cameras to your router and records to a microSD card, so you can keep video without a plan. Expert Reviews found the hub’s wireless range weak, though, and notes that 4K live view works only on your home Wi-Fi.

Key specs

• 4K video with HDR, 180° view
• 12x digital zoom, Auto Zoom and Tracking
• Removable rechargeable battery, up to 6 months
• Spotlight, color night vision, two microphones
• SmartHub with microSD local storage (included)
• 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi

Pros

• The sharpest, widest Arlo video
• Local recording included through the SmartHub
• Works with Apple Home through the included SmartHub
• Swappable battery

Cons

• Expensive, and the cameras won’t work without a SmartHub
• 4K live view only on your home network
• The best AI features need the top Arlo Secure plan

Installation and compatibility notes

Put the SmartHub somewhere central and wire it to your router with the included Ethernet cable. It needs to be within a good range of each camera. The single add-on camera (about $200) needs a SmartHub you already own, so start with the kit. The Ultra 3 doesn’t work with Arlo’s older base stations, only the VMB5000 and VMB4540 SmartHubs.

Price: ~$350 (for a 2-camera kit with SmartHub)

Arlo Essential Pan Tilt — Best Pan-Tilt Outdoor Camera

The Essential Pan Tilt is the outdoor version of the indoor model above, with a spotlight and a weatherproof body. It pans 360° and tilts 180°, so one camera can cover a yard and a driveway.

Best for: Covering a large area on a budget, near an outdoor outlet.

What stands out in real use

It follows people and cars as they move, so you don’t need several fixed cameras for one side of the house. The spotlight gives you color night vision, and a siren can go off automatically or from the app. Because it’s plugged in, there’s no battery to charge. Tom’s Guide called it solid and inexpensive, but noted that without HDR it struggles with mixed light, like a bright sky behind a dark yard.

Key specs

• 2K video (2304 x 1296), 130° view
• 360° pan and 180° tilt, auto tracking
• Spotlight, color night vision, siren, two-way audio
• 16 ft outdoor power cable
• 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi
• Works from -4°F to 113°F

Pros

• Covers far more than a fixed camera
• About $60
• Plugged in, so there’s nothing to charge
• Works with Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings

Cons

• Doesn’t have HDR
• Can’t save video locally or use a SmartHub
• Without a plan, it only streams live

Installation and compatibility notes

It needs an outdoor outlet within reach of the 16 ft cable. Mount it on a wall or a ceiling, such as under an eave. It doesn’t work with Apple Home.

Price: ~$60

Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera — Best Floodlight Camera

The Wired Floodlight Camera replaces an outdoor light fixture with two bright LED panels and a 2K HDR camera, powered by your home’s wiring.

Best for: A driveway or a backyard that already has a light fixture.

What stands out in real use

The two lights put out up to 2,000 lumens, and you can aim each one at a different area. The camera records 2K with HDR across 160°. Because it’s hardwired, it never needs charging, and an 80 dB siren can go off automatically or from the app. Video saves to the cloud, so you’ll want Arlo Secure with this one.

Key specs

• 2K video (2560 x 1440) with HDR, 160° view
• Two adjustable LED floodlights, up to 2,000 lumens
• 80 dB siren, two-way audio
• Motion and audio detection
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
• Works from -4°F to 113°F

Pros

• Very bright, adjustable lighting
• Sharp HDR video at night
• Hardwired, so there’s no battery
• Works with Alexa and Google Home

Cons

• Needs an existing junction box and wiring
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
• Cloud storage only, and it doesn’t work with a SmartHub
• Doesn’t work with Apple Home

Installation and compatibility notes

It mounts on a 4-inch round, UL-listed weatherproof junction box using the existing wires, and it can’t plug into an outlet. Turn the breaker off before you start, and hire an electrician if you’re not comfortable with wiring. Check the 2.4 GHz signal at the fixture before you install. For other brands, see our guide to the best floodlight cameras.

Price: ~$150

Arlo Go 2 — Best Without Wi-Fi

The Go 2 is Arlo’s camera for places without Wi-Fi. It connects over LTE with a SIM card, or over Wi-Fi when it can, and it records to a microSD card as a backup.

Best for: A cabin, a barn, a job site or a gate at the end of a long driveway.

What stands out in real use

The big 13,000 mAh battery and the LTE connection let you put it almost anywhere with cell coverage. Arlo lists support for T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, US Cellular and Cellcom. A microSD card keeps recording if the connection drops, and GPS helps you find it later if it’s installed somewhere remote. However, it’s an older design: video is 1080p, and you pay for a data plan on top of Arlo Secure. Reviews of its LTE reliability are mixed.

Key specs

• 1080p video
• LTE or Wi-Fi, GPS
• 13,000 mAh rechargeable battery
• Spotlight, color night vision, siren, two-way audio
• microSD slot (card sold separately)
• IP65, works from -4°F to 113°F

Pros

• Works where there’s no Wi-Fi
• Large battery
• microSD backup recording
• Works with Alexa and Google Home

Cons

• 1080p only
• Needs a cellular data plan
• You can’t play microSD clips in the app, only by removing the card

Installation and compatibility notes

Check the cell signal at the spot with your phone before you mount it. For LTE, you’ll need an activated SIM card and data plan from a supported carrier; without one, it runs on Wi-Fi. The microSD card has to be FAT32. The Go 2 doesn’t work with a SmartHub or Apple Home. For more options, see our guide to the best cellular security cameras.

Price: ~$200

Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) — Best Video Doorbell

The Video Doorbell 2K shows your doorstep in a square, head-to-toe frame, so you see both a visitor’s face and a package on the ground.

Best for: A front door, with or without doorbell wiring.

What stands out in real use

The square 1944 x 1944 image and 180° lens cover the porch from top to bottom. It runs on its battery (up to 4 months) or connects to your doorbell wiring, which keeps the battery charged and rings your existing chime. It also works with Arlo’s Chime V2. It has a siren, and it works with Alexa, Google Home and, through a SmartHub, Apple Home.

Key specs

• 2K video (1944 x 1944), 180° view
• Battery up to 4 months, or doorbell wiring
• Black-and-white night vision up to 20 ft
• Siren, two-way audio
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi

Pros

• Head-to-toe view shows packages on the ground
• Works with or without doorbell wiring
• Works with your existing chime
• Low price for a 2K doorbell

Cons

• Black-and-white night vision only
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
• Saving video needs Arlo Secure or a SmartHub

Installation and compatibility notes

You can mount it with the battery alone or connect it to your doorbell wires to keep it charged. It needs at least 2 Mbps of upload speed. If you already have an Arlo SmartHub, the doorbell can record to it and show up in Apple Home. For more options, see our guide to the best doorbell cameras.

Price: ~$80

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Arlo Camera Models Explained

Arlo names its cameras by line, and the line tells you most of what you need to know. The current models came out in fall 2025, and older generations on Amazon are mostly sold by resellers or as refurbished units.

Pro. Arlo’s main battery cameras. The Pro 6 (2K HDR, 160°) replaced the Pro 5S, and the Pro 6 XL is the same camera with twice the battery life.

Ultra. Arlo’s 4K cameras. The Ultra 3 needs a SmartHub, which comes in the 2-, 3- and 4-camera kits.

Essential (3rd Gen). Arlo’s lower-cost cameras. They come as a battery camera, the XL with a bigger battery, a Solar model with a built-in panel, a Plug-In model and an indoor camera with a privacy shield. All 3rd Gen cameras use 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi.

Essential Pan Tilt. Plug-in cameras that turn 360° and tilt 180°, in indoor and outdoor versions. They don’t work with a SmartHub.

Floodlights. The Wired Floodlight Camera is hardwired, and the Pro 3 Floodlight runs on a battery.

Go 2. The LTE camera for places without Wi-Fi.

Video doorbells. The Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) and a cheaper HD version run on battery or wiring.

SmartHubs. The Pro SmartHub (VMB4540, USB storage) and Ultra SmartHub (VMB5000, microSD storage) add local recording and Apple Home support for compatible cameras.

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How to Choose an Arlo Camera

Plan for the plan. Without Arlo Secure, you get live view and motion alerts, but no saved video unless you have a SmartHub or a Go 2. Arlo Secure Smart Aware costs $9.99 a month for one camera or $19.99 a month for unlimited cameras, and each new camera comes with a one-month trial.

SmartHub or not. A SmartHub (about $100 for the Pro SmartHub, $150 for the Ultra) records to local storage, and it’s the only way to use Apple Home. It works with the Pro 6, Ultra 3, Essential (3rd Gen) and Video Doorbell, not with the pan-tilt cameras, the Wired Floodlight or the Go 2.

Power. Battery cameras record motion events. The pan-tilt cameras are always plugged in, and the Wired Floodlight is hardwired. Even so, 24/7 recording needs Arlo’s top Ultra Secure plan, which covers up to three cameras on continuous power.

Smart home. Every camera here works with Alexa and Google Home. For Apple Home, choose a camera on Arlo’s list and add a SmartHub. No Arlo camera supports Matter.

Wi-Fi. The Pro 6, Ultra 3, Essential and pan-tilt cameras use 2.4 or 5 GHz. The Wired Floodlight and the Video Doorbell use 2.4 GHz only.

Sale prices. The prices in this guide are regular prices on Amazon. Arlo cameras go on sale often, especially around Black Friday, so check the current price.

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Conclusion

The Arlo Pro 6 is the best Arlo camera for most homes: 2K HDR, a 160° view and a swappable battery for about $124. The Essential XL (3rd Gen) is the budget option with very long battery life, and the Essential Pan Tilt Indoor is the best choice inside. The Ultra 3 kit gives you 4K and local storage, the Essential Pan Tilt covers a yard for about $60, the Wired Floodlight Camera lights up a driveway, the Go 2 works without Wi-Fi, and the Video Doorbell 2K watches the front door.

If you’d rather not pay a monthly fee at all, see our guide to the best security cameras without a subscription, or compare with our best eufy cameras.