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Compare · Content date 2026-10-28

Arlo or Reolink: which costs less to own?

Arlo cameras can record locally without a plan; cloud history requires an Arlo Secure plan; Reolink cameras record to local storage with no monthly fee. With four of each brand's cheapest camera, Reolink costs about $740 less over three years ($1,000 for Arlo vs $260 for Reolink). These totals use the cheapest cloud-recording plan and exclude local-storage hardware. Pick on coverage and app first: the cheapest camera isn't always the right one for your yard.

Find the right next stepRead the guide ↓

3-year cost with the cheapest camera

ArloReolink
Cheapest cameraArlo Essential (3rd Gen) BatteryReolink Argus MagiCam
1 camera $430$70 + $9.99/mo (Smart Aware, 1 camera)$65
2 cameras $859$140 + $19.98/mo (Smart Aware, 1 camera)$130
4 cameras $1,000$280 + $19.99/mo (Smart Aware, unlimited cameras)$260
Cloud recording planOptionalOptional
Works withAlexa, Google Home, SmartThingsGoogle Home, Alexa, Home Assistant

What's free and what's paid

Arlo

Without a plan Arlo keeps live view, push notifications and two-way audio but no cloud video history. Local recording needs an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station (USB drive or microSD); Arlo Go 2 takes a microSD card.

On the Arlo Pro 6, free features are live view, motion alerts and two-way talk ; a plan adds any recorded video, cloud video history, person detection, package detection and vehicle detection.

  • Arlo Secure Smart Aware, 1 camera: $9.99/mo, 1 device
  • Arlo Secure Smart Aware, unlimited cameras: $19.99/mo, unlimited devices
  • Arlo Secure Smart Secure: $29.99/mo, unlimited devices
  • Arlo Secure Ultra Secure: $49.99/mo, unlimited devices

Reolink

Without a plan Reolink cameras record to a microSD card, a Home Hub, an NVR or FTP/NAS, with free remote viewing, alerts and person, vehicle and animal detection. Reolink Cloud is optional and records motion events only.

On the Reolink Argus 4 Pro, free features are live view, motion alerts, activity zones, person detection, vehicle detection, local playback, any recorded video and two-way talk ; a plan adds cloud backup.

All Arlo and Reolink models we track

ModelTypePricePlanner-ready
Arlo Pro 6Camera$124.99Yes
Arlo Essential (3rd Gen) BatteryCamera$69.99Yes
Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen)Doorbell$79.99Specs incomplete
Reolink Argus 4 ProCamera$179.99Yes
Reolink Altas PT UltraCamera$219.99Specs incomplete
Reolink Argus MagiCamCamera$64.99Yes
Reolink Solar Floodlight CamFloodlight$128.99Yes
Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFiFloodlight$249.99Yes
Reolink E1 Outdoor ProCamera$149.99Yes
Reolink Argus Eco UltraCamera$139.99Yes
Reolink RLC-820A PoE BulletCamera$99.99Yes
Reolink Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)Doorbell$149.99Yes
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery)Doorbell$119.99Yes

Which to choose

  • If the monthly fee is the deciding factor, Reolink is cheaper to own over three years by about $740 for four cameras.
  • Arlo's plan buys cloud history, so your clips survive if a camera is stolen. Local storage on a camera's own card doesn't.
  • Match the app you already use: Arlo lists Alexa, Google Home and SmartThings; Reolink lists Google Home, Alexa and Home Assistant.

MAKE IT FIT YOUR HOME

Choose your next step

Use the conditions from this guide as a starting point. Your current list stays in place while you compare.

Choose a bundle or individual devices, then add them to My list for compatibility checks and store links. A selected quantity is not a guarantee of coverage.

Sources & checks

Content date 2026-10-28. Product prices and specifications have their own checked dates on each model page.