Arlo vs. Ring: Two Top Security Brands Go Head to Head

In our guides, you'll find two common recommendations for current smart home security cameras: Arlo and Ring. Both offer an array of compact cams and video doorbells, as well as small home security kits with sensors. They even look a bit alike, which is why you may just be learning that they're two different companies.

So when you're picking a home security brand, which of these popular picks is best? Comparing so many products from two different brands isn't easy, while there are also overarching issues like what voice assistants the devices work with, their security track records and other important details. Below, we break it all down, starting with a broad overview of the two security brands and their origins.

Arlo

Arlo began as a Netgear security brand, eventually spinning off into its own public company in 2018 with a series of smart home security cameras. Today, Arlo is still focused on security cameras, divided primarily into its more affordable "Essential" and more expensive "Pro" lines. That includes video doorbells and floodlight options. Arlo also sells an all-in-one sensor, keypad hub, outdoor siren, battery backup and portable emergency as accessories, along with other odds and ends.

Arlo's cams are DIY, usually battery-powered and packed with features. It's Pro 5S 2K cam has reached the top of some of our recommendation lists due to having a little bit of everything -- that includes two-way audio, a built-in spotlight, motion detection, night vision and zooming. Arlo cams also distinguish themselves from Ring with greater smart home support, offering compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant and Samsung SmartThing (and in some cases, Apple Home/HomeKit and Siri), However, all these features also make Arlo Pros one of the most expensive home cam line, especially for buying a single camera. Fortunately, they also have the affordable Essential line as a backup.

Arlo also offers subscription services, notably its Arlo Secure plans, which are very important for device management (and we'll discuss them more below).

Ring

Ring is an old name in the smart home world, opening in 2013 as Doorbot. After a brand change the company was eventually acquired by Amazon, where it remains. While Ring also focuses on security cams and video doorbells, the company has a broader range of offerings than Arlo that includes more whole home security kit options with a greater number of sensors.

Ring's security devices, now fully intertwined with Amazon, don't offer much smart home integration beyond Alexa and related Echo Shows, etc. But like Arlo their systems are purely DIY, very easy to set up and include plenty of wireless options as well as wired alternatives. Their devices offer similar features to Arlo including motion detection, night vision, two-way audio and lighting options. On the high end, Ring devices are usually a bit more affordable than Arlo, but that levels off the further down in price you.

Ring's subscription service is called Ring Protect, and is about as essential as Arlo's plan if you want some important extra features, which we'll dig into below. 

The Best Outdoor Security Cameras for 2024 See at Cnet

Arlo vs. Ring: Details compared

Now let's see how these companies compare head to head with important details like design, privacy, installation and subscriptions.

Device and system options

Both Arlo and Ring provide security cameras at a variety of prices, video doorbell options and accessories like solar panels. But where they differ are in whole home security systems. Arlo has its all-in-one sensor and keypad hub, but little else when it comes to putting together a home security system. Ring offers home security kits that include base stations, keypads, contact sensors, motion detectors and extras like Wi-Fi range extenders or Wi-Fi routers. That's an extra option that Arlo doesn't have.

Winner: Ring

Design and app

Arlo and Ring have very similar device design, which is why it's understandable if you get them confused. Both have compact, rounded models with high-quality construction: Arlo's are a little more compact and curved, but it's still a similar aesthetic. Both offer weather-resistant outdoor models that can handle rain and snow too. The biggest difference is that Ring has a few more tabletop options for its cams while Arlo focuses more on wall mounts, but it's a very minor note.

The security companies also have similar apps. These apps enable easy setup and device management. They both have similar minimalistic tile-like designs that you can pick up relatively quickly. It's not the most intuitive app navigation we've seen on either side, but there are no glaring flaws and you don't need to be an expert to see how things work. The apps offer similar controls for live viewing, two-way audio and other included options.

Winner: Tie

Common device features

Scan the specs for both Arlo and Ring cams, and you'll see a lot of the same descriptions. Both offer motion detection with a range of object recognition (albeit with many AI features kept behind their subscriptions). Both have two-way audio on their devices, along with motion detection and high-quality color night vision. Both even have HDR optimization for video and similar fields of view. Ring has some extra options like the ability to use 3D Motion Detection and a Bird's Eye view on its high-end cams, which lets the cam show the paths moving objects have taken and allows you to disregard street activity, etc.

Both brands also have spotlight and floodlight versions of their cameras. However, Ring's spotlight cams get a slightly deeper nod because their LEDs are bigger and brighter, better for illuminating a larger area with a more powerful light.

Winner: Mostly tie, although Ring's spotlight and cam features are slightly better

Installation

We can install and set up both Arlo and Ring cams in about 20 minutes, maybe 30 if we need to mount a base. Of course, we've got a lot of experience at this kind of installation, but both brands work hard to make their cams easy to install for newcomers. Instructions are clear, and the apps walk you through everything you need to do. As long as you have your Wi-Fi password handy and are ready to set up a new device, there's nothing to worry about for either company. More advanced cams may take longer to set up just because you have to set up motion zones or similar features.

Mounting cams for either brand usually doesn't require more than a couple of screws (although this depends on the surface you're mounting the device on). Ring has a few more options for shelf and table placement with its easy-to-use bases, but Arlo has choices for each as well. Both offer wired and wireless cams, although the wireless models tend to be the better bet. Keep in mind a full home security system from Ring will take a little longer to install.

Winner: Tie, with a bit more versatility on Ring's part

Smart home integration

There's little contest in this category. Arlo offers very good smart home integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Home/Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. Some cams, like the Arlo Pro 4, can work with Apple HomeKit/Home/Siri if you add an Arlo base station to the mix. That's better than the majority of camera brands.

Amazon owns Ring, and limits smart home integrations to Amazon Alexa -- for the most part. Ring can interact with select devices from other smart home brands like Schlage and Level, but there aren't any other full integration options.

Winner: Arlo

Subscriptions and monitoring services

Both Arlo and Ring lock some key features behind subscription plans, including video storage (30 days for Arlo, 180 days for Ring) and object detection to recognize things like packages, animals and vehicles. So both brands greatly benefit from a subscription. However, both do offer local storage options through their respective base stations, which aren't required to use the cams but do enable extra features. Ring's Alarm Pro kit is notable because you'll need to use the Wi-Fi 6 router to enable local video storage as part of the full home system.

Arlo's Secure plans start at $8 per month for one cam or $12 for unlimited cams and go up to a $25 plan that offers a bevy of safety features including professional home monitoring, family check-ins and alerts, car crash detection and a lot more -- a very complete package for the price, although still a bit expensive. Then there's a separate set of Arlo Total Security plans for those who have bought the sensor and base station, which are more like traditional plans from companies like ADT that start at only $10 per month.

Ring focuses more on affordability, with the Ring Protect plans starting at $4 per month and going up to $20. For $20 per month, you can get 24/7 alarm monitoring, which is a very good price for that service, but there aren't as many add-ons as Arlo's tiers offer.

Winner: Arlo for features, Ring for price

Security and privacy practices

Arlo has a good track record when it comes to security, with encryption and practices that have largely kept their devices safe. The company does drop support for older devices from time to time (such as the Arlo Gen 3 cam, which it stopped selling long ago), and that can open old cams up to vulnerabilities, but overall Arlo has one of the better security histories in the business. Its privacy policy includes information on data encryption, third-party testing, their disclosure practices and how to erase cloud content. Arlo doesn't share your data except in cases of a court order or your explicit permission.

Ring's security and privacy history isn't as spotless. It has had reported data leaks in the past, and Amazon has paid $30 million in fines for privacy violations, some involving Ring devices. Users have also called Ring out for its policy of allowing police to request video footage for any reason in the past. Today, a lot of this has changed. Ring's security track record has been strong for several years, and the company has adjusted its policies so police no longer have the option to casually request data. But Ring can't match Arlo's comparative approach to privacy and security practices.

Winner: Arlo

Customer service and warranties

Arlo offers customer service via app information, an online community and an online chat option. It does have a customer service number, but there's more emphasis on solving issues through chat and community problem-solving. Reviews of customer service vary greatly, with some customers complaining about upselling and similar tactics. Arlo warrants are typically cover hardware for the first year.

Ring offers a clear trio of choices: Chat online, search the Ring community and ask questions, or call its 24/7 service number. Again, customer reviews of Ring support vary greatly, with some complaining that support couldn't answer their questions and others praising Ring for quickly replacing their products. Ring's cameras are also covered by a one-year limited warranty.

Winner: Tie

The bottom line: Ring is cheaper but Arlo is still better 

It's tricky to declare a winner between these two security cam brands -- difficult enough that we're not going to guarantee one is always better than the other. However, Arlo does slightly edge out Ring in a couple of important areas. Arlo generally does better at the higher end, offering excellent features and a very impressive suite of security services for its higher subscription tiers. It's also flat-out better if you prefer Google Assistant or want to find a cam that can work with Apple Siri (something that's still hard to find).

Ring is broadly more affordable, although it also has excellent higher-end cameras like the Ring Stick Up Pro. It has better spotlight cameras and a little more camera versatility than Arlo. It's also a better choice if you're looking for a security kit or whole-home system instead of just a cam or two.

The Best Indoor Home Security Cameras for 2024 See at Cnet

Wait, where does Blink fit in?

Don't confuse Arlo or Ring with Blink: Blink is another popular home security brand with white and black cams and video doorbells made for DIY, often wireless uses. Like Ring, it's also owned by Amazon, which restricts its smart home integrations a bit. However, Blink differs from these two brands in a few ways. It specializes in long-term battery life usually rated for up to two years using AA lithium-ion batteries. Its subscription plans are notably simpler and cheaper than those Arlo or Ring offers. And we think it has one of the easiest apps to learn in the home cam game.