Does The Arlo Video Doorbell Require A Subscription?

It seems like everything requires a subscription to use, including your smart home tech. While many of these services are both convenient and useful, they can become quite a strain on your wallet! And in the case of your doorbell, do you really need a subscription? 

Using the Arlo Video Doorbell does not require you to have a subscription to the Arlo Smart Plan. However, there are some features of your Arlo Doorbell that you will not be able to use without a subscription. 

In this article, we’ll find out if a subscription is required to use the Arlo Video Doorbell. We will also look into what the benefits of utilizing the subscription plan may be, as well as possible downsides to not utilizing a subscription plan.  

Arlo Subscriptions

It’s time to get into research mode and dig into this topic. We’re going to scour the internet for the best information we can find, so let’s buckle in and get right to it! Does the Arlo Video Doorbell require a subscription? Time to find out!

So it turns out that you can use your Arlo Video Doorbell without the subscription plan, but that some features aren’t available. Let’s get into more detail and find out what services are limited without a subscription, as well as some benefits to having an Arlo subscription plan you may not have considered. 

Benefits Only Available With Arlo Smart Plan Subscription

Some features on your Arlo Video Doorbell will be limited or unavailable if you choose to forgo a Smart Plan subscription. It is important to know exactly what you will be giving up.

We’ve provided a list of the featured offered by the Arlo Smart Plan that are not accessible without subscription below: 

• Interactive support and notifications
• Improved video resolution
• Animated previews
• Person, animal, package and vehicle detection
• Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detection
• Activity Zones 
• Call a friend feature 
• Emergency Response Services 
• Priority Support
• 10% Savings on Arlo.com

As you can see, the list of features that are only accessible with Smart Plan subscription services is quite extensive. It is also important to note that your Video Doorbell does not have internal storage, and the Cloud Storage feature is only available if you sign up for a subscription after the initial 3 month trial period. 

Arlo Smart Plan Prices and Inclusions

There are two levels of service for the Arlo Smart Plan, with each one offering different levels of service. This gives you the opportunity to select the right level of service for your home needs, as well as saving you money by avoiding the hassle of paying for a service feature you don’t actually need.

 Remember to keep in mind that you must have one of the Arlo Smart plan subscriptions to utilize cloud storage after the initial three week trial. It is also worth noting that the Arlo Secure Plus plan does not offer a reduced price for use of a single device, so it may not be feasible for you if you don’t have more than one Arlo product.  

We’ve broken down both of the Smart Plan options for you below: 

• Arlo Secure: This plan is $2.99/mo for a single device, or $9.99/mo for unlimited devices. This plan covers all Smart Plan services with the exception of Emergency Response. You receive 30 days of Video History via cloud storage and up to 2K Video Resolution.
• Arlo Secure Plus: This plan is $14.99/mo for unlimited devices, and does not have a separate rate for a single device. All features are included, including Emergency Response Services and up to 4K Video Resolution and 30 days of Video History via cloud storage.  

You can also choose to add the Continuous Video Recording(CVR) Service to your subscription for $14.99/mo per 14 days or 19.99/mo for monthly coverage. This feature allows your Doorbell to record 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to monitor your home. 

This feature is a good option if you live in an area where you require the added security provided by round-the-clock surveillance, or if you are using your Doorbell for your business. However, like the Arlo Secure Plus plan, this feature also doesn’t have a reduced rate available for single device use. 

In Conclusion

The Arlo Video Doorbell is an excellent device with many accessible features that are truly next-level in the world of smart security devices. However, some of those features are limited without a Smart Home plan. In this article, we’ve answered the question of whether the Arlo Video Doorbell requires a subscription, as well as the prices and features that are only included with each of the Smart Home plan options!