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Arlo and Blink are two companies in the home automation business, and popular choices for consumers interested in a security camera for their home. In our Blink vs Arlo comparison, we’re going to take a deeper dive into their catalogs to see how their products and policies stack up against each other. That includes their products, along with their subscription plans and pricing.
Blink vs Arlo: Side by Side Comparison
| Blink | Arlo | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it | Home automation company | Surveillance camera company |
| Founded | 2009 | 2014 via Netgear/2018 Independent |
| Parent Company | Amazon | None |
| Products | Home security cameras, video doorbells | Home security cameras, video doorbells, accessories |
| Website | https://blinkforhome.com/ | https://www.arlo.com/ |
Blink vs Arlo: What’s the Difference?
Blink and Arlo may be two of the more recognizable names in the world of security and home automation, but Blink has a considerable head start on Arlo. Founded in 2009 as Immedia Semiconductor, the company has been around for more than a decade. And in 2017, Amazon took over.
Arlo’s products took a different path to market. They were a division of Netgear before hitting the NYSE as an IPO in 2018. While they haven’t been around as long as Blink, they have a comparable product line. The biggest difference is who their products are designed for – consumers that want more than an entry-level security cam.
#1: Security Cameras
Blink currently has three main security cameras in its collection: the Blink Mini, Blink Indoor, and Blink Outdoor. Each serves a different purpose and has a different price point. The overall design and specifications remain largely the same across the line, however.
Blink Mini
- Monitor the inside of your home day and night with our 1080P HD indoor plug-in smart security camera with motion detection and two-way audio.
- See, hear, and speak to people and pets in your home from your smartphone with Blink Mini’s live view and two-way audio.
- Get alerts on your smartphone whenever motion is detected or customize motion detection zones so you can see what matters most.
- Use Mini as an indoor plug-in chime for Blink Video Doorbell. Hear a real-time alert from Mini when someone presses your Video Doorbell.
- Choose to save and share clips with a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan or locally with the Sync Module 2 (sold separately).
The most affordable model from Blink is the wired Blink Mini. It’s an indoor camera that requires a USB port for power, with 1080p video and 2-way audio. The next step up is the Blink Indoor, which is battery-powered, but with a higher price point.
Blink Outdoor
- Blink Outdoor is a wireless battery-powered HD security camera that helps you monitor your home day or night with infrared night vision.
- With long-lasting battery life, Outdoor runs for up to two years on two AA lithium batteries (included).
- Store video clips and photos in the cloud with the Blink Subscription Plan and save events locally to the Blink Sync Module 2 via a USB flash drive (sold separately).
- Outdoor is built to withstand the elements to help you protect your home inside or out, come rain or shine.
- Designed so you can set up yourself in minutes. No wiring, no professional installation required.
The Blink Outdoor is the same device as the Indoor, but with weather resistance. At $99.99, it’s $20 higher than the Indoor model, whereas the Mini has a budget-friendly price of $34.99. By comparison, Arlo’s entry-level camera is the Arlo Essential Indoor. It’s wired with 1080p video and 2-way audio, just like the Blink Mini. In addition, it has an automated Privacy Shield and a slightly higher FOV.
Arlo Essential Spotlight
- Capture clear details in full high definition - Arlo's Essential security camera records video in 1080p for a clear picture and see more of your property thanks to the wide 130º viewing angle.
- Coverage from every corner - Fast, wireless setup, the Essential Spotlight surveillance & security cameras deliver increased installation flexibility to get the perfect camera view
- See more at night - See important features like faces or license plates in full color, at night, with color night vision to make these outdoor security cameras the perfect cameras for home security
- Smarter alerts, quicker action - With an Arlo Secure plan, receive smarter notifications for people, vehicles, packages, and animals so you can react quickly, right from your phone’s lock screen.
- Respond quickly - Hear and speak to visitors at your with clear, two-way audio and can be easily used as a baby monitor with camera and audio, nanny cam, and pet camera
The Arlo Essential Spotlight Wireless Security Camera takes things a step further with a rechargeable battery and an integrated spotlight. Those cameras are priced at $79.99 and $99.99 and are the cheapest way to get into the Arlo ecosystem. If you want a camera with better resolution, you’ll only get that from Arlo.
Arlo Ultra
- UHD video quality - Zoom in to see sharp details with Arlo Ultra’s 4K & HDR advanced image quality technology
- 180 Degree diagonal field of view - See more with a wider angle lens that has auto image correction reducing the fish eye effect
- Enhanced night vision - See what’s lurking with color night vision allowing you to see video in color rather than traditional black and white
- Smart Home Security featuring superior video and audio quality
The Arlo Ultra 2 Wireless camera can take 4K video through an 8MP sensor with HDR. It also has dual-motion detectors. The Arlo Pro 4 has a similar range of functions, like color night vision and HDR, but the resolution tops out at 2K. This camera is priced at $175, while the Arlo Ultra 2 is listed at $249.
Arlo Go
- Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately).
- 100% Wire-free - Lets you discreetly place cameras indoors or outdoors
- Untethered mobile security- Supports 3G and 4G-LTE wireless connections
- Night Vision- Enhanced night vision capability lets you see clearly even in the dark
- Weather-resistant - Place them anywhere-indoors or out.Night vision:850 nm LEDs,illuminates upto 25 ft
The Arlo Go collection is another line of cameras from the company designed with portability and LTE in mind. However, Arlo’s security cameras have a different design and higher price tag than the cameras from Blink, at any tier. They also have more features. So, while Blink has one outdoor camera, Arlo has the Ultra, Pro series, and Go.
#2: Video Doorbells
- Simple to set up. Easy to recharge - Charge your wireless video doorbell quickly and easily for a long-lasting charge.
- Coverage for every corner - Fast, wire-free setup (no wiring required), delivers increased installation flexibility to get the perfect view from your doorbell camera
- See more at your front door - See a person from head to toe or a package on the ground with 180-degree wide field view with your wireless doorbell with camera
- Get a clearer picture - Detailed video in HD with HDR from the wireless security camera system ensures you see the details even in low light or bright conditions
- Never miss a moment - See what triggered a motion before anyone tries to ring doorbell. With Arlo Foresight, the security camera captures video prior to every motion-triggered video recording so you...
Arlo may have more cameras than Blink, but both companies have two video doorbells with wired and wireless models. The Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell is a two-way system that’s free of wires and has a 180° viewing angle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the Foresight feature, or the range of the wired Arlo video doorbell at 9.8 feet vs. 16.5 feet. Both have night vision, however, and sport a sleek, modern design.
- Answer your door anytime, anywhere from your smartphone with 1080p HD day and infrared night video and two-way audio.
- Experience up to two years of powerful battery life, custom alerts, privacy settings, and more.
- Choose to save and share clips in the cloud with a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan or locally with the included Sync Module 2 and USB drive (sold separately).
- Designed for every home, go wire-free or connect to doorbell wiring to also sound your existing in-home chime. Without wiring, you can use your Blink Mini camera (sold separately) as an indoor plug-in...
- Set up yourself in minutes with the two included AA lithium batteries then connect to wifi in the app.
Blink also has wired and wireless doorbells with similar specifications. Both the Blink wireless doorbell and the wired model capture 1080p video and have night vision. The 135° horizontal FOV isn’t as good as you’ll find with Arlo, but they have a slightly better range.
#3: Additional Products
- Blink Floodlight works with Outdoor to deliver a wire-free, HD smart security LED floodlight camera with up to two years of battery life.
- See, hear, and speak to visitors in real time with 1080p HD live view and two-way audio from the app.
- Light up the night — get 700 lumens of motion-triggered, high-quality LED lights.
- Choose to store video clips and photos in the cloud with an optional Blink Subscription Plan or locally with the included Blink Sync Module 2 and USB flash drive (sold separately).
- Customize motion detection zones, enable alerts, and set lights to trigger from the free Blink Home Monitor app on your smartphone.
Floodlights with built-in security cameras are a popular option with consumers, and both Blink and Arlo have one. The Blink Floodlight Camera is s wireless system that records in 1080p and has dual LED lights. It’s affordable, easy to install, and well-received by consumers.
- Security at its brightest - The motion sensor outdoor lights illuminate your property with 2000 Lumens of brightness or up to 3000 Lumens using the outdoor magnetic charging cable
- Zoom in to see sharp details with your home security system - See and record security camera outdoor footage in 2K with HDR for a clearer, undistorted picture, day or night
- Never miss a thing with a wider view - The outdoor camera wireless video offers a wide 160° diagonal viewing angle lens that has an auto image correction, reducing the fisheye effect
- Smarter alerts, quicker action - The security camera system lets you receive notifications for people, vehicles, and packages so you can take quicker actions with emergency response features provided...
- Coverage from every corner - Fast, wire-free setup, the wireless outdoor security camera delivers increased installation flexibility to get the perfect camera view
Arlo’s Pro 3 Floodlight Camera is in another class. It has a unique, futuristic design, and can handle 2K video recording with HDR. It also has a built-in siren that can keep intruders away. In addition, the Pro 3 Floodlight is capable of producing 3,000 lumens with a magnetic outdoor charging cable.
- Blink Outdoor is a wire-free smart security camera with HD day and infrared night vision, two-way audio, and motion detection that lets you see, hear, and speak to visitors from the Blink Home Monitor...
- Blink Solar Panel Mount uses power from the sun to continuously charge Blink Outdoor providing non-stop peace of mind.
- Choose to save and share clips in the cloud with a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan or locally with a Sync Module 2 and USB drive (sold separately).
- Flexible placement — pivot the solar panel when attached or detach and move up to two feet away from your camera.
- Get motion detection alerts on your phone with the option to customize motion zones in the Blink Home Monitor app so you’re only alerted when you need to be.
Blink also has a solar mount charging system for their outdoor products and a Sync Module, but that’s the end of the line when it comes to official releases. With Arlo, you can choose from an array of batteries, cables, solar panels, and mounts. They also have smart hubs for your home, as well as yard signs to let people know your property is protected by Arlo.
#4: Smart Home Integration
Smart home products like security cameras can usually be integrated with other connected devices in your home. That includes door locks and voice assistants like Alexa. We found that Arlo’s products allow you to connect to Alexa and other services, while Amazon’s Blink takes a slightly more walled-in approach.
With Blink cameras and doorbells, you can sync up to Alexa and other services through IFTTT. That means Apple Homekit is out, and you could have difficulties connecting to Google Assistant. Arlo opens things up with integration for Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant, Alexa, and IFTTT.
Arlo is the winner when it comes to connectivity, unless you already have a home full of Alexa-enabled devices. Otherwise, you’ll want to consider voice assistant compatibility if you want to use Siri or Google with Blink.
#5: Blink vs Arlo: Pricing
There are two things to consider with pricing between Blink and Arlo. Namely, the price of the devices you plan to buy, along with the plans themselves. You don’t have to get a subscription to make use of most of their products, but you may need it for extended storage or for viewing live recordings.
Blink Basic and Blink Plus
Blink has two pricing plans: Blink Basic and Blink Plus. Blink Basic is $3 a month or $30 a year with coverage for one device. It comes with video sharing, cloud storage, rapid access, photo capture, and other handy features. Their Plus plan is priced at $10 per month or $100 a year for unlimited devices with the same features, as well as discounts on Blink products and extended warranty coverage.
Arlo Secure and Arlo Secure Plus
Arlo Secure unlocks similar features, including new ones like object detection and a one-touch response system that can notify 911 or your friends in case of an emergency. Arlo Secure is the cheapest option at $2.99 for a single camera or $9.99 per month for unlimited cameras. It comes with 2K cloud support and object detection, but no emergency response. Their premium plan, Arlo Secure Plus comes with all that, as well as 4K video at $14.99 per month.
Overall
Blink has cheaper pricing on cameras and doorbells, from the wired indoor models to the floodlight. There is a substantial difference between its cameras, and their doorbells are more affordable as well.
Blink vs Arlo: 4 Must-Know Facts
- Arlo cameras are manufactured through Pegatron and Foxconn.
- Blink’s first product launched through Kickstarter.
- Arlo has also produced baby monitors.
- Amazon owns Blink and Ring, another company with a smart doorbell.
Blink vs Arlo: Which One Is Better?
When we compared Blink against Nest, it was a much closer race than Blink vs Arlo. If you’re on a budget, Blink is the winner, but if you want a camera with higher resolution and more features, you’ll want to consider Arlo. What’s more, Blink’s wireless devices have better battery life than Arlo’s, and you get a bit more bang for your buck through their subscription plans as well. Arlo has superior cameras with more variety, however, especially if you want to capture things in quality higher than 1080p.
