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Installation
DIY installation
Contract required
No
Voice assistant
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Additional fees
Professional monitoring fee, cloud video storage
Service bundles
N/A
Score Breakdown
Performance 8/10Usability 10/10Features 8/10Design 7/10
Pros
Pretty easy to set up and install
System is agile and responsive
Modular system can be customized to your needs
Each sensor performs eight different functions
Cons
Gets fairly expensive once you add accessories and professional monitoring
No integration with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
Battery and cellular backup costs an extra $80
Arlo is mostly known for its popular security cameras, but the brand sells a DIY home security system, too. It’s a simple, straightforward system that works with Arlo’s cameras but doesn’t require them. It also doesn’t need to be professionally installed — I was able to set it all up in minutes myself with no drilling or wire work. And since my time with Arlo’s do-it-all sensors, the company has added more functionality that makes this an even better starter kit.
After spending some time with it in my own home, I came away impressed by everything Arlo’s Home Security System has to offer. The basic $200 kit comes with a keypad sensor hub and two sensors that you’ll stick up around your home to help keep an eye on things (make that $300 if you want a system with five sensors). Unlike most security system sensors, each of these tiny devices is capable of performing a number of different functions. They can detect motion; doors or windows opening or closing; water leaks; temperature; tilt; ambient lighting; and the sound of a smoke or CO alarm.
The Arlo Security System is great for people who already have an Arlo camera or video doorbell installed at their home, because Arlo’s monitoring service (starting at $10 per month, up to $50 for every bell and whistle) can use the footage from those feeds to verify threats and recognize false alarms. It’s also excellent for people who want to dip their toes into home security without committing to a pricey professionally installed or monitored service. And those versatile sensors can fill many odd jobs that other security system starter kits just can’t match.
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Arlo’s Home Security System hub is unobtrusive and easy to read.
Karen Freeman/CNET
What is the Arlo Home Security System like?
Arlo’s hub and sensors are white, unobtrusive and clean-looking. I placed one of the sensors in a door frame primarily to sense the door opening and closing. I stuck the second one on a wall with the intent to sense motion. Setup was pretty easy — just peel and stick — though if you want to place one in a corner (typically a pretty good vantage point for a motion detector) you’ll need to drill in the additional corner-mounting hardware that comes included in the box.
I had just one small issue with installation: The app initially indicated that the door sensor wasn’t working properly. It chirped when I opened the door, but didn’t show up within the app. I fiddled around with it for a while and got it working.
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You’ll control your system through the Arlo Secure app, which lets you toggle between three separate arming modes; view camera feeds and clips; check the status of your multi-sensors; or craft automated rules for when the system should automatically arm itself.
Screenshots by Karen Freeman/CNET
There are three different modes you can put the system in: Standby, Arm Home and Arm Away. In Standby mode, neither the motion sensor nor the door sensor is armed. You’ll get a chirp letting you know when the door opens, but no alarm. The sensors are also monitoring things like temperature and light at all times, though in my experience, the lighting notifications were inconsistent.
In Arm Home mode, the door sensor is armed but the motion detector remains unarmed, meaning you won’t trigger the system as you move about inside your home. In Arm Away mode, both the motion sensor and door sensor are armed. If the system is tripped, you’ll get a notification on your phone, and the hub will beep for 60 seconds. You can cancel the alarm by punching your code into the hub, or by using the app. If you don’t, you’ll hear an ear-piercing panic alarm, and if you’ve subscribed to a monitoring plan, a response agent will work to contact the authorities on your behalf.
Arlo’s system also lets you set up widgets for each sensor within the app for easy access. You can set up widgets for each part of your security system, and you can set up automations to schedule when your system is armed and disarmed, too.
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Place a sensor on a door, and you’ll be alerted every time it’s opened.
Karen Freeman/CNET
How well does the Arlo Home Security System work?
I set the Arlo Home Security System to Arm Away when we went out of town recently. While we were gone, my neighborhood experienced an hours-long power outage. I received a notification from Arlo that it was no longer armed. This was expected, since I don’t have the system’s battery and cellular backup, an optional $80 accessory, The nice part was that when the power came back on, the Arlo automatically rearmed itself.
Overall, the app is intuitive and easy to use. The system is responsive; anything I do in the app happens almost instantaneously. I found that it performed as I expected, for the most part.
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Placed on a wall, the sensor will sense light, motion, temperature, water leaks and fire/CO alarms.
Karen Freeman/CNET
What accessories can you add to the Arlo Home Security System?
I tested only the bare-bones, basic system, which includes the hub and two eight-in-one sensors, and costs about $200. As mentioned above, for $25 a month you can add 24/7 professional monitoring. Add additional eight-in-one sensors for about $30 apiece.
There are quite a number of cameras you could add, ranging in price from about $100 to $250, depending on if you prefer wired or wireless, with or without floodlights, and how much resolution you need. You can also add a wired doorbell for about $150 or wireless for $200. You can add a battery backup to your hub for about $80 in case the power goes out in your home. Arlo also sells additional batteries for the cameras, as well as solar panels for keeping them charged.
“All Arlo cameras and doorbells work seamlessly with your Arlo Home Security System through the Arlo Secure App,” a company spokesperson told CNET. “Arlo SecureLink enabled cameras, such as the Arlo Pro 5S 2K, can directly connect to the Keypad Sensor Hub for easy setup.”
In summer 2024, Arlo added a $20 security tag to its security system. You can tap this little keychain-friendly fob to arm or disarm more easily. If you have a newer Arlo doorbell that’s connected to the system, you can also tap the tag on the doorbell as you enter to disarm the system before you go inside. That adds even more usability to the system, which we like to see.
How does the Arlo Home Security System compare to other popular systems?
Like most DIY systems, Arlo’s value serves up a stark contrast to professionally installed systems that can cost quite a bit more. For instance, when we reviewed the “granddaddy of all home security companies,” ADT, we found its system difficult to install and just too expensive. The ADT base alone is $374 and you’ll pay $150 for three motion detectors, with other accessories sold separately. Arlo is quite a bit less expensive, since the initial $200 price tag includes the base plus two eight-in-one sensors.
Another popular option, Simplisafe, is more similar to Arlo, both in terms of price and modularity. Arlo might have an edge with its unique eight-in-one sensors, which make for a more flexible system that you can reconfigure as your needs change: You can’t get sensors like that on any other starter kit without buying more expensive add-ons. That includes Ring’s five-piece system, which is one of our favorite systems for new users but still can’t compete with Arlo’s versatility.
Arlo is also steadfast against monetizing your data, reporting that, “Arlo was founded as a security company first and foremost. Our products were designed to help protect your home and provide peace of mind by letting you keep an eye on your home, your business, and your loved ones, not by utilizing your personal information as a commodity to make money.”
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Arlo’s app is simple and intuitive to use.
Karen Freeman/CNET
Should you buy the Arlo Home Security System?
My experience with the Arlo Home Security System was a positive one. Other than a slight hiccup during installation, I had no trouble setting everything up myself. There’s no wiring or drilling involved (unless you want the sensor in a corner). Just plug in the base, peel and stick the sensors where you want them, install the app on your smartphone, and follow the instructions in the app.
Even without activating the professional monitoring subscription, or using a camera or any of the additional accessories, I found that the system worked well on its own. It definitely gave me some peace of mind, particularly when I was out of town or home alone. If you already have an Arlo camera and/or doorbell, it’s definitely worth adding this system to your home for some extra security.
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