Arlo Secure is a paid monthly plan that adds cloud storage, person detection, and emergency response features to your Arlo camera system
Arlo Secure is not a housing assistance program — it is a subscription service for Arlo security cameras. If you arrived here looking for help paying rent, utilities, or other housing costs, you are on the wrong page. Housing Info covers government and nonprofit programs that help people afford housing itself, not the technology or services inside a home.
If you are looking for information about Arlo Secure because you own or rent a property and want to understand what the subscription includes, the sections below explain what you get, what it costs, and how to manage the service. If you need help paying for housing, utilities, or emergency rent, use the main menu to find programs in your state or city.
Key Takeaways
- Arlo Secure stores video recordings in the cloud for 30 days and lets you review footage from anywhere using the Arlo app.
- The subscription adds person detection (distinguishing people from animals or vehicles) and activity zones so you receive fewer false alerts.
- Arlo Secure Plus includes 24/7 professional emergency response — a monitoring center can watch your camera live and contact police if needed.
- Pricing and features vary by region and change over time, so check Arlo's website or contact their support team for current rates and what is included in your area.
- This subscription is separate from any housing assistance — it is a service you pay for directly to Arlo, not a government or nonprofit benefit.
What Arlo Secure includes at each tier
Arlo offers two main subscription levels for Arlo Secure. The standard Arlo Secure plan includes 30 days of cloud video storage, person detection (the camera learns to tell the difference between a person and an animal), activity zones (you draw areas on the camera view and only get alerts from those zones), and the ability to save and share video clips. You can review recordings from the past month using the Arlo app on your phone or computer.
Arlo Secure Plus adds 24/7 professional monitoring. A monitoring center watches your camera live when an alarm is triggered, and they can contact emergency services on your behalf if they see a break-in or other threat. This tier also includes video storage and person detection. The monitoring service is the main difference between the two plans.
Both plans cover all Arlo cameras on your account — you do not pay per camera. If you have three Arlo cameras, one subscription covers all three.
How much Arlo Secure costs
Arlo Secure pricing varies by region and changes periodically. As of the time this guide was written, Arlo Secure typically costs between $2.99 and $9.99 per month depending on your location and which plan you choose. Arlo Secure Plus (with professional monitoring) costs more than the standard plan. Arlo also offers annual payment options that may reduce the monthly cost.
Pricing can change, and some regions have different rates than others. Check Arlo's website or log into your Arlo account to see the exact price for your location and current plan options. If you are unsure whether a subscription is worth the cost, Arlo often offers a free trial period so you can test the features before committing to a paid plan.
How to set up or change your Arlo Secure subscription
To start an Arlo Secure subscription, open the Arlo app on your phone or visit the Arlo website on a computer. Log into your account, go to the subscription or settings section, and select the plan you want. You will need a valid payment method — Arlo accepts credit cards and some other payment options depending on your region. After you choose a plan and enter your payment information, the subscription becomes active immediately.
To change your plan (for example, to upgrade from standard Arlo Secure to Arlo Secure Plus), go to the same subscription section in the app or website and select the new plan. Changes usually take effect right away. To cancel your subscription, you can do the same thing — select "cancel" or "downgrade" in the subscription settings. Arlo does not charge a cancellation fee, but you will lose access to cloud storage and monitoring features as soon as the cancellation is processed.
What happens if you do not have an Arlo Secure subscription
Without a subscription, your Arlo cameras still record and send alerts to your phone when they detect motion. However, you will not have cloud storage — recordings are stored only on your local network or on an Arlo hub if you have one. This means you can only review footage if you are home or connected to your home network. You also will not have person detection, so you may get alerts for animals, shadows, or passing cars.
If your Arlo camera is stolen or damaged, you will have no backup of the footage. Professional monitoring is not available without a subscription. For many people, the free features are enough; for others, the cloud storage and person detection are worth the monthly cost.
Troubleshooting common subscription issues
If your subscription appears to have stopped working, first check that your payment method is still valid and that your card has not expired. Arlo sends renewal reminders, but if you miss a payment, the subscription pauses until you update your payment information. Log into your account and check the subscription status — it will tell you whether the plan is active or if there is a payment problem.
If you are being charged but not seeing the features you expect (for example, you have Arlo Secure but person detection is not working), restart the Arlo app and restart your camera. If the problem continues, contact Arlo support through their website or app. They can check your account and help troubleshoot why a feature is not working. If you believe you were charged in error, Arlo support can review your billing history and process a refund if warranted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Arlo cameras without paying for Arlo Secure?
Yes. Your cameras will still record motion and send alerts to your phone without a subscription. You will not have cloud storage, person detection, or professional monitoring, but the basic camera functions work. If you want to review footage from outside your home or need the advanced features, you need the subscription.
Does Arlo Secure help me if I cannot pay my rent or utilities?
No. Arlo Secure is a camera subscription service and has nothing to do with housing assistance, rent, or utility bills. If you need help paying for housing, use the main menu on this site to find programs in your state or city that offer rental assistance, utility help, or other housing support.
What if I cancel my Arlo Secure subscription — do I lose all my recordings?
Yes. When your subscription ends, you lose access to cloud storage and any recordings stored there. If you have a local storage option (like an Arlo hub with a hard drive), those recordings may remain, but cloud footage is deleted. If you think you might need old footage, download or save important clips before you cancel.
Can I pause my Arlo Secure subscription instead of canceling it?
Arlo does not offer a formal pause option, but you can cancel and restart your subscription whenever you want. There is no penalty for canceling and restarting later. If you restart within a certain period, Arlo may restore your previous settings, but contact their support team to confirm what will happen with your account.