What Arlo subscriptions do and why you might need one
Arlo cameras record video, but the subscription determines where that video goes and for how long you can watch it. Without a subscription, most Arlo cameras store video locally on a hub or base station for a limited time — usually 24 to 72 hours depending on your model. A subscription moves your recordings to Arlo's cloud servers, keeps them longer, and unlocks features like person detection, package detection, and the ability to review footage from anywhere on your phone.
Arlo offers three main subscription tiers: Essential, Premier, and Elite. Each covers a different number of cameras and includes different detection features. You can also use Arlo cameras without any subscription, but you lose cloud storage and most of the detection tools that make the system useful for security.
Subscriptions are sold per camera or per account. A single camera subscription covers one camera. A whole-account subscription covers all cameras connected to your Arlo account, which is usually cheaper if you have more than one camera.
Key Takeaways
- Arlo subscriptions store your video in the cloud and keep it for 30 to 90 days depending on the plan, whereas local storage lasts only 24 to 72 hours.
- Essential is the lowest tier and includes basic cloud storage and motion detection; Premier and Elite add person detection, package detection, and longer retention.
- You can buy a subscription for a single camera or for your entire account, and account subscriptions cost less per camera when you have multiple cameras.
- Arlo also sells a 24/7 recording add-on that works with any subscription tier and records continuously instead of only when motion is detected.
Essential plan: cloud storage and motion alerts
The Essential plan stores your video in the cloud for 30 days and sends you a notification whenever the camera detects motion. It covers one camera per subscription. The plan does not distinguish between a person walking past your camera and a car, tree branch, or animal — it flags all motion equally.
Essential is the entry point if you want to move beyond local storage. It costs roughly $2.99 per month per camera when billed monthly, or about $27 per year per camera when billed annually. Pricing varies slightly by region and may change; check Arlo's website for your current rates.
This plan works well if you want basic cloud backup and motion notifications but do not need the camera to tell the difference between a person and other movement. Many people use it on outdoor cameras pointed at driveways or yards where false alerts from wind or animals are less of a concern.
Premier plan: person detection and package alerts
Premier adds person detection, which means the camera uses computer vision to identify whether motion is a person or something else — a car, animal, or moving branch. You still get a motion alert, but the notification tells you whether a person triggered it. Premier also adds package detection, which alerts you when a package is left at your door.
Premier stores video for 30 days and covers one camera per subscription. It costs roughly $9.99 per month per camera when billed monthly, or about $99 per year per camera. Again, rates vary by region.
This is the most common choice for people who want to reduce false alerts and know immediately if someone is at their door. The person detection is the main difference from Essential — if you have a camera pointed at a busy street or a yard where animals move through regularly, the extra cost usually pays for itself in fewer wasted notifications.
Elite plan: all detection features and longest retention
Elite includes everything in Premier — person detection and package detection — plus vehicle detection, which alerts you when a car or truck enters the camera's view. Elite also stores video for 90 days instead of 30, giving you a longer window to review old footage.
Elite covers one camera per subscription and costs roughly $14.99 per month per camera when billed monthly, or about $149 per year per camera. Pricing varies by region.
Elite is most useful if you have a camera on a driveway or street-facing area where vehicle detection matters, or if you need to keep video for three months instead of one. The 90-day retention is the main practical difference — person and vehicle detection are nice to have, but the longer storage window is what most people actually use.
Account subscriptions versus per-camera subscriptions
You can buy a subscription that covers just one camera, or you can buy an account subscription that covers all cameras on your Arlo account at once. An account subscription at the Essential tier covers unlimited cameras for roughly $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Premier account subscriptions run roughly $14.99 per month or $149 per year. Elite account subscriptions run roughly $19.99 per month or $199 per year.
The math changes depending on how many cameras you have. If you have two cameras, an account subscription at any tier is cheaper than buying two per-camera subscriptions. If you have one camera, a per-camera subscription is the same price or slightly cheaper. Most people with more than one Arlo camera find an account subscription more economical.
You can also mix subscriptions — for example, buy an account subscription at the Premier tier for most of your cameras, then add a per-camera Elite subscription to one camera pointed at your driveway. Arlo's app lets you manage which cameras are covered by which subscription.
24/7 continuous recording add-on
By default, Arlo cameras record only when they detect motion. If you want the camera to record continuously all day and night, you can add the 24/7 recording add-on to any subscription tier. This add-on costs roughly $3.99 per month per camera or $39 per year per camera.
Continuous recording fills cloud storage much faster than motion-triggered recording. Arlo limits how much video you can store per camera per day, so continuous recording on multiple cameras can hit those limits quickly. The add-on is most useful on one or two cameras where you want a complete record — for example, a front door or a garage.
You do not need to upgrade your subscription tier to use 24/7 recording; it works with Essential, Premier, or Elite. The add-on is separate and stacks on top of whatever plan you already have.
Free local storage without a subscription
Arlo cameras can store video locally without any subscription if you have an Arlo hub or base station. Local storage keeps video for 24 to 72 hours depending on your camera model and how much motion it records. You can review that video in the Arlo app, but only while connected to your home network — you cannot watch it from outside your house.
Local storage does not include person detection, package detection, or vehicle detection. You get motion alerts, but they do not tell you what triggered the motion. Local storage is useful as a backup if your internet goes down, but it is not a replacement for a cloud subscription if you want to review footage from work or while traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an Arlo camera without any subscription?
Yes. The camera will record to local storage on your Arlo hub or base station for 24 to 72 hours. You lose cloud backup, detection features, and the ability to watch video from outside your home network. Local storage is useful as a backup but not as a primary security solution.
What happens to my video if I cancel my subscription?
Your stored video is deleted when your subscription ends. Arlo does not keep it after cancellation. If you want to keep any footage, download it to your phone or computer before your subscription expires.
Can I change subscription tiers or switch between per-camera and account subscriptions?
Yes. You can upgrade, downgrade, or switch subscription types at any time in the Arlo app. Changes take effect immediately. If you downgrade mid-month, you may receive a credit toward your next billing cycle.
Do I need a subscription for each camera or can one subscription cover multiple cameras?
You can buy per-camera subscriptions (one subscription per camera) or account subscriptions (one subscription covers all cameras on your account). Account subscriptions are cheaper per camera if you have two or more cameras.
Does the 24/7 recording add-on work with all subscription tiers?
Yes. The 24/7 add-on works with Essential, Premier, or Elite. It is a separate add-on that stacks on top of your base subscription and costs roughly $3.99 per month per camera.