Arlo vs Ring: Which Security Camera is Best in 2020?

Two of the biggest names in the world of security cameras are Arlo and Ring.

But between the two, which one has a better range of products?

Main Differences Between Arlo vs Ring

The Main Differences Between Arlo vs Ring are:

• Arlo cameras have a plastic build, whereas Ring cameras are better designed and more elegant.
• Arlo offers 7 days of free video storage, whereas Ring offers doorbell and floodlight cameras.
• Arlo models can monitor inside your house, whereas Ring comes with HD video resolution 1080p.

First Up: Ring Video Doorbell

Ring made its name from offering video doorbells. You can still get the original Ring Video Doorbell that is a cheaper alternative, but there have been several other models that have been introduced over time.

Ring Doorbell Models

There are currently four Ring Video Doorbells available:

• Ring Video Doorbell,
• Ring Video Doorbell 2,
• Ring Video Doorbell Elite, and
• Ring Video Doorbell Pro

These video doorbells all feature motion sensor, a wide field of view, HD video resolution, and a wide range when it comes to operating temperatures. They also have a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing you to talk to whoever is at the door. This is perfect for telling the delivery guy to just leave the package at the doorstep especially when you are not home to receive it, or for asking a caller you do not know or are not expecting what he needs without having to open the door.

All of these have their own set of faceplates, allowing you to use one that would match your door’s designs. You can get anywhere from two to four faceplates depending on which Ring smart doorbell you buy. They also allow you to view the camera’s live stream using the companion app.

There are differences, of course, with how each of these doorbells work. The main difference is in how these doorbells are powered. Some may be hardwired, while others use batteries. The Ring Elite also draws power from Ethernet. Motion detection is also handled differently. For the original and the second-generation Ring doorbells, you only have five selectable preset zones and you can set how sensitive the motion sensors are. However, with the more expensive Elite and Pro models, you can actually use the mobile app to specify which areas to monitor for motion.

Another advantage of the Ring Pro and Elite over their more affordable cousins is that they can work on 5.0 GHz networks, making sure that your video feeds are up for streaming without having to worry about network congestion.

All Ring video doorbells come with all the things you need to wire or install them. For instance, the Ring Video Doorbell 2’s package includes a micro USB charging cable, faceplates, bits, screws, level, screwdriver handle, the user manual and installation guide, wire nuts and extensions, and other tools and pieces necessary to put it up your door.

The Ring Video Doorbell Elite also has the bits and screws, as well as the Ethernet cable needed to power it.

Read our full comparison of the Ring Video Doorbell pro vs The Netgear Arlo Pro

A side-by-side Comp: Ring vs Ring 2 vs Ring Elite vs Ring Pro

Other Ring offerings

Aside from these video doorbells, Ring also offers security cameras to help you beef up your home security.

There is the Ring Spotlight Cam that can be powered by solar energy (which is pricier), or by battery or through wires (which are less expensive). These spotlight cameras are high definition with wide fields of view and two-way communication. They are able to shine a bright light when they detect something moving, allowing you to see things very clearly even at night. The spotlights can also be manually turned on using the mobile app. It also comes with a loud 110-decibel siren.

Ring also offers the Floodlight Cam. The camera illuminates a particular area with a brighter light using its two very bright LED flood lights. These flood lights are likewise motion-activated and you can view the live stream at any given time.

Recording plans

Ring gives you the chance to record your camera’s feeds so that you could access them anytime you want.

The basic plan allows you to record, review, or share videos. You can use their cloud storage to store your videos for 60 days. You would need to pay either per year or per month per camera.

If you have several cameras, you might want to check out the Plus Plan, which gives you the ability to store, share, and view videos for an unlimited number of cameras. The Plus Plan also comes with exclusive discounts for your future Ring purchases, as well as a lifetime warranty.

Next Up: Arlo Cam

Arlo is a line of security cameras from Netgear, but it will soon be spinning off on its own as Arlo Technologies.

Arlo’s range of cameras includes wire-free security cameras, mobile cameras, powered cameras, baby cameras, and security lights.

Wire-free cameras

In general, Arlo gives you 720-pixel cameras, with only Arlo Pro 2 having a true 1080-pixel resolution. All of these cameras have motion detection, and all of them except for the first-generation Arlo have sound alerts.

Arlo cameras have a respectable field of view of 130 degrees, except for the first Arlo’s 110 degrees. All cameras also have night vision.

Side-by-Side Arlo Comp: Arlo vs Arlo Pro vs Arlo Pro 2 vs Arlo Go

The features for each of the wire-free cameras are as follows:

Aside from these wire-free cameras, Arlo also offers wired security cameras in Arlo Q and Arlo Q Plus. Both offer 1080-pixel video quality and can only be used indoors. These cameras both have a 130-degree field of view and can give you sound and motion alerts.

The differences are that unlike the original Arlo Q, the Arlo Q Plus may be powered by Ethernet and includes local storage.

Arlo also offers a baby camera with Arlo Baby. This camera is designed with bunny ears, so it goes perfectly with the decors for any nursery. It has 1080-pixel HD resolution, two-way talk capability, and advanced night vision. Plus, it also has a music player that sings soothing lullabies for your baby. It can also monitor the temperature, humidity, and VOC level in the nursery and can alert you when your baby is crying.

Arlo will also come out with Arlo Light, a security light with bright lamps. We are talking 400 lumens bright. The Arlo Light can turn itself on when it detects movements.

What are the best Arlo Alternatives? Read here!

Arlo vs Ring: How does one compare to the other?

Some people might be tempted to compare Arlo products with Ring products just because they are both in the business of making cameras. However, these two companies actually have very different offerings. Arlo gives you standalone security cameras that you can setup easily.

As such, some Arlo cameras are very affordable: Arlo -check the pricing here, Arlo Pro -check the pricing here, Arlo Q -check the pricing here, and Arlo Pro 2 -check the pricing here. Ring, on the other hand, sells security cameras with another purpose: as a doorbell, as a floodlight, or as a spotlight.

Bottom Line: Overall, however, Ring offers better cameras with 1080 pixels of video quality and is my preferred option available here.

How does the Ring Video Doorbell Pro compare to the Netgear Arlo Pro? Read here!

Ring cameras are also better-designed and look more elegant and expensive compared to Arlo’s cameras, which have a plastic build. The only thing missing from Ring is the ability to record your videos for free. Arlo offers seven days of video storage for free, but you can upgrade to 30-day storage (Check the price here), or 60 days (Check the price here).

With Ring and Arlo filling different needs, choosing one over the other would be a matter of what you need. You cannot choose an Arlo if you need a video doorbell or a floodlight camera. You also cannot choose Ring to monitor what is happening inside your home.

The good news is that both Ring and Arlo work with IFTTT recipes, allowing you to get the camera you need while also making them work together.

For instance, there is an IFTTT recipe that would tell your Arlo security camera to start video recording if Ring Video Doorbell detects movement. In addition, there is another recipe that tells Arlo to start recording once the smart doorbell has been pressed. Aside from IFTTT, you can also use SmartThings app and other smart home platforms to bridge the two.

Further read, 

• Best Smart Home Security Cameras
• Ring Alarm Home Security System
• Blink XT vs Arlo Pro – Which is the Best Smart Security Camera?

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