Arlo Home Security System review

Arlo Home Security System: Introduction

• Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for the hub, proprietary for sensors
• Ecosystems: Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT

Waaaaaay back at CES 2019, Arlo, a brand best known for its smart security cameras, announced a complete home security system.

Alas, that never actually saw the light of day but three years later at CES 2022, we were finally treated to the launch that never was by way of the Arlo Home Security System.

It’s still a US-only affair for now, but we’ve finally managed to put it through its paces over in Florida at our US test lab.

The Arlo Home Security System comprises of just two parts; a security hub with an integrated keypad and a multi-purpose sensor.

So it’s a lot simpler, in terms of setup at least, than the likes of Simplisafe, Abode and Ring, whose systems have multiple different device types.

Of course, it all works in tandem with your Arlo smart security cameras though, with everything handled in the excellent Arlo Secure app.

Read on for our comprehensive Arlo Home Security System review.

Design and installation

• Hub works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
• Sensors easily paired using Arlo Secure app via SecureLink sub-GHz tech

Because the Arlo Home Security System is a modular system, the first thing that you’ll want to do is workout how many sensors you’re going to need in your house.

This isn’t just a case of counting the doors and windows that you want protected as, as mentioned, the Arlo sensors are multi-purpose, capable of eight different sensing functions.

The Arlo sensors can detect motion, door/window openings and tilt, water leaks, light/temperature changes, and T3 and T4 smoke/CO alarm patterns.

So, have a think about exactly what aspects of home security you want covered with your Arlo system before deciding on the kit you want.

For the purpose of this review I had the 1 Keypad Sensor Hub, 2 Sensors Starter Kit, which sells for $200 Stateside. In the box for that you’ll also find a window sticker to let everyone know that your home is protected by Arlo.

That’s a price-tag that’s pretty comparable with similarly configured rivals, but at $30 a pop for the system, $80 for an extra keypad and $50 for an outdoor siren, you can see how the price could ramp up – and that’s before we’ve even considered premium subscription extras; more on that in a bit.

Back to the starter kit in question and it’s incredibly easy to get up and running. Everything is based around the Keypad Sensor Hub, which – as you probably guessed from the name – doubles up as the physical controller for the system and is also the brains of the operation.

This slick looking hub, measuring 4.16 x 4.16 x 1.01 inches (105.66 x 105.66 x 25.82mm) and weighing just 219g can be wall mounted or just sit flat on a surface.

As security keypads go, it’s pretty good looking with the 19 backlit keys all nice and accessible and easy to understand.

The system is one of the easiest that I’ve ever set up. Just open up the Arlo Secure app, choose to add a device, scan the QR code and follow the steps.

You might have to do a firmware update after you’ve done the last step of choosing a pin, but you’ll be good to go in under 5 minutes.

A nice touch is that the keypad knows what it was boxed with, so it’ll prompt you to pair any sensors you’ve got straight away.

The pairing process, which is done using Arlo’s SecureLink propriety tech, is clearly explained on the app, step by step, and you’ll also get a reassuring beep from the keypad once it’s paired.

Again, this took less than a couple of minutes per sensor.

It’s worth noting if you want to use the sensor to relay smoke alarms then your current alarm would have to adhere to T3 or T4 beep patterns, and you’ll have to do a test during setup to make sure it know what it’s listening out for.

Features

• Multi-purpose sensor boasts 8 functions
• Keypad offers battery and cellular backup (at a cost)

Once the system is online and the sensors are paired, you’ll be able to tinker around with exactly how you want the system to behave in the Arlo Secure app.

The keypad itself is very straight forward with the number keys obviously in use for pin-protected disarming. There are also dedicated buttons for away and home modes, and they have different color lights – red and orange – so you can easily see, even in the dark, that you have armed the correct mode.

There’s also a panic button that, if held for 2 seconds, creates a high pitched alarm from the 90dB built-in siren.

The keypad is also capable of NFC communication for quick alarming and disarming and Arlo has actually just launched some dedicated keyfobs for this – although I haven’t been able to test these yet.

When you first pair the smart sensors, you’ll be prompted to choose a primary function for them: open/close, motion or water leak.

However, that doesn’t mean that you’re tying down the sensor to one specific job; they are capable of being more than one type of sensor at a time.

For example, one of the sensors I had installed on the back door, I also used as a motion sensor for when the system was in home mode, and the good news there is that there is pet sense on board for your dogs and cats shouldn’t trigger a false alarm.

The sensors don’t just send alerts to your phone, they can also work with other Arlo products too. So if it detects someone opening a window, it can send an alert to a nearby Arlo camera to start recording, for example.

The configurations of exactly what you want each sensor to do, and how it interacts with your Arlo cameras and the like, is pretty endless, with a multitude of options available through the Arlo Secure app.

The app keeps things nice and simple with its Routines feature for building these specific behaviors and functions, with a rule based process that is very easy to follow and allows you to specify actions for a wide range of variables such as time, days of the week and geo-location data.

The ambient light and temperature sensors are super handy for notifications and, if you want to get productive on IFTTT then these can also be used to interact with non-Arlo connected kit for automations.

In terms of Alexa and Google Home though, it’s simple arming and disarming that’s on offer, with no HomeKit option at all.

If you use an iPhone then critical alerts are a feature and you can also have nice widgets on your homescreen, with snapshots of the system’s status and thumbnails from connected Arlo cameras.

There is also a nice web portal as well as the app, but that actually logs you out of the app if you use it; you can only be logged in one place at a time, which seems a bit daft.

Performance and extras

Everything I’ve mentioned to this point is out-of-the-box available and free of any extra charges and, as a standalone system, it’s great.

There is no need to spend any more money on the Arlo Home Security System if you don’t want to, it’s a comprehensive DIY solution that offers a firm layer of protection on top of your Arlo security cameras.

For the Security System, if you’re going to go premium, you’ll be needing an Arlo plan with Professional Monitoring for $24.99 per month.

This adds things like video verification so an expert takes a look if an alarm is triggered and can asses whether the emergency services need to be alerted.

That plan also includes 60 day camera cloud storage, contact notifications during alarm triggers and theft cover for your devices.

Guide: Arlo Secure subscription plans explained

Another possible additional cost is the $80 Cellular & Battery Backup accessory that will keep your Arlo Home Security System online and powered during outages up to 12 hours.

This comes with a SIM-card already loaded for the cellular aspect but you will also need that Arlo plan in place for the SIM to be active.

Final thoughts

The Arlo Home Security System is easy to install, simple to configure and works brilliantly with existing Arlo security cameras, all living together in the excellent Arlo Secure app.

The multi-purpose sensors work well, the extra functionalities add a nice layer of cover, and, although there is a cost for premium features, the system works well straight out of the box too.

How we test

When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.

Smart security systems usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a security system for a week and deliver a verdict.

Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular camera compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.

Read our guide on our review process to learn more.