The race for wireless security systems has been heating up for quite a while. When Jamie Siminoff pitched the idea for Ring in the popular TV show Shark Tank, he was hoping that he would be able to secure their backing and would be able to take his idea off the ground.
However, when he was unable to secure a deal with any of the sharks, he put his head down and began working on the idea by himself. Little did he know that one of the biggest companies in the world, Amazon, was looking at his company with keen interest. In 2018, he ended up selling the company to Amazon for a deal that potentially rose to $1.8 billion.
It was a massive move, and by that time, Ring was already firmly on the map. The company had established itself as one of the leaders in the home security industry, and commanded almost 93% of the market share of the smart doorbell industry across the United States.
Around some time in 2014, another company was founded by the name of Arlo. Arlo, famous for manufacturing wireless security cameras, was making quite a few waves for its reliable tech. The company was originally considered to be a part of Netgear before its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2018.
In February 2018, Netgear announced that the company had made a unanimous decision to separate Arlo and turn it into a separate entity from Netgear.
During the IPO, Arlo issued less than 20% of its common stock. This allowed Netgear to still remain the majority shareholder.
Since then, the competition and debate related to Arlo vs Ring has been brewing. Both companies have released a range of security products that are quite effective at protecting your house, so when it comes to Ring vs Arlo, it’s primarily a matter of personal preference and of course, choosing the right features.
Importance of Home Security
Before companies such as Ring and Arlo came along, most people had to resort to security cameras around their place. Intercom systems and conventional video doorbells were relatively spotty and did not offer anything in the way of reliability. However, Ring and Arlo managed to change all of that.
Ring introduced a range of different features that allowed users to integrate and control various security features directly from your mobile phone. With the passage of time, the company has introduced an additional array of devices that integrate seamlessly with other home automation systems.
Needless to say, Ring has managed to gain a commanding lead over other businesses operating in the same industry.
But, Arlo has managed to wring some of the market share out of Ring’s hands too. The company has been releasing a slew of fantastic products, and many people now compare them directly with Ring.
For instance, the Arlo Pro vs Ring Floodlight comparison will show that both are evenly matched in many departments.
Now, let’s compare the two and find out which of these is the best choice for your home automation and security system.
Arlo vs Ring: Features and Technology Comparison
Before you delve into the nitty-gritty and start comparing individual products such as the Ring Camera vs Arlo Pro 2, it’s important to get a bird’s eye view of what both of these companies have to offer in terms of features and technology. First of all, you should know that Ring is a lot more than a conventional alarm system with window and door sensors.
Ring offers a full suite of home security components that include entry sensors, doorbell cameras, a range of security cameras, floodlights, and a lot more. On the other hand, Arlo is a camera-based company that does not manufacture entry sensors.
Both companies maintain very high standards of quality and service, and make equipment that is designed to last. In general, both of them primarily cost around $15 per month or less. However, the major difference is that Ring is owned by Amazon, and as a result of that, the company has virtually endless amounts of money to spend on research and development.
Ultimately, this has allowed the company to integrate a wide array of cutting-edge features in its tech.
Some of the features that you will find in the Ring Alarm include:
- Entry sensors, control panels, motion detectors, and a dedicated hub
- Optional monitoring available around the clock starting at just $10 per month
- All backups directly on mobile
- Environmental monitoring available
- You don’t need to be an expert to install because it comes with easy DIY instructions
- There’s a neighborhood watch app as well
- Dedicated remote control as well as mobile app
However, that’s not all. Ring also has a dedicated line of security cameras. The company has three different cameras on offer, starting from the Stick up Cam ($179), the Spotlight Cam ($199), and the Floodlight Cam ($249). The key features include:
- Both indoor and outdoor options
- HD image quality (live streaming also available)
- Infrared night vision options
- Two-way communication
- DIY easy installation procedure
- Customizable zones to get direct notifications.
Then, there’s the Ring Doorbell. This comes with a slew of other features, such as:
- Motion activated or button-press alerts
- Two-way communication
- Infrared night vision recording
- Activity log to detail event history
- Easy to install
- Design is completely weatherproof
- Motion sensor zones can be defined
- You can live-stream activity on your entryway
On the other hand, some of the security features that you will find in the Arlo security cameras are as follows:
- Both wired and wireless cameras available for indoors and outdoors
- Wi-Fi and cellular based connectivity options
- Image quality selection from 720p all the way to 4k video
- Integrates smartly with your home security system
- Live-streaming option
- Two-way communication options
- Incredibly robust and weather-resistant housing
- Baby cameras and monitors available
- Custom activity zones
They also have a doorbell camera, which is easy to set up, and offers real-time mobile alerts as well as remote communication features. On top of that, you have the option of quick replies and recording for up to seven days, which is saved in the cloud.
When we talk about features and technology, it’s easy to see that Ring is the clear winner.
Ring Spotlight Cam vs Arlo Pro Camera: Monitoring Options
When you compare the Ring Spotlight Cam vs Arlo Pro, you will realize that both of them come with dedicated monitoring options that you can subscribe to as well. Let’s compare the monitoring options available to both Ring and Arlo customers.
If you have been using Ring, you might already know that the company offers some of the most affordable monitoring options in the market.
Because of the sheer size of the company, Ring is able to take advantage of economies of scale to offer competitive rates that are incredibly hard for competitors to meet.
The Protect Basic Plan from Ring starts at a mere $3 per month. This gives you recording and sharing features for one camera and one doorbell.
Then, there’s the Ring Protect Plus plan, which goes for $10 per month. This covers all of your Ring devices and you also get 24/7 professional monitoring.
On top of that, if you decide to go for a yearly package, you can get an even better deal. Regardless of the rate, it’s easy to say that the monthly rates offered by Ring are just too attractive to let go of.
One of the biggest differences between Arlo and Ring is the fact that the former does not offer any kind of professional monitoring. However, users do have the option of choosing from four different video storage options.
The Basic plan is free, and gives you coverage for seven cameras, offering seven days of video storage in the cloud.
The Smart plan starts at $2.99 per month for each camera and gives you 30 days of video storage history. In this package, you also get advanced AI detection, along with custom activity zones.
There’s also the Smart Premier plan, which provides support for up to 10 cameras and costs only $9.99 per month. There’s also an emergency 911 call service.
Last, but not least, they have the Smart Elite plan. This covers 20 cameras and offers 60 days of video history for just $14.99 per month. The company also has a standalone cloud storage plan that costs $1.99 per month.
As you can imagine, the clear winner in this category is Ring. The company has established itself as one of the leading providers of home security solutions and offers professional monitoring, whereas Arlo offers a range of video storage solutions.
If you want trained dispatchers at your place at a moment’s notice, the professional monitoring features offered by Ring are just an excellent option.
On top of that, when you consider it costs $10 per month, it’s just too good of a deal to pass up.
Ring Camera vs Arlo Camera: Emergency Connections and Response Times
Ring offers complete Wi-Fi and cellular-based home security devices. They also have a cellular backup and will tap into your Wi-Fi connection to remain connected. In case you go offline, the security device will use their own backup. Then, if you sign up with the Ring Protect Plan, their response times become even faster.
Their emergency monitoring has a response time in under 30 seconds.
On the other hand, Arlo has a range of Wi-Fi cameras, hard-wired Wi-Fi cameras, as well as LTE cellular cameras that you can choose from. Their Wi-Fi cameras are pretty reliable and long-lasting, and each of them come with cellular backup as well.
The best thing about Arlo’s cameras is that you can mount them virtually anywhere you want to get LTE connectivity.
However, you should know that Arlo does not offer any kind of monitoring service, so if you are looking for a quick response, they won’t be the ones to call.
As a result of that, there’s really no “response times” that you can compare the company against.
As a result of that, Ring wins this one. Connectivity isn’t a problem, since both of them come with cellular backup and connect directly to your Wi-Fi, and it’s just what users have come to expect.
Ring Vs Arlo: What Do You Get?
More importantly, you need to compare the equipment that you get with both of these devices. Ring has three main packages that you can choose from: there’s the five-piece kit that is designed for apartments or condominiums that come with a motion sensor and an entryway sensor. There’s also a 10-piece kit that is suitable for homes with up to two bedrooms, including five entryway sensors and a couple of motion detectors.
Then, there’s a 14-piece kit that provides coverage for larger houses that also includes eight entry sensors and a couple of motion detectors.
Each of the packages that Ring offers come with a central hub and a dedicated control panel. Needless to say, this is more than enough to cover your entire home.
Unlike Ring, which offers full packages, Arlo requires you to purchase separately depending on your home security needs. There are four different styles of cameras that Arlo has to offer: the Arlo, Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, and the Arlo Ultra. The basic system, which includes a base station and a camera, costs $249.
This is definitely on the more expensive side. But, if you choose to purchase the package, you can save a bit of money, as it costs $329. This is the Smart system that comes with Arlo cameras. The complete kit can go all the way up to $1,000, which comes with six Arlo cameras and a bunch of accessories.
Again, Ring is the clear winner in this category. If you had to choose between Ring and Arlo, it’s easy to say that Ring is the best choice. Most people install security cameras for home security cameras, and when you couple the fact that the company offers professional monitoring services, it’s an ideal choice for all your home security needs.
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