Are Arlo Cameras Compatible With Nest Find Out Here

Arlo cameras are not natively compatible with Nest devices, meaning you can’t directly integrate them into the Nest app or ecosystem. However, workarounds like IFTTT or third-party hubs allow limited connectivity for alerts and basic automation—just don’t expect full feature parity. For seamless smart home integration, sticking with one brand is ideal.

Key Takeaways

• No direct compatibility: Arlo cameras don’t natively integrate with Nest devices or hubs.
• Use third-party apps: IFTTT or Home Assistant can bridge Arlo and Nest for limited automation.
• Check cloud storage: Arlo and Nest require separate subscriptions for video history and features.
• Smart home platforms: Both work with Alexa or Google Home for unified voice control.
• Manual sharing: Share clips between apps manually if cross-platform alerts are needed.
• No shared alerts: Motion notifications won’t sync directly between Arlo and Nest systems.

Are Arlo Cameras Compatible With Nest? Find Out Here

Let’s face it—smart home security can be a bit of a maze. You’ve got Arlo, Nest, Ring, Eufy, and a dozen other brands all vying for your attention, each promising seamless integration and 24/7 peace of mind. If you’re like me, you’ve probably already invested in one ecosystem—maybe you’ve got a few Arlo cameras scattered around your property—and now you’re eyeing that sleek Nest thermostat or Nest Doorbell and wondering: “Can I just plug it all together and call it a day?”

That’s the big question: Are Arlo cameras compatible with Nest? It’s not just about whether they can coexist—it’s about whether they can actually *talk* to each other. Can your Arlo camera trigger a light on your Nest Hub? Will your Nest Doorbell send alerts to the same app where you monitor your Arlo backyard cam? Or are you stuck juggling two separate apps, two sets of notifications, and two different subscription models? In this post, we’ll dive deep into the compatibility (or lack thereof) between these two popular smart home giants. We’ll cover direct integration, workarounds, real-world examples, and what it means for your smart home setup. No fluff, no sales pitch—just honest, practical insights to help you make smarter decisions.

Understanding the Arlo and Nest Ecosystems

What Makes Arlo Unique?

Arlo, owned by Netgear, has built its reputation on wire-free, battery-powered cameras that are easy to install and highly customizable. Their lineup includes indoor and outdoor models, floodlights, doorbells, and even smart home hubs. Arlo’s biggest selling point? Flexibility. You can mix and match devices, place them almost anywhere (thanks to magnetic mounts and long battery life), and access high-quality video—often with 2K or even 4K resolution.

Arlo operates primarily through the Arlo Secure app, which handles live viewing, motion alerts, cloud storage, and smart home integrations. They’ve also introduced a subscription service (Arlo Secure) that unlocks features like AI-based person detection, package detection, and emergency response. But here’s the catch: Arlo’s ecosystem is largely self-contained. While it supports some third-party integrations, it’s not designed to be a central hub for your entire smart home.

What About Nest?

Nest, a Google-owned brand, takes a more centralized approach. Their devices—like the Nest Thermostat, Nest Doorbell (battery or wired), Nest Cam, and Nest Hub—are built to work seamlessly within the Google Home ecosystem. This means they integrate natively with Google Assistant, Chromecast, and other Google services. The Nest app (now part of the Google Home app) acts as a central dashboard for all your connected devices.

Nest emphasizes automation, AI-driven features (like facial recognition and Familiar Faces), and deep Google integration. For example, your Nest Doorbell can announce visitors on your Google Nest speaker or show live video on your TV via Chromecast. But Nest devices are more dependent on Wi-Fi and often require a stronger, more stable connection than Arlo’s battery-powered units.

Key Differences in Design and Philosophy

• Power Source: Arlo leans heavily on battery-powered, wire-free setups. Nest often relies on wired connections (especially for doorbells and indoor cams).
• Hub vs. Standalone: Arlo devices can function independently. Nest devices often benefit from a central hub (like the Nest Hub or Google Home) for full functionality.
• AI Features: Nest uses Google’s AI for advanced detection (e.g., “Is that the mail carrier?”). Arlo’s AI is improving but isn’t as deeply integrated with voice assistants.
• Subscription Models: Both offer cloud storage, but Nest’s Google Home subscription includes more AI features, while Arlo Secure focuses on video quality and emergency response.

So, while both brands aim to make your home smarter, they do it in different ways. And that’s where the compatibility question gets tricky.

Direct Integration: Can Arlo and Nest Work Together?

Native App Integration: The Short Answer

Here’s the reality: Arlo cameras are not natively compatible with the Nest ecosystem. You can’t add an Arlo camera directly to the Google Home app. You can’t control your Arlo devices using Google Assistant in the same way you can with a Nest Doorbell. And you won’t see Arlo video feeds on your Nest Hub without workarounds.

Why? Because Arlo and Nest use different platforms, different protocols, and different cloud infrastructures. Arlo uses its own cloud and app, while Nest relies on Google’s infrastructure. There’s no official bridge between the two—no “Add to Google Home” button in the Arlo app, and no “Connect to Arlo” option in the Google Home app.

What About Google Assistant?

This is where it gets interesting. While you can’t *control* Arlo cameras through the Google Home app, you *can* use Google Assistant voice commands to interact with Arlo—but only through the Arlo app. Here’s how:

1. Open the Google Home app.
2. Go to Settings > Voice > Google Assistant > Home Control.
3. Tap the “+” button and search for “Arlo”.
4. Log in to your Arlo account.

Once linked, you can say things like:

• “Hey Google, show me the backyard camera on the living room TV.”
• “Hey Google, turn on the Arlo floodlight.”
• “Hey Google, is the front door camera armed?”

Note: This only works if your TV is connected via Chromecast or a smart TV with Google Assistant. The video feed will open in the Arlo app, not the Google Home app.

Limitations of This Integration

• No live feed in Google Home: You can’t view Arlo cameras in the Google Home app’s “Cameras” tab.
• No automation triggers: You can’t set up a routine like “When Arlo detects motion, turn on the Nest thermostat.”
• Delayed responses: Voice commands may take a few seconds longer than with native Nest devices.
• No AI sync: Nest’s facial recognition won’t work with Arlo’s motion alerts, and vice versa.

So, while Google Assistant gives you *some* control, it’s more of a “remote control” than a true integration. It’s helpful, but not seamless.

Workarounds and Third-Party Solutions

Using IFTTT (If This, Then That)

If you’re willing to get a bit technical, IFTTT (If This, Then That) can bridge the gap between Arlo and Nest. IFTTT is a free automation platform that connects different apps and devices using “applets.”

Here are a few practical examples:

Example 1: Turn on Nest Thermostat When Arlo Detects Motion

1. Create an IFTTT account and link your Arlo and Google (Nest) accounts.
2. Create a new applet: “If Arlo detects motion, then set Nest thermostat to 72°F.”
3. Choose the Arlo camera as the trigger.
4. Select “Set temperature” as the action and link your Nest thermostat.

Use case: Great for vacation mode. When your Arlo backyard cam sees motion (maybe a family member arriving), it automatically adjusts the thermostat to a comfortable level.

Example 2: Send Arlo Alerts to Google Home

1. Create an applet: “If Arlo detects a person, then send a notification to Google Assistant.”
2. Use the “Send a notification” action and customize the message (e.g., “Front door motion detected!”).
3. You’ll hear the alert on your Google Nest speaker or phone.

Pro tip: You can also use IFTTT to log Arlo events in Google Sheets, send email alerts, or even trigger a Philips Hue light.

Limitations of IFTTT

• Delays: IFTTT can take 10–30 seconds to trigger, which isn’t ideal for real-time security.
• Reliability: Free IFTTT accounts have rate limits and occasional downtime.
• No video sharing: You can’t stream Arlo video directly to Nest Hub via IFTTT.

Still, for basic automation, IFTTT is a powerful (and free) tool.

Using Home Assistant (For Tech-Savvy Users)

If you’re comfortable with a DIY approach, Home Assistant is a game-changer. It’s a free, open-source home automation platform that runs on a local server (like a Raspberry Pi or old PC). Home Assistant can integrate *both* Arlo and Nest devices into a single dashboard.

Here’s what you can do:

• View all Arlo and Nest cameras in one interface.
• Create complex automations (e.g., “If Arlo detects a person at night, turn on the porch light and send a video clip to my phone”).
• Use voice commands via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
• Store video locally (no subscription needed).

Setup tip: Use the Arlo integration and Google Nest integration in Home Assistant. You’ll need to generate API keys for both services, but the process is well-documented.

Caveat: Home Assistant requires technical know-how. It’s not plug-and-play, but it’s worth it for users who want full control.

Real-World Scenarios: When Compatibility Matters

Scenario 1: You Already Have Arlo, Want a Nest Doorbell

Let’s say you’ve got two Arlo Pro 4 cameras covering your front yard and backyard. You love the battery life and easy setup. But you’re tired of missing package deliveries, so you’re considering the Nest Doorbell (battery).

What happens?

• You’ll have two apps: Arlo for yard cams, Google Home for the doorbell.
• You can use Google Assistant to view the Arlo yard cams on your TV, but the doorbell feed won’t mix in.
• Motion alerts will come from both apps—no unified notification system.
• You can use IFTTT to trigger actions (e.g., “When Nest Doorbell rings, turn on Arlo floodlight”).

Verdict: It works, but it’s not seamless. You’ll need to check two apps daily.

Scenario 2: You’re Starting Fresh—Arlo vs. Nest

You’re building a smart home from scratch. Should you go all-in on Arlo or Nest?

Choose Arlo if:

• You want wire-free, battery-powered cameras.
• You have areas with poor Wi-Fi (Arlo’s base station helps).
• You prefer flexibility over deep Google integration.

Choose Nest if:

• You already use Google services (Gmail, Calendar, etc.).
• You want a unified app and voice assistant experience.
• You’re okay with more wired devices and a stable Wi-Fi connection.

Tip: If you’re team Google, Nest is the better choice. If you value battery life and easy setup, Arlo wins.

Scenario 3: Renters or Temporary Setups

You’re renting and can’t drill holes or run wires. Arlo’s magnetic mounts and battery power make it ideal. But you still want Google Assistant integration.

Solution:

• Use Arlo for all cameras (no drilling needed).
• Link Arlo to Google Assistant for voice control.
• Use a Google Nest Mini as a voice-controlled hub.

Result: You get wire-free security with basic Google control—perfect for renters.

Data Comparison: Arlo vs. Nest for Integration

Feature	Arlo	Nest	Compatibility Status
Native Google Home App Support	❌ No	✅ Yes	No direct integration
Google Assistant Voice Control	✅ Yes (via app link)	✅ Yes (native)	Limited to voice, no live feed in GH app
IFTTT Support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Full automation possible
Home Assistant Support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Best for unified control
Live View on Nest Hub	❌ No (unless via Chromecast)	✅ Yes	Workaround needed
AI Facial Recognition Sync	❌ No	✅ Yes (within Nest)	No cross-brand AI
Subscription for Advanced Features	Arlo Secure (from $2.99/month)	Google Home (from $6/month)	Different pricing and features

This table highlights the core differences. While both brands support third-party tools, native integration is missing, which impacts user experience.

Final Verdict: Should You Mix Arlo and Nest?

So, are Arlo cameras compatible with Nest? The answer is: not directly, but with workarounds, you can make them coexist.

If you’re okay with using two apps, relying on IFTTT for automation, and using Google Assistant as a voice remote, then mixing Arlo and Nest is absolutely doable. I’ve done it in my own home—two Arlo cameras in the backyard, a Nest Doorbell at the front, and a Nest Hub in the living room. It’s not perfect, but it works.

Here’s my advice:

• For convenience: Stick to one ecosystem. If you’re deep in Google, go all-in with Nest. If you value battery life and flexibility, stay with Arlo.
• For flexibility: Mix and match, but plan for workarounds. Use IFTTT for automation and Home Assistant for full control.
• For renters or temporary setups: Arlo + Google Assistant is a great combo.
• For power users: Home Assistant is worth the effort. You’ll get a unified experience without sacrificing features.

At the end of the day, smart home compatibility isn’t just about tech specs—it’s about how it fits into your life. Do you want simplicity? Go all-Nest. Do you need wire-free cameras? Arlo’s your friend. And if you want both? Just know you’ll need to put in a little extra effort to make them play nice.

The good news? With tools like IFTTT and Home Assistant, the gap is narrowing. And who knows—maybe one day, Arlo and Nest will officially join forces. Until then, you’ve got options. And that’s what smart homes are all about: making it work *for you*.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Arlo cameras compatible with Nest devices?

Arlo cameras are not directly compatible with Nest devices or the Google Home ecosystem, as they use different platforms and protocols. However, both can coexist in the same smart home setup if managed separately through their respective apps.

Can I view my Arlo cameras on a Nest Hub?

No, you cannot natively view Arlo camera feeds on a Nest Hub display due to lack of integration. You’ll need to use the Arlo app or a supported third-party service for viewing streams.

Is there any way to link Arlo with my Nest account?

Currently, there’s no official method to link Arlo with your Nest account or sync them via Google Home. The two brands operate independently and don’t support shared automation or controls.

Will Arlo cameras work with Nest Aware for cloud storage?

No, Arlo cameras do not support Nest Aware subscriptions. Each system uses its own cloud service—Arlo Secure for Arlo and Nest Aware for Nest—so recordings must be stored separately.

Can I use both Arlo and Nest cameras in the same home?

Yes, you can use both Arlo and Nest cameras in the same home, but they’ll function independently within their own apps. There’s no cross-platform compatibility, so monitoring requires switching between applications.

Are Arlo and Nest compatible with Google Assistant?

Yes, both Arlo and Nest cameras are compatible with Google Assistant for voice commands like “show me the backyard camera.” While they work with the same voice assistant, they still operate on separate platforms and cannot share alerts or routines.