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No, a Nest camera cannot directly connect to an Arlo system, as they operate on separate ecosystems with incompatible software and hardware protocols. However, you can integrate both brands indirectly using third-party smart home platforms like Google Home or IFTTT, allowing limited automation and unified control—though full feature synchronization isn’t supported.
Key Takeaways
- No direct integration: Nest and Arlo cameras don’t natively connect or share feeds.
- Use third-party apps: IFTTT can bridge basic alerts between Nest and Arlo systems.
- Hub required for syncing: A smart home hub may enable limited cross-platform automation.
- Manual workarounds: View feeds separately; no unified app for both brands.
- Data privacy matters: Check permissions before linking accounts via third-party services.
- Consider ecosystem loyalty: Sticking to one brand simplifies setup and monitoring.
📑 Table of Contents
- Why You Might Want to Connect Nest and Arlo Cameras
- Understanding Nest and Arlo: How They Work (and Why They Don’t Talk)
- Workarounds to Connect Nest and Arlo (Without Losing Your Mind)
- What You Can and Can’t Share Between Nest and Arlo
- Real-World Setup Examples: How People Use Both Systems
- Comparing Nest and Arlo: When to Use Which
- Final Thoughts: It’s About Smart Integration, Not Direct Connection
Why You Might Want to Connect Nest and Arlo Cameras
Imagine this: You’ve got a Nest camera guarding your front porch, and an Arlo Pro watching the backyard. Both are great at what they do, but wouldn’t it be nice if they could talk to each other? Maybe even show up in the same app, so you don’t have to switch between two different screens just to check on your home? That’s the dream, right?
As someone who’s tried to juggle multiple smart home devices—sometimes with mixed results—I totally get the frustration. You want a seamless experience, not a tech puzzle every time you check your phone. The big question on your mind—and mine, once upon a time—is: Can a Nest camera connect to Arlo? In short? Not directly. But don’t close the tab just yet. There’s a lot you *can* do to bring these two popular security camera systems closer together, and I’m here to walk you through it, step by step.
Understanding Nest and Arlo: How They Work (and Why They Don’t Talk)
Different Brands, Different Ecosystems
Let’s start with the basics. Nest is owned by Google. Their cameras—like the Nest Cam (indoor/outdoor), Nest Doorbell, and Nest Cam with Floodlight—are designed to work best within the Google Home ecosystem. That means they connect to your Wi-Fi, sync with your Google Assistant, and live in the Google Home app. They’re known for clean design, solid video quality, and tight integration with other Google devices (like Chromecast or Nest Thermostat).
On the other hand, Arlo is a standalone brand (now part of Netgear) that focuses heavily on wireless, battery-powered cameras. Their Arlo Pro, Arlo Ultra, and Arlo Essential models are praised for their flexibility, weather resistance, and long battery life. But they live in the Arlo app, which is separate from Google’s ecosystem.
The key issue? These two systems are built on different platforms, different cloud infrastructures, and different app ecosystems. It’s like trying to connect a PlayStation to an Xbox—same goal (play games), but completely different languages.
Why Direct Integration Isn’t Possible
Here’s the hard truth: You cannot directly connect a Nest camera to Arlo so that they appear in the same app or share live feeds. There’s no built-in “merge” function, no official bridge, and no firmware update that suddenly makes them best friends.
Why? A few reasons:
- Proprietary software: Each brand uses its own app, servers, and communication protocols. Nest uses Google’s infrastructure; Arlo uses its own.
- No API sharing: Google and Arlo don’t offer public APIs that let third-party tools pull data from both systems at once (at least not in a way that supports full camera integration).
- Security and privacy policies: Both companies are cautious about allowing external access to camera feeds, which limits integration options.
So, if you were hoping for a one-click solution, I’m sorry to burst that bubble. But—and this is a big but—there are smart, practical workarounds. Let’s explore them.
Workarounds to Connect Nest and Arlo (Without Losing Your Mind)
Option 1: Use a Universal Smart Home Hub
The best way to bring Nest and Arlo together is through a universal smart home hub like Home Assistant, Apple Home (with limitations), or SmartThings. These platforms can act as a “middleman,” pulling data from both ecosystems and letting you control them in one place.
Example: Home Assistant
I’ve used Home Assistant to manage both my Nest and Arlo cameras, and it’s a game-changer. Here’s how it works:
- You install Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi or a dedicated server (or use the cloud version).
- You add your Nest account using the Google integration (requires a few setup steps, like enabling 2FA and generating a token).
- You add your Arlo account using the Arlo integration (you’ll need your login and password).
- Once connected, both camera feeds appear in the same dashboard.
Pro tip: You can even create “scenes” where, for example, when Arlo detects motion in the backyard, it triggers your Nest camera to record and sends a notification to your phone. Pretty cool, right?
Downsides?
– It takes time to set up (especially if you’re new to Home Assistant).
– You’ll need some technical comfort (but plenty of YouTube tutorials can help).
– Some features (like two-way audio) might not work perfectly across brands.
Option 2: Use IFTTT (If This Then That)
If Home Assistant feels like overkill, IFTTT is your friend. It’s a free automation tool that connects different apps and devices using simple “recipes.”
How it helps:
You can create an IFTTT applet like:
- “If Arlo detects motion, send a notification to my phone with a link to the Nest camera live feed.”
- “If Nest records a video, upload it to Google Drive and notify me in Slack.”
You can even set up cross-brand alerts. For example, if your Arlo camera sees a delivery person, it can trigger your Nest doorbell to chime or send you a snapshot.
Real-life example:
I once set up an IFTTT rule where my Arlo camera in the garage would turn on a smart light (via Philips Hue) and send a notification to my Nest app when motion was detected at night. It felt like having a security team—without the monthly fee.
Limitations:
– IFTTT can be slow (sometimes 10–30 seconds delay).
– It doesn’t let you view both cameras in one app—just automate actions between them.
– Free IFTTT has rate limits (e.g., only 5 applets active at once).
Option 3: Use a Multi-Camera Viewer App
Want to see both cameras without switching apps? Try a multi-camera viewer app like Blue Iris, SecuritySpy (Mac only), or tinyCam Monitor (Android).
How it works:
These apps can pull RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) feeds from compatible cameras. Nest and Arlo don’t officially support RTSP, but there are workarounds:
- For Nest: Use a third-party tool like RTSP Simple Server with the Home Assistant Nest integration to generate an RTSP stream.
- For Arlo: Some older Arlo models (like the Arlo Pro 2) can be hacked to enable RTSP via firmware mods (not officially supported—proceed with caution).
Once you have RTSP streams, you can add them to tinyCam Monitor or Blue Iris and view all your cameras in one place.
My experience:
I used tinyCam on my Android tablet as a “security dashboard.” I had my Nest cam in the living room, Arlo in the backyard, and a Ring cam in the garage—all on one screen. It wasn’t perfect (sometimes streams would drop), but it worked 80% of the time and saved me from app-hopping.
Note: This method requires some technical tinkering and may void warranties. Not for the faint of heart.
What You Can and Can’t Share Between Nest and Arlo
Shared Features (Yes, They’re Possible!)
Even though Nest and Arlo don’t connect directly, you can achieve some shared functionality with the right setup:
- Unified notifications: Use IFTTT or Home Assistant to send alerts from both systems to the same app (e.g., Telegram, Slack, or your phone’s notification center).
- Cloud storage sync: Save clips from both cameras to Google Drive or Dropbox using automation tools.
- Voice control: Both work with Google Assistant. Say, “Hey Google, show me the backyard camera,” and your Arlo feed pops up on your Nest Hub. Say, “Show me the front door,” and your Nest cam appears. It’s not one app, but it’s unified control.
- Geofencing: Set up a rule that when you leave home, both systems arm automatically (via IFTTT or Home Assistant).
Features That Don’t Work (And Why)
Now for the “not so good” news. Here’s what you can’t do (at least not easily):
- Single sign-on: You’ll still need to log into two different apps.
- Shared cloud plans: Nest uses Google Cloud; Arlo uses Arlo Secure. You can’t combine subscription plans.
- Unified event history: No way to see a timeline of all motion events across both systems in one place (unless you use Home Assistant).
- Cross-camera automation: You can’t, for example, have Arlo start recording when Nest detects a person (without IFTTT/Home Assistant).
It’s frustrating, I know. But think of it this way: You’re not losing functionality—you’re gaining flexibility. You can still use the best camera for each job (Nest for indoor, Arlo for outdoor) and bring them together with smart tools.
Real-World Setup Examples: How People Use Both Systems
Example 1: The Hybrid Home Security System
User: Sarah, a mom of two in Austin, Texas.
Setup: Nest Doorbell (front), Nest Cam (living room), Arlo Pro 4 (backyard, driveway).
Solution: Home Assistant + Google Assistant.
Sarah wanted a single view of her home. She set up Home Assistant on an old PC. Now:
- She can see all four cameras in one dashboard.
- When the Arlo camera detects motion at night, it turns on her porch light (via Philips Hue).
- She uses Google Assistant to say, “Show me the kids’ room,” and the Nest cam appears on her TV.
- All recordings are saved to Google Drive (Nest) and Arlo Cloud (Arlo), but she can access both from her phone.
Her tip: “Start small. I began with just one camera in Home Assistant. Once I got comfortable, I added the rest.”
Example 2: The Budget-Friendly Automation
User: Mike, a college student in a rented house.
Setup: Nest Cam (indoor), Arlo Essential (backyard).
Solution: IFTTT + SmartThings.
Mike didn’t want to invest in a hub. Instead, he used IFTTT to:
- Send a Slack notification when either camera detects motion.
- Upload short clips to Google Drive.
- Turn on his smart plug (for a fake “lived-in” look) when both cameras are armed.
He also used SmartThings to group the cameras as “Home Security” devices. Now, he can check both in the SmartThings app (though feeds aren’t live—just status).
Example 3: The Tech-Savvy DIYer
User: Lisa, a software developer in Seattle.
Setup: Multiple Nest and Arlo cameras.
Solution: Blue Iris + RTSP + custom alerts.
Lisa hacked her Arlo cameras to enable RTSP (using a custom firmware) and used Home Assistant to get RTSP from Nest. She added all streams to Blue Iris, which runs on a mini-PC in her closet.
- She has a 24/7 recording system with motion detection.
- Custom alerts: If motion is detected in the backyard (Arlo), her Nest cam automatically zooms in.
- All footage is stored locally—no cloud fees.
Her warning: “It’s not for beginners. But if you love tinkering, it’s worth it.”
Comparing Nest and Arlo: When to Use Which
Let’s be honest: You might not need both. But if you’re already invested in both ecosystems, here’s how to decide where to use each:
| Feature | Nest | Arlo |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Indoor use, doorbells, Google ecosystem | Outdoor, wireless, battery-powered |
| Video Quality | 1080p (2K for Nest Cam with Floodlight) | 1080p to 4K (Arlo Ultra) |
| Cloud Storage | Google Cloud (30-day history with subscription) | Arlo Secure (7–30 days, depending on plan) |
| Local Storage | No (except Nest Doorbell Wired with Home Hub) | Yes (with Arlo SmartHub) |
| Voice Assistant | Google Assistant, Alexa | Google Assistant, Alexa |
| Installation | Wired (most models) | Wireless (easy to move) |
| Price Range | $100–$280 | $50–$300 |
My take:
– Use Nest for indoor areas (living room, nursery, front door) and if you’re deep in the Google ecosystem.
– Use Arlo for outdoor, remote, or hard-to-wire spots (backyard, shed, driveway).
And if you have both? Use a hub or automation tool to make them feel like one system.
Final Thoughts: It’s About Smart Integration, Not Direct Connection
So, can a Nest camera connect to Arlo? Not directly. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a fragmented security setup. With the right tools—Home Assistant, IFTTT, or a multi-camera viewer—you can create a seamless experience that feels unified.
I’ve been there: juggling two apps, missing alerts, and feeling like I was managing a tech zoo. But once I set up Home Assistant, it was like the clouds parted. I could see everything in one place, automate responses, and even impress my friends with my “smart home.”
Here’s my advice: Don’t fight the ecosystems. Work with them. Nest and Arlo are both great—they just speak different languages. Your job is to be the translator. Whether you go all-in with Home Assistant or keep it simple with IFTTT, the goal is the same: peace of mind, without the app chaos.
And remember: The best security system isn’t the one with the most cameras. It’s the one you actually use. So make it easy. Make it smart. And make it yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Nest camera connect to Arlo for a unified security system?
No, Nest cameras cannot directly connect or integrate with Arlo systems, as they operate on separate platforms (Google Home vs. Arlo SmartHub). However, you can manage both devices independently through their respective apps.
Is there a way to link Nest and Arlo cameras to the same app?
Unfortunately, there’s no native support for linking Nest and Arlo cameras within a single app. Third-party integrations like IFTTT offer limited automation but don’t enable full camera control or live feed sharing.
Do Nest and Arlo cameras work together with Alexa or Google Assistant?
Yes! Both Nest and Arlo cameras are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can view live feeds or control them via voice commands, but they’ll still function as separate devices in smart home routines.
Why can’t Nest cameras connect to Arlo’s base station?
Arlo’s base station and Nest cameras use different communication protocols (e.g., Arlo uses Wi-Fi/Proprietary RF, while Nest relies on Wi-Fi/Google’s ecosystem). Hardware and software incompatibility prevents direct connectivity.
Can I use Nest and Arlo cameras side by side for home security?
Absolutely. While the cameras can’t sync directly, you can deploy both brands in the same home using their individual apps. Just ensure your Wi-Fi network can handle the bandwidth for multiple devices.
Does Arlo support Google Home integration like Nest cameras?
Yes, Arlo cameras integrate with Google Home, allowing you to view feeds on Nest Hubs or use voice commands. However, this doesn’t enable cross-brand connectivity between Nest and Arlo devices.