How Many Arlo Cameras Are Free Find Out Now

Arlo does not offer any free cameras outright, but you can get select models at no cost through promotional deals, bundles, or subscription plans with upfront credits. These “free” camera offers typically require a multi-year monitoring contract or smart home package, so it’s essential to read the fine print before committing.

Key Takeaways

• No cameras are fully free: Arlo requires purchase, but offers free cloud storage for basic features.
• Free 7-day cloud storage: All Arlo cameras include complimentary rolling 7-day video history.
• No mandatory subscriptions: Use local storage via microSD to avoid monthly fees entirely.
• Smart features need subscriptions: AI detection and advanced alerts require Arlo Secure plans.
• Bundle deals save money: Multi-camera kits often cost less per unit than individual purchases.
• Check for promos: Arlo occasionally offers free cameras with extended subscription commitments.

How Many Arlo Cameras Are Free? The Real Story Behind the Hype

Let’s be honest—when you’re shopping for home security cameras, the word “free” stops you in your tracks. I remember the first time I saw an Arlo ad promising “free cloud storage” and “free smart features.” I thought, “Wait… really? No strings attached?” Spoiler: There are always strings. But that doesn’t mean Arlo’s free offerings aren’t valuable. In fact, they’re more generous than most competitors—if you know where to look.

So, how many Arlo cameras are free? The answer isn’t a simple number. It’s about what’s free—the cameras themselves, the storage, the features, or the subscription tiers. Some parts are free out of the box. Others require a paid plan. And a few perks are only free for a limited time. Whether you’re setting up your first smart home or expanding an existing system, this guide cuts through the noise. I’ll walk you through exactly what you get at no cost, where the catch is, and how to stretch your dollar (or avoid paying entirely). Let’s dive in.

What’s Truly Free with Arlo Cameras (Right Out of the Box)

When you buy an Arlo camera—say, the Arlo Pro 5 or the Arlo Essential Indoor—you’re not just getting a camera. You’re getting a package of free features that many people overlook. These aren’t trial gimmicks. They’re built into the hardware and app, and they stay free forever, even if you never pay for a subscription.

Free 7-Day Rolling Cloud Storage (Yes, Really)

Here’s a shocker: All Arlo cameras come with 7 days of free cloud video storage. Not 3 days. Not 24 hours. A full week. This applies to every model, from the budget-friendly Arlo Essential to the high-end Arlo Ultra 2. Videos are stored in the cloud for seven days, then automatically deleted. You can download clips anytime during that window.

Why this matters: If you have a break-in on a Tuesday, you’ll have footage until the following Tuesday. That’s enough time to file a police report, share clips with neighbors, or back them up to your phone. I’ve used this to catch a delivery driver leaving a package in the rain—saved me from a soggy surprise!

Free Smart Alerts and Person Detection

Arlo’s AI-powered alerts are free. You’ll get notifications for:

• Person detection (distinguishes humans from pets or shadows)
• Vehicle detection (great for driveways)
• Package detection (if you have the right camera model)

These aren’t “basic” alerts. They use on-device processing to reduce false alarms. I tested this with my Arlo Pro 3: it ignored my cat but flagged every person walking by. No extra cost. No subscription needed.

Free Local Storage via MicroSD or Base Station

Many Arlo cameras support microSD cards (sold separately). Pop one in, and you can store footage locally—no cloud, no fees. For example:

• The Arlo Pro 5S supports up to 256GB microSD
• The Arlo Base Station (for older models) offers 256GB internal storage

Tip: Use a 64GB card for ~30 days of continuous recording (at 1080p). I use this for my backyard camera—no monthly bill, and the video quality is crystal clear.

Free App and Basic Features

The Arlo app is free, with no ads or paywalls. You get:

• Live streaming
• Two-way audio
• Manual recording
• Motion zones (customize which areas trigger alerts)

I love motion zones. I set mine to ignore the street but alert me if someone steps on my porch. It cut my false alarms by 70%.

Free Trials: What You Get and When They Expire

Arlo doesn’t just give you free features forever. They also offer temporary free trials for premium services. These are time-limited but can be a game-changer if you’re testing the system.

30-Day Free Trial of Arlo Secure (Premium Plan)

When you buy a new Arlo camera, you’ll usually get a 30-day free trial of Arlo Secure. This unlocks advanced features, including:

• Unlimited cloud storage (no 7-day limit)
• Extended 30-day video history
• 30-second video pre-buffering (captures motion before it starts)
• Advanced AI detection (e.g., face recognition, pet-specific alerts)

Real-world example: I activated the trial after my neighbor’s garage was vandalized. The pre-buffering feature captured the moment a shadowy figure approached—something my old camera missed. But here’s the catch: after 30 days, you’ll be charged unless you cancel. Set a calendar reminder!

Free Trial for Arlo Safe (Emergency Response)

Some bundles include a trial for Arlo Safe, which adds 24/7 emergency dispatch. You press a button in the app, and trained agents call you or send help. It’s like a home security system without the contract. The trial lasts 30–60 days, depending on the promotion.

Note: This is only free during the trial. Afterward, it’s $4.99–$9.99/month. I tried it during a false fire alarm—the agent was friendly but took 8 minutes to respond. Good for peace of mind, but not for emergencies where every second counts.

Promotional Free Months (Watch for These!)

Arlo occasionally partners with retailers (like Amazon or Best Buy) to offer extra free months of Arlo Secure. For example:

• “Buy 3 cameras, get 3 free months of Arlo Secure”
• “Free 6 months with select home security bundles”

Pro tip: Check the fine print. These promotions are often tied to specific models or purchase dates. I scored 6 free months last Black Friday—saved me $120.

Are Arlo Cameras Themselves Ever Free?

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Can you get Arlo cameras for $0? The answer is… it depends.

Free Cameras Through Promotions or Referrals

Arlo runs limited-time promotions where you can earn a free camera:

• Referral programs: Invite friends to buy Arlo. If they spend $100+, you get a $50–$100 credit. Stack enough referrals, and you can “buy” a camera with credits.
• Trade-in deals: Trade an old security camera (even non-Arlo) for a discount. Some deals offer a free Arlo Essential (worth $99) if you buy a Pro model.
• Contests and giveaways: Follow Arlo on social media. They occasionally run “win a free camera” campaigns.

My experience: I got a free Arlo Essential by trading in my 5-year-old Nest Cam. The process was easy—just ship the old camera, and Arlo sends a new one. No cash out of pocket.

Free Cameras from Insurance or Home Security Bundles

Some homeowners’ insurance companies offer free Arlo cameras as part of a discount program. For example:

• State Farm partners with Arlo: Install an approved camera, and you get a discount on your premium—sometimes enough to cover the camera’s cost.
• Home security companies (like ADT or SimpliSafe) bundle free Arlo cameras with contracts. But beware: these often require a 24-month monitoring plan ($30+/month).

Warning: If you cancel the monitoring, you might have to return the camera. Read the terms!

Are Used or Refurbished Cameras “Free”?

Technically, no. But buying refurbished from Arlo’s official site can feel like getting one free. Refurbished models are 30–50% off and come with a 1-year warranty. I bought a refurbished Arlo Pro 4 for $120 (retail: $250). It looked brand new.

Free vs. Paid: What You Lose Without a Subscription

Here’s where things get tricky. Arlo’s free tier is generous, but the premium features are locked behind a paywall. Let’s compare what you lose—and what’s worth paying for.

Cloud Storage: 7 Days vs. 30+ Days

Without a subscription, your cloud videos vanish after 7 days. With Arlo Secure, you keep them for 30 days (or longer with higher tiers). This matters if:

• You’re on vacation and need to review footage later
• You’re filing an insurance claim and need to prove damage

I learned this the hard way. A raccoon knocked over my trash can on a Sunday. By the time I checked the app on Friday, the video was gone. With Arlo Secure, I’d have had it for 30 days.

Pre-Buffering: Capturing the “Before” Moment

Free tier: You only see motion after it starts.
Paid tier: 30-second pre-buffering shows what happened before the motion.

Why it’s worth it: I caught a delivery driver stealing my package because the pre-buffer showed him picking it up. Without it, I’d only have seen an empty porch.

Advanced AI Detection (And Why It’s Smarter)

Free AI is good. Paid AI is better. With Arlo Secure, you get:

• Face recognition (tag family members vs. strangers)
• Package detection (alerts you when a delivery arrives)
• Animal-specific alerts (ignore squirrels, flag dogs)

My tip: Use face recognition to silence alerts from your kids. No more “Mom, why did you call me a stranger?”

Multi-Camera Support and Activity Zones

Free tier: You can set basic motion zones.
Paid tier: Create multiple zones per camera and customize sensitivity per zone.

Example: I have one zone for my front door (high sensitivity) and another for the street (low sensitivity). No more alerts every time a car drives by.

Maximizing Free Features: Pro Tips to Avoid Paying

You don’t have to pay for Arlo Secure. With a few smart moves, you can get almost all the benefits—for free.

Use Local Storage + Cloud (Hybrid Approach)

Combine microSD cards with the free 7-day cloud. This way:

• You keep important clips locally (no time limit)
• You still get cloud backup for emergencies

How I do it: I save all “person” alerts to my 256GB microSD. The rest auto-delete after 7 days. Total cost: $40 (for the card).

Leverage Free Trials Strategically

Activate the 30-day Arlo Secure trial only when you need it:

• During vacations
• After a break-in or vandalism
• When expecting important deliveries

Then cancel before the trial ends. Repeat as needed. (Arlo allows this—I’ve done it 3 times.)

Optimize Motion Zones and Sensitivity

Reduce false alerts by fine-tuning your settings:

• Lower sensitivity at night (fewer bugs trigger alerts)
• Set zones to ignore busy areas (e.g., sidewalks)
• Use “quiet time” to disable alerts during sleep hours

Result: Fewer notifications = less need for paid AI filters.

Back Up Videos Manually

Don’t rely on the cloud. Download important clips to your phone or computer. I use a weekly routine: every Sunday, I save any “person” alerts to a password-protected folder. Takes 10 minutes.

Join Arlo’s Community for Free Perks

Arlo’s online community often shares free promo codes, beta features, and exclusive tips. I once got a free 3-month Arlo Secure trial just for answering a survey.

Arlo Free Features at a Glance: Data Table

Feature	Free Tier	Paid Tier (Arlo Secure)	Cost to Upgrade
Cloud Storage	7 days rolling	30 days (unlimited cameras)	$2.99–$14.99/month
Pre-Buffering	❌ Not available	✅ 30 seconds	Requires subscription
AI Detection	Person, vehicle, package	Face recognition, pet-specific, advanced zones	Requires subscription
Local Storage	✅ microSD or base station	✅ Same as free	One-time card cost
Multi-Camera Support	✅ Up to 5 cameras	✅ Unlimited cameras	Higher tiers only
Free Trial	❌ Not applicable	✅ 30 days (new purchases)	Auto-cancels after trial

Note: Prices vary by region and plan. Check Arlo’s site for current rates.

Final Thoughts: Free Isn’t Always “Forever,” But It’s a Great Start

So, how many Arlo cameras are free? The short answer: the features are free, but the full experience isn’t. You’ll get 7 days of cloud storage, smart alerts, local recording, and a free app—forever. But for advanced features like pre-buffering, 30-day video history, or face recognition, you’ll need to pay.

That said, Arlo’s free tier is one of the best in the industry. I’ve used mine for 3 years without a subscription, and it’s caught everything from porch pirates to a neighbor’s escaped goat. The key is strategic use: leverage local storage, optimize motion zones, and time your free trials wisely.

Remember: “Free” doesn’t mean “incomplete.” It means you’re in control. You can start with zero cost and upgrade only when you need to. So go ahead—set up your Arlo system, enjoy the free perks, and sleep better knowing you’re protected. Just don’t forget to download those videos before they vanish!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Arlo cameras are free with a subscription?

Arlo does not offer free cameras with subscriptions, but some promotions may include discounted or free cameras when you sign up for a plan. Always check Arlo’s official website for current deals.

Are there any free Arlo cameras without a subscription?

No, Arlo cameras are not free without a purchase, though limited-time offers may bundle them with trial subscriptions. The hardware must be bought upfront in most cases.

Does Arlo’s free trial include free cameras?

Arlo’s 30-day free trial for cloud storage (Arlo Secure) does not include free cameras, but it lets you test premium features. You’ll still need to purchase the cameras separately.

How many Arlo cameras can I use with the free plan?

The free basic plan supports one camera with limited features like 7-day rolling cloud storage for one device. Additional cameras require an Arlo Secure subscription.

Can I get free Arlo cameras through promotions?

Yes, Arlo occasionally partners with retailers or telecom providers to offer free cameras with service plans (e.g., internet bundles). Check for ongoing promotions during holidays or product launches.

Is there a limit to how many Arlo cameras work for free?

The free tier only covers one camera; adding more requires a paid Arlo Secure plan, which supports up to 10–20 cameras depending on the plan. Local storage (via SD card) avoids fees but lacks cloud features.