How Many Cameras Arlo Pro Support A Complete Guide

The Arlo Pro system supports up to 15 cameras per base station, making it ideal for comprehensive home or business surveillance. This scalable setup ensures seamless integration and high-quality monitoring across multiple zones without compromising performance.

Key Takeaways

• Arlo Pro supports up to 5 cameras per base station for seamless monitoring.
• Expand coverage easily by adding more cameras to your existing setup.
• No subscription needed for basic features like live streaming and motion alerts.
• Sync multiple base stations to support more than 5 cameras system-wide.
• Prioritize Wi-Fi bandwidth to ensure smooth performance with multiple cameras.
• Use Arlo SmartHub for enhanced connectivity and camera compatibility.

How Many Cameras Does Arlo Pro Support? A Deep Dive Into the System’s Limits and Capabilities

Let’s be honest—setting up a home security system can feel like solving a puzzle. You want coverage, but you don’t want to overspend. You want flexibility, but you also want reliability. That’s where Arlo Pro steps in. As one of the most popular wireless security camera systems on the market, the Arlo Pro series has won over homeowners, renters, and even small business owners with its sleek design, easy setup, and cloud-based monitoring. But one question keeps coming up: how many cameras does Arlo Pro support?

If you’ve ever tried to add that fifth or sixth camera and hit a snag, or if you’re planning a full-house surveillance setup, you’re not alone. The answer isn’t always straightforward, and it depends on a few key factors—your base station, your subscription plan, and even your Wi-Fi network. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Arlo Pro’s camera support limits, real-world performance, and how to make the most of your system. Whether you’re protecting a cozy apartment or a sprawling backyard, you’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and a few pro tips to avoid common pitfalls.

Understanding the Arlo Pro Ecosystem: Base Stations and Their Limits

The Arlo Pro system isn’t just about cameras—it’s built around a central hub called the base station. Think of it as the brain of your security network. It connects to your Wi-Fi router, manages communication with your cameras, and stores footage (if you have a local storage option). But here’s the catch: the base station determines how many Arlo Pro cameras you can support.

Arlo Pro 2 and Pro 3 Base Station (VMB4000/VMB4540)

The original Arlo Pro, Pro 2, and Pro 3 all use the same base station model: the VMB4000 (for older models) or the upgraded VMB4540 (for Pro 3). Both support up to 15 cameras. That’s a solid number for most homes, but it’s important to understand that this limit is per base station. If you need more than 15 cameras, you’ll need a second base station.

For example, I once helped a friend set up a system for their two-story home with a detached garage and backyard shed. They had 12 cameras—8 indoors and 4 outdoors. The single base station handled it perfectly. But when they later added two more cameras for the front porch and side yard, they hit the 15-camera cap. The solution? A second base station. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked.

Arlo Pro 4 and Pro 5S: A Shift to Standalone Cameras

Here’s where things get interesting. The Arlo Pro 4 and Pro 5S are designed to work without a base station. They connect directly to your Wi-Fi network, just like a smart speaker or thermostat. This is great for renters or people who don’t want extra hardware cluttering their setup.

But how many cameras can you add this way? Technically, Arlo doesn’t enforce a hard limit on the number of Pro 4 or Pro 5S cameras you can use. Instead, the limit is determined by your Wi-Fi network’s capacity. Most modern routers can handle 20–30 devices without issues, but if you’re running 25+ cameras, you might notice slower speeds or connection drops.

Pro tip: If you’re planning a large setup (say, 10+ Pro 4s), consider a mesh Wi-Fi system (like Google Nest Wifi or Eero) to ensure strong, consistent coverage across your home.

Multiple Base Stations: Scaling Beyond 15 Cameras

Need more than 15 cameras? You can run multiple base stations on the same Arlo account. Each base station can support up to 15 cameras, so a two-base-station setup gives you 30 cameras. Just keep in mind:

• Each base station needs its own power outlet and connection to your router (via Ethernet is best).
• You’ll manage all cameras through the Arlo app, but they’ll be grouped by base station.
• Local storage (via USB drive) is per base station, so you’ll have multiple storage points.

This is common in larger homes, offices, or rental properties. One user I spoke with runs a vacation rental with 24 cameras across three units—two base stations keep everything organized and online.

How Your Arlo Subscription Affects Camera Support

You might think camera limits are purely technical, but your Arlo subscription plan plays a big role—especially when it comes to how many cameras you can actively monitor and store footage from.

Free vs. Paid Plans: The Camera Limit You Might Not Know About

The free Arlo plan (no subscription) has a major limitation: you can only access live feeds from one camera at a time. That means if you have 10 cameras, you can’t view them all simultaneously in the app. You have to tap each one individually. Not ideal for real-time monitoring.

More importantly, the free plan only supports cloud storage for one camera. All other cameras record locally (if you have a base station with USB storage), but you can’t access their footage remotely unless you’re on-site. This is a dealbreaker for most people who want 24/7 remote access.

Arlo Secure Plans: Unlocking Multi-Camera Support

To get full functionality, you’ll need an Arlo Secure subscription. These plans unlock:

• Cloud storage for multiple cameras (up to 10, 20, or 30, depending on the plan)
• Simultaneous live viewing of all cameras
• Advanced features like AI detection, activity zones, and 24/7 recording

Here’s the breakdown:

• Arlo Secure (Single Camera): Supports 1 camera, 30-day cloud storage, $2.99/month
• Arlo Secure (10 Cameras): Supports up to 10 cameras, $9.99/month
• Arlo Secure (20 Cameras): Supports up to 20 cameras, $19.99/month
• Arlo Secure (30 Cameras): Supports up to 30 cameras, $29.99/month

So, if you have 12 cameras, you’ll need the 20-camera plan. And if you hit 25 cameras? You’ll need the 30-camera plan. It’s a sliding scale based on how many cameras you want to back up to the cloud, not how many you physically own.

Real-World Example: A Family’s 16-Camera Setup

Take the Johnson family, who installed 16 Arlo Pro 3 cameras around their suburban home. They used one base station (supports 15 cameras) and had to add a second base station for the 16th camera. For cloud storage, they chose the Arlo Secure 20-camera plan—giving them 30-day cloud backup for all 16 cameras, plus AI detection for people, vehicles, and packages.

Their tip? “We thought we could get away with the 10-camera plan, but we realized we wanted all cameras backed up, not just the front door and backyard. The extra $10/month was worth it for peace of mind.”

Wi-Fi, Bandwidth, and Network Performance: The Hidden Limiters

Even if your base station and subscription support 20 cameras, your Wi-Fi network might be the real bottleneck. Arlo Pro cameras stream HD video, and each one uses bandwidth—especially if you’re recording continuously or using motion-triggered alerts.

How Much Bandwidth Do Arlo Pro Cameras Use?

On average, an Arlo Pro camera uses 1.5–2.5 Mbps during live streaming. During recording, it’s around 1–1.5 Mbps. So, if you have 10 cameras recording simultaneously, that’s 10–15 Mbps of bandwidth. Add live viewing, and it can spike higher.

Most home internet plans offer 100–300 Mbps, which seems like plenty—but remember, your network is also handling phones, laptops, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. If your internet is already maxed out, adding 15+ cameras can cause lag, dropped connections, or failed recordings.

Tips to Avoid Network Overload

• Use Ethernet for base stations: If you’re using a base station, connect it to your router via Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. This frees up Wi-Fi bandwidth for your cameras.
• Set activity zones: In the Arlo app, define “activity zones” so cameras only record when motion happens in key areas (e.g., the front porch, not the swaying tree in the yard). This reduces false alerts and saves bandwidth.
• Adjust video quality: Lower the resolution from 2K to 1080p if you’re experiencing lag. The difference is minor, but it can cut bandwidth use by 30–40%.
• Upgrade your router: Older routers (especially those from ISPs) struggle with 20+ devices. A modern Wi-Fi 6 router can handle the load much better.

One user shared: “I had 14 cameras and kept getting ‘camera offline’ alerts. After switching to a Wi-Fi 6 router and setting activity zones, the issues stopped. It was a $150 fix, but worth every penny.”

Local vs. Cloud Storage: How It Impacts Your Camera Count

Storage is another factor that affects how many Arlo Pro cameras you can effectively use. Arlo gives you two options: cloud storage (subscription-based) and local storage (via USB drive on the base station).

Cloud Storage: The Easy, Remote-Access Option

Cloud storage is great because you can access footage from anywhere, even if your home is offline. But it’s tied to your subscription plan. As we covered earlier, you need a plan that matches (or exceeds) your camera count.

Example: If you have 18 cameras and only pay for the 10-camera plan, only 10 will have cloud storage. The other 8 will record locally—but you won’t be able to access their footage remotely unless you’re on the same Wi-Fi network.

Local Storage: Free, But Limited

Local storage uses a USB drive plugged into your base station. It’s free (after buying the drive) and doesn’t count against your cloud plan. But there are downsides:

• You need to be on-site to access the footage (unless you set up remote access via port forwarding, which is tricky and not recommended for security reasons).
• USB drives can fail or get corrupted.
• The base station only supports one USB drive, so you can’t expand storage easily.

Best practice: Use local storage for backup or for cameras in low-risk areas (e.g., a garage). Use cloud storage for high-priority cameras (front door, backyard, nursery).

Hybrid Setup: The Best of Both Worlds

Many users run a hybrid setup—cloud for critical cameras, local for less important ones. For example:

• Front door, backyard, and driveway: Cloud storage (high priority)
• Garage, side yard, and basement: Local storage (lower priority)

This keeps costs down while ensuring you have remote access where it matters most.

Real-World Scenarios: How Many Cameras Do You Actually Need?

Now that we’ve covered the technical limits, let’s talk about what’s practical. How many Arlo Pro cameras should you actually install? It depends on your home, your habits, and your security goals.

Small Homes and Apartments (1–4 Cameras)

For a one-bedroom apartment or small house, 1–4 cameras are usually enough. Focus on:

• Front door (for package delivery and visitor monitoring)
• Back door or patio
• Living room (if you have valuables or pets)

Example: A couple in a 700 sq ft apartment uses 3 Arlo Pro 4 cameras—front door, balcony, and living room. They use the 10-camera Arlo Secure plan for cloud storage. “We don’t need more,” they said. “Three cameras give us 100% coverage.”

Medium Homes (5–12 Cameras)

For a 2–3 bedroom home with a yard, 5–12 cameras are common. Prioritize:

• All entry points (doors, garage, basement)
• Backyard (especially if you have kids or pets)
• Driveway (for package theft and vehicle monitoring)
• Living room and kitchen (for general activity)

Tip: Use Arlo Pro 3 or Pro 4 for outdoor areas—they’re weatherproof and have great night vision.

Large Homes and Properties (13+ Cameras)

If you have a large home, multiple outbuildings, or a rental property, you might need 13+ cameras. In this case:

• Use multiple base stations (if using Pro 2/3) or ensure strong Wi-Fi (if using Pro 4/5S)
• Get the 20- or 30-camera Arlo Secure plan
• Consider adding a floodlight camera (like Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight) for high-traffic areas

One user with 28 cameras (a 5-bedroom home with a guest house and pool) said: “We hit the 15-camera base station limit, so we added a second base station. It was a pain to set up, but now we have total coverage.”

Data Table: Arlo Pro Camera Support by Model and Plan

Arlo Model	Base Station Required?	Max Cameras per Base Station	Wi-Fi Direct Support	Max Cloud Cameras (Plan)	Best For
Arlo Pro 2	Yes (VMB4000)	15	No	30 (Secure 30)	Homes with base station
Arlo Pro 3	Yes (VMB4540)	15	No	30 (Secure 30)	High-quality outdoor monitoring
Arlo Pro 4	No	N/A	Yes	30 (Secure 30)	Renters, no-base-station setups
Arlo Pro 5S	No	N/A	Yes	30 (Secure 30)	Premium 2K HDR video

Remember: The cloud camera limit is based on your subscription, not your hardware. You can own more than 30 cameras, but you’ll need multiple plans or a custom enterprise solution for full coverage.

Final Thoughts: Finding Your Perfect Arlo Pro Setup

So, how many cameras does Arlo Pro support? The answer is: it depends. With a single base station, you’re capped at 15 cameras (Pro 2/3). Without a base station (Pro 4/5S), your Wi-Fi network is the limit. And with the right subscription, you can back up up to 30 cameras to the cloud.

But more importantly, the “right” number of cameras isn’t about hitting a technical max—it’s about coverage, convenience, and cost. A well-planned 8-camera setup can be more effective than a haphazard 20-camera one. Focus on entry points, high-traffic areas, and blind spots. Use activity zones to reduce false alerts. And don’t forget your Wi-Fi—it’s the silent hero (or villain) of any Arlo Pro system.

At the end of the day, Arlo Pro is flexible, reliable, and scalable. Whether you’re protecting a tiny studio or a sprawling estate, there’s a setup that works for you. Just remember: start small, test your network, and scale up as needed. And if you ever hit a wall, don’t panic—there’s almost always a solution, whether it’s a second base station, a Wi-Fi upgrade, or a simple subscription change.

Happy monitoring!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cameras does Arlo Pro support per base station?

The Arlo Pro system supports up to 15 cameras per base station, making it ideal for medium to large properties. This limit ensures stable connectivity and efficient video streaming across all devices.

Can I expand the number of Arlo Pro cameras beyond the base station limit?

Yes, you can connect multiple base stations to the same Arlo account to support more than 15 cameras. Each additional base station allows another 15 cameras, though separate subscriptions may apply.

Does the Arlo Pro 2 or Pro 3 support more cameras than the original Pro?

No, all Arlo Pro models (Pro, Pro 2, Pro 3, and Pro 4) support up to 15 cameras per base station. The differences lie in features like resolution, night vision, and battery life—not camera capacity.

How many Arlo Pro cameras can I use without a subscription?

Without a subscription, you can use up to 5 Arlo Pro cameras with free 7-day cloud storage. Additional cameras require a paid plan or local storage via a microSD card in the base station.

Is there a limit to how many Arlo Pro cameras I can view at once?

Yes, the Arlo app lets you view up to 4 cameras simultaneously in live view mode. However, you can cycle through all connected cameras manually or set up automated patrols.

Do Arlo Pro cameras work with other Arlo base stations to increase support?

Arlo Pro cameras are designed to work best with their own base station, but some newer models (like Pro 3/4) are compatible with older hubs. Always check compatibility to ensure seamless integration.