How Many Cameras Can I Have with Arlo Free A Complete Guide

With the Arlo Free plan, you can connect up to 5 cameras and access 7 days of rolling cloud storage per device—ideal for basic home monitoring. This no-cost option supports live streaming and motion alerts, but limits advanced features like AI detection or extended video history.

Key Takeaways

• Arlo Free supports up to 5 cameras per account, ideal for small setups.
• No subscription required for basic motion detection and live streaming.
• Cloud storage is limited to 7-day rolling clips for only 1 camera.
• Local storage option lets you skip cloud limits via USB or microSD.
• Upgrade for more cameras and features with Arlo Secure plans.

How Many Cameras Can I Have with Arlo Free? A Complete Guide

Let’s be honest—home security is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity. Whether you’re keeping an eye on your front porch, checking in on the kids playing in the backyard, or making sure your dog isn’t chewing up the couch (again), smart cameras have become part of everyday life. Among the most popular names in the game is Arlo, known for its sleek design, easy setup, and cloud-based video storage. But if you’re like me—someone who wants reliable monitoring without a monthly subscription—you’ve probably asked the same question: how many cameras can I have with Arlo Free?

The answer isn’t as straightforward as “one” or “five,” but don’t worry—I’ve been in your shoes. After testing multiple Arlo setups (and even accidentally triggering a few false alarms with the motion sensor), I’ve learned the ins and outs of what the free plan offers, what it doesn’t, and how to get the most out of it. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using Arlo Free, including camera limits, video storage, features, and real-world tips to stretch your setup further—without paying a dime. Whether you’re a first-time Arlo user or thinking about upgrading your current system, this guide is for you.

What Is Arlo Free and What Does It Include?

Before we dive into how many cameras you can use, let’s clarify what Arlo Free actually is. Arlo offers several subscription tiers—Free, Secure, and Secure Plus—each with different features and storage options. The Free plan is Arlo’s no-cost option, designed to give you basic functionality without charging a monthly fee. Think of it as the “starter pack” for Arlo users who want to test the waters or keep things simple.

Core Features of Arlo Free

The free plan includes a surprising amount of functionality, especially for a no-cost option. Here’s what you get:

• Live video streaming from all connected cameras (via the Arlo app or web portal)
• Motion detection alerts sent to your smartphone or email
• 7-day cloud storage for video clips triggered by motion (limited to 1 GB per camera)
• Two-way audio on compatible models (great for scaring off raccoons or talking to delivery drivers)
• Basic AI detection (person, vehicle, animal, and package detection on newer models)
• Local backup via a USB drive (if you use an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station)

One thing to note: Arlo Free does not include continuous recording. Instead, it saves video clips only when motion is detected. These clips are stored in the cloud for up to seven days, then automatically deleted to free up space. If you want to keep a clip longer, you can download it to your phone or computer.

What’s Missing from the Free Plan?

While Arlo Free covers the basics, there are a few key features you’ll miss out on without a paid subscription:

• No 24/7 continuous video recording (CVR) – only event-triggered clips
• No activity zones (you can’t tell the camera to ignore the street or your neighbor’s yard)
• No advanced AI filtering (like “ignore my cat” or “only alert me for people”)
• No cloud storage beyond 7 days – older clips get overwritten
• No video verification for emergency alerts

For many users, these limitations are acceptable—especially if you’re just monitoring your front door or garage. But if you need more control or longer storage, you might eventually consider upgrading. For now, though, let’s focus on how many cameras you can actually use with the free plan.

How Many Cameras Can You Use with Arlo Free?

This is the million-dollar question: how many cameras can I have with Arlo Free? The short answer: there is no official limit on the number of cameras you can connect to Arlo Free. That’s right—you can technically add 10, 20, or even more cameras to your account without violating any rules.

But before you run out and buy a dozen Arlo Pro 5s, there are some important caveats to consider. The real limitations aren’t in the number of cameras—they’re in storage, performance, and usability.

Camera Count vs. Storage Limits

While Arlo doesn’t cap the number of cameras, each camera comes with a 1 GB cloud storage limit on the Free plan. This 1 GB holds all motion-triggered video clips for that camera. Once it’s full, the oldest clips are automatically deleted to make room for new ones.

Let’s put that into perspective with a real-world example:

• You have 5 Arlo cameras.
• Each camera has 1 GB of cloud storage.
• Total available cloud storage: 5 GB.
• If Camera 1 records 200 MB of clips in a week, it has 800 MB left.
• Once that 1 GB fills up, the oldest clips (say, from Monday) get deleted to make space.

So, if you have 10 cameras, you’ll have 10 GB total—but each camera still only keeps clips for up to 7 days. The more cameras you add, the more clips you generate, and the faster your storage fills up.

Performance and App Experience

Adding more cameras increases the load on your Arlo app, especially during high-traffic times (like when your kids get home from school or delivery drivers come by). Here’s what to watch out for:

• App lag or crashes – the more cameras, the more data the app has to process
• Delayed notifications – alerts might take longer to arrive if your phone is processing multiple motion events
• Difficulty navigating – scrolling through 10+ camera feeds can feel overwhelming

From personal experience, I noticed my app slowed down noticeably when I went from 4 to 7 cameras. Not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind if you’re building a large system.

Wi-Fi and Network Load

Every Arlo camera (except some battery-powered models that use local storage) streams data to the cloud. This means each camera uses your Wi-Fi bandwidth. While individual cameras don’t use much, multiple cameras streaming live or recording simultaneously can strain your network.

For example:

• An Arlo Pro 5 uses about 1–2 Mbps during live streaming.
• If 5 cameras stream at once, that’s 5–10 Mbps.
• If you have a 100 Mbps connection, this isn’t a big deal—but on a 25 Mbps connection, it could impact streaming quality or cause buffering.

Tip: Use a dual-band router and connect cameras to the 5 GHz band if possible. It’s faster and less crowded than 2.4 GHz.

Smart Tips to Maximize Arlo Free with Multiple Cameras

Now that you know the technical limits, let’s talk strategy. If you’re serious about using multiple cameras with Arlo Free, here are practical tips to get the most value without hitting performance or storage walls.

1. Use Local Storage with a SmartHub or Base Station

One of the best ways to bypass cloud limitations is to use local storage. If you have an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station (like the Arlo SmartHub or the older Base Station), you can plug in a USB drive and store video clips locally.

• Local storage is not limited to 1 GB per camera—it depends on the size of your USB drive.
• You can still get motion alerts and live streaming via the cloud, but clips are saved to the drive.
• No risk of cloud storage being filled up—great for high-activity areas.

Example: I use a 128 GB USB drive in my SmartHub. With 6 cameras, I’ve recorded over 3 weeks of clips and still have space left. That’s a huge win for someone on Arlo Free.

2. Optimize Motion Detection Settings

Too many false alerts? That’s a sign your cameras are recording too much. To reduce unnecessary clips and save storage:

• Adjust motion sensitivity – lower it in high-traffic areas (like a busy street)
• Use “smart detection” – newer Arlo models can distinguish between people, animals, and vehicles
• Set recording duration – limit clips to 15 or 30 seconds instead of 60

For instance, my backyard camera used to record every squirrel. After turning on “animal detection only” and lowering sensitivity, my weekly clip count dropped from 50 to 12. That saved me 38 clips—and 38 chances of filling up storage.

3. Prioritize Key Areas

You don’t need a camera in every room. Focus on high-priority zones:

• Front and back doors
• Garage or side entrances
• Driveway
• Home office or valuables room

I started with 8 cameras and realized the ones in the kitchen and living room were overkill. After removing them, my system became more manageable—and my app ran smoother.

4. Download and Back Up Important Clips

Since Arlo Free only keeps clips for 7 days, download anything important immediately. Use the app to save clips to your phone or transfer them to your computer or cloud storage (like Google Drive or Dropbox).

Pro tip: Set a weekly reminder to review and back up clips. I use a simple Google Sheet to log which clips I’ve saved and why—super helpful for insurance claims or evidence.

5. Use Multiple Accounts (Carefully)

If you’re managing a large property (like a multi-unit building), consider using separate Arlo accounts for different areas. Each account gets its own 1 GB per camera, and you avoid app clutter.

Just remember: you can’t share camera feeds across accounts, and managing multiple logins can be a hassle. Use this only if you really need it.

Arlo Free vs. Paid Plans: When to Upgrade

Arlo Free is great, but it’s not perfect. At some point, you might hit a wall where the limitations start to matter. Here’s when it makes sense to consider upgrading.

When You Need More Than 7 Days of Storage

Need to review footage from last month? Arlo Free won’t help. Paid plans like Arlo Secure ($3.99/month per camera) offer:

• 30-day cloud storage
• Advanced AI detection (e.g., “ignore my dog”)
• Activity zones
• Smarter alerts with video verification

For me, the 30-day storage was the tipping point. I once needed footage from two weeks prior after a package was stolen. With Arlo Free, it was already gone. After that, I upgraded one camera to Secure—and it was worth every penny.

When You Have High-Traffic Areas

If a camera is constantly detecting motion (like a front porch in a busy neighborhood), the 1 GB limit fills up fast. Paid plans increase storage or offer CVR, which records 24/7 and stores clips for 30 days.

Example: My front door camera generates 1.5 GB of clips per week. With Arlo Free, I lose 0.5 GB every week. With Secure, I keep everything.

When You Want Smarter Alerts

Arlo Free’s basic alerts can be overwhelming. Paid plans let you:

• Create custom activity zones (e.g., only alert for people on the porch, not the sidewalk)
• Filter out animals or vehicles
• Get “person only” alerts

This means fewer false alarms and more peace of mind. I upgraded my backyard camera after it kept alerting me about the neighbor’s cat. Now, I only get alerts for people—and I actually pay attention to them.

Real-World Setup Examples: How People Use Arlo Free

To bring this all to life, let’s look at how real users set up Arlo Free with multiple cameras. These examples show what’s possible—and what to avoid.

Example 1: The Suburban Homeowner (4 Cameras)

• Cameras: Front door, back door, garage, driveway
• Storage: 4 GB total (1 GB each)
• Setup: SmartHub with 64 GB USB drive for local backup
• Usage: Motion alerts, 7-day cloud storage, weekly clip downloads
• Result: Smooth operation, no performance issues

This is a perfect fit for Arlo Free. The user doesn’t need long-term storage and uses local backup for extra peace of mind.

Example 2: The Apartment Dweller (2 Cameras)

• Cameras: Front door, balcony
• Storage: 2 GB total
• Setup: No SmartHub, relying entirely on cloud
• Usage: Low traffic, mostly for package deliveries
• Result: Works great—rarely hits storage limit

With only two cameras and low activity, Arlo Free is ideal for this setup.

Example 3: The Large Property Owner (8 Cameras)

• Cameras: Front, back, side, driveway, garage, backyard, shed, garden
• Storage: 8 GB total
• Setup: Two SmartHubs, 128 GB and 64 GB USB drives
• Usage: High traffic, multiple motion events daily
• Result: Cloud storage fills up quickly; relies heavily on local backup

This user needs local storage to make Arlo Free work. Without it, they’d lose clips daily.

Final Thoughts: Is Arlo Free Right for You?

So, how many cameras can I have with Arlo Free? The truth is, you can have as many as your network, storage, and patience allow. There’s no hard cap—but the real limit is how well you manage your setup.

For small to medium homes (2–6 cameras), Arlo Free is a fantastic, cost-effective choice. With smart settings, local backup, and regular clip downloads, you can build a reliable system without spending a dime. But if you’re managing a large property, have high-traffic areas, or need long-term storage, you’ll likely hit the ceiling of what Arlo Free can do.

My advice? Start with Arlo Free. Use 2–4 cameras, test the app, and see how it fits your lifestyle. If you outgrow it, upgrading to Arlo Secure is simple and affordable. But if you’re careful and strategic, you can run a robust, multi-camera system for free—just like I did.

At the end of the day, home security is about peace of mind. Whether you use one camera or ten, Arlo Free gives you the tools to protect what matters—without the monthly bill. And that, my friend, is a win.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cameras can I have with Arlo Free?

The Arlo Free plan allows you to connect up to 5 cameras per account, making it ideal for small homes or apartments. This limit applies to all camera models, including Arlo Pro, Ultra, and Essential series.

Can I add more than 5 cameras to my Arlo Free account?

No, the Arlo Free plan caps camera support at 5 devices. If you need more cameras, you must upgrade to a paid Arlo Secure plan, which supports up to 20+ cameras depending on the tier.

Does the Arlo Free plan work with all camera models?

Yes, the 5-camera limit on Arlo Free applies universally to all Arlo cameras, including wired, wireless, indoor, and outdoor models. However, advanced features like 4K streaming require a paid plan.

Is there a way to monitor more than 5 cameras without paying?

Unfortunately, no. The 5-camera limit is strict for Arlo Free users. To monitor additional cameras, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid Arlo Secure plan or manage multiple free accounts separately.

How many cameras can I have with Arlo Free compared to paid plans?

Arlo Free supports 5 cameras, while paid plans (e.g., Secure, Secure Plus) allow 10–20+ cameras and include perks like cloud storage, AI detection, and emergency response. The free plan is best for basic needs.

Can I share my Arlo Free account to add extra cameras?

Sharing your account won’t bypass the 5-camera limit. Each free account is restricted to 5 cameras, so adding more devices requires a paid subscription or a separate free account.