Customer Ratings & Reviews

Very happy with it. It was easy to install and compatible with my new wifi. Picture is very clear on my phone even at night

Verdict: This camera is exactly what I needed for a specific area in the house. It does everything I need, with great resolution, and with the added feature of an on-demand privacy shield. The price is great too! It’s important to note that to get the most out of your Arlo cameras, you will need to get a subscription. Background. We have owned Arlo Cameras for many years now. In total, we have over twenty Arlo devices of all different types. What is most remarkable about Arlo is that all camera types and generations seamless integrate in the app. We still have the original pro cameras running on base stations and we have the latest Arlo Pro (6th Gen) working perfectly along side them. Kudos to Arlo for keeping all devices supported and integrated over so many years! Partly due to our existing investment and partly due to the value we think we get from the Arlo subscription, we pay monthly for unlimited cameras, 60-day rolling videos recordings, etc., and we think the subscription is worth the money, but everyone's situation is different. First impressions. The box is small, but includes everything you need: the camera, mount, plug, and charging cable. This camera is not small… it’s actually more noticeable than the Arlo battery camera it is replacing. I love that is has the privacy shutter. Setup. This camera connects over Wi-Fi so you will need to make sure you have a good signal where you plan to install it and you will need a plug. You do not have to mount it; ours jus sits on a shelf and it’s perfect that way. From the Arlo app, installation is very easy and takes less than five minutes, with the app walking through every step with pictures. The blue light that is on by default when the camera is actively monitoring can be turned off in the settings for that device, under “Device Info”. We turned off the blue light because it was too noticeable. Subscription required to get the most value. Arlo currently charges $7.99/month for a one-camera subscription, and $17.99/month for unlimited cameras. The subscription includes, among many advantages, 60-day rolling storage, identification of movements (person, animal, vehicle), detection zones, and more. Without a subscription, you will not have access to recordings, but you can still use your cameras to live stream and receive push notifications, so I think the use cases are very different but could still work for some people. For me it’s hard to justify buying this camera without the features enabled by the subscription. Performance. This camera works great: high resolution, very short delay to live stream, great night vision, really sensitive movement detection (I turned it down), seamlessly integrated into advanced automation through the Arlo app (when motion is detected on this camera, it turns on the smart light switches for my kitchen through SmartThings). There is an audible sound when the privacy shutter turns on / off, which I think is good so that you know it is activated or not. In our case, we have the camera continuously monitoring, and then turn it off when we want privacy. We like this camera so much that we ordered two more; they are perfect for using inside the house where you can easily plug them in somewhere without looking ugly. Things I love: - 130 Degrees field of view - 2K live video with 12x digital zoom - Dual band Wi-Fi that automatically switches to the best signal - Integration with smart apps for advanced automation (turn-on kitchen lights when motion is detected on the camera) - Super easy to install (less than 5 minutes) - Works seamlessly with my other Arlo devices - Live streaming takes about 2 seconds to connect - You can mount it, or just position it on a counter or shelf - I like this affordable plug in option; it’s perfect for some areas of the house - Pretty good night vision! - The Arlo app is quite good, allowing for lots of customization, automation, and daily use Things I don’t love: - This camera must be plugged in, so it’s not for all places and it’s not for all situations - The free tier doesn’t offer as much value, but this camera is so well priced that you could buy one or two of these just to get alerts and then view in livestream if you are able to see the notification right away - The nomenclature of the cameras is getting slightly confusing in the app. During setup, I didn’t remember if this was the essential or essential security. Maybe just make a new line, or call the bottom tier Standard, next tier Essential, and top tier Pro. There are quite a few types of camera now; it will soon be too many and cause analysis paralysis. Overall, I love this Arlo indoor Essential security camera. It’s affordable, capable, very easy to setup, and it has a privacy shutter. Because it’s connected to power, once you set it up, you don’t need to think about it anymore, which is a nice change from the otherwise regular check-ins on battery life for my other cameras. I love this camera and highly recommend it if you are willing to pay for a subscription.

I use Arlo cameras for my home security camera system and have been investing in Arlo for years. Besides my Pro cameras, I have 3 Arlo essentials 1st gen that I use for indoor purposes. I liked the fact that I can add them to my Apple HomeKit, Google, Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings for my home automation. One drawback was the 1080P resolution, and especially at night, the picture quality was not my best. Finally, Arlo has listened to and released this 3rd-gen essential indoor camera with enhanced features built upon the previous generations, but with more enhanced quality. This model has an upgraded stand compared to my 1st gen. Also, the power port is now USB-C, which aligns with what I have in most of my devices. Still compact and has a small footprint. Same Privacy Shield that I always like to have, since this is an indoor camera, and usually I leave it closed when home. The plastic cover slides to cover and uncover the cameras based on the mode setting. Also, I can leave it closed until I open the Arlo app and hit “open & go live” to override it temporarily, and as soon as I close the app, the shield slides up to cover the lens. Very intuitive and practical. The camera can be powered by USB-A or by using the power adapter that is included in the original box. I preferred to use a USB just to declutter some power adapters. After the camera was fully powered on, I opened the Arlo app and selected the Essential cameras. The camera was found, and I followed the setup steps to get the camera online. One thing that I noticed is that this model does not need any Base Station to connect to; instead, I connected it to Wi-Fi directly. Also, the camera has a dual band capability which is good. Such an upgrade makes the camera work faster, but I lost the Apple Home integration, which I love to have. The only way to operate the camera is through the Arlo app. It is not a dealbreaker for me, but I do not understand why Arlo ended the integration with Apple Home while Google and Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings are still available. The camera quality is 2K and has a great picture, day and night. Thank you for the infrared night vision. The field of view is wide enough, allowing the camera to cover a wider area in my living room. Motion detection is also great, and the two-way audio is clear and has no lag in conversation. My final word is this camera is designed for convenience and privacy in mind at an affordable price. One thing that I would like to see, maybe Arlo could implement in the future update, is the return of Apple Home integration.

Love this camera! It works great and is very helpful to watch my animals while I’m at work.

The Arlo - Essential 1-Camera Indoor 2K Security Camera (3rd Generation) is easy to set up and place where you want it within the reach of a power outlet. This camera gets its power from an electrical outlet. It comes with the cord and block to use. It can also be set up to hook into a computer (see photo below). It can be attached to the wall using the enclosed screws and plastic wall tap. It is an attractive camera. I am not really sure that it could be totally hidden but will serve its purpose indoors. I will use mine mostly to check on the inside of the house when my outdoor system sends an alarm. It will also be used for keeping an eye on my puppy while I am away. . Everything I needed was in the package including: camera, adaptor, cable, Plaque or as I call it “Tab”, screws. The button to pair the camera with WI-FI and APP is on the top of the camera. It blinks blue when it is attempting to pair. The lens has a privacy shield that can be used when you do not want anyone to view you with the camera. It totally covers the lens with a white piece of plastic. The microphone is just below the flashing blue button. It was so easy to begin the set up process by scanning the QR code on the inside top flap of the packaging. There is where I found the toll free numbers I would need if I ran into any problems as well. Scanning the QR code made it easy to get to the APP. I already had an APP downloaded for a previous ARLO security camera so I was good to go. I just followed the promptings on the APP. I went to the tab “Devices” and tapped on the “+” then “cameras” found my camera and from there just followed the prompts. . The part that took the longest account of time was marking sure my APP and camera had all the latest updates. I always use the APP from my phone to keep an eye on my home.

I’ve been an Arlo user for several years now through the use of my wireless Ultra 2 4K cameras. This is my first indoor only Arlo camera, which I tested alongside the indoor/outdoor variant of this camera. Performance wise they are identical, but there are a few small differences. The camera comes with a month trial of Arlo Secure, which is Arlo’s cloud based detection and alert service. The cloud service includes motion detection filtering, animal/person detection, and package detection. When these cameras are off-plan you can rack up a lot of erroneous movement detections, and the only solution is to turn down the sensitivity. Not always ideal. The Essential line of cameras is Arlo’s entry-level offer tier. However, these cameras have pretty good specs that make them easy to live with. It comes with a 2K (2304x1296) resolution, 2-way full duplex audio, B&W nightvision, an integrated privacy cover, and a wide 130° field of view. The camera is rated for indoor usage. The camera has an attached stand that also doubles as a wall mount when combined with the included wall plate. The plate uses 2 screws, so no keyhole mounting option. The camera also has a ¼-20 threaded hole for other wall mounting options. Also include is the 6ft power cable (USB-C to USB-A) and a USB wall charger. Image quality on the camera is pretty good. Resolution is just shy of true 1440p/2K (2304x1296), and it records at a respectable 24fps. The image/video itself is good quality and stays nice and sharp. Movement on the camera isn’t choppy or anything like that, though it would be nice to have a higher FPS if you are trying to capture a shot of something moving fast. When the room dims a decent amount the image shifts to B&W nightvision, which is aided by IR lighting. There is no spotlight on this camera, so the IR is the only lighting you will get in the dark. However, it does a decent job of illuminating a space – I can see items/faces clearly at 10+ ft. Sound quality is better than I expected – the 2 way audio works well. The microphone does a good job of picking up light sounds in the room. The speaker is fairly loud as well, and I don’t have to talk loudly into my phone for the camera to play my voice loudly. Like its indoor/outdoor counterpart the 2-way audio is handled better than most cameras I have used. Accessing the camera is done through the app. The Arlo app is pretty well laid out, and it doesn’t take much to get familiar with it. You can adjust video settings, audio, add alert zones, and adjust the motion sensitivity. For this camera I toned down the sensitivity since it’s in one of my kid’s rooms. I don’t need to be alerted at all times, but more for bigger movements. The notifications show up quick – within 1-2 seconds of the event. If you already have the app open it only takes another second or 2 to start viewing the event or switch to live viewing. If the app isn’t open it does take decently longer because you need to login/thumbprint unlock to gain access to the app. I also connected the camera to my Google Home, and can display its feed on my Hub. Recorded events are stored in Arlo’s cloud, which you will have access to if you continue the trial. Single camera trials are $8/month, but if you have multiple cameras Arlo offers other options with unlimited cameras. I do like that the camera has an integrated privacy shield. However, you can only access it through the app and you have to disarm the camera to activate the shield. I have another camera from a different company that gives you a button on the camera body to activate the privacy shield. I like that approach way more because it’s a pain to have to go into the camera to toggle that setting. Really, this is my only gripe with the camera. Overall, the Essential Wireless 2K Indoor Camera is a nice addition to my home security. It doesn’t break the bank in terms of cost, and the Arlo Secure subscription is not cost prohibitive. At this price point the image quality is pretty good and the 2-way audio is better than I expected. I have relied on Arlo for years to keep an eye on my house, and it has done a very good job so far. If you already have Arlo cameras I think this is a pretty good option to take a look at.

I wanted an additional fixed point indoor camera to watch a specific entrance that would work within the Arlo system. I decided to pick up the Essential Camera Indoor Wireless 2K Camera as it fit the need. Pros: - Simple Setup. - Clear Video and Audio. - Worked with existing Arlo Products. Cons: - App is not the easiest to navigate. Setup: Like my other Arlo experience, as I already had the Arlo Secure App, I just had to open the app up and add the new device. Following the step-by-step instructions, I was able to add the camera in less than 1 min, though there were some updates after adding the camera. I was just going to set this camera up on a shelf near the front door, so I didn’t need to use any of the included hardware. Software: Again, my only complaint about the Arlo Camera is the Arlo Secure App. For all the guided setup, the app layout is not very user friendly, at least I don’t find it to be. As it is setup as a security app first, the defaults focus on the system status instead of the camera feeds. After spending time using the app, I was familiar with how to navigate it. Once setup, the app works as I want without any complaints, just not very easy to navigate the first time. On the bottom of the app are tabs for Dashboard, Feed, Emergency, Devices, and Routines. Each tab allows you to review or modify different settings of the system. I mostly use the Dashboard and Feed tabs, reviewing the current view of the cameras on the dashboard and checking prior events in the feed. One difference to note about the Indoor Cameras compared to the Outdoor Cameras is the requirement to login with the Password to view the live feed from the app. As annoying as this might be, it is a great way to protect your privacy and prevent unauthorized or unintentional views of the camera. Additionally, this camera has a built-in privacy shield that will activate when the system is in Standby mode. This blocks all view from the camera lens, which clearly shows the camera cannot record any video. Subscriptions: Arlo offers an optional subscription plan that provides enhanced features like cloud storage, smart detection, or professional monitoring. As I mentioned initially, I might down the road need to get a security system anyway, so having these cameras to monitor plus be the security system checks off 2 needs with 1 device. The subscriptions have 3 plans: per camera for $9.99/mo, unlimited cameras for $19.99/mo, or Premium for $29.99 per month. All plans can also be purchased as Annual plans, which reduces the price by $2 to $5 per month depending on the plan. If you want to completely avoid the subscription plan, you can also go the route of local storage with the Arlo SmartHub which will allow you to store your video data locally for longer periods of time. For now, I’m not going this route, but it is nice to have the options if I decide I need to retain the videos longer in the future. Cameras: The Camera has a 2K resolution with 130-degree of view at 24 fps. This was plenty of field of view and resolution to keep an eye on the entrance. I’ve got a camera watching the outside (Pro Gen 6th) and next room (Pan Tilt Camera), so there’s no gaps in coverage now with this fixed-point camera on the door. This worked perfectly well, even at night. Connectivity: I found that the cameras all maintained a solid wireless connection, though this will heavily rely on your wireless network more than the cameras. I had no issues streaming the cameras video to my phone when on or off the same network. There was some obvious latency, but only 2-3 seconds which was most noticeable when in the same room as the camera or when using the 2-way audio. Conclusion: If you need a simple fixed-point camera, then Arlo Essential Indoor Wireless 2K Security Camera (3rd gen) is a great option. It’s even better if you already have existing Arlo products, as it will work seamlessly with those cameras as one system. The only concern I’ve had is the apps layout takes a while to get used to, but after you become familiar with it there’s no issue.

This Arlo Essential Indoor Camera Generation 3 is a plugin camera that has some really great features. It’s good for the home, watching the babysitter, keeping at eye on your pets, and making sure your belongings stay secure while you are away from home. In the box is the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera, power adapter and cord, mounting hardware (face plate and screws), and quick start guide. Setup and installation is very easy. The first thing is to download the Arlo Secure app if you don’t already have it with another Arlo camera. The next thing to do is to plug in the camera and follow the directions in the app to add a device. Once you have the device setup, you will need to pick a place to install it. Make sure you stay within range of your WiFi network. If you don’t want to use the mounting system, you can place the camera on top of a flat surface like I did. I move my camera around at times, so I didn’t want to mount it anywhere just yet. Picture/Clarity/Resolution the camera has a great picture that is very clear in both day and night. The resolution is great and the clarity is as well. The night vision works very well. My favorite feature is that there is a privacy shutter that will close, turn off motion and audio when the camera is disarmed. That’s just a huge plus to me, as I have always been leery of cameras inside the house. Now, I don’t have to worry about that issue, because when I am home, I won’t have it armed. Other great features and the Arlo Secure App are a mix of security and convenience. Don’t like getting so many alerts? Set your own customized zone in the app. Want to not get so many audio alerts? Adjust the sensitivity to audio alerts to solve that issue. Want to talk to your babysitter or pets? Utilize the two-way audio from the Arlo Secure App. This camera is great and it goes perfect with my outdoor Arlo camera. I love how I can keep adding cameras to the app to cover both inside and outside my home.

I purchased the Arlo - Essential Indoor Security Camera 2K (3rd Gen, 2025 Release) - Wired Plug-In Powered, Automated Privacy Shield, 1-Cam - White, for a sense of security because I was going away for about 5 weeks on a trip. It was very easy to easy to setup, it took me 2 min total. The picture is crystal clear and I get notifications when it picks up motion. I absolutely love this camera so far and the price was certainly affordable. I have ZERO regrets and I will also purchase another for my office.

This is a basic indoor security camera from Arlo. It doesn’t pan or tilt like some models. Very easy to install, just needs a 120v receptacle to plug in. There’s no internal battery, it must be plugged in. Power cable is about 6 1/2 feet long and it incudes a power supply. Records video in 2k with a 130 degree view. The picture gets a little distorted from the wide angle view but it’s not bad. The camera body itself is 3” tall, 1 7/8” wide, and 1 1/2”deep not counting the power cable that will protrude from the back. The power cable adds another inch to the depth. The camera body has 1/4-20 threaded holes on the back and bottom to use with the included mount, the mount adds 1 1/8” to either the height if setting it on a table or shelf or the depth if wall mounting it. There is a privacy shield that covers the camera and the mic turns off when the camera is disarmed, it pops out of the way when the camera is armed. If you want the camera to disarm when you return home, in the Arm Home Routine, do not set any rules for this camera and it’ll be disarmed by default. In Arm Away you can set your preferred motion and audio settings and the shutter will pop open so it can start recording when you leave. You can schedule your home and away times using the app so you don’t need to press a button every time you leave or come home. I think Arlo has some of the better motion detection in the home security business. I had this camera facing a TV and when a car or animal appears on the screen I was getting the appropriate notification. The first time I got a vehicle notification from a camera in my living room I was a bit surprised but it was just seeing the screen. You can block out portions of the viewing area using a privacy shield which prevents viewing that area. It puts an opaque shield on the screen to obscure dressing areas and such so they are not recorded or you can add a motion detection block which still allows recording but those areas don’t trigger motion alerts. In the case of the TV I just added a motion block over the area of the screen and stopped the false alarm. This camera only records motion events not continuously and requires a subscription to save and view clips. It’s a nice little camera but I have to say that I don’t like the Arlo app quite as much. I know if I used it more I would get used to it but it’s not as intuitive as some other home security apps. When I go looking for a setting it’s almost never where I think it should be. For instance, if I want to change the smart detection settings I think I should go to camera settings but it’s actually under the location and plan settings in my profile. There are a ton of settings though so not going to ding it a star for that. I was surprised to discover that this camera was not compatible with Arlo’s Smart Hub. The 2nd gen version was after a firmware update. I assumed the 3rd get would be also but not at the time of this writing anyway. I was thinking this camera could record locally to the hub but no. It did install easily using my home wifi and in the app it appears along with my other Arlo cameras so other than not recording locally I really don’t have a problem. There is a blue status light on the camera that is fairly bright, that can be turned off separately in the app if you don’t want the light or want the camera to be less conspicuous. Night vision works pretty good, it has enough distance for indoors. It is black and white when it’s on infrared though so it wouldn’t show colors of an intruder’s clothing. There’s no built in spotlight on these so no night color vision.

[Employee of bestbuy] Pretty simple and easy to use, decent feed and great motion detection alerts, only complaint would be the two way audio speaker is kinda quiet but thats not what i needed the camera for anyway.

The Arlo Essential Indoor 2K (3rd Gen) camera delivers clear video, easy app control, and a handy privacy shield. Perfect for monitoring your baby or home. The only downside is that most advanced features require a subscription.

I love this indoor Arlo Camera , super easy to connect , it’s wired and it also have a privacy sheild , I love Arlo , Great Cameras

This security camera is excellent, practical to use and install, the image quality is amazing, I'm very satisfied!

I use the camera for the indoors and it’s a big life changer. I used to leave my house scared but now I feel so much better with this thing in my house.

This is one of my favorite indoor cameras. Solid connection and great video

I like this camera, I found it very easy to use and set up in the app. Works very well and was very affordable. I bought it for indoor use, would definitely recommend.

First impression: My first impression of the Arlo Essential Gen 3 Indoor camera is that it is another excellent Arlo camera that is loaded with features for an unusually low price. It has the same strong plastic body and solid build. It has a power cable and no battery. Also, there are no magnetic mounts that come with these. What’s in the Box: • 1x Arlo Essential 3 Indoor camera • 1x 2m indoor charging cable • 1x indoor PA • 1x wall mount and screw kit • 1x quick start guide Technical Specifications: • Maximum Video Resolution: 2304 x 1296 (2K) • Video Modes: 2K, 1080p, 720p • Frame Rate: 24 frames a second • Image Sensor: 3 Megapixels • Digital Zoom: 12x • Field of View: 130° • Night Vision: Color Night Vision and IR B&W Night Vision • 2-Way Audio: Yes, with echo cancellation • Microphone: Yes • Siren: Yes • Motion Detection: Yes, with a 110-degree horizontal field of view • Connectivity and power • Connectivity: 2.4GHz & 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi • Power: Plug-in AC adapter with a 6.5 ft cable • Indoor only • Minimum Operating Temperature: 32F • Maximum Operating Temperature: 113F • Camera Mount Type: Tabletop & Wall Mount Pros • Video quality: Sharp and detailed 2K resolution with impressive night vision. • Ease of use: Quick and simple setup process through the Arlo app. • Intelligent alerts: Smart motion detection can distinguish between people and animals. • Privacy: It includes a physical privacy shutter that can be activated manually or automatically. • Connectivity: Connects quickly to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and the app is easy to navigate. • Alarm: A loud siren built into the camera is loud enough to startle an intruder. Cons • App complexity: The sheer number of settings can be overwhelming for new users. • No local storage: There is no option for local storage (like an SD card) on the camera itself. Setup: Setup is typical Arlo setup. I opened the app, clicked on the Add button, and everything got set up easily. It’s always been easy with Arlo, and it’s even easier now. There really isn’t anything to worry about, the app does all the work. And this camera connects to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. Performance: Let’s get right to it; The video quality is excellent. I’m so used to 4K I wasn’t sure that 2K would be good enough. But for inside use, it’s far better than good enough. The quality of the image is very sharp and crisp. Everything is clear, and during daylight hours, the colors are accurate. And the night vision is superior to any indoor camera I have used up to this point. The camera does a really good job lighting the area up evenly and reduces shadows that other cameras struggle with. When using it for closeups in night vision, the detail is amazing. And for covering rooms, the 130° field of view gives you a lot of space for such a small camera. Arlo takes data privacy seriously. They approach this on two fronts: end-to-end encryption of the data and the Privacy Shield. Encryption protects video data to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. The Privacy Shield is a physical shutter that closes to ensure there is no video being recorded. The click it makes when closing along with the obvious white shield offers comfort of privacy without worrying. The advanced AI is impressive. It provides motion detection with enhanced facial recognition, animal recognition, vehicle recognition, and even fire detection. And the alerts are also AI enhanced, providing animated previews and event captions in the notifications. This camera also has great audio. It has a single microphone that allows two-way communication between the camera and the app. This communication is enhanced with noise reduction and echo cancellation. This camera does not provide local storage like many other cameras. It does provide storage, through both the Arlo Cloud and adding a MicroSD card into a Smart Hub and connecting to it. Another nice feature is compatibility with numerous Smart home systems, such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT. Conclusion: I am an Arlo fan. I have had my house protected by Arlo since they 1st came out. I eventually took out the outdoor cameras because I could no longer get up on ladders to change out the batteries. But inside my house it’s an Arlo house. Arlo Essential Gen 3 2K Indoor Camera is a great camera for an amazing price. It is feature rich, offering amazing video - both daytime and night vision with crystal clear, crisp video. Enhanced AI provides more accurate tracking and enhanced alerts. The two-way communication feature provides clear audio between the camera and the Arlo App. And the camera provides security by providing encrypted video data and a privacy shield that provides assurance that the camera is not recording with its White shutter. And finally, it is compatible with the most common smart home systems. This is not unusual features for an Arlo system, but all of this is included in a camera for less than $50.00. And with the paid subscription, you get additional AI features and online storage of your video. I am really surprised by Arlo’s new indoor cameras, but I couldn’t be happier. If you are looking for a good indoor camera with amazing quality and feature rich, all for less than $50.00, you won’t go wrong with the new Arlo Essential Gen 3 2K Indoor Camera. I highly recommend it.

Amazing camera works perfect easy to setup highly recommended

Easily setup and clean videos Videos quality great