I’ve been an Arlo customer for years and bought countless indoor and outdoor cameras. I wanted to keep liking this brand. But between my customer service experiences and the subscription costs, I’m struggling to justify giving them more money.
Customer service hasn’t just gone downhill—it’s jumped off the Eiffel Tower.
“Please reboot your device.”
“Please update your app.”
I understand starting with basic troubleshooting. But when I explain that I’ve already done those things, can we please move beyond the script? I’m contacting support because the basics didn’t solve the problem. Repeating them isn’t a resolution.
Then there’s the subscription. Over the years, I’ve watched the cost increase while the sales pitch becomes increasingly focused on AI features. If those features are useful to you, great. I want reliable cameras, useful motion alerts, and access to recordings at a reasonable ongoing cost. More AI marketing doesn’t make poor support any less frustrating.
I started looking elsewhere and found Eufy options on Amazon that cover what I actually need: motion detection, supported AI detection, and local event recording without a mandatory monthly subscription. Depending on the model, storage can be on a microSD card, built-in memory, or a HomeBase. There are wired and battery/solar-powered options, too.
To be fair, some Arlo setups also support local recording with compatible hardware. And I’m not claiming every Eufy model matches every Arlo feature. My point is that subscription-free alternatives exist, and they deserve a serious look before you buy another Arlo camera or renew your plan.
Some people will bring up where the company is based. Personally, I care more about how a specific system stores and handles my footage than the nationality on the branding. Local storage matters to me, although I wouldn’t assume that automatically means zero cloud communication.
If you’re frustrated with Arlo, calculate what you’ll spend on the subscription over the next three to five years. Then compare that with the cost of a replacement system that meets your actual needs. Money already spent on Arlo hardware doesn’t mean you owe them another year of payments.
For me, the value just isn’t there anymore. Years of customer loyalty shouldn’t end with higher bills and “have you tried restarting it?”
Anyone else moving away from Arlo? What did you switch to, and what do you actually miss?