Introducing Blink and Arlo
Blink and Arlo are two of the most popular brands for home security cameras and systems. Both offer wireless cameras for indoor and outdoor use, video doorbells, and optional subscription plans to unlock storage and viewing features.
But there are some key differences that we‘ll analyze in depth in this 2500+ word guide. We‘ll compare their product lineups, pricing, subscription plans, smart home connectivity and more to help you determine if Arlo or Blink is a better fit.
Blink Overview
Blink got its start on Kickstarter in 2014, raising over $1 million from backers attracted to its promise of long-lasting wireless security cameras. The company delivered its first products in 2016, focusing on ease of use and affordability.
In 2017, Blink was acquired by Amazon, joining them along with other smart home brands like Ring. Today Blink offers indoor, outdoor and doorbell camera options, almost all powered by AA batteries lasting up to 2 years. Their mobile app provides live viewing and alerts.
Arlo Overview
Arlo originally launched in 2018 when it was spun off from Netgear, who had entered the security camera market several years earlier. So although the Arlo brand is newer, its legacy dates back over a decade.
Now independently owned and traded publicly, Arlo focuses on premium wireless security cameras packed with features like high resolution video, wide viewing angles, spotlights and smart home connectivity. Their products skew towards the high end for those wanting more advanced monitoring.
Head-to-Head Camera Comparison
Let‘s start our Blink vs Arlo comparison by looking at some of their most popular security cameras positioned across low, moderate and higher price points:
Blink Mini
Blink Mini – Compact Indoor Plug-In Smart Security Camera
The Blink Mini is Blink’s most affordable camera, designed for indoor use powered over USB. It captures 1080p video, has motion detection zones and two-way talk for under $35. No hub required.
Arlo Essential Spotlight
Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera
Arlo‘s Essential Spotlight runs off a rechargeable battery with 1080p video just like the Blink Mini. It adds an integrated LED spotlight and color night vision for $79.99. No hub needed.
Blink Outdoor
Blink Outdoor HD Security Camera
The Blink Outdoor packs weather resistance, infrared night vision and motion alerts into a wire-free 1080p camera powered by two AA lithium batteries lasting up to 2 years. At $99 it‘s an affordable way to monitor the outside of your home.
Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight
The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight captures 2K video with HDR color night vision powered by a rechargeable battery. It features a bright LED spotlight and 160-degree viewing angle. At $249.99, it‘s a big step up in price from Blink with higher resolution and more features.
Key Differences
When comparing the cameras head-to-head, a few differences stand out:
- Arlo cameras capture sharper 2K or 4K resolution video versus 1080p on all Blink models
- Arlo offers ultra wide angle lenses up to 160 degrees FOV over 110 max on Blink
- Blink batteries last 1-2 years longer than Arlo‘s rechargeable lithium packs
- Arlo cameras boast extra capabilities like color night vision, spotlights and sirens
- Blink maintains a significant price advantage across every tier from $35 to $100
So if excellent video quality, lots of features and wide home monitoring coverage is most important, Arlo excels. But if easy installation, long battery life and budget pricing are bigger priorities, Blink is hard to beat.
Reviewing Their Video Doorbells
In addition to security cameras, both Arlo and Blink now offer video doorbell models to upgrade entry monitoring. Let‘s see how their latest releases compare.
Blink Video Doorbell
Blink Video Doorbell + Sync Module 2
Like their cameras, the new Blink Video Doorbell captures 1080p footage with infrared night vision, motion alerts and two-way audio. The wireless version can run for 2 years on two AA lithium batteries. At $49.99, it‘s an affordable way to upgrade entry monitoring.
Arlo Essential Wire-Free Doorbell
Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell
The Arlo Essential Doorbell captures video in sharp 2K HDR powered by a rechargeable battery. It features a 180-degree viewing angle to see packages on the ground and includes color night vision. At $149.99, it also costs 3X as much as Blink‘s entry-level video doorbell.
Key Differences
A few things stand out comparing their video doorbell options:
- Arlo doorbells record in higher 2K resolution with HDR versus 1080p on all Blink models
- Blink doorbells get twice the battery life – up to 2 years over just 6-12 months for Arlo‘s
- Arlo doorbells have significantly wider viewing angles to eliminate blind spots
- Once again, Blink maintains a substantial price advantage with doorbells under $100 while Arlo ranges from $150-$250
If crisp video and wide coverage is most important, Arlo‘s doorbells deliver. But if easy installation and maximum convenience is the priority, Blink makes that affordable.
Assessing Their Smart Home Integration
A security camera or video doorbell is only part of a complete smart home ecosystem. So how do Arlo and Blink compare when it comes to integrating with other devices and platforms in your home?
Since Blink is owned by Amazon, their products offer tight integration with Alexa voice assistants. You can view Blink cameras and doorbells directly on Echo Show displays. Blink also supports IFTTT for additional capabilities connecting with other brands.
However, Blink devices currently don‘t work natively with Apple Homekit or Google Assistant. There are some community-developed workarounds, but official support is still lacking.
By contrast, Arlo partners closely with Google and Apple to provide out-of-the-box support for both platforms in addition to Alexa and IFTTT. So Arlo devices fit better into more diverse smart homes.
The Verdict
If you primarily use Alexa devices, Blink integrates seamlessly. But if you have a mix of Google, Apple and other smart home gear, Arlo is the way to go. Their open platform approach plays nicely across brands.
Examining Their Subscription Plans
While core functions work without any subscription, Arlo and Blink both offer optional plans unlocking additional capabilities as well as extended cloud storage for recorded video clips. Here‘s an overview of their offerings.
Blink Subscription Plans
Blink offers tiered plans covering either individual devices or your whole system:
- Blink Basic: $3/month or $30/year per camera
- Blink Plus:</b $10/month or $100/year for unlimited cameras
Features on both plans include:
- Cloud storage for video clips
- Live view from anywhere
- Video sharing
- Rich notifications
- Photo capture from video
The Plus plan adds extended warranty coverage and discounts on future Blink purchases.
Arlo Subscription Plans
Arlo also provides both per-camera and unlimited device options:
- Arlo Secure: $2.99/month per camera or $9.99/month for unlimited
- Arlo Secure Plus: $14.99/month for unlimited cameras
Core features on Secure include:
- 30-day rolling 2K video storage
- Object detection
- Rich notifications
- e911 support
Secure Plus adds support for videos in 4K resolution.
Key Differences
We found Arlo offers longer free storage windows starting at 30 days over just 24 hours standard on Blink. However Blink‘s unlimited plans cost less for protecting multiple cameras.
Ultimately both provide compelling additions over just using the basic features that come out of the box without a paid subscription.
Other Products to Consider
Beyond standalone cameras and doorbells, Arlo and Blink offer additional devices like floodlight cameras, solar panels and more. Let‘s highlight some of the top options.
Blink Floodlight Camera
Blink Outdoor Camera + Floodlight
Blink‘s Floodlight Camera combines an outdoor-rated 1080p camera with a 700 lumen LED floodlight in one wire-free weather resistant unit starting at $139.98.
Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera
The Arlo Floodlight produces a blinding 3000 lumens covering areas up to 7500 square feet with 2K HDR color night vision video surveillance. At $249.99, it provides maximum illumination coupled with sharp footage.
Blink Solar Panel Charger
Blink Outdoor + Solar Panel Charger
For just $15 more than a standalone Blink Outdoor camera, this bundle adds a solar panel charger to provide unlimited power from the sun rather than rely on battery swaps.
Arlo SmartHub
While Arlo advertises direct WiFi connectivity, certain features require their SmartHub. This also enables local storage on a USB drive as well as unlocking 2K live streaming and other capabilities their app-based access can lack.
Blink vs Arlo: Key Takeaways
To wrap up this exhaustive head-to-head comparison between two of the top brands in home security cameras and systems:
- Arlo offers higher resolution 4K and 2K HDR video with wider viewing angles but at a premium price
- Blink cameras last 1-2 years longer on batteries thanks to efficient LTE connectivity
- Arlo integrates better with Google Home and Apple HomeKit environments
- Blink product pricing is consistently $50-100 cheaper across every category
- Both provide solid app-based access and optional subscription plans, Arlo with more included storage
Ultimately, Arlo is the way to go if you want lots of features and top-notch video to monitor large areas across multiple cameras. But if convenience, battery life and value are bigger priorities for occasional monitoring, Blink delivers good enough quality far more affordably.
