The Arlo Pro 3 tops this list because its wireless design makes it flexible enough to install anywhere you need it. While it doesn’t have advanced facial recognition software like the Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, it’s more affordable, costing around $150 less per camera.
We also like that Arlo gives you seven days of video history for free, which is more than any other outdoor security camera brand we looked at.
Arlo Pro 3 cameras offer precisely what you’d expect from a quality outdoor security camera: a motion sensor, infrared night vision, two-way audio, a mobile app, and a weatherproof design. While you can get these same features with the other cameras on this list, we think that the Arlo Pro 3 hits the right notes with its price and high-quality video to top the competition.
With its 2K video resolution, the Arlo Pro 3 has better video quality than every camera we reviewed, except the Arlo Ultra, which has 4K video. While 2K video isn’t a huge increase like 4K, it still fits more detail in your videos.
If you want 30 days of video storage, you can subscribe to Arlo Smart for $2.99 a month per camera. This is one penny less than Ring’s subscription plan and $2 less than Google Nest’s cheapest plan. Overall it’s the most affordable cloud storage we’ve seen for outdoor surveillance cameras.
Other than more video storage, the paid plan gives you better motion detection through custom zones and advanced AI detection, so the camera’s more likely to spot people in its field of view.
The Arlo Pro 3 has a magnetic charge cable (unfortunately, you can only use it indoors). This is especially helpful since you don’t have to take the camera off the wall (provided it’s close enough to an outlet) and fiddle with a USB cable. There’s an added layer of protection since the cable won’t pull the camera off the wall if someone snags the cable accidentally.
Arlo sells a few useful accessories to help you use the camera outdoors without charging the battery too often: a 25-foot outdoor cable, extra batteries, and a solar panel.
We like that the Arlo Pro 3 works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so that you can view the video on devices like the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.
All of Arlo’s wireless security cameras require a base station to operate. This helps keep the cameras relatively small and light. It also has the added benefit of letting you connect a USB drive to store videos locally without an internet connection.
ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Arlo Pro 3 is a capable outdoor security camera that you can place anywhere thanks to a wireless design. Its free cloud storage handily beats the competition, making the Arlo Pro 3 a good option if you don’t want to pay for a monthly subscription.
>>Shop Now
>>Learn about other Arlo security cameras in our full review.