We pit Blink vs Arlo to see how these cheaper surveillance camera systems measure up.
Blink or Arlo? That’s a question many will be asking, especially as Amazon Prime Day approaches, so we’ve created this guide to help you decided which is right for you.
Blink – a home security brand owned by Amazon – offers affordable, easy-to-fit surveillance cameras for indoors and out. For a relatively small outlay you can cover your home with motion-sensing cameras and access the footage or a live feed via an app on your smartphone. There’s no monthly fee and the cameras are powered by regular batteries.
Arlo is a direct competitor to Blink with a very similar motion-sensing camera system that also offers easy-to-install, battery operated cameras for inside and outside the home.
Arlo also offers basic functionality without a monthly fee, enabling you to check the cameras remotely on your smartphone. Arlo – owned by Netgear – is priced a little higher than Blink, but offers a wider device range and set of features.
Both systems are aimed at a wide audience looking for an entry-level security camera solution for the home. Let’s take a closer look at what sets them apart.
A single indoor camera system from Blink costs £79.99/$79.99 (around AU$145), and you can add additional cameras for £69.99/$69.99 (roughly AU$125) each, although you also have the option to buy a five-camera system for £289.99/$279.99 (around AU$525).
The Blink XT (or Blink XT2 if you’re in the US), is the brand’s outdoor weatherproof camera, and will cost you £99.99/$99.99 (around AU$180) for a single camera system, with additional cameras at £89.99/$89.99 (roughly AU$165) each,with a five-camera system for £399.99/$379.99 (around AU$725).
Note the Blink XT2 has replaced the standard XT in the US and is set to do the same in the UK later in 2019. The two are similar, but the XT2 offers some improvements, such as two-way audio and better battery life.
Blink systems come with a wireless hub, called a Blink Sync Module, and you can add up to ten cameras to each module. There are no monthly fees.
A single camera system from Arlo costs £129/$124/AU$287 for the cheapest entry-level camera, which can be used indoors or out, and you can add additional cameras for $74 / £80 (Australian availability appears limited).
A three-camera kit of the basic entry-level camera would cost you £278.99/$199 (around AU$500).
Arlo offers a much wider range of different cameras including higher quality pro versions, which are much more expensive and offer additional features.
